2. We have a special reason for asking God's forgiveness in our prayers. We pray to God for many blessings, for many precious gifts, both heavenly and earthly. But we are sinners; "we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them." If God would look upon our unworthiness and sin, how could He grant us our petitions? "For we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment." As long as our sins separate us from God, we are certain that God will not hear us. Our prayers would indeed be in vain. Therefore we pray to our Father that He would not look upon our sins, "nor on their account deny our prayer," as we have so well deserved. We pray that He would grant us His forgiveness and give us all His rich blessings by grace, for Christ's sake. In Christ's name we come to our Father and confidently pray with the publican in the Temple: "God be merciful to me, a sinner." Luke 18,13.
3. Our Lord adds something to this petition. He says: "As we forgive those who trespass against us." These words contain a promise on our part. Because God so graciously and willingly forgives us our many and great sins, we promise that we also will forgive those who sin against us. There are such as sin against us, wrong and grieve us with word or deed. But how small are their faults over against the great and grievous sins we have committed against our Father in heaven! Having received the gracious forgiveness of our Father, how could we do otherwise than forgive also those who trespass against us? Willingly we promise to forgive them, and to do so heartily, from our hearts, as our Father has forgiven us, and not only to forgive them, but readily to do good to them. Does not our Father do the same thing to us? We sin against Him and grieve Him daily, and nevertheless He not only forgives us, but He also blesses us every day with all His gifts for body and soul. If, on the other hand, we refuse to forgive our brother, we shall not obtain forgiveness from our Father. "When we stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11,25.26. (Read carefully the beautiful parable of our Lord about the wicked servant, Matt. 18,23-35.)
REMEMBER:—
1. We pray in this petition: My dear Father in heaven, do not look upon my sins and do not on their account deny my prayer. I am not worthy of any of the things for which I pray, but on account of Thy grace hear my prayer and forgive me all my sins for Christ's sake.
2. We promise in this petition: My dear Father in heaven, as Thou hast forgiven me the multitude of my sins and hast granted me daily all Thy precious blessings, so will I show Thee my gratitude by heartily forgiving those who sin against me and readily doing good to them. Grant me grace to do this, dear heavenly Father.
MEMORIZE:—
Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight and am no more worthy to be called Thy son. Luke 15,21.
God be merciful to me, a sinner. Luke 18,13.
When ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11,25.26.
QUESTIONS.