"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
I have been intrigued by the fact in the prayer Jesus taught as the model prayer of praise and petition has a condition in the middle of it. The petitioner asks don't do something unless I do it to others. Is God really so picky that he forces us to pray not to forgive us unless we forgive others?
The answer is no. Jesus isn't just offering a trade you forgive and then I will forgive you. God knew what science has recently proven and common sense has known for years; if you are full of unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger your life will be miserable. I might add the lives of those around you too.
One of the reasons, Jesus gives us this reminder in the middle of this prayer is because if we are going to know the freedom found in forgiveness then we have to forgive others. He isn't saying we pretend people did no wrong. He is saying that we can not hold on to the anger and bitterness and have a good life. So in this prayer, he places this reminder, if we are going to know the freedom that comes from forgiveness of our sins, we have to be willing to forgive others.
So let's find the greatest freedom God has and forgive. He never said it would be easy but God doesn't ask us to do anything he will not give us the grace to do.
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