151129AM
The Abundant Life vs. The Tormented Life
Matthew 6:12
As we open to Matthew 6, we have come to the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer in v. 12. This petition is all about the constant need we have for cleansing. This next area we are to maintain in our spiritual lives is all part of:
CHRIST’S CHECKLIST FOR DAILY SPIRITUAL HEALTH
Simply stated, the Lord’s Prayer is a pattern for us, a checklist for our daily spiritual health.
Living a spiritually healthy life, that is useful to God each day is built around these key elements:
1. Daily Worship of Almighty God: Our Father
2. Daily Consecration of My Body: Your Kingdom Come
3. Daily Submission to God’s Will: Your will be done
4. Daily Reliance on God’s Provision: Give us this day
5. Daily Cleansing of My Relationships: Forgive us as we forgive
6. Daily Protection of My Mind: Deliver us from evil
7. Daily Seeking to God’s Glory: Yours is the glory
As we read the Lord’s prayer in the wider context of what Christ says we will see the strong emphasis on our need for forgiveness. Note as we read that we hear the word “forgiveness” six times in these eight verses. Matthew 6:9-15 (NKJV):
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
FORGIVENESS IS VITAL
One moment before our last breath on earth, more than anything else we will want to know that we are forgiven. Jesus explains that God that father forgives sins, but attaches to our enjoyment of that blessing, a great responsibility. The forgiven must be forgiving, or else.
Christ’s words are very sobering. The forgiveness of my sins was so precious that it must spill over into our hearts with such gratitude that anyone else’s sins against me can even come close to how great my sin was against God.
I was forgiven so much, that all other’s sins in my sight are minuscule compared to my sins in God’s sight. That is why we must remind ourselves of how:
GOD SUMMARIZES WHAT WE NEED TO LIVE