Forgiveness Can Be Tricky

Today’s reading: Matthew 6:9-15

My tradition in these devotionals is to refrain from self-righteousness, but I almost decided to make an exception today.

My first impulse was to devote today’s post to a complaint that comes to mind every time I see a sign screaming “No Trespassing” to the world. Those signs certainly bring me self-righteous thoughts. Almost every time I see one, I smugly recall these lines from today’s reading.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

That Godly council has made its way into The Lord’s Prayer, of course, and I recall those lines, too: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

And that’s where my snide self-righteousness kicks in.

“I bet whoever put that sign up has said the Lord’s Prayer a million times in his life,” I think. “Does he realizes that line doesn’t end with  ‘ … as we sternly warn those who may trespasses against us?'”

I find this all-too common transgression so annoying that, as I say, my first idea this morning was to quickly apologize for breaking my tradition and to tear right in to those who would dare post such a hypocritical sign.

But God stopped me.  He pointed out my own hypocrisy.

Indeed, Lord, I must learn to forgive those who do not yet know how to forgive.

So I will offer no further comment on those signs. I am content to simply refrain from posting “No Trespassing” signs on my own property.

And I think I’ll go out this week and buy a larger, brighter “Welcome” mat for my front door.

Thanks be to God for His eternal forgiveness. May I always remember to practice such love myself.