We have the power to forgive, but we also wield a power to imprison, to bind and to stop grace short:
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click here to listen to the early service audio
click here to listen to the Sermon Audio
click here to listen to the Childrens Sermon Audio
Forgiveness has the power to remove shackles and chains, to “set the prisoner free.” God is forgiving and calls forth forgiveness. Jesus models a way of forgiveness, but reveals also the consequences of “un-forgiveness.” If we are unforgiving, Jesus says, we cannot receive forgiveness ourselves. What do we do when we can’t, or won’t, forgive?
Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.
Let’s explore together places of unforgiveness and how we might set others, and ourselves, free!
- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org
PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------
God of life, teach us and guide us your truth. Teach us the power we wield in forgiving and in failing to forgive. Teach us the healing and blessing that comes from setting others free, as surely as we live in the grace our your forgiveness ourselves. Make us peacemakers in your world. Amen.
READINGS --------------------------
First Reading: Micah 7:18-20
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. 19 He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will again show faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.
Psalm 25:11-18
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. 18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15
7 "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 "Pray then in this way: 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 also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
