Please forgive our debt as we forgive our debtors

Here is a poem to God that reflects on the profound and challenging plea from the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

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The Measure of Mercy

Our Father, in the heavens’ light, Who sees the hidden,secret night Within our hearts,we come and pray For grace to live another day.

“Forgive us our debts,” we dare to say, The trespasses we’ve done this day. The weight of wrongs,both large and small, Upon Your name,we humbly call. We owe a debt we cannot pay, Beneath its curse,we faint and stray. We beg for mercy,full and free, Washed in the blood that flowed from Thee.

But in the asking, hangs a clause, A solemn,life-altering cause. A mirror held before our soul, To measure out,to make us whole. “As we forgive our debtors,”too, The ones who have incurred a due Of pain and wrong against our name— This is the heart of heaven’s claim.

It is the prayer that judges me, And sets my captive spirit free. For how can I beg grace’s rain While nursing another’s stain? “For if you forgive others their trespasses,” Your heavenly Father will forgive you too.* This is the kingdom’s golden key, That unlocks my humanity.

So search my heart, expose the root Of bitter and unchanging fruit. The grudge I hold,the score I keep That shatters peace and kills my sleep. Replace it with the mind of Christ, Who,for His foes, was sacrificed. “Father, forgive them,”was His cry,** While I,for lesser hurts, deny.

Let my forgiveness be a flood, Washed in the mercy of Your blood. Not seven times,but seventy-seven,* A echo of Your heart in heaven. For only in releasing others, Can I truly be a brother To Christ,who paid my endless debt— A debt I can never forget.

So I forgive, because I’m forgiven. This is the path to holy living. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive,” This is the prayer by which we live.

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*Scripture References woven into the poem:

· Matthew 6:12: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (The core verse)

· Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

· Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

· Luke 23:34: "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'"

· Colossians 3:13: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."