Think about the things we can give people, that cost us nothing financially or materially?  Now think about what we ask for from God?  The desire to ask of God freely is a wonderful privilege, and reveals how much we really see Him as our great all-providing Father.  But that can also lead us to think, that there isn’t much requirement on our part, but to ask, like children are supposed to of their provider…

In the context of this passage, Jesus is teaching the disciples how to have faith to believe.  That if God says He will do something, believe it in that instance, and you will receive it.  That it takes faith first, and not “test” God by needing to see proof, before He does what we ask.  But then, Jesus follows up with teaching them that when they do pray, make sure they forgive??

Immediately I thought, “what does forgiveness have to do with my asking God for something?”  The principle that must be in the heart of every Christian, is that God forgave us “freely”, in the sense it didn’t cost us anything, but cost the Father His Son.  So if we are going to hoist numerous prayers to God freely, and expect an answer, we should freely forgive other people, right?

This principle of wanting results without it costing us anything, is rampant in our society.  So much so, that even as Christians, we can think God should bless us because we pray for blessings, yet not extend forgiveness we didn’t pay for!  The truth is, that if we decide to withhold forgiveness, we are not forgiven (or blessed) by God..  Because He at least expects us to be like Him, to give what we didn’t earn.  That’s how we know we walk in the grace of God, and not the pride of what we think we deserve.

In His Love, Ld