Yesterday we learned that if God were to forgive us in the same measure as we forgive others, we would be in a hopeless mess. It's hard for us to forgive, and we often fail at it.

Let's turn to the historic church as we think about God's forgiveness and how we forgive others. Generations of Christians before us have struggled with this question. The church has nurtured confessions as a way to pass along helpful solutions to problems like this one.

What do you think Jesus has in mind when he has you pray day after day, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors?" (Matthew 6:12). An answer many Christians find helpful is from the Heidelberg Catechism. This prayer request means, "Because of Christ's blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors" (Q&A 126).

The relationship of God's forgiveness to how we forgive others has to do with our intentions. God forgives us in Christ and changes our hearts so that we desire to forgive others. And God expects us to be determined to forgive each other even when it is difficult. That's what Jesus did. It's the only way for us to be truly free.