'Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.' ¹⁴ "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:9-15 (NAS)

Your Enemies and Those Who Persecute You

"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you ⁴⁵ in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?  Matthew 5:44-46 (NAS)

When you pray for those who persecute you...what do you pray for?  Do you pray that God will punish them?  Or, have you forgiven your enemies and those who hate you...as you want God to also forgive you (see Matthew 6:14 above)?  Do you pray that they may repent and change their ways...and that good may come to them?

Jesus also says:  "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. ³⁰ "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. ³¹ "And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. ³² "And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Luke 6:27-33 (NAS)

Is Someone In Debt To You?

Is there someone that owes you a favor, money, an apology, or more?  Are you willing to release them of this debt...as God will release you from the debt that you owe to Him?

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