Last night I was thinking about Matthew 6:14-15 (Message) which reads:
In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
There is always this dance between you and God and we have the lead. It is what we do or do not do that enables what God wants to do for us and through us. The Message puts it just right in saying that we are the ones who cut ourselves off for God’s part.
We are forever connected to God as we are co-laborers together with God. Labor is a work intensive term involving action on our part. I often wonder what God would have done in my own life if I had done a better job with my part of the relationship. Foutunatly, everyday the dance is new, as is His grace and faithfulness. Everyday, today, is an opportunity to do my part.
The illustration in Matthew is one of forgiveness which will be our topic this coming Sunday. The power of forgiveness on our part not only impacts our relationships here but it enables us to recieve the forgiveness we need from God. Maybe you can find the time to pre-study this topic in preparation for the coming Lord’s Day.