Discipleship & Radical ForgivenessНамуна

Father forgive...

Do you recognize these words?

Jesus is hanging on the cross, and He asks His Father, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The nails have just been hammered through His hands, the cross erected. There He hangs. As the soldiers figure out how to distribute the clothing of this dying "King of the Jews," Jesus speaks of forgiveness.

Father forgive.

When I let this sink in, it touches me deeply. How can you do this? How can you live and die in such a self-sacrificing way?

With these words, I also think of the 'Coventry Prayer,' a beautiful prayer to pray (together). Do you know this prayer?

"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

“The hatred that separates nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

FATHER FORGIVE

The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own

FATHER FORGIVE

The greed that exploits the work of human hands and destroys the earth,

FATHER FORGIVE

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

FATHER FORGIVE

Our indifference to the fate of the prisoner, the homeless, the refugee,

FATHER FORGIVE

The lust that dishonors the bodies of men, women and children,

FATHER FORGIVE

The pride that leads us to rely on ourselves and not on God,

FATHER FORGIVE”

“Be toward one another kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you."

Isn't this a wonderful way to ask the Father for forgiveness? To acknowledge that we are guilty and reach out to receive forgiveness.

In Jesus, we have received forgiveness. John teaches us that "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Remember to thank Jesus for the forgiveness He grants. It cost Him everything and we may be free because of it.

Thank you, Jesus, 1,000-fold, thank you!

Take the following question with you to think about and take action on:

• What part of this prayer speaks to you? Why?

Prayer:

• Thank Jesus for his goodness and sacrifice on the cross that made forgiveness possible for us.
• Pray the Coventry prayer yourself, praying, "Father forgive."
• Print out the prayer (do an internet search, you'll find it in no time) and take it home or to your home group and pray together.

P.S. This is the last day of this reading plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it, but, of course, there is much more to discover.

The materials in this reading plan come from Alongsiders, a European discipleship movement. Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and how to do it practically?

Click here for more reading plans and opportunities to grow in discipleship.