Forgive Us Our Diets

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:9-15

“Molly, could you please pass the corn?” Andrew asked. As Molly picked

up the bowl of corn with one hand, she accidentally spilled it all over

the table. “Aw, man,” said Andrew, “I was really looking forward to some corn!”

“I’m sorry, Andrew!” Molly said. “I didn’t mean to spill it—it was an accident!”

“I know, Molly,” Andrew replied as he helped her clean up the spilled corn. “I’ve spilled food before too. Next time use both hands. Can you pass the mashed potatoes instead?”

This time Molly grabbed the bowl of mashed potatoes with both of her hands and passed it to her brother without spilling it.

“Thank you,” Andrew said as he put a spoonful of potatoes on his plate.

“So, Andrew, Mom tells me you’re working on memorizing the Lord’s prayer for Sunday school,” Dad said. “How’s that going?”

“Well, memorizing it is the easy part. My Sunday school teacher wants me to be able to tell her what it means, and that’s where I’m struggling,” Andrew said as he took a bite of his potatoes.

“Well, maybe I can help,” said Dad. “Which part do you not understand?”

“The part that goes something like, ‘Forgive us our diets as we forgive our dieters.’”

Dad chuckled. “I think you mean debts and debtors, not diets and dieters. Our debts are our sins, and our debtors are those who sin against us. God wants us to forgive others just like He forgives us.”

“You mean like how Andrew forgave me for spilling the corn?” asked Molly.

“Well, spilling the corn wasn’t a sin, Molly, so it’s not quite the same thing. But it was a mistake, and instead of getting upset about it, Andrew remembered that he’s made mistakes like that before too. So yes, in a way, that’s what we need to do when others sin against us intentionally. We forgive them because we’ve sinned too, and Jesus has forgiven us.”

“That makes a lot more sense now,” Andrew said as he pushed his plate aside. “I wondered why God wanted us to forgive dieters!” The entire table began to laugh.

– Melissa Yeagle

How About You?

Has anyone ever told you they were sorry for something they did to you that was wrong? Did you forgive them? We all sin and need to ask Jesus to forgive us, and He always does—and He wants us to do the same when others ask us to forgive them for the wrong things they do. The next time someone asks you for forgiveness, remember that Jesus has forgiven you.

Today’s Key Verse:
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another
if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Forgive others