A lie, an offense, and unforgiveness

Colossians 3:9-13 NLT
(9) Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
(10) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
(11) In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.
(12) Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
(13) Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

When someone lies to you because of shameful sin how do you react? When that person's actions dishonor you or your family what should you say? Often what you want to say or do is not what you should say or do. How do you forgive the person without condoning the sin? How do you love them without pretending what they did was of no consequence? When a person has responded by lying and that reaction has become a life-style what does that say about the parent? Did the parent fail? Was the child unteachable because of ill feelings harbored inside? Remember both have fallen short and both are human. How does God see a life that refuses to submit to His authority? What does God say about an unrepentant sin? Can that person expect God's blessings in their life or the work of their hands?

These questions lead but to one answer – we know that everyone has fallen short of the glory of God because of what the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 NLT (23) “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.” And we know because of what Jesus taught we are unable to point a finger at one without first condemning ourselves, because of our own broken nature. Look at John 8:7 and Matthew 18:32-35. We also know that God is holy and just and not defiled by sin and impurity, just look at what the Old Testament priests had to do in order to prepare to be in His presence (Leviticus chapter 16). We also know that God is the same yesterday, today, and for eternity, that's why we can only come before Him through what Jesus, the Christ, did for us on the cross – He has paid our sins with His own life so that we might live BUT we have to humbly confess Him as Lord and Savior (1 John 1:9). It's not enough to believe that Jesus lived and died but we must take up our cross and follow Him, love Him, and obey the leading of His Holy Spirit if we are to have eternal life. It is because of these things that we are to forgive, understanding our own desperate situation, knowing that God loves the person who has acted shamefully or even continues to do so just as much as He loves the one who is obedient (Luke 15:11-32) and those who feel self-righteous should be warned God's wrath is kindled against you just like the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. So treading lightly knowing we are to forgive, understanding just how much we have been forgiven. We are to pray for this person so God's presence might be known by them and that He might bring about conviction so that this person's life might change to one that honors Him, and we are to love them by loving and honoring God in our own lives before them, knowing that God is good all the time and cares more than we can comprehend.

Is Today's Society Like Pharaoh?

Exodus 9:12 NLT
(12) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and just as the LORD had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.

Regardless of what facts are presented people refuse to listen just like Moses told Pharaoh about the horrible plagues that would come if he did not listen to God and I believe once again God's people are being prepared for a great exodus as the Jewish people were being prepared to leave Egypt. The harder hearts become the closer we get to seeing God do something big! As it was with Pharaoh many opportunities have been provided to turn from his disobedience but in the end he chose selfishness which brought him low for the rest of the world to see and for all time but even then he did not surrender to God's authority. Is America headed for the same judgment, many think they can over-power or push God's hand. I was reminded of this as I watched video of the Black Lives Matter movement blocking traffic only to be ran over by angry motorist. God is kind and merciful but that does not mean He is weak. It seems odd to me people who dislike their country enough to come looking for a new life are trying so desperately to change America into the same type of country they came from but then sin and disobedience is not about common sense is it? For they, like Pharaoh, are being driven by demonic forces as Satan himself fights against the Living God by trying to destroy what is most important to Him, His people. I feel a great tribulation is coming and we know that only means the second returning of Christ Jesus is also coming. Some believe it will happen before things get bad but I know Jesus, our teacher did not leave this world before the great tribulation he faced and I know the Bible teaches we must be like him.

Matthew 10:24-28 NLT
(24) "Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
(25) Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of My household will be called by even worse names!
(26) "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
(27) What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
(28) "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

As days go on watch and see if people don't get more angry as the truth is revealed for that will be a sure sign that the time of Christ Jesus' return is near. Listen to the words of Jesus as he told His disciples what would take place before the end.

Matthew 24:1-51 NLT
(1) As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, His disciples pointed out to Him the various Temple buildings.
(2) But He responded, "Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!"
(3) Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal Your return and the end of the world? "
(4) Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you,
(5) for many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many.
(6) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately.
(7) Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
(8) But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
(9) "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are My followers.
(10) And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other.
(11) And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
(12) Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
(13) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
(14) And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
(15) "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about--the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place." (Reader, pay attention!)
(16) "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.
(17) A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack.
(18) A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat.
(19) How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
(20) And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
(21) For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.
(22) In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones.

For they know not what they do

Luke 23:33-35 NLT

(33) When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified--one on His right and one on His left.
(34) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.
(35) The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let Him save Himself if He is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One."

We are quick to ask for forgiveness when we fall short of God's standard but if someone falls short of our standard how often do we follow Jesus' example, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do”? No, more often we keep score remembering their deliberate choices against us. In our self-righteous position we justify our prayer for equality, completely forgetting what God has done in order to forgive our deliberate choices against His will. At some point we all come to this place due to the pain and hurt we have endured and we think somehow if we forgive then the offender will not be held accountable. Jesus was not concerned about those responsible for his pain and suffering being held accountable but instead looked past that and saw them as lost children who needed saving. Jesus knew the Father would judge and even though Jesus could have called them out in His righteousness that was not what He came to do, instead He trusted the Father to do what only the Father can do. Remember this the next time someone deliberately comes against you or your intended good; can you trust Father God to do what you cannot, to see what is really going on and judge each one not only by their deeds but also by their hearts?

I have a saying that I try to live by when someone is acting out, “Don't let their problem become your problem.” Meaning we are so often concerned about things being even that when someone hurts us we are quick to act in kind to show them how tough we can be but did you know when we take matters into our own hands God's judgment moves from the offender to us, in part because we had the opportunity to show them God's love and kindness but we were disobedient. Now instead of the offense being against a child of God it is against God himself!

Lord, help me to love like Jesus loves. Please forgive me for holding on to my hurt and pain like they are some sort of trophy to be worn in front of others as a indicator of what I have endured for You, how silly. I am reminded often of my own need for forgiveness and exactly where I would be without it. Give me spiritual eyes to see what is really going on and a heart that trust You know what You are doing. To worry about people being held accountable for their deeds is to worry that You don't know what You are doing and that too is silly. Lord I love You, thanks for loving me first. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Why dad?

Dad why do we read the Bible? Because son there is a journey we all travel but this journey is different than any other because you cannot see, touch, or hear it but this journey is the most import one of them all. But dad if I can't see, touch or hear it how do I know where I'm going? That's the best part son, we have a guide that leads us but you can't see, touch, or hear Him either. But dad I don't understand. How can I follow someone that I cannot see on a path that cannot be touched? Our guide is Jesus Christ and He has given us a road map, it's called the Bible. Those who try to find this path without it are hopelessly lost, as a matter of fact Jesus in His infinite wisdom has hidden the path from all including the rich, those who do well in school, and those who are over us so that all the glory might go to His Father in heaven. You see many have tried to get to heaven on their own but all have fallen short of the mark but Jesus knows we cannot make it without Him and has a plan. In the end all the winners read the Bible not so they can look good but so they can see, does that make sense son? Yes dad, Jesus gave us His Word so that we may know Him and be able to follow Him so that one day we can all go to live with Him in heaven. That's right son, I love you.

My Judge

Pastors and congregations can we please stop criticizing other churches? Small churches blaming big ones for offering short cuts to the life of Christ, big ones overlooking small ones for not reaching as many people, old verses new and on and on it goes. When the real issue is not how much spiritual depth is offered in a weekend or how many programs are offered during the week but it is the spiritual condition the individual heart. Yes, the church has a responsibility to point each member to Jesus Christ and challenge us to be more like him but no matter what church you attend on the weekend it is up to you to seek God's face during the week. Does our faith exist because it is convenient? Do we go to church on the weekend because it is socially acceptable or expected? When we go to church are we meeting God for the first time that week or are we bringing Him in the door with us? Why do we go to church? Is it so we can stay connected to the things of God, be fed, and feel good about ourselves for another week or are we going to worship God corporately, encourage one another, and see God move among His people?

No the differences in churches is not the problem, as long as the leadership is seeking God's direction. The religious be warned God has not given you the right to judge the heart of another (John 8:1-20). The issue is the difference between carnal Christians (those who are saved but still think of themselves first) and the spiritually mature Christians. We know that God's Word does not return void, there are no condition that must be met for this to be true but it instead it is true all the time. So if God's Word is being delivered then there is the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move within His people, regardless of the method of delivery. In any given church you can see this division of spiritual growth with you own eyes – those who want to do what is right so they follow the crowd but lack the strength or desire to search for God on their own and those who really know God, who claim to hear God's voice, who faithfully obey His Word consistently.

We also know that the body is made up of different parts and no one part can say to the other it is not needed simply because it's functions differently (1 Corinthians 12). Yet comparisons between the body of Christ are announced from the stage almost every weekend – why? What purpose does it serve? Have you ever seen someone gain popularity only to be put down by another? Does that make the person trashing the other look better? I don't know about you but it turns my stomach. How much more true is that for the family of God? Yet it is rampant in social media, in our homes, work places, and churches. If it makes you sick to your stomach I wonder what God thinks about it? So stop yourself before you speak the next critical word of judgment and understand how that makes you appear and if that is not enough to change your mind then remember though we are not to judge the heart there is One who is worthy of fulfilling that role and He has promised to do it and the hour quickly approaches.

The purpose of the law

Romans 3:20 NLT

(20) For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

If we judge others by the law then it is clear we do not know the law, thereby voiding our own prosecution. No the law is there first to point us to our own need for Jesus. After coming to Jesus as Lord and in humility laying down our lives and the control we believe we have over it to His Lordship then those we were so quick to judge before are seen differently because we see them through the eyes of our Savior; no longer wanting to condemn but instead wanting to share the life we have found in Christ. Condemnation turns to compassion and contempt turns to serving and stonewalling turns into walking with that person until we are able to see where they are coming from, no longer do we take secondhand knowledge about a person in order to cast them out of the gates but instead we grow relationship and trust by speaking life into their very souls. In this way we become Christ-like, followers of Christ Jesus faithfully representing the love we have been shown, a love we could not earn to pay a price we could not pay.

Romans 3:25-26 NLT

(25) For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

(26) for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus.

God respects Joseph

Matthew 2:13-23

God chooses to lead the family through Joseph, though He spoke to Mary first it was on a personal level to let her know God was with her concerning the birth of the Messiah but from that point on God led Joseph and Mary through Joseph's life, which gave respect and honor to Joseph as the husband and leader of his family. Had God not led them out of danger this way when Herod tried to kill Jesus but did it through Mary instead do you think that would have bond the family together or would Joseph start to feel excluded.

Too many times I've heard a husband say, “I'm just a paycheck to my wife. She doesn't need me otherwise.” If the husband is a good-willed man who loves God then it is natural for him to want to be included in decisions about the family, that's why it is so damaging when the wife makes choices about the kids, finances, schedule, etc. without talking to the husband first. I get that if the wife does not understand the reason for this it could be taken as the husband wanting to control everything, especially if her father was overbearing but by trying to be independent she cuts herself off from her husband's love, which leads to a “crazy cycle” Dr. Emerson Eggerichs talks about in his book Love and Respect. Remember it's the adoration of the wife for the husband that enables him to lay down his life for her and their children, as God intended.

I believe with Mary, as with all those who love Jehovah today, God continued to speak to her and reassure her on a personal level just as strongly as He did when the angel first spoke to her about the baby inside her womb and I also believe that when God led her family through her husband she had no resentment because she honored Joseph and knew that was God's plan.

Love and Respect changes everything

Within six months of marriage I knew what I needed out of our relationship was different than what my wife needed but I didn’t know how to express it. As years went by and we shared our home with teenagers it became ever more apparent that RESPECT was like an oasis in the middle of the desert and the absence of it was a burden too heavy for me to carry. The well-meaning “adult” that told my children that “respect is earned” either didn’t take time study the Bible on his own or never questioned the way he was taught for this teaching is prevalent in our homes, schools, and even churches. Ephesians 5:33 tells God’s command to both husbands and wives and when they marry they enter into an agreement with God but it is not dependent upon the other one’s ability to earn it. “So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” What’s being said, in case you missed it, is that the husband must have unconditional love for his wife and the wife must have unconditional respect for her husband – both being wired to receive God’s wonderful gift from the other one in this primary and unique way.

When we teach that love is to be unconditional but respect is to be earned it drains the husband of his God-given ability and/or desire to do anything for his wife or children because disrespect is seen as contempt but it does more than just that the husband is taken to into deep, dark place that no one else knows about and with one fell swoop the enemy of God has made his move against each one in the family. However, when respect is given unconditionally it causes something inside the husband to come alive. It’s the very same thing that makes a soldier willing to die for his friends – nothing is impossible or cost too much! “Mary tell me that you want the moon and I’ll lasso it and bring it down to you.” George Bailey could do anything for Mary because she honored him and in return he loved her. More than ever before the old movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” had real meaning to me this Christmas as God prepared me for this message, thanks Malachi.

I believe the wife has the ability to build her husband up to be the man God intended but she also has the ability to cut his legs out from under him and the sad thing is unless she also hears this message with her heart she won’t even realize it… she only knows that her husband isn’t loving her the way she needs to be loved. So who goes first? Which one is the more mature?

The following is an excerpt from the book I’ve been reading Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs