(2 Corinthians 2:6-8 GNB) It is enough that this person has been punished in this way by most of you. Now, however, you should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely. And so I beg you to let him know that you really do love him.
What’s our purpose when we punish those who have wronged us? Is it for revenge, is it because of unforgiveness? How often do we stop what we are doing and think what is God’s purpose in this situation? Throughout God’s Word He makes it very clear that the law was given so that people would know their own sin, their own short comings, and ultimately their need for a savior. God prepared man’s heart for a savior by giving them the law through Moses first, likewise we are to stand up for what is right and true and make God’s Word known, we are not to join the wicked or even a brother of sister who makes bad choices and sometimes that requires tough decisions from us, especially if they are someone who we hold close. The goal is to keep this person from falling any further than they already have, hold them by God’s love, and point them back to Jesus. However, to try and get even for the pain they have caused and to make sure they hurt as bad as we did that attitude is not of God and quite possibly even worse and the punishment from God even more severe, read Matthew chapter 18. You see being called Christ’s is not so easy after all. Belonging to Christ Jesus means taking up our cross, forsaking what comes natural to our flesh and following in His footsteps. This requires us keeping our eyes on Him and our ears open to the moving of His Holy Spirit by what other means do we expect to walk a path unseen, by what other means do we expect to do in the spirit what is impossible in the flesh?
(Psalms 8:3-6 NIV) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
Lord, because you have placed us in a place of authority therefore, You also require of us great responsibility. Help us to not forget nor take for granted this place You have given unto us. We know that You are faithful to forgive, help us to do the same with reckless abandonment. In your Son’s name, I pray amen.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
What will it take
Son: How many times must I forgive?
Father: Have you sweated unto blood? Have you carried a cross that was not yours up a hill to a place you did not belong? Why do you ask me such things, when you know what was required for your forgiveness?
Son: But Father my heart is heavy and filled with pain.
Father: I know son, won’t you give those things to me instead of carrying them yourself?
Son: But Father if I do who will make sure justice is served?
Father: Am I not just? Am I not holy? There is yet another reason you cling to unforgiveness.
Son: I am mad that this wrong was brought down upon me and I want the person who wronged me to know what it is like. Father how could you let this happen to me, I trusted you!
Father: So you willingly forsake my ways so that you may hold onto unforgiveness and anger? Is it not enough that I walk with you and before you guarding you from the enemy? Do you not believe I will keep you until the end of this journey? You know I cannot let you stay like this, yet disobedience remains. Have you not seen with your own eyes the slave set free, the broken made whole, and the weak made strong? Did they change on their own, through their own strength or was it because they realized their own hopelessness and believed in me? If change does not come then you will miss all that I have planned for you.
Son: Don’t I have a right to be mad? I know you love me but I am just not ready to forgive.
Father: Son there are things you must learn and you will start with the trying of your faith not for punishment sake but so you may grow, yet it is not I that brings you to this place but your own choices but even still I will remain with you and though you must go through this it will be I who delivers you.
What is it about us that causes this self-reliance? There certainly have been enough times that things haven’t worked out as evidence that we don’t know the way but unfortunately there have been just enough times when things did work out that keeps us looking for something in ourselves that does not exist. For those who are determined to find the answer within themselves beware for your very lives hang in the balance. God is all about growing us through Christ Jesus and if we chose not to acknowledge Him in times of blessing then by our own choices we will face hardship but not all who go through hardship do so because of their own bad choices but all will change. Those who trust God grow and those who don’t will fall away, saying God is unfair, opening the possibility to do what they always wanted and follow their own blind eyes.
(2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NLT) In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.
Father: Have you sweated unto blood? Have you carried a cross that was not yours up a hill to a place you did not belong? Why do you ask me such things, when you know what was required for your forgiveness?
Son: But Father my heart is heavy and filled with pain.
Father: I know son, won’t you give those things to me instead of carrying them yourself?
Son: But Father if I do who will make sure justice is served?
Father: Am I not just? Am I not holy? There is yet another reason you cling to unforgiveness.
Son: I am mad that this wrong was brought down upon me and I want the person who wronged me to know what it is like. Father how could you let this happen to me, I trusted you!
Father: So you willingly forsake my ways so that you may hold onto unforgiveness and anger? Is it not enough that I walk with you and before you guarding you from the enemy? Do you not believe I will keep you until the end of this journey? You know I cannot let you stay like this, yet disobedience remains. Have you not seen with your own eyes the slave set free, the broken made whole, and the weak made strong? Did they change on their own, through their own strength or was it because they realized their own hopelessness and believed in me? If change does not come then you will miss all that I have planned for you.
Son: Don’t I have a right to be mad? I know you love me but I am just not ready to forgive.
Father: Son there are things you must learn and you will start with the trying of your faith not for punishment sake but so you may grow, yet it is not I that brings you to this place but your own choices but even still I will remain with you and though you must go through this it will be I who delivers you.
What is it about us that causes this self-reliance? There certainly have been enough times that things haven’t worked out as evidence that we don’t know the way but unfortunately there have been just enough times when things did work out that keeps us looking for something in ourselves that does not exist. For those who are determined to find the answer within themselves beware for your very lives hang in the balance. God is all about growing us through Christ Jesus and if we chose not to acknowledge Him in times of blessing then by our own choices we will face hardship but not all who go through hardship do so because of their own bad choices but all will change. Those who trust God grow and those who don’t will fall away, saying God is unfair, opening the possibility to do what they always wanted and follow their own blind eyes.
(2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NLT) In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Be courageous
(1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT) Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
This life is difficult, it is rewarding, it is vast in experiences of many kinds but we are to remain true to the call upon our lives. There will be instruction, there will be things that have to be done that we will not feel like doing but that does not change our responsibility. For this life is a race and each one must run with all that is within and run with hope and peace and endurance. Each one must be courageous putting aside the things that would weigh them down. Know this, sacrifices made now will be counted as nothing when we see the Lord’s promise with our own eyes. O, weary traveler remember those who have gone before you now watch with anticipation every step you make; they are cheering you on whether you knew them or not because they now know God’s promise is true and though you cannot always see it every step brings you close to home.
(Hebrews 12:1 NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
(Luke 13:29 NLT) And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
King David was not concerned what other thought about his relationship with God, it simply did not matter to him. What did matter is that God’s help was always near and that the Lord heard him and because God was faithful to His servant David’s heart grew close and his mouth filled with praises continually.
(Psalms 7:17 NLT) I will thank the LORD because He is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
This life is difficult, it is rewarding, it is vast in experiences of many kinds but we are to remain true to the call upon our lives. There will be instruction, there will be things that have to be done that we will not feel like doing but that does not change our responsibility. For this life is a race and each one must run with all that is within and run with hope and peace and endurance. Each one must be courageous putting aside the things that would weigh them down. Know this, sacrifices made now will be counted as nothing when we see the Lord’s promise with our own eyes. O, weary traveler remember those who have gone before you now watch with anticipation every step you make; they are cheering you on whether you knew them or not because they now know God’s promise is true and though you cannot always see it every step brings you close to home.
(Hebrews 12:1 NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
(Luke 13:29 NLT) And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
King David was not concerned what other thought about his relationship with God, it simply did not matter to him. What did matter is that God’s help was always near and that the Lord heard him and because God was faithful to His servant David’s heart grew close and his mouth filled with praises continually.
(Psalms 7:17 NLT) I will thank the LORD because He is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Patience is a virtue
(James 1:2-4 MKJV) My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.
Why does the trying of my faith work patience – because I am human and being as such I will fall many times in this life but one thing remains, one thing is true, for I have been bought with a price and I am no longer my own but God’s. For He is with me and He goes before me, therefore I trust Him to lead me where I need to go even though I know not where that is still I will hold tightly to His hand. Though things do not go the way I plan I patiently wait for Him, knowing His timing is perfect and His direction is keen, beyond that of any human understanding. He is my source of hope and I have committed to walk in His footsteps throughout this life; I will not turn to the left or the right though my own eyes would deceive me. I am but a child, my mind is weak and my eyes are dim but He who leads me knows and sees all things from the beginning of time until this life is over and beyond that He will not cease to be who He is for He is the one who has defeated death and the grave and victory is mine if I remain in Him.
(Psalms 139:8-10 NIV) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
So I should count all trials and test in this life as joy, not because I enjoy stumbling or being knocked to the floor but because I know there is purpose in enduring, for when the honing is complete the result will be a fine edge that the Master will faithfully use as He sees fit. Those times when the Master allows me to see clearly I am made aware that this abrasive whetstone is removing the hard crusty scales that cover my heart. You see God wants to use me and you but we have allowed pain and circumstances of life to harden us. While in process it feels like the hardened outer shell is right and natural, after all it covers our vulnerability as did the fig leaf cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness but it is that hardened outer layer that prevents us from being who God meant for us to be and therefore it must be removed before we can be used by Him who created us. It is like taking pain medication to reduce the pain we feel, not knowing the pain is pointing to something of utter most importance we then walk around in a fog not able to feel or think clearly and miss the deeper meaning. Not all of life equals pain for there are many things to be happy about but this one thing I know what little insight I have comes from being able to sense God’s still small voice and being sensitive to the moving of His Holy Spirit; for the things of the spirit are a mystery, who can know them but God and when we are so concerned about protecting ourselves from feeling any pain we miss the purpose of life, stumbling around in a spiritual fog therefore we miss the opportunity to be used for His higher purpose.
(James 1:12 MSG) Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
Why does the trying of my faith work patience – because I am human and being as such I will fall many times in this life but one thing remains, one thing is true, for I have been bought with a price and I am no longer my own but God’s. For He is with me and He goes before me, therefore I trust Him to lead me where I need to go even though I know not where that is still I will hold tightly to His hand. Though things do not go the way I plan I patiently wait for Him, knowing His timing is perfect and His direction is keen, beyond that of any human understanding. He is my source of hope and I have committed to walk in His footsteps throughout this life; I will not turn to the left or the right though my own eyes would deceive me. I am but a child, my mind is weak and my eyes are dim but He who leads me knows and sees all things from the beginning of time until this life is over and beyond that He will not cease to be who He is for He is the one who has defeated death and the grave and victory is mine if I remain in Him.
(Psalms 139:8-10 NIV) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
So I should count all trials and test in this life as joy, not because I enjoy stumbling or being knocked to the floor but because I know there is purpose in enduring, for when the honing is complete the result will be a fine edge that the Master will faithfully use as He sees fit. Those times when the Master allows me to see clearly I am made aware that this abrasive whetstone is removing the hard crusty scales that cover my heart. You see God wants to use me and you but we have allowed pain and circumstances of life to harden us. While in process it feels like the hardened outer shell is right and natural, after all it covers our vulnerability as did the fig leaf cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness but it is that hardened outer layer that prevents us from being who God meant for us to be and therefore it must be removed before we can be used by Him who created us. It is like taking pain medication to reduce the pain we feel, not knowing the pain is pointing to something of utter most importance we then walk around in a fog not able to feel or think clearly and miss the deeper meaning. Not all of life equals pain for there are many things to be happy about but this one thing I know what little insight I have comes from being able to sense God’s still small voice and being sensitive to the moving of His Holy Spirit; for the things of the spirit are a mystery, who can know them but God and when we are so concerned about protecting ourselves from feeling any pain we miss the purpose of life, stumbling around in a spiritual fog therefore we miss the opportunity to be used for His higher purpose.
(James 1:12 MSG) Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Of all men most miserable
(1 Corinthians 15:19 MKJV) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
All of our hope, all that we live for cannot be found in this life but that which has been promised and if that is a lie and all of our hopes die when we are placed in the ground then we who believe are of all men most miserable!
We are to deny our flesh and live our lives according the purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ so all things that would kill the seed within us are instead killed. This seed which is planted when our bodies buried is therefore instead stripped clean so that on that day when Christ returns that which comes fourth from the ground is something new and whole but if this hope is lost then the sacrifices we have made in this life have been for nothing and we’ve missed the mark by not living for the flesh but instead for the spirit within us. Take hope, for we believe because God’s Spirit is witness to ours that Christ Jesus is alive and preparing a place in heaven for us where we will one day live in His presence, under His reign forever and ever, amen.
(Psalms 6:9 MKJV) Jehovah has heard my cry; Jehovah will receive my prayer.
All of our hope, all that we live for cannot be found in this life but that which has been promised and if that is a lie and all of our hopes die when we are placed in the ground then we who believe are of all men most miserable!
We are to deny our flesh and live our lives according the purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ so all things that would kill the seed within us are instead killed. This seed which is planted when our bodies buried is therefore instead stripped clean so that on that day when Christ returns that which comes fourth from the ground is something new and whole but if this hope is lost then the sacrifices we have made in this life have been for nothing and we’ve missed the mark by not living for the flesh but instead for the spirit within us. Take hope, for we believe because God’s Spirit is witness to ours that Christ Jesus is alive and preparing a place in heaven for us where we will one day live in His presence, under His reign forever and ever, amen.
(Psalms 6:9 MKJV) Jehovah has heard my cry; Jehovah will receive my prayer.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Loud and Clear
(1 Corinthians 14:8 NLT) And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
There are a lot of buglers today and the vast majority of those are unclear though the original message may be meant for good it becomes convoluted with branches leading to nowhere, only to confuse the hearer. As a result what we end up with is system overload because all the buglers are sounding at the same time from all different origins with no clear direction. 1 Corinthians 14 Paul is talking to the church about the spiritual gifts. It seemed the Corinthians desired to have the gift of speaking in a heavenly language over other gifts but Paul tells them this…
(1 Corinthians 14:18-19 NLT) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
Paul’s point is understood, if someone prays in tongues that person’s spirit is strengthened but when someone prophecies he strengthens the entire church. But today this spoke to me differently, many times when a believer is led to share God’s Word with someone other things get mixed in with the message God intended for the listener to hear. Now I understand we each add flavor according to our own understanding and our own stories and that is good for we become witnesses to God’s deliverance in our own lives but the messenger also needs to understand they are simply the vessel God chose to deliver His message and sometimes it’s not about the delivery of the message but the message itself. Simply put be mindful of what God is doing through you as you speak and do not add or take away from His purpose.
(Psalms 5:7-8 NLT) Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house; I will worship at Your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make Your way plain for me to follow.
Lord, help my ears to hear you clearly. Strip away the sounds of the world, wash me so I may enter your courts with praise and thanksgiving and then prepare me for the things You would have me do and say today. Help my tongue and lips to say no more and no less than what You have prepared for those I come in contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.
There are a lot of buglers today and the vast majority of those are unclear though the original message may be meant for good it becomes convoluted with branches leading to nowhere, only to confuse the hearer. As a result what we end up with is system overload because all the buglers are sounding at the same time from all different origins with no clear direction. 1 Corinthians 14 Paul is talking to the church about the spiritual gifts. It seemed the Corinthians desired to have the gift of speaking in a heavenly language over other gifts but Paul tells them this…
(1 Corinthians 14:18-19 NLT) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
Paul’s point is understood, if someone prays in tongues that person’s spirit is strengthened but when someone prophecies he strengthens the entire church. But today this spoke to me differently, many times when a believer is led to share God’s Word with someone other things get mixed in with the message God intended for the listener to hear. Now I understand we each add flavor according to our own understanding and our own stories and that is good for we become witnesses to God’s deliverance in our own lives but the messenger also needs to understand they are simply the vessel God chose to deliver His message and sometimes it’s not about the delivery of the message but the message itself. Simply put be mindful of what God is doing through you as you speak and do not add or take away from His purpose.
(Psalms 5:7-8 NLT) Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house; I will worship at Your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make Your way plain for me to follow.
Lord, help my ears to hear you clearly. Strip away the sounds of the world, wash me so I may enter your courts with praise and thanksgiving and then prepare me for the things You would have me do and say today. Help my tongue and lips to say no more and no less than what You have prepared for those I come in contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Lift up and instruct
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 TNIV) Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
For the most part Christians who live in the United States have lost our God-given purpose but I can tell you that does not relieve us of our responsibility unto God and therefore I pray He awakens us. As followers of Jesus Christ the older are to instruct the younger and the younger are to respect their elders by listening and following their instructions as it aligns with the Word of God and apply it to their own lives and God-given dreams. It is the elder that has the heavier responsibility and it is the same that will be judge more harshly if this call is ignored but that does not relieve the younger from their responsibilities either – none are exempt and we all will give an account of the choices we make, not to man or man’s law but to God and on that day one cannot point to another and say it is because of him, no you alone will answer for your decisions!
At the core of America’s problems is a thread that is woven into everything we do – selfishness and pride. Selfishness pushes us onto the goals we set for ourselves and pride makes us believe obtaining those goals makes us better for it. Unfortunately, if we are not listening to God’s voice while we are working out our schemes, by the way ignoring our elders sets us up for ignoring God’s voice as well, then we will have spent our entire lives pursuing things that lead to spiritual death and destruction and that which we have worked so hard for will be viewed for what it is – worthless heaps horded by a hollow heart, for without Christ our plans will only bring sorrow and pain.
So much could be gained if we as a people would align ourselves with God’s precepts. God does not give instruction to punish us but instead to set us free from a life lived following after things that hold no spiritual value. It all starts at home – parents will you give up selfishness and pride so that your children may know God’s will? Children, will you do the same so that you may gain your parent's wisdom, that which was given to them by their parents? Obedience does not mean surrendering your hopes and dreams, your challenge is to learn from your parents and apply it to your own lives so that you can see above your peers as you stand on the shoulders of your parents. As parents there is no other pursuit in this life that will bring more joy than children who long for Christ Jesus to be present in every decision they make, who run to their Heavenly Father when you cannot be there for them. If this is what you want then replace selfishness and pride with holiness and edify one another, pushing one another on to the hope God has placed within them.
Edify – To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally, and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. (Webster)
For the most part Christians who live in the United States have lost our God-given purpose but I can tell you that does not relieve us of our responsibility unto God and therefore I pray He awakens us. As followers of Jesus Christ the older are to instruct the younger and the younger are to respect their elders by listening and following their instructions as it aligns with the Word of God and apply it to their own lives and God-given dreams. It is the elder that has the heavier responsibility and it is the same that will be judge more harshly if this call is ignored but that does not relieve the younger from their responsibilities either – none are exempt and we all will give an account of the choices we make, not to man or man’s law but to God and on that day one cannot point to another and say it is because of him, no you alone will answer for your decisions!
At the core of America’s problems is a thread that is woven into everything we do – selfishness and pride. Selfishness pushes us onto the goals we set for ourselves and pride makes us believe obtaining those goals makes us better for it. Unfortunately, if we are not listening to God’s voice while we are working out our schemes, by the way ignoring our elders sets us up for ignoring God’s voice as well, then we will have spent our entire lives pursuing things that lead to spiritual death and destruction and that which we have worked so hard for will be viewed for what it is – worthless heaps horded by a hollow heart, for without Christ our plans will only bring sorrow and pain.
So much could be gained if we as a people would align ourselves with God’s precepts. God does not give instruction to punish us but instead to set us free from a life lived following after things that hold no spiritual value. It all starts at home – parents will you give up selfishness and pride so that your children may know God’s will? Children, will you do the same so that you may gain your parent's wisdom, that which was given to them by their parents? Obedience does not mean surrendering your hopes and dreams, your challenge is to learn from your parents and apply it to your own lives so that you can see above your peers as you stand on the shoulders of your parents. As parents there is no other pursuit in this life that will bring more joy than children who long for Christ Jesus to be present in every decision they make, who run to their Heavenly Father when you cannot be there for them. If this is what you want then replace selfishness and pride with holiness and edify one another, pushing one another on to the hope God has placed within them.
Edify – To instruct and improve the mind in knowledge generally, and particularly in moral and religious knowledge, in faith and holiness. (Webster)
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