"Praying and Forgiveness"

Recently I had a very kind and spiritual minded lady in Christ ask me what to do when she was harboring ill feelings toward another and it was very difficult for her to let go of it. I could see it was weighing on her heart and she wanted to be free but there was something else I noticed. I asked her if she really wanted to give it up. After a brief pause, tears filled her eyes and she quietly spoke, "no." I asked her why and then the truth came out, "I am afraid if I forgive this individual, they will hurt me again!" She is probably right, knowing the history between her and this other person but that's not the issue.

Too many are professing their faith in Jesus but holding to resentments and bitterness in their hearts toward others who have hurt them. If the cross of Christ is the center of our lives, how can we not see that we will probably hurt Him again? Yet, if our heart is repentant and soft, what does the Lord do? He forgives and He forgives completely! The word forgive means "to cast away." Micah speaks of God, "...yes, You will cast all their sins into the depth of the seas." (Micah 7:19). What a wonderful thought. The covenant we are under, which we proclaim each first day of the week in the Supper speaks to us: "For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (Heb. 8;12) What are we under that covenant for?

Let's take this one step further. If one is holding in their heart some bitterness, resentful, ill feeling toward another, it might not be seen except by the eyes of the Lord. When Jesus was teaching about prayer, one thing has to be made certain between us and God: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12) Did you get the past tense "also have forgiven?" God is searching and seeing our heart when we pray. He sees the sincerity of words from a heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. If there is any bitterness or ill will held to, forget prayer. I know that's a little straight but that is what Jesus was saying. How can we, who have been cleansed over and over by the blood of Christ not extend that same love toward another who has hurt us? Something is wrong in the heart.

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matt. 6:14-15)

"Spiritual Joy"

We hear talk about spiritual joy and many try to tie it our physical happiness. As long as things go well for us, we are happy and joyous. When things get difficult or plans do not work out, someone hurts our feelings, that joy and happiness is gone. Spiritual joy is not tied to circumstances but to God! It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). That means it comes from a spiritual source and not a physical source.

Read through the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30). We find out that Jesus is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each of us in Christ. He will never expect more than we are capable. That's good to know. The two that dealt faithfully with what they were entrusted by the master, it led them into the joy of the master along with praise. When we deal faithfully in our lives, it always leads to greater things and brings one into the joy of the relationship. When one does not deal faithfully, it brings them into misery. The point Jesus makes is God is trying to move us into His joy but that depends on our faithful response to Him with what we have been entrusted!

In Heb. 12:1-3, we find where we are to be looking: "fixing our eyes on Jesus." There are many things that want to take us down, to try to destroy our faith but we must look at Jesus and Him only. Why? Because He too endured horrible circumstances. How did He endure such pain, shame and humiliation? "For the joy set before Him." The joy of the relationship with His Father and the promise of the final outcome caused Him to endure. It led Him into the joy of the relationship despite the bad happening to Him. He was faithful to God and trusted by responding to God's will. Jesus showed us how to do it and how to make it and if we would but fix our eyes on Jesus, serving Him and not our circumstances, it will lead us into His joy!

When we have bad attitudes, unloving attitudes, we know the Lord does not want that from us. The question is will we be faithful and change our attitude? That will determine everything from the Lord. When we become upset at someone, notice we loose sight of the eternal things of God. Everything from God stops working at that moment. That why bitterness, resentments and hard feelings must be put away from us. That is being faithful in what we have been entrusted and looking to Jesus as our focus. Anger, bitterness, resentments are the world opposite of God because the focus and heart are wrapped around our feelings and how we have been wronged. We have just "buried" what we were entrusted with from the Lord and there will be no entering into the joy of the Master at that time.

We can find true spiritual joy despite people and difficult circumstances if we will humbly submit and walk with the Lord. Sinful attitudes, complaining, grudges and guilt all kill spiritual joy. Jesus is our way out if we truly believe and trust Him, moving into His heart and response. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and serving Him in the midst of difficulties faithfully will always lead us into His joy. I wonder why so many who profess Christ are miserable in their lives?

"The Truth"

The other night I was going through some channels and came across a religious program with a very prominent day religious figure. The place had thousands and as the man spoke in his kind and gentle voice, people would often break out into clapping and an occasional yelling out. As I listened, I realized that he was speaking nothing but a lot of nice, fun (and sometimes comical) words with a soothing voice. Then he quoted a Scripture and no one seemed to get it. He misquoted the Bible! I have a DVR and replayed it to make sure I heard what I heard. He misquoted Scripture. I thought maybe it was a mistake but he kept quoting it wrongly and his lesson was based on this misquoted Scripture.

As I listened for a few more minutes, it struck me how all these thousands weren't bothered. They believed they were hearing the word of God but it was nothing more than a bunch of twisted and abuse of God's word. It was the Scriptures turned into lies and no one knew it!

People have very little drive and desire in our day and time to find out if there is any truth in what is said or not. People aren't interested in the truth. They are interested in being made to feel good. Preachers are wanting to be more polished and smooth rather than be truthful. People want preachers that are "with the times" and can woo us into a world of perfect English with smooth lines. The truth is being trampled and there is little desire for holding it up.

Recently I wrote on the blog of a brotherhood preacher. He has an outreach of many across this nation of ours. He was offering suggestions on how he thought we should be reaching out. Out of the several suggestions he gave, only one dealt with the truth of God's word. The other suggestions were extremely fleshly but polished. There was not one shread of Scripture to back them up. I wrote and told him that instead of following the world, we need to make certain we do things according to Christ (Col. 2:8). He responded and said he agreed but that we need to be careful we aren't so rigid that we turn away the lost world from us. In other words, let's cater to the world and what the world would be attracted to.

Jesus didn't do this. His apostles didn't do this. The truth is the ONLY thing that can save anyone. The truth is the only thing that can keep us free from sin and corruption. The truth is what the church of our Lord is to stand on. The truth is meant to be obeyed. The truth is the ONLY thing that can set one free. The truth twisted or changed is no longer the truth, which means the preaching and teaching are no long lined up with God. The truth is the ONLY thing that brings assurance and hope. Maybe we need to heed the words of Jesus: "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speak a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) The truth is for doing!

"Who Influences You?"

People can influence us for the good or the bad. We too can influence others, for the good or the bad. Whatever influences us, we will do everything to imitate and follow.

Paul reminds us in Phil. 3 to join in following his example and those who walk (conduct themselves) according to this example (v.17). To remind the church of this, that means there are two different examples and we need to exercise great care.

First, there is an example, a pattern some follow that will end in destruction. We are speaking about the church, not the world! (The world is already lost and separated from God.) Paul says "for many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ." (v.18) "MANY!" That is hard for some to accept but just observe the lives of many who claims Christ and you will see it. The cross, the death of Jesus has little impact on their lives while living for the world has a great impact. These are the ones who just hold to a form of godliness but deny the power (II Tim. 3:5). What pattern do they walk after? It will end in destruction (v.19). Destruction is all they have coming and they aren't even aware it's coming! Their god? Their own appetites. That's not talking about eating but those desires from within them that controls their lives. For instance, when they get their feelings hurt, those hurts become their appetite and focus. It's all they think about and creates bad attitudes. Others live for pleasures of the world and that becomes their appetite. It is all about pleasing themselves and their wants. They glory in their shame (v.19). Just listen to how brazen people speak about how they cheated someone or took advantage of a situation while another was hurt. Some speak boldly how they broke the law and didn't get caught. It's all shameful behavior for a Christian and they glory in it! What is the conclusion? They set their minds on earthly things (v.19). This is where their mind set always runs. There is little thinking to wanting to please Christ. This is the description of those who are enemies of the cross.

There is also a pattern that ends in heaven (v.20). Those who walk according to this pattern realize they are citizens of heaven and live as a heavenly citizen. It leads them to eagerly wait for Jesus, their Savior. They live each day for Jesus, knowing that someday their bodies will be transformed and changed into His likeness. Their lives are patterned after Jesus and they try to influence others toward Jesus.

We can be influenced for good or bad! The question is, who influences you? Your life reveals it!

"Religion"

The word "religion" comes from two Latin words. The first word is "re" meaning "back" and the second word is "lego" meaning "to bind." It means "to bind back." The religion of God is that which binds us back to God. You have heard the saying: "Christian's are not perfect, just forgiven." That is a true statement, however there is much more than just being forgiven. God did not have Jesus put on the cross to merely forgive us our sins! He forgave us our sins in order that we might be bound back together with Him. The death of Jesus was to bring us back into a relationship with the Almighty!

But it doesn't end there. Not only have we been forgiven to bind us back to God but that forgiveness is to influence us to live like Jesus and follow in His steps because we have been bound back. Peter is explicit about this in I Pet. 2:21-25. The apostle John writes, "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18) What does all this mean? Our religion is to make a difference on how we live! Being bound back to God through the death of Jesus should mold us into being like Jesus (Rom. 8:29).

Our "religion" should make a difference how we live:

(1) In our homes. If one really wants to know about someone, just look at the home. Christ's influence on our lives is seen in its greatest there.

(2) In our work. Our attitudes, dispositions are seen in the eyes of those we work around. They will make judgments about your "religion" based on your walk.

(3) In your play. Our society has a win at all cost philosophy. We need to be a shining light that displays our "religion" when people observe our lives openly.

Yes, our "religion" should truly make a difference in how we live. Who we are reflects to who we have been bound to.

"Count It All Joy"

James tells us to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." (Jam. 1:2) How can one "consider" things all joy when you fall into trials of many different kinds? Your mate has run out on you and you feel the betrayal and intense pain. Consider that all joy? That loved one or child you lost to death, while your heart longs for their touch and laughter once more and consider it all joy? Are we to pretend joy or is this something genuine and real?

Let's start with Jesus in Gethsemane. Was He grinning and leaping about as He was facing a horrific death and separation from His Father? Just listen to the sound of His voice, the sobbing and agonizing pain and the the begging of His Father for another way. Did He count that as all joy? If He didn't, why would God expect us to do it?

To "consider it all joy" is an attitude within the heart because you realize the whole, not just the immediate. Jesus, when He was hurting, completely turned Himself over into the hand of God and His will knowing the whole. He trusted His Father and accepted the Father's will without complaint. That's considering it all joy! Jesus trusted the complete whole of things, not just one part.

Too many times we look at a single part, not the whole. When we don't see God's promises and intentions, our trials become all pain and there is no attitude of joy. But when we see what God has promised, it brings something into our hearts that is beyond explanation. God always promises to those who really love Him and follow His will that the painful experience will be for our good (Rom. 8:28). Why do we loose sight of that so easily? When a child passes from this life, we focus on the death rather than see the whole. We don't see a child that is safe, with God and Christ and never to be tempted and fall under sins dominion eternally. We count it as all pain and find little help from God.

When Christ was in Gethsemane, below all the pain and agony, there was this deep desire to do the Holy Father's will. He found joy in pleasing His Holy Father and we can see that in all He takes on and this is what He has His eyes on, even in the garden. When Paul was hurting, asking God to remove the thorn (II Cor. 12), he didn't find the agony the joy but down below wanting to be free from the enduring pain was a deeper sense of love and desire to be a faithful servant of God. He saw God's grace and found himself dependant more than ever on God's grace. It created the sense him counting it all joy because he saw his Holy Father's greatness and it brought Paul contentment.

When we go through difficulties, what we see and focus on will determine how we live through it. If we can get the whole picture, trusting our Holy Father, we will consider it all joy. If we don't, it will take us down and we will consider it all miserable and our lives will reflect that. The agony is not the joy. The knowing what the Father will do with the agony for my better creates an attitude of joy. Jesus saw the joy set before Him so He could endure (Heb. 12:2). What about us?

"Practicing Righteousness"

We have all had one of those e-mails in one form or another..."This was sent to you because you are loved by the Lord. If you believe and love the Lord, please pass this on to at least 10 people and return it to the one who sent it to you." It seems more and more people are wanting to show their Christianity. That's not a bad thing but was this the way Jesus really intended for us to be?

As Jesus was speaking with His disciples, He taught them, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 6:1) To do things in the name of the Lord so others will notice is a wrong motive. Some may not like to hear that but Jesus was teaching that. To be recognized by men is not good. Jesus goes on to explain about their giving and sounding a trumpet before you when you give (v.2-4). We have seen this already in the Haitian relief. The rich, famous and ball teams all announce the money they give to help the poor. They are doing it to be noticed by men. Listen, you can do good things but for the wrong reason. Jesus said to give, do it in secret as a service to God as God will see. When we do things for God's name sake, He notices. When we do things to be recognized by people, the praise from people is all they get!

We seem to live in a day and time where people need attention from people. Some feel inadequate and need acceptance. We are not to be attention seekers but learn to serve from a pure heart and givers because of God.

To do things in secret because of God and His glory, God is able to make things come back to you. That's why Jesus warned His disciples about making things a show. We need to learn how to build a genuine faith, based off of God and Him alone. It strengthens the relationship and causes real spiritual growth. Jesus taught that what we do before men, it needs to make certain that it glorifies God, not us or our deeds (Matt. 5:16). Take people who "witness" for the Lord. They tell others what God has done for them and if one listens carefully, most of the time it is about how special they feel or selective they are to God. It ends up to their glory, not God's! When is the last time you ever heard someone speak of being baptized into the death of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins in His presence? Recently I had a lovely sister in Christ share something great with me and she didn't know how great it was. She is poor financially. Someone had sent her some money through the holidays. She called me and told me she wanted me to send the money she received to a children's home. This lovely lady has nothing and is struggling. Then came her words: "I am so grateful and I have everything I need. The day I was baptized into union with Christ was the greatest day and blessing in my life. For that, I can never repay so if I can help another find what I have found, that's what I want." No one knew this but her and the Lord. What a heart!

True Christianity operates off of simple terms. Things done to the glory of God means we don't sound our own horns and prove anything. Just simply loving, living and following the Lord in a quiet, humble means brings great reward from the Lord. I want to prove to the Lord that I love Him by following His love and will. That is something that cannot be hidden. When we have to tell someone we love the Lord by forwarding something, that might be speaking volumes about who we really are! Now that's something to think about.