The Apostle Paul here grounds us in the characteristics of forbearance, forgiveness, and love, explicitly demonstrated in the redemptive work of Christ Jesus. Thus outlining the obligations all Christians have towards one another. But forgiveness is easier said than done, for the path to forgiveness has two distinct ways to go. We can release the hurt and relinquish the resentment to God…or we can relive the hurt over and over again in our imagination, coddling it & wearing it like some bizarre badge of victimization. The decision is ours…but if we choose to give it to God, He in His perfect love, can teach us how to love those who hurt us the most.
Month: May 2024
II Corinthians 5:20 ” We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors.”
Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Let us measure ourselves by our Master, and not by our fellow-servant: then pride will be impossible.” Anytime we compare ourselves to others in our service to the Lord, our Ministry, our holiness, our servanthood…we are measuring ourselves by worldly, humanistic standards… not God’s. That’s because our only standard-bearer is Christ. For we cannot represent Christ and conform to His principles when we are jealous and envious of other’s service to God . Our yardstick must be Christ only …otherwise pride and selfish ambition will usurp and decimate our representing Him to the world.
If you want to see God move in others…allow Him to move in you first.
We can become very adapt at seeing other’s shortcomings, while putting blinders on our own areas of sinfulness. We pray for God to intervene in other’s lives for what we judgmentally see as disobedience, defiance, and conceit…but refuse to take a hard look at our own rebellion, resistance, and vanity. Proverbs 29:23 tells us that pride will bring a man low…that’s because, when we refuse to allow God to move in our lives, we are setting ourselves up to slowly move away from His Will, not closer.
I Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.”
It’s not the grind… your labor and toil that got you where you’re at today – it’s the grace of God. For no matter the amount of hard work, sweat & tears, it can never supersede the Sovereignity of God. You may hustle and work your fingers to the bone…but it still the Sovereign Lord and His supreme universal authority, and by His kindness & mercy that we can do anything. We are who we are, not by what we can do, but only by the King of kings and the Lord of lords. (I Timothy 6:15)
“Guard your thoughts well, for thoughts are heard in Heaven.” Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 84:11 is clear, “The Lord knows the thoughts of man”…even those secret intentions, selfish, inconsiderate, and rude thoughts hidden away in our heart. Part of this comes from our corrupt heart, (Matthew 15:19) and part comes from our Spiritual immaturity, (I Corinthians 14:20) But regardless, we are told to get rid of our stinking thinking, judgmental thoughts, and careless muses… and learn to control our thoughts and attitudes…for God is listening.
II Corinthians 7:10 ” Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to Salvation and leaves no regret…”
Turning from sin is a sincere decision to forsake evil and begin to obey God. There is the initial repentance leading to true saving faith (Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19) but more importantly, there’s the ongoing turning from sin on a daily basis in the life of every Christian. David wrote of this in Psalm 51:12, when his spiritual dullness had lead to moral bankruptcy…taking him far from his first love of the Lord. “Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation and grant me a willing Spirit to sustain me.” Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action on our part and promises restoration, or as Isaiah wrote, “In repentance and rest is Your Salvation, in quietness and trust is Your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15)
Psalm 125:1 “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”
The well know Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, wrote the famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”… the first verse attesting , “A mighty Fortress is our God. A Bulwark never failing. Our Helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.” Martin’s inspiration for the hymn came from Psalm 46 which tells of God’s Sovereignity & power over all earthly and spiritual forces, giving us the sure hope that He will protect, intervene, and deliver us. And so our faith can be as unshakable as Mount Zion…or as Psalm 46:5 states, “God is within her, she will not fall.”
Psalm 84:5 ” Blessed are those whose strength is in You.”
When the troubles of the world have taken their toll on your life and your strength is waning, what or Who do you look to first? Do you reach for the bottle to drown your sorrows…do you numb your mind with drugs…do you immerse your being in social media? We can readily admit that all these are just distractions from reality and cannot change a thing. While on the other hand, if you go to God, you will quickly see that He is our strength in times of trouble. For as we experience His Presence, our dwindling ability to endure & resist is suddenly re-energized. You will also discover that whatever you’re going through is infinitesimal compared to the power & might of God. So go to God first, for He promises that, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Isaiah 30:10 ” They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ And to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.’ “
Our flesh has an endless fascination with everything but the cold, hard truth. We’d rather hear some warm, fuzzy, feel good sermon on Sunday than one that makes us squirm in the pew any day. II Timothy 4:3-4 tells us that there will come a time when men won’t put up anymore with the Truth of the Gospel Message but rather exclaim, “Tell us what our itching ears want to hear.” But their persistent desire they want is only eloquent & flattering rhetoric, devoid of substance and deceptive in nature. So as Christians we must learn not to be deceived by smooth talk and delusion.
Matthew 25:21 ” Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Being an upright, virtuous & trustworthy servant of God is being faithful in the small things…the things no one else sees but you…the things that show your true character. It’s riding that roller coaster ride of emotions, suffering, and loss without losing your true bearings of God’s plan & purpose for your life. It’s never easy, never glamorous, never enjoyable…but it is God’s divine and sovereign Will… and so we need to remain loyal and focused no matter how tough it gets. Lord, help me keep my sorrow from collapsing into self-pity, for that benefits no one. Help keep my aching & weary heart soft, malleable, and patient as I serve others for You. Finally Lord, constantly remind me that in all I do… every bit of it… is to be done to glorify You…exhibiting Your love in every action, word, and deed, that I too someday will hear these words…”Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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