Forgiveness. For some that’s a hard word to accept. They feel as if they need to “do” something first in order to gain God’s pardon. But to be forgiven by the Lord has nothing to do with us…for it is solely based on God’s unmerited love and mercy… His redemptive power working to heal and make us whole again.
Tag: jesus
Colossians 2:2-3 ” My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. “
Do you know Jesus? No really, do you know Jesus? For in that perfect comprehension of just who Jesus is and what He’s done for you, comes the unveiling of hidden things. In it we’re able to recognize and discern truth from distorted truth. In knowing Jesus, comes the revelation of God’s wisdom…His divine insight and knowledge of once concealed things. I’ll ask you again, do you know Jesus?
Acts 28:31 ” Boldly and without hindrance he preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul was under house arrest in Rome and confined for 2 years in a little house under constant guard by the Roman soldiers. He could have had quite a pity party…but he instead chose to use his situation for good. Yes, he was confined in one spot…but his spirit was free, for the Kingdom of God was within his heart. He could have been intimidated by the soldiers, but he chose not to have restrictions and limitations placed on God’s Word that he preached. Paul’s fearless teaching to all who wandered into that house…including the soldiers listening, was a way of him saying, “What can man do to me? My physical body may be incarcerated, but my soul is free.”
Matthew 5: 21-22 ” You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Raca was an Aramaic term of contempt meaning stupid. But Jesus was more concerned here with the term Moros – You fool – being thrown around. Moros was actually a more serious reproach than Raca as it conveyed a person being morally worthless… a scorning of the person’s very heart and character. The Lord was warning of the dangers of character assassination…of killing the very spirit of a person with angry words.
Hebrews 10: 37-38 ” For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”
In these scriptures, Paul is quoting Habakkuk 2:3-4 to help explain that justification is by faith alone, not by works. No amount of good deeds and clean living will make me right before God…for it’s only by trust and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, that I’m saved.
Acts 26: 16 ” Now get up and stand to your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you.”
Jesus was speaking to Saul, but He could well be speaking to any of us. “Get up out of the gutter I’ve found you in and stand to your feet. You’ve been called out of the muck and the mire to follow Me. My plan for you in this journey will be a lifetime of Me revealing Myself to you…of you experiencing revelations and being changed by them.”
I Corinthians 1:10 ” I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
There is nothing sadder than a Church that is divided and then splits…it’s a no win situation for everyone. Family and friends are forced to take sides they don’t want to…words are taken out of context…feelings get hurt. The very first thing we must do when Church gossip and problems are getting out of hand is to recognize it as a ploy of the enemy. A divided Church is a weakened Church, is a dying Church. We need to agree in a Spirit of unity to work through conflicts and attitudes in an open, respectful fashion. The Church Body can become healthy again when it is united in mind and sentiment.
I Corinthians 1:5 ” For in Him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.”
Take a moment to remember yourself as a brand new Christian…now look at yourself today. From the beginning, the Lord has been pouring into you divine revelation and understanding. He’s been improving, refining, and endowing you in all aspects in order that you might fight the good fight. And today you stand, having been built up in Christ…strong, and full of Godly wisdom.
Psalm 109:4 “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.”
Taking the high road is often very difficult…especially when your good intentions are met with anger and resentment. But it’s when we’re attacked and slandered that people are watching us the closest for our reaction. Do we answer back as the world would…or as Jesus would?
Matthew 16: 22-23 ” Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. ‘Never Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to You!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ “
Jesus had just been explaining to His disciples that He would go to Jerusalem…be killed…and then rise on the third day. But the disciples were having a difficult time putting their heads around such an event, when suddenly Peter audaciously pulled Jesus aside and said, “God forbid!” How many times do we want to set God right, but our own worldly view of divine workings is so askew that we’re bordering on blasphemy ourselves?
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