Boast in the Lord!

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Our Verse of the Day speaks to having a proper self-perspective and a humble spirit as it relates to our works of service. In 2 Corinthians 10, we find Paul making a defense of his ministry to the believers in Corinth. It appears there were issues with local leadership wanting to commend themselves and their knowledge … detracting from the evangelistic work Paul and others had already done there. Paul wants to boast about the authority he had been given through Christ Jesus to perform the apostolic work of laying doctrinal foundations for the church; but then we see that he realizes such boasting should be tempered and confined to what God has purposed and ordained. In other words, the final conclusion is that if we boast in anything, it should simply be in God alone. As always, it is a good idea to look at immediate context for the verses we receive. I will reprint the broader passage for your convenience:

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 (NIV)

¹²We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God Himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the Gospel of Christ. ¹⁵Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (Cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24) ¹⁸For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV)

²³This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, ²⁴but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

There is quite a bit of wisdom here; and I hope you will let this Word speak to you and challenge you. Not only does the Holy Spirit give us the capacity and discernment to know the one true God, He has empowered us to share with others the knowledge of His will … the testimony of His Son … the promise of His salvation and gift of eternal life. Note that the message we share is not about us or our own wisdom or understanding. Notice that the strength and courage to share the Gospel with others is not based in our own power. We simply walk in the assignments God has ordained and given each of us. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8-10)

We are not called to promote or commend ourselves; rather, our sole purpose is to promote and boast in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! If we boast, we boast in what He has done for us with a spirit of thankfulness and humility! For whatever we achieve or accomplish in Him is His work in the Spirit. Our works are not really our works … they are His works performed through us. In John 15:15, Jesus told His followers: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Based on this teaching, it is reasonable to conclude that nothing of value is achieved or accomplished apart from Jesus in our hearts. And so, let us commend Jesus and make our boast in Him rather than ourselves, as Paul has advised us. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Cf. Galatians 6:14)

My friends, it is my prayer that we will examine ourselves for any spiritual pride within our hearts. I pray that we will humble ourselves before God and only boast of Him. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14) As Paul exhorted, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Cf. Romans 12:3) And 1 Peter 5:5 encourages the same attitude: “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (Citing Proverbs 3:34) Humbling ourselves before the Lord and one another will keep any tendencies of self-boasting from entering our hearts.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ~ Matthew 25:19-21

Jesus Christ IS Lord…

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

Our Verse of the Day is a declaration of the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the exaltation due Him. To surrender and submit ourselves to the authority and sovereignty of Jesus Christ is the will of God the Father who is glorified through His Son. So, I would like us to take a closer look at Jesus, the exalted Son of God, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given by the Father. (Cf. Matthew 28:18) We can start with the Gospel of John and his introduction of Jesus to the world:

John 1:1-5; 14 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.¹⁴The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

With this scripture in mind, I want us to look at our verse in some context:

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature (in the form of) God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature (the form) of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In this context, there is a focus on humility and submission to one another; and the purpose is to exhort us to be of the same mindset as Christ Jesus. And then Paul introduces the surpassed example of Christ showing how genuine humility should be manifested among ourselves. For God the Creator to appear in the form of a Son of Man, made in human likeness, is an incomprehensible act of divine humility in itself. As John articulated it – “the Word of God became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” It is because of this extreme humility that Christ Jesus willingly took upon Himself (even so far as to experience human death upon a cross) that God the Father exalted Him to the highest place and position of authority. Perhaps, this is the part of the reason why Jesus taught: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14) The Apostle James admonished, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (Cf. James 4:10) And, Peter likewise taught, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that HE may lift you up in due time.” (Cf. 1 Peter 5:6) If God humbled Himself to reach us, then we should humble ourselves in our relationships with one another.

The other lesson that I see is the exaltation of Christ Jesus. Because of His death upon the cross and because His own blood was shed as an atoning sacrifice for the remission of our sins, Jesus is most assuredly worthy of our adoration, worship, and praise! His name is above every other name! As Peter declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Cf. Acts 4:12) And so, God the Father has ordained that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, for His own glory. And we have seen this same call for worship declared through the Prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 45:22-24 (ESV)

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance (shall confess to God).’” Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to Him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against Him.

Indeed, every soul ever created by God WILL bow before Him! Every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Every person who has rejected God and the Son, who have rebelled and raged against Him, will come before Him and be ashamed. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10) There is no one who will be exempt! For He has said, “I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to idols.” (Cf. Isaiah 42:8) See Also Isaiah 48:6-11.

My friends, it is clear to me that ALL people … of every tribe, of every language, of every nation … will one day bow before the throne of God and worship Him. The issue is whether we will do so now while we are alive through our own free will … or whether a person will be “required” to do so when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It WILL happen because Father God has declared it, and He is sovereign over all things. Therefore, it is urgent for ALL people to confess Jesus Christ as Lord now … while it is still called today. “For just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Cf. Hebrews 9:26-28)

It is my prayer that each soul will come to the knowledge of God and make their confession of faith. And I pray the Church, the Body of Christ, will work as His ambassadors to lead others to the truth … so that repentance and reconciliation will come to those who respond to the Gospel. Jesus declared that He was sent to seek and to save the lost. (Cf. Luke 19:10) And we, as His Body, as His presence in the world, must continue His mission. Therefore, I challenge myself, and I challenge you to consider this as well: to set sight on just one person you know is not saved and to get focused … get intentional … and be persistent. Enter into devoted prayer and intercession for that one person and be patient. Yes, be present and available to them. Engage them when opportunities are presented. Let your conversation be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer them. (Cf. Colossians 4:6) Let your light shine before them so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Cf. Matthew 5:16) This is how we humble ourselves with the same mindset of Christ; this how we serve in hope to prepare them for an authentic encounter with Christ Jesus. We prepare the soil and plant seed; we fertilize and water; and God will provide the increase for harvesting. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:7)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ~ 2 Timothy 2:1-6

A Balanced View of Self…

Romans 12:3 (NIV)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Our Verse of the Day has been referenced in a few previous commentaries; and to see it again implies to me that we need to take another look at it. The exercise of humility is so central to the Christian life that this reminder should not be dismissed…. And I think to understand Verse 3, we need to bring in Verses 1-2 for context:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

In view of God’s mercy, we are urged to offer ourselves as living sacrifices – not only to God but to one another by extension. Paul indicates that pattern for living constitutes a true and proper worship of God because to conduct yourself in this manner indicates both a humble and loving inner spirit. It is the grace and mercy that God has shown toward each of us in Christ Jesus that cultivates and motivates a mindset of meekness and gentleness – that subdues our former haughty or arrogant attitudes. And Verse 2 indicates that this approach to life is the result of renewing your mind (through faith which comes by hearing the Word of God) so that you do not conform to the pattern of this world. That pattern is a pride-filled spirit rooted in self-centeredness and self-reliance … and does not submit to, depend upon, or seek to please God. To me, understanding this context allows us to see the imperatives of Verse 3 in relation to the “power” of faith to transform our conduct from inward pride to outward compassion….

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:

When Paul speaks of “the grace given him,” he is emphatic that his encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus was the greatest act of mercy and grace ever extended to anyone. Because of his Pharisaical zeal, Paul was vehemently persecuting the earliest followers of Christ; flogging them; throwing them into prisons; even consenting to their executions. The amount of innocent blood on his hands was so large that when confronted by the Lord Jesus, the flood of guilt was an ocean by comparison. In his letter to Timothy, Paul referred to himself as the “worst of sinners” (Cf. 1 Timothy 1:15) but then he concluded, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” (Cf. 1 Timothy 1:16) So what Paul is saying here is that in light of the grace and mercy ALL of us have been granted by God – including those who are the worst of sinners – we ought to feel a great sense of humility!

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,

In light of God’s mercy and grace, we should have a proper understanding of our position before Him. Salvation is a gift! Too often we tend to compare our own sins with those of others – determining in our own judgment that our personal sins are somehow less offensive to God than those committed by some other evil, vile, or wicked person. Paul cautions us to not deceive ourselves in this regard:

Romans 14:10-13 (NIV)

¹⁰But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” ¹²So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

There are many hindrances to growing in grace and faith when we judge ourselves to be better or superior to others. God created us all, and He is the judge of us all. None of us have or will ever meet the standard of holiness God requires. There is no one who does good. No, not one. (Cf. Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:12) Even Jesus affirmed this human condition when He asked: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Cf. Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19) Thus, Paul admonishes us (and we should embrace his insight here) to think rightly about ourselves. We need to rid ourselves of any religious piety or spiritual arrogance … for of such character were the Pharisees and Jesus called them out about it! Still, I find the next part of this verse as key to its interpretation and message:

In accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

This is an interesting caveat to the exhortation being given to us. When we assess ourselves, it should be without pride and it should be the result of a “renewed mind” as referenced in Verse 12:2. Paul is essentially explaining the way the renewed Christian mind should think. And consider, of all things Paul could have said about human thinking and the way the mind works, he chose to address the issue of pride and what the mind does in thinking about itself in relation to other people. He says something negative and something positive, just the way he did in Verse 2. There he said, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed in the renewal of your mind.” Here he says, “Don’t think more highly of yourself than you should, but think with sober judgment.” In other words, Paul is getting more specific and describing the way that the renewed Christian mind does not conform to the world but is transformed. And notice that the first thing he addresses is pride.

The issue of pride appears to be a great burden with Paul. Three times in Romans 11, he warned us against pride and conceit. Romans 11:18, “Do not be arrogant toward the [broken off Jewish] branches.” Romans 11:20, “You stand fast through faith. So do not become proud.” Romans 11:25, “Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery.” Then Paul takes it up again in Romans 12:16, “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.” Then again in Romans 14:4 as I shared above. This issue of pride and the view of self in relation to God and others is the deepest human problem in the universe. If our minds are ever to be renewed, the issue of pride is where we must start.

It’s not just a problem with the church in Rome. In Romans 8:7, Paul describes the fundamental problem that we have—all of us— “The mind that is set on the flesh (that is, the natural mind apart from God’s transforming Spirit) is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” That is the fundamental problem of your mind and my mind. We are insubordinate toward God. We will not submit to the truth that God Himself has ordained all that is true and good and right and beautiful and valuable and satisfying. Instead, the human mind thinks of itself as the judge and measure; thus, thinking too highly of itself.

My friends, I realize this study has become lengthy, but I just felt compelled to put some time into it and impress upon our hearts that pride in all of its shapes and forms is both deceptive and destructive. Indeed, it is my prayer that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who humbled Himself and took on the nature of a servant to all.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 2:1-5

Spiritual Tension…

Matthew 16:25 (NIV)

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.

In our Verse of the Day, Jesus presented a challenge to those who followed Him; and that challenge extends to us as believers today! It poses a spiritual tension that impacts our view of self, life, and purpose; and we are familiar with similar paradoxes presented in Scripture such as:

“The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” (Cf. Matthew 20:8; Mark 9:35; Luke 13:30)

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14)

In these types of dualisms, we find Jesus teaching us that seeking self-importance; engaging in self-promotion; and reliance on self-preservation are misguided approaches when it comes to having a meaningful and fulfilling life in Him. Jesus is telling us that pursuing significance in your life with a worldly point of view is not going to produce the eternal results we want to achieve … the works for which God created us. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) And I believe that each of us probably enter this tension each day. It is the struggle between our own wills and the will of God for us…. So, let’s look at our verse in the surrounding context because I think that will shed more light on the life approach Jesus is calling us to pursue:

Matthew 16:21-28 (NIV)

²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²²Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” ²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done. ²⁸“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.”

Jesus presents a powerful lesson to us here. And in the context, we learn more about what Jesus meant when He said, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.” The context begins with Jesus explaining the upcoming events surrounding His death; and Peter (naturally) does not believe it is appropriate for Jesus to suffer or for those foreboding things to occur. Who would want their friend to be mistreated or killed? Yet, Jesus rebukes Peter saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me. You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (ESV) And therein lies the tension we experience when evaluating what we believe our lives should be or how we believe they should turn out. Too often, we are pursuing the things of man and not setting our minds on what God wants for our lives. Perhaps this is why Jesus asks the more pointed question:“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Verse 26) Jesus is trying to get us to see the error of our thinking and calls for a radical “reset of our mindset.”

Notice how Jesus associates what Peter was thinking and the direction he was going in the conversation with the spiritual darkness and deception of Satan. Do not underestimate the “influence” that Satan can have upon your thought life … your mindset … to take you in a direction that is away from what God has ordained for your life. Satan will attempt to align you with the wisdom of the world … but that is not of God. We are in the world but chosen to not be of the world. (Cf. John 17:14-15) Our Lord Jesus learned and demonstrated that a life aligned with the will of the Father is to be humbly submitted and reverently obedient. As Paul observed, “And being found in appearance as a man, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Cf. Philippians 2:8) Therein lies the solution to our dilemma – the tension we feel when choosing between our own way (the way of the world) or submitting to the direction God has ordained for us. Jesus kept it simple for us when He said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. (Verse 24)

If you want to redeem your life, then you will need to let go of the one you are clinging to. You can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus. If you want to be first, then you need to place yourself last. You can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus. If you want to be looked up to and admired for all of your accomplishments and success, then you need to be quiet and not boast. Let your deeds speak for the themselves. After all, did not God gift you and afford you the opportunities for success? Give Him the glory! And remember, you can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus.

My friends, the way Jesus taught us to approach life is quite opposite to what the world says you and I should do to be successful. If we want to be productive and effective in His Kingdom, we will have to embrace a more unconventional approach of how significance should be viewed for our lives. God said the meek shall inherit the earth; not the strong and mighty. (Cf. Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11) God said to give first and generously, and it shall be returned to you. (Cf. Luke 6:38) As John the Baptist affirmed when looking at his own life in comparison to the Messiah, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Cf. John 3:30) And so, to save your life, you must lose it. To be exalted, you must humble yourself. And, yes, the first shall be last, and the last first. This is the wisdom God has been revealed to us in His Word … through His Son.

It is my prayer that we will come to a full understanding of these principles for life. I think we will find both “power” and “freedom” in these approaches. But most of all, I believe we will experience what God desires for each of us in our relationships … with Him and with each other. As Paul concluded, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1) So, “lose” your life in service and ministry to others, and there you will find your true life … the life God intends for your good and for His glory!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Husbands – Love Your Wives

Ephesians 5:25-26 (NIV)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word….

Our Verse of the Day should remind us that our roles as fathers began with our roles as husbands. Here, husbands are exhorted to be for our wives what Christ Jesus is for His bride … the Church. Paul asserts that the intimate relationship that is forged between a man and woman within their marriage covenant is reflective of the intimacy that Jesus desires with each member of His Body. And men, in particular, are responsible to initiate and foster the love that is formed within that union. Let’s review the full passage here:

Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of His body. “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (Citing Genesis 2:24) This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Within this larger section of Ephesians 5, we find the broader theological concepts of sacrificial love; putting the needs and interests of our wives above our own; mutual submission to one another out of reverence for Christ; and recognition of the abiding love we are to cultivate with our Lord Jesus … as it can be understood through the covenant relationship of marriage. The insights and instruction Paul affords men and women here are essential not only for their marriages to be vital and healthy, but for their understanding of how to achieve greater intimacy and fulfillment … the purpose of which is to draw each of us into an intimate relationship with Christ! And so, to the men who are married, I encourage us to honestly evaluate our relationships with our wives in light of the truths Paul has presented here. I believe that any area we identify for improvement in our marriages might also present in our relationships with Jesus. Likewise, I would venture to surmise that when we examine ourselves, if we are moved to repentance and a greater submission to Christ, then I believe we will experience a corresponding impact for our marital relationships. I just think that our humble, reverent submission to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is inseparable from our role as head of the marital relationship with our wives; and our relationship with Christ is key to understanding how the “covenant of love” is fulfilled within our marriages.

Fathers, I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children are marriages that emulate the relationship of Christ Jesus with His Bride … His Body … the Church. Through the genuine, faithful efforts of fathers to passionately demonstrate sacrificial love for their mothers, I believe children will develop a better understanding of God’s love through Christ Jesus; and this in turn can cultivate their hearts and plant seeds of faith within them to grow intimate relationships with God as well. Yes, I believe this has been the design of God from the beginning for families: to nurture relationships both reflective of God’s love and expressive of God’s personal relationship with each one of us. The process begins with our covenants of marriage, and it extends with the births of our children. Fathers have a God-ordained role in the leading and fostering of their marriages and households; and our Heavenly Father has equipped us to fulfill this role. As the Church represents the Body of Christ, so our wives and children represent an extension of ourselves. As we have authority over our own bodies, so we have been given authority over our homes as well. Indeed, it is a tremendous responsibility that we have been delegated; and I feel certain we will be held accountable for how we accepted this responsibility. So, let us be bold and courageous in both our pursuit of God and in the fulfillment of our duties as husbands and fathers…. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So, the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. ~ Genesis 2:18-24

Taming The Tongue…

Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Our Verse of the Day reminds us it is good to check our attitudes whenever we become provoked or angry. There is nothing lost when we exercise kindness in our relationships, and often we can gain understanding if we will pause and listen to the other person … regardless of the tone of their expression. While I realize it might be difficult to be silent when someone is yelling at you and out of control, your patience and gentleness (even silence) can help subdue emotions of anger, hatred, or bitterness. Immediate reactions are not always helpful in a stressful situation. We might feel attacked and want to be defensive, but if we choose to engage another with harsh or caustic replies, we typically invite anger to move into the realm of rage. And I’m fairly certain there will be no positive outcome under those conditions…. Remember, the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Cf. Proverbs 18:21)

The Apostle James gives us some additional insight and wisdom on this issue as well:

James 1:26 (NIV)

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 3:3-12 (NIV)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

My friends, we are called to control our tongues … to exercise restraint when it comes to our words. For what are words except the expression of the thoughts of our hearts. When emotions run high, it is best to guard our hearts and our words. Once words come out of our mouths, it is like toothpaste. You will not be able to put it back into the tube! Consider what Jesus taught when He admonished the Pharisees for their hypocrisy: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Cf. Matthew 12:34a – 37) These are powerful words for us to contemplate if we want to give serious thought to the consequences of our words….

King Solomon provided considerable wisdom on this issue throughout Proverbs 15. So, I will end with a few excerpts for your introspection. I am sure there will be other passages that will come to mind as you study the Word of God on your own, but these are provided to stimulate and motivate us to think before we speak. We live in a temperamental culture, filled with all kinds of division, strife, and interpersonal conflict. In Christ Jesus, we are called to love. We are called to peace. Indeed, I believe the fruit of the Spirit is most often manifested through our words. So let us live and keep in step with the Spirit in this regard.

Thoughts for the Day:

Gentle words are a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4

The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. ~ Proverbs 15:7

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. ~ Proverbs 15:14

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. ~ Proverbs 15:18

Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! ~ Proverbs 15:23

The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in His sight. ~ Proverbs 15:26

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words. ~ Proverbs 15:28

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. ~ Psalm 37:29-31

Being The Body of Christ…

Romans 12:15 (NIV)

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Our Verse of the Day is tucked in the middle of Romans 12. In this chapter, Paul addresses interpersonal relationships of believers. He begins with the foundation that all relationships should be rooted in mercy … because of the mercy each of us have received from God. Indeed, His mercy should inspire and empower us to live sacrificial lives for the benefit of others. Presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice for others is what conforms us to the image of Christ Jesus. (Cf. Romans 8:29) And Jesus commanded us: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Cf. John 13:34-35) Oh, my friends, we simply cannot ignore the significance of this instruction for our lives and relationships.

Romans 12 (NIV)

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. ³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I believe this is some of the greatest inspired, practical advice we will ever receive to govern ourselves and how we relate with others. Paul takes us through a myriad of possibilities to be an encouragement for others … to be supportive in their time of need. And we are urged to put the needs of others before our own. So, I pray each of us will be strengthened in our resolve to apply these thoughts to our hearts. I believe in doing so, we will fulfill the command to love as Jesus loved us … and we will give unto God our true, spiritual worship.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests alone, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 2:1-5

Be Devoted to Others…

Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Our Verse of the Day continues to examine the expectations and qualities of our personal relationships with others. These are always great reminders when we might feel otherwise in our attitudes with other people. The Apostles give us some practical ways to demonstrate love … to be devoted to one another in love and to honor others above ourselves:

Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” (Citing Exodus 20:13-17; Deuteronomy 5:17-21) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Citing Leviticus 19:18) Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 6:1-3 (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NIV)

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more….

James 2:8-9 (NIV)

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show favoritism, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

1 Peter 1:22-23 (NIV)

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.

1 John 3:11-18 (NIV)

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s actions were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Well, if you are struggling with loving other people as God sees them, especially those you consider the most unlovable, then I hope these Scriptures will give you some renewed encouragement to love as God in Christ has demonstrated His love for you. When it hurts to love because someone has hurt us … when it is not convenient to love because it takes of our time … when it is difficult to love because we have disagreements … when love requires financial sacrifice to provide for the needs of others … how do we put the unmerited, compassionate, agape love of God into action – in real terms? I am reminded that Jesus addressed this issue for us:

Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most-High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

As I mediated on all these scriptures, the word “kindness” came to mind. Jesus said that God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked – like many of us before we received the grace of repentance and came to a knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus! Kindness is the greatest demonstration of the other fruit of the Spirit. Love, peace, goodness, gentleness, and self-control can all be expressed through our kindness. And kindness is inherent in longsuffering and faithfulness. Paul observed it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Cf. Romans 2:4). So, I think the kindness we extend to others should have this same intention. Indeed, “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (Cf. James 2:13)

My friends, I think it is important for us to remember that God expressed His “unmerited” love through the riches of His kindness. As Paul wrote: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Cf. Romans 5:8) There is nothing we did to earn it or deserve it. We are sinners saved by grace alone! (Cf. Ephesians 2:5) And so, I believe it follows that we are to love others without consideration of “merit”. We are not to love others because they deserve our love, forgiveness, or compassion; rather, we are to love others and to be merciful to them fully for the sake of love itself … while they too are yet sinners. That is HOW God has loved us … without condition! Amen!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had toward you. ~ Philippians 2:3-5

Freedom to Serve…

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Our Verse of the Day continues to focus on our relationships with one another; and I want us to spend time on the command to love one another. Jesus said to love our neighbor is second only to the command to love God. (Cf. Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31) As we have seen in New Testament scriptures, to love one another fulfills the command to love God. I think the Apostle John captured this thought best when he affirmed: “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (Cf. 1 John 4:20-21)

Galatians 5:13-25 (NIV)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature of our flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Citing Leviticus 19:18) If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

What Paul teaches here is that we cannot just do whatever we want based on the freedom we have received in Christ Jesus. We are called to be led by the Spirit and to live in accordance with His indwelling presence. Jesus, through the sacrificial atonement of His blood, saved us from the penalty of our sin; but we cannot continue to indulge the passions or desires of our flesh, or expect that such behavior or conduct will lead others to salvation. We must die to the power of sin in order to experience the freedom gain through Christ. Indeed, Paul had very pointed instruction in this regard:

Romans 6:1-14 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

My friends, we have been called to serve one another humbly in love. What does this entail? Perhaps, we should go back and look at the biblical definition of love the Apostle Paul provided in1 Corinthians 13:4-8. It is my prayer that we will strive to keep these attributes of love at the forefront of our thoughts so that our actions will follow the excellence of love. We fail to love God in truth if we cannot serve one another humbly in love. So, let the freedom we have been given become the source we draw upon to love one another as Jesus loved us. Indeed, I pray we will keep these things in mind as we encounter and engage with those who are lost….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. ~ 1 Corinthians: 9:19-23

Dealing With Offenses…

Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

Our Verse of the Day provides biblical instruction for dealing with conflict between church members, but I’m not sure it is being followed much these days…. The broader passage deals with working through disagreements and offenses, so I thought I would reprint it here for our reference and discussion:

Matthew 18:15-22 (NRSV) – Dealing with Sin in the Church

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out their offense when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that brother or sister. (Cf. Leviticus 19:17; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20) But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (Cf. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28) If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a pagan or a tax collector. (Cf. Romans 16:17) Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven. (Cf. Matthew 16:19; John 20:23) Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? (Cf. Matthew 6:14-15) Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven. (Consider a possible parallel to Genesis 4:24)

The Gospel of Luke affords us some additional context on this subject as well:

Luke 17:1-4 (NIV)

Jesus said to His disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So, watch yourselves. (Cf. Matthew 18:6-7) “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. (Cf. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13) Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

As you can see from the scriptural references provided, there is quite a volume of instruction for our study. I think the prominent theme is that we should be willing to go to fellow believers when we have been or feel harmed. If someone has sinned against you, you should go to them and tell them – IN PRIVATE. Do not talk and gossip about them in public. Go to the one with whom you need to reconcile. And remember, the process of dialogue requires love. It requires listening. It might even necessitate repentance on your own part. The objective is to restore the breach in the relationship. The goal is to extend forgiveness! As Peter admonished in 1 Peter 4:7-8: “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (Cf. Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 17:9)

Jesus stated that offenses would happen. The question is: “How we work through them in love?” More than our tithes and offerings … more than our gifts or sacrifices of praise … the Lord is concerned with the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He observes how we demonstrate our love for other people. Is our love sincere or just lip service? Is our love for others manifested in our prayers? God knows in truth! In Christ Jesus, the love of God was embodied in the greatest act of forgiveness … the unmerited release of our own sin debt. Likewise, it is our forgiveness of others that expresses our love for them. Oh, it may be difficult in our human nature to do so; but the precepts presented here in Scripture are too obvious for us to disregard or dismiss. Forgiveness does not mean what someone else did to you was acceptable. It was wrong. It was painful. It impacted, diminished, or desecrated your life in some way. What they did should NOT be tolerated; however, it can still be forgiven. You can still “release” them and pray for them … even if reconciliation with you is not possible. In doing so, you affirm God has been merciful to you….

Remember, God did not excuse our sins! What He did was release us from the judgment for them (death). In most cases, we all still suffer from the consequences of our sin. Perhaps this is why the Apostle James encouraged us to confess our sins to each other and to pray for one another so that we may be healed of our brokenness. (Cf. James 5:13-16) I think his message is that not only should we “release” the one who sins against us, but we should advocate in prayer for their “release” in heaven. In other words, when we forgive someone, we should ask God to forgive them as well. It does not necessarily change the consequence(s) of their sin(s), but the intent is to release the debt owed for their offense just as God in Christ released you and me.

My friends, communication and interaction are essential for forgiveness and reconciliation to be realized. We are expected to “confront” our offenders. But should go to them in love … even when we should feel righteous anger toward them. How we feel is important, but how they are separated from you and from God is the greater issue to be addressed. When people sin against each other, we must realize that we sin against God. There should be a deep sense of sorrow for the offense. There should be a great desire to effectuate reconciliation. The impulse to seek revenge should be counterbalanced with a deeper desire to see repentance and restoration. And even though you act in a spirit of grace, there could be ambivalence or indifference on the part of the offender. Still, we should do what is right and then commit them to God….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most-High God, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ~ Luke 6:27-37