"If then I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet...you aught to wash one anothers' feet." (John 13:14) "A new commandment I give you...love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)
Sometimes I wonder just how many believers actually get this? "As I have loved you". The other night in small group we were talking about forgiving and releasing those who have hurt us...and how difficult that can be. I believe that the greatest struggle lies not in the actual act of forgiveness, but in realizing and understanding the enormity of what has been done for us on the cross by Jesus.
"As I have loved you"...the "as" is sacrifice, the giving of life for the sake of others. The ability to truly forgive others, the power to release the anger, frustration, and pain, is only made possible after we have accepted the gift Jesus has given us. For, it is out of a place of personal redemption, when we know that we have been forgiven for our own sin, that we can risk forgiving and blessing others.
"There, but for the grace of God go I" I have been removed from the place of being a perpetrator of suffering and pain by the grace and mercy of God. The space between victim and abuser is very narrow, as is the space between condemnation and forgiveness. Sometimes, all it takes is an act of grace-filled courage on my part to bring my abuser into the place of redemption and restoration.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Friday 17 August 2012
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Commitment
Thinking about that encounter this morning I was struck by the level of commitment and love this man showed for his mother, and wondered how many of us would show this kind of love for another? While it pales in comparison, it is a good human representation of the love Jesus demonstrated for each of us when he went to the cross on our behalf. The man was literally punishing his body in order to give his mother a couple of days in the most beautiful place in the world.
Do you love like this? Have you taken Jesus love seriously and payed it forward? Such devotion is beyond earthy reason and reveals a heavenly mindset!
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Sunday 12 August 2012
The Glory of Man
Yesterday I spoke of the presumption of humanity to think that we can create and sustain without reference to God. In this morning's reading from John 12, we see the result of this defiant independence. Once enjoyed, and it is indeed pleasurable at first blush...and exercised to worldly profit, godless independence needs to be maintained at all costs. Why? Because it is addictive.
In John 12, the Pharisees have fallen completely from grace. They are plotting to murder, not only Jesus, but one who has already been resurrected...in a vain attempt to maintain their power and influence over the people. (12:10-11) "So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.". Resurrection is indeed a powerful witness! (17) "The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus forth from the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to bear witness.
In John 12, the Pharisees have fallen completely from grace. They are plotting to murder, not only Jesus, but one who has already been resurrected...in a vain attempt to maintain their power and influence over the people. (12:10-11) "So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.". Resurrection is indeed a powerful witness! (17) "The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus forth from the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to bear witness.
However, such is the satanic influence in the fallen, that even the knowing leadership would deny the truth in order to be maintained in their positions of power. (42) "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue...for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."
As I walked uphill alongside a Rwandan Archdeacon one day, he told me a tale about an evil which created an environment in which the genocide could happen. He said that many, even among the church leadership, were more afraid of each other...and the loss of their portions of influence, than they were of God. They had exchanged the glory of God for the influence of man. Over a million died as a result.
We think that this could never happen in our so-called civilized society. Bosnia and Rwanda were both "civilized" jewels. Look around you. This very evil and the sin which encourages it is among us...barely hidden beneath the surface of respectability. History repeats itself, and godlessness always bears the fruit of destruction. There, but for the grace of God, go we!
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Nothing Has Changed
As I was reading through the first couple of chapters of Jeremiah this morning, I was struck by the fact that realization that nothing has changed in the heart of man in many thousand years. The same sin, same broken relationship with the Creator is present in today's world as it was in Jeremiah's.
(Jeremiah 2:11)..."but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit...(13) For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
We are a presumptuous lot! We think that we can do things better than God, provide for ourselves without any reference or recognition of where our life comes from or is sustained. The cistern is a metaphor for our much less than perfect presumption. We only think that we have the skill and power to create and maintain that which is necessary to sustain life.
However, our "cisterns" will not even hold water...stale and rancid water, never mind that which is "living!" We have literally exchanged that glory of God which has been offered freely to us, for that which is less than useless...all because we do not want to accept our dependence upon His perfect will and purposes for our lives. Will we ever learn?
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
(Jeremiah 2:11)..."but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit...(13) For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
We are a presumptuous lot! We think that we can do things better than God, provide for ourselves without any reference or recognition of where our life comes from or is sustained. The cistern is a metaphor for our much less than perfect presumption. We only think that we have the skill and power to create and maintain that which is necessary to sustain life.
However, our "cisterns" will not even hold water...stale and rancid water, never mind that which is "living!" We have literally exchanged that glory of God which has been offered freely to us, for that which is less than useless...all because we do not want to accept our dependence upon His perfect will and purposes for our lives. Will we ever learn?
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Wednesday 8 August 2012
The Root of Bitterness
Hebrews 21:14-16 (NIV) “Make every effort
to live at peace with all men and to be holy, because without holiness, no one
will see the Lord. And see to it that no
one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble
and defile many.”
Paul uses extreme language in the Hebrews passage. He doesn’t say if it’s convenient for you, or if you can find the time…or if your feel like it. He says, “Make every effort to see that no bitter root grow up in your heart.” Why such extreme language? He tells us to make every effort because bitterness contaminates everything in our lives. It can’t be compartmentalized. It will always find a way to emerge and cause pain, either to you or the people around you. It changes the way you think, the way you make decisions about everything. Bitterness does not stay isolated to the source or the cause. Unchecked, it spreads into and ultimately every other relationship.
Paul asserts that if we don’t deal with bitterness, it will infect and defile us. It will actually steal away our holiness. If we give it residence it will blind us so that we cannot experience God. We won’t be able to see God at work in our own lives or in others. When bitterness takes hold, it causes us to miss out on the forgiveness of God. When, because we are bound by bitterness, we are unable to experience forgiveness in our own lives, it becomes impossible to forgive others. It creates insurmountable barriers between us and God, and us and others.
Secondly, we are called to Forgive the Debt, to literally cancel the effect of the sin and the sinner's actions upon our lives. This isn’t just something nice to do, or good to
do if you can find it within your heart.
It is absolutely necessary to your relationship with God and not only
your, but also God’s relationship with the other person. Your resentment and lack of forgiveness
actually keeps them bound to the sin as well as you. In Matthew 18, Simon Peter asks Jesus how
often he must forgive a brother who has offended him. Seven times seemed like a good boundary
between seeking reparation and consignment of the person to hell as a lost
cause.
From a human perspective that is a lot of forgiveness. But notice that God has different standards. Matthew 18:22 (Msg) Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven!
God will deal with us in the same way that we behave towards others. Mat.18:35 (NIV) This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. We are not asked by God just give lip service to forgiveness. The only way for real forgiveness to happen is from our heart. That only takes place when I completely give up my claim to revenge and blame…forever.
Thirdly, a good test of whether we are truly free from bitterness is found in our ability to Bless the One who Offended Us. Luke 6:22-23 (NIV), Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. Here is how we are able to bless our offender. It comes from a rejoicing and thankful heart… a heart the leaps for joy.
Not all offense is caused because of our faith. I get that. But, a lot of it is... and the point of what is being said here is that people of faith can expect to be treated badly by the world, and blessed immensely by God. Because we know that ultimately we are under God’s blessing and not the curse of the world or its fallen, we can with a joyful heart bless those who chose to cause us pain and offense. It is a witness to our faith.
In Luke 6:27-28 (NIV), Jesus said, 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. The Greek word we translate as "bless" is "eulogia", the root of the English eulogize. That person with whom we have a root of bitterness may well be a back stabbing hypocrite, a gossip and mean. They may have totally betrayed you when you trusted and loved them. Christ, however, is calling you to eulogize them, to literally speak well over them? How is that even possible? How do we cancel the debt of a person who is mean to us? In short, you can’t, at least under your own power. It’s not in you. It’s not humanly possible. You do not have the capacity. Even the best and most holy of us do not have the capacity to forgive someone else. You can’t fabricate it.
This kind of forgiveness driven blessing can only happen through the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life. True forgiveness is simply this, extending to someone else that which has been extended freely and unreservedly to you, grace and mercy. Paul says we are to, Ephesians 4:32 (Msg) Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Forgive in the same way that you have been forgiven. And it is precisely because we have been forgiven in this way that we have the capacity to extend the blessing of complete forgiveness to others. Notice that the writer say that we are to do it quickly, that is hold short accounts, and thoroughly, so that no offense remains.
Finally, my very favourite passage in Paul’s teaching comes from his letter to the Roman church. In Romans 8:1 (NIV), Paul says, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I believe that this verse extends in both directions. It concerns you and me in as much as we are completely freed from any condemnation because of the blood Jesus shed upon the cross for us. All of our offense and sin is gone, completely eradicated. However, condemnation itself…the act of condemnation is also…or should also be completely eradicated from our person…no longer a part of who we are or how we behave. As we are totally free from condemnation, no one is to be condemned by us.
This message was prepared with thanksgiving using an outline created by
Paul uses extreme language in the Hebrews passage. He doesn’t say if it’s convenient for you, or if you can find the time…or if your feel like it. He says, “Make every effort to see that no bitter root grow up in your heart.” Why such extreme language? He tells us to make every effort because bitterness contaminates everything in our lives. It can’t be compartmentalized. It will always find a way to emerge and cause pain, either to you or the people around you. It changes the way you think, the way you make decisions about everything. Bitterness does not stay isolated to the source or the cause. Unchecked, it spreads into and ultimately every other relationship.
Paul asserts that if we don’t deal with bitterness, it will infect and defile us. It will actually steal away our holiness. If we give it residence it will blind us so that we cannot experience God. We won’t be able to see God at work in our own lives or in others. When bitterness takes hold, it causes us to miss out on the forgiveness of God. When, because we are bound by bitterness, we are unable to experience forgiveness in our own lives, it becomes impossible to forgive others. It creates insurmountable barriers between us and God, and us and others.
So, the question is how do we kill this root of
bitterness? In Ephesians 5:11, Paul says, Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose
them. The first task is to Bring the Sin of Bitterness into the Light! Many times, the thing which is the source of our bitterness and pain is hidden
well below the surface of our consciousness. When things happen to us… when
people hurt us, either on purpose or unintentionally, the most common response
is conflict avoidance.
The society around us has made a God out of the
“live and let live” philosophy. We have been told that confrontation is evil
and even though someone else’s actions may have caused us pain, it is always
best seek out the positive and avoid any clash that might inflict similar pain
on others. The problem with that
philosophy is that unresolved resentment just gets packed away. It doesn’t
dissipate. It is accumulative and it is
a poison which begins not only to eat away at our ability to be in relationship
with the person who caused to offense, it begins to breed and infect other
relationships. It is like a virus. Offense
is actually the bait of Satan. So, it must…even when it causes further pain, be
exposed.
From a human perspective that is a lot of forgiveness. But notice that God has different standards. Matthew 18:22 (Msg) Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven!
God will deal with us in the same way that we behave towards others. Mat.18:35 (NIV) This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart. We are not asked by God just give lip service to forgiveness. The only way for real forgiveness to happen is from our heart. That only takes place when I completely give up my claim to revenge and blame…forever.
Thirdly, a good test of whether we are truly free from bitterness is found in our ability to Bless the One who Offended Us. Luke 6:22-23 (NIV), Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. Here is how we are able to bless our offender. It comes from a rejoicing and thankful heart… a heart the leaps for joy.
Not all offense is caused because of our faith. I get that. But, a lot of it is... and the point of what is being said here is that people of faith can expect to be treated badly by the world, and blessed immensely by God. Because we know that ultimately we are under God’s blessing and not the curse of the world or its fallen, we can with a joyful heart bless those who chose to cause us pain and offense. It is a witness to our faith.
In Luke 6:27-28 (NIV), Jesus said, 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. The Greek word we translate as "bless" is "eulogia", the root of the English eulogize. That person with whom we have a root of bitterness may well be a back stabbing hypocrite, a gossip and mean. They may have totally betrayed you when you trusted and loved them. Christ, however, is calling you to eulogize them, to literally speak well over them? How is that even possible? How do we cancel the debt of a person who is mean to us? In short, you can’t, at least under your own power. It’s not in you. It’s not humanly possible. You do not have the capacity. Even the best and most holy of us do not have the capacity to forgive someone else. You can’t fabricate it.
This kind of forgiveness driven blessing can only happen through the grace of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life. True forgiveness is simply this, extending to someone else that which has been extended freely and unreservedly to you, grace and mercy. Paul says we are to, Ephesians 4:32 (Msg) Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Forgive in the same way that you have been forgiven. And it is precisely because we have been forgiven in this way that we have the capacity to extend the blessing of complete forgiveness to others. Notice that the writer say that we are to do it quickly, that is hold short accounts, and thoroughly, so that no offense remains.
Finally, my very favourite passage in Paul’s teaching comes from his letter to the Roman church. In Romans 8:1 (NIV), Paul says, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I believe that this verse extends in both directions. It concerns you and me in as much as we are completely freed from any condemnation because of the blood Jesus shed upon the cross for us. All of our offense and sin is gone, completely eradicated. However, condemnation itself…the act of condemnation is also…or should also be completely eradicated from our person…no longer a part of who we are or how we behave. As we are totally free from condemnation, no one is to be condemned by us.
This message was prepared with thanksgiving using an outline created by
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)