Category: Fear

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What Ever Happened to Forgiveness?

For November 21, 2021
When we are offended, our “normal” reaction is to retaliate; this is because our normal thought process tends to go something like, “I can’t let that person ‘disrespect’ me.” However, due to the presence of sin in the world—and in our hearts—we all have ‘disrespected’ (or offended) someone, whether the act was intentional or not, just as Romans 3:10 reminds us, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”

Disrespect was not on the menu some four-hundred years ago, between the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony and the Native Americans who came together for a harvest celebration feast, which has since become our Thanksgiving Holiday celebration.

People from varying races and cultures can gather when we understand the complexity and depth of God’s love for us, as He chose to reconcile a sin-cursed humanity to Himself. Thus, though His Spirit working in and through us, we can celebrate our diversity by treating each other with the utmost respect, dignity, acceptance, and honor.

The world craves this unifying message of acceptance of others through Christ, which offers us a glimpse of what Heaven will be like with its rich diversity of people united under the lordship of Jesus Christ. John saw our future in this context, while he was on the Isle of Patmos,

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man [or woman] could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Revelation 7:9–10 (AKJV)

Because we are all precious in the sight of the Lord, we can view each other through His loving eyes. Although love can name our emotional attraction towards someone or something, the Lord established a “new” love when He commanded us to love (Greek: agape) each other unselfishly, just as He loves us.1 His Spirit enables us to express this selfless, pure love consistently, which will confirm we belong to the Lord.

We can express His love as we yield to His Spirit, who instinctively responds to others through us in the ways that serve their best interests. In our strength alone, we are incapable of this altruistic love.

Our human love is inadequate because, with it, we always want to know “What’s in it for us?” before we respond. But God demonstrated His unselfish love in Christ toward us, and now He empowers and mandates us to share it with other people.

The Lord Jesus Christ supplies us with His unquenchable desire to forgive, reconcile, and extend ourselves. This is the “most excellent way” that Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 13 (Love Chapter).

This unselfish love is patient and kind. It is always at work, seeking opportunities to show kindness on our behalf when we are ready to receive. This love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude (v. 4).

Possessiveness or irritability is never present because the giver is never concerned about what the recipient does or does not do “to deserve it.” Otherwise, it is no longer love, but it becomes a loan instead.

Love does not demand its own way; it is not irritable and keeps no record of wrongs (v. 5). It is not glad about injustice but is glad when the truth wins out (v. 6). Here, we do not rejoice when wicked triumphs. Our concern is for everyone because we know as one suffers, we all suffer.

Love never gives up, it never loses faith, it is ever hopeful, and it endures (v. 7). Of these three, faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love (v 13).

Love is not abstract, but practical, in the sense we do not perform it in secret but extend it in our acceptance, benevolence, and forgiveness toward others. We can forgive and forget offenses because God forgave and forgot ours when His Son sacrificed His life for us at Calvary some two-thousand years ago.

The Lord commands us to express His kindness toward others, especially those who need our forgiveness; this is not easy. Yet, Jesus warns it is required to secure God’s forgiveness for our offenses,

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)

Jesus’ words imply that we extend forgiveness equally; to those who ask for forgiveness as well as to those who do not ask us for forgiveness.

To forgive means we do not use social media to degrade or humiliate the people we want to “pay back” someone for hurts we’ve perceived or experienced personally. God holds us accountable for our malevolence, whether malicious or in jest. Because we would not want someone to degrade or humiliate us even if they felt justified doing it.

To forgive also means we do not keep a record of past wrongs as some self-appointed vigilante. If all of us did this, there would be no one left standing since we are equal debtors. The Lord Jesus rightly says in John 8:7 (NIV), “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.”

In addition, to forgive means we do not lash out verbally or physically when someone cuts in front of us when we are standing in line, or we are in traffic. We extend grace to the other person as our equal who happens to be sharing a very brief “flash” of our space and time, compared to the vast eternity that lies before us all.

I’ve noticed an increase in social and political attacks against elected officials when the Bible teaches in Romans 13 that we are to pray for and support them, even when they do not share our political views or ideology. We should extend the same radical forgiveness we’ve received from the Lord to all other areas of our daily, human interaction.

As Christians who have been saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have experienced God’s love and forgiveness and can share it with others. In this way, we can perform the “ministry of reconciliation” presented in 2 Corinthians 5:18 where God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and empowers us to reconcile with others.

The process of forgiveness will also help us participate in a lifelong process of emotional, psychological, and spiritual wholeness much needed in today’s troubled and very troubled world as it allows us to demonstrate His Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Won’t you practice forgiveness, and exponentially enhance the flavor of this wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday? We sure could use it today!

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Have Faith In God!

For November 14, 2021
I’ve often wondered if we should have Christian faith registered as an endangered species. For many, our confidence is no longer God-based but human-based instead. Our modern world seems to be far more obsessed with what we can accomplish though intellect, technology, and human prowess and less insistent about praying first, and then trusting Him to resolve our problems.

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.”  Jeremiah 17:5 (NLT)

Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that we cannot please God without having faith in Him—first. It also tells us that we must not only believe that God exists. We must also believe that He will reward all who sincerely seek after Him. Here in this chapter, we learn that by faith:

    • Abel brought an acceptable offering to God and gave evidence that he was a righteous man.
    • Enoch was taken up to Heaven without experiencing death as God took him.
    • Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood that covered the earth.
    • Abraham obeyed God and left his home to another land that God would give him and his descendants. His was a redeeming faith that God attributed righteousness. His wife, Sarah was able to have a child at an advanced age of 90 years of age, (while Abraham was 100), such that the whole nation of Israel would come from them.
    • Ruth, who was a foreigner, became not only a blessing to her mother-in-law, Naomi, but also became part of the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ.
    • David, who believed God would sustain him in battle against Goliath, and with a sling and five smooth stones, he delivered God’s chosen people from a fierce enemy.
    • Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and the Children of Israel who marched around Jericho and saw God make the walls come down. Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets who,

Overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death…All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. Hebrews 11:33-40 (NLT)

Faith does not exclude common sense or logic. But it does require that we not rely on our senses exclusively but trust the Lord for the proper solution, when we’ve reached the extent of our human capabilities. In other words, we should  be willing to take a “leap of faith” by relying upon God, our Supreme Spiritual Reality who cannot be proven scientifically or explained logically—especially when He accomplishes His miraculous works for us in an answer to prayer.

Years ago, a very popular phrase encouraged us to rely on the Lord for everything: “Let go and let God!” This phrase has been made relative and meaningful due to the six-thousand years of recorded human history where the Lord has proven Himself to be the answer to every question, and the solution to every problem.

The Lord said that we could move mountains and that nothing would be impossible with faith the size of a mustard seed. To gauge the quantity or fervor of our faith, we should not rely on our feelings and circumstances because faith is a mystery that is essential to our human experience.

Isaiah pondered the elusiveness of redeeming faith when he asked in Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” This age-old question presents us with what defines redemptive faith, which has one object: Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of Man and perfect Son of God.

Through our faith (and repentance), we can approach Jesus Christ with a broken and contrite heart. Then He gives us a complete spiritual overhaul, a restored fellowship with God, and an abundant life that lasts forever.

The Bible teaches that human life is sustained by blood, which God uses to remediate sin (Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 9:22). A sinless Jesus Christ shed His blood to pay the price for our sins—past, present, and future. The Bible teaches us that we can trust in the Lord, and rely on Him to solve our problems and meet our needs,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT )

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

We can have faith in God because He is omnipotent; having all power, omniscient; having all knowledge, and omnipresent; fully present everywhere at the same time. He’s also sovereign; in full control over Heaven and earth, but most of all, He is holy, loving, good, faithful, and true; He cares for His precious children and provides abundantly for them as well. Our God is an awesome God. Won’t you put your faith in Him today?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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What If We Were To Give Ourselves to God…Fully?

For November 7, 2021
A mentor once challenged me to use my mind constructively for Jesus Christ and for the manifestation His glorious and redemptive Kingdom principles. This challenge begged the question, “If we gave ourselves to the Lord completely, living according to the Bible, and trusting Him to fulfill His wonderful promises—what could happen?”

On the Day of Pentecost, twelve men would lead a movement—soon to be identified as The Way, and later as Christianity—would change the world through the telling and living of the message on the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Thus the answer to that question forces us not to depend on our abilities and enterprises exclusively. Because Jesus Christ is now the center of everything we say, think, and do, and we depend on Him exclusively.

But in retrospect, isn’t this how we as Christians are supposed to live anyway? Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) tells us, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Moreover, Psalm 37:23 tells us our steps are “ordered” by the Lord, who takes delight in every step we take.

Answering this question also means that our self-centered, self-glorifying plans, goals, and objectives should no longer be sought and followed, since they are now Christ-centered, God-honoring, and Bible-based,

The Bible teaches us to make no distinction between secular and sacred in the world, work, and life. To understand and follow the calling of God is to know and do His good, pleasing, and perfect will. It is to live by biblical priorities. It is to find in Christianity a circle big enough to embrace all of life and give it meaning, purpose, and direction.2

Our thoughts, words, and actions will have to be filtered through a secondary set of lenses, “Will what I’m thinking, saying, or doing point someone to Christ?” Although for many, this second question has been answered both yes, and no, but at this turbulent and uncertain time in human history, it would be in our best interest to start and finish well in furthering the Kingdom by living out the principles of Ecclesiastes 12:1 and Psalm 92:14 (AKJV), “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”

We will never experience complete spiritual and moral perfection in every phase of our human interactions with others. There will always be varying degrees of hatred, envy, selfishness, and apathy expressed towards our fellow human beings; otherwise, Christ would have had no need to come from Heaven to pay the price for our sin at Calvary. He is our wonderful example of grace and love, who forever pledges His support and Spirit-power so that we can live for Him.

But when we give ourselves to Him completely; surrendering every aspect of our lives, the Lord shows Himself as all-sufficient in supplying things beyond our control. He is especially competent at protecting, providing, and guiding us at the precise instant and in the precise manner we need from Him. This He will provide for us  because it suits His agenda, not ours,

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  John 15:16 (NKJV)

We are to bear His eternal fruit consistently. The more I live, the more I experience this divine truth, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us!” 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

Once, an issue felt so overwhelming it precipitated intense fear, worry, and panic. Even though, I knew the Lord was with me. Without warning, someone called to inform me they were praying for me and reminded me of a Bible verse I have not since forgotten,

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 (AKJV)

That incident reminded me how precise the Lord is with caring for His Children and providing exactly what they need at the precise time, and in the precise manner. The Lord abides with His Children, and He watches over us, even when we are not consciously aware of His presence (and providence).  Oh how the Lord continues to “show Himself strong” in our lives (2 Chronicles 16:9), especially during times when we are so very weak.

We deserve God’s wrath and condemnation. None of our works for the Lord engender boasting since they are merely what He expects of us,

When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ Luke 17:7-10 (NLT)

Yet, the Lord lavishly provides His forgiveness, freedom, and joy. We can never be “good enough” to earn His consideration. But we can continue pressing toward the heavenly prize He has in store for all those who love His appearing (Philippians 3:14, 2 Timothy 4:8). This is all He requires from us all.

My life has not been a bed of roses, but it has been exceptional nonetheless. Although the “outer house” continues to decay, the “inner man” is renewing daily (2 Corinthians 4:16). And for this, I am eternally grateful for the Lord’s providence and faithfulness, as this old familiar hymn expresses,

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say3
Horatius Bonar (1808—1889)

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me, and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, Weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting place, And He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give The living water thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live.” I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light; Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, And all thy day be bright.” I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun; And in that Light of life I’ll walk Till trav ‘ling days are done.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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In Remembrance of Me!

For October 31, 2021
During His last Passover Seder, on the night before He went to the Cross, Jesus self-authenticates a New Covenant with His followers forever,

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NIV).

In this intimate gathering, Jesus institutes a solemn memorial of His passion and death that features His body and blood, the Lord’s Supper, “In remembrance of me” implies we publicly and regularly observe the Lord’s death to remind ourselves of His redeeming work. Jesus promises to share this memorial with us in Heaven upon his return,

But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29 NKJV).

Thus, we are not to perform this act callously or frivolously. Nor do we observe this church ordinance in seclusion. Instead, we solemnly partake of two elements publically: the bread to symbolize our Lord’s body offered on Calvary’s cross as our complete sacrifice, and the wine to symbolize the blood He shed to remediate our sin, at a designate time in a local church.

Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice was necessary. Adam and Eve’s original disobedience in the Garden of Eden subjected us to God’s judgment. We are sinners by hereditary transmission and can never earn God’s favor on our merit.

Only God is just, right, and holy while we are not. His justice demands payment for sin, and His righteousness requires our total obedience to His standards (the Law). His holiness necessitates our utter perfection—in every aspect of our being.

The payment for sin is death. Jesus speaks of death, encompassing our banishment to a fiery Hell where worms never die and where tormenting fires burn forever (Mark 9:48).

Initially, God instructed Moses to use a sacrificial offering to remediate our sin,

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11 NKJV).

Although God gave instructions to use a “clean” animal’s blood to cover sin, it was not a permanent fix since we had to repeat the process.

Instead, it foreshadowed the restitution Christ would provide to completely wash away our sins, make us righteous, and restore our lost fellowship with God,

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

Through the Lord’s Supper, we demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, who paid the full price for our sin. We also show that in Him, we find our dependence on Him for our spiritual life and vitality.

Further, we show our hope of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead. The Lord commands us to eat and drink of the Lord’s Supper until He eats and drinks it with us anew in the Kingdom of God.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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We Are One In Christ!

For October 24, 2021
Isn’t it amazing how the human species—made in God’s image—is so divisive, with all of the random violence and social unrest perpetrated by what is becoming an increasingly younger demographic? The random shootings, cities aflame, and the increasing disrespect expressed towards other human beings, whether unborn, young, middle age, or old, when we have the capacity to express civility, respect and dignity courtesy trouble me.

It is the church of Jesus Christ or the visible Body of Christ that can present a viable, compelling alternative to the world’s heartless, maniacal madness. Unfortunately however, when we Christians replace our Christ-centered ideals with world-centered ones, we lose our exceptional Christian witness.

One example is prejudice, which gives people an excuse for not living in harmony. (This product of the depraved heart is not the product of the new heart that God gives us the moment we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.) The Bible depicts Christians as a united group, serving the one true God,

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:3–6 (AKJV)

Unfortunately, far too many of us resist fellowshipping with people who do not share the same race, culture, or class, although we share the same Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ. How can we testify to the world that we are one body in Christ and yet maintain world-centered ideals, as though we are soldiers stationed in enemy territory? This should not be!

The Lord described His followers as the “salt and light,” and that we would would change the world,

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.   Matthew 5:16 (NLT)

Yet racial and cultural prejudice has not been a new problem within the New Testament church. 1 Corinthians 1:10–13 (AKJV) offers a rebuttal to this insidious form of interpersonal worldliness,

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas [Peter]; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ is not divided, although his church had four separate groups vying for supremacy within the church. Peter faced a similar problem fifty days after the Lord’s Resurrection; on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the Believers. Peter preached his first sermon before a vast crowd assembled at Jerusalem, and 3,000 people became Believers.

As the New Testament church grew, certain extremists wanted to preserve Jewish tradition within Christianity. Gentile (or non-Jewish) Believers could no longer have reconciliation by faith in Jesus Christ alone; they had to keep God’s Law and Jewish traditions as well. (After all, these were God’s chosen who safeguarded the Law, and Christianity was a reflection of Judaism, since Jesus Christ was a Jew.) Circumcision and observing other laws and rituals soon became proposed components to the Christian faith for the new Christian church.

Then at Joppa, God reminded Peter that he shows no partiality, and he expects us to follow suit. After receiving a vision from God, Peter ministered to the gentile Cornelius and his family, and there was a Pentecostal experience among the gentile Believers.

Through this experience, Peter became convinced that we Christians are called to show genuine affection toward each other, because in Christ, we are a family. Like a family, we practice a fervent, brotherly kindness (Greek: philadelphia) toward each other. This social dimension of our faith in Christ helps us to fulfill our Lord’s prayer for unity that transcends culture, race, gender, color, or class,

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:22–23 (AKJV)

We are new creatures in Christ, and although it is impossible to repair the damage caused by 2,000 years of factions and infighting, the Holy Spirit, who lives inside us, can help us to think and act as One Body in Christ.

Christians have the ability to practice mutual respect, tranquility, and unity with other Christians, sharing our joys while offering encouragement, support, and aid as the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so.

As a Christian family, we have the power to can change the world around as when we focus on the things that unite us, instead of the minute points that divide us.

We who are in Christ are One Body, so let us be who we are: one Christian family, united in love and harmony, with the Lord Jesus Christ as our example of love, dignity and respect. Let’s begin anew today…and change our world.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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