DEEP and WIDE

 

October 1, 2024

1 Thessalonians 3:12

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

 Let's look at the two underlined words above, “grow” and “overflow.” The word “grow” (greek "pleonasai") means to multiply over and over, to become rich, to become stronger and deeper. To increase in depth and meaning. The ocean of love in our heart is becoming deeper. Our love has an increasing quality about it.

If you have been to a wedding lately chances are you heard about Love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. There the Apostle Paul emphasizes the signs of a growing and deepening love. We read that when we are more patient with others, less boastful and arrogant toward others, less prideful, less rude, less self-seeking, and not easily angered toward others. We think about how to serve and bless others.

So, growing in love means we are becoming more patient with our kids, more kind to our spouse, more humble toward the people in our life, more servant oriented toward others, and it takes more and more for us to be offended by others. Our love for others, therefore, is growing.

That leads us to our second highlighted word “overflow” (Greek "perisseusai") which refers to the scope of love. While a love that “grows” goes deeper, a love that “overflows” goes wider. I have heard it put this way "A "growing" love develops quality love, an "overflowing" love develops quantity.

Have you ever filled something with water? As the water level rises, it deepens, and when it reaches the brim, it overflows, spilling out in all directions. This can be likened to the way God's love fills us: it deepens within and eventually overflows, expanding far and wide.

When this happens in our lives, we are loving people with a deeper love, but we also find ourselves loving more and more people. Individuals we used to ignore, despise, or maybe even hate. Your love is growing and overflowing.

Loving one another is to be both deep and wide.

LET US PRAY

God,

In a world that sometimes feels cold and distant, we earnestly pray for love to grow and overflow. Fill our hearts with boundless compassion and kindness, helping us to love one another unconditionally, just as you love us. We pray for a love that transcends differences, a love that sees the value of every person, and a love that seeks to mend what is broken.

May our lives be a testament to the love you have poured into our hearts, a deep and wide love that knows no boundaries. We thank you for the love that binds us together, for it is a reflection of your amazing love for us. Amen.

YOU GOT TO LOVE YOURSELF

 

September 30, 2024

GALATIANS 5:14

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Above we read that the apostle Paul said that, the entire law is summed up in a single command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

It's possible that the love we give to ourselves, its quality and generosity, greatly influences how we love our neighbors and others. I had a colleague who argued, that if you can't love yourself well, you cannot love others well. He wholeheartedly believed, that inability to love ourselves had a huge impact on how we could respond to loving God “With our heart, soul and strength.”

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' there is no commandment greater than these." 

Mark 12:30-31

 

The principle of loving your neighbor as yourself is emphasized eight times in the Bible, highlighting its profound significance to God. It's not merely a suggestion; it's a commandment. Jesus intertwined this command with the greatest commandment of all: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I believe most of us understand it's right to love our neighbor, and that Jesus challenges us to do so in the gospel teaching. Yet, for many we miss that it's also God's intention and desire, for us to love ourselves well. We need to understand this correctly. 

We should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3). But we must remember God placed a high value on us, we bear the image of the creator, and God stepped toward us in his son Jesus to healing and restore us and to give us a life that is blessed and full. So, when we view ourselves as failures. When we hate on ourselves, or when we put ourselves down or speak critically of ourselves and our worth, I believe this must grieve our creator. Believe me I have grieved my creator often with an unhealthy and defeating thought life.

Ephesians 2:10 describes us as God's masterpiece, created with care and purpose. Criticizing ourselves, therefore, is to disrespect God's creation. Recognizing our worth and value stems from our identity in Jesus, this enables us to love others genuinely. They too are loved by God, not for their actions, but purly by grace for who they are. 1 Corinthians 13 defines love's behavior: it's patient, kind, and embracing of others.

How should we love our self? We should be kind and respectful, just as we should be with others. Forgiving and forgetting the past is better than dwelling on our failures and mistakes. After all, everyone errs. Why should we let these errors hinder our progress towards the fulfilling life that God intends for us? The Bible emphasizes the significance of forgiveness, including the forgiveness we owe to ourselves, which we frequently neglect. Practicing self-care is not only beneficial but also a biblical principle that honors God.

We all know that loving our neighbor as yourself isn’t always easy because loving ourselves isn’t always easy. The Bible tells us “this is love. Not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice…” (1 John 4:10). We are the object of this love. God loves us/YOU. We are not just loved in a general kind of way, but deeply loved and unconditionally loved. We grasp this truth when we understand that God loved us first. He’s the source of our love. God the Father is the source of all love. Before we can give this love, we need to experience it for ourselves. “You can’t give what you don’t have.”

Learning to love yourself may not be an easy journey, but it's an essential one. Sometimes we need help getting to a point of self love, and maybe the reasons are deep rooted in the past and need to be worked through. Reaching out to a counselor might be a good idea. We did not learn these thoughts and patterns overnight. They have deeply rooted themselves in our lives over a long time.

Working through the issues that have caused you to not love yourself will not be easy work, but it will be worth it. Imagine living a life with the scope of what God wants for you and not in the shadows of self hatred. Learning to love yourself matters because you matter. We all matter to God.

LET US PRAY

Dear God, thank You for Your unwavering love, even when self-love eludes us. Guide us to accept Your love so deeply that it overflows from our souls, enabling us to share it freely. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

OBEYING THE LAW OF CHRIST

 September 27, 2024

Galatians 6:1-2

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

The concluding message of our week on mutual restoration is that the act of restoring one another is a true expression of love. Galatians 6:2 says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ”.

To “share each other’s burdens” in this context is referring to the burden of overcoming sin in our life. The idea is to support each other in bearing the weight of sin while struggling to overcome it. Let me just make this important point that when we are helping someone get back on the right path we are to share their burden, not carry it for them. The heavy lifting is theirs, but they do not do so alone. A good and helpful friend will gently remind the other that "I can help you, but I cannot do this for you." I will be your spotter, though.

Galatian 6:2 says that if we share each other’s burdens in this we “obey the law of Christ.” What is the law of Christ? The law of Christ is the law of love. Jesus said in John 13, “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35). What the Bible is telling us is that if we are loving our neighbor as we love yourself. Then, we are putting another's interests ahead of our own. We are honoring Christ by loving this person who needs someone to share in their burden. When we step into the journey with a fellow disciple we are demonstrating love toward them, "God's love" toward them, and thereby obeying the law of Christ.

God’s Word says to share each other’s burden by helping one another experience restoration.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

• Is there someone in your life whom God wants you to assist by shouldering a burden and guiding them back onto the right path?
• In life, there may be people placed by God to help shoulder your burdens and guide you back onto the right path. Embrace their support.

GENTLY

 

September 26, 2024

“If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and with humility help that person back onto the right path”

The minstry of restoring one another, Galatian 6 says requires gentleness. The term "gently" in the context of restoring others refers to the manner in which we help someone who has been overtaken by sin or error. It suggests a kind and humble approach, guiding them back to the right path without harshness or judgment. Paul's teachings here, on restoring one another with gentleness emphasizes the importance of helping each other overcome sins and obstacles in life with a kind and humble approach.

In moments where we are called to join with the Holy Spirit's work to mend a fractured relationship with Jesus Christ by addressing a barrier or sin, it's important to approach the situation with a gentle and kind spirit. Why? One good reason is that a softer approach ensures that when the reconciliation occurs, the person is free from any pain, hurt or emotional wounds from the process. Sin can deeply root itself in people's lives, and although removing it may be painful, it's important to approach the process with as much gentleness as possible. Restoring one another involves reestablishing their well-being with care and support.

Talk of restoration in the New Testament was applied in the following contexts. Restoring harmony between groups that were in conflict, it was also used to describe setting a broken bone, or putting a dislocated limb back in place, or to mend a broken net. As you may have gathering from our text it also has the idea of someone traveling down the wrong road but being corrected so they are headed in the right direction. The phrase “help that person back onto the right path” means to restore. That’s what is happening when we restore one another. We help oneanother find our way back to the path we need to be on for abundant living.

John 10:10 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

YOU WHO ARE GODLY RAISE YOUR HANDS

 

September 25, 2024

Galatians 6:1

“If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path”

Restoring one another is for the spiritually minded. Galatians 6 says, “If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path” (v.1). This identifies who should be doing the restoration, it’s those “who are godly.” That sounds mighty intimidating because most of us are not going to say, “I’m godly, I’ll take care of this.”

So let us ask the question, what does it mean to be godly? To be godly is to approach life spiritually. To be godly is to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and God's teaching in His Word. In many Bible translations of todays verse, the word “godly” is not used, but rather it is translated as the word “spiritual.” You who are spiritual – sensitive to the Holy Spirit – help others back onto the right path.I want to mention something significant about the word "you." The “you” in the statement “you who are godly” is a plural you in this sentence. Here is why that little detail matters. I believe that God is revealing that it is the work of the community of Jesus, and those spiritually minded believers in the community of faith that will engage in the restoration process. See God had the idea of an intervention long before the contemporary world discovered its value. Helping people back onto the right path is not a one person operation. It will take several spiritually minded people who know the person and care about the person to be able to walk with them and help them.

All of this is supported by the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18. 

15 “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. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, ... 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church.

Let's be careful about the application of what Jesus is saying here. This is to be carried out with prayer, kindness, care and compasssion. The goal is not to focus primarily on the sin but on the calling to be an agent of restoration.

We look more closely at this in tomorrows devotion. Today let us allow this teaching to sink in, people matter to God and therefore to us, as Christ's ambassadors. When a sister or brother struggles to be faithful, and remember we all do at times, we are invited into a space where God through us reaches into the life of another with his amazing grace.  If you have ever been there as an agent of restoration or as one who needed restoration, you know what I meant on Monday when I suggested that the work of restoration is messy but beautiful. 

IT NEEDS TO BE NAMED

 

September 24, 2024

Galatians 6:1-2

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Restoring each other in faith involves acknowledging our sins. Galatians 6 guides us, saying, “If another believer is overcome by some sin…” To be "overcome" is to be be caught, trapped, overtaken, enslaved, ensnared or held captive by sin. We all have sins that challenge us. However, when someone is "overcome by some sin," it takes over their life, leading to choices that dishonor both God and those around them.

Observe closely, the Bible speaks of a believer who has been overwhelmed by a certain "sin." What sin is this talking about? If we back up a few verses to Galatians 5:19 we are given a sample of possible sins. Galatians 5:19 says, “When you follow the desires of the sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these”.

The Bible also talks about sins like hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition and envy. These can be equally hurtful and have control over our lives.

Whenever a person’s dependence on an activity begins to control their lives. Just as someone can be controlled by a chemical or gambling addiction, they can also be controlled by jealousy, selfish ambition, or envy. The point being made is that whatever the sin is that "so easily can beset us" the result is that we have been broken or torn and are in need to be restored by God and with others.

The phrase "overcome by some sin" in God's Word suggests being trapped or held captive by it, unable to break free. In the process of restoring one another, it is necessary to acknowledge sin for what it is. We should not down play it. When you are helping someone you and the person must be able to say, “Let’s overcome this sin of ________ together.” It needs to be named.

This is not about judging a fellow believer, with a superior mindset. Rather, restoring one another is about honestly recognizing "we all fall short of the glory of God." That we need the compassianate care of the Community of Jesus to be overcomers.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.                         

James 5:16

IT MAY BE MESSY but also BEAUTIFUL

 

September 23, 2024

Galatians 6:1-2

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Every once in a while I get drawn in to watching a video on restoration. You no the type of show that started becoming famous by the various "Home Makeover" franchise shows. 

Consider these drawers, for instance. With time, items can become damaged, worn, and less functional. However, there comes a moment when someone decides to rejuvenate a piece of furniture. They sand it down, replace a few parts, fix certain aspects, apply fresh paint, and gradually, the item appears as good as new, if not superior. That piece of furniture has been restored.

It's similar to restoring an old truck. Someone might take a truck that's been badly damaged by rust and the elements, replace a few parts, sand away the rust, apply a new coat of paint, and do various other refurbishments. Over time, the truck is transformed, looking as good as new, or even better.. They have restored that truck.

The Bible suggests that people, just  like trucks or a cabinet, can also need restoration. We are  taught that sin harms us, leading to emotional turmoil, tainted thoughts, and harmful actions. Sometimes, sin can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling trapped, imprisoned. It's important in these times for fellow believers to provide support, helping to repair our lives and steer us back onto the right path. Helping each other overcome sin is the key to unlocking the chains that bind us.

Galatians 6 discusses the biblical principle of mutual restoration. Specifically, Galatians 6:1-2 states, "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." These verses encapsulate the idea of supporting and restoring one another within the faith community.

This is a "One-Anothering" theme that we do not discuss perhaps as often as we should. Mutual restoration is a beautiful witness to each other and to the world that as community members, as the body of Christ we are called to do life together, even in the messy parts where sin "crouches at the door" and even though we only open the door a crack, sin lays hold and takes control and dominates in a destructive way.

This week let us look together at this Biblical idea of restoration and be open to how God's Spirit will speak into our lives. Here are a couple of things for us consider today.

God’s Word says that when share each other’s burden we are helping one another experience restoration. Think about how you might respond to the following questions,

1. Is there someone in your life who God wants you to help carry a burden in their life and to help them get back onto the right path?
2. Are there individuals in your life, placed by God, who are attempting to assist you with your burdens and guide you back onto the right path? If so, what needs to change to Allow them to help you?

LET US PRAY

God, we constantly distort your image, but still you restore it. 

We daily betray your love, but still you extend it. 

We often disrupt fellowship, but still you bless it. 

Come unto us at this time and in this place, O Lord, 

that your image in us might be revealed, your love for us returned, 

and our fellowship in Christ renewed. Amen.

WHY IS IT SO HARD?

 September 20, 2024

Matthew 18:21-22

 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 6:12

forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

"It was not until the second half of 20th century that Modern Psychology started paying attention to the value of forgiveness in interpersonal relationships." I got that quote from an article I was reading in prepartion for this weeks reflections. The author was praising the work of psychology in the area of the importance of "forgiveness" in our relationships. Frankly, I didn't disagree with the articles assertions. However, a smile came over my face, when I thought that our Bibles have addressed the need and value of "forgiveness" from cover to cover for centuries.

Both the Bible and Psychology have emphasized that forgiving a wrong, a hurt, a painful experience is good for us. We have said this week that when we allow unforgiveness to take root in our hearts and grow into a bitter product, we’ll never fully experience freedom in our hearts. In order to grow and mature in our faith, we need to extend forgiveness to others.

Now, I believe that!! I have experienced that. Even though there is a wonderful payoff for us personally and in all our relationships. Why is it so Hard? Do you ever ask that?

Forgive one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. That sounds right to do. I believe we all agree with that, but, when those words are directed at us, and not someone else that is a different story.

Why is it so hard? I don't have the definitive answer for this. What might you answer? .....

I ask that taking into consideration everything we have looked at together this week. Those of us who are Jesus followers want to live by the guidance of the Bible, we want to do God's will, we want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. In several ways we have said that being forgiving, sets us free from living a bitter life, that in this practice there is healing for us, and others.Studies have shown, that unforgiveness contributes to mental and physical health issues. Perpetually thinking of past hurt and pain increases the risk of anxiety and sleep troubles. Studies also show that an unwillingness to forgive contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic stress.

Now those are very good reasons to forgive. It is good for your spiritual and physical health. Still, I ask Why is it so hard?

Well here goes some thoughts I have:

I believe we have this deep desire for Justice. I believe this is one of the "Communicable Attributes" God gives us. On it's positive side we cannot easily look away from injustice occurring around us. That has resulted in the amazing compassion we see in our neighborhoods and city. However, a desire for Justice at the personal level, in response to something done to us, we look for equality of hurt, payback. So, to forgive a wrong seems like letting someone off the hook, or the consequences of a wrong. It feels like a free pass.

As we looked at on Tuesdays devotion "forgiveness" is often misunderstood. Go back and scim the devotion. Forgiveness is not a free pass for the individual(s) who hurt us.

This one is from my own journey, the longer the time frame between an injustice or hurt done to us and forgiveness allows time for anger, bitterness and resentment to get deeply rooted. Makes it harder to let go off it.

Of course, I think most of us would say in other areas of life that just because its hard or difficult does not mean it isn't worthwhile. So, what is the answer for us.

1. Remember Forgiveness is a spiritual journey. We don't forgive a hurt in a snap.
2. Be mindful of what Forgiveness is not. It does call for Justice.
3. The reformer Martin Luther had a saying "the command of God is equal to a promise." Do you understand that? What God asks us to do (command) also means God is present in the process.
4. This week it has been driven home to me that forgiveness starts with God's grace to us in Jesus. I wonder if one of our passages Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" might be put in a different order it might be helpful. Ephesians 4:32 “Just as God through Christ has forgiven you be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another." Thats where it begins with the experience of God's wonderful salvation and new life. From there comes the will, desire and spiritual power "to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another."

We both forgive and seek justice, just as on the cross Jesus Christ both forgave and fulfilled justice.

LET US PRAY

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one.

GOOD INTENTIONS

September 19, 2024

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.




The story of Joseph, as recounted in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, is a profound lesson on forgiveness. Joseph, the son of Jacob endured a life of adversity after being sold into slavery by his brothers at the age of 17.

Soon after Joseph's arrival in Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. According to Genesis 39, "the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered in all he did," which included his service to Potiphar. We are told that Joseph ascended to the position of Potiphar's personal aide, managing all aspects of his household.

In Potiphar's household, things appeared to be running smoothly until Potiphar's wife began causing problems. She persistently pursued Joseph, who consistently upheld his integrity and refused her advances. Genesis 39:10 notes, "Day after day she pressured Joseph, yet he would not consent to be with her." (some translations say "sleep with her.") Despite being innocent, Joseph faced unjust imprisonment, enduring ten years of captivity for a crime he never committed.

The account in Genesis reveals that Joseph's early life was filled with heartache and hardship. Despite these challenges, he continued to work diligently and maintained his integrity.

Undoubtedly, the qualities of hard work and honesty deserve high praise. The most remarkable lesson from Joseph's life is his capacity for forgiveness. Despite the profound betrayal by his brothers, he chose to forgive and look beyond the immediate hurt to the God's bigger picture.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” When Joseph was a teenager and sold into slavery, he didn’t know how God was working out all of the details of his future. Joseph could’ve been bitter and angry, but instead, he worked hard no matter where he was and what his circumstances held. As time went by, we see that Joseph understood why these events occurred in his life. God had a plan.

Life throws challenges at us, some from others and some are self-inflicted. No matter how we land in tough spots, it's possible for these experiences to be turned into something that God can use to help others. ("for the saving of many lives")

Perhaps someone betrayed you so deeply that you don’t think you can ever trust again. There could have been a loss in your life that caused your hope to evaporate. Those aren’t enjoyable experiences, but how we walk and heal through them could be the key to unlocking not just our own freedom, but also someone else’s.

On Monday, we concluded our Devotion with these two questions:

Who do you need to forgive? Who has hurt you? Who lied to you? Deceived you? Violated you and your trust?

Who do you need to ask forgiveness from? Who have you hurt? Lied to you or lied about? Have you violated someone? Have you misused someone’s trust? It takes courage to ask for forgiveness. You can do it. God supports you on this.

Ask God to reveal to you, a next step in the journey of forgiveness. In time, God will show you how He can redeem your pain to not only bring healing into your life, but also to benefit someone else. When we are forgiven, we receive a gift we may not deserve. It becomes a gift we can then extend to someone else. It allows us to begin anew. Forgiving others spares us from harboring bitterness in our hearts. It grants us peace of mind and aligns us with the act of obeying God.

Ah, One-Anothering!! 

MAKE ALLOWANCE, GET RID OF, OVERLOOK?

 

September 18, 2024

 

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you”.

Colossians 3:13

… make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Proverbs 19:11

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

 

On Monday we began by discussing that forgiving one another means letting go of our resentment toward others. We looked at Colossians 3:13 which says to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” We also read together Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” The Bible’s call to forgiveness has its foundation in the grace of Jesus toward us.

Yesterday, we tried to clarify some misconceptions regarding forgiveness, saying that for forgiveness to be authentic we must be honest about the impact of hurt or unkindness toward us. In this we recognized that forgiveness is a process that has a worthwhile payoff for us.

Today, lets think about forgiveness and boundaries. Colossians 3:13 says, “forgive anyone who offends you.” So, forgiving one another is unlimited, has no boundaries. The word “offends” refers to any complaint against you (right or wrong), sin against you, or wrong against you. When you are offended by someone you are to forgive them. 

This teaching is not just a New Testament teaching, in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament in Proverbs 19:11 we encounter a similar teaching which says, “a person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” So, overlooking an offense is immediately forgiving an offense. It is to your glory to overlook an offense, and it is to your dishonour to hold on to an offense. Let it go, says Proverbs 19. Do not isolate this verse from the other verses and thoughts we have looked at, see forgiveness in its broader context.

We live in a fallen world. In a world that is not the way it is supposed to be, we are going to have parents, spouse, children, friends, coworkers, bosses, coaches, teachers, students, and strangers say things and do things that are going to offend you and insult you throughout your entire life. We need to learn how to process and deal with being offended or insulted, if we don’t, we will be bound or trapped in our own prison of holding grudges, being bitter, and being angry at people all our life. I believe the outcome of this is that we will become someone we don’t want to be.

The Bible’s teaching says forgiving one another is to be unlimited. Our forgiveness toward others is unlimited in three aspects. Our forgiveness has no limits in regard to the person, offense, and the amount. Colossians 3:13 says, “Forgive anyone who offends you”.

The Bible calls us to live a life characterized by a constant flow of forgiveness.

Jesus made it clear in Luke 17:4, "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." (see also Matthew 18:21-35).



LET US PRAY

“Father, only You understand how much I’ve been hurt by this person. I don’t want to carry the pain for another second. I don’t want to be a bitter person. But I need Your Grace and the Power of the Cross to release my hurt and to forgive those who’ve hurt me. This is the turning point. First, I need to experience Your forgiveness.

You know all the ways I’ve hurt others, and I’m so sorry for my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying for me. I accept Your grace and forgiveness, and I need it daily. Today I’m turning to You, and I’m choosing to forgive the way you have forgiven me. Every time the memory comes back, I’ll forgive that person again until the pain is gone. Heal my heart with Your grace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

(Prayer published by Rick Warren)

 

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

 

September 17, 2024

Ephesians 4:32 

 “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ as forgiven you” 

So Yesterday we mentioned that forgiveness is a process. While the Bible calls us to forgive each other and emphasizes that the forgiveness we have received through God's grace in Jesus is our example for this. Asking for forgiveness or extending forgiveness to another can be a hard journey. Being hurt, or lied to by someone you trusted can run very deep within us. So when we say that the bible tells us to forgive those who have scarred us, that is an uncomfortable teaching. Maybe yesterday as you read the Bible passages you felt this lump in your stomach, this wall going up, or found yourself saying "You don't know what happened to me." 

To further our understanding of forgiveness, it's crucial to address common misconceptions about what forgiveness does not entail. The following are some thoughts that I have have found of great help in my life.

Forgiveness is not denying, approving, or diminishing the wrong that was committed against you. Acknowledging the true extent of the wrong done to you is crucial if you seek sincere forgiveness. It's not about claiming you're okay, downplaying the issue, or pretending you've moved on because it's in the past. To forgive is to recognize that the person's actions were wrong and unacceptable to you, and that it matters greatly. Forgiveness isn't about condoning their actions; it's about not letting their actions consume your heart.

Forgiveness is not enabling continued wrongdoing. While Jesus teaches us that forgiveness ought to be extended many times, Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." (see also, Luke 17:3-4). Forgiveness should be granted in a way that does not condone or facilitate further harm or violation by the individual. Forgiveness does not equate to permission for repeated offenses. That's why above we mentioned that downplaying an offense is an unhealthy approach as it lifts the accountability off the shoulders of an offender.

This leads to this thought that Forgiveness is not forgetting about what was committed against you. I think that is actually impossible to completely forget such things. You are not going to forget about some pain, abuse, or violation that was made against you. Just because you still remember and the memory still hurts, does not mean you are walking in unforgiveness. Just because you still remember and the memory still hurts, does not mean you are walking in unforgiveness. Yes, I wrote the previous sentence twice in hoping we all take that in. Remembering an offense may be more of an indication that you are still hurting or grieving over the hurt. In the Bible when God says, “Their sin I will remember no more,” I do not believe that it means that He has no memory, but rather that He chooses not to bring it up or keep it in the forefront of His thinking. He does not hold it against them anymore. You can forgive someone and still feel hurt by the offense but not hold it against the person.

Forgiveness is not a one-time event. Those who have been hurt and wounded will have seasons when they feel the pain of past hurts and have to forgive their offenders yet again. A thought, a smell, a picture, a sound, or word, a situation can trigger an emotional response and maybe rekindle the bitterness you once had. Even if the person is out of your life, you still may have to forgive that person in your heart again.

Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Forgiveness is you forgiving the offender. Repentance is the offender asking for forgiveness and to stop doing the offensive actions. Reconciliation is when both forgiveness by the sufferer and repentance by the offender meet. Sometimes, reconciliation requires time, a lot of time especially when trust has been violated.

Forgiveness is not neglecting justice. If a crime has been committed against you, you can forgive the criminal and call the police to arrest him or her at the same time. Just because you forgive someone does not mean that they do not need to face the consequences of their actions. 

Without forgiveness our life will be controlled by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation that is why Jesus invites us into a space of forgiveness. There is healing in that space but it can be a tough space to be, and we will need the powerful activity of God's Spirit to help us through. Guess what? That is exactly what we are promised in the word of God.  "I will heal your wounds," declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17)

Let Go?

 

September 16, 2024

Colossians 3:13

“Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others”

Over the next few days let us consider the importance and power of forgiveness. Everyone that is reading this is either needing to forgive someone or will need to forgive someone or needing forgiveness from someone else. I believe we can all acknowledge that in our living people are going to be unkind, impolite, and sometimes rude. Some of us have been mistreated and hurt. For sure, some things in our life should not have been said or happened, but they did happen and they were said. Here is an uncomfortable truth, without forgiveness our life will be controlled by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. It is our natural inclination to respond to unkindness or being wronged with an attitude of “payback.” Yet, deep down in our spirit we know that for our personal and spiritual growth and peace we must learn to be forgivers of individuals that we encounter and experience in our day to day. This week as we continue our One-Anothering series we will focus on forgiving one another.

The Bible has many instructions and examples about forgiveness, and the Bible also includes warnings about being unforgiving. I want to share two of the teachings with you today.


The first is Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. (32) Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (NLT). When you start forgiving others you will discover that the bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander toward the person begins to melt away. That is why we said above that being forgiving is important for our personal spiritual growth and peace. Please note I said when we take the first step toward forgiveness that our resentment or unforgiveness begins to melt away. There is a process to forgiveness and we need to recognize that.

The second statement about forgiveness you need to see and the one we will focus most of our attention on today is Colossians 3:13 which says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).

I want us to unpack Colossians 3:13 and examine some key truths and principles about forgiveness.

First, forgiving one another is letting go of our resentment toward others. Colossians 3:13 says we are to “forgive.” You are told to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you” (NLT). The word “forgive” (aphiemi) literally means to let loose, release, or let go of something. For example, if you take out a loan from a bank, you are in debt to that bank, but if that bank were to forgive you of your debt they are letting go of that debt, they are releasing you from paying them back. They are forgiving you of that debt.

When someone sins against you: they lie to you or about you, they break a promise or vow they made to you, they steal from you, they hurt or violate you in some way, they were rude to you, they offended you… they sinned against you in some way. If you are not careful you will begin to hold a grudge against them and you will feel like they owe you something. This grudge shows up in the form of resentment, bitterness, and anger. 

To forgive someone is to let go of the grudge, let loose of the offense, and to not hold them in debt for what they said or did. You are releasing them from the debt of sin against you. You are letting go of the resentment and grudge you have against them. This is why Jesus said, “But when you are praying first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against…” (Mark 11:25, NLT). Stop holding the grudge and let it go. You let it go with forgiveness.

A second principle we encounter is that forgiving one another is based on Jesus forgiving you. Look again at Colossians 3:13, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT). Our motivation to forgive others is based on Jesus love and forgiveness toward us. This is significant. What we tend to do is forgive people based on what they say or don’t say, do or don’t do. For example, if they apologize or ask for forgiveness, but it doesn’t seem genuine or real enough we hold back forgiving them. Our forgiveness is based on whether or not we see enough humbleness, remorse, or regret. (at least that has been my struggle)

The truth and reality of this verse in Colossians 3, is very uncomfortable for us to hear, because it states that we are to forgive people because the Lord forgave us. Forgiveness, according to the Bible, is not conditional on the character or actions of the other person.

This concept is repeated in Ephesians 4:32 where it says, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ as forgiven you” (NLT). I think one of the signs that you have truly forgiven someone and let the grudge and resentment go is when you can treat that person with kindness and tenderness.

In the days ahead we will dig a little deeper into this. For today, I wonder if the following questions may be a good exercise for us as we think of One-Anothering by “forgiving one another.”



1. Who do you need to forgive? Who has hurt you? Who lied to you? Deceived you? Violated you and your trust?



“When you forgive someone you set a prisoner free… and that prisoner is you.”



2. Who do you need to ask forgiveness from? Who have you hurt? Lied to you or lied about? Have you violated someone? Have you misused someone’s trust? 

It takes courage to ask for forgiveness. You can do it. God supports you on this.

 

BUILDING UP

 

September 13, 2024

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O most high; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night . . . For you, O Lord have made me glad by your work. Amen.     (Psalm 92:1-2, 4)

I Peter 4:5

 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

Serving one another involves a selfless attitude. To repeat our verse again 1 Peter 4:5 tells us, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). See our spiritual gift isn't just for personal delight; it's meant for spiritual service (1 Cor. 12:7). While we do find joy in employing our gift to help others, its main purpose is to fulfill the role God has crafted for each of us within His kingdom.

Using your spiritual gift to serve others does several things: Using your gift reveals the presence of God. Listen to 1 Corinthians 12:7, “A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial” (HCSB). When we use our gift to serve others it is a demonstration of God's presence in that situation. Isn't that powerful, and overwhelming?  Listen to how this Bible translation explains it, “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits” (The Message, 1 Cor. 12:7). It may be beneficial to consider using our Spiritual Gift from this perspective: when you teach others through the gift of teaching, you reflect God as a teacher. When you offer encouragement with the gift of encouragement, you portray God as an encourager. When you demonstrate kindness with the gift of kindness, you reveal God as kindhearted and full of good will.

Utilizing your spiritual gift strengthens fellow believers. Consider 1 Corinthians 12:7 once more, which states, “A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial” (HCSB). The term 'beneficial' encompasses strengthening, supporting, aiding, being useful, and building up.

Here's an illustration of how spiritual gifts can impact a person's life. Imagine an individual with the gift of evangelism guiding someone to a faith in Jesus. This new believer then joins an ALPHA or Bible Study Group, there they take in the Gospel's message from someone graced with the gift of teaching. As this person matures in faith, they faces challenges and becomes disheartened, normal stuff right. But then, a person with the gift of encouragement steps in, offering the precise words needed to rekindle the individual's determination to follow Jesus. This journey of spiritual growth is sustained by the diverse gifts of different individuals playing a role in his life. That's what it means to be the body of Christ, that's what it means when we say "we are in this together." 

LET US PRAY

Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace:
where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light,
and where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O, Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace:
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life. Amen.

Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi