FORGIVENESS IS SPELLED: J-E-S-U-S!
Just as I did last Tuesday, I’ve decided to keep a small theme throughout my November devotionals by using three simple scripture verses in each one. As you can see, the topic is forgiveness. Wow! Now that can really be a hot topic. Let’s look at the three scriptures dealing with the topic.
Matthew 18:20-21 (NIV) – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me, up to seven times?" Matthew 6:14 (NIV) - “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The first scripture is Jesus speaking to His disciples regarding conflict resolution and Peter tacks on a request at the end of Christ’s lesson, proving that he hadn’t quite gotten it yet. The second passage is Jesus reminding His followers that if we’ll forgive others for what they’ve done to us, then His Father, God Almighty, will forgive us of the sins we’ve committed against Him. The third scripture is Paul telling the church at Colossae that as Christians, when they’re facing difficulties in the church that they need to resolve things between each other. Since God has forgiven us, we in turn must forgive each other.
On this very busy Tuesday, let me ask us all this question: Is there anyone you have not forgiven? You might say, “Wait a minute Pastor Darryl. You don’t know what they did to me, you don’t know how much they hurt me, you don’t know how they made me look, you just don’t know what all I’ve been through because of them”, and so on.
May I tell you today that you are absolutely right? There is no way I could ever know. I don’t even know to what lengths this devotional is being read. It may be that you’re in another country, because I’ve often received comments on my devotionals from across the globe. I am humbled and also blessed by that. But, it remains true, I do not know, and I don’t have to know. You see, there is someone who does know. He knows everything wrong that has ever been done to you. He is aware of all the pain you may have carried or are still carrying. He is cognizant of every unkind word you have endured, every painful moment you have experienced and every discomfort someone else has caused you to endure.
Friends, may I say to you today with the most sincere heart that no matter how much we may have endured, it is not enough to measure up to what Jesus experienced prior to the cross, upon the cross or even after the cross when those He loved felt He had let them down. He went through all of that for you and me. He willingly died for all mankind. He loved us so much that even in our sin, Christ died for us that we might receive His forgiveness and have the assurance of a home one day in the Heaven He has gone to prepare for His own.
As we move even closer to Thanksgiving Day, is there anything more important for us to be thankful for than the forgiveness that Christ has made available to us? I just don’t think so. Is there anything we have endured that is so bad that we cannot offer our forgiveness to the perpetrator because Jesus Christ Himself has offered His forgiveness to us and to them as well? I have to say it friends, there just is nothing we’ve endured that will allow us not to forgive and be justified in doing so.
Why not pause on this busy Tuesday and ask God to bring to mind anyone and everyone that you have yet to forgive. Ask Him to help you to freely give to them what Christ has given to you - Forgiveness! Oh friends, I promise you that it will lighten the load you are carrying. Forgiving someone else will set you free. Do not allow someone else’s actions to carry so much weight in your life that the negative feelings you have for them are so strong that it keeps you down. Get up, let go and give to that person what no one else can give to them. Give them your forgiveness. You’ll be so glad you did!
Remember, when you take time to truly spell things out so that they make the greatest sense, you are so much better off. So let’s spell it together, okay? Ready? Forgiveness is spelled: J-E-S-U-S!
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Serving The God of Miracles
How Are You And Your Clock Geting Along?
As I was praying about the topic for this weeks Tuesday devotional, I was reminded of the hour that those of us on Eastern Standard Time were fortunate enough to regain this past weekend. Of course I know as do you that it’s only good until next spring when we give it back again by moving it forward.
So I started thinking about a few of the Bible verses that speak to the issue of “Time”. I confess that I didn’t read all 566 passages, but I read many and decided to include just three.
The first is Paul’s words to the Ephesians church in chapter 5 verses 15-18 when he wrote: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The second is David’s words in Psalm 90:12 – where he penned: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
The third is James’ words in chapter 4 and verse 14 where he says: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
In each passage above, there is a warning, a challenge if you will, to be sure that we’re not wasting time and that we use it wisely and to the best of our abilities. Let me ask you the same 10 rhetorical questions I’ve ask myself on this busy Tuesday.
Q: How are you using the time that God makes available to you each day?
Q: Are you using some of it to honor God?
Q: Do you start your day off or perhaps end your day with the reading of God’s Holy Word?
Q: Do you use a companion devotional or study book as well?
Q: Do you take the time to not only pray, but also to meditate on what you have read?
Q: Do you pause before the Lord and let Him fill your heart and mind with the things that matter the most?
Q: Do you have a prayer list that you pray through? We provide a printed list weekly in our church worship folder every Sunday so folks can put it with their Bible or in their car or use it wherever they can to pray for the requests that are listed.
Q: How are you doing with the time God gives you that is not be spent but rather invested in sharing your faith with the Pre-Christians that cross your path daily?
Q: Are you seeing God work in the lives of others as you invest yourself in them? It is such a joy to see God bring spiritual victories when someone we invest our time in comes to know the Savior personally. The scripture says all heaven erupts in praise. That’ll sure make your day!
Today we both pause, writer and reader. We pause long enough to remember that the time God gives us is to be redeemed at its highest potential. Today we remind ourselves that our time is to be invested rather than spent. That means we invest it in our spouses, in our children, in our profession, in our church, and in our own continued personal spiritual development. When we do that, the dividends will have everlasting results. Let’s take the ultimate personal quiz to see if we’re being good stewards of the time God gives us daily. The best way to do that is simply to pause and ask ourselves question # 10;
Q: How Are You And Your Clock Getting Along?
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
As I was praying about the topic for this weeks Tuesday devotional, I was reminded of the hour that those of us on Eastern Standard Time were fortunate enough to regain this past weekend. Of course I know as do you that it’s only good until next spring when we give it back again by moving it forward.
So I started thinking about a few of the Bible verses that speak to the issue of “Time”. I confess that I didn’t read all 566 passages, but I read many and decided to include just three.
The first is Paul’s words to the Ephesians church in chapter 5 verses 15-18 when he wrote: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The second is David’s words in Psalm 90:12 – where he penned: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
The third is James’ words in chapter 4 and verse 14 where he says: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
In each passage above, there is a warning, a challenge if you will, to be sure that we’re not wasting time and that we use it wisely and to the best of our abilities. Let me ask you the same 10 rhetorical questions I’ve ask myself on this busy Tuesday.
Q: How are you using the time that God makes available to you each day?
Q: Are you using some of it to honor God?
Q: Do you start your day off or perhaps end your day with the reading of God’s Holy Word?
Q: Do you use a companion devotional or study book as well?
Q: Do you take the time to not only pray, but also to meditate on what you have read?
Q: Do you pause before the Lord and let Him fill your heart and mind with the things that matter the most?
Q: Do you have a prayer list that you pray through? We provide a printed list weekly in our church worship folder every Sunday so folks can put it with their Bible or in their car or use it wherever they can to pray for the requests that are listed.
Q: How are you doing with the time God gives you that is not be spent but rather invested in sharing your faith with the Pre-Christians that cross your path daily?
Q: Are you seeing God work in the lives of others as you invest yourself in them? It is such a joy to see God bring spiritual victories when someone we invest our time in comes to know the Savior personally. The scripture says all heaven erupts in praise. That’ll sure make your day!
Today we both pause, writer and reader. We pause long enough to remember that the time God gives us is to be redeemed at its highest potential. Today we remind ourselves that our time is to be invested rather than spent. That means we invest it in our spouses, in our children, in our profession, in our church, and in our own continued personal spiritual development. When we do that, the dividends will have everlasting results. Let’s take the ultimate personal quiz to see if we’re being good stewards of the time God gives us daily. The best way to do that is simply to pause and ask ourselves question # 10;
Q: How Are You And Your Clock Getting Along?
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
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