“And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors….”
I am returning to one of my favorite themes for this post – forgiveness. Forgiveness is a precious word. Until a person has received forgiveness, he or she, will not know how precious it is. The fact that we have been forgiven by God is more than we can understand. The fact that we should forgive each other is sometimes more than we want to understand. The Bible tells us of both God’s forgiveness and our need to forgive each other. Being forgiven by God and forgiving each other are of ultimate importance. God’s forgiveness is important because it is our means of being made right with God. The first words of Jesus from the cross were, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” This reveals the very heart and nature of God. Although we don’t understand why, God longs to forgive us. He longs to rid us of guilt and shame, and it is ours for the asking. He longed for it so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross in order for us to be forgiven. This cannot be emphasized enough and we need to be reminded of it often – which is what I am doing. God knew that we could not be made right with Him in any other way. This is not something that I can explain, because it is beyond human understanding. But that is the way that it is. Unbelievers, particularly hardened atheists, scoff at this concept, but that is their problem. It is not that we deserve God’s forgiveness. We are forgiven because God is the God of grace, love, and mercy. Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22-23: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” God’s forgiveness is important because it enables us to deal with sin in our lives. 1 John 1:9 tells us that when we confess our sins, Jesus is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” We do not have to be defeated by sin, because God will forgive us through Christ. There are some people who do not seek forgiveness because they think that their sins are so grievous that they cannot be forgiven. There is no sin, outside of unrepented of unbelief, that cannot be forgiven. If we could not be forgiven for our sins, we would always be controlled by sin. We would literally drown in guilt and shame. But through the blood of Jesus we can be forgiven for our sins and cleansed from them. Sin need not win the day, because God is a forgiving God. Our forgiving each other is important because without it we cannot be forgiven. I don't know what the eternal implication for this is -probably loss of reward - but I do know that we can't live victorious Christian lives if we do not forgive others. In His model prayer, Jesus said that we are to ask for our debts (sins) to be forgiven as we forgive our debtors – those who have sinned against us. In Matthew 5:14-15 Jesus added: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” We are to forgive because we have been forgiven. No one could ever sin against us as much as we sinned against Christ before He forgave us. Thank God today that He has forgiven your sins. Remember that Christ forgave you because He loves you. We should also ask Jesus to help us forgive all of those that we need to forgive. We will never know the joy of Christ until we do. It is not always easy to do, but it is always important to do it. If you want victory today seek God’s forgiveness for your sins, and forgive all of those that you need to forgive. Bro. Joe
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“And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”
The text for this article is part of the “armor of God” that Paul described in Ephesians 6:13-17. Besides the helmet Paul mentions “the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of God’s peace, and the shield of faith.” Paul gave us this armor because we are in a spiritual battle with Satan and his demons that will ruin our lives if we let them. Our text verse tells us that “the sword of the Spirit” is the word of God. Over the last three days we have seen the word of God portrayed as a lamp, a fire and a hammer. Now we turn to the word of God as a sword. It has many uses in our lives. It is interesting that all of the other parts of the armor are mainly for defense, and defense is important, but “the sword of the Spirit” can be used as both defense and offense. We see the word of God used as a defensive weapon in the temptation experience of Jesus in Matthew 4. When He was tempted to turn stones into bread, Jesus used as His defense the word of God from Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written: man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The next temptation was to prove Himself by jumping from the highest part of Solomon’s temple, and if He was truly God’s Son angels would rescue Him. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16: “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” To the temptation to fall down and worship Satan and receive the kingdoms of the world, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13: “Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Doesn’t it make sense that if the Son of God Himself used scripture to defend Himself against temptation, that we should do the same? That’s why we need to read and study the word of God, because we cannot defend ourselves with weapons that we do not have. It’s not just a matter of being strong enough to fight temptation; we need the knowledge of God’s word to recognize temptation when it comes. We can also see that the word of God was used by Jesus as an offensive weapon. He went right to the attack, knowing that the word of God would tell Him what to do. We see the word of God as a defensive weapon in Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This informs us that we can use the word of God to protect our own hearts and minds. This is why it is so important for us to internalize the word of God as we read it. I do not mean to merely memorize. We can memorize something and it can mean nothing to us. When we internalize the word of God, it becomes a part of us. The word of God works its way into our inner lives and gives us the protection that Jesus claimed during His temptations. The word of God needs to be implanted in our hearts so that it can grow and help us to grow in our faith. Of course, the “sword of the Spirit” is also a weapon that we can use on offense. I have in my mind the sword fights that I saw iin Errol Flynn movies, and others, years ago. It was important that the sword fighter knew how to use the sword. When we read and study the word of God, Satan trembles, because he knows that we are getting ready for the fight, and that he is no match for the word of God. The word of God is in our hearts to give us a means of defense against temptation, but also as a weapon to wield as we face the temptations that will surely come. If you are a Christian, you have the “sword of the Spirit” available to you, not only in your Bible, but in your heart. Do not hesitate to use it, because if you don’t Satan will have a field day. Don’t let that happen in your life. Bro. Joe “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path…”
I remember taking a tour into a cave in Virginia several years ago. The guide turned his light off and we were in total darkness. I could not see my hand in front of my face. I think that this is the epitome of darkness. A lot of people are walking in the darkness and do not realize it because they are not walking in the light of God’s word –the Bible. The Bible shines a light on our path so that we will be careful not to misstep. God’s word can light the way for us in life if we will read it and heed it. God’s word sheds light on the true condition of humanity brought about by sin. If it wasn’t for the Bible, we would not even know what sin is. This is why so many people can be satisfied walking in the darkness, because their eyes, hearts and minds are hidden from the reality of sin. In fact, even if the Bible points to something as sin, people will still deny it. This is not just true of the world’s people but church people as well. It is fairly easy for us to justify our actions because they are our actions. We need to let the Bible shed light on all of our actions. That is why it is so important for Christians to read the Bible daily, and to heed what is written there. Let me take one example from church life where we do not follow the light of the Bible. When people in churches get angry with each other, it is sometimes as though the Bible does not tell us to love and bear with each other. Sometimes, or often, in the church we act just like the rest of the world. We give in to our anger and let it lead to hatred or bitterness. We need to shed the light of God’s word on our anger. God’s word sheds light on the true nature of God. I hear all kinds of opinions about the nature of God. There are those who see God as a grandfatherly old man who would not harm a flea. He just grins and bears it when we go our own way. On the other hand, there are those who see God as a cosmic old Meany who never smiles. On the one hand, God’s love is seen as doting and toothless, on the other hand, God’s love is seen as non-existent. Both of these are caricatures of God. The Bible reveals God as a God of love. In fact, the Bible tells us that God is love. (1 John 4:8) But what kind of love is it? I think that we could define it as tough love. God does not excuse us; in fact, the Bible tells us that God will discipline us when we misbehave. God is like a good parent, He will not let us get by with what He knows is ultimately bad for us. God is our ultimate judge, and He has already judged sin, but God’s judgment is tempered by His grace. The God of the Bible is a God of judgment, but He is also the God of grace. It is because of His grace and love that we can be redeemed from our sins. Grace can be defined as “getting what we do not deserve.” It is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal son(s). When the younger son returns home, he experiences the grace of his father. Jesus is telling us in this parable that God will welcome us when we come to Him in repentance, no matter how badly we have behaved. God’s word sheds light on what God expects of us. I could write a lot on this, but I will settle for one example of God’s expectations. God expects us to come to Him by confession and repentance. We cannot demand that God love us, because He already does. We can’t demand that God forgive us; we can only turn to Him in sorrow for our sins. The Bible is filled with examples of people going astray and returning to God. In each case they confessed and repented. We cannot be forgiven by justifying ourselves in our sins, but we can be forgiven by confessing and repenting. The Bible makes that clear. I haven’t even touched the “hem of the garment” of this theme, but I think that enough has been written for us to agree that we need to walk in the light of God’s word. Bro. Joe “But without faith it is impossible to please (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith,” because it is about the faith of great Old Testament saints who were people of faith. The beginning of the chapter actually defines faith as: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In verses 4-5, the writer described Abel and Enoch who pleased God because of their faith. Then in verse 6, the writer points out that the only way to please God is by faith. Paul wrote that we are saved “by grace through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8) James wrote that genuine faith is a faith that works. Real faith will express itself, not only in the confession that it makes, but in the action that it takes. The kind of faith that pleases God is the kind that serves. In other words, genuine faith is not dormant, but it is active. I think that all of the great servants of God in the Old and New Testaments served the Lord by faith. It is impossible to please God without faith, but what is the nature of that faith? First, the person who has faith that pleases God must believe in His existence: “For he who comes to God must believe that He is.” I know that this is elementary, but it is certainly necessary. The only way that we can grasp the reality of God is by faith in Him. Everything around us gives us evidence of God’s existence, but the faith that pleases God is the faith that takes Him personally. There are people who believe in the existence of a god, but they have no definition of this god, nor do they have a relationship with this god. One group of people who believe like this are called “deists.” Their definition of God is that He created the world, then went about His own business and has no interest in what goes on in His creation. This could be called “belief” but it certainly is not faith in the biblical sense of the word. Which takes us to the next point. Second, the person who has faith that pleases God is the person who believes that God is interested in his or her life. Observe: “And that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” This means that the person of faith who pleases God is not a “fair-weather friend” of God. People of faith are diligent about what is important to them, and God is certainly important to people whose faith pleases Him. This is illustrated in many ways in the Bible. Abraham is a good example. Because of his faith in God, Abraham took his family and moved from the comforts of his home to go to a land to which God led him. Moses is a good example, for he gave up everything to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Paul is a good example because he gave up all that this world offered him in order to follow Jesus Christ. All of these men had diligent faith. Third, the person who has faith that pleases God is one who takes this life seriously, as did all of the Old Testament saints mentioned here, but also realizes that he or she is serving a higher purpose than the things of this world. In verses 9-10 we read about Abraham: “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents) with Isaac and Jacob, and heirs with Him of the same promise. 10. For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” By faith we are citizens of two countries. We are citizens of heaven; therefore, we are to remember that we serve a higher purpose than the things that we accomplish in this world. We should be careful that we use our faith to promote God’s kingdom and not just our worldly endeavors. Bro. Joe “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. 20. And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.”
I can only imagine what the disciples felt as they huddled in a closed room, quaking in fear because of what the Jewish leaders might do to them. Then like a burst of light from heaven, Jesus appears in the room and gives them the usual Jewish greeting: “Peace be unto you.” When Jesus showed them His hands and His side, the disciples were glad (overjoyed) when they saw the Lord.” At that moment, the reality of who Jesus really was/is came home to them and they were overjoyed. It makes all the difference when Jesus is real to us. When I was a youngster of about nineteen years of age, I was filled with doubts about the reality of all that I had been taught in Sunday School, etc. I remember that I was alone in the sleeping area of the USS Hornet when I had what I will call an epiphany. I was about at rock bottom in my doubts as I lay there on my bunk, when His reality hit me right in my heart. I don’t know what He did. To this day, I can’t really describe what the Lord did to my mind and heart that day, but He made Himself real to me at that moment, and like the disciples, I was overjoyed when that reality hit me. I knocked the dust off of my Bible and began to listen to His call on my heart. Notice what happened when the reality of Jesus hit His disciples. First, that they were no longer afraid. They had gathered in that room and shut the door in the first place because they were afraid of what the Jews were going to do to them. They were hiding out, afraid to be seen. When Jesus becomes real to a person, one of the first things that happens is that fear is banished. This doesn’t mean that we will never be afraid again. It means that we will no longer fear that Jesus has forsaken us, for He is real every moment of our lives. Second, they experienced overwhelming joy: “Then were the disciples glad (overjoyed) when they saw the Lord.” In John 16:20, Jesus had predicted that this would happen: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy.” Can you imagine the relief that these men felt when they were confronted with the fact that all that Jesus said to them about Himself was true? They heard what he said then, but it didn’t really register until this moment. All of them had forsaken their livelihoods to follow Jesus. If He was dead, it meant that they had lost everything. But now they knew that He was alive. When Jesus is real to us, we experience joy as well. When we go through the troubles and trials of life, it is great to know that we are not alone, but that Jesus is real and that He has not forsaken us. Third, in verse 21 they were given a challenge and a new task: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.” They were to go into the world and share the reality of Jesus with other people – which they did. We believe in Jesus today, and He is real to us today, because these disciples obeyed Jesus and went out and spread the word of His reality until the word spread all over the world. Jesus has given us the challenge and task to tell others as well. Let’s go in great joy and do it. Bro. Joe “Unto you therefore which believe (Jesus) is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
I will confess that this is being written a little tongue in cheek but I think that you will agree that it is true. While “ugly” words have become passé on television, in movies, and every other media that we can name, there are some good words that have become offensive and cannot be used in, for example, schools. In fact, there is an attempt to erase them from public discourse altogether. Here is a list of new offensive words that I thought of today. Jesus I have discovered that it is alright to say “God,” “Allah,” “man upstairs,” etc. But when the name Jesus is used, some are heard to say “ewww, that is a no no." Paul wrote that this is a name that is above every name, yet in our politically correct society, it has become offensive. I think that this is because we can interpret “God,” etc. in any way that we want, but when we use the word “Jesus,” we are being very specific. In other words, it is politically correct to be religious, but not to be distinctively Christian. In a sense it is alright to be Christian as long as we don’t take it too seriously and really live the Christian faith on a daily basis. We need to remember that Jesus said that if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. We should never be ashamed of the name of Jesus. Holy Bible I used the word “holy” here because there are a lot of things that are called “bible” today, but the Holy Bible is separate from all of these. We Christians believe that the Bible is God’s written word to us, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We take these words from 1 Peter 1:19-21 seriously: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” It is not the words “Holy Bible” that offends so much as the presence of the Bible in certain places. For example, a Holy Bible is not supposed be seen in some public school rooms. There are workplaces in America that the presence of the Bible would also be offensive. Christian Witness The word “witness” is not offensive because it is used in several different ways. For example, one can witness a crime and testify about it in court. It is when we put the word “Christian” in front of it that it becomes offensive. We are told to keep our Christian witness to ourselves, at least keep it at church. We might offend someone if we dare to tell them about Jesus. Which leads me to another offensive word that I will include here, i.e., “sin” or “sinner.” If we try to tell some people that they need Jesus because they have sinned, or that they are sinners, they accuse us of judging. They need to understand that we are not judging, because we know that we are “sinners saved by grace.” We really believe what is recorded in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We do not think it offensive because we believe that it is true of ourselves too, based on the word of God. We can’t witness without talking about sin, and people can’t receive Christ without admitting that they are sinners. I realize that this is not an exhaustive list of “new offensive words,” but I think that you get the idea, and could probably come up with your own list. I think that you will agree with the three that I have listed Bro. Joe Those who read my articles often know that God’s love for us is my favorite theme. I just always stand amazed in the knowledge that God loves all people and wants the best for all of them. However, not everyone accepts or returns that love, and not everyone wants the best of what God wants for them. It is true based on the Bible and Christian experience that God loves us. I want to take a little of your time and revisit John 3:16 and see what it tells us about the God that loves us.
God's Love Is Universal: "For God so loved the world...." “The world" refers to everyone in the world. There is no one in the world that God does not love. No one can truly say that he or she is unloved. Jesus revealed this love in His earthly ministry. We read in the gospel accounts of Jesus that He loved the rich and the poor, the sick and the well alike. For example, Jesus loved the wealthy Zacchaeus, who was the wealthiest and the most hated man in Jericho because he was a tax collector who had stolen from the people. At the same time, we note that Jesus loved the blind beggar Bartimaeus. The cartoon character, Charlie Brown, or it might have been Lucy who said: “I love mankind, it’s people that I hate.” Well, God does not just love mankind in general; He loves every person in the world individually. This means that He loves you too. It also means that He loves those people that you do not particularly care for. God’s Love Is Sacrificial: “That He gave His only begotten Son….” Observe that God did not just send His Son – He gave Him. God revealed His love for every person by giving Jesus, His Son, to die for each one. In Matthew 1:21 the angel told Joseph :“And you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” The meaning of this verse is revealed in Romans 8:23: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. We further read in Romans 8:34: “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” God gave His Son to die and rise again in order to make salvation possible for everyone. He gave His Son to die for you. You can truthfully say that “God gave His only begotten Son to die for me.” It is God’s intention that every person should take John 3:16 personally. God’s Love Saves: “That whosever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “Whosoever believes in Him” shall be saved. Everyone is loved by God, but not everyone is saved. Those who believe in Jesus, those who trust their lives to Him, are saved, and “will not perish but have everlasting life.” There are many people who will not acknowledge the sacrificial love of God. They want to save themselves or find some other means of salvation. A lot of people have bought into the New Age hoax that all roads lead to heaven. By not believing in the Son, they tell God that they do not need His love or His Son. That is not God’s fault, nor is it the fault of His church. It is a pity that so many people who are loved by God refuse His great salvation and perish. This is not cruelty on God’s part, for in His great love He has done all that can be done to ensure eternal life to all. What more could people ask for than the life of God’s Son? What simpler course could people take than to believe in God’s Son? “Whosoever” includes you. You can be saved by believing in and giving your life to Jesus.“Whosoever will” also applies to all of the people to whom you need to witness. You can, and should, share the love of God with other people by the way you live and by witnessing to them. All people need to know that they are part of "whosoever.” Let’s celebrate the love of God. There is no other love that is both universal and sacrificial. There is no other love that can save. Bro. Joe “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
We have all probably wished at some time or other that we could inherit a fortune. We probably did not think about the fact that someone would have to die for us to be inheritors. Be that as it may, we do not have to wait to be rich heirs. The Bible tells us that through Christ we are heirs of God. Why? Because when we accepted Jesus as our Savior we became sons and daughters of God through our faith in Christ. If we are heirs, what have we inherited? Paul gave us a hint of the extent of our inheritance in Philippians 4:19: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Think about all of the riches of God. The Bible tells us that everything belongs to God, in heaven and on earth; therefore, we have an extensive inheritance. What are some of these riches that we have inherited? The first thing that comes to my mind is that we have inherited the richness of God’s love, mercy, and grace. How thankful we should be that God did not continue to treat us as slaves, but in His love He accepted us into His kingdom and made us His children. We do not ever need to feel unloved, because we can be assured that God loves us all of the time. Just as our salvation is based on His grace, His love is also based on His grace. He loves us in spite of ourselves. The second thing that comes to my mind is that we have inherited His forgiveness. Guilt is a big part of being human, but God forgives us so that we do not have to be consumed by guilt. We have the Bible’s promise that if we will “confess our sins (Jesus) will be faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Not only that but He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Keep in mind that we cannot earn the forgiveness of God, but He gives it to us freely out of His “riches in glory.” The third thing that comes to my mind is that we have inherited His peace. In John 16:33, Jesus gave a promise concerning His peace: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (trouble); but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul gave us a promise concerning the peace that Christ gives us. He promised that if we take all things to God in prayer: “the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” We cannot earn the peace of God that “passes all understanding,” but we can claim it by grace as part of the inheritance of “His riches in glory.” This peace is beyond our understanding because it is eternal peace that abides in our hearts, even as in the world we have troubles. The fourth thing that comes to my mind is that we have inherited Joy. In Galatians 5, Joy is listed as part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Besides that, Jesus promised us His joy in John 15:11...These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” We do not have to conjure up joy, because we have it as part of our inheritance from“His riches in glory.” The fifth thing that comes to mind is that as heirs of God through Christ, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us through life. Jesus made a promise about this in John 14:26: “But the comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things in remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.” These are all great reasons to rejoice in our inheritance, but the greatest of all is eternal life in heaven forever and forever. We are heirs of God and we need to remember it and rejoice in it. Bro. Joe “And this is the confidence that we have toward (Jesus), that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
I don’t remember where I read this story, or who wrote it, but I want to share it with you and make a few comments on what it means. “A Lady was helping her nephew with his homework. He was usually attentive, but on this day he seemed unable to focus on his work. He asked his aunt, ‘Can I ask God to help me find my marble?’ She answered in the affirmative, so he knelt by her chair and prayed. Afterward, he focused on his homework and completed it. The next day the aunt was almost afraid to ask her nephew if he had found his marble, lest he had not found it and his faith in God was hampered. When she finally asked, his reply was ‘no.’ The aunt’s heart skipped a beat, then her nephew said, ‘But God has made me not want to.’” I write a lot on the subject of answered prayer, but I think that it is important that we understand the dynamics of prayer. Our text says something about this as well: “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” The story and text contain a good lesson about prayer for us. God does not always give us exactly what we pray for, but in many cases He changes our wants. I think of the young boy that I read about who misquoted the first verse of the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, He’s all I want.” This is certainly one of the meanings of the correct translation, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This doesn’t mean that He gives us everything that we pray for, but that He simplifies, and, perhaps, changes our wants. We can think of the girls who prayed that they would get a marriage proposal from such and such a guy, but he never proposed. Later, when they met the real men of their dreams and realized that if God had given them exactly what they wanted they would not have been as happy. I think of how many requests I have made to God over the last fifty-three years that I have spent in the ministry. I can remember times when I prayed that God would help me to move to another place. (They say that preachers love their churches – especially their next church.) More often than not, He didn’t give me what I wanted, but He did change my wants and made me realize that He wasn’t through with me at that church yet. I have written before on 'CouchPotatoRedux' that God has at least three answers to our prayers. One answer is “yes.” Another answer is “no” And a third answer is “wait.” But whenever God says “no” to our prayers, it means that He has something better for us than what we asked for. When God says “no,” He changes our wants at the same time. I think how my life would have been altered for the worse if God had given me what I wanted at that time. I know that it is difficult to accept that God wants something different from what we want, but He does and acts on it. I’m sure that you already know, but it doesn’t hurt to get a reminder of it, that God always knows what is best for us. He knows everything about us, past, present and future. God has plans for our lives, and we often have our own plans that might conflict with His. Since God knows what the future holds, and since He knows everything about our spiritual gifts, He knows when and where we can best do what He wants. If you are disappointed with God because He has not given you something that you prayed for, remember that He is God and He knows what answer is in your best interests. I certainly don’t mean to leave the impression that God never answers us directly to our given prayers, but I do mean that if He doesn’t answer in the affirmative to our particular wants, He knows what we need, and like the little boy in the opening story, we should understand that He may have changed our wants. Bro. Joe “Servants, obey in all things your master according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23. And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. 24. Knowing that of the Lord you
shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve Christ.” This passage is addressed to servants, or slaves, to tell them how to conduct themselves in the work they are given to do. This advice, however, does not just include slaves, but all Christians, for we are all servants, or slaves, of the Lord. Paul wrote: “And whatsoever you do….” This presupposes that we are going to be “doers.” This is reminiscent of James’s advice in James 1:22: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Paul informed us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are “saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast." I know that “work” is a four-letter word, but it is not an ugly word in the Christian vocabulary. In Ephesians 2:10 Paul concluded the passage with a reminder that we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, lest any (person) should boast.” So we are called to not only serve the Lord, but to serve Him heartily – or with our whole heart. He wrote “do it heartily as to the Lord…” We are to serve the Lord with our whole hearts, because He is the Lord – period. If one is called to serve on the staff of the president of the United States, he or she had better determine that they are going to do a good job or be sent home in disgrace. How much more careful should we be about our service to the Lord. Whether we are teaching Sunday School, taking up the offering, ushering, serving as a deacon, teaching in the nursery, or whatever, we should take the job seriously and give the Lord the best that we can give Him. The service that we render is to be done to please the Lord and not to please people. Specifically, he wrote in verses 22-23: “…not as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23. And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be glad when people appreciate what we do, but pleasing people should not be the reason that we serve. There are times in the Lord’s service when we will have to choose between pleasing God or pleasing people. Which one we should please is really a no-brainer if we are serious about serving the Lord. I can illustrate this dilemma in my own preaching ministry. There are just times that I have had to preach the Bible’s truth whether people agreed with it or not. That’s one reason that I prefer to preach verse-by-verse from the Bible. When it’s in the Bible, whether people like it or not, I know that it is the right thing. I am not ashamed to say that I like it when people appreciate my preaching, but that should not be my motivation for preaching. But this doesn’t just apply to preachers; it applies to all servants of God. Verse 24 gives us a promise: “Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.” Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees because they rendered religious service “to be seen of men.” He told them that when they did things to please people that they already had their reward, meaning that God would not reward that service. If all we want to do is to please people, we will not really be effective in helping them live the Christian life. It is a fact that we will be rewarded for the service that we do for the Lord. Our rewards in heaven will depend on the service that we did “heartily” for the Lord. We are not to serve just to get rewards, but to know that we get the rewards because we have pleased God. Bro. Joe |
AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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