We live in a world that abounds with comings and goings. The truth is, things in life are subject to change. From the simple things that wear out, like the toaster oven, refrigerator or technology that seems to come and go overnight. These sort of things are fairly easy to deal with. Most of us do not develop a deep meaningful relationship with a blender, though I have known people to get pretty attached to their cars. However, when it comes to people that is a different story. The comings and going of people can be more challenging to deal with. Social media can ease the parting with face-time and Instagram. But, no amount of technology can help when the parting comes through death. Death is a very real part of the lives we live. And with the passing of years it becomes an all too frequent visitor. It is these times of loss that we are called to cope with. We have grief ministries, and stages of grief and reminders that, "Time heals all wounds". Well, maybe time just dulls the pain a little. By the grace of God healing does come, yet the scars may linger longer than we thought possible. Well meaning friends are there to encourage us to move on. To get on with life and, with time, to get over it. Initial grief and sorrow is expected and comfort is readily available. That first anniversary of the passing often comes with comforting words and empathy. However, beyond that we are expected to get past the loss and begin to start fresh. With the Lord's help, of course.
But what if, in some ways, we are not supposed to get over it? What if God has other ideas of what to do with loss? The Apostle Paul tells those in Thessalonica, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). So we are not to sorrow as those who have no hope. Yet, we are allowed to sorrow. We are allowed to fell sadness. And there does not seem to be some set time limit as to how we can feel this way. I do not see a "Well, it's time to get over it. You've felt sad long enough." I am not talking about a debilitating grief that makes us bedridden as we wait to die. There is, or should be, some expected healing from God's Spirit as we cope with the loss. However, deep relationships are replete with abundant triggers of memories and special thoughts of the one who is gone. As believers, we know where our loved one is. We have the hope of the resurrection, we know they would not want us to be consumed with sorrow. However, are we intended to just get over years of special occasions that are special only to the ones who shared the moment?
I for one do not want to get over it. I am past the sorrow of a lost friend, at least for the most part. I have the full comfort of what God has provided. However, there are times when I miss the, "I am so frustrated right now!" phone call. I miss long talks in the parking lot. I miss knowing someone always has my back. I miss Dunkin Donuts conversations, ice cream at Friendly's and knowing he was just around the corner. I don't get sad quite the way I did at first but I never want to become calloused to the memories that somehow keep the friendship alive. We were not designed by God to go through life alone. I am blessed with a loving, remarkable, supportive, wife, and she is cute on top of that. I cannot imagine life without her. I have also been blessed with a number of friendships, some more like brothers than friends. However, I have only been blessed once with the kind of friendship that has been taken from me. I do not want to get over it. It was a special gift and blessing from the Lord. I want to treasure the memories. Be prompted to relive some moments when we laughed, enjoyed some music and were burdened for our children. I want to celebrate some answers to prayer that we shared before he went home. I want to feel the prompting to pray for his wife and children and grandchildren, just like when he was here. I am beyond grateful for the years of friendship and having a brother in the Lord that I may never experience again. So, no, I don't want to get over it. I want to treasure it. I want to remember it for even the pain of loss is something we had shared before. He was truly a gift from God. Why would I ever want to get over it?
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
"Pray on Purpose"
Most of humanity wants to believe they are here for some kind of purpose. Preferably one that has an enough of an impact that we are remembered by those we care about. A life that lacks purpose can lead to depression and diminishes the value that should be ours. The God who created us did so on purpose. He gave you life on purpose and wants you to both realize and enjoy your purpose for being here. Over the past few blog posts we have been reviewing Matthew 6:9-13, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. As we come toward the end of our study we find this final phrase, "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." You will not find it as easily in the NIV or ESV Bible translations for there is some academic question as to whether the phrase belongs. We are going to accept the long standing tradition and include it. The point here is not to enter into a discussion concerning textual criticism but to recognize that the closing phrase is a pretty good way to end any prayer. If you do not think it belongs you can find the same encouragement elsewhere in Scripture.
If we take this instruction seriously we will not only have a prayer to follow we also have purpose in life. Fellowship with our Heavenly Father is rewarding, comforting, and provides direction. The truth that the God of all creation finds great pleasure in having you as a child and looks forward to talking with you is a pretty good way to boost your personal value quotient. This Heavenly Father also has a kingdom yet to come, as well as a kingdom in the present. Our prayer for this kingdom to advance calls us to be involved as kingdom citizens. We also partake in the power provided to advance this kingdom. Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” To provide a witness of an eternal kingdom with no death, pain, or sorrow, seems like a rewarding purpose for life. The reminder of power also points back to the "daily bread" phrase where we were prompted to reflect on our dependence and God's constant provision. God knows our needs and has the power to provide. In a world filled with reasons to feel insecure we have assurance that the Lord is involved, He is aware and He cares for His children.
God's glory is likewise never ending. Colossians 3:4 tells us we will share in that glory, "And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." The wonder of Who the Lord is, is also ours to share in. 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. Quite the promise. Our call, our purpose, is to be involved in His kingdom, His power and His glory, forever. Not a bad purpose. In all we do, in all we say, in the life that He has given to us we have a purpose. We set His name apart as a name above all names. We labor, with joy, to see His kingdom advanced. We rest in His daily provision as we provide for others. We forgive in such a way that others can see how God forgives. We overcome tests and temptation by coming to Him for protection and rest. We are not just looking to the here and now for purpose but a purpose that is forever. Amen!
If we take this instruction seriously we will not only have a prayer to follow we also have purpose in life. Fellowship with our Heavenly Father is rewarding, comforting, and provides direction. The truth that the God of all creation finds great pleasure in having you as a child and looks forward to talking with you is a pretty good way to boost your personal value quotient. This Heavenly Father also has a kingdom yet to come, as well as a kingdom in the present. Our prayer for this kingdom to advance calls us to be involved as kingdom citizens. We also partake in the power provided to advance this kingdom. Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” To provide a witness of an eternal kingdom with no death, pain, or sorrow, seems like a rewarding purpose for life. The reminder of power also points back to the "daily bread" phrase where we were prompted to reflect on our dependence and God's constant provision. God knows our needs and has the power to provide. In a world filled with reasons to feel insecure we have assurance that the Lord is involved, He is aware and He cares for His children.
God's glory is likewise never ending. Colossians 3:4 tells us we will share in that glory, "And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." The wonder of Who the Lord is, is also ours to share in. 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. Quite the promise. Our call, our purpose, is to be involved in His kingdom, His power and His glory, forever. Not a bad purpose. In all we do, in all we say, in the life that He has given to us we have a purpose. We set His name apart as a name above all names. We labor, with joy, to see His kingdom advanced. We rest in His daily provision as we provide for others. We forgive in such a way that others can see how God forgives. We overcome tests and temptation by coming to Him for protection and rest. We are not just looking to the here and now for purpose but a purpose that is forever. Amen!
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Escaping the Evil
How do you go about escaping the evil that rolls over us from the corrupt and fallen world that we inhabit? The Lord's direction is to make this a matter of prayer. Matthew recorded these instructions for us in Matthew 6. A pretty familiar passage that we refer to as the Lord's prayer. Praying to our heavenly Father is a positive activity. This model prayer encourages us to ask for some pretty common things, like bread, as well as some challenging things concerning His Kingdom and forgiveness. The disciples lived in very difficult times. The government of Rome was oppressive and demanding. Taxes were high and freedoms were being eroded. Most religious practices surrounding the disciples were a violation to all they held as sacred. The roadways and cities held many dangers. Robbery and assault were common. You did not travel alone, for there often were threats from wild animals and thieves. Luke 10 reveals those dangers in the story of the abused man and the good Samaritan. Evil was common and came in a variety of forms and from all directions. It should not be a surprise that this prayer includes instruction on deliverance from evil.
"But deliver us from evil" is a request that gets directly to the point. The NIV and NKJV translations add the word "one", personalizing the evil that assaults us. The added word is meant to help, however, it may diminish our struggle rather than clarify the assault. You could argue that all evil comes from the evil one, however, much of what we struggle with has become a part of the world we live in and is not personal attack by Satan, himself, on our lives. It would serve us well to take a deeper look at the words used here in Matthew. The Greek word for deliver here is, rhyomai, It means, to draw to one's self, to rescue. It is not the common Greek word, sōzō, often translated "save". Here in Matthew the request is to be drawn near to the One who can rescue us from evil. To be pulled in close to a place or person who can protect us, rescue us from the evil that we encounter all the time. It is may be a bit more relational than sozo. In the midst of our daily, moment by moment struggle with evil we need to be drawn near, to be protected, rescued from evil. This is not unlike what our Lord shared concerning His people in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" We need to be drawn close under His wings to be protected, the question might be, are we willing?
"But deliver us from evil" is a request that gets directly to the point. The NIV and NKJV translations add the word "one", personalizing the evil that assaults us. The added word is meant to help, however, it may diminish our struggle rather than clarify the assault. You could argue that all evil comes from the evil one, however, much of what we struggle with has become a part of the world we live in and is not personal attack by Satan, himself, on our lives. It would serve us well to take a deeper look at the words used here in Matthew. The Greek word for deliver here is, rhyomai, It means, to draw to one's self, to rescue. It is not the common Greek word, sōzō, often translated "save". Here in Matthew the request is to be drawn near to the One who can rescue us from evil. To be pulled in close to a place or person who can protect us, rescue us from the evil that we encounter all the time. It is may be a bit more relational than sozo. In the midst of our daily, moment by moment struggle with evil we need to be drawn near, to be protected, rescued from evil. This is not unlike what our Lord shared concerning His people in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" We need to be drawn close under His wings to be protected, the question might be, are we willing?
What kind of evil does the Lord suggest we need to be rescued from? The Greek word here is, ponēros. The meaning of the word is pretty broad, meaning, pressed and harassed by labors, bringing toils, annoyances, perils, hardships, even disease or blindness. It is to be weighed down by all the trouble of the world. To be compressed and feel like there is no way out. Evil confines us and can rob us of the freedom to enjoy all that God has so graciously given us. We need deliverance, to be rescued, to be protected, from this kind of evil all the time. This evil is not just from the evil one; it comes from living in a fallen and broken world. I can generate this evil on my own. If we are honest, there are times when we need to be delivered from ourselves. To be delivered from past mistakes and failures that oppress and hem us in and keep us from moving forward with the Lord. Just as we need daily bread, we need daily deliverance. We need to take shelter under His wings or the evil that pervades our existence may crush us.
The remedy to evil is His presence. The closer we are to Him the greater our protection. This does not mean that we will skate through life problem free. the Scriptures make it clear that struggles and pain are a part of this life. It does mean we do not have to go through it alone. There is security in the Lord even in the darkest of times. There are tests and trials that God allows to build my faith and encourage my faithfulness. However, I am certain that they will be easier to endure under the shelter of His wings. Today I need to be delivered from evil. I would guess that you do as well.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
God's Leading Me Where?!?
Have you ever asked God for direction? Have you asked Him to lead you in the right path, to make the right decisions? Most of us have, be it direction for a job, school, church to attend, place we should live, even who we should marry. We are encouraged to ask, to pray for direction even to follow David's example in Psalm 25:4, "Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths." It seems reasonable that we would want to be on the right path. Asking the Lord to keep us on the right path is a pretty common request. However, have you ever thought about asking God to not lead you? In this series of posts we have been considering the instructions Rabbi Jesus gave to His disciples. The phrase we consider today is an unusual request. The disciples are instructed to ask God, their Father in heaven to not do something.
The phrase is, "And do not lead us into temptation" (Matthew 6:13a). Why do we specificity need to ask God to NOT lead us into temptation. Why would God lead us there? I thought James wrote that this couldn't happen? James 1:13 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." If God does not tempt anyone, then why are we instructed to ask Him to not lead us there? Perhaps a look at the Greek words will shed some light on this apparent dilemma. The Greek word translated "lead" is eispherō, It means to lead or to bring in. It appears only seven times in the New Testament. Here in Matthew 6, and in Luke 11, the other version of the Lord's Prayer, where it is translated lead. The other five instances the word is translated "brought" as in Luke 5 where they "brought" the paralyzed man to Jesus. Either way Matthew's record of this prayer is that God would not lead or bring us into temptation.
The real help comes from understanding the word translated "temptation". This is the Greek word, peirasmos. It does indeed mean temptation; however, it is also commonly translated test or trial. A test or trial may be a positive thing or a negative thing. It depends on where it comes from and how we respond. Satan brings temptations to wound us and to draw us into sin. We are not exempt from these things. Messiah had this experience. Luke 4:13 records the encounter between the Lord and the devil in the wilderness, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time." This temptation was meant to harm. Peter gives us another perspective. 1 Peter 1:6, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials." We rejoice in spite of the trials that come upon us. James takes it a step further telling us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2). It is through trials or temptations that we grow in patience and strength in the Lord. Peter tells us that these trials are to be expected. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (1 Peter 4:12). Trials are God's way of bringing us to maturity. Resistance will build our "faith muscles". It is through these kinds of temptations that we gain strength as we trust and depend upon the Lord.
We cannot void these faith building experiences. They are God-designed to help us grow in faithfulness and patience as well as having the experience to help others as they travel down their path with the Lord. Our experience can help them in their spiritual journey. This is the positive aspect of those trials and temptations. Yet, we all know that we have weaknesses that can tempt us to stumble. Those temptations can lead us into wrong thinking, wrong decisions and sin. James made that clear. It is, therefore, wise to ask the Lord to protect us from exposures to those weaknesses, those temptations. Lord as you lead me through this day do not let my path wander into areas where I will fall into destructive temptations. Instead deliver me. Which is what we will look into next week.
Temptations, trials, and tests will come. Count on it. The question is what will you do with it? We want to depend upon the Lord and know success and victory. However, some times the best victory comes from avoiding the battle where we are vulnerable to fail. Asking our Heavenly Father to not lead us toward paths of temptation but to protect us and lead us in the paths of righteousness is a prayer worth praying.
The phrase is, "And do not lead us into temptation" (Matthew 6:13a). Why do we specificity need to ask God to NOT lead us into temptation. Why would God lead us there? I thought James wrote that this couldn't happen? James 1:13 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." If God does not tempt anyone, then why are we instructed to ask Him to not lead us there? Perhaps a look at the Greek words will shed some light on this apparent dilemma. The Greek word translated "lead" is eispherō, It means to lead or to bring in. It appears only seven times in the New Testament. Here in Matthew 6, and in Luke 11, the other version of the Lord's Prayer, where it is translated lead. The other five instances the word is translated "brought" as in Luke 5 where they "brought" the paralyzed man to Jesus. Either way Matthew's record of this prayer is that God would not lead or bring us into temptation.
The real help comes from understanding the word translated "temptation". This is the Greek word, peirasmos. It does indeed mean temptation; however, it is also commonly translated test or trial. A test or trial may be a positive thing or a negative thing. It depends on where it comes from and how we respond. Satan brings temptations to wound us and to draw us into sin. We are not exempt from these things. Messiah had this experience. Luke 4:13 records the encounter between the Lord and the devil in the wilderness, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time." This temptation was meant to harm. Peter gives us another perspective. 1 Peter 1:6, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials." We rejoice in spite of the trials that come upon us. James takes it a step further telling us, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2). It is through trials or temptations that we grow in patience and strength in the Lord. Peter tells us that these trials are to be expected. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (1 Peter 4:12). Trials are God's way of bringing us to maturity. Resistance will build our "faith muscles". It is through these kinds of temptations that we gain strength as we trust and depend upon the Lord.
We cannot void these faith building experiences. They are God-designed to help us grow in faithfulness and patience as well as having the experience to help others as they travel down their path with the Lord. Our experience can help them in their spiritual journey. This is the positive aspect of those trials and temptations. Yet, we all know that we have weaknesses that can tempt us to stumble. Those temptations can lead us into wrong thinking, wrong decisions and sin. James made that clear. It is, therefore, wise to ask the Lord to protect us from exposures to those weaknesses, those temptations. Lord as you lead me through this day do not let my path wander into areas where I will fall into destructive temptations. Instead deliver me. Which is what we will look into next week.
Temptations, trials, and tests will come. Count on it. The question is what will you do with it? We want to depend upon the Lord and know success and victory. However, some times the best victory comes from avoiding the battle where we are vulnerable to fail. Asking our Heavenly Father to not lead us toward paths of temptation but to protect us and lead us in the paths of righteousness is a prayer worth praying.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Self Impossed Destruction
What are the greatest threats to your life? We may look at the world and come up with an imposing list as we see raging forest fires, erupting volcanoes, unstable economies, wars and rumors of wars. The world can be a pretty threatening place. However there may be even greater threats much closer to home. Threats that can grow within our very souls. Quiet thoughts that fester like silent cancers quietly destroying our lives. The past few posts here at Torah Paranoia have been a review of, what is commonly known as, The Lord's Prayer. In Matthew 6 and again in Luke 11, we find some instructions on prayer from Rabbi Jesus, our Messiah. Today's portion may well be the most challenging and the most important. Matthew 6:12 reads, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Luke's version in 11:4 is as follows, "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." Asking the Lord for forgiveness is a pretty common prayer for most believers. However, there is more to this prayer than asking forgiveness.
The Lord instructs His disciples to ask forgiveness based on the attitude of forgiveness that is already at work in their lives. We are to ask God to forgive us in the same fashion that we have and are forgiving others. We are asking God to follow our example of forgiveness. Our desire is that God, Himself, will model His forgiveness after our forgiveness of others. Forgiveness is a huge deal to God. He knows that lack of forgiveness leads to bitterness which will poison our lives. Lack of forgiveness is incredibly destructive. Back in the days of David, David had a trusted advisor named, Ahithophel. You will find the account in 2 Samuel 16. David's son, Absolom, is trying to kill David and take the throne by force. Ahithophel sides with Absolom to the point of asking to be the one to personally kill David. Why would this close friend and advisor to King David want to see David dead? If you check out the genealogies you will find that Bathsheba is his grand daughter. The woman David took, had her husband killed, and the result was that Ahithophel's great grandson died. Those are some pretty hefty sins to forgive. Ahithophel's counsel to Absolom is rejected so he kills himself. Actually, his unforgiving heart bred a bitterness that was waiting to take his life all along.
Forgiveness is so important God recorded a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon that is a letter calling for forgiveness. A slave Philemon owned, named Onesimus, has apparently stolen from him and run away. Most guess that Onesimus was a trusted house servant so the violation to his master, Philemon, is no small matter. Onesimus has come to faith under the ministry of Paul. Paul sends him back to Philemon interceding on behalf of Onesimus. Philemon is asked to put Ephesians 4:32 into action, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
The Lord, Jesus, also shares a parable about forgiveness that has some unsettling words. It is a tale of a man who owed his lord a massive debt. He pleads for forgiveness and that is granted. The forgiven man then assaults a fellow servant who owes him pennies and has him thrown in prison. When the master finds out this unforgiving servant is also cast into prison. The account in in Matthew 18. The point of the parable comes in verse 35, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Our forgiveness is also to be generous, seventy times seven to begin with (Matthew 18:22). Forgiveness is not optional it is required of the children of God. We are to reflect our Heavenly Father's heart of forgiveness before we ask for forgiveness for ourselves. If we do not forgive, we are told God will not forgive.
I have been in ministry long enough to see the instructive power of an unforgiving heart. I have seen families torn apart as one spouse cannot forgive another. Children haunted by wounds they will not release. Churches have been torn apart by the bitterness of an unforgiving spirit. A lack of forgiveness is also a sign of pride. Pride is a partner with a lack of forgiveness that leaves untold numbers in its ruinous wake. The unforgiving one is never satisfied and often fails to see their own life sucked down into darkness. It is a tragic waste of life.
If there are unhealed wounds that are preserved by unforgiveness it is time to let them go. Death in some measure awaits the bitter soul. Do not let pride keep you from His grace. God does warn us that, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble " (James 4:6). It is time to forgive, so that God can forgive and pour out His grace upon your wounded heart. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." is no small thing before the God Whose name we are to hallow, to honor, to respect. Your Heavenly Father waits to brings to bring His forgiveness to you. This time it depends on you.
The Lord instructs His disciples to ask forgiveness based on the attitude of forgiveness that is already at work in their lives. We are to ask God to forgive us in the same fashion that we have and are forgiving others. We are asking God to follow our example of forgiveness. Our desire is that God, Himself, will model His forgiveness after our forgiveness of others. Forgiveness is a huge deal to God. He knows that lack of forgiveness leads to bitterness which will poison our lives. Lack of forgiveness is incredibly destructive. Back in the days of David, David had a trusted advisor named, Ahithophel. You will find the account in 2 Samuel 16. David's son, Absolom, is trying to kill David and take the throne by force. Ahithophel sides with Absolom to the point of asking to be the one to personally kill David. Why would this close friend and advisor to King David want to see David dead? If you check out the genealogies you will find that Bathsheba is his grand daughter. The woman David took, had her husband killed, and the result was that Ahithophel's great grandson died. Those are some pretty hefty sins to forgive. Ahithophel's counsel to Absolom is rejected so he kills himself. Actually, his unforgiving heart bred a bitterness that was waiting to take his life all along.
Forgiveness is so important God recorded a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon that is a letter calling for forgiveness. A slave Philemon owned, named Onesimus, has apparently stolen from him and run away. Most guess that Onesimus was a trusted house servant so the violation to his master, Philemon, is no small matter. Onesimus has come to faith under the ministry of Paul. Paul sends him back to Philemon interceding on behalf of Onesimus. Philemon is asked to put Ephesians 4:32 into action, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
The Lord, Jesus, also shares a parable about forgiveness that has some unsettling words. It is a tale of a man who owed his lord a massive debt. He pleads for forgiveness and that is granted. The forgiven man then assaults a fellow servant who owes him pennies and has him thrown in prison. When the master finds out this unforgiving servant is also cast into prison. The account in in Matthew 18. The point of the parable comes in verse 35, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Our forgiveness is also to be generous, seventy times seven to begin with (Matthew 18:22). Forgiveness is not optional it is required of the children of God. We are to reflect our Heavenly Father's heart of forgiveness before we ask for forgiveness for ourselves. If we do not forgive, we are told God will not forgive.
I have been in ministry long enough to see the instructive power of an unforgiving heart. I have seen families torn apart as one spouse cannot forgive another. Children haunted by wounds they will not release. Churches have been torn apart by the bitterness of an unforgiving spirit. A lack of forgiveness is also a sign of pride. Pride is a partner with a lack of forgiveness that leaves untold numbers in its ruinous wake. The unforgiving one is never satisfied and often fails to see their own life sucked down into darkness. It is a tragic waste of life.
If there are unhealed wounds that are preserved by unforgiveness it is time to let them go. Death in some measure awaits the bitter soul. Do not let pride keep you from His grace. God does warn us that, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble " (James 4:6). It is time to forgive, so that God can forgive and pour out His grace upon your wounded heart. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." is no small thing before the God Whose name we are to hallow, to honor, to respect. Your Heavenly Father waits to brings to bring His forgiveness to you. This time it depends on you.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Daily Bread or What's For Dinner?
What things are on your daily prayer list? Maybe members of your family, someone struggling, your nation, these are all important and even have some Biblical support. What about bread? Jesus told His disciples that their prayer was to include this request,"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Praying to and honoring our Heavenly Father seems appropriate. Praying for His Kingdom and will to be done seems like that should be a priority as well. But daily bread? I mean, this does not seem like a real problem for most of us. Bread is readily available in a variety of shapes, flavors, with and without gluten. Then add pastries, donuts, bagels, and desserts and I have more bread than I should even eat. At the time of the writing of Matthew bread was a needed staple of life. There were occasional famines however, with the size and network that was the Roman Empire, bread could usually be found. So why would the disciples be instructed to pray for bread every day?
Bread was actually a pretty big deal when Rabbi Jesus spoke these words. Bread meant a great deal to the Jews. There was the Feast of Unleavened Bread that they were required to keep. The traditional Seder meal had a focus on the bread. The Feast of Tabernacles was a reminder that God had provided bread, manna, everyday for forty years as they wandered in the wilderness. Bread was simply woven into Jewish society and culture in a way that elevated this common food to something that carried a special meaning several times a year. Jesus, would refer to himself as "The bread of life" in John 6:35, and "the bread that comes down from heaven" (John 6:41). We remember the Lord's death with the breaking of bread, as He instructed us to. God uses bread to illustrate the common and basic needs of life. He lets us know that this bread is also true of His Son. Meaning our very lives are dependent upon God's Son.
Praying, "Give us this day our daily bread" can actually be a very meaningful prayer. Bread is essential for survival. Starvation is not a pleasant thought. However, the application of the prayer goes well beyond what is for dinner. It ca be a reminder of just how dependent we are upon the Lord to provide for us. Every breath, every heart beat, is a gift from Him. When we come to a place where we think little about our daily needs we can miss the reality that we really are totally dependent upon our Heavenly Father and His Son for everything in life, and the life yet to come. We also miss how remarkably gracious He is, how dependable and trustworthy He is. The reason I do not think much about bread is due to the fact that it is always available. Just as the True Bread form Heaven is with me every moment of every day. Perhaps, there is a good reason to place this request into our daily prayers. God's faithfulness can easily be overlooked and even forgotten. He is my bread of life every day of my life. It seems to me that the Lord is directing us to pause during our busy days and thank God for the wonder of His daily Bread. It certainly couldn't hurt. It might even help to remind us of the constant care of our Heavenly Father.
Bread was actually a pretty big deal when Rabbi Jesus spoke these words. Bread meant a great deal to the Jews. There was the Feast of Unleavened Bread that they were required to keep. The traditional Seder meal had a focus on the bread. The Feast of Tabernacles was a reminder that God had provided bread, manna, everyday for forty years as they wandered in the wilderness. Bread was simply woven into Jewish society and culture in a way that elevated this common food to something that carried a special meaning several times a year. Jesus, would refer to himself as "The bread of life" in John 6:35, and "the bread that comes down from heaven" (John 6:41). We remember the Lord's death with the breaking of bread, as He instructed us to. God uses bread to illustrate the common and basic needs of life. He lets us know that this bread is also true of His Son. Meaning our very lives are dependent upon God's Son.
Praying, "Give us this day our daily bread" can actually be a very meaningful prayer. Bread is essential for survival. Starvation is not a pleasant thought. However, the application of the prayer goes well beyond what is for dinner. It ca be a reminder of just how dependent we are upon the Lord to provide for us. Every breath, every heart beat, is a gift from Him. When we come to a place where we think little about our daily needs we can miss the reality that we really are totally dependent upon our Heavenly Father and His Son for everything in life, and the life yet to come. We also miss how remarkably gracious He is, how dependable and trustworthy He is. The reason I do not think much about bread is due to the fact that it is always available. Just as the True Bread form Heaven is with me every moment of every day. Perhaps, there is a good reason to place this request into our daily prayers. God's faithfulness can easily be overlooked and even forgotten. He is my bread of life every day of my life. It seems to me that the Lord is directing us to pause during our busy days and thank God for the wonder of His daily Bread. It certainly couldn't hurt. It might even help to remind us of the constant care of our Heavenly Father.
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Do We Really Want God's Kingdom?
We are told we should pray and probably feel like we may not pray enough but, did anyone give you a tutorial on prayer when you began your walk with Him? If not, you re not alone. Even the disciples of Rabbi Jesus looked for direction. Even if you think you have prayer down to an art, there are likely some things you can glean from these instructional verses found in Matthew 6. We looked a bit deeper into verse 9 recognizing the balance between God as Abba Father and the holiness of His name. What follows is probably the most difficult aspect of the Lord's instruction on prayer. It seems pretty safe on the surface. However, if we return it to the context of a Jewish rabbi speaking to his Jewish disciples and a whole lot of Jewish people on a hillside, we may find that it takes us where we do not want to go. Maybe it will give us some second thoughts about praying for God's kingdom to come.
Matthew 6:10 is as follows, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"(KJV). Do you pray for God's kingdom to come? Would you like to be living in that kingdom now? There is a glorious future to be had when the Lord Messiah rules and reigns, but, what about today? Do you really want to be involved in Kingdom living today? The Jewish disciples were certainly interested in the Kingdom of God. They had waited for generations for Messiah, the anointed one of God, to come and establish that kingdom. Their hope was that this rabbi they followed was indeed the long anticipated deliverer. However, their expectation was that of an earthly kingdom where Messiah would rule with power and authority. Israel would have all of their promised land and would never be sub-servant to anyone ever again. They would be free from Roman tyranny and be the unrivaled world power. We also wait in expectation for that kingdom. We know that it will come, in God's time. So we are in agreement with those first century Jews up to this point. "Even so, come Lord Jesus" is a pretty good prayer in the light of the condition of the world today.
Kingdom living does have a few perimeters that the disciples understood as well. "Thy will be done" is a directive we should also place in context. The disciples and the Jews on the hillside know what God's will was. He had written it down for them back at Mount Sinai. It was known as Torah. It's application and consequences were recorded and exemplified in the Writings and the Prophets. God's will for His people was to follow His directions and instructions as to how best to live. These were God's commandments and directives. They were not suggestions or a list of things to pick and choose from. For the disciples to pray, "Thy will be done" was to express their desire to be obedient to Torah and obedient to all God had revealed concerning life and worship. God had not left them in the dark and unlike the gods and goddesses worshiped by the surrounding nations, God's directions were firm and consistent. They knew what God, their Heavenly Father, required of them.
This prayer for the application of God's Word and will was not just for the Jews but "on earth as it is in heaven". It iis to apply to the whole earth. God's will is always done in heaven, there in His dwelling place. His angelic messengers do what He tells them to do. There are times when God takes counsel from those in His heavenly court (see 1 Kings 22:19-22) however, His word is final. The disciples are instructed to pray that the will of God, obedience to His commandments and instructions, become world wide and followed without question. We know that a time is coming when Messiah will reign over all the earth. We also know that, at that time, His Word, meaning Torah, will be universally obeyed as well. Jeremiah 31:31-34 makes that clear. Having Torah written on everyone's hearts and in our minds is an aspect of His coming kingdom.
The question for us is what do we do with this now? Was this prayer just for the Jewish disciples and the Jews who listened to the words of Messiah? Do we really want to pray that God's will, revealed in Torah and God's Word, be obeyed in our lives and the lives of those that inhabit this planet? Perhaps, we can conclude that this is a prayer for life in the coming kingdom. "Thy will be done", as the disciples would have understood it can't possibly apply to believers today, can it? Or maybe God's will has changed. We are told the Law does not apply to those under grace. Now we just need to love God and love people like Jesus said in Matthew22:37-39. You know, where He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. But, how do we know how to love God and people? Matthew 22:40 helps us out, these two commandments are a summary of Torah and the Prophets. We can find all the details as how to love God and people there. If it only applied to us.
The reality is we agree with most of those 613 directives the rabbis have found in the Law and the Prophets. Remove those directives given specifically to the Levites and those pesky dietary laws and we, as modern followers of Messiah, are in agreement far more often than we might think. If we applied just the basic Ten Commandments world wide this might be a nicer planet to live on. It might even feel a bit like heaven on earth. Maybe, "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" isn't such a bad prayer after all.
Matthew 6:10 is as follows, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"(KJV). Do you pray for God's kingdom to come? Would you like to be living in that kingdom now? There is a glorious future to be had when the Lord Messiah rules and reigns, but, what about today? Do you really want to be involved in Kingdom living today? The Jewish disciples were certainly interested in the Kingdom of God. They had waited for generations for Messiah, the anointed one of God, to come and establish that kingdom. Their hope was that this rabbi they followed was indeed the long anticipated deliverer. However, their expectation was that of an earthly kingdom where Messiah would rule with power and authority. Israel would have all of their promised land and would never be sub-servant to anyone ever again. They would be free from Roman tyranny and be the unrivaled world power. We also wait in expectation for that kingdom. We know that it will come, in God's time. So we are in agreement with those first century Jews up to this point. "Even so, come Lord Jesus" is a pretty good prayer in the light of the condition of the world today.
Kingdom living does have a few perimeters that the disciples understood as well. "Thy will be done" is a directive we should also place in context. The disciples and the Jews on the hillside know what God's will was. He had written it down for them back at Mount Sinai. It was known as Torah. It's application and consequences were recorded and exemplified in the Writings and the Prophets. God's will for His people was to follow His directions and instructions as to how best to live. These were God's commandments and directives. They were not suggestions or a list of things to pick and choose from. For the disciples to pray, "Thy will be done" was to express their desire to be obedient to Torah and obedient to all God had revealed concerning life and worship. God had not left them in the dark and unlike the gods and goddesses worshiped by the surrounding nations, God's directions were firm and consistent. They knew what God, their Heavenly Father, required of them.
This prayer for the application of God's Word and will was not just for the Jews but "on earth as it is in heaven". It iis to apply to the whole earth. God's will is always done in heaven, there in His dwelling place. His angelic messengers do what He tells them to do. There are times when God takes counsel from those in His heavenly court (see 1 Kings 22:19-22) however, His word is final. The disciples are instructed to pray that the will of God, obedience to His commandments and instructions, become world wide and followed without question. We know that a time is coming when Messiah will reign over all the earth. We also know that, at that time, His Word, meaning Torah, will be universally obeyed as well. Jeremiah 31:31-34 makes that clear. Having Torah written on everyone's hearts and in our minds is an aspect of His coming kingdom.
The question for us is what do we do with this now? Was this prayer just for the Jewish disciples and the Jews who listened to the words of Messiah? Do we really want to pray that God's will, revealed in Torah and God's Word, be obeyed in our lives and the lives of those that inhabit this planet? Perhaps, we can conclude that this is a prayer for life in the coming kingdom. "Thy will be done", as the disciples would have understood it can't possibly apply to believers today, can it? Or maybe God's will has changed. We are told the Law does not apply to those under grace. Now we just need to love God and love people like Jesus said in Matthew22:37-39. You know, where He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. But, how do we know how to love God and people? Matthew 22:40 helps us out, these two commandments are a summary of Torah and the Prophets. We can find all the details as how to love God and people there. If it only applied to us.
The reality is we agree with most of those 613 directives the rabbis have found in the Law and the Prophets. Remove those directives given specifically to the Levites and those pesky dietary laws and we, as modern followers of Messiah, are in agreement far more often than we might think. If we applied just the basic Ten Commandments world wide this might be a nicer planet to live on. It might even feel a bit like heaven on earth. Maybe, "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" isn't such a bad prayer after all.
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