Resolution and Forgiveness

Resolution and Forgiveness

We all have been there. It’s a great day, everything is going fine, and then someone does something to hurt or offend us. Maybe, it’s a co-worker, our boss, a fellow student, a teacher, a clerk in the store, or even a member of our own family who says or does something that injures us physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Our first instinct, usually, is to feel a bit surprised and angry. We are now at an important crossroads, a significant point of decision. We must now choose what our next response will be.

At this “fork in the road,” we can choose the path that many take in this situation that leads to further anger. We may decide to remain angry and nurture this anger until it becomes expressed as malicious thoughts and hatred toward the person or persons who initially injured us. We may even use our time to formulate ways to “settle the score” with that person – to extract our “pound of flesh” as repayment for what they did to us. Holding closely to that “grudge” that gives meaning to our anger, we may now strike back by saying things intended to hurt their feelings and/or damage their reputation or even try to attack them physically. That same person may then be encouraged to respond in kind and so begins and is perpetuated the “cycle of hatred.” Is this resolution? Does this solve the problem? Hardly!

Anger is a God-given emotion. Even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at times, became angry (Matthew 21:12 – 13; Mark 3:5) yet He knew how to control it. We, too, are expected by our Creator to control our anger and not allow it to be transformed into sinful, malicious thoughts and outright hatred (Ephesians 4:26 – 27, 31; Colossians 3: 8). We cannot, must not hold onto our anger – that’s the easy way out, the “path of least resistance.” That sort of attitude leads only to further sin and even more frustration, guilt, anger, malice, and hatred.

There is another, better path to take when someone hurts or injures us. In Luke 17: 3–4, Jesus offers us all a way to achieve a positive, righteous, godly solution to just such a situation. He tells His disciples (and us today):

“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” [NKJV]

Jesus clearly lays out a step-by-step process to resolving the issue. We must, first, make the effort to approach the person(s) who sinned against us and “rebuke” them. The word “rebuke” is translated from the Greek term EPITIMAO which means: “to tax upon, i.e. censure or admonish;…charge, rebuke.” (1) We have to confront them and let them know, in no uncertain terms, that their actions were hurtful and wrong. They need to know! There is no doubt that people will do things intentionally, at times, to hurt and offend us. But there also circumstances where people can “sin against us” unintentionally, without knowing that they have done anything wrong. (We all have been guilty of this at one time or another.) Thus, we need to take the time to communicate with them about the matter. Then, once they have been informed, it is up to them to repent and make things right.

We must remember that forgiveness is not unconditional. It is always dependant on an attitude of repentance. Some may say: “I forgive everyone, even if they continue to sin against me!” How can that be? God only forgives us if we repent of our past sinful actions (Acts 2:38; 3:19; II Peter 3:9). We can do no more than what God does for us – He is our Creator (Isaiah 45:9 – 12; 64:8).

When the person who wronged us realizes that have they have sinned and approaches us with a spirit of true repentance then we should and must be ready to forgive them. This is to be forgiveness with a kind, loving attitude without any lingering resentment or ill-will on our part. Moreover, as our Lord and Master tells us in Luke 17, we should always maintain a spirit of forgiveness even toward those who frequently wrong us, even “…if he sins against you seven times in a day.” We can do no less for we should always remember how much God has forgiven us! Let us be reminded what Paul wrote to the brethren at Ephesus: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

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Life

Shortness of Life

Nation after nation has arisen, they have occupied the earth for a while and then fell from the face of the earth and all that is left of them besides a few ruins is the faithful records of history. Generation after generation comes upon the earth, they seem like such a strong or great generation, who live on the world for a while, but then fall in death and pass into eternity.

On the average, 69.6 years is the whole inhabitants of the earth at any one time and billions upon billions of souls have been carried beyond the reach of all Christians, all missionary efforts, beyond the reach of all repentance, beyond the reach of all Gospel invitations and so many are not saved. So many are beyond all possibility of salvation (Heb. 9:27). During this same short period, preachers, missionaries, writers, evangelist and professors of religion of one generation are all born where no mistakes of the past can be corrected, and no amendment for wrongs done or time that has been wasted away can ever be made right.

From the 18 years of childhood, we are only left with 51.6 years for the vast work of personal preparation and for that state of duration in the pure and holy society of just men made perfect (Heb. 12:23), where the angels of God, Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 12:24) and God, the Judge of all dwell (Psa. 7:11). During these brief years, we are left the same length of time for the good and virtuous (2 Pet. 1:5), for those with the love of God in their hearts (Matt. 22:37), and for those who love mankind to make an effort to save our race (Matt. 28:19-20). Knowing this, it must be perceived by us that whatever we do, must be done quickly. For those who do anything for mankind, must engage in the work immediately and with energy. For all who intend to lay up a good foundation against the time to come (1 Tim. 6:19), who are laying up treasures in heaven to which they can go (Matt. 6:20), and upon which we can rely upon when on.

Therefore, there must not be any delay for there is simply time enough to do what must be done immediately, if done at all. And, for those who are never prepared to meet God, have still greater reason to enter at once upon the examination of how short human life is. With them, everything to secure their eternal happiness is left undone.

O great God in heaven, how short the time, in view of the amount to be done and how carefully every moment should be employed by every person who has not been reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-22). What vast multitudes, what great gatherings there are on our streets and in lanes and highways, who have never seriously thought upon, much less taken the elementary steps, to come to God, and who will remain in their present condition unless they are made to stop in their thoughtless careers, by those who have already tasted the good word of God and felt the power of the world to come (Heb. 6:5). What an everlasting reason we aind here for the most energetic, preserving, and godly efforts to rescue them and bring them to God.

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Overcoming Self Pity

Overcoming Self Pity

” For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13).

There’s an old saying that says, “If you want help in overcoming your problems, help someone else with theirs.”  T. Huffman Harris (in his book titled, “Open the Door Wide to Happy Living”) gave a good example of this when he told the story of a young man who became tired of life, and decided to leap from a bridge into a turbulent river.  A total stranger saw the young man being swept downstream and plunged into the water in an effort to save him.  The young man (who was a good swimmer) noticed the rescuer floundering desperately in the strong current, and knew that without his help he would drown. Something stirred within the heart of the young man, and with all his strength he swam over to the rescuer and rescued him.  Saving the stranger, who had attempted to save him, brought new hope and meaning to the young man’s life.

Likewise, friend, should you ever find yourself in the depths of despair, do not drown yourself with an attitude of self pity, but rather, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

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Dying

I See You Dying, But What More Can I Do?

I stand beside his bed and know he is dying. His doctor has told his family to come to the hospital for the end is near. The disease that ravaged his body has won, and it is too late for any medication to help. The family has just discovered that for weeks and months he had not been taking the medication that would have destroyed the disease, and now, it is too late. I am watching him die. There is nothing which can now be done. Then he is gone; the grim reaper has taken him away. His parents, his wife, his children and other loved ones have a void in their lives that even time will not fill.

In retrospect, the family can recall several times when they should have known that he was getting worse. They tend to blame themselves for not saying something, but the reality is that their loved one just failed to do what he needed to do to deal with his sickness. He had the medication, but he chose not to take it. In the next few days before he is buried, every member of the family has to deal with their loss and try to make sense of all that has happened.

The question “Why?” is asked again and again. There is no answer. He is gone, and never again will he be in their lives to help as he once did.

I stand in the pulpit and know that some in the audience are dying. Not a physical death, but something far greater—they are dying spiritually. They once were involved in actively worshiping and serving the Lord. Then, slowly their faith and its ability to overcome the ravaging “disease” of sin has weakened. Once, they studied the Bible. Once, they came to all the services of the church. Once, they truly were changed by worshiping Him. Those are such wonderful memories.

Then it happened. Gradually, the “medicine” to strengthen their faith and overcome sin was gradually removed from their lives. They became so involved in their work, their recreation and their secular life that even when they came to worship it was not the same. They were dying; the disease was overtaking them, and they hardly realized it.

If there is no change the tentacles of worldliness and secular living will spread around their hearts, and there will be little room for their faith. They are dying and soon that death will leave their family in grief. Unfortunately, that same disease is already being spread in the hearts of those around them.

Will you reread this and understand that I may have you in mind as you read this? As I write this, I am thinking of specific members of this church. I am watching you die. There is hope, but not unless you change the way you are living!

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Pure in Heart

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

In 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 we read some of the most beautiful words ever written about the unity and purpose of the church. Paul says in verse four, “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God…” He then presents a beautiful juxtaposition between circumstances and attitudes of the Christian walk. One of the things he specifically states here is the purity of the Christian life (v 6). In chapter eleven he then warns the brethren about the real possibility of their being led astray from the “simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ” (v 3; ASV) just as Eve had been.

When writing to Timothy the Apostle used the same word he used in the Corinthian letter to instruct Timothy how he should live. He penned, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Additionally he instructed Timothy to treat “older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity” (1 Timothy 5:2).

Interestingly Paul is writing this letter so that Timothy might know how he should “behave” himself in the church (1 Timothy 3:15). So when considered in association with the instructions to the Corinthians we see that there is an unequivocal connection between the individuals personal purity and the churches purity. In other words, we have heard it said, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” well the church is only as pure as the individual purity of its members.

How then do we maintain purity in our lives? Let us look to Jesus’ statement about the greatest command to answer this question. In Mark 12:30 Jesus said, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” You maintain purity when you love God…

With all your heart: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7). We must keep our hearts pure!

With all your soul: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). We must keep our souls pure (1 John 1:7)!

With all your mind: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). We must keep our minds pure!

With all your strength: “Flee fornication…” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). With every fiber of our being we must keep ourselves pure! “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

But also note with me that there is a connection between purity and cleansing. In Titus 1:15 Paul writes, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.” The Greek word here translated “pure” means clean, unsoiled, clean from guilt, guiltless, innocent, sincere, upright, virtuous, void of evil, clean ceremonially and morally.

One cannot walk in the light and be continually cleansed (purified) by the blood of Christ until he is first washed in the blood of the Lamb! If you have never come to Jesus for the cleansing power of His blood, you must if you hope to be with Him in eternity. This is why Paul used the same word Jesus used in Matthew 5:8 when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

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