30 May 2017

The Red Heifer

Knowledge of the future has wide appeal.  This was evident when a work mate of mine who showed virtually no interest in living a godly life shared his fascination with the "red heifer" spoken of in Numbers 19.  I found this most strange.  "You may think I don't know about things like that," he said with a twinkle in his eye.  "I've been reading about it.  You gotta have a red heifer to have worship in the temple in Jerusalem.  They be looking for that heifer!"  I didn't know what to think.  He clearly felt as if he had obtained privileged information and was even smug about it.

He was correct a red heifer is required under the Law, though he didn't say anything about what practical function it served - that the ashes were used for making the water of separation to cleanse people who had come in contact with a dead body.  To him, the discovery of a red heifer was a sign of the culmination of end time events, that when a young cow which met the biblical criteria provided proof the temple in Jerusalem would be rebuilt.  We had many conversations over the years we worked together, but this one had the most impact because it was totally "out of left field."  Common themes of his conversations were about sport, women, shooting pool, his business savvy, and how confident he was.  I saw no evidence of interest in leading a life which honoured God and His Word, yet at the same time he was deeply intrigued concerning finding a red heifer and the fulfillment of prophecy.

The thing I felt tragic about my colleague's perspective is how he believed knowledge indicated faith when it was nothing of the sort.  Knowing about a red heifer and believing people at the Temple Institute were searching for one would not help him be cleansed from his own sin.  It is very fine to find a red heifer, but under the Law only a cleansed and sanctified priest could administer this water of separation on the third and seventh day.  What is the point of having a perfect heifer without a sanctified priest?  Under the Law without the temple, altars, anointing oil, and blood of the sacrifice, this cannot be done.  Thankfully Jesus is for His followers both sacrifice and High Priest, having washed us in His blood through repentance and faith in Him.  The water of separation was for people who had been in contact with the dead, and we who were ourselves dead in sins have been born again by the life of Jesus Christ.

How wonderful it is God has given us minds to think and a conscience which is sensitive to things of God!  I pray my friend and many others like him who are interested in random passages of scripture would take the next step of having their hearts and minds transformed by saving faith in Jesus Christ.  Only when we have the Spirit of God within us can we have understanding and practically apply scripture to our lives and what we see in the world around us.  Seeing a kosher red heifer would be rare and interesting, but wouldn't it be wise to consider the Messiah who is coming to judge the nations?

28 May 2017

No Sacrifice Enough

In the Law God made provision if people or the nation sinned unintentionally.  When it came to the attention of the guilty party they were directed to offer sacrifices for the atonement of sin.  I was surprised to read in the passage immediately following there was a situation, however, when no sacrifice was acceptable for sin.  In contrast Numbers 15:30-31 reads, "But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him."  The word "presumptuously" conveys the motive of the person who committed the offence before God and could be described as self-exalted, haughty, and wilfully promoting sin.

If it was determined someone knew the Law and flaunted it intentionally, proudly and defiantly in opposition to God's command, there was no sacrifice offered for such a one.  As followers of Jesus today are beneficiaries of all our sins being atoned for by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this is quite shocking.  In the verses immediately following, there is an account of a man who was seen gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.  Numbers 15:32-36 states, "Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34 They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. 35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." 36 So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died."

It is clear from the context the man was not ignorant of the Law.  Gathering sticks may seem a small offence, but because his heart was defiant and proud before God there was no atoning sacrifice possible for him.  His open rebellion of gathering sticks in violation of the Law was an insurrection God nor man was to overlook.  Here the insidious and destructive nature of sin is played out for all to see:  the wages of sin is death, and for the proud and unrepentant there is no atonement or salvation possible.  Now I do not presume to know the eternal state of this man's soul, for it is possible for those guilty of great crimes to be saved.  God is gracious.  But as a Christian I am reminded of a New Testament passage where this same precept is held forth in Hebrews 10:23-27:  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."  If we sin wilfully after receiving knowledge of the truth, we can expect to be judged like that proud man who gathered sticks.

Rather than fearing potential judgment, how much better it is to humble ourselves before God in reverent fear!  Those who fear and love God will not fear even death.  We are not worthy for one of our sins to be forgiven by a holy God, yet He purchased our atonement and salvation with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  If you fear for your salvation because of wilful sin you know, it is high time to repent.  If we are afraid of God's judgment, we should stop living like God's enemies and obey Him as loyal sons and daughters.  To obey God is better than sacrifice, and for those who remain in pride no sacrifice is enough - even the sacrifice of Jesus.

27 May 2017

The Inner Battle

When I am faced with difficult situations, I find many times a resulting conflict within me.  It is often trying times in life which bring the conflict of the flesh and Spirit of a Christian to the surface.  If I could reduce the inner conflict to the lowest denominator, it would be the decision to walk in God's love or not:  will I choose to love the person according to the love I have received through faith in Jesus, or will I do what I think is best?  The love of God provides wisdom and understanding in how to navigate all the decisions of this life (Phil. 1:9-11)

In a delightful discussion this morning a mate of mine commented how the shield of faith goes before us to block fiery darts so they don't find their mark.  This is a rich insight.  When we walk in the Spirit, remaining vigilant to be led by God in our thoughts, words, and deeds, attacks and insults can be easily extinguished by the shield of faith.  But there will always be situations which catch us off guard, and those sharpened darts sting when they hit our sensitive flesh.  It is in this moment of pain where the conflict becomes personal and real, the exact moment where we must abide in the love of God.  This can also be the moment of victory through Jesus, when instead of retaliating according to the flesh we deny ourselves and choose to love and keep loving others - even the ones we feel are responsible for our pain.

The love of God is not like the "love" of the world, a love which is granted based upon the worthiness of others, a fickle love dependent on emotion, a love that gives only when we feel our needs have been adequately met, or expressed through sensuous encounters.  Walking in God's love is sacrificial, considers God and others, and is the ultimate expression of our faith in God.  It does no good to claim victory in the heavenly realm when we do not love our enemies; it is ridiculous to tout our spiritual authority when we walk according to the flesh in our dealings with men.  Show me a man who abides in Christ's love and I will show you a man before the demons flee because the power of God rests upon Him.

Win the inner battle to walk in the love of Jesus as led by the Spirit, and the outer battle will likely not resemble one.  Those conquered and abiding in Christ's love can walk in sure victory.

25 May 2017

God Gives Strength Today

An intriguing balance exists as we embrace our role in God's work.  It is very easy to find ourselves tending to think God's plan and the fulfilment of His promises depends on us.  When we tilt this balance to our efforts, it exposes our limitations.  It makes obeying God an imposing task because we recognise we are being asked to do something we cannot.

An example of this is seen after God miraculously brought His people out of Egypt.  He promised to give them an exceedingly good land, one "flowing with milk and honey."  God had given the land to His people, but there was one big problem (at least to people who did not trust God):  the land was inhabited by strong people in fortified cities.  God had given the land to His people, and their role was to enter in and possess the land.  Naturally the people thought it fell to them to "take" the land, and did not believe they had the ability to defeat their giant foes.  They compared their strength to others, found it lacking, and suddenly slavery in Egypt started looking good.

The fact is, they didn't have the ability to take the land - not by themselves, anyway.  Based on the size of giants they saw they compared their attempts to fight as grasshoppers against men, and they identified with grasshoppers easily crushed underfoot.  The vast majority of the people did not bring the power, the promise, or their past deliverance to bear on the predicament which lay before them.  This is a mistake we can make as well, thinking our entrance to the inheritance God has allotted depends on our strength or natural ability.  Faith in God proves giants to actually be as grasshoppers (which were on the menu for the Jews, by the way), and only those who trust and obey God will experience this for themselves.  Many people stop short of the grace of God and do not possess the gifts or activate the calling He has placed upon their lives because they do not trust Him enough to acknowledge their own weakness and simply obey Him by entering in.

Caleb and Joshua tore their clothes in grief and urged the people to consider God and not be afraid.  They said in Numbers 14:8-9, "If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."  God had given His people land with defined borders, and this is a picture of the inheritance God has for us in this life, a fruitful and blessed future for all who are born again.  He puts His Spirit within us because He delights in us by His grace.  Caleb and Joshua were right to say God would bring them into the land and give it to them, but at the same time they needed to walk on their own two feet.  God will be with us, even as He was with them.  If God tells us to enter in, through His strength we can.

When you face struggles in this life as a Christian, don't forget to remember and strengthen yourself in the promises of God.  What He has said He will do.  Those giants in your life are as fearsome as a loaf of bread before our mighty God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The LORD is truly with us and we need not fear them.  You may not be a "fighter" and feel ill-equipped for the journey ahead, yet since God is for us who can be against us?  It's we who fail to trust God.  Isaiah 40:28-29 says, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength."

23 May 2017

Answering God's Questions

For the discipleship course I am leading, we typically read through a chapter or two in a Gospel.  With the current course we are reading through the book of Matthew, and I enjoy how themes flow and build through each chapter.  For instance, one chapter may emphasise the power of Jesus over everything - over sin, every sickness, disease, demon, and even a raging sea!  I had a bit of an epiphany as I read through Matthew 22 recently, and it is wonderful God has ordained these moments for those who trust in Him.  The revelation of God is not only for prophets or pastors, but for every Christian who seeks the LORD and trembles at His Word.

Matthew 22 begins with Jesus speaking a parable to multitudes which included priests and Pharisees.  He spoke of a king who invited people to the wedding of his son.  Those who were initially invited made light of the invitation and others persecuted and killed his messengers.  Enraged, the king destroyed the murders and commanded his servants to invite any person they could find to the wedding.  All kinds of people - both good and bad - came as guests at the wedding.  Matthew 22:11-14 concludes the parable:  "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."  We are not told why or how the man entered the wedding feast without the appropriate attire, but the fact he was speechless implies he was without excuse.  He should have been dressed for the occasion and for his error he was cast out.

On the heels of this parable, Matthew 22 details three separate occasions when the religious elite were rendered speechless at questions Jesus posed - like when the king questioned a guest in the parable.  The Pharisees took their shot to entangle Jesus in His speech, and asked Him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.  The Sadducees tested Jesus with a hypothetical question concerning the resurrection they did not even believe in.  Finally Jesus asked a question based on Psalm 110, proving the Messiah is not only the Son of David but the Son of God!  When Jesus spoke people marvelled, were astonished, and utterly silenced.  Concerning those unbelievers who tested Jesus, the chapter concludes in Matthew 22:46:  "No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions."

Now isn't that an amazing, enlightening connection between the Parable of the Wedding Feast and the interactions Jesus had with unbelievers?  Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, stood before them offering a robe of righteousness - a worthy wedding garment - through repentance and faith in Him.  The unbelieving priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, and others in the multitude did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.  As the religious authority they sought to discredit and kill Jesus rather than believe Him.  On the Day of Judgment they would be as the man without the wedding garment being questioned by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ Himself.  "Why didn't you believe in me?" He could rightly ask them.  And what could they say?  He had told them He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and for that they sought His life.  When God has revealed Himself to man through the wisdom of Christ's Words, demonstrated His love through the death of Christ on the cross, and proved His power through the resurrection, what can unbelievers say when He questions them concerning their unbelief?

Jesus asked questions unbelievers couldn't answer, but having our questions answered - or being asked questions we can't answer - does not necessarily lead to belief.  One cannot be reasoned into the kingdom of heaven, but faith in Christ is absolutely reasonable.  Belief and salvation is a gift of God by the power of the Holy Spirit who works in us.  God is not threatened by any question man throws at Him and can answer wisely in every case.  But if He asks a question we cannot or refuse to answer, shouldn't we consider the implications?  The Law stops our mouths, and our conscience reveals our guilt (Romans 3:19).  Why trust our doubtful questions more than God's answers?

22 May 2017

God's Love is Always

I was struck last night with the greatness of God's love.  No matter how "loving" we imagine ourselves to be, our love is nothing compared to God's infinite love.  Love is the greatest fruit of the Spirit.  Unless the Holy Spirit lives within and empowers us to love, loving and forgiving others is impossible.  It is good for us to recognise our lack and ability to love so we might earnestly walk in the love of God, not just the best efforts of our flesh.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:12-13, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  Laying down your life for your friends is the greatest demonstration humanly possible, and Jesus did this and more too.  He laid down His life on Calvary for friends, enemies, sinners.  What I find phenomenal about Jesus is He loved people He knew hated Him and would continue to do so - despite His love.  He was utterly relentless to love.

When we are hurt by others at some point we ask ourselves, "Why do I keep putting myself out there only to be hurt again and again?  What is the point of loving people who could turn against me?"  Last night, perhaps for the first time, it occurred to me these are questions Jesus never asked Himself.  How do I know?  Because these questions indicate a lack of love and trust in God and Jesus maintained infinite measures of both.  We ask ourselves if it is wise to keep loving someone after we have been hurt; Jesus loved people knowing well they would reject and hurt Him on purpose.  He loved completely before and after, as if nothing had happened.  There was no intermission of His love regardless of His pain.  The love manifested in Christ a love beyond any love of mine.

Consider the NIV rendering of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 which describes God's love:  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  God's love is complete and constant, not dependant on our emotional state or the good performance of others.  It is founded upon the righteous, glorious power of God who does not change.  God's love is always:  always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering.  Grief cannot twist it, betrayal cannot dampen it, and death cannot kill it.  God's love is, even as He is.

Our feelings of love must not be confused with God's love.  Human emotions can be very strong, but faith in God allows us to love even as the Holy Spirit empowers people to prophesy, speak in tongues, or interpret.  Jesus commands us to love and enables us to do so when we decide in that moment to trust and obey Him.  It will not be easy for us, and this walk of faith never is.  We may contrive a million reasons why loving someone is a bad idea, but this is sure evidence we have reached the end of our love and are toying with the sin of not abiding in God's love.  We had only been loving others on a superficial plane - the equivalent of splashing around in puddles by the beach - and God would have us launch out in faith into His ocean of love.  It will feel like jumping out of a plane without a parachute at times, but we can know God's loving, everlasting arms will uphold us.  As we have freely received God's love may we freely give always.

20 May 2017

Doing Good

"The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
Acts 10:36-38

One marker of Christ's life was He "went about doing good."  Doing good is much more profitable than avoiding evil because it is an intentional act.  Of course forsaking sin is a good thing, but the Christian walk is far more than sin-avoidance but faith displayed by obedience to God.  More than a list of Laws to obey, following Jesus is a grateful response to the love extended to us through Jesus.

Today as I taught through Nehemiah 5, it struck me there is a definite and important difference between saying, "You're wrong!" and "What you are doing is not good." (Nehemiah 5:9)  The contrast may seem subtle, but the implications of the mind-set is profound.  When Nehemiah rebuked the leaders in Israel for oppressing the poor by charging them interest on loans, he told them what they were doing was not good.  He could have simply told them they were "wrong," but the implication of his words was that their aim ought to have been to do good - not just cease evil.  When we realise what we are doing is not good, this leads to positive change.

In 2 Kings 7 a story is related of four desperate lepers who decided they would rather risk begging for their lives at the hand of the besieging Syrians than die of starvation in the city.  After mustering the courage to approach the camp, they were shocked to find it deserted.  They went from tent to tent and ate like kings, plundered valuables, and hid them out of sight.  2 Kings 7:9 describes when they finally came to their senses:  "Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household."  The lepers acted selfishly by filling their stomachs and plundering tents while people in Samaria were dying, and after realising they were not doing right they confessed their error, repented, and did what was right (though their motive in doing so was hardly pure).

In our flesh even after coming to Christ no good thing dwells (Romans 7:18), but we can do good through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  Better than avoiding the appearance of evil is to intentionally do good because we fear God, responding with gratefulness for the love God has shown us.

19 May 2017

Comfort for Souls

I have had the privilege of witnessing the last days of many loved ones depart this world.  From those experiences memories are tucked away, carefully chronicled without effort.  It is strange the things I remember vividly, the small details which likely go unnoticed.  I remember how my granddad looked as he lay in his bed in a coma.  I remember an uncle in his living room in hospital bed, being given a sip of beer.  I can still see the tears in the eyes of my grandma when my dad and I visited her and I told her I loved and appreciated her.  People approach the end of their lives differently.  I have realised everyone must face death all by themselves, even when surrounded by those who love them.

In times of grief and sadness, superficial things fade away.  In an instant we are given clarity about what really matters.  I remember going into my aunt's home to visit her before she passed.  Her health had been poor for some time and it was a treasure to spend some quiet moments with her.  As she began to drift out of consciousness, her favourite show was switched on.  She paid it no mind.  A priest came to give her holy communion, yet she was already at rest.  As her life ebbed away our family sang songs and rejoiced in her Saviour, Jesus Christ.  It was a bittersweet moment to see our loved one finally head home to the One who loved her first and always and would never leave or forsake her.

When I reflect on that day it is a strange verse which comes to mind.  I can only think of 1 Kings 19:11-12 when Elijah met with the LORD:  "Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."  Because God is mighty and powerful one might expect Him tear rocks with wind or shake the earth with an earthquake, but He was not found in either.  Perhaps He would reveal Himself as He did on Sinai, with fire.  No, God was not in the fire.  Elijah recognised God by "a still, small voice."

Only God brings the comfort people long for.  They may seek it in painkillers or beer, in entertainment or religious rites.  We may desire to spend our final moments in a familiar place among people we love.  But comfort for the soul is not found in any of these things.  Nothing in this world can provide forgiveness for our sin or wash away our guilt.  It is only through faith in Christ we find rest for our souls.  God continues to speak in a still, small voice which comforts our hearts whether our lives are towards the beginning or at the very end.  I am grateful to know and trust the God who brings comfort in the midst of fiery trials, earthquakes, terminal illness, and even death.  Even when we feel all alone we who trust Christ are not alone, for the LORD speaks to us.  We never need face death by ourselves, for Christ has already faced it and overcome.

17 May 2017

Context, Context, Context!

Whether a person is buying or renting a house, the old adage rings true:  "Location, location, location!"  In Sydney the closer a house is to the city the more valuable it is.  Small studios command millions of dollars because of their proximity to the Sydney CBD (Central Business District).  The location dictates the value of a property more than the quality of construction, the square footage, or how new the development is.  Location is the primary commodity.  A postage-stamp lot in the city translates to more dollars than acres in the bush.

There is a similar principle concerning "location" in the Bible.  People quote scripture to verify their claims, but the immediate context will show how valuable and trustworthy an interpretation is.  Respecting the context of a passage helps us to know more than what was said but to whom and why it was said.  This has enormous implications in understanding and applying the text to our lives personally.  When Paul exhorted Timothy as a student of scripture to "rightly" divide the Word of truth he implied it can be handled wrongly by ignorance or even deceit.  Even as safeguards are taken when handling necessary and useful but potentially hazardous substances, Christians must be cautious to ensure we consider the context of a Bible passage before we utilise it to validate claims.

I recently saw a presentation which emphasised the importance of understanding the true facts of history some allegedly have tried to cover up.  The narrator quoted from Orwell's 1984:  "Those who control the past control the future."  It was then followed up with a snippet of scripture where God said through the prophet Hosea, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge."  All this was to conclude the value and necessity of all the evidence which had been presented and how important this revelation was for people to know.  Now I have heard this passage quoted many times for various reasons.  The burning question is, what knowledge were the people lacking when the prophet spoke these words?  Was it historical or secret information?  It is the immediate context in scripture which will prove to the discerning mind if it was quoted appropriately in the presentation.  To answer this question, I opened my Bible.  If someone quotes from the Bible to make a point, we ought to see what the context is to verify it.

Let us read Hosea 4:1-6 (bold emphasis mine):  "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away. 4 "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

From the text there are two specific references to the lack of knowledge which lead to the destruction of God's people:  a lack of the knowledge of God (verse 1) and the rejection/forgetfulness of the knowledge of God's law (verse 6).  It is true God's people perished for a lack of knowledge, but it was not just any kind of knowledge.  God revealed Himself to His people and gave them His laws so they could live.  Because the people did not know God or walk in His ways they were perishing.  The passage does tell us the knowledge the people lacked and therefore reveals the Hosea quote in the presentation was used out of context.  For a Christian who searches the scriptures the partially quoted verse weakens the argument instead of strengthening it.  Looking at the verse in context shows the Orwell quote was much more suitable than the biblical reference.

When it comes to reading and quoting scripture, "Context, context, context!"  Reading passages in context helps us understand what God has said, what He means, and how to apply it personally in my life.  Knowledge of history is one thing, but knowing God is indispensable for life.  Blessed is the man who knows God and His law, the one who walks in His truth, mercy, and wisdom.  Jeremiah 9:23-24 supplies a relevant conclusion:  "Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."

16 May 2017

It's Blooming Time

On my way home yesterday from church I dropped by the shops to pick up ingredients needed for dinner.  After making purchases I briskly walked by the flower shop on the corner where the florists were already at work.  A phrase written in chalk on a sandwich board caught my eye which read, "Bloom where you are planted."  This was wise advice from an unexpected source.  The LORD used this phrase to encourage me to keep serving and living for God right where I am.

Countless people endure each day with dissatisfaction and even bitterness because of disillusionment.  The seasons of waiting can drag on.  Unfulfilled longings and desires of their hearts hold them back from complete surrender and joy in Jesus today.  For some it is the longing to be married, to be recognised or respected by family, to have children, or to be a pastor or missionary.  In my Christian walk there have been times I felt it hard to commit fully to the present because of a potential future I imagined loomed somewhere in the distance.  It was when I decided to "bloom where I was planted" - to use a God-given gift and to remain at my church without seeking my ideal situation - when God caused me to be more fruitful for His glory.

We often think a change of scenery would do us good and infuse within us satisfaction we currently find unobtainable.  If things were different, we also would be different for the better.  I have found when we discover we are completely satisfied in Christ because He is meeting our needs and will continue to do so, that is when we really bloom.  Transplanting flowers does not promote blooms because the plant needs to be re-established.  Over the years I have had many roses, and it is time, pruning, feeding, and the control of disease and pests which stimulates the best blooms.  You don't need a new role in ministry, job, suburb, country, or relationship to bloom, but trust God He knows what He is doing and is in control today.  Our blooms are according to His design and timing.

I believe God plants people, and I encourage you to bloom where you are planted.  Paul learned in whatever state he was to be content, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  It is only after a flower blooms that the reproductive parts of the flower are exposed and the sweet fragrance is enjoyed by others.  Blooming is the precursor to pollenisation, propagation, and fruit which sustains body and soul.  You can bloom right where you are because in Christ we have the best Husbandman.  He provides all we need to grow and develop into the fruitful and fulfilled people He has designed us to be - wherever He plants us.

13 May 2017

God's Labourers

"Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon."
Nehemiah 4:17

The workers who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem were armed and prepared to fend off the attacks of their enemies.  It is from this passage C.H. Spurgeon titled his magazine, "The Sword and the Trowel."  He used this verse as an allegorical picture of the role of a Christian in the first issue:  "We would ply the Trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem's dilapidated walls, and wield the Sword with vigour and valour against the enemies of the truth." (Spurgeon, C. H. The Sword and the Trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. Print. pg. 2)  The Bible is called the "Sword of the Spirit," and we ought to always have it at hand in our labours and during conflicts.

The clear priorities of the workmen in this passage are useful for us to consider.  These were primarily builders who were prepared and willing to fight if required - not fighters who were willing to build.  The aim of the enemies of Israel was to cause work on the wall to cease, and if fighting became their primary aim their threats would have been effective.  The workers on the walls of Jerusalem had it right.  They were not looking for a fight, but were firm in their resolve to do God's work even if enemies surrounded or assaulted them.  It is true we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of wickedness in heavenly places.  Yet if we do not faithfully labour for the LORD in obedience, practically encouraging and exhorting our brethren as we lead by example, what have we accomplished?

Jesus said a wise man who hears His words and does them will be likened to a man who built his house upon a rock, and this house was capable of standing firm in the fiercest storm.  If we are doing the LORD's work, it will endure and profit many.  Those who expend their effort fighting their own battles will not realise the peace and security God grants those who trust Him.  Let us fight the LORD's battles, and in the meantime be about our Father's business as was our Saviour.  He is a Refuge and Shield for all who abide in Him.

11 May 2017

What Follows Life and Death

I'm always interested in ways to share the truth of God and the scripture in new ways.  It is one thing to discuss doctrine with believers, but another thing to engage unbelieving minds and encourage people to logically consider facts which supports faith in God.  In his book Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand shared an interesting perspective from a Christian who reasoned with an atheist to consider the reality of life after death:
"Suppose that we could speak with an embryo in his mother's womb and that you would tell him that the embryonic life is only a short one after which follows a real, long life.  What would the embryo answer?  He would say just what you atheists answer to us, when we speak to you about paradise and hell.  He would say that the life in the mother's womb is the only one and that everything else is religious foolishness.  But if the embryo could think, he would say to himself, 'Here arms grow on me.  I do not need them.  I cannot even stretch them.  Why do they grow?  Perhaps they grow for a future stage of my existence, in which I will have to work with them.  Legs grow, but I have to keep them bent toward my chest.  Why do they grow?  Probably life in a large world follows, where I will have to walk.  Eyes grow, although I am surrounded by perfect darkness and don't need them.  Why do I have eyes?  probably a world with light and colours will follow.'
So if the embryo would reflect on his own development, he would know about a life outside of his mother's womb, without having seen it.  It is the same with us.  As long as we are young, we have vigour, but no mind to use it properly.  When, with the years, we have grown in knowledge and wisdom, the hearse waits to take us to the grave.  Why was it necessary to grow in a knowledge and wisdom that we can use no more?  Why do arms, legs, and eyes grow on an embryo?  It is for what follows.  So it is with us here.  We grow here in experience, knowledge, and wisdom for what follows.  We are prepared to serve on a higher level that follows death." (Wurmbrand, Richard. Tortured for Christ. Oklahoma: Living Sacrifice Book, 1998. 96. Print.)
It is God and faith in Him which provides meaning and purpose to life which transcends time served on earth.  There is something in men which rejects the idea that life is without lasting significance.  Why else would people try to prolong their lives on earth, to labour for cures for diseases, and to hope of a brighter future?  What is the point of procreation, of spending thousands for artificial insemination, or cryogenically freezing your own body if life doesn't count for something?  Even people who despair of life on earth do not hate life itself, but want a life more agreeable for themselves.  If we could obtain life on our terms, I don't know a sane person who would refuse it.

Jesus came to earth to die so we might have eternal life through Him.  Life on earth is hard on everyone, and even more so for those who choose to deny themselves to follow Jesus.  There is more to life than these bodies we live in, for God breathed into every man a living soul, an eternal consciousness.  Matthew 16:24-26 reads, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  Even as Christ was raised from the dead in a new body, so all who follow Jesus will never experience the bitter defeat of death.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  It is folly to claim this life is all there is based upon the evidence.  Consider the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus Christ.  In denying Christ man denies life and misses the profound satisfaction which comes from knowing God today and spending eternity with the One who created, loves, and knows our names.

09 May 2017

Broken People Made Whole

A few times lately I have heard a term among Christians which seems to be in vogue.  Years ago "relevance" was a big point of emphasis, and the buzzword these days is being a "broken person."  I heard a person stress the importance of broken people ministering to broken people.  Then a few days later I read on a church website, "We are a church full of imperfect, broken people and we are saving a seat for you."  The impression provided by this sentence is that those who attend will not be judged for their faults.  Whilst it is true the church is filled with "broken" people, I want to gather with people Christ has made whole.  No person or gathering of believers can claim perfection, but we can offer wholeness from Christ for all who are broken because we have experienced this firsthand.

It is good to create an environment where all people are accepted and valued regardless of their faults.  It used to be a thing to be "broken" for your sin, a soul crushed and mortified for sin expressed in humble repentance.  I don't know that this is the brokenness being suggested by the sources I have heard of late.  Claiming to be a "broken person" seems to be the opposite - either shrugging my shoulders at my own sin or pride bubbling to the surface.  The way I have heard this term expressed lately implies we need not hold to a firm enforcement of biblical standards concerning volunteers for ministry, since after all we are imperfect ourselves.  If this is what it is meant by broken people ministering to broken people, this concerns me deeply.  Serving tables might be done by any able-bodied employee, but those who did so in the church were required to have a good reputation, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3).

I believe we serve a God who heals broken people and makes them whole.  This is not a claim to sinless perfection or a right to be judgemental, but it is acknowledging the reality of personal, spiritual transformation by the grace of God.  When we are born again through repentance and faith in Jesus, we are made new and complete in Him.  We should be filled with awe and humility - to be broken in one sense recognising our unworthiness - but to also be joined with Christ and others in godly fellowship as one.  No longer are we cut off like a broken branch from the vine, but have been connected to Jesus as a hand to the Body of Christ.  Here is my thinking:  being imperfect and broken is not what draws other people to a church or offers hope, but what must be conveyed is the assurance of love, new life, wholeness, and salvation for all sinners.  It is being broken which alerts us to our need of salvation, as it is written in Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  The bones God has broken can rejoice, for He is able to restore us by His grace.

Instead of focusing on my imperfections and that I am a "broken person," it is good for me to fix my eyes upon Jesus who remains without a single sin, the One whose body was broken on the cross so I could be made whole.  We have good news, brothers and sisters.  It's true we are not perfect, but this should never be an excuse for us not to confront sin in our own lives or in others we love with compassion and grace.  These earthen vessels are not made out of gold or silver, but having been born again we have been miraculously made whole.  We are filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and thus made able ministers of the Gospel as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:5-7:  "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  We are imperfect but whole; we are broken yet redeemed and restored.  Isn't that wonderful?

08 May 2017

Redemptive Suffering

Discouragement and disappointments have often been experienced by God's faithful people.  In the depths of suffering many wondered why they had ever been born!  Consider this lament of the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:14-18:  "Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! 15 Let the man be cursed who brought news to my father, saying, "A male child has been born to you!" making him very glad. 16 And let that man be like the cities which the LORD overthrew, and did not relent; let him hear the cry in the morning and the shouting at noon, 17 because he did not kill me from the womb, that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb always enlarged with me. 18 Why did I come forth from the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?"

When we are faced with sorrow and grief, these words might be our own as we cry out to a God we know exists and loves us.  Christians discover that at our lowest points knowledge alone is not a magic charm which ends our suffering.  If the scripture finished on this note we might wrongly assume there is not a reasonable answer to the question:  what is the point of my life anyway?  Why was a born if I would have to contend with such pain?  Thankfully, there is a real answer to this question.  God had a purpose for Jeremiah to endure sorrow, even as His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  He was despised and rejected, called "a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)  He had been sent to earth for the purpose of seeking and saving sinners through His death on the cross.  He was not disillusioned because the joy of the LORD was His strength.  He looked through the cross and knew what glorious salvation He would accomplish.

Why do we become disillusioned?  Generally this occurs when our plans and expectations are not lining up with our current reality.  We expected more and received less.  We have suffered long enough, right?  What could this painful experience be accomplishing?  Listen my friends:  more than you could possible quantify or appreciate.  I can say this based upon the authority of God's Word and the example of Jesus Christ.  Jesus suffered, did He not?  Was His suffering without meaning or purpose?  Not one stripe or piercing was without significance.  As we abide in Him all God allows us to suffer will accomplish the good purposes of God who has made us benefactors of Christ's death and resurrected life.  When we consider all Christ endured for the joy which was before Him, through the Holy Spirit we are strengthened to endure.  We may not feel like enduring - we actually may feel like quitting - but we will be given in that moment all the strength we need.

Consider the words of Paul who suffered great things for Christ's sake in 2 Corinthians 1:3-6:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."  Does this sound like the words of a bitter, disillusioned disciple?  Hear the words of praise of God, our LORD who is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort."  In ALL our tribulation God is able to comfort us to the end we too can comfort others.  See how God redeems all tribulation!

There can be times where our pain is so great we do not care to be a comfort to others; we honestly cannot care about anyone's salvation but our own.  God is gracious to us even when we feel this way, embittered by our own struggles.  But know there is no darkness which can overcome the Light of the World Jesus Christ, the One who promised to send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  No one can comfort as profoundly and completely as He can when we trust Him.  The resurrected body of Jesus Christ is proof He overcame the power of darkness, sorrow, grief, sin, and death.  We must choose to look to Him, entrusting ourselves body and soul to His care.  In our flesh there dwells no good thing, but God is only good.  Won't you trust Him in spite of your pains?  Praise Him even now for the painful thing He is allowing in your life, for He is a Saviour and Redeemer.  David said in Psalm 42:5, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance."

07 May 2017

Eating Together As Family

When I was a kid I enjoyed watching "Yan Can Cook."  He was always so happy, positive, and the food he made looked simply delicious.  The ingredients of his dishes were typically easily available because he encouraged people to cook for themselves.  That makes sense, right?  It's fun to see contestants on "Iron Chef" cooking with truffles, foie gras, and shark fin, but who can source or afford these sorts of delicacies?  I have found food tastes better when you are hungry, and even more so when you have laboured over it yourself.  Putting effort into a dish that turns out beautiful is satisfying on many levels!

C.H. Spurgeon compared the preparation of a sermon to preparing a delicious meal.  With the saturation of TV cooking shows and the internet which have revolutionised cooking by providing access to techniques and recipes for everyone, I sometimes wonder if the same thing has happened with sermons.  When I was a kid there was one radio station which broadcast sermons and praise music.  It used to be people would queue up to grab a cassette tape or CD after the sermon at church if it was particularly meaningful.  Gone are the days of cassettes (a good thing really!) and most churches and preachers have internet websites, live message streaming, downloads, and podcasts without end.  Since we can be highbrow over our gourmet creations, proper coffee, or seared ahi, isn't it possible we can become sermon or church snobs, preferring delicate aromas and exotic flavours over simple roast beef and potatoes?

We all have unique tastes and preferences when it comes to food, and I expect this also applies when it comes to church and varied approaches to the preaching of God's Word.  An international cornucopia of sermons accessed via the internet is a luxury afforded us the early church did not possess.  The abundance of options can tempt us to become gourmets where presentation and plating is more important than nutrition!  In my life it seems the amount of food intolerance and allergies has increased dramatically, and I wonder if the same is true concerning Christians today.  There are themes and styles we avoid when possible.  We prefer sampling over feasting because we're really not hungry anyway.  We are full of doctrine but not necessarily full of the Spirit who has given us a spiritual appetite.  There's something special  and uniting about enjoying a family meal at home together which can't be duplicated, and I believe the same concerning gathering as the Body of Christ in your home church.  We don't have the power to choose what's for dinner, but we can receive nourishment for our soul from God.

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Let's consider one another and continue assembling and exhorting one another to "stir up love and good works."  It is impossible to obey the "one another" commands of the New Testament in isolation, regardless of the quality of a podcast.  Are you hungry for the Word?  Dig in yourself and share what God teaches you with others.  How long has it been since you sat down to share a sermon with your brothers and sisters in Jesus?  God will supply the hunger of your soul by His grace and the pure Word.

03 May 2017

God Makes Holy

I love reading through the Law sprinkled in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  The commands and prohibitions may be tedious to some, but I find them fascinating and illuminating.  There are commands which impact all parts of the lives of God's people, from the clothes they wore to the food they ate.  There were boundaries placed on their sex lives and how they should treat foreigners.  The more I read the more it emphasises how God wanted to impact every aspect of life, for He dwelt among them.  I am convinced God did not load His people with commands because He is a nitpicky, grousing, or sensitive Being who is easily offended.  He gave them commands because without His guidance His people would bear no resemblance to God's holy and righteous character or practice whatsoever.

This is the place where the children of Israel lost the plot, thinking they could be made righteous through keeping a Law which could not save.  The Law could only condemn.  Through the revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we understand that nothing is evil in itself, like wearing clothes of mixed fabrics or sowing different seeds together.  Both circumcised and uncircumcised in flesh can be accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ.  God gave His people commands so that every part of their lives would be lived in acknowledgement of His Word and love for them as LORD and Saviour.  Jesus said that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.  God's Law was an opportunity God provided His people to demonstrated their love for Him, for they were to love the LORD their God with all their heart, soul, and might.  The Law of God was a revelation of God's righteousness to be responded to, not a means of obtaining eternal life.  As it is written in John 1:17, "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

When I read through the Law I realise there are areas of my life I do not naturally consider God.  I do not necessarily think about God when I dress myself in the morning, during a meal, or when I meet a stranger.  But as a child of the Living God who has filled me with the Holy Spirit, I can and should.  I am no longer under the yoke of Law but under grace which requires far greater sacrifice and supernaturally assisted obedience.  The scribes (sofer) who copied the Torah were required to know and observe about 4,000 laws concerning their conduct to properly handle God's Word, and the Word has become flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus has baptised His followers with the Holy Spirit, and He helps, comforts, teaches, and guides us into all truth.  As His purchased possession through the shed blood of Christ, God has the right to be included into every aspect of our lives even as in the day of Moses:  what we eat, drink, what we say, do, and how and why we do so.  The Law dealt with externals, and because Jesus has transformed our hearts His presence affects infinitely more.

As children of God's Kingdom, we should live our lives unto the LORD by the power of the Gospel, even as God made a distinction between the Jews and the surrounding nations in Leviticus 20:22-26, "You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. 23 And you shall not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them. 24 But I have said to you, "You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. 25 You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine."  Instead of having lives which resemble those who live in darkness, may the Light of the World shine bright through us as we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

02 May 2017

Love Meets Needs

"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10  And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 19:9-10

In the Law, God made provisions for the widow and fatherless, for the poor and the stranger.  It was forbidden for the Israelites to harvest all the crops which grew in their field so those without an inheritance could gather food for their survival.  All the crops produced in their fields was a gift of God, and He gave them enough to spare.  God was a generous Father for  His people, and through them He would bless the fatherless.  Those whose husbands had died would find practical needs met by God through the people He had betrothed to Himself.  The children of Israel had experienced poverty as foreigners in Egypt, and they were called to remember their humble beginnings so they might retain humility.

Further on God said in Leviticus 19:18, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD."  The children of God were to consider the needs of others and love them without bitterness or resentment.  The measure of their kindness to others was according to the preference we naturally extend to ourselves.  When Jesus came, He immeasurably increased the standard we ought to follow, for He said in John 15:12:  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  The love of God expressed through Christ's life and demonstrated in His death is beyond measure, and only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we begin to fulfil His glorious command.  As we have freely received from God we are to freely give to God and others.

James 1:27 reads, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."  Jesus has come to us, and it is fitting we would visit those who are in trouble, motivated by the love Jesus has given us.  God has shown His love to us practically by meeting our spiritual and temporal needs, and we too can show the protective and providing love of a husband and father to those God brings across our path.  God does not change, but may we be changed into His loving likeness, willing to sacrifice and give for the benefit of others and the glory of our God.

01 May 2017

Black and Whites

Yesterday during the discipleship course I am leading we discussed a message delivered by a precious sister in Christ, Corrie Ten Boom.  Once when she was being interrogated in the concentration camp Ravensbruck about her "misdeeds," her judge showed her "dangerous" papers which contained damning evidence of her efforts to save Jews.  When she realised the papers had particulars of people she loved and wanted to protect, she said she had nothing to say about them.  She was elated when the man opened the grate and threw all the papers into the stove.  All the handwriting which condemned her and others was gone without a trace, and how grateful she was.

Later in her life, Corrie spoke with her biographer about a troubling incident which filled her with resentment and bitterness - which did not involved the Gestapo or concentration camps - but a mean thing done by fellow Christians.  When the biographer gently probed concerning how the situation had been resolved Corrie said gladly, "It has been forgiven and forgotten and I will not speak about it anymore."  Her friend continued to dig about how the offending party had been since.  "They take it easy," Corrie offered.  "They simply say they have not done it.  They can say that, but I have everything in black and white in the letters they have written me."  "What?" said her friend in surprise. "Say, where are your sins?  You have said that when you brought your sin to the LORD, He has thrown them into the depths of the sea with a sign that says "No Fishing Allowed," and for the sins of your friends you have black and whites?  O LORD, give Corrie the grace to burn all the black and whites of sins of others as a well-smelling sacrifice to you."  And she did.  She exhorted her listeners, "You can't forgive and I can't either, but Jesus can."

From her talk there are indicators which help us know if we have truly forgiven others from the heart as Jesus has forgiven us.  The first is when we intentionally free others from the burden of guilt of their wrongdoing in light of how Jesus has lovingly forgiven us.  This is illustrated in the parable Jesus told of the servant who owed his master an enormous debt.  He fell down at his master's feet and begged for mercy.  His master had compassion on him and loosed him from the debt, forgiving all.  Another way we work towards forgiveness is to refuse to ruminate on how we have been wronged and wallowing in self-pity.  Bad feelings and resentment are signs we have yet to fully forgive others.  We take critical ground in forgiveness when we never again feel the need to mention - to the offender or to others - the situation in detail.  In her message Corrie never laid out exactly what had happened or who had done it, but how God used it to change her.  A negative was thus made positive.  Finally, we must burn our "black and whites," even destroying evidence we would use to prove others wrong or to protect ourselves in the future.  Corrie had forgiven her "friends" in her heart, but burning those black and whites was the final nail driven home into the coffin of unforgiveness.

How about you?  Have you black and whites?  Perhaps it is time to pertinently delete those old emails, burn those hurtful letters, or decide that you will never recount that story you tell about how you were wronged or betrayed by those you trusted.  Praise the LORD God does not have a secret stash of the evidence of our sin, just waiting for an opportunity to throw it in our face.  He has taken all our sins and put them as far from us as the east is from the west.  Like Jesus on the cross we can say with compassion, "Father, forgive them - even if they know what they are doing."  If we refuse to forgive others after receiving such great forgiveness from God, we torture ourselves needlessly (Matthew 18:34-35).  Let us love and forgive our enemies, even when they are brethren.