Father, Forgive Me

Luke 23: 32-47


“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These are words I’ve prayed many times. I’ve prayed them for the world at large, for strangers, for friends and family members. But if I’m being honest, I usually pray them for myself. “Father, forgive ME, for I do not know what I am doing.”

How did I get here? How did this happen? Where should I be? How do I find my way? In the past, I’d look for answers in misguided places and chastise myself for not getting it right. As my relationship with Christ has matured, I’ve learned to seek His will. I guess that’s what they call spiritual growth. I still don’t have the answers, but it does help me sit with the questions a little longer. He’s helping me learn to wait and listen.

Today, we recall the Crucifixion. While Christ endured our pain, one of the criminals next to him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

For the repentant sinner, those words of forgiveness removed a huge weight. “YOU will be with me in paradise.” How sweet the sound!

And as Jesus breathed his last, I want his words to be mine - “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” It’s not just a deathbed prayer, but one worthy of repeating each day, “Father, I place my life in your hands!”

He knows better what to do with it than I do, but I’m learning… waiting and listening.

Peace to you this Good Friday.

         

Forgiveness is Never Easy

…When their message came to him, Joseph wept.  Genesis 50: 17b

Have you ever had to forgive someone a huge wrong?  It’s hard to do isn’t it.

I’m not talking about forgiving someone who talked bad about you or lied about you.  Maybe you have had someone steal from you and you knew you needed to forgive them.  Forgiving someone is always hard but I am talking about forgiving someone whose choices had a life altering consequences for you.

Perhaps someone’s lies lost you your job, causing you to uproot your family in search of a new start.  Maybe you have been the victim of abuse.  Now, because of someone else’s choices you are trying to learn how to trust again. It could be, you have lost a loved one to a drunk driver and your only choice is to forgive or let the hopeless bitterness and despair consume you.

Joseph was confronted with the seemingly impossible decision of forgiving his brothers.  Sold into slavery as a young boy, Joseph was separated from parents who loved him and forced to live a life of servitude.  He was falsely accused of assault, imprisoned, and alone.  None of these things would have happened to him if his brothers hadn’t acted in such an evil way against him.  Joseph had reason to seek revenge yet their father asks him to seek forgiveness.

His dying request for his son was, “I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”   Joseph’s response to this request was forgiveness, but something happened before he declared them forgiven and I don’t want you to miss it.

Joseph wept.

When we have been sinned against, forgiveness is required of us.  It is not easy, especially when the hurt is deep and life-changing.  I believe to forgive a deep hurt we must grieve.  Grieve what was lost.  A friend, a job, trust, innocence… Grieve.  Weep deeply, then turn to God to fill that void.  When God fills the hurt we can rely on his strength to forgive.

Read the entire scripture here Genesis 50: 12-21

1 John 4:7-21

God’s Love and Ours

Where would you prefer to be?

Scenario 1: You walk in the door, receive a few superficial hugs and immediately tense up as you spy that big old elephant still sitting on the living room floor big as life, but everyone pretends it’s not there.  The conversation is shallow as you remain in the kitchen because the living room is still filled with things no one wants to talk about.

Scenario 2: You walk in the door, share several long, sincere hugs, walk into the empty living room together, settle into your favorite comfortable spot, and together fill the air with genuine conversation and laughter.

When we feel we are loved and love in return, we are connected. It is a comfortable place to be. We feel at home. The atmosphere is one of belonging. Peace and contentment consume us.

I love feeling that way!

This love is not romantic in nature; it is simply acceptance as is. It is unconditional, non-judgmental, genuine care and concern for another, with no motive to change or manipulate, only to love.

Loving unconditionally is a challenge we all face, and especially difficult when dealing with the "unlovable," yet the Bible is overflowing with verses on love; God’s type of love.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.

Jesus loved and reached out in love regardless of the individual’s status or behavior. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, and He has given us this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (John 4:19-21)

In the book of Ephesians Chapters 1, 2 and 3, Paul speaks of who we are as God’s Children. In 4, 5 and 6 he writes on the way we are to conduct ourselves:

In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Amen! 

Read/Listen to 1 John 4:7-21

Colossians 3:1-17

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

The school year has just ended. I am a special education teacher. Sometimes I take student teachers into my classroom and work with them on honing their skills to prepare them for managing their own classroom. I finished this school year with a lovely young lady named Morgan.

Morgan entered my classroom well prepared for a regular education classroom, but not one such as mine. These students, though beautiful, have many challenges cognitively as well as behaviorally and physically. She was hesitant and uncertain at the beginning. As our time together continued, she experienced a change. Through observation, study and trial and error she evolved into a confident and passionate teacher ready to take on new challenges. I could see the love in her eyes as she worked with my students. I had the opportunity to observe an awesome transformation. She left at peace with herself and her abilities.

In a thank you card she gave me on our last day together she wrote: “In the short nine weeks we were together I learned more about myself and my faith than I would have imagined.”

As I modeled my instruction and interactions with both students and staff, I was hopeful I was instilling the importance of some of the things noted in Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

Times when the adults we were dealing with did not follow through as I hoped they would I attempted to demonstrate the importance of Colossians 3:13-15 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”

I was extremely happy and humbled that she took away much more than teaching strategies and classroom management approaches. She got it!

I thank God for those opportunities. The occasions to make a difference in the lives of others are ever present. Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another...”  

Read/Listen to Colossians 3:1-7

John 9:42-48

Why does God send people to hell?

He doesn't!

The Lord counsels us, guides us, directs us and reminds us over and over again.   He warns us, models for us, commands us, and offers us a grand reward.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark 9:42-43 And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell.

These words of Jesus are not threats, they are warnings. He is not condemning, he is cautioning. God does not want to see any of his children enter into hell.

I doubt the picture we have in our mind of someone cutting off their hand is literally what Jesus meant, but it is that serious. It’s an illustration of our God’s great forgiveness if we are sincere in our repentance.

His love is extreme, just as our dedication to him should be. When we do wrong, we must not only sincerely confess and repent, but do something about it that causes us to change and not repeat the offense. Sometimes that means making an extreme transformation in our life that may be very difficult at the time.

We may wonder what God is waiting for. Why doesn't he come and fulfill his promise right now? This world is a mess. It may be wise to take advantage of God’s delay. 

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace with him.

Read/Listen to John 9:42-48

Luke 7:36-50

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

She learned of Him.

She brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

She stood behind Him at his feet.

She wet His feet with her tears.

She wiped them with her hair.

She kissed them and poured perfume on them.

She was a sinful woman.

He sat at the table of Simon a Pharisee.

He spoke as the woman wept.

He said “I have something to tell you Simon.”

He narrated the story of a money lender.

He explained the connection between the parable and the woman.

He told her “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:47: Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

If he who has been forgiven little loves little

Then he who has been forgiven much loves much

So what was the heart of Jesus teaching them, and us?

Increased forgiveness results in greater love. In turn the outcome of love is forgiveness.

Think about that. 

Read/Listen to Luke 7:36-50

Live!

Acts 9:36-43

Today’s reading is about a woman named Tabitha. Scripture describes her as a disciple who was always doing good and helping the poor. She became ill and died. Many who knew her mourned with great sadness.  Knowing Peter was near, they sent for him. Peter bowed in prayer and directed Tabitha to get up. She was offered another opportunity to live; to extend her earthly life. She rose as Peter directed her. This became know all over the area causing many people to believe in the Lord.

We too are offered new life on a daily basis. With each setting sun, God offers his forgiveness if we go to him with a sincere heart and confess our sin with repentance and cleansing as our motive. Every dawn brings us a fresh, new beginning in his grace if we so choose.

1 John: 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

God has provided a way out from under the heavy weight of guilt. That way begins with basic acknowledgment, continues with confession and remorse, and ends with accepting his forgiveness.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

We CAN begin anew, with a fresh opportunity to live, love, and reach others, for the sake of the kingdom of God. Accept this most precious gift of forgiveness; and do what may be even more difficult-forgive yourself as well, and LIVE! 

Read/Listen to Acts 9:36-43

Commitment - Not Neglect

Nehemiah 9:1-3, 32-38, 10:28-32, 39b

Neglect:

1. Fail to take care of someone. To fail to take care of someone when you are responsible for them

1b. Fail to take care of a place. To fail to take care of a place, for example a house or garden

 2. Fail to do something you should do.

 3. Fail to pay attention to something. To fail to pay attention to something such as an idea or a work of art

                             “We will not neglect the house of our God.”

                                              Nehemiah 10:39b

Fail is not a word or feeling any of us like, particularly when it refers to our own actions…… or lack of. Why then do we so often neglect our responsibilities as Christ followers to do what our God asks of us? Do we use the excuse that we are human, or place blame on others due to their lack of Christian behavior or a personality conflict? Perhaps because we know our Lord will forgive us, we get somewhat sloppy in our approach to life and then confess, reconcile, focus for a while, and eventually fall back again only to start the process over? How exhausting!

We beat ourselves and each other up when we forget how to focus our lives on God just as when the “chosen people” turned away from Him. There was sin, conflict and unrest.

Though our God is a righteous and forgiving God, we know that He will be more than delighted if we remain in his will rather than fading in and out. Why then do we do that? Well it’s hard! 

Maintaining relationships is very challenging, yet our God is a relational God, and we are here to serve one another. Within marriages, families, communities, and far beyond, “to the ends of the earth” actually, we are given the responsibility to spread the Word and Love of our Savior. Let’s not fail to keep Him in the middle of all our relationships. Trust God with your heart and “He Will Restore.” 

Listen to: He Will Restore by Chris August

                                                                                             

Read/Listen to: Nehemiah 9:1-3

                           Nehemiah 9:32-38

                           Nehemiah 10:28-32

                           Nehemiah  10:39

Christians are the Aroma of Christ

I have not been blessed with movie star looks. I sometimes rub people the wrong way and can even bristle at the most trivial of things. I have numerous bad habits, and can be a thorn in some people’s side.

If I were a plant,
I would be a cactus

I just mowed the lawn and finished putting down mulch. I need a shower. In spite of all this, I am the aroma of Christ. In fact, all Christians are the aroma of Christ!

 

Today’s reading, 2 Corinthians 2:5-17, is about the relationship between Jesus, his Church and its members.

 

Two things struck me in the reading. The first thought is contained in verse 10 and spoken by Paul. “If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven – if there is anything to be forgiven – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake.”  When a Christian forgives someone, it is the same as Christ forgiving them.

 

We are connected with Christ in our congregation through the power of the Word and Sacraments. We were delegated Christ’s assignment when he ascended to heaven.  And part of Jesus’ job on Earth was to announce the forgiveness of sins. So that is our assignment too.

 

When we forgive, Christ forgives!

 

The second thing was contained in verses 14 and 15, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ.”

 

Since we are connected with Christ, we also have the assignment of sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world. Carrying out this assignment is an aroma pleasing to God. And we know we will triumph.

 

We have the Holy Spirit which gives everything to carry out our task.

 

I am not worthy of this task. Ask my wife and she will list many more flaws than I mentioned above. If I were a plant, I would be a cactus.

 

But the Holy Spirit would still gives me a big flower, that would be the aroma of Christ pleasing to God!

Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

Forgiven By God’s Grace

Some of our deepest wounds come from our families. If we allow them to eat away at us, they will fester like a profound sore that won’t heal, consuming and tiring us to the point of exhaustion, and emptying our hearts of the joy the Lord wants for us. Bitterness accompanied by its cell mate jealousy or hate will rob us of relationships God intended us to grow in.

Luke 15 tells of how Jesus shared several parables with the Pharisees and teachers of the law, as they were mocking Him for welcoming sinners and eating with them. Apparently they did not comprehend his intentions, or His Grace.

One parable was about the son who requested his inheritance from his father, set off for another country, squandered his wealth in wild living, and then returned to the father requesting a place with the servants. Upon his arrival the father welcomed him with open arms and orchestrated a grand feast to celebrate his return with music and dancing after adorning him with a fine robe, sandals, and the family ring.  The other son, who had been faithful to his father all along, was very upset and bitter about how his father was treating his brother, after all the wrongs he had committed. Many might say the brother was justified for feeling that way; however the father is the one who “really got it.” In Luke 15: 31-32 when approached by his other son, the father stated, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and now he is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

This father is a symbol of our own Father God, who accepts us back into his family no matter where we have been. In Matthew 8:11 Jesus proclaimed, “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven.”  God wants us all back, no matter who we are or what we've done. Jesus modeled unconditional love while He walked this earth and He expects us to do the same. In the long term scheme of things, what does holding on to a grudge or negative emotions do for us?  By His wounds we are healed. By God’s Grace we are forgiven.

           “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Read/Listen to Luke 15:1-3
Read/Listen to Luke  11-32

Listen to: 7X70 by Chris August

Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Saved By God’s Grace

They say, “Nothing in life is free.” It is not clear just who “they” are, but they certainly are not in tune with our God. Grace is FREE, and all we have to do is accept it. There are no strings attached and no expectations for perfection. We are not able to earn it and it certainly is not something we deserve. None the less it is ours for the taking.

The basis for calling the second part of the Bible the New Testament is founded on this message from the Lord. He promised a New Covenant unlike the one before. In Jeremiah 31: 32 it is clear God was disappointed, yet ready to once again offer undeserved wings of freedom to His people; “It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant though I was husband to them.” In Jeremiah 31: 33 the Lord declared, “I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.”  This time He was not planning to inscribe His laws onto hard stone as he did the Ten Commandments, but instead to use the soft tissue of the heart to communicate his message of unfailing love, forgiveness, and hope.

Jesus was sent as the sacrificial Lamb to make an impact too incredible to cast aside. Then the Holy Spirit followed, entering the hearts of all, giving them and us the ability to begin anew. Jeremiah 31:34 reminds us; “For I will forgive their wickedness, and will remember their sins no more.”  

The New Testament illustrates a new chance at life, offering another opportunity to live the will of the Lord. We were saved by God’s Grace. It’s up to us to decide what we will do with that gift. Are we going to put it into the closet along side the many other unexciting or minimally useful gifts we have received, or will we wear it proudly, allowing our hearts to feel His Grace and share it with others? Accepting and giving Grace is a very powerful thing!

Listen/Read Jeremiah 31:31-34

John 21:15-19

Peter denied Jesus, just as we often do.
Jesus forgave Peter, just as He does for us.
How fortunate to have a loving and forgiving God. If we did not, we would be doomed!

Some of the things we humans do, one would think might amaze God. How can he not think, "Wow, she's doing that again?" or "How many times does he have to engage in that and then beg for forgiveness before he learns?" Seven times seventy times I guess, and that's the good news for us!

As we stumble through this world aren't there times you feel like things couldn't be better, and you are able to follow God's commandments with ease, and then bam, you're off the wagon again! I guess He knew it would be like that, so He afforded us the grace of forgiveness. Have you ever been frightened though, that your sin might be too big for God to forgive? I have, and that's a scary place to be. At the beginning of the book of John, our Lord is referred to as "full of grace and truth." Jesus is not like anyone else. He will not, he cannot, let you down. If you put your trust in Him, you will not be disappointed.