I Forgive You - Part I

One of the hardest phrases to say to someone regardless if you are a saint or a sinner is, “I forgive you”. However, the most reconciling phrase to hear is, “I forgive you”.  There is power in that phrase.  “I forgive you”, when spoken in trueness, heals the heart, alleviates pain, fix brokenness, and ministers to the soul.  It is a medicine that does not require a prescription, or a salve that can be freely given.  It cures not only the person who hears it, but also the person who says it. Forgiveness is important and necessary. God is very serious about it; so much so that He commands us to do it.  Forgiveness is not optional, but a requirement. Just like love, it’s not based on our emotions or how we feel, but it is said and done out of faithfulness and obedience to God. As Christians, we simply do not have the liberty to remain in bitterness; holding grudges and being vengeful.

Why we must forgive?

1.     Christ forgave us.

How dare we have the audacity to walk around and act as though we cannot forgive someone who wronged us when the King of Kings not only gave up his life for us, but also forgave us of our sins? We no longer have the mind of futility, but we have the mind of Christ. We no longer live according to the flesh, but we now live according to the Spirit. In doing so, we desire to live and satisfy the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ is about reconciliation and forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

2.     God will not forgive us.

We can be angry, but the bible says in our anger we are not to sin or let the sun set on our anger. Why? In doing so it allows the Devil the opportunity to wreck havoc. Unforgiveness is a sin. The bible tells us to do away with of all that foolishness and instead be kind and show compassion. Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who has sinned against him; seven times Peter suggested. Jesus replied by saying seventy-seven times. Jesus follows his reply with a parable for the disciples to understand.  Read it at your own leisure; however, the moral of the story; God will not forgive us if we do not show mercy and forgive others.

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

There are many scriptures in the bible that supports forgiveness. It is essential that we remain obedient and forgive. Since the subject is so extensive, I will do a Part 2 of, “I Forgive You”. In the meantime, let’s have a new attitude for the New Year and walk in love and forgiveness for 2012.

Until next time, God Bless You!

 

Scripture references:

Eph 4; Matt 6:14-15; Matt 18:21-35; Rom 8:1-16

Jesus Christ is the Reason for the Season

When a believer thinks of the Christmas, the one key scripture that comes to mind is Isaiah 9:6:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I could go on and on about the origin of Christ-mas, the question of the exact date of Jesus’ birth, the different symbols used to symbolize Christmas such as Christmas trees, mistletoe, Yule logs, Santa Claus, etc. However, I will not. What is important is to remember this day and every day is a great day to celebrate Jesus Christ; Immanuel; God with Us. He is forever Savior and Lord. Jesus Christ is the main reason for this season.

The greatest man in history named Jesus had no servants, yet they called him Master. He had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Jesus had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. No army, yet kings feared Him. Christ won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. Jesus committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of all.

~Author Unknown

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Obedience Leads to Blessings

Every day I am checking my YouTube account for new videos. Usually my interest involves natural hair, cosmetics, wigs reviews, jewelry making and other DIY projects. One of my favorite vloggers, txcutie75, posting a video that was so inspirational I had to bring light to it. This young lady recently got engaged after dating a young man for 8 months. Her video speaks about her life as a Christian woman and how she chose NOT to become sexually intimate with her boyfriend/fiancé, but instead decided to wait until she is married. How refreshing it is to know there are still some out there that believes God’s way is the best way; that through obedience to God, there will be blessings. This young lady advised she battled with God over the idea of posting such as video because of the potential negative feedback. However, as Christians we must realize those that are in the world will deem the gospel as ridiculous and foolish talk and will reject it.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 (Message)

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written,

I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
and I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

In spite of potential rejection, we must continue to be led by the Spirit of God and speak the truth in love. Those that have ears will certainly hear the truth and be liberated from the chains of sin and shame.  We have been charged to declare the gospel with boldness, unashamed. I am so proud of this young lady because not only did she keep her faith and her stance about her virtue, but she submitted to the will of God and proclaimed the truth. As a result, many women received her testimony and made a commitment to change.

The world can be viewed a dismal place. However, there is hope in God. His word is so powerful and change lives. This young lady’s video has confirmed God is still moving and is still in the business of saving lives. Praise God!

Scripture Reference: 1 Cor 1:18-21

YT Video: http://youtu.be/my7jA8K42AY

We Can Love Like God Loves

One of my Facebook friends placed a status on his wall about his challenge to express love to people who were a challenge or undeserving to love. He felt it was important to love God first and then to love yourself second. Any other way would be out of order and it would be impossible to truly express love to others. As Christians we are called to rise to a level of spiritual maturity. We no longer live according to our flesh nor should we have the mind set to please the flesh, but we now live according to the spirit and have the mind set of what the spirit desires. The world has an artificial concept of what love is. The world believes love is based on emotions or on our feelings. This is a false sense of love and is only temporary. Agape love; however, is true love. Agape love is not only unconditional, but it is also sacrificial. This type of love is not based on how we feel nor is it given based on whether or not a person is deserving. The truth of the matter is none of us were ever deserving of God’s love. However, God first demonstrated his unconditional love for us by giving His only son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrificial Lamb for all mankind.

In 1 John 4:20, it states:

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother is a liar. For anyone whom does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

That’s a pretty stringent scripture. However, the word is clear. It is contradictory to claim intimate relationship with God and then hate our fellow man. If we were intimate with God, we would clearly understand that God IS love. Whoever does not love does not know God. However, whoever lives in love, lives in God and God lives in them. In simpler terms, know God and know how to love like God.

This love the bible speaks about, agape love, cannot be given in the flesh, but we must be led by the Spirit of God. This love is understood through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we experience closeness with Christ, we begin to see people the way He sees people. We begin to love the way He loves. As a matter of fact, we cannot love without God. It’s impossible. That’s why it’s essential to have relationship with Him.

Jesus would not mandate us to do something we do not have the means or capability to do. Through the Spirit, we are able to express true love to all that we encounter. As Christians, we must submit to the leadership of the Spirit and check our flesh at the door.  Jesus said this, ”A new command I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you must also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Grow in God. Grow in Love. Decrease in Self. Decrease in Hate.

Scripture References: Rom 8:1-17
                                    1 John 4:7-21
                                    John 13:34-35

God is Deeper than Color!

There was an article posted on Associated Press entitled, Small Ky. Church Votes against Interracial Couples. The article speaks about a church deciding to vote against allow interracial couples to become members of their church.  Interracial couples are not prohibited to attend services, however, membership or being used in worship or other church functions is prohibited. You are free to read the article at your leisure, but the question posed here is; is this biblical? Is the church following the will of God?

As I reflect on those questions, I recall scripture reference: Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (Message):

“Don't marry them: Don't give your daughters to their sons and don't take their daughters for your sons—before you know it they'd involve you in worshiping their gods, and God would explode in anger, putting a quick end to you.”

Though on the surface the scripture appears to be racially motivated, it was actually spiritually motivated. During this time God was against interracial marriages because people from other races were idolaters or worshippers of false gods. This command was to protect the Israelites from potentially straying away from God.

A similar scripture reference is 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (Message):

“Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

"I'll live in them, move into them;
I'll be their God and they'll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God.
"Don't link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself. I'll be a Father to you;
you'll be sons and daughters to me."
The Word of the Master, God.”

Again, this reference also is a form of protection for those who are in Christ and believe in God. Neither reference is referring to skin color, but to relationship with God. God warned his people not enter into relationship or a contractual agreement with people who do not share the same faith.

Christ came so that we all may have relationship with Him. His ultimate sacrifice was not based on our sex, creed or color. God created us and knew exactly what He was doing. God views us from inside out. It is the heart God is concern with, not our skin color. These bodies that we have are perishable, but the spirit is imperishable. Our spirits are what we should be concerned with. Our spirits are eternal.

It does not make sense to prohibit relationship based on color and I do not see any reference in the bible in which God restricts relationship based on anything other than being unequally yoked spiritually. John 1:9-13 says (NIV):

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Those who share a love for Christ, regardless of color, are children of God. So when it comes to marriage, if both share the same faith; both are walking in the light; then I believe based on the word of God their marriage will be blessed by God. God is a deep God and he does not deal with us on a surface level. He deals with us on a deeper level; a spiritual level. In regards to spiritual matters, color is irrelevant.

 

References:

Deut 7:3-4, 2 Cor 6:14-18, John 1:9-13

Link to the article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45499321/ns/us_news/t/small-ky-church-votes-against-interracial-couples/#.TtgeuH056D8.facebook