Forgiveness

Amazing Grace

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Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Singing the song Amazing Grace should be more than just a celebration of what we have received from God. Instead, it can be an opportunity to express the unlocking of God’s grace in our hearts in a way that makes it known to others: especially those who are hardest to love. It is easy to be gracious for those we like and who have blessed our lives. But it is even easier to make excuses for complaining about folks who have treated us badly. We forget that Jesus forgave us and loved us while He was nailed to the cross and we didn’t even know Him or care about Him at all. But grace means that when we are hurt by others God wants us to allow Him to pour HIs Calvary love out through us to them. Then, through the radical forgiveness of Jesus we can together experience and give God all the praise for His wonderful and truly amazing grace! I hope you might enjoy listening to us singing this wonderful hymn at Discovery Villages this past Sunday.

God Has Time For You!

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Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they 
do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 
Luke 23:34 KJV

During the long hours of the suffering of Jesus, He hung from nails driven through His hands and feet. Blood streamed down His face from the thorns that pierced His scalp. No one expected Him to do more than simply endure., but Jesus was busy with an amazing number of things. He was busy, not because He hoped to gain anything, but because He was moved by compassion for those around Him. During those six hours, Jesus promised the repentant thief who was dying next to Him a place in paradise and made sure that Mary would be cared for by His disciple John. Even in His agony, Jesus showed the world the power of the love of God, so much so that after He died, one of the soldiers who had crucified Him, came to believe that He was the Son of God. But of all the things Jesus did, none mattered more than His final prayer “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!”, and that prayer is still being answered today. If we are angry with the sight of children starving in war torn villages while dictators plan the next attack from their headquarters, remember that there is an even greater power than their guns and bombs. There exists today a stronger force far stronger than fear and hatred. When Jesus bowed His head and died, both friend and foe thought He was finished. But ever since His final breath escaped, the power of His forgiveness has been transforming our world, one sinner at a time!

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No More Regrets!

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For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

As I have grown older, one battle I often find myself in, is with letting go of regrets. Oh, I am fully convinced that Jesus has paid the price for my sins, and for reasons beyond my understanding has chosen to include me in His family. But when I look back at parts of my life, that were dominated by selfish actions and choices, I am filled with regret and shame. A few years ago, I turned down the invitation to my 50th class reunion, mostly because of regrets. But God has been working in my heart over this issue, and I thought I would share the hope I am finding with others who struggle with this issue. In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul speaks directly to our problem of regret and makes a differentiation between, godly grief and worldly grief. He says that our grief over our sins cannot be avoided. We must come to recognize that it was our sins that drove Jesus to the cross. Our wicked actions meant His beating, mocking, cruel crown of thorns and nails through His hands and feet. Anyone who simply thinks they may dance into God’s kingdom without passing through repentance, has entirely missed the gospel message. The grief that God intends will bring us to the cross, but it does not leave us there. God does not want us to live our entire lives engulfed by shame, instead He wants us to look up to the face of Jesus and listen to His voice, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus has forgiven all our sins and with them, every regret. God’s will is not for us to live consumed by regrets, but instead filled with praise, both in Heaven, and on earth. We will be far more effective witnesses of His love, forgiveness, and compassion if we release those regrets to God and show others that true repentance is God’s chosen pathway to life, not the place where He wishes for us to pitch our tents. How wonderful the depth, breadth, and height of the love of Jesus Christ! How beyond our understanding is His release from regrets and the loving purpose of His heart!