Why responding to God quickly is so important

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 54:1–57:14 
Ephesians 6:1-24 
Psalm 70:1-5 
Proverbs 24:8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The second part of our Verses for Today is wonderful, isn't it? We are told that we can turn away from sin and back to the Lord and He will completely forgive us. Further, we are told that the Lord will do so because He is compassionate - He really cares for us!

But, the first part of our Verses for Today should cause us to sit up and pay attention.

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;" (Isaiah 55:6)

Friend, this verse clearly tells us that there is a limited time in which we can return to the Lord. There is only a certain amount of time in which "he may be found" "while he is near."

Clearly, from this verse (and others that say the same thing), we realize that there may be times when we cannot return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks say "no" to the Lord so many times that their heart becomes calloused to Him. They have completely shut down the Spirit's work in their life (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So, they will no longer feel a desire to return to the Lord.

Sometimes, folks grow into old age and dementia sets in. They can no longer return to the Lord because their mind is no longer cooperating.

Sometimes, folks can get so locked into a sin that to get out would be so painful and the consequences so dire that they are essentially entrenched in that lifestyle.

Friend, if you are in sin and God is calling you back into a love relationship with Him, then repent and return today. Right now! Because there may come a time when repentance is no longer an option.

To be sure, your salvation is not on the line. If you are one of God's children because you have put your faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, then you are Heaven-bound. But, your life will have little to show for it and there will be far few rewards to receive on the day of judgment if you live apart from Him. But, even greater still, you will have foregone the ability to enjoy your God while you are on this earth.

So, repent and return, friend, while God is calling. Don't wait. Do it now.

Disagreements don't have to separate us

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 6:1–7:20 
Acts 15:36–16:15 
Psalm 142:1-7 
Proverbs 17:24-25

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today is not found in today's daily reading. Yet,  in our Bible reading today, we see where it was desperately needed.

In Acts 15, we read that Paul and Barnabas wanted to go back to visit some of the cities in which they had previously preached. They wanted to see how the believers were fairing. But a very serious argument occurred as they were selecting who would go with them.

Acts 15:36-40 "After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.' Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord."

Barnabas, the perpetual encourager who was always willing to overlook offenses, wanted to take John Mark. Paul, a man who was more task-oriented than people-oriented didn't want John Mark to go. This young man had deserted them on a previous trip and Paul didn't want a quitter anywhere near him.

The argument got so heated that Paul and Barnabas separated. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul chose Silas.

Fortunately, Paul later recognized that he was wrong. Any apologies that may have been said are not recorded in Scripture. Yet, we see clear evidence that Paul eased up on John Mark and sought to affirm him rather than reject him. 

Just read these words penned by the Apostle Paul as he wrote his last letter before he was executed by the Romans. He asked Timothy to come to him soon and...

2 Timothy 4:9-11 "Make every effort to come to me soon ... Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry."

Did you see that last sentence? Paul not only wanted to see John Mark, he said that he was useful to him in ministry. Previously, he wanted to do ministry without him but now he was saying that Mark was a helpful associate in ministry.

Isn't it great to see that two men serving the Lord actually demonstrated in their own lives the kind of grace that they preached about to others? 

Oh, and by the way, Mark wasn't sitting on the sidelines waiting for Paul to affirm him. He was actively involved in ministry as he faithfully assisted the Apostle Peter and wrote the Gospel that bears his name.

So, from this, we can draw at least two applications to take with us today:

- We're going to disagree with others from time to time. But, it doesn't need to separate us. Recognize that since we have been forgiven and accepted by Jesus, we should extend the same acts of grace to others.

- We should not rely upon the affirmation of others to determine what we do for the Kingdom. While it feels good to be accepted by others, we are ultimately working to please our King. So, get busy in ministry regardless of what others may or may not think of you.

To forgive or not to forgive

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 15:25–17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 17:9 (NLT) "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

After well over a decade of counseling men and women, I am convinced that one of the biggest problems we all have is forgiving those who have wronged us.

God has placed within us a clear sense of right and wrong and a desire for justice when wrongs are committed. Yet, when we add to this our self-centered sin nature that tends to make ourselves the center of the universe, this contorts the matter. Instead of offering grace when an injustice has been done against us, we hold onto the offense. We refuse to let it go. We reflect on it in our minds until our heart rate increases, our blood pressure rises and our breathing becomes more noticeable.

But, when we look at unforgiveness as it really is, we come to see that it is dumb. I mean really stupid! Because, someone who refuses to forgive is essentially saying, "You have wronged me and I will continue to hold onto that memory until it works to destroy me."

That's where our Verse for Today comes in. It tells us that when we forgive others (implying that they have wronged us), then love is free to thrive in that relationship. We can move toward relational and emotional health. However, if we hold onto it, even the closest of relationships can be destroyed as it destroys us.

Friend, any pagan can love those who love them and hold onto offenses when they are wronged. If you are a follow of Jesus, you are held to a higher standard AND empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so.

So forgive those who have wronged you.

Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

God is faithful when we are not

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 12:20–13:34 
Acts 9:26-43 
Psalm 132:1-18 
Proverbs 17:6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 132:11-12 "The Lord swore an oath to David, a promise he will not abandon: 'I will set one of your offspring on your throne. If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I will teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verses for Today convey God's desire. In actuality, they were a promise.

God said that if David and his descendants lived in complete obedience to God's laws, then the royal line of David would continue to sit on Jerusalem's throne forever.

Well, it doesn't take a Bible scholar to realize that Israel is currently led by a Prime Minister and not a king. He resides in Biet Aghion and not Jerusalem. David's descendant isn't currently reigning on Israel's throne ... there is no throne.

So, when we read Psalm 132:11-12 carefully, we realize that it is a conditional promise. There were certain stipulations. If David and his descendants did their part, then God would be obligated to do His part. But, since David and his descendants did not do their part (they were disobedient), God was not obligated to put one of David's descendants on his throne forever.

But, God did anyway!

This is the nature of a gracious God!

He gives us good things even when we fail miserably to hold up our end of the bargain.

Even though David fell into horrible sin and his royal descendants continued to disobey God's commands, David's decedent will reign forever. God sent His Son, Jesus, born of the virgin Mary (a descendant of David - see Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38) to be the King of kings who would rule forever. The future Heaven that the righteous will enjoy includes a "New Jerusalem" (Revelation 21:1-2) and a throne upon which Jesus will reign.

So, the conditional promise in Psalm 132 was violated by men but graciously fulfilled by a loving God.

Friend, God is still the same. You will fail Him. You will sin against Him. You will stumble and fall ... daily. But, if you have been saved and entered into a relationship with Him, you have already been a recipient of His grace. And His grace toward you continues. Even when you fail, He is faithful. 

So, rest in His grace and faithfulness today.

The joy of God's forgiveness

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 30:11-31:18

Matthew 26:47-68 

Psalm 32:1-11 

Proverbs 8:27-32

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 32:1-2 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" 

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

(I've got the flu and so I'm not certain that anything I write would be worth reading. HA. So, I'm taking today off.)

The Seriousness of Failing to Forgive

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:22-23


BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to him and asked, 'Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?' 'No, not seven times,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven!'"


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

On Sunday mornings at Westside Baptist Church, I am preaching through the book of Hebrews. This past week, our text was Hebrews 12:14-17. It begins with "Strive for peace with everyone..." I noted that a refusal to forgive is a huge problem in our churches and, in my estimation, one of the two primary heart issues that results in the emotional problems that so many Christians are plagued with today.

In this morning's verse for the day, we see God's Word telling us once again that we must let offenses go. (We are reminded that God commands what is for our good: do what God says - no emotional problems.) We can't hold onto hurts. We must forgive even when the perpetrator remains unrepentant. In the rare case that someone actually comes to us and asks for forgiveness, we are obligated to do that even if they come back 490 times (70 x 7). But, if we are counting, we aren't forgiving.

The seriousness of forgiveness is found in the story Jesus told (Matthew 18:23-35) after these comments. He talked about a man who owed his king millions of dollars. As he begged his king for mercy, his massive debt was forgiven. Then this forgiven man went to someone who owed him thousands of dollars, a paltry sum when compared to the debt forgiven by the king. The debtor pleaded for mercy but was thrown into jail for the offense.

In this story, the point is obvious. Since the original slave was forgiven millions of dollars of debt, shouldn't he have forgiven someone who owed him only a few thousand dollars? When he had been forgiven so much, how could he refuse to forgive someone else of a much smaller debt? The injustice of this scenario is clear.

Only a moment's reflection is needed to show the even deeper truth: Since God has forgiven us of our massive sin debt against Him that required the crucifixion of His Son, shouldn't we forgive those who sin against us? After all, their offenses against us pale in comparison to how much we offended a holy God before He forgave us and saved us.

But, the story doesn't end here. Jesus said something else that grabs our attention as he brings his point to it's climax. When the king found out that the slave he had forgiven had refused to forgive someone of a much smaller debt, he responded...

Matthew 18:34-35 "Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 'That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.'"

The king would not have reinstated the original debt. It was impossible to repay before the slave was put in prison - being confined to prison would only guarantee that nothing would be paid back.

So, this "entire debt" and "to be tortured" must simply refer to the king's punishing his unforgiving slave until he learned his lesson. He had been forgiven all so he must learn to forgive others. Refusing to forgive only means that he will be sorely disciplined until he does.

If God's discipline took no other form, we know that those who refuse to forgive may end up with things like ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety disorders, and so much more. God has called us to live with an attitude of forgiveness - and it is good for us.

Jesus tells us that this is what our "heavenly Father will do to (us) if we refuse to forgive ... from our hearts." Since we have been forgiven of our massive sin debt against a holy God, it is completely unjust and evil if we do not forgive those around us who have wronged us.

Is it easy to forgive? Nope. In some cases, it would seem impossible. We've been hurt so badly that forgiveness seems wrong on every level, especially if we think that forgiving the offender will release them from consequences we believe that they deserve.

But, this is not our call. God is the Judge. He will make things right in His time and in His way. But, as we wait, we are commanded to live in perpetual forgiveness.

We will learn that as we do the difficult thing that God has called us to do, we will not be imprisoned and tortured by the emotional problems so characteristic of those who grow bitter as they refuse to forgive. God's commands really are for our good.

An unexpected road to freedom

Are you struggling with guilt or shame? Have you done something (or are doing something) that you know is wrong and yet cannot break free of it?

The very LAST thing we feel like doing is exposing our sin and weakness to someone else. Our mind and heart absolutely resists being vulnerable with someone else. 

Why? 

Because it sets us up for further pain. What if they look down on us? What if they condemn us? What if they cut us off? What if they share our sin with others?

These concerns are legitimate. But, to experience spiritual release and freedom, we have to embark into the ocean of uncertainty.

Listen to what God's Word says about this:

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed..." (James 5:16).

Let me tell you how this works (and I have seen it work over and over in my life and in the lives of others). 

When we humble ourselves before a trusted Jesus-follower and share our sin struggles, we are able to hear Jesus speak through them. 

Too often, we ask Jesus for forgiveness of our sin(s) but we struggle to receive that forgiveness because it isn't audible. We can't look in His compassion-filled eyes, see the seriousness of our sin, and hear Him say, "That's a sin I died for. You have repented of it. Of course you are forgiven. Go and sin no more." Since we can't see it and hear it (experience it), we may struggle to receive the forgiveness and healing that Jesus is offering to us.

Yet, when a Jesus-follower, who is serious about both holiness and grace, tells us that our sin is serious but so is Jesus' grace ("...where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," Romans 5:20), then we may experience that "moment" we need to break free of our sin with its shame and guilt. When they look us in the eye after we have told them of our sin (and our repentance to the Lord) and say, "That sin is serious but of course Jesus has forgiven you," that can be a profound moment that helps us break free from the chains of sin, guilt and shame.

So, are you struggling with feeling forgiven by God? Are you struggling with shame and guilt? Why not obey James 5:16, find a trusted Jesus-follower, swallow your self-defeating pride, and take the steps to move into a freedom and forgiveness you may have not felt in a very long time.

Sin distorts our ability to help others

Sin distorts our thinking. How? Here's one way ...

In my Bible reading this morning, I came across the story in Genesis 38 where Judah had sex with his daughter-in-law thinking she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. (Yep, the Bible doesn't gloss over anything. God tells us the good, the bad and the ugly.)

So, Judah committed adultery and thought no one knew about it. Three months later, someone tells him that his daughter-in-law, Tamar, is pregnant. (Remember, he doesn't realize that the child she is carrying is his.)

How does he respond to the news? He gets livid! He is furious that someone in his family has engaged in such sin!

Genesis 38:24 "About three months later Judah was told, 'Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.' And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned."

There is no grace at all in Judah's words. He's ready to wipe her out. Destroy her!

That's one way that we often think about others who are engaged in sin. When we have the proverbial beam in our own eye (Matthew 7:5), we often tend to deal very harshly with others who are in sin. Because we subconsciously want to get our mind off of our own guilt, we project it onto others, get angry and refuse to evidence any grace whatsoever.

Note to self: You don't want to be the one caught in sin by a legalistic hypocrite. You're going to get hurt and hurt really bad. They are dealing with the guilt of personal sin and they are going to project their anger onto you.

But, there is a second way that personal sin distorts our ability to see sin in others. When we have engaged (or are engaging) in sin we feel guilty. We feel like we would be a hypocrite if we pointed out sin in others. So, when we see someone caught in a sin (Galatians 6:1), we don't step in to help them get rid of the destructive choice they are making. We let it go. We look over it. We think: "No one's perfect." And sin continues.

I think this scenario plays out much too often in the parent / child relationship. Parents are all too aware of what they did as a child or young adult and so they let their children go down sinful, dangerous roads because they would feel like a hypocrite if they told their children to stop it. Or, they are presently involved in sin so, once again, they would feel like a hypocrite to expect their children to live to a higher standard than them so they don't address it.

Or, they may feel so guilty about what they have done or are doing that they come down hard, really hard, on their kids. They are unrelenting. They are merciless. And if their children ever had a sin struggle and wanted someone to talk to about it, their parents would be the very last ones they would consider.

So, the two ways that sin distorts our thinking when we see sin in others are: 

• law without grace (the sinner gets slammed) 
• grace without law (the sinner gets a pass)

Neither of these options are healthy or biblical. So we need to do ourselves and others a favor by taking our walk with Jesus seriously. We need to kill sin and pursue personal holiness first. Then we can correctly and compassionately help others.

Matthew 7:5 "You hypocrite, FIRST take the log out of your own eye, and THEN you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." (emphasis mine)