"For we will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ways so that the banished one will not be cast out from him." 2 Samuel 14:14
King David committed the most grievous of sins against Uriah the Hittite by committing adultery with his wife and then murdering him. Despite forgiving and preserving his life, God informed him that trouble and strife would never leave his household. This involved the rape of one of his daughters by his son and the murder of that son by another. Absalom, the murdering son, fled the country and stayed away for three years. The bible reveals that David was both hurt and angry about what had happened but in his heart of hearts longed for the return of his boy. The law and popular opinion prevented him from making this happen until a conspiracy was hatched between his right hand man and a hired woman to demonstrate how he should forgive and restore his son (2 Samuel 14:1-13).
Beloved, we are all guilty of sin. At some point, in some place, in some way, we have all committed acts that are outside the will and way of God. Though forgiveness is available and provided in the all important spiritual realm, we are likely to have suffered for those transgressions in the physical one. When we are guilty, suffering and hurting, we have a tendency to retreat within ourselves and wrestle with our sins alone. When we have been victimized by others, there can be the tendency to place the perpetrators into emotional and physical exile even though a part of us wants to let it go.
In either case, the words and actions of God are clear. Whether we are guilty or victims, God performs and commands preservation and restoration. Though the Hebrews were forced to wander for forty years due to their willful and obstinate behavior in the wilderness, His plan was that they would see the promised land and they did. Though their unfaithfulness in the promised land was punished by exile, His plan was that they would be restored to Jerusalem and they were. Though you may suffer the earthly consequences for your sinful words, thoughts or deeds or that of others, you are God's own and He has prepared a place for you.
David received the message and, despite his son's unquestionable guilt, preserved his life, restored him to his home and ultimately to himself. God, despite David's unquestionable guilt, preserved and restored him. Should not you and I do likewise in view of the preservation and restoration God has made available to us?
Increasing in faith,
Lee
Showing posts with label Restoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Restoration. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Thursday, January 12, 2012
You Can Come Home-1/11/2012
"Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities." Jer 31:21
Despite being chosen of God, the children of Israel were a rebellious people. God rescued them from slavery but when things became uncomfortable, they wanted to go back. Through His commandments He gave them a perfect pattern for living, but they wanted to go back. He showed them the promised land, but they wanted to go back. Once in the promised land, he told them what to do to be prosperous but they wanted to go back.
Beloved, does that not sound like many of us today. We want all of God's blessings but few of His parameters. Though He has saved our souls, we spend considerable time looking longingly at the habits, activities, associations and yes, the sins, from which we came. Sadly, there are those who indeed go back.
God sent Jeremiah to His people to warn them of the consequences associated with their rebellious attitude. They would be overtaken by other nations, held captive, made slaves and lose their precious land, homes and possessions. It would be devastating but deserved punishment. But even before it all inevitably happened, God also instructed Jeremiah to inform them that it would not last always. In short, they would be lovingly welcomed back to all that God had supplied and more.
There is no encouragement to violate the commands of our Lord or to be rebellious against Him in any way. It is important to know, however, that He loves us more than we have the capacity to understand. He withholds due punishment through His grace and mercy for a time that vastly exceeds what we would supply to those who wrong us, yet His justice must prevail concerning the unrepentant. The consequences are more about getting our attention than punishing. God desires our love and obedience and sometimes finds it expedient to allow us to experience the alternative. He lovingly tells us, "Remember the journey you took away from me. Set up markers. For these will be your way back to me." It is said that you can never go home. With God you can.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Despite being chosen of God, the children of Israel were a rebellious people. God rescued them from slavery but when things became uncomfortable, they wanted to go back. Through His commandments He gave them a perfect pattern for living, but they wanted to go back. He showed them the promised land, but they wanted to go back. Once in the promised land, he told them what to do to be prosperous but they wanted to go back.
Beloved, does that not sound like many of us today. We want all of God's blessings but few of His parameters. Though He has saved our souls, we spend considerable time looking longingly at the habits, activities, associations and yes, the sins, from which we came. Sadly, there are those who indeed go back.
God sent Jeremiah to His people to warn them of the consequences associated with their rebellious attitude. They would be overtaken by other nations, held captive, made slaves and lose their precious land, homes and possessions. It would be devastating but deserved punishment. But even before it all inevitably happened, God also instructed Jeremiah to inform them that it would not last always. In short, they would be lovingly welcomed back to all that God had supplied and more.
There is no encouragement to violate the commands of our Lord or to be rebellious against Him in any way. It is important to know, however, that He loves us more than we have the capacity to understand. He withholds due punishment through His grace and mercy for a time that vastly exceeds what we would supply to those who wrong us, yet His justice must prevail concerning the unrepentant. The consequences are more about getting our attention than punishing. God desires our love and obedience and sometimes finds it expedient to allow us to experience the alternative. He lovingly tells us, "Remember the journey you took away from me. Set up markers. For these will be your way back to me." It is said that you can never go home. With God you can.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Forgiving Yourself Because You Are Forgiven 11/10/2011
"He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep." John 21:17
As any of us might imagine and certainly feel if we were in his place, Peter was wracked with guilt over what could easily be the second greatest sin of all time (the "original sin" being the first). He had denied his Lord and Savior not once or twice but three times. You will recall that he even cursed while doing it. Having had his Lord restored to him after the greatest miracle known to man, he was forced to endure what he felt was the shame of having to profess his love for the the Lord not once or twice but a third time.
Beloved, Peter need not have felt this way. Rather than being persecuted by the Lord, he was actually being restored by the Lord. If any among the apostles were a leader, it was surely him. Though he was arguably closest to Jesus and therefore committed the greatest seen by denying him, he was now being given the ultimate forgiveness. More importantly than this, however, is Jesus' implicit message that Peter needs to forgive himself. It can clearly be seen that Jesus is over it (if in fact he was ever bothered by it) evidenced by his charging him to shepherd the flock. Peter was not in a position to wallow in his own misery. Jesus had work for him to do.
Forgiving ourselves can be among the most difficult things in life to do. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We all have skeletons in the closet. We all have things we regret. If we allow those things to weigh us down and keep us in guilt laden misery, we will never be able to do the things with which we have been charged by our Lord. Whatever it is that you have done and repented of, know that Christ has forgiven you. Forgive yourself. Get to work.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
As any of us might imagine and certainly feel if we were in his place, Peter was wracked with guilt over what could easily be the second greatest sin of all time (the "original sin" being the first). He had denied his Lord and Savior not once or twice but three times. You will recall that he even cursed while doing it. Having had his Lord restored to him after the greatest miracle known to man, he was forced to endure what he felt was the shame of having to profess his love for the the Lord not once or twice but a third time.
Beloved, Peter need not have felt this way. Rather than being persecuted by the Lord, he was actually being restored by the Lord. If any among the apostles were a leader, it was surely him. Though he was arguably closest to Jesus and therefore committed the greatest seen by denying him, he was now being given the ultimate forgiveness. More importantly than this, however, is Jesus' implicit message that Peter needs to forgive himself. It can clearly be seen that Jesus is over it (if in fact he was ever bothered by it) evidenced by his charging him to shepherd the flock. Peter was not in a position to wallow in his own misery. Jesus had work for him to do.
Forgiving ourselves can be among the most difficult things in life to do. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We all have skeletons in the closet. We all have things we regret. If we allow those things to weigh us down and keep us in guilt laden misery, we will never be able to do the things with which we have been charged by our Lord. Whatever it is that you have done and repented of, know that Christ has forgiven you. Forgive yourself. Get to work.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Friday, September 16, 2011
A Little Help From Our Friends-9/16/2011
"My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20
The Beatles are famous for penning a lyric that states, "I get by with a little help from my friends." This points to the fact that none of us exists on an island or in a bubble. By necessity, we interact with and depend on one another. This is true of people that we know as well as those with whom we may not be acquainted. In Christian relationships, the importance of this increases exponentially. Why? Because we are talking about nothing less than our relationship with God and our eternal souls.
Beloved, God placed us in each other's lives for a reason. As siblings, we are to be a family. As His family, we are to care for one another in as near an approximation as we can to how He cares for us. We need to both celebrate and sorrow with one another. We need to fellowship in the glow of having Jesus in common. We need encourage one another. And sometimes we need to save each other.
Like the lost sheep that has wondered away from the flock, Christian family members sometimes go astray. It is at times like these when a little help is needed. Gal 6:1 famously says that "If a man be overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness." In so doing, we prevent one who has been won from being lost again. Not only is it important that we provide this loving and compassionate service to our brothers and sisters but we truly need to count on the same from them if and when we find ourselves going a bit astray.
When we realize that any of us at any time is subject to losing our grip on constantly living a godly life, a little help from our friends is more valuable than gold and is as critical as breathing. Once restored to the fold, we can pick up the Beatles' next bit of wisdom, "I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends."
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
The Beatles are famous for penning a lyric that states, "I get by with a little help from my friends." This points to the fact that none of us exists on an island or in a bubble. By necessity, we interact with and depend on one another. This is true of people that we know as well as those with whom we may not be acquainted. In Christian relationships, the importance of this increases exponentially. Why? Because we are talking about nothing less than our relationship with God and our eternal souls.
Beloved, God placed us in each other's lives for a reason. As siblings, we are to be a family. As His family, we are to care for one another in as near an approximation as we can to how He cares for us. We need to both celebrate and sorrow with one another. We need to fellowship in the glow of having Jesus in common. We need encourage one another. And sometimes we need to save each other.
Like the lost sheep that has wondered away from the flock, Christian family members sometimes go astray. It is at times like these when a little help is needed. Gal 6:1 famously says that "If a man be overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness." In so doing, we prevent one who has been won from being lost again. Not only is it important that we provide this loving and compassionate service to our brothers and sisters but we truly need to count on the same from them if and when we find ourselves going a bit astray.
When we realize that any of us at any time is subject to losing our grip on constantly living a godly life, a little help from our friends is more valuable than gold and is as critical as breathing. Once restored to the fold, we can pick up the Beatles' next bit of wisdom, "I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends."
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Restoration-DD 3/23/2011
"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted."
Gal 6:1
We all know what it is like to make a mistake. Unfortunately, many of us know what it is to have that mistake publicized, thereby exposing us to ridicule and public shame. It seems that we are far too willing to expose others for benefits that are at best, questionable. It is as if we somehow take pleasure in seeing others humiliated. Even if we are not the source of the exposure, many play the role of a grape on the vine.
To be clear, sin should be avoided at all costs. We know that God is not pleased with sinful behavior of any type. We also know, however, that we serve a forgiving God. In this case, blatant and premeditated sin is not the issue under consideration. This is about times and situations that a brother or sister might be overtaken by sin. This indicates that it is not habitual, but more accurately, a mistake.
Beloved, as Christians, we have a responsibility in this situation. Our role can never be to stand idly by and allow our brethren to be captured by Satan. We must move to protect members of the body, sometimes from themselves, as we would a member of our own family who may find themselves caught in activities and habits that are detrimental to them. This is not to say that we should hide sin or even ignore it, but that we should usher them back into a righteous walk through rescue, reproving and restoration.
While we are rendering this aid, it should be in a manner that we ourselves would have aid rendered. In other words, it is not to be made light of or publicized, but dealt with discreetly and with love. The scripture so importantly says that any of us could find ourselves in the same situation. Let us not find cause to add to the shame and pain of a brother or sister. Let us instead cover them with love and restore them.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Gal 6:1
We all know what it is like to make a mistake. Unfortunately, many of us know what it is to have that mistake publicized, thereby exposing us to ridicule and public shame. It seems that we are far too willing to expose others for benefits that are at best, questionable. It is as if we somehow take pleasure in seeing others humiliated. Even if we are not the source of the exposure, many play the role of a grape on the vine.
To be clear, sin should be avoided at all costs. We know that God is not pleased with sinful behavior of any type. We also know, however, that we serve a forgiving God. In this case, blatant and premeditated sin is not the issue under consideration. This is about times and situations that a brother or sister might be overtaken by sin. This indicates that it is not habitual, but more accurately, a mistake.
Beloved, as Christians, we have a responsibility in this situation. Our role can never be to stand idly by and allow our brethren to be captured by Satan. We must move to protect members of the body, sometimes from themselves, as we would a member of our own family who may find themselves caught in activities and habits that are detrimental to them. This is not to say that we should hide sin or even ignore it, but that we should usher them back into a righteous walk through rescue, reproving and restoration.
While we are rendering this aid, it should be in a manner that we ourselves would have aid rendered. In other words, it is not to be made light of or publicized, but dealt with discreetly and with love. The scripture so importantly says that any of us could find ourselves in the same situation. Let us not find cause to add to the shame and pain of a brother or sister. Let us instead cover them with love and restore them.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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