All in Forgiveness
This morning is Independence Day in the United States and as a citizen of such, I think about the significance of this celebration to me as an American. But what this leads me to is a deeper consideration of that day when I announced my personal independence from all but Jesus Christ... seeking to become a citizen of a heavenly realm... a Christian.
I am more than just a sinner in the general sense; I am a person who commits very specific sins. It is easy to make the open ended statement "I am a sinner", but God wants to deal with each of us regarding our specific sins. We are led to understand what our sins are when we stand in the presence of God.
Do I leave a smidgeon of discontent behind when I resolve conflict or forgive others? Am I truly a free man, unbound from sin, if the smallest speck of what brought it on in the first place remains? What does the Word say about doing God's bidding completely?
Carrying anger or hatred in us for long periods of time, that is my concentration this morning. Do we resolve issues quickly and move to forgive in a timely manner, or are we suffering as we carry that baggage day after day. What does God's Word tell us about this?
Being true to the Word of God while dealing gently with those who I come into contact with, as I spread the news of Christ's love and sacrifice. This is my concentration this morning; how to turn the heart of a failing individual without losing the patient in the process.
Am I a sinner? Am I leading a life of innocence, or seeking to be pure? Will God forgive me when I sin against Him? These are the questions I am asking myself as I contemplate sin in my life, and the world around me.
I fail in a certain regard almost every day. It is so hard for me not to judge the actions of those around me, and in this, if it were not for the Atonement of Christ, I would be lost. Seeing, and turning our noses up at sinners is just too natural for us.
There comes a point in our faith when we have given ourselves over to God, and we trust so completely in Christ, that the struggle for righteousness ends and our faith becomes as natural as taking our next breath. Is this what you seek, or do you fight daily with your nature in an attempt to walk the fine line between your earthly life and heaven... not becoming a resident in either place.
Who have we prayed for today? Does the heart of an intercessor live within us? Are we hoarding the atonement of Christ, or sharing its realization with others? These are the questions to ask ourselves this morning.
Do I believe in Christianity or do I believe in Jesus Christ? When we first come to faith we ask Jesus to come into our lives... where is our faith based today? Is it still in Jesus, or in the practice of Christianity? Let's take a few moments and consider our own lives and the faith we proclaim.
Does our judgement of others convict our own souls? Don't we ourselves feel unclean in our judgement of those around us? I can't help but think of the separation from God I have felt after judging another's righteousness. Have you ever felt removed in this manner?
June is the Month that most weddings occur, and since Ann and I just celebrated our anniversary I thought this would be a good time to talk about what is required to stay married. Will a marriage last, or is there a black cloud hanging over it? How do we approach conflicts between husband and wife? What happens when the world collapses on us?
Am I seeking the Lord as I should? Am I asking Jesus for the things that are right in the eyes of God? This morning I am asking myself these questions and seek to place Him foremost in my life as I pray and walk this world.
Am I ashamed to ask of God? Am I too embarrassed by my condition or tooashamed of my sin to reach out to Him for help? When should we bring our needs or our contrition before Him in prayer?
God never forsakes us, but this morning we will contemplate the fear of His abandonment. We will think about a particular time of doubt... the routine nature of our lives.