All in Forgiveness
Once we accept God as our creator and the God of our lives, and we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, we receive by grace the gift of eternal life, but is that gift absolute? Is it a firm commitment on God's part? how about on ours as we receive it? The discussion of topics such as this can either divide us or bring us together.
How do you pray when you're broken? What do you pray for when you have nothing left, and your life is a shambles? How do you lift your spirit high enough that you can face God with your desires? We are often embarrassed when we have totally failed in life; we cover ourselves in leaves and hide as Adam and Eve did. Is that really what we should do? Is our faith that shallow? Has our God given us up to our despair?
In Nashville we had a total eclipse of the sun this year (2017), and although it took a while to reach the totality, or period the of time in which the moon totally covers the sun, the totality itself lasted for two minutes or less. Quite often the period of time God shines His light of opportunity in our lives is short as well. If we miss the chance to see or to act upon the calling which God presents us, we may never experience that opportunity again.
Are you prepared to pray? By that I mean, are you prepared to pray and receive the blessing of which you speak with God? So often we come to the Lord unprepared; living one life and praying as if we lived another.
Do you have an inkling of worthiness? Do you feel that you are owed forgiveness or that in some way you deserve to receive Jesus? If so then you are not prepared for His coming or the arrival of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist knew what it felt to be unworthy.
Are there things in your life that distract you from focusing on Jesus Christ? You know the ones... an unresolved argument that worries and distracts you during prayer, a problem with your home or automobile that nags at you when you sit to read and study scripture, or perhaps too many planned activities in your day that tempt you to place them before worship. Is this your life?
Would you recognize the voice of Jesus if you heard it? If He called your name would you know it was Him that called you? Probably not, but if, in an instant, He revealed all the moments in which He came to you in your life you would realize it was Him.
What do we do when our memories fail us? Are there repercussions to forgetting? What are the certain things that Jesus asked us to remember? Are there particular things that God asks to be remember as well? Does He ever forget? Should we?
Are you holding back from opening up to God until you have perfected yourself? Are you waiting for the time when you have become perfectly pure in thought before you seek to have a relationship with Jesus? If so you will never know them. They understand what and who you are, and yet they love you despite of it, let God begin the process of reshaping you.
Are you a slave to instinctive reflexes... this is a recipe for instant sin, and an avenue for our inner person, the fallen man, to bypass our faith and intellect as it erupts from our mouths. Conquering this ancient creature within each of us requires chains that only the Holy Spirit can bind with.
Have I placed Jesus first and foremost as my teacher? What is the danger in this? Why is it more important that we put Jesus the redeemer before Jesus the teacher?
Are we seeking God? Do we search day and night for Him? Praying? Reading scripture? Well stop for a moment and be still. You don't need to search for Him... He is all around you! When we realize this truth, then all that is left is to get to know Him. To understand and establish a relationship with the almighty, and His Son Jesus.
The gift of salvation through God's grace is totally of God, and has nothing to do with our earning it... but does that relieve us of all responsibility?
I am thinking about what it means to turn the other cheek this morning. Is it a sign of cowardice, bravery, or something else entirely? I think it might be the latter. Although it could be construed as a sign of weakness, or that it takes courage to stand and not retreat, it also demonstrates great faith to resist being provoked, or enticed to sin.
Am I working hard for the kingdom? Are my efforts encouraging others in their faith? Do I merely work in a physical sense and neglect the spiritual? These are the questions I encourage each of us to consider this morning as we prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The coming of our Lord is imminent, are we preparing ourselves, and those around us, for that moment?