The Victory of Forgiveness

So much of my life has been spent with the on-going struggle of forgiveness. If you are like me, it's hard...it's tough to forgive. Have you ever been wronged to the point that forgiveness to that person isn't on the radar? Have you ever seen injustice in such a way that you are convinced forgiveness will never be issued? Take a look with me at the Gospel for just a minute. I pray you can see a glimpse of what has rocked my world today.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15, ESV

From this powerful passage in the middle of the Sermon on the Mound, I see the beauty of the Gospel. What is the Gospel? The Gospel teaches us that God the Father in His grace has forgiven sinners and has welcomed them into the perfect righteousness of His Son. When you take a deeper look at the Greek word for forgive in this text, you will discover the word aphiemi; which translates, "to throw away, to leave alone, to send off." This is DEEP. This is HUGE. The Gospel teaches us that in our own sinfulness and rebellion, God the Father has rescued us by throwing His just wrath off of us and onto the cross of His Son. It goes far beyond words. It goes far beyond, "I'm sorry" or, "I'll never do that again." 1 John 1:9 can offer more joy in that truth. Get the picture? Forgiveness is defined by the Gospel.

With that...let's return to our dilemma. If you are like me, there are people in my life that I struggle to forgive. Left up to my own actions, I won't forgive them. Left up to the Gospel, forgiveness to others offers the genuine definition of God's love for sinners. Take a few minutes today and think about someone in your life that you are struggling to forgive. Got that person in mind? What should you do next? Think about the Gospel. Think about the definition of forgiveness. Are you willing to first look at your own fallen state and what God has done for you? Now, are you willing to throw off your own perceived right to show your own justice to that person? We are not God. He is just. We aren't. Forgive by throwing off your right to get even. Forgive by hurling off your temptation to speak ugly. Forgive by sending off your anger with intercession prayer. Forgive by walking in His Gospel today.

I have found forgiveness today only by what God has done, not by what I've attempted to do. What a victory.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Dave

I'm praying for you...and I really will

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people" - 1 Timothy 2:1, ESV

Have you ever promised someone that you would pray for him or her? Have you failed in that promise? It seems the honest thing we should do as followers of Jesus is to either fulfill our commitment in intercession prayer or not make the promise to begin with. For example, what if when someone asked for prayer, we replied with, "I really hurt for you, but I since I won't remember your request, I can't promise you I will pray." What a horrible thing to say in church! Well, at least it’s honest. You see, we tend to treat prayer like a passing gesture instead of a divine privilege. May this blog post today encourage you to pray...and really pray.

Paul wrote this verse with great passion to his young friend in regards to biblical worship. 1 Timothy 2 is immersed with a Spirit-led guideline for worship. It should come to us at no surprise that prayer begins the section. Without pure and honest prayer, how can we truly worship? How can we believe and trust in the greatness of God if we refuse to speak to Him? Friend, we have a divine privilege each day to enter into His presence through Christ, our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). I believe it's time we quit treating prayer like a nice comment or gesture and handle it with graceful privilege. As the bride of Christ, let us pray for one another with sweet intercession. May our prayers for our leaders not be for our selfish conclusions but rather God's sovereign plans. May our promises to pray for others not be forgotten.

Why did I write on this today? Well, last night after the Wednesday night movie time with my students, I walked into the student center to grab a bottle of water. As I was walking into the room, some students were circled together near the stage. My intern was on the stage with a mic in his hand praying. I grabbed the bottle of water quietly and proceeded to the door. Right before my hand touched the door, I heard my name lifted up in prayer. I stood near the door for almost a minute as my dear friend prayed for me. The sweet intercession brought sweet peace to my soul as I drove home after a long day at the church.

I was prayed for that night.

Pray. Pray for someone today. Make a promise to pray for someone else...and really do it.

Dancing in the bath

I just finished helping Brooke with Eden's bath. Giving her a bath to end the day is a treasure. Her beautiful blue eyes light up like a Roman Candle as soon as she touches the warm soapy water. She often giggles as we sing to her songs involving the bath experience. At the conclusion of each bath, Eden dances. She stomps her feet in the soapy water and smiles in artistic fashion as the water splashes over the sink. We laugh. We enjoy the moment. The last thing on my mind is to clean the dance. Well, I think of it after the girls leave me with bathroom cleanup. During the moment, it is a treasure.

In 2 Samuel 6:16-23, King David danced with unceasing joy as the ark of the Lord was brought into the city. He couldn't help but dance in the presence of the Lord. His joy was contagious. We need more people with joy like this. We need more bath dancers. Sometimes, we get so boggled down with the trivial and less concerned with the joyful privileges. I sometimes find myself in the shows of Michal. Her prideful, legalistic, and self-centered life was offended by the celebration of the King. She was more concerned with the opinions of the important people in that day. We tend to become like Michal. We want a religious routine without the dance. We want the controlled rather than the freedom.

Seeing Eden dance in the bath tonight brought a gentle note to the score of worship in my soul. I want to live my life with such joy that each step I take in the presence of the Lord is like a baby dancing in the bathtub.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Dave

Where is the Love?

The title may be only connected to a song by the Black Eyed Peas. Beyond that, take the title to an application of 1 John 2:7-11. Inside the children of the Living God...where is the love? With that simple question, take a few moments and read 1 John 2:7-11.

"Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." - 1 John 2:7-11, ESV

Last night, I challenged my students to look at LOVE from 1 John in 3 ways. For the sake of this post, we are going to quickly examine those ways.

1. Loving others is Biblical. Looking at verse 7, you can't help but see the beauty of the Old Testament. We love others...because it is commanded in the Word. Love is Biblical. Beyond being an emotional drive that many believers share...it is a command. For example, we see love between brothers in Genesis 45:15 as Joseph showed humble forgiveness to his wicked family. God's love was clearly displayed that day as the second highest in command offered undeserved love. In 1 Samuel 20:17-42, Jonathan loved David. This brotherly love was unique for Jonathan had every reason in the world to remain bitter against the one that would take the throne that all paperwork would claim was his. Finally, in Psalm 133:1-2, we see how beautiful it is when brothers...when the CHURCH shows love to one another. This must come from leadership first. Leaders...where is the love?

2. Loving others reflects Christ. In verse 8, we see that IN HIM, the commandment is new. In Christ, we are radically challenged to love in a way that His grace is offered. John writes, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34). How can we reflect Christ? Beyond just preaching His great Gospel, we must live and love with His great Gospel. Are you reflecting the love of Christ? Are you showing His Gospel? Are you loving others in a way that you are showing them the darkness of their sin? Are you walking in the light in such a way that you daily acknowledge your own sinfulness and grace beyond measure? In reflecting Christ...where is the love?

3. Loving others shows genuine salvation. Finally, in verses 9-11, we see the fat challenge in the text. Hating others negates the love that we claim we have in our souls. How do we hate others? Gossip, slander, neglecting needs, neglecting the Gospel, failing His commands...comes from a lack of love. It's interesting to note that in the Greek, the idea for "stumbling" comes from the word skandalon, which literally translates, "a stick for bait, a snare, an offense." Some of the most common excuses I've heard in students not wanting to be in the church are centered around the treatment received from believers. Friend, we must knock down the walls of religious comforts and open the door for the Gospel. We must display love to the world in order to reflect the validity of the Gospel practically lived out in our lives. May we love with the Gospel. May we live in the Gospel. I like what John Ortberg writes, "Living in grace, remembering grace, keeps love alive. But losing touch with grace, forgetting that I am loved because God is a gracious God, is a love-killer." Where is the love?

I close with a song I played for my students last night.

By Our Love - Christy Nockels

Brothers, let us come together
Walking in the Spirit, there's much to be done...
We will come reaching, out from our comforts
And they will know us by our love...

Sisters, we were made for kindness
We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us...
We will come reaching, with a song of healing...
And they will know us by our love!

The time is now
Come Church arise...
Love with His hands
See with His eyes...
Bind it around you,
Let it never leave you,
And they will know us by our love...

Children, You are hope for justice,
Stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above
You will be reaching, long after we’re gone,
And they will know you by your love!

Where is the Love?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Imperfect striving for the Perfect

We are imperfect people. Looking through the Scriptures, I see passages that challenge us to strive for perfection. For example, in Matthew 5:48, the writer challenges us with, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." When you take a glance at this verse, it should automatically eliminate the tendency to say rubbish like, "I'm not perfect, I'm just forgiven." I hear many believers say that and it makes me sick to my stomach. We should never make excuses for our complacent faith and worldly conformity with placing between us the factor of forgiveness. How can we express biblical forgiveness if we don't walk in the LIGHT of that forgiveness? (1 John 1:7).

With that being said, we are imperfect people striving for perfection. Paul writes, "but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away."(1 Corinthians 13:10). This verse comes to us after a rich overview of various Spiritual gifts and the core of love in the body. Imperfection can be seen within the limitation of various giftedness. A perfect body of perfect believers would have perfect gifting for a perfect result. Let's face it, we aren't perfect. I work with a staff made up of various gifts. One staff member is a details person. This person will want details and answers to many questions. Another staff member is more laid back and goes with the flow of the day. One staff member has great people skills while another could work all day with contact with a person. Some can serve. Some can teach. We are all imperfect sinners saved by the matchless grace of Jesus. However, what makes the days more exciting is to strive and anticipate the Perfect. What brings unity to the church is the acknowledgment of the imperfect and the desperation for the Perfect. When the Perfect comes, there will be no need for spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts bring about the global mission of God. One day, when we receive the Perfect presence of His everlasting joy, we won't need to bring about His mission...because His mission will be complete.

When we come to the other side of glory, we will worship the Perfect One. We will be in His Perfect presence for all of eternity. Let us not live today with imperfect complacency but rather joyful anticipation for His presence.

Soli Deo Gloria!

What does God see?

What does God aspire in you? In other words, what do you believe is something He desires in His children? I've wrestled with this question this week. I know He longs for worshippers to be centered on Him. I know He longs for His children to crave His Word. I know He longs for followers to preach the Gospel of His Son to all nations. I know He longs for us to walk in His Spirit and not by our fallen flesh. With that being said, would there be another area He aspires? I see a powerful truth in Isaiah 66:2 that we must digest. Take a moment and chew on this verse.

"All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word. " - ESV

For the sake of this post, we are going to camp out on the last half of the verse. God aspires, God LOOKS to those that are: humble, contrite, and tremble at His Word. This is rich. How are we reflecting that in our own lives? How are we showing humility? How are we contrite? How are we trembling at His Word? For the remainder of this post, let's look at these three categories separately.

1. Humble. God looks to those that are humble. Literally, those that acknowledge that they are poor and afflicted...and are in desperate need for His daily grace. If we were to live in such a way that we recognize our fallen nature and need for His divine favor, it would radically change the way we live. This truth hits me like an 18 wheeler. How can I live with humility? How can I not look to the faults of others and overlook my own? Humility places us in such a place that we are far more dependant on Him and less dependant on our own fallen state.

2. Contrite. God looks to those that are contrite. What does that exactly mean? Literally, those that are stricken. This connects us to humility. We are stricken daily in this fallen world. Looking at a "conservative" news website that many Christians favor led me to a contrite spirit. I'm not a political person. Some of my brothers seem to be driven by politics like teenage girls obsessed with Justin Beiber. Being contrite in Spirit literally can be in our stricken awareness of the depravity around us and our desperation for God to rescue. Do we live with that kind of urgency?

3. Trembling at His Word. God looks to those that are trembling at His Word. Literally, those that find fear and reverence in His Word. This attitude comes from a heart of meditation and an intentional desire to daily know Him more. I find that the only way I can know Him more is to study His perfect Word. This involves humility, because I come across passages almost weekly that destroy my way of thinking. I long for the day that the church and her leaders will tremble at His Word more than their personal agenda. How important is His Word to you?

In your life, what does God see?

Some thoughts to offer you on this quiet Friday morning in my office. Have a great weekend ahead.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Dave

And Your Praise Goes On....

Last night, I had the joy of praising my Lord and my God with my CrossPoint students. The night began in similar fashion. We met at the same time, in the same room, for the same purpose; corporate worship. We had an announcement video, a few songs, a message, and a response song. When I looked at my watch, the time was about 7:30pm when the "program" was over. I'm not a big fan of that word, but that is what Wednesday nights can tend to be. When we dismissed the students to go home, some stayed. Instead of talking and socializing, they stayed to continue worshipping. The Praise continued well after the "program" was over.

His praise continues. Last night, I saw a dozen students stay in the worship center, in their own separated spots, worshipping their Savior. Without a spotlight on themselves, they worshipped without shame. The praise continued well after the program was over. Song after song was played in the room as the students responded with great joy in the presence of their Lord. The praise continued well after the program was over. Seeing many of their facebook statuses when they got home...I saw more praise. His praise continues.

Psalm 150

Praise the LORD.^a

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

2Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

4praise him with tambourine and dancing,

praise him with the strings and flute,

5praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

Don't wait for programmed time to praise your Lord and your God. His praise continues. Even when we don't have a song to sing, His praise continues. Even if we don't have a sermon preached, His praise continues. Even if we don't have a scheduled time to join together, His praise continues. I find this song by Chris Rice most helpful. Read it and may the praise in your heart continue...

The moon is high and the sunset fades
The lullabies have all been sung
We’re tuckin’ in another day
And stars appear now one by one
But the stillness moves and the silence yields
And not a single beat is lost
You can hear the chorus in the fields

Taking up where we left off
And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You guard us while we dream
Past the stars they fly, Your praises fill the sky
‘Til You wake us with the dawn
And Your praise goes on

Now bring your warmth, O morning sun
Chase the stars and the moon away
And wake us with your brightest song
And add our voice to your refrain
Now rise up everything that lives!
Flap your wings and leap for joy!
Oh forest lift your arms and sway!
Clap your hands you ocean waves!

And Your praise goes on, rising to Your throne
Where You bless our toil and play
Through the clouds they rise, Your praises fill the skies
‘Til the setting of the sun
And Your praise goes on
And when my final breath You lend
I’ll thank You for the life You gave
But that won’t mean the praises end
‘Cause I won’t be silenced by the grave!

And Your praise goes on
I’ll be runnin’ to Your throne
With every nation, tribe and tongue
To Your arms I’ll fly
I’ll gaze into Your eyes
Then I’ll know as I am known
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on
And Your praise goes on