Making Amends

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JESUS SPEAKING

    “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23-24.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

  Human beings exist within complex social structures comprised of family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even complete strangers.  Our relationship with others is a reflection of our relationship with God.  When we sin against our neighbor, we also sin against the Lord.  If we desire God’s forgiveness, we must seek the forgiveness of our fellows. Jesus has taught us that we are to approach those we have harmed and ask for forgiveness; making restitution whenever possible. In so doing we will draw closer to the Lord. This commandment, known as ‘making amends,’ remains an essential Christian doctrine.

Many years ago, before becoming a Christian, I began working a 12-step program; a system designed to help drug addicts and alcoholics achieve sobriety. The creators of the first six steps were Christians; a gathering of believers known as the Oxford Group.  As a result, the steps were inspired by the teachings found in the book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians, verse 13.  After becoming a Christian, I discovered that Christ’s command concerning amends likely inspired the founders to create the 8th and 9th steps (a broadening of the restitution step created by the oxford group.)  The eighth step reads, “Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”  The ninth step reads, “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”  From 2005 until now, I’ve continued making amends to those I’ve harmed; making restitution and asking for forgiveness.

    Today, in order to move forward with God, we might consider delving into our past; making a thorough examination of our previous mistakes.  If we’ve stolen from anyone, we must pay them back; if we’ve lied, and those lies have caused hardship, we can return to them and speak the truth.  If we’ve mistreated others and created resentments, we must humble ourselves and request forgiveness. Making amends is an essential Christian practice.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, bring to our remembrance the names of those we have harmed; may we approach them and make restitution.  Give us the courage, the strength, and the humility to ask for forgiveness; that we might be reconciled to those who resent us.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Christians are Strange

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JESUS SPEAKING

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3: 6 – 8)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

The wind is an invisible force that can demolish buildings and uproot large trees. Yet the origin and destination of any significant gust is imperceptible. The Spirit of God is also invisible, yet it has the power to transform lives and accomplish the impossible. Those who accept the gospel receive the Holy Spirit and are born again. Their origin and eventual destination are clearly discerned; they come from God and will one day return to Him; their lives are changed in the most meaningful ways. Those who possess no knowledge of God are baffled by Christians; their behaviors are considered strange and peculiar. ‘Why be selfless?’ ‘Why serve others?’ ‘Why embrace honesty and integrity at the expense of profits and material possessions?’

In first Peter 1 verse 4 we read, “In regard to these (sinful behaviors), they will think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” Many years ago, after becoming a Christian, I worked as a sales representative for a local business. Around the holiday season, a delivery driver decided to give small calendars away to all the male employees. He entered my office and threw one of them onto my desk. Much to my dismay, there was a pornographic image of a woman on the front. I told him I didn’t want the item and gave it back to him; making it known that I didn’t look at pornography. He seemed shocked, offended, and even a bit angry. To him, my reaction was odd; my behavior was strange. In his mind all men enjoyed looking at pornography.

To those who are not saved, the manner in which Christians live is considered peculiar and strange. The ungodly are ruled over by their fleshly desires; they live to satisfy themselves now. They cannot see the end from the beginning; and so they embrace sin with enthusiasm. Still, in every generation there are Christians dwelling in the midst of the masses. They follow what is good and lasting; denying their fleshly appetites to satisfy God’s will. They are a light in the darkness.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are lost; may they see your good works and be driven to the foot of the cross. May they be reborn and embrace virtue, love, and mercy. Pour out Your Spirit into our hearts, that we might be used to spread the gospel and bring others to salvation. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Actions Matter

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JESUS SPEAKING

    “But what do you think?  A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’  He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.  Then he came to the second and said likewise.  And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir’ but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his Father?”  They said to him, “The first.”  Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that the tax collectors and the harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21: 28-31)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    Despite their numerous years of biblical study, many priests and religious leaders had failed to obey God by refusing to accomplish His will. They possessed a great knowledge of truth (wisdom), and yet it was never manifested in their lives. And so while the intelligent and well educated were refusing to follow God’s laws, many prostitutes and tax collectors were receiving salvation through Christ. These social outcasts possessed little knowledge of scripture, and yet what little they did possess, they chose to implement in their lives. The gospel is more than a feeling or a thought; it is an action.

   In the spring of 1862 a confederate Major General named ‘Stonewall Jackson’ fought a famous military campaign in a valley near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  His tactics were unorthodox and his troop movements unpredictable (he utilized speed and stealth to attack his union counterparts.)  Concerning speed, he reportedly marched his 17,000 men nearly ‘646 miles in 48 days’ (approximately 13 miles a day.)  Traveling at this furious pace, they met many natural obstacles (such as hills and streams.)  As the story goes, at one point they encountered a river too treacherous to cross.  Jackson told his engineers to draw up plans for a bridge; he then summoned his wagon master and informed him that they urgently needed to cross the river.  The wagon master began to gather together every rock, fence rail, and log he could find; before sunrise the next day, the wagon master approached General Jackson and said, ‘The artillery and wagons have crossed the river sir.’  General Jackson replied, ‘Where are the engineers, and what are they doing?’  The wagon master replied, ‘they are in their tent, drawing up the plans for the bridge.’

    Knowledge is useless, unless it is implemented to accomplish a task.  We are called to be ‘doers of the word, and not hearers only.’  The Christian life is full of action.  When God commands us to love our enemies, we must love them.  When He instructs us to give to the poor and needy, we must open our wallets (and purses.)  When we are directed to pray for those who persecute us, we must drop to our knees.  Keep the commandments of God and you will be blessed; obey Him and you will experience peace; follow Him and you will know joy; eternal joy; everlasting joy; joy without end.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength to live out Your commandments.  May we receive Your words and accomplish them.  May we be ‘doers of Your word and not hearers only;’ may our actions bring others to repentance and salvation, and may we love our neighbors without restraint or indignation.  We love You Father, we praise You and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!