Tag: the words of Jesus Christ

The Power of Forgiveness

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

     “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17: 3-4)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    Those who desire God’s mercy must also be merciful; and those who yearn for His forgiveness must not withhold forgiveness from others. Hatred, anger, and resentment have no place in the heart of a believer. Unresolved bitterness creates division between God and His disciples. Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Everyone who truly seeks to follow the Lord must also attempt to imitate Him. And so, forgiving those who repent without restriction or exception is necessary. God’s mercy is immeasurable, and those who practice unconditional forgiveness are splendid examples of His limitless love.

In 1956, five American missionaries flew into the jungles of Ecuador in an effort to make contact with a hostile and war-like tribe of Indians known as the Waodani. All five men were speared to death. Their families were devastated by the loss; in a single day, many wives were widowed, and a number of children were orphaned. And yet the remaining family members didn’t seek vengeance or cry out for justice. Instead Elizabeth Elliot (who had lost her husband), and Rachael Saint (who had lost her brother), remained obedient to God; unconditionally forgiving the murderous tribesman. Elizabeth and Rachael continued evangelizing to the natives. Eventually the Waodani people invited them into their community. One by one, the members of the tribe began committing their lives to Jesus Christ. The men who had perpetrated the murders expressed great joy in knowing that they had been forgiven. The women eventually formed lifelong friendships with the individuals who had killed their loved ones. This unconditional forgiveness has given birth to the Waodani Church; a church that is currently thriving. They have abandoned their spears and picked up their bibles; going so far as to evangelize the other neighboring tribes (at great personal risk to themselves.) This amazing work of God was made possible because two women were willing to forgive without restriction.

Forgiving other repentant souls is not a suggestion, a recommendation, or a request; it is a command; a command that heals both the forgiver and those who are forgiven. Is there anyone you are angry with? Has someone caused you great pain? Forgive them and move forward. Search your heart and ask God to give you the courage and the strength to let go of your resentments and bitterness. If you forgive others, God will fill your heart with joy and peace, and you will walk in eternal fellowship with the almighty and everlasting Father.

“Lord Heavenly Father, search our hearts and reveal to us any hidden resentments we may be harboring. Give us the strength and the courage to forgive those repentant sinners without restriction. May we love as You have loved. May we forgive as You have forgiven; and may we always do what pleases You. 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!

Who Moved the Stone?

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?”  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!  (which is to say, Teacher).  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God.’” (John 20: 15-18)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Upon arriving at the tomb, Mary discovered that the body of Jesus was missing. She was so grieved that she began to weep. She had journeyed toward the grave that day expecting to find the lifeless body of her beloved Lord; but instead, she encountered the living God. Mary embraced Him with such ferocity that He urged her to loosen her grip (His return was not permanent; He would soon ascend into heaven and take His place at the right hand of the Father.) Mary was instructed to deliver this news to the disciples who were in hiding as they feared for their lives. Having seen the risen Lord she became the first messenger of the resurrection and newness of life.

Throughout history, many, like Mary, have gone to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus; and like Mary, they too have found an empty chamber.  Every generation has had its share of doubters; people who believed they could do what no one has ever been able to do […] disprove the resurrection of Christ.  In the early 1900’s an English professor and journalist named Albert Henry Ross set out to investigate and refute the claims that Jesus rose from the dead (being a journalist he was skilled in examining the credibility of sources.)  As the evidence mounted, Albert was faced with an awesome truth; the accounts matched up; the archaeology was sound, and all of the witnesses were credible; Jesus Christ had in fact risen from the dead.  So instead of writing a book that disproved the resurrection, he entitled his book, “Who moved the stone?”  In the book, Mr. Ross, a new convert and faithful believer, sought to bring what he had discovered to the rest of the world.

The work that began with Mary on that third day has continued throughout every generation and persists even today.  Anyone who goes looking for Jesus Christ in a dusty tomb is looking in the wrong place.  He is very much alive, and is sitting at the right hand of God.  Both Albert Ross and Mary Magdalene set out to find Jesus; both of them discovered what they were looking for. Anyone who looks for Jesus will find Him alive; and because He has conquered death, we too can have eternal life.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we believe that Your Son has risen from the dead and that He is seated with You in Your Kingdom. Through His death and resurrection may we also have eternal life.  We desire to carry this message of hope to others and to boldly preach the truth in love. Give us the strength to spread the gospel to the entire world.  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!

Being Prepared for His Return

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

      “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when He comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for Him.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes […] But understand this:  If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming he would not have let his house be broken into.  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Luke 12: 35-37, 39-40)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

      In ancient times, Jewish weddings were relatively prolonged engagements; often lasting for many days.  The guests would recline on pillows, feasting day and night; often falling asleep beside the table.  The length of the celebration was uncertain; it could end at one in the morning, or three in the afternoon. As a result, when the master of a household attended a wedding, his servants had to be prepared for his return at any moment.  Thus, Jesus uses this parable to illustrate His second coming.  After ascending into heaven, He promised to return; yet provided no specific day or hour. He could return tonight, a month from now, or in a hundred years. And so His servants must eagerly await his arrival every second of every day.

     Many years ago, prior to my conversion, I was engaged in a life of sinful disobedience.  I lived alone, in an apartment paid for by my Dad.  He would occasionally pop in to make sure the apartment was clean and in proper condition.  One evening, while hosting a drunken bash, things got out of hand.  We smashed beer bottles in my living room.  An exterior window was broken, and another party-goer broke my car window with an empty beer bottle.  Somehow the toilet clogged and overflowed as well; leaking into the apartment beneath me.  I eventually passed out; thinking I could clean up in the morning without anyone noticing.  However, early the following day, I was rousted from my sleep by the shouts of an angry man. “Get up,” my dad yelled in my ear!  I sprang from the mattress\ in utter shock.  I was embarrassed, ashamed, and filled with fear.  I hadn’t expected him; I never thought that he might witness the carnage of my drunken behavior.  He stood by, patiently watching as I cleaned up the entire apartment.

      Much like my Dad, the Lord is coming at an hour when we least expect Him.  We must always be ready for his return.  Those who obey the teachings of Jesus Christ are prepared to meet Him.  If we continually love and serve others, then when our savior arrives, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant […] enter into the joy of the Lord.”

      “Lord Heavenly Father may our hearts be filled with the expectation of Your return.  Reveal to us any areas where we are being selfish, rather than selfless. Convict our hearts and give us the strength to repent.  May we always be giving, kind, and obedient; never missing an opportunity to serve You and our fellows.  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!