Thursday, July 5, 2012

Let Go Of Your Past Mistakes

They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves, for their hearts were hard and they did not believe. -- Mark 6:52

It’s not easy to believe Jesus. Really. It isn’t.

I know I’ve just ruffled a few feathers and caused a few folks to doubt my own beliefs. But go back and reread that first sentence. I didn’t say it wasn’t easy to believe in Jesus. I said it wasn’t easy to believe Jesus.

How do I know this? Because of all that baggage so many of us are caring around day after day, week after week after week. God forgave us years ago but we can’t seem to forgive ourselves or get beyond a past we can’t change.

We know we are all sinners. And we know God uses everything for the good of those who love Him, including those awful things we’d rather keep hidden in the darkness. We know we’re forgiven. We do. Well, sort of.

We believe God forgives others. At least, most of us do. There are a few who think God only forgives certain people for certain things. These are the people who, 20 years after the fact, still bring up sin or mistakes or bad choices. It’s as though by reminding us of our pasts they can take the focus off of themselves and their own sins.

It’s not so easy to forgive ourselves. Our minds -- fueled by Satan -- continue to replay all those things we’ve done or those things we didn’t do. We should’ve taken that job for less money. At least, we’d have a job and not the continual threat of unemployment. We should have insisted he go to the doctor instead of waiting for the heart attack that killed him. We should have managed our finances better instead of believing that the good times would always be good. Maybe if we’d spent more time in church and less time at the beach our child wouldn’t be addicted to drugs right now.

And on and on. But the thing is we can’t move forward to a better tomorrow because we’ve let today get mired down in the past. It’s like somewhere deep inside we really don’t believe God has forgiven us so we hold on to our unworthiness rather than letting Jesus’ blood wash us clean.

It’s amazing that we can get anything done for the weight of all that baggage we’re carrying around. What would happen if we just put it down? How would our lives change if we placed those bags at the cross -- really and truly -- and started walking forward without them?

Wow! The relief is amazing, isn’t it? The burden is gone. Our hardened hearts are made new again and we can embrace today with renewed vigor. We are forgiven. We are chosen. We have indeed been remade into new people. Jesus’ blood gave us another chance. Take it and rejoice in the grace He has extended to all of us.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Belief Brings Action

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;" -- Isaiah 58:6-8a

We want. We want. We want. We're always asking God for something. You know we are. We want Him to protect those we love. We want Him to provide for our physical and emotional needs. We love Him and He loves us. We want so many things but what are we doing for Him?

Sometimes we get so caught up in what we call that John 3:16 thing that we don't think beyond it. We are saved by faith in Jesus. We don't have to do anything. Indeed, we can't do anything to earn it. God gave it to us freely. Jesus died on a cross and took our sins on Himself so that those who believe can live eternally in heaven. End of story. Sort of.

See, I don't understand how anyone who truly believes in Jesus and has accepted His gift can fail to live his/her life differently. Something changes inside a person. The Holy Spirit takes up residence. Things look different. You are different.

So we look out and see someone who is hungry and we share what we have so they can eat too. We help build houses. We visit with the elderly and care for the children in our midst. We use the special gifts God has given us to further His kingdom, to let others see Jesus living inside us.

We aren't called to simply believe and get on with life as we knew it before. We are called to use that belief as a springboard to help God's people. Our people. Because we are all God's children, whether we believe or don't. Whether we're rich or poor, American or not. We are part of the same family. How can we not care?

Many people claim to know Jesus, to have faith in Him as Lord and Savior. But when that faith fails to show itself in our actions, that faith lacks sincerity. It brings up the question of whether we believe only with our mouths or whether we believe with our hearts. Think about it.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Expect Miracles

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

-- Matthew 21:22

I'll been repeating this verse to God frequently. I seem to always start it with "you said." I think He would probably like to remind me that there's nothing wrong with His hearing. He heard me the first time. And the second. And the third, fourth, and all the other times. Just in case, I've included a few other Bible passages about healing and belief.

This one is important. It is something only prayer can heal. Oh, I know. The doctors have done all they can. There's still a chance for surgery. It's not a good bet though. Frankly, I'm putting my faith in Jesus. He is steady and sure. He said to believe and I do. He can and will heal this little guy.

I figure I've probably insulted a few people who have prayed for healing for their spouses and children, They've begged God for more time with parents or siblings. They've asked for cancer-free bodies and limbs that work once again. They feel insulted that I would expect God to heal one small dog when He didn't heal them or their loved one. Sorry, but I do.

I realize that sometimes God says no. He might say no this time. Sometimes He has something even better in mind and we must go through this valley to reach that distant peak. I also know that God sometimes gives us miracles that are more spectacular that anything we could imagine. I'm expecting a miracle.

Oh, when it comes, there will be those they claim credit. It was the medicine or the aloe vera or just the body healing itself. Nope. God alone. Even the veternarians, strong Christians that they are, will agree. Thanks God. Thanks. For being who you are. For loving us where we are. And for healing one small dog with a really big attitude.