Forgive, Then Commune

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Colossians 3:12-13

Nestled alongside compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience is the challenge to forgive each other.  As Christians we live in a perpetual state of forgiveness because Jesus died in our place, and we forgive others because God has forgiven us.    

Do people who hold grudges and refuse to forgive think they are better than God?

When Christians gather around the communion table, forgiveness is an honored guest.  It would be haughty to share in that Holy meal, remembering our Savior’s death, burial and resurrection, with malice in our hearts.

We must perpetually forgive others and mend relationships before eating the bread and drinking the wine.  (How embarrassing it would be to choke to death on a wad of our own pride!)  Life goes down so much easier when we can feast on healthy servings of grace from one another.

Father God, impress on us the importance of forgiveness before we eat at your table.  We long for tender, forgiving, non-judgmental hearts and want to deal graciously with each other like you have always dealt with us.  Thank you for forgiving us, through Christ, amen.

Sandra Milholland
Abilene, Texas

CELEBRATE

On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.

Joshua 5:10

It may seem unusual that God’s people would celebrate death.  The Passover was a horribly, traumatic event, causing tens or, maybe, hundreds of thousands of deaths.  Before the Israelites were given their freedom from bondage, I can imagine the screams of anguish from the “unprotected homes” was difficult to endure.  Everyone wanted the carnage to end.  But, the Israelites want to remember.  Every year since, Israelite families have shared a meal and retold the story of the Lord’s Passover.  Knowing human nature, it is likely that over time the meal had become ritualistic.  The intent all along was for the Israelites to remember their escape from Egypt.  They were to remember God’s power and leading.  They were to remind each other to seek the Lord, as He is the only true God.  They should be encouraging each other to turn to the Lord with all their heart, soul and strength.

It was in this context that Jesus shared a Passover meal with his disciples.  Jesus, on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion, redefined the celebratory meal.  The familiar became new and, possibly, a little bit awkward to Jesus’ apostles.  The unleavened bread was now to represent Jesus’ body given as a ransom for the world.  The wine was now to represent Jesus’ blood soon to be shed as a cleansing, atoning sacrifice.  Once again… celebrating death.  The significance of this event is that in His death we find life.

Pharoah’s heart was so hard that he needed the shock of the Passover to allow God’s will to be done.  Likewise, our sin was so great we needed the death of a perfect sacrifice to free us from the bondage of sin.  It is through death we are saved.  This is the power of God at work and that is something to celebrate.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us remember and appreciate the gift of your son.  We believe he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and, consequently, we have eternal life through his death.  We praise you for your merciful kindness.  In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Carl Smith
Stephenville, Texas

A Lesson for a Lifetime

A few years ago a friend asked me, “If you could teach children only one thing about God, what would it be?”

Tough question.

I answered with the usual disclaimers.

My answer final answer?  
Grace!

Why grace?

Grace is the one thing that empowers discipleship. Children can (and should!) learn about holiness, righteousness, the sovereignty of God, the judgment and a number of other things that teach us about God and what it means to live in His will. But grace is the singular thing that keeps us stepping into faith every day.

We are wrapped in skin.  We sin.  We fall down.  We blow it.  

The reality of our frailty as human beings can (and often is!) overwhelming.

I think this is the number one reason why so many Christians simply throw their hands up and quit.  We equate failure with value.  “Are we loveable?” we ask.  “Nope.”  So…we check it in and live out our days wandering what “gospel, kingdom, hope, forgiveness” are supposed to mean on a practical level

I remarked to my friend that I am struck again and again with how many stories in scripture set before us the failures of God’s people BUT also show us God’s response to the same.    

The landscape of Scripture is covered with them.

And, these stories remind us that God wants us to love Him back.  He wants us to look to Him for strength and wisdom.  In our moments of failure He wants us to realize that He wants us – everybody – to enjoy His presence and love in the hereafter.

That’s the bottom line of Christ’s entry into human experience.

It’s the baseline of his ministry.

It is the bright thread woven through his teachings.

And, it is the bold declaration of his death and resurrection.

But do we remember that….really?

We need to.

Think about these scriptures this week:

Hebrews 2:17 – “Therefore, he had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 10:22 “ – …let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

We need to remember these truths about God and about our relationship with Him.

Do you remember?

Oh Father, thank you for your indescribable gift.  We are weak but you are strong.   Bring to our minds in our moments of spiritual failure that you love us and desire relationship with us.  Strike from our minds the slanderous statements that Satan assaults us with that can lead to despair and estrangement from you.  Help us to always look up knowing that you offer us through your son every help we need to draw near to you in wisdom, peace and strength.  Because of Jesus…Amen

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas