Forgive the Person, Not Their Actions..Craig Denison Ministries

 Forgive the Person, Not Their Actions

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most difficult and important aspects of the Christian life. The Bible clearly commands us to forgive others. God longs to fashion us into his likeness that we might model the love we’ve been shown to a world with no concept of mercy. He longs for us to offer grace and forgiveness to the undeserving as we have been offered grace and forgiveness when we were undeserving. May you be filled with courage and boldness to offer forgiveness to those in desperate need of grace. And may God’s love shine through as you enter into your calling as a minister of reconciliation.

Scripture:“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” >John 13:34

Devotional:

One of the most important distinctions to make when learning about the practice of forgiveness is to forgive the person, not their actions. Playing the sequence of someone’s wrongful action over and over again in the mind is a terrible hindrance to obeying God’s command to forgive. When we continually reflect on how wrong an action was, our thoughts act as a blockade between our hearts and God’s heavenly compassion.

John 13:34 tells us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” God forgives us because he loves us, not because our actions are ever worthy of forgiveness. He forgives us because he values restored relationship with us over our sins. He forgives us because he is filled with love for us, not because our acts of confession demand forgiveness from him. And he says, “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” When Peter denied Jesus three times, he offered him relationship and another opportunity to serve him. When Thomas was filled with doubt, Jesus offered him his nail-pierced hands. And when we sin against God, he offers us forgiveness that we might receive the full depths of his love again.

Luke 6:37 says, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Our job is not to judge or condemn the actions of another. The only one worthy of passing judgment is already seated on his throne. God alone is perfect and able to offer sound judgment. He alone carries the burden of being King of kings and Lord of  lords. And he continually chooses to show mercy and compassion on the undeserving. He continually offers forgiveness to the unworthy and sinful. He continually runs out to meet us in our sin, like the father of the prodigal son.

Showing compassion for the wrongful actions of another is not easy, but it is necessary. If we are to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness the way God commands, we must look to heart of the person and receive God’s compassion rather than taking up the seat of judgement. If we are to love one another as God has loved us, we must value relationship over worldly justice and give grace where none is deserved. May we obtain access to the heart of our heavenly Father today as we seek to love as he loves. May we be filled with compassion for others after reflection on the overwhelming grace we’ve been shown. And may we be filled with courage and strength to reach past a wrongful action and forgive the person from our hearts.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s command to “judge not.” Allow Scripture to renew your mind to the important command to forgive others.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” >Luke 6:37

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” >Proverbs 17:9

2. What action has been deemed unforgivable in your mind? Where are you struggling to forgive a person because of the way they’ve wronged you?

3. Ask God to give you the ability to look past a wrongful action to the heart of the person so that you might have compassion and offer forgiveness. Spend time in his presence removing yourself from the seat of judgment so that you can offer grace and forgiveness.

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:10-14

When we offer forgiveness where none is deserved, we are placing our hope for justice and reconciliation in God rather than ourselves. When we offer mercy we look to heaven for all things to be set right and renewed rather than looking to this fallen and folly-filled world. There is no perfection in this world. There is nothing we can do to completely rid this world of its inherent depravity. So we must look to our heavenly Father to work and heal as he wills and follow in his footsteps. We must carry an atmosphere of grace so that heaven can meet earth through our lives and draw people into the fold of God. May we have the strength and perspective to place our hope in heaven and offer mercy, compassion, and forgiveness to the wrongful, destitute, and proud.

Extended Reading: John 13

Clinging to God’s Promises..ZAHRA FROM IRAN

 Clinging to God’s Promises

ZAHRA FROM IRAN 

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures … Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me …” Psalm 23:1-2,4 (ESV)

Editor’s Note: In Iran, anyone who follows Jesus must do so in secrecy. House churches are always in danger of being raided, and Christians who lead and participate in a house church live at risk of arrest and imprisonment. The country makes it difficult for any Christians to work, go to school or have a normal life. Zahra and her family were forced to flee Iran after she and her husband were imprisoned for their faith.

I grew up in a Muslim family. So when my husband, Ali, became a Christian, I was hesitant.

But I began to see a change in him.

Throughout our marriage, Ali had been a drug addict. Time went by, and he wasn’t taking drugs anymore. He was kind to me and to our children. That’s when I knew Jesus is real. Since then, we have been living with Christ at the center of our lives.

But I will tell you that decision comes at a high price. Becoming a Christian in Iran is seen as a betrayal to your parents, your country and your religion. My family quit talking to me. Our friends refused to be around us. I knew the path I chose. And I also knew it was just a matter of time before the Islamic Revolutionary Guards would be at our door.

The day my husband and I were arrested, I was taken to a tiny room with no lights or windows. There was nothing in the room — my hand became my pillow.

Every morning at 2 or 3 a.m., they would take me upstairs for interrogation. They wanted me to tell them names of Christians in our ministry. When I refused to answer their questions, they held me in solitary confinement for a week. It was horrifying. When you are inside a place like that, you know you are no longer in control. They can do to you whatever they want.

The only thing that strengthened us was prayer — nothing else. Only God can go to those dark places and dungeons and be strength for His children. Because without God’s power, no one can tolerate such darkness.

After we were finally released, we stayed in Iran for two years. Every day, they harassed us. Each time Ali got a job, they would tell his employer to let him go. Our sons could not attend school. Every day, I worried when Ali went out that he would not come back.

We had two choices: to stay and suffer or to leave our country. We left everything behind — our family, our home, all that we owned.

Looking back, I can see how God was with us through everything. The day we left Iran for Turkey, they checked our passports on the train, but the man didn’t stamp mine. I realized we were caught again. Being arrested would mean five more years in prison. But God was with us. Right then, some passengers began quarreling, and the man had to leave. Another train attendant came and stamped my passport.

Through all our sufferings, Christ never leaves us. His promise is true. It was true for the people Jesus talked to when He was on earth, and it’s true for us today. Even when no one is beside you, know that God is. He will never forsake you. That’s why Psalm 23 means so much to me.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures … Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me …” (Psalm 23:1-2,4).

And because His promise is true, I can forgive my persecutors through His strength. I can honestly say that I love them with all my heart. As Jesus said of those who put Him on the cross, “they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34a, ESV). I want to tell even my persecutors that Christ Jesus is Truth and that they can have Him, too. As a family, we always pray for them.

For us, Jesus is life itself. In prison, my interrogator asked me if all our suffering was worth it. He said, “Imagine I am not your interrogator and you are not a convict. Knowing all this would happen to you, would you pick Jesus again?”

Without hesitation, I told him, “Yes, absolutely.”

Lord, thank You for promising never to leave me. Would You help me to remember Your words and to cling to them when I’m stressed, afraid and confused? Please surround Zahra and her family with Your peace to tolerate the hard days, and open up new ways for them in Turkey. Be with my global Church family members who risk their lives to follow You no matter what. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The Authority of Our Message..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Authority of Our Message

Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Kings 17:1

King Ahab's first thought after encountering the prophet Elijah may well have been, Of all the nerve! Just who does this guy think he is? Bursting onto the scene out of nowhere, Elijah confronted Israel's wicked king with a message that would soon disrupt life throughout the entire region.

The validity of the revelation rested with the Source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who believed what God told him; he could boldly speak with authority because he knew and trusted the One who gave the message. He spent time alone with the Lord and listened as he stood before Him.

Our Father doesn't speak to us in exactly the same manner that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the process of receiving His message hasn't changed. It begins with being alone in His presence and involves listening as He speaks through His Word. But it shouldn't end there.

Prophets had the responsibility of telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we are to share with others what we learn from God's Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His treasures to us so that we can share them with others.

Begin each day alone with God in His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes from Him.

What to Do If Someone Is Caught in Sin..Jennifer Waddle

 What to Do If Someone Is Caught in Sin (Galatians 6:1-2)

By Jennifer Waddle

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)

Turn on the nightly news or scroll through social media longer than five seconds and you’ll probably feel your blood pressure begin to rise. Arguments, opinions, and derogatory statements are filling every inch of the media these days, and for many of us, it’s making us mad!

We long for the days when people minded their own business, worked hard, and got along. (Were there really days like that?) Tired of the back-and-forth banter that goes nowhere, we find ourselves in the middle of the mess, wanting the madness to stop.

Then we remember Paul’s words to the Galatians when he said, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”

Gently? You mean, we are supposed to be gentle and kind when dealing with people caught in sin? But what about putting people in their place? Isn’t that a noble thing to do? After all, wouldn’t the world be a much better place if people lived like we think they should?

Paul went on to say, “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”

The clear message of humility cannot be mistaken in Paul’s words. Yet, humility is the last thing we are thinking about when something makes us angry. As we watch sin grow rampant in our nation and across the world, we feel helpless to stop it. And we wonder how much longer we’ll be able to bear it.

If you’re feeling frustrated at everything going on around you, I encourage you to take some time away from the noise. Turn off the television and social media, and get away for a period of time. Commit to prayer and Bible study, asking God to soften your heart towards those who are caught in sin.

Then, as you return to the “madness,” seek out one person who is struggling and approach them gently. Share with them the ways you used to struggle and how Jesus delivered you. Try to approach the current times with a heart of compassion and wisdom instead of anger and opinion. I believe this is the way real change will happen.

Yes, there might be times when God calls us to do or say some hard things. When those moments come, His Spirit will equip us with words and actions for the moment. But for now, let’s be voices of wisdom, love, and hope. Let’s exchange anger for reason, restoring people back to who they were created to be.

If you find yourself saying, more often than not, “It makes me so mad,” I encourage you to read the first ten verses of Galatians chapter six. It will put things into perspective and remind you to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

A Prayer for the School Year..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer for the School Year

By Emma Danzey

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

There is a lot of understandable anxiety and fear in the approach to the upcoming school year. Faculty, teachers, students, and parents all have questions, desires, and hopes for safety after numerous tragedies last year. If we are not careful, our sinful imaginations can soar and create more and more worry. Today, we are going to take the time to pray for the upcoming school year. We can take great hope and peace in knowing that it is God who goes before us, He is in control, and we can fully trust in Him.

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord,

You are on the throne. You are still reigning. You care about every person on this planet. You have a plan even in the midst of our fears. We ask Father that You would go before this school year. We pray for preparedness like never before, for unity, and for safe learning environments for children. We ask that You would transform the hearts and minds of those who are dealing with emotional struggles. Please give hope, peace, and joy to those who are suffering from fear, anxiety, and depression. Jesus, You are the Healer, would you heal the thought processes of those who are overcome by worry? Renew their mind with Your Word. We pray for courage and great faith to move past fears and continue the calling to education that You have given to so many.

At night before the first day of school and the many nights to follow, we pray for great sleep. We pray that all would be well rested to take on the days. You say in Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Help parents, teachers, and students to be able to truly find rest in You because they know that they are in Your hands. We pray against the work of the enemy to weary and tear down. We pray instead that You would restore and renew.

We pray against distractions and constant worry. We pray 2 Thessalonians 3:16  “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” We ask for this from the Lord of Peace to give peace to all parents, teachers, and students at all times and in every way. Remind them that You are with them always.

God, we acknowledge that there is terrible sin and evil in this world. We pray that the plans of the enemy would fail. We ask that anyone with any ill intention would be suspected and caught before ever taking action. We pray that You will give awareness to those around potential threats and protect the innocent. We ask that school administrations would take security and safety seriously. We pray for them to have great discernment and wisdom when making decisions that are best for their buildings. Please help the church body to reach out to their communities and stand alongside them as these decisions are being made. Help us to encourage in any way and to love them well. Bless any security officers at schools with shaper eyes and clarity of safety plans. Help them to be a symbol of protection and safety to the students.

We pray that this would be a time when many people look to You and receive Your gift as Savior. Isaiah 12:2 says, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” May this be the battle cry of those in schools. May they remember that You are their salvation, they are secure in You, and they can trust in You and not be afraid because You are their strength and defense. In Your powerful and trustworthy name, we pray, Amen.

The Power of Tears..Rev. Kyle Norman

 The Power of Tears

By Rev. Kyle Norman

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.” (John 11:33-35)

It is the shortest of all the verses found in Scripture. In English, the verse amounts to two words; in its original Greek, the statement is 16 characters long. Jesus wept. This small verse, tucked in the middle of a much larger narrative, is expansive in meaning. It reveals the fullness of the incarnation.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus wept? Jesus’ tears seem particularly confusing given that Jesus already knew that he would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus proclaims this fact to the disciples. “Lazarus is fallen asleep,” Jesus says, “I am going to wake him up” (11:11). The death of Lazarus will bring glory to Jesus and reveal himself as the inaugurator of eternal life, the one in whom resurrection is accomplished. Jesus even declares this truth to Martha. In plain and uncomplicated language, Jesus proclaims, “your brother will rise again” (11:23). The raising of Lazarus is part of God’s plan. And yet, standing before Mary and Martha, seeing their tears, and hearing their sobs, Jesus openly weeps.

The raising of Lazarus is miraculous and triumphant. Yet to truly understand the dynamics of this account and the intimacy revealed in Christ’s own tears, we can’t rush past the sadness of Mary and Martha. We must wilfully remain with the sisters and witness their confusion, their anger, and their grief.

Consider for a moment that Lazarus, the sisters’ only brother, had become so sick that the two send word to Jesus. Lazarus is not sick with a routine cold; he lies on death’s door. His sisters know the diagnosis. So, despite the threat to Jesus in returning to Judea, they send word to the only person who will be able to provide healing to their brother. And because they have a personal relationship with Jesus, they probably expect Jesus to hurry to their aid.

But that’s not what happens. Jesus hears the news but remains for two more days. Yes, Jesus declares to his disciples that he will raise Lazarus from the dead, but the two worried sisters know nothing about this conversation. All they experience is silence. 

Have you ever experienced anything like this?

Lazarus slowly gets weaker. The sickness begins to take over, and eventually, that which Mary and Martha prayed would not happen, that which they wanted Jesus to prevent, occurs. Lazarus dies. Their world is shattered. Making matters worse, Jesus has still not responded to their request. 

With that deafening silence playing in the background, the sisters go through the needed steps of burial. They cover the lifeless body in spices and ointment and wrap him in cloth. They receive guests into their home and receive condolences from friends and family. At some point, they take their brother to the tomb and roll the stone in front of the entrance. All is complete, their brother is gone. 

And for each of these steps, the Lord has not yet appeared. No indication is given that Jesus is even concerned with Lazarus’ condition. Eventually, four days after they have buried their brother, Jesus walks into town. In response, each sister says the same thing: “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died!” (11:21,32)

Can you understand their confusion, their hurt, their anger? The two sisters probably question the reason for Jesus’ delay. Did Jesus know the situation? Did they do something wrong? Was Lazarus not loved enough? And with those questions in their mind, and the agonizing journey of grief and mourning they have been on, Mary falls at Jesus feet with tears flooding her vision. 

The heartbreak is visceral, the grief is real. But so is Jesus’s love. Jesus’ love for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus is so strong that he cannot remain unmoved. He adds his own tears to theirs. Jesus weeps.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Jesus’ love for us is so pronounced that he cannot stand unaffected by our lives. Our grief and sadness touch his heart. When we cry out to him in frustration or confusion, Jesus lends his tears to our own. This is the power of the incarnation. Jesus is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). The incarnation means that there is no part of our lives, no matter how dark or ugly, where Jesus is not present.

It can be easy to think that faith makes us unaffected by the hardships of life. When we think this way, we can easily assume that tears of struggle or frustration, mourning or sadness, is somehow contrary to the belief in the resurrection. Faith means we remain stalwart and smiling amid all of life’s ups and downs, right? Wrong. 

Faith means that we live our lives with Jesus. It means that we do not cover over our feelings, our thoughts, our doubts, or our laments. Faith means we believe in the love of Jesus so strongly that even the raw and unkempt feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or grief become directed towards the one who cries with us. And the incarnation means that Jesus is there. Jesus does not separate himself from those feelings, he enters them; he shares them.

So, weep away. Cry aloud. Mourn, shout, and scream. Express your confusion and frustration. The Lord is with you.

Further Reading:

• John 11:1-44
• Romans 8:38-39