Love Forgives..Craig Denison Ministries

 Love Forgives

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

James 2:26 tells us, “Faith apart from works is dead.” If we are going to experience the fullness of life offered to us through our faith we must be those who put our words into action. We must not profess to love God on Sundays and live as if he isn’t present, real, or good on Monday. May your faith come alive this week as you seek to be a doer of the word.

Scripture:“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Devotional:

We’re promised forgiveness from our Father because his forgiveness is offered in complete grace. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” We have done nothing to deserve the forgiveness God so freely lavishes upon us. God offers us forgiveness because he is love; it is his very nature. And as Jesus demonstrated through his death, love forgives.

Sin stood between us and God like a great chasm separating a wanderer from an oasis; and so great was the Father’s love for us that he sent his only Son that we might be justly forgiven. Jesus fully bore the weight of our sin. In doing so, he received the wrath of God on our behalf that we might be afforded restored relationship with our heavenly Father. He set aside what was fair for himself and chose to give grace. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Christianity is the only religion where salvation is based on grace instead of works. God, in his love, has laid before us a path founded on mercy, and he calls us to do the same for others. As the children of God, brought into his family solely by his grace, we must forgive as God has forgiven us. Colossians 3:13 says, “[Bear] with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, [forgive] each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Jesus modeled forgiveness perfectly in laying down his own life for you and me. In order for us to forgive others, we must be like Jesus and die to our own rights for the sake of the person who has wronged us. Forgiveness requires humility. It is a decision to offer unmerited grace because “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

Think about your own life for a moment. Who in your life do you feel has wronged you? It could be a small wound. It could be a life-altering sin committed against you. Maybe a parent left you. Maybe you were abused. Maybe you lost a job opportunity that should have been yours. Maybe it was a word someone spoke against you that hurt you. Whatever sin was committed against you, large or small, call it back to mind. Feel the injustice over it.

Now reflect for a minute on the sin of the world committed against God. The story of humanity is a fall from perfection because of pride. In every age thus far, man has chosen his own way over God’s and has thereby perpetuated the cycle of sin and destruction we live in today. God placed his judgement over the sins of all humanity, past and present, on the person of Jesus because he couldn’t take being separated from you and me. We have all been wronged, but no one more than God.Every day humanity turns away from God.

God weeps over what’s been done to you. He knows your pain because people wrong him every minute of every day. But still he chooses to forgive because there is no love without forgiveness. There is no abundant life apart from restoration of relationship. There is no joy for God or us when we harden our hearts and live for what is fair rather than what is good.

We aren’t called to forgive because someone deserves it. We forgive because love requires it.We forgive because abundant life requires it. Choose love today over your own sense of fairness. Choose to be like your heavenly Father and forgive those who have wronged you. Choose to be a doer of Colossians 3:13 and “[forgive] each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” You weren’t made to live with the weight of unforgiveness, so don’t bear it any longer. The Spirit will help you. He will give you the strength and courage to do what seems impossible. Spend some time in God’s presence today and forgive as he guides and directs you.

Guided Prayer:           

1. Meditate on God’s heart to forgive. Allow God’s forgiveness to be the foundation for your own.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” Psalm 116:5-7

2. Ask the Spirit who you need to forgive. Whether the wound was small or big, to whom do you need to offer grace today?

3. Forgive that person. Forgive them in your heart right now. If you can, set up a meeting with them to talk through what happened. The awkwardness or pain of the conversation will never outweigh the lasting peace you will experience from offering grace and forgiveness.

“[Bear] with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, [forgive] each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:13

Forgiveness is a process. But it is a process worth going through. Assess your heart immediately after you’ve been wronged. Go through the process of forgiveness instead of allowing the wound to be reopened time and time again. The French proverb says, “Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble.” It’s ok to be hurt. It’s only harmful if you write your wounds in marble and let them linger longer than they should. God has designed you in his image and has given you his Spirit. You have the strength to forgive. So choose love today and every day. Allow the Spirit to work in your heart, healing the wounds people and life have caused you through the wonderful gift of forgiveness.

Extended Reading: Colossians 3

When I Feel Justified To Be Mean..LYSA TERKEURST

 When I Feel Justified To Be Mean

LYSA TERKEURST 

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) 

I looked at the text message in complete disbelief. Why couldn’t this person see how insensitive and hurtful she was being?

I don’t know who made up the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Either they had nerves of steel or they lived on a deserted island with no other people. Because not only do words hurt me but they make me want to fight back and be mean too.

Have you ever had a situation with someone where you just knew you were right and they were wrong? Or at least you could make a really good case for your side of things?

Oh, how I have this burning need to state my case in these kinds of situations. It’s like an inner attorney rises up, desperate to defend my rights and get the other person to see things my way. This is pretty normal, right?

Yes. But normal doesn’t always mean good. Especially in light of Colossians 2:6-7, which reminds me, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

I should live rooted in Jesus’ teaching and overflow with thankfulness. The opposite of this is when I’m rooted in self-centered opinions and overflowing with grumbling. I need to let God show me how to see things from this other person’s side and gain a different perspective. In doing so, I will be strengthened and taught.

Colossians 3:12-14 reminds me, “as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (NIV).

My job isn’t to fix this person or make them see my side of things. Even when I feel justified to be mean, I have an opportunity to obey God by offering an extension of the forgiveness I’ve been given. But I can also stay healthy in this situation by remembering forgiveness doesn’t mean giving this person access in my life that sets me up for destructive patterns. Boundaries are biblical and should be considered when and where they may be necessary.

Finally, Colossians 3:17 reminds me, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (NIV).

Everything I do and say tells a story of whom I serve. If I act out of anger and spite, I give in to the ways of the enemy, spreading his darkness. If I honor the Lord with my actions, I serve to further the name of Jesus and spread His light.

At the end of the day, honoring God leads to good things. Anything else leads to confusion, emotional exhaustion, and ultimately a lack of good things.

I processed the text message mentioned above with a family member, who said something that brought much clarity. “You know, when you’ve taken the high road, God blesses you. You’ve seen these blessings over and over as you’ve made choices that honor God. So choose a blessing today and save yourself the emotional turmoil of trying to prove you’re right.”

I know this isn’t easy stuff. I’m having to live it in the midst of feeling hurt. But just because I feel hurt doesn’t mean I have to add to the chaos by returning the hurt. Responding to something mean with more meanness will only lead to conflict escalation, not resolution. While I can’t immediately fix the hard situation with my friend, I can have a healthier perspective. And when I am more at peace with a healthier perspective, I have a much greater chance of responding in a way that’s a truer reflection of my heart.

The best time to forgive is before we are ever offended. The next best time is right now.

Dear Lord, You know the hurtful words and actions that have come my way. Please give me Your strength not to retaliate but instead react based on Your Truth. Thank You for the gift of forgiveness that You have extended to me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please also help me discern where boundaries may be needed in my relationships. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Already Judged..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Already Judged

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 3:17-18

As a society, Americans are fond of their rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even when they might bring harm rather than good. That can be true of spiritual matters as well. For example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan of salvation leaves a person in a condemned condition.

I have heard the following phrase often in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but not with the comment's intended meaning--that a person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for that eternal destination themselves. They have a right to choose.

God says that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ have been judged already (v. 18). In other words, by rejecting--or politely ignoring--their need for a Savior, unbelievers have chosen to remain unsaved and unforgiven. Scripture teaches that there will one day be a judgment, but God has already determined that those who trust in Christ will stand with Him while the rest will be sent away (Matt. 25:34-46). An unrepentant man or woman is not condemned by God but, rather, has chosen to remain in the company of all those condemned by their own free will.

God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the right to decide whether or not to follow in obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.

The Road to Acceptance..Meg Bucher

 The Road to Acceptance

By Meg Bucher

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” - Proverbs 19:20 NLT

Blindsided. If only I would have been willing to receive wise wisdom and intel into my situation, maybe the hurt would not have felt like I’d been smacked unexpectedly across the face. When we pray to God for wisdom in crisis, it’s really tempting to ask Him to bless the way we want it to turn out. God loves us perfectly, but His good plan for our lives doesn’t always line up with the way we wish and plan for things to go. “Change is the only constant in life,” Pamela S. Willsey LICSW, BCD, PCC, wrote for Psychology Today, “and yet most of us are never taught the tools that will enable us to manage all of the changes we experience.”  

Acceptance is the act of taking or receiving something offered. Synonyms of acceptance include receiving, recognition, acquiring, acknowledgment, permission, obtaining, gaining, compliance, and admission. “Acceptance is an active process,” Pamela S. Willsey continued to explain in her article for Psychology Today, “It doesn’t mean that you can’t work on changing things and that what you’re accepting will be that way forever. But struggling against reality- resisting and rejecting it- we create unnecessary additional suffering and pain.” 

Denial is a tempting alternative to painful realities, but in choosing to ignore reality we stunt our growth. Everything we endure on this earth when we place our faith in God is meant to bring about good in our lives. God is never aloof to our circumstances. He loves us perfectly, compassionately, mercifully, defensively, and wholly. He is faithful, jealous for us, and almighty. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways, but His love for us is unquestionable and unchanging. When reality is hard to accept, we can lean on Him for the strength we need to keep moving forward instead of getting stuck.

Intersecting Faith and Life:

“Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” Proverbs 19:20 NLT

Now raising two daughters, my desire is to share every note of wisdom I have accumulated so they don’t have to stumble and suffer through the lessons I did. “The goal of becoming ‘wise’ might be defined as living with the end in view;” The NIV Application Commentary explains, “If the phrase points to the end of life, then wisdom is a lifelong project, not a job order that one fulfills and moves on.” 

Knowing my daughters might resist wisdom just because it’s coming from me, I pray they are surrounded by wise voices. Sometimes, I go before them and ask others to encourage them in places I know they need it, but are resistant to hear it directly from me. In a much grander way, the Father goes before us, layering comfort and encouragement into our lives when we need it the most. 

The Word of God is life-giving. The Holy Spirit in us allows us to connect with and come into the presence of God through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus in a personal way, everyday. “Given the world, the flesh and the devil are rarely silent,” George Sinclair explains, “I need to be silent before God’s word written every day.”

Jesus is a faithful friend. He walks through reality with us.

Further Reading:

Ephesians 6:12

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Do You Have to Pray Just Right for God to Listen?..Betsy de Cruz

 Do You Have to Pray Just Right for God to Listen?

By Betsy de Cruz

 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12)

Do you ever feel like you have to pray just right, or it won’t work? Have you felt like your prayer wasn’t answered because you didn’t have enough faith or pray long enough? I’ve felt that way too. Maybe that’s because we make prayer too hard. So often, we make it all about us finding the perfect words and approach. We think we have to pray just right for God to hear and respond.

Yet Jesus reassured his disciples with these words: “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

Prayer isn’t a formula you have to get right.

God’s hearing our prayers doesn’t depend on our praying long enough or hitting upon the right phrases. Prayer is an invitation to come before our Heavenly Father who knows our needs and longs to hear our voices. God hears and responds to us because He is faithful and has compassion on His children.

My prayer life grows deeper when I take a few focused minutes to pray each morning like Jesus did (Mark 1:35). This gets me in the right frame of mind to keep praying later in the day. I’m learning that prayer can be simple and natural as breathing.

Prayer isn’t a ritual that depends on closing our eyes and putting on holy faces. We don’t have to kneel or sit. We can pray while walking, driving, or working. God responds to a two word cry for help in the middle of a busy afternoon, just like He does to a focused prayer time after reading Scripture in the morning. Praying doesn’t have to be complicated. God delights in any simple words we offer Him.

Prayer gives us the opportunity to relate to God.

As believers in Christ, we have an amazing privilege; our Heavenly Father invites us to talk to Him! We can read God’s Word and talk to Him in the morning to align our hearts with His at the start of the day, and we can also talk to Him as we go about our daily routines.

We may think we have to pray with fancy words, but prayer is just talking to God. Throughout the day, God longs to hear our simple prayers:

Thank you for this breakfast, Lord.

Help me stay calm in this traffic jam.

Lord, help me love this person right now.

God, will you show me what to do?

Lord, I love you. Be with me.

Goodnight, Lord.

So whatever your need today, friend, look to God. Don’t wait for the perfect time to sit down and pray. Don’t wait until you have the perfect words. Let’s lift our voices to God in the morning quiet, on the way to work, and while we walk the dog, make dinner, or go shopping. All it takes is a few words. Let’s turn our hearts towards God in prayer today. He longs to hear us.

A Prayer to Make a Positive Impact..Ashley Moore

 A Prayer to Make a Positive Impact

By Ashley Moore

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5, NLT 

Unable to contain my deep desire to share my story with others, I began writing. At first, my passion was fueled by the hope my experiences would offer and the opportunity to share Jesus. As I began to hone my craft, I discovered that people considered writing good when it could poignantly answer a question or respond to a need. But,  I've concluded that the gospel is the root answer, the ultimate solution to every problem.

You see, I started out writing with the end goal of sharing my story. But the Lord turned that on its head by having me focus on Him, His story first. Then as a byproduct, I’ve been afforded opportunities to share with others. Isn’t that just like the Lord, though? It has been said that His kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Meaning that to the world, the things of God often seem odd and a bit out of order. But it's not God's kingdom that is upside-down; it's the world that has it backward. 

What about you? Is there a desire God has planted in your heart? Maybe a story you want to share? Or perhaps you are in need of encouragement and looking for someone to stir your faith?

Maybe you began moving toward this desire only to find your efforts futile. No one flocked to hear your story, read your words, or give any credence to your great idea. No one noticed or tried to comfort you when you needed it most. But what if instead of allowing that to thwart our desire to make an impact, we allowed that to drive us to the source?

Jesus spoke of this heavenly dynamic when he spoke the words in our key verse. He reminded all who listened that He is the vine. He is the supplier of life-giving transformation. He is the one who provides the nutrients through the branches to bear fruit. And just like branches, if we race ahead of God, we can busy ourselves with lots of things. But I’m afraid that they won’t make much difference in eternity. Because we were never designed to survive apart from Him. 

And this is good news for those of us with a desire to make a positive impact in the world around us. God has provided the pathway to do so. All we have to do is remain in Him. And oftentimes, when we go to Him first, He transforms us into people who show up in the ways we need most to comfort others with the comfort we have been given (2 Corinthians 1:4).

So as you begin, maybe for a second or third attempt, to chase down a desire to make a difference, try God's way instead. Before you shower others with the love and encouragement you desperately need, start by lingering a little longer over the Scriptures or praying a little more throughout the day. Ask God for help and make everything you do and say point others back to Him. After all, the biggest difference we can make in someone’s life is to help them draw closer to Him, so we might as well practice that for ourselves. 

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for the desire you give us to do beautiful, meaningful, and creative things in the world. And thank you that in our struggles, you equip us with what we need to love others well. Lord, forgive us when we make things all about us and neglect to point people to you. Lord, I pray that as we move toward making an impact, we would hold our desires loosely while drawing closer and closer to you. Thank you for directing our steps and sanctifying us into your image as we remain in you. Lord, that is the greatest impact we will ever have in the world anyways. Thank you that we reflect your image to a world of people created for communion with you.
In Jesus, name, amen.