Everyone knows that a family needs to learn how to forgive. There will be moments when we offend each other, hurt each other, say something or do something that bothers others, and we will need to forgive.
The other day I thought Heather had done something wrong and I approached her about it. I didn't approach her in the most appropriate way. I approached hot with anger, ready to pronounce the judgment. Then I heard those words, "Dad, I didn't do it. It was..." Ugh. I could've said, "Well then, learn the lesson of this situation and don't think about doing that ever, or you will get it big time." I needed to apologize. I needed to say, "Heather, I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me." Most of the time my children are quick to forgive. (Tiffany is another story, but I won't get into that at this time. Just kidding.)
In the family of God, there will be times that we fail one another and fail God. Scripture teaches us about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
Jesus teaches us to forgive and that forgiveness should not be withheld. In this story that Jesus told, the man had been forgiven a great debt, but he was unable to forgive others. God dealt with that kind of attitude.
Is there someone in your life that you are having difficulty forgiving? God is serious about you forgiving that person. If you've experienced the forgiveness of God, you are to forgive others. It's terrible to hold on to such anger. Anger has destructive power. Some people have harbored such ill will towards others that the individual is removed from the family. Does God ever feel that way towards us?
Does God kick us out of the family for making sinful mistakes? Some people believe that you "lose your salvation" when you reject God's law/plan for your life. I personally don't believe that. I find in Luke 15 that Jesus teaches us that we are still a part of the family even though we wonder off. God doesn't support our decision to leave but He allows us the opportunity to make that decision. He will always be waiting for us to come home.
Perhaps you know of someone who was a part of our church or attended church somewhere and they are not attending anymore. Pray for them to come home.
Reconciliation has a lot to do with forgiveness. Are you willing to forgive as you have been forgiven?
As you close: Pray for reconciliation to happen in our church family. If you need to forgive someone, take a moment and pray for them. Ask God to help you to forgive them as He has forgiven you.
God bless!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Reconciliation - Day 4
I hope this week has helped you understand the power of reconciliation. To see people reconcilied to God is an amazing thing and shows us just how loving God is. He is the God of second chances.
Last time we talked about being in this wonderful family of His, once we've been reconciled. Today we will talk about the blessings of Him as our father.
When I think about fatherhood, immediately I think of my father. An obvious observation is that he provided for me. He provided a roof over my head. He provided food on the table and clothes on my back. Those things are everyday needs and I am grateful he provided them. Plus, my dad was always there at my sporting events. Whenever I played baseball, football, wrestling and many other activities, he was there to support me.
What was your father like? Take a moment and think about him.
When we believe in Jesus, the bible says that we are reconciled with God and become a part of His family. He becomes our father. What kind of a father is He? Take a look at Him as a father in the garden of Gethsemane.
Read John 17 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
There are two major blessings I want you to see in this passage:
1. He is a protector. Jesus prays for the fathers' protection from the enemy for us. And if Jesus feels it important to pray for our protection, don't you think we ought to too? He is a protector. He watches over us and nothing happens to us without His awareness. That is an awesome thought. Sometimes I wonder why God is allowing me to go through difficult moments, but that I should have hope knowing that He is aware that He is protecting me even when I don't realize it.
2. He is a provider. I see clearly that the father provides for our needs. He took care of Jesus and He will take care of us. Everything comes from Him and He deposits it into our lives so we can be taken care of. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and why we need it. Isn't that amazing? He is a great provider. Think back over your life and notice how God the Father has taken care of you.
These are just two major ways we benefit from Him as our Father. But in this family, we will make mistakes. We will stumble and fall at times. Will God forgive us or will He kick us out of His family because of our mistakes? Tomorrow we will wrap up this week regarding God's forgiveness.
As you finish: Pray for Brighton IN. Pray that God will help us to reach out and care for the people in our community. Pray that many will come to know Jesus and become a part of this church family. Pray for God to break our hearts with compassion for these families.
God Bless!
Last time we talked about being in this wonderful family of His, once we've been reconciled. Today we will talk about the blessings of Him as our father.
When I think about fatherhood, immediately I think of my father. An obvious observation is that he provided for me. He provided a roof over my head. He provided food on the table and clothes on my back. Those things are everyday needs and I am grateful he provided them. Plus, my dad was always there at my sporting events. Whenever I played baseball, football, wrestling and many other activities, he was there to support me.
What was your father like? Take a moment and think about him.
When we believe in Jesus, the bible says that we are reconciled with God and become a part of His family. He becomes our father. What kind of a father is He? Take a look at Him as a father in the garden of Gethsemane.
Read John 17 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
There are two major blessings I want you to see in this passage:
1. He is a protector. Jesus prays for the fathers' protection from the enemy for us. And if Jesus feels it important to pray for our protection, don't you think we ought to too? He is a protector. He watches over us and nothing happens to us without His awareness. That is an awesome thought. Sometimes I wonder why God is allowing me to go through difficult moments, but that I should have hope knowing that He is aware that He is protecting me even when I don't realize it.
2. He is a provider. I see clearly that the father provides for our needs. He took care of Jesus and He will take care of us. Everything comes from Him and He deposits it into our lives so we can be taken care of. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and why we need it. Isn't that amazing? He is a great provider. Think back over your life and notice how God the Father has taken care of you.
These are just two major ways we benefit from Him as our Father. But in this family, we will make mistakes. We will stumble and fall at times. Will God forgive us or will He kick us out of His family because of our mistakes? Tomorrow we will wrap up this week regarding God's forgiveness.
As you finish: Pray for Brighton IN. Pray that God will help us to reach out and care for the people in our community. Pray that many will come to know Jesus and become a part of this church family. Pray for God to break our hearts with compassion for these families.
God Bless!
Reconciliation - Day 3
"Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Is that the expression of your heart today? Why not stop and thank God for another day? This day is a gift from God to you.
Why should we be so moved by the gift of another day? Because everyday we have is another day to enjoy the family of God here on earth. When we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches us that we become reconciled to God. When we believe in Jesus we are reconciled to God and we become a part of His family once again.
Once again? What does that mean? In the beginning, prior to the fall, Adam and Eve were a part of God's family. It was perfect. It was unbelievable. He provided for them and they lived in His provision. It was beautiful. And then sin, the choice of Adam and Eve to rebel against God destroyed that family. You know very well how sin destroys a family. An alcoholic, an adulterer, greed, along with many other destructive sinful habits destroys a family. Sin destroyed the family God had built.
Remember Cain and Abel? Sin destroyed that family. Read about it in Genesis 4:1-16 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4%3A1-16&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
Sin destroyed Cain and Abel and forever changed their family. That is what sin did with us and God. Sin destroyed His family and we were never the same. Until...Jesus. God has been relentlessly pursuing reconcilation with us and He finished it with Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His final words were, "It is finished!" The dividing wall has been broken down. Reconciliation between us and God is here.
John 1:12 says that we become the children of God when we believe in Jesus as our Savior and He becomes our father.
Luke 11:11-13, says that God is our Father and that He knows how to give us what we need. What exactly does He do for us? Tomorrow we will talk about the blessings of Him as our Father!
As you close today: Pray for Pastor Rustin. Pray that God will lead him as he leads our church family. Pray that God protects his mind and heart from sin. Pray for his family.
God bless!
Why should we be so moved by the gift of another day? Because everyday we have is another day to enjoy the family of God here on earth. When we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches us that we become reconciled to God. When we believe in Jesus we are reconciled to God and we become a part of His family once again.
Once again? What does that mean? In the beginning, prior to the fall, Adam and Eve were a part of God's family. It was perfect. It was unbelievable. He provided for them and they lived in His provision. It was beautiful. And then sin, the choice of Adam and Eve to rebel against God destroyed that family. You know very well how sin destroys a family. An alcoholic, an adulterer, greed, along with many other destructive sinful habits destroys a family. Sin destroyed the family God had built.
Remember Cain and Abel? Sin destroyed that family. Read about it in Genesis 4:1-16 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4%3A1-16&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
Sin destroyed Cain and Abel and forever changed their family. That is what sin did with us and God. Sin destroyed His family and we were never the same. Until...Jesus. God has been relentlessly pursuing reconcilation with us and He finished it with Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His final words were, "It is finished!" The dividing wall has been broken down. Reconciliation between us and God is here.
John 1:12 says that we become the children of God when we believe in Jesus as our Savior and He becomes our father.
Luke 11:11-13, says that God is our Father and that He knows how to give us what we need. What exactly does He do for us? Tomorrow we will talk about the blessings of Him as our Father!
As you close today: Pray for Pastor Rustin. Pray that God will lead him as he leads our church family. Pray that God protects his mind and heart from sin. Pray for his family.
God bless!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Reconciliation - Day 2
Good to see you again! Today we are talking about how God was able to bring about a reconciliation between Him and mankind.
Read Romans 3:21-28 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A21-28&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
Jesus was given the responsibility to come here and live a righteous life and then to die on a cross. Two things were needed from Jesus in order that we might be reconciled to God.
1. Jesus needed to live a life without ever sinning. Paul writes in 2 Corinthains 5:21 that Jesus knew NO sin. That means He lived a righteous life. There was never a time that He rebelled against God. He never had a sinful thought, word or even action. He was righteous.
We needed Him to live a righteous life because He would transfer our account for His. Ours is full of debt because of sin and as a result we would never be able to be with Him in heaven. Our debt is paid in full by Jesus on the cross. All of God's anger and hostility is put on Jesus because of us. He took all of our sin, past, present and future upon Himself. God has to punish sin and Jesus took it for you so you don't have to. Wow!
2. He needed to die in our place. As Paul writes in Romans 5 that one sin judged us all, so one act of righteousness could be a blessing for all. He died so that we would have life in Him instead of death through Adam. Death is death physically, spiritually and eternally. God accepted His sacrifice. We know that because of the resurrection. In that moment God raised Jesus from the dead God was saying, "I accept the sacrifice that was made for all of mankind through Jesus. Whoever believes in Him will never die but have eternal life with Him.
Reconciliation was possible because Jesus lived and died for you and me. That is what we call grace. We don't deserve the possibility of eternal life but it is available. It is not something you earn or buy. Reconciliation is a gift through faith in Jesus. When you surrender to Him, you and God are no longer enemies but a family.
Tomorrow we will talk more about this family we now become a part of.
As you close: Pray for our worship services. Pray that God will touch every heart that attends. Pray that many find Jesus for the first time. Pray that many will surrender completely to Jesus.
God Bless.
Read Romans 3:21-28 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A21-28&version=NIV (Click back arrow on your browser to return here)
Jesus was given the responsibility to come here and live a righteous life and then to die on a cross. Two things were needed from Jesus in order that we might be reconciled to God.
1. Jesus needed to live a life without ever sinning. Paul writes in 2 Corinthains 5:21 that Jesus knew NO sin. That means He lived a righteous life. There was never a time that He rebelled against God. He never had a sinful thought, word or even action. He was righteous.
We needed Him to live a righteous life because He would transfer our account for His. Ours is full of debt because of sin and as a result we would never be able to be with Him in heaven. Our debt is paid in full by Jesus on the cross. All of God's anger and hostility is put on Jesus because of us. He took all of our sin, past, present and future upon Himself. God has to punish sin and Jesus took it for you so you don't have to. Wow!
2. He needed to die in our place. As Paul writes in Romans 5 that one sin judged us all, so one act of righteousness could be a blessing for all. He died so that we would have life in Him instead of death through Adam. Death is death physically, spiritually and eternally. God accepted His sacrifice. We know that because of the resurrection. In that moment God raised Jesus from the dead God was saying, "I accept the sacrifice that was made for all of mankind through Jesus. Whoever believes in Him will never die but have eternal life with Him.
Reconciliation was possible because Jesus lived and died for you and me. That is what we call grace. We don't deserve the possibility of eternal life but it is available. It is not something you earn or buy. Reconciliation is a gift through faith in Jesus. When you surrender to Him, you and God are no longer enemies but a family.
Tomorrow we will talk more about this family we now become a part of.
As you close: Pray for our worship services. Pray that God will touch every heart that attends. Pray that many find Jesus for the first time. Pray that many will surrender completely to Jesus.
God Bless.
Reconciliation - Day 1
This week we will be taking a look at the word "Reconciliation." Reconciliation is an important word to consider because it is weaved throughout the entire Bible. If God made sure its theme was throughout His Word, then it must be something very important to Him and we need to pause and consider it.
What does the word, "Reconciliation" mean? The word means to make oneself or another no longer opposed; to become friendly after estrangement; to settle a quarrel or difference. The idea is to stop the hostilities between two people and reestablish peace.
God brought reconciliation to humanity. Paul writes, "...when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of his son..." God went to unbelievable lengths to bring reconciliation between us and him. Why?
First of all we are God's enemies and He wanted to change that. According to the scriptures we are either with God or against Him. To be with Him is to follow His leadership and His guidelines. To be against Him is to rebel against Him, do what we want, believe what we want and live how we want. To rebel against God is what we call sin. For that is exactly what sin is.
Second, enemies deserve the wrath of God and He wanted to give us an alternative. Paul writes, "for the wages (what we deserve) of sin is death." We identified that death last week as death physically, spiritually and eternally.
Finally, God loves us so much that He desires to give us a second chance. An opportunity to have our sins paid for and a new life to live and look forward to.
So HOW was He able to reconcile us? That is what we will look at tomorrow.
In closing read this passage of scripture from James 4:1-10 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A1-10&version=NIV (Click back arrow on browser to return here)
As you read you will be reminded again that your heart needs to be submissive to the savior.
As you finish: Pray for our Adult Sunday School. Pray that God will use the teachers to teach the scriptures well.
God Bless!
What does the word, "Reconciliation" mean? The word means to make oneself or another no longer opposed; to become friendly after estrangement; to settle a quarrel or difference. The idea is to stop the hostilities between two people and reestablish peace.
God brought reconciliation to humanity. Paul writes, "...when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of his son..." God went to unbelievable lengths to bring reconciliation between us and him. Why?
First of all we are God's enemies and He wanted to change that. According to the scriptures we are either with God or against Him. To be with Him is to follow His leadership and His guidelines. To be against Him is to rebel against Him, do what we want, believe what we want and live how we want. To rebel against God is what we call sin. For that is exactly what sin is.
Second, enemies deserve the wrath of God and He wanted to give us an alternative. Paul writes, "for the wages (what we deserve) of sin is death." We identified that death last week as death physically, spiritually and eternally.
Finally, God loves us so much that He desires to give us a second chance. An opportunity to have our sins paid for and a new life to live and look forward to.
So HOW was He able to reconcile us? That is what we will look at tomorrow.
In closing read this passage of scripture from James 4:1-10 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A1-10&version=NIV (Click back arrow on browser to return here)
As you read you will be reminded again that your heart needs to be submissive to the savior.
As you finish: Pray for our Adult Sunday School. Pray that God will use the teachers to teach the scriptures well.
God Bless!
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