Forgiving Is Hard

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Acts 7:59-60 (NLT)

Stephen was one of the people proclaiming the gospel and the awesomeness of Jesus after Jesus death. During one of those times, the people who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah became so angry and agitated they reacted with violence. They began to throw stones at Stephen and killed him.

Interestingly, Stephen was talking to God in his last moments. He asked him to receive his spirit and then he said, "Lord, forgive them." After that he died. The last thing he did was ask for their forgiveness. Jesus did the same thing. As he was being crucified, he asked God to forgive the people who were murdering him.

Sometimes forgiveness is hard. And sometimes the things we need to forgive others for are because of horrific acts. But God still asks us to do it. I am reading a book called Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman. In the book he says two things that struck me:

Second, I wonder if Jesus and Stephen both prayed that God would forgive their murderers, instead of just offering forgiveness themselves, because ultimately what matters most, what people need most, is God's forgiveness, not ours.

Third, I wonder if maybe Jesus, and especially Stephen, prayed God would forgive them because in that moment they didn't have forgiveness to give. I said forgiveness isn't simple; it's difficult and maybe even impossible on our own. Perhaps Stephen couldn't muster up the grace to say, "I forgive you" to the men who were killing him, so instead he prayed that God would, which is what they really needed anyway.

We all know forgiving someone who has truly hurt you is hard. And sometimes we don't have it in us to do it on our own but, if we pray and ask God to forgive them and to heal our hearts, he will get us around to the place where we can forgive. Forgiveness doesn't mean that you discount what was done and throw the consequences to the wind, it means that you give it up. You give it up to God. You give it to him for your own peace and your own healing. And you stop the damage that is being done to you by becoming whole again.

It is still hard but oh so worth it.

Buffing Out The Imperfections

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my behavior. I keep hearing in my head that I am not good enough, that I shouldn't have said this thing or that thing. It's pretty much a constant barrage of negativity that only I can hear. I know Satan is trying to discourage me and make me feel bad. Right now, the battle is fierce.

The good news is that God is countering. In my time with him he is providing Bible texts and thoughts and devotions that talk about how he keeps working. He doesn't give up on us. We are his masterpiece after all. As the Master Artist, he has a plan for our lives.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

There are a couple of things I've realized on this particular journey.

1. I am not alone in this. I know there are a lot of people out there that Satan tries to bring down with his negative commentary. Ignore him. He's just trying to hurt you and God's plan for your life.

2. We can't totally ignore what we know we need to change. I know there are character traits I need to grow (or eliminate). I know there are areas where I need to face my sin and ask God for help. I need to have a new heart and a new spirit that want to be more like Jesus. There are days when my heart is stony and stubborn. Those days I especially need to rely on God to change me.

3. I also know that no matter what, God wants what's best for me. He wants me to be more like him. He wants me to grow. More importantly, he is not giving up on this masterpiece until it is finished. He's not giving up on your masterpiece either. He is going to keep chiseling, sanding, and buffing until his work of art, you, is complete.

In summary, ignore the mean voice, pay attention to where you need God's artistic touch and be willing. God will do the rest. It's his specialty as the Master.

Friday, Mar 17

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” John 5:6 (NLT)

Would you like to get well? Jesus was talking to a man who had serious health issues. He was a paraplegic. At any time, being a paraplegic is difficult but, in this man's day the situation was horrible. He had to live on the charity of others. He either begged for his income or it was given to him by friends and family. To move around, he had to be physically carried or he had to pull himself along the streets with his hands. Imagine it, hands scarred and bleeding from the road and your body scratched and covered with brush-burns or scabs. Paraplegics often have no bladder and bowel control so cleanliness is an issue. Needless to say, folks steered clear.

But not Jesus. When Jesus walked into the pools, he didn't migrate toward the 'easiest'  person to help; he bee-lined it to one of the most difficult cases. Not only was this man physically impaired, he was spiritually impaired as was indicated by Jesus' comment "Stop sinning." No matter how hopeless we seem, Jesus is with us, helping us.

How about you? Do you steer clear of the hard to sort through people with really messy lives? Or, do you get involved and stand by them in the mess. Jesus often got involved in the mess helping people who would have been abandoned otherwise. It seems to me the question "Would you like to get well?" is directed to all of us. Not only do we need his presence in our lives, It is through living as Christ did that we are truly healed.