Deuteronomy 4
In chapter 4, Moses begins getting into the laws and regulations the Israelites will be living by in the new land.
Before he digs into them, he tells the people one of the purposes of these laws. He says that if they obey them carefully, their wisdom and intelligence will be displayed to other nations.
He says, "What great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?"
He also warns them - if they don't obey God, they will be scattered and destroyed, worshiping idols of other nations. Almost immediately his warning turns into prophesy. He's actually telling them that this will happen and when it does, when those bitter days have come upon them far into the future, they will finally return to the Lord and listen to what He tells them.
"For the Lord God is merciful - he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant He made with your ancestors." (4:30,31)
It really is a beautiful chapter outlining God's wonderful love and never ending faithfulness and how He's chose to reveal Himself to us through trials, miracles, wonders, awesome power, war and terrifying acts!
Moses asks them - "Has anything this great ever happened before? Has any nation heard the voice of their god - or been rescued by their god?" (4:32,33)
I think not! If only people (not just then, but now) would open their eyes and see for themselves how great is our God! They just can't get past the rules they have to follow and commands they are called to keep.
I was at small group last night and we talked about how people get so stuck in the past, to the point where they can't move forward. They chose to stay buried beneath the rubble of their hurts and sin. If only they knew the freedom that comes from letting God grab hold of their heart and heal them.
It's so sad to me the people that go through life without God. Without the hope of a brand new future and eternal life. Who wouldn't want that? They just can't understand that they can know the creator of the universe in a very real and personal way. They assume He's far off and distant and it's a "made up" relationship that we've created.
What they don't realize is the more you experience God in a personal way, the more you want to return that love. Following His commands is a way we can do that. We don't do it out of guilt (well, some do) and we don't do it to make others feel bad (unfortunately some do that too).
We follow Him because we love Him, we want to return His love.
It's like a friend that keeps on forgiving you over and over again. You've been caught talking behind her back numerous times. You've stood her up, ditching her for other plans or other friends. You use her, keep her around for what she can give you, lend you or do for you. You apologize, sometimes because you mean it...most times because you are just expected to.
And she forgives you. She continues to forgive you. She keeps loving you. Keeps giving you gifts, lending you things. Running errands for you, when you don't even ask. She sticks up for you and speaks greatly of you, even when you aren't around.
Eventually something inside you clicks and see what a great friend she truly is. In fact, never has there been as great of friend as she. For some reason, she loves you so much...and you just gotta love back.
You start doing things for her. You meet her for coffee, even when it might not be convenient. You take time out of your busy day to pick up some things for her when she's filling ill. You watch her kids. You drive her places. You lend her your car. You do all of these things because you love her.
Not so that she will love you.
...'cause she already did.
And that is why we follow God's commands. Not so that He will love us.
...but because He already does.
And eventually ya just gotta love back.
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A little advice.....
Numbers 21
"There's nothing to eat here, and nothing to drink and we hate this wretched manna!" (21:5)
"I'm so bored. I have NOTHING to wear. There's nothing to eat or drink around here. I always have to be home earlier then my friends. I hate my room, it's so small!"
The first quote was from the Israelites in a passage I read this week.
The second quote? My teenage daughter, earlier that same day.
I couldn't help but notice they are eerily the same. I curiously read on to the next few verses, wondering how God was going to respond...."Come on God, give me some good parenting wisdom here. Gimme something good. I'm all ears."
Apparently, He sends poisonous snakes....
*silence*
"OK. Reading on...."
...and many were bitten and died.
"Well, then..."
I did read on to find that, once again loving His children with an unfailing love, He extends grace to them by giving them way out. A loop hole.
He does not take away the punishment, (even though they begged Moses to pray for snake removal) - He just tells them instead to "look up". "Look up at the pole and you will recover from the bite."
He didn't take away the snakes. He didn't even stop them from getting bit. They still suffered the punishment - but they were rescued from death.
One more very important thing I noticed was that God only extended grace after they repented. After they admitted that they had sinned against God by speaking against Him.
So, now I only have one thing left to figure out...
..where can I get a snake?
I joke.
A little.
...don't judge me until you've had a teen.
"There's nothing to eat here, and nothing to drink and we hate this wretched manna!" (21:5)
"I'm so bored. I have NOTHING to wear. There's nothing to eat or drink around here. I always have to be home earlier then my friends. I hate my room, it's so small!"
The first quote was from the Israelites in a passage I read this week.
The second quote? My teenage daughter, earlier that same day.
I couldn't help but notice they are eerily the same. I curiously read on to the next few verses, wondering how God was going to respond...."Come on God, give me some good parenting wisdom here. Gimme something good. I'm all ears."
Apparently, He sends poisonous snakes....
*silence*
"OK. Reading on...."
...and many were bitten and died.
"Well, then..."
I did read on to find that, once again loving His children with an unfailing love, He extends grace to them by giving them way out. A loop hole.
He does not take away the punishment, (even though they begged Moses to pray for snake removal) - He just tells them instead to "look up". "Look up at the pole and you will recover from the bite."
He didn't take away the snakes. He didn't even stop them from getting bit. They still suffered the punishment - but they were rescued from death.
One more very important thing I noticed was that God only extended grace after they repented. After they admitted that they had sinned against God by speaking against Him.
So, now I only have one thing left to figure out...
..where can I get a snake?
I joke.
A little.
...don't judge me until you've had a teen.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
An innocent lamb
Leviticus 1-8
Leviticus. Even the name makes me yawn. I opened my bible this morning as though it was my first day working in a lawyer's office and I had to dissect an out-of-date legal document.
Remembering my journey with Exodus, however, I kept an open mind.
I began reading....
Yup. My initial opinion was pretty much correct. The book opens with a description (a VERY detailed description) of many different sacrifices. Burnt offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, offerings of worship, offings of guilt....
Each offering was accompanied by a very specific ceremony - although very similar to the previous one. Then, if that wasn't enough, because everyone had a different financial situation, it goes on to explain what to do if your sacrifice is a bull, or if it's only a goat, or just a bird - which again...was usually quite similar.
Then, hold on to your hat! There's a review of it all....yay! I get to read it again.
Ouch.
Throughout the tediousness of these chapters, though, one verse kept ringing out.
"It was very pleasing to the Lord."
- Leviticus 1:17
As awful as it would have been to gain access and maintain fellowship with God through sacrifice...at least they had a tangible way to know they were restoring their fellowship with God and being forgiven.
As humans I think we have a natural tendency to feel like we have "to do" something in order "to get" something.
And, I guess we kind of do. Every new sin, even an unintentional one, demanded that another animal be slain. When an animal's life was given to pay the penalty of sin, the guilty person was cleansed. By placing their hands on the head of the animal (which is what they had to do), the worshippers identified with it. They clearly saw that the animal was dying for their sin as a substitute.
That made sense to me. But why couldn't God just forgive them if they asked? He's God - he can do anything he wants. I forgive people all the time, I don't make them kill something for me. (I might make them buy me lunch though...) I mean, He can see our heart. He knows if we are sincere.
So why can't He forgive us just simply because we ask?
I found the answer in my "Quest" bible, NIV version. There was a footnote that said,
"A just and holy God does not ignore sin, it has grave consequences. However, God mercifully allowed a substitute to take the place of the sinner. The substitute could suffer the consequences of sin, so the sinner would not have to die."
"God required such a gruesome payment because He did not want people to ignore the seriousness of sin. Anything less than blood would have devalued forgiveness in the eyes of the people."
"When a person heard the cries of an innocent lamb, saw it's blood spilled on the alter and smelled the smoke of it's burning flesh, he or she would be struck with a sobering thought: I deserved to die for my sin; that sheep died in my place."
Once again, as I devour a "boring ol' testament book", I'm awakened to the truth and goodness of the gospel in the New Testament - when Jesus comes!
God made it very clear that Jesus came to be to be the final sacrifice. We don't have "to do" anything but accept His gift, His innocent lamb.
Leviticus. Even the name makes me yawn. I opened my bible this morning as though it was my first day working in a lawyer's office and I had to dissect an out-of-date legal document.
Remembering my journey with Exodus, however, I kept an open mind.
I began reading....
Yup. My initial opinion was pretty much correct. The book opens with a description (a VERY detailed description) of many different sacrifices. Burnt offerings, peace offerings, grain offerings, offerings of worship, offings of guilt....
Each offering was accompanied by a very specific ceremony - although very similar to the previous one. Then, if that wasn't enough, because everyone had a different financial situation, it goes on to explain what to do if your sacrifice is a bull, or if it's only a goat, or just a bird - which again...was usually quite similar.
Then, hold on to your hat! There's a review of it all....yay! I get to read it again.
Ouch.
Throughout the tediousness of these chapters, though, one verse kept ringing out.
"It was very pleasing to the Lord."
- Leviticus 1:17
As awful as it would have been to gain access and maintain fellowship with God through sacrifice...at least they had a tangible way to know they were restoring their fellowship with God and being forgiven.
As humans I think we have a natural tendency to feel like we have "to do" something in order "to get" something.
And, I guess we kind of do. Every new sin, even an unintentional one, demanded that another animal be slain. When an animal's life was given to pay the penalty of sin, the guilty person was cleansed. By placing their hands on the head of the animal (which is what they had to do), the worshippers identified with it. They clearly saw that the animal was dying for their sin as a substitute.
That made sense to me. But why couldn't God just forgive them if they asked? He's God - he can do anything he wants. I forgive people all the time, I don't make them kill something for me. (I might make them buy me lunch though...) I mean, He can see our heart. He knows if we are sincere.
So why can't He forgive us just simply because we ask?
I found the answer in my "Quest" bible, NIV version. There was a footnote that said,
"A just and holy God does not ignore sin, it has grave consequences. However, God mercifully allowed a substitute to take the place of the sinner. The substitute could suffer the consequences of sin, so the sinner would not have to die."
"God required such a gruesome payment because He did not want people to ignore the seriousness of sin. Anything less than blood would have devalued forgiveness in the eyes of the people."
"When a person heard the cries of an innocent lamb, saw it's blood spilled on the alter and smelled the smoke of it's burning flesh, he or she would be struck with a sobering thought: I deserved to die for my sin; that sheep died in my place."
Once again, as I devour a "boring ol' testament book", I'm awakened to the truth and goodness of the gospel in the New Testament - when Jesus comes!
God made it very clear that Jesus came to be to be the final sacrifice. We don't have "to do" anything but accept His gift, His innocent lamb.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Oops! Uh, sorry I left you in jail!
Gen 32 - 50
There's so much forgivness in the last half of Genesis - specifically with Joseph - he forgave his brother's for selling him and he forgave the kings cup bearer for forgetting about him in prison - for TWO years!
Imagine! The cup bearer - "Oops! Sorry! I guess I kind of forgot you were down here rotting in your prison cell. Awkward. But hey! The good news is I remembered, right? It's only been two years. Man! ...I knew there was something I was forgetting... they do say the mind is the first to go. Forgive me? I like your beard."
Actually, I don't even think he asked for Joseph's forgivenss. I'd have to go back and look.
and his brothers? Really? I mean who does that? Who sells their brother? "Yes, but at least we didn't kill him." Oh that's real good of ya....
But seriously, what is the biggest thing I've had to forgive someone for?
What is the biggest thing I could forgive someone for?
I pray that I will be like Joseph and extend the same grace that God has shown me, to others. Over and over again.
In chapter 50 verses 19 and 20, we are given a little glimpse inside Joseph's head.
God first shows us an amazing example of forgivness, with Joseph's story, and He doesn't leave us hanging. He uses Joseph's words to teach us how to forgive, and more importantly - one of the reasons why we should forgive.
"Am I a God, to judge and punish you? As far as I'm concerned, God turned into good, what you meant for evil."
That statement made me think about how many times that I have felt I need to "punish" someone that has offended or hurt me.
"Give 'em the silent treatment. That'll teach 'em!"
...or perhaps talk about them behind their back. You know, tell someone else how that person has done me wrong so they, too, will see their "true colours".
It's not like I set out to do these things on purpose. It just kind of happens.
I also love the way Joseph dealt with temptation!
"He kept out of her way as much as possible."
- Gen 39:10
When Potiphar's wife wanted to sleep with Joseph - he kept out of her way.
Can it really be that S.I.M.P.L.E? When something is tempting us - keep out of it's way. Let God do the rest. He can work with our hearts and the Holy Spirit helps us with self-control but we have to do our part.
There so much to learn from Joseph's story.
I guess God didn't just put him there so I could pick pretty crayons for his "coat of many colours" in Sunday School!
There's so much forgivness in the last half of Genesis - specifically with Joseph - he forgave his brother's for selling him and he forgave the kings cup bearer for forgetting about him in prison - for TWO years!
Imagine! The cup bearer - "Oops! Sorry! I guess I kind of forgot you were down here rotting in your prison cell. Awkward. But hey! The good news is I remembered, right? It's only been two years. Man! ...I knew there was something I was forgetting... they do say the mind is the first to go. Forgive me? I like your beard."
Actually, I don't even think he asked for Joseph's forgivenss. I'd have to go back and look.
and his brothers? Really? I mean who does that? Who sells their brother? "Yes, but at least we didn't kill him." Oh that's real good of ya....
But seriously, what is the biggest thing I've had to forgive someone for?
What is the biggest thing I could forgive someone for?
I pray that I will be like Joseph and extend the same grace that God has shown me, to others. Over and over again.
In chapter 50 verses 19 and 20, we are given a little glimpse inside Joseph's head.
God first shows us an amazing example of forgivness, with Joseph's story, and He doesn't leave us hanging. He uses Joseph's words to teach us how to forgive, and more importantly - one of the reasons why we should forgive.
"Am I a God, to judge and punish you? As far as I'm concerned, God turned into good, what you meant for evil."
That statement made me think about how many times that I have felt I need to "punish" someone that has offended or hurt me.
"Give 'em the silent treatment. That'll teach 'em!"
...or perhaps talk about them behind their back. You know, tell someone else how that person has done me wrong so they, too, will see their "true colours".
It's not like I set out to do these things on purpose. It just kind of happens.
I also love the way Joseph dealt with temptation!
"He kept out of her way as much as possible."
- Gen 39:10
When Potiphar's wife wanted to sleep with Joseph - he kept out of her way.
Can it really be that S.I.M.P.L.E? When something is tempting us - keep out of it's way. Let God do the rest. He can work with our hearts and the Holy Spirit helps us with self-control but we have to do our part.
There so much to learn from Joseph's story.
I guess God didn't just put him there so I could pick pretty crayons for his "coat of many colours" in Sunday School!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Who's fault is it anyway?
Genesis 1 - 9
Isn't it typical that Adam blamed everyone BUT himself when he was caught sinning? But the woman you gave me made me do it!"
"But Mom, if you hadn't put that plant there, I wouldn't have knocked it over!", or my favorite, "It's my brothers fault I hit him...he was bugging me!"
Ah, silly children. ...and then we grow up into mature adults who would never blame anyone for mistakes we make...right?
Really though, I don't know why we even bother to make excuses. God knows why we did it. He knew were were going to sin before we did! He's probably just like we are with our children, shaking our head saying, "Just clean it up and try to not do it again, OK?" Sheesh.
You know, I really don't think it matters to God so much why we sin but that we acknowledge it for what it is and ask for forgiveness when it does happen. Ideally, we go even one step further and try to resist it in the first place. God gave us the power to do so! He's given us authority over the enemy!!
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy..." - Luke 10:19
So..I have power over the enemy - after letting that truth sink in for a moment I come to a realization. Shoot! Does that mean I can't even blame satan? But how in the world does God expect me to resist temptation?
After digging a little, I found instruction.
"Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
"Run from anything that stimulates youthful desires. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 - Tim 2:22
It's awesome for me to understand that I have a Father that doesn't just command me to resist temptation but He gives me instruction on how to do it! Even when I do mess up (and that's often) He forgives me over and over again - so patiently.
I wonder, how many people see God as someone "up there watching, just waiting for me to mess up so he can punish me? Disappointed in me...once again..."
Nothing could be further from the truth!
When our children are learning to walk and they fall down (over and over again) we don't shake our head, call them a screw up, start planning on how we are going to punish them this time and walk away! We don't say, "I can't believe they fell down again! I'm done with them! They will NEVER learn how to walk!!"
No, we help them up and we lovingly send them on their way again. At times, we even hold their hand for as long as they need us too.
Why would I expect anything different from my heavenly Father?
Something that surprised me (and caused me look at my sin in a whole different way) in Genesis, Chapter 6 was when God said that He was sorry He even made mankind and that their wickedness "broke His heart".
Wow. God's heart breaks. MY thoughts and actions break God's heart. The creator of the universe. He, who made the tiny little legs on a centipede and commands the sun to rise, is grieved when I sin.
It's humbling to know that God loves me that much. There are so many times I disregard His love by sinning (on purpose) because I know he will forgive me. Isn't that taking advantage of God?
"Yeah, I'm gossiping but God knows my heart. He knows I would never hurt any one's feelings on purpose. I'm only doing it to be funny or fit in."
"I'm just going to download this one movie, God knows I'm broke. I'll buy a membership on payday and that will make up for it."
"God knew how frustrated when I used that language. He forgives me."
He does forgive....but it still grieves Him. There's not a lot I can do for God. He doesn't "need" anything from little ol' me. How then, can I prove to Him that I love Him? I can obey.
I heard a quote the other day and I love it....
"We don't obey God so he will love us. We do it to show we love Him."
Isn't it typical that Adam blamed everyone BUT himself when he was caught sinning? But the woman you gave me made me do it!"
Was he blaming the woman for giving him the apple or was he blaming God for giving him the woman? Perhaps both? (...and YES, I realize Eve did her own share of blaming too!)
It's funny how we hear the same ol' story from our children!
"But Mom, if you hadn't put that plant there, I wouldn't have knocked it over!", or my favorite, "It's my brothers fault I hit him...he was bugging me!"
Ah, silly children. ...and then we grow up into mature adults who would never blame anyone for mistakes we make...right?
Really though, I don't know why we even bother to make excuses. God knows why we did it. He knew were were going to sin before we did! He's probably just like we are with our children, shaking our head saying, "Just clean it up and try to not do it again, OK?" Sheesh.
You know, I really don't think it matters to God so much why we sin but that we acknowledge it for what it is and ask for forgiveness when it does happen. Ideally, we go even one step further and try to resist it in the first place. God gave us the power to do so! He's given us authority over the enemy!!
"Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy..." - Luke 10:19
So..I have power over the enemy - after letting that truth sink in for a moment I come to a realization. Shoot! Does that mean I can't even blame satan? But how in the world does God expect me to resist temptation?
After digging a little, I found instruction.
"Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
"Run from anything that stimulates youthful desires. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" 2 - Tim 2:22
It's awesome for me to understand that I have a Father that doesn't just command me to resist temptation but He gives me instruction on how to do it! Even when I do mess up (and that's often) He forgives me over and over again - so patiently.
I wonder, how many people see God as someone "up there watching, just waiting for me to mess up so he can punish me? Disappointed in me...once again..."
Nothing could be further from the truth!
When our children are learning to walk and they fall down (over and over again) we don't shake our head, call them a screw up, start planning on how we are going to punish them this time and walk away! We don't say, "I can't believe they fell down again! I'm done with them! They will NEVER learn how to walk!!"
No, we help them up and we lovingly send them on their way again. At times, we even hold their hand for as long as they need us too.
Why would I expect anything different from my heavenly Father?
Something that surprised me (and caused me look at my sin in a whole different way) in Genesis, Chapter 6 was when God said that He was sorry He even made mankind and that their wickedness "broke His heart".
Wow. God's heart breaks. MY thoughts and actions break God's heart. The creator of the universe. He, who made the tiny little legs on a centipede and commands the sun to rise, is grieved when I sin.
It's humbling to know that God loves me that much. There are so many times I disregard His love by sinning (on purpose) because I know he will forgive me. Isn't that taking advantage of God?
"Yeah, I'm gossiping but God knows my heart. He knows I would never hurt any one's feelings on purpose. I'm only doing it to be funny or fit in."
"I'm just going to download this one movie, God knows I'm broke. I'll buy a membership on payday and that will make up for it."
"God knew how frustrated when I used that language. He forgives me."
He does forgive....but it still grieves Him. There's not a lot I can do for God. He doesn't "need" anything from little ol' me. How then, can I prove to Him that I love Him? I can obey.
I heard a quote the other day and I love it....
"We don't obey God so he will love us. We do it to show we love Him."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)