Who is my Brother

Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Jesus answered, “…seventy-seven times.” Matthews 18:21-22

Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.

We could do the same.

I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?

 

And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others?... if God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?

Who’s in Charge

Give all your worried to him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Worry…makes you forget who’s in charge. And when the focus is on yourself… - you worry. You become anxious about many things. You worry that:

Your co-workers won’t appreciate you.

Your leaders will overwork you.

Your superintendent won’t understand you.

Your congregation won’t support you.

With time, your agenda becomes more important than God’s. You’re more concerned with presenting self than pleasing him. And you may even find yourself doubting God’s judgment….

God has gifted you with talents. He has done the same to your neighbor. If you concern yourself with your neighbor’s talents, you will neglect yours. But if you concern yourself with yours, you could inspire both.

Voice of Grace

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. Like 23:43

Tell me, what has the thief on the cross done to warrant help? He has wasted his life. Who is he to beg for forgiveness? He publicly scoffed at Jesus. What right does he have to pray…, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”?

Do you really want to know? The same right you have to pray….

You see, that is you and me on the cross; naked, desolate, hopeless, and estranged. That is us. That is us asking….

We don’t boast. We don’t produce our life. Any sacrifice appears silly when placed before God on a cross….

We, like the thief, have no more prayer. And we, like the thief, pray.

And we, like the thief, hear the voice of grace.

The Standard

We are made holy through the sacrifice Christ made in his body once and for all time. (Hebrews 10:10)

Only the holy will see God. Holiness is a prerequisite to heaven. Perfection is a requirement for eternity. We wish it weren’t so. We act like it isn’t so. We act like those who are “decent” will see God. We suggest that those who try hard will see God. We act as if we’re good if we never do anything too bad. And that goodness is enough to qualify us for heaven.

Sounds right to us, but it doesn’t sound right to God. And he sets the standard. And the standard high. “You must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).

You see, in God’s plan, God is the standard for perfection. We don’t compare ourselves to others; they are just as fouled up as we are. The goal is to be like him; anything less is inadequate.

God’s Help Is Near

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good…. It is a choice to believe that the one who made it all hasn’t left it all and that he still sends light into the shadows and responds to gestures of faith….

Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.

God says that the more hopeless your circumstances, the more likely, your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light.

God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.

Just the Way You Are (همانطور که شما هستید)

در زندگی‌ تان باید مثل عیسی مسیح فکر و عمل کنید (فیلیپیان5:2)

خطرناک است حقایق بزرگ و مهم را در یک جمله خلاصه کنیم اگر یک یا دو جمله می‌توانست میل و محبت  خداوند را برای تک تک ما نشان دهد آن را همانند جمله زیر میتوان انگاشت:

خدا شما را همانطور که هستید دوست دارد، اما قبول نمیکند که شما را درآن حال ترک کند، او می‌خواهد که شما مانند عیسی مسیح بشوید.

 بله خدا شما را همانطور که هستید دوست دارد. اگر فکر می‌کنید محبت خداوند به شما بیشتر میشود اگر ایمانتان قویتر شود در اشتباه هستید. اگر فکر می‌کنید با افکار عمیق‌تر محبت خداوند به شما افزونتر خواهد شد باز هم اشتباه می‌کنید.

عشق خدا را با عشق بشری اشتباه نگیرید.عشق انسان‌ها بیشتر اوقات با عملکرد خوب بیشتر میشود، و با اشتباهات کمتر. و نه بیشتر به محبت خداوند شبیه نیست.

او شما را دوست دارد همین الان در هر کجا هستید...

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In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

It’s dangerous to sum up grand truths in one statement, but I’m going to try. If a sentence or two could capture God’s desire for each of us, it might read like this:

God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.

God loves you just the way you are. If you think his love for you would be stronger if your faith were, you are wrong. If you think his love would be deeper if your thoughts were, wrong again. Don’t confuse God’s love with the love of people. The love of people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. Not so much with God’s love. He loves you right where you are.

Looking Back

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven bound in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

What are your thoughts as you look back over the last year? Was it a year of heartache and loss, tragedy and sorrow? Or happiness and joy, success and achievement? Or something in between? Do you close the book on this year with regret, or with relief?

No matter what your answer is, I hope you will pause and prayerfully ask yourself two important questions. First, how do you think God looks on this past year in your life? Did it being you any closer to Him? Did it expose any weaknesses, or find you wandering from His way? Was He disappointed in your response to its challenges?

Second, what lessons will you take from this year into the next? What did God teach you? What did He try to teach you? What needs to change – and how will it happen?

Don’t be bound by the past and its failures; Paul’s goal was to forget the past and press on in obedience to Christ. But don’t forget its lessons either.