Easter: Celebrating Forgiveness

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,” he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.  His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused.  Matthew 18: 23-30

This may seem like a strange passage to read on Easter Sunday.  But here is why this passage is significant.  We celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.  But let’s take a moment to reflect on why He died in the first place.

Jesus was and is our sacrificial lamb.  He died in our place.  And with His death, we receive (daily) the greatest gift we will ever receive.  Forgiveness.  The burden of our sinfulness is continually being washed away.  We have become cleansed – sanctified – holy.  If we don’t pass on that same gift of forgiveness to others then His death and sacrifice was in vain. 

The servant in the above passage didn’t understand the gift that was given to him by the king.  It was wasted on him and the king became angry.

This Easter, let’s do more than celebrate Christ’s resurrection, let’s celebrate the gift of a forgiven life by forgiving those around us so that His death will not have been in vain.

Find Your Voice and Share It

I'm currently reading the devotional book, Draw The Circle by Mark Batterson.  This morning I read the chapter entitled "Get a Testimony".  I believe it's true when he says that people are encouraged by or drawn to God through other people's testimonies.

We can read about God, take Bible study after Bible study and still not be drawn as close to God as when we hear someone's first-hand account of how God has worked in their life.

A person's testimony reveals to us not just that God "can" but that He DOES.  And when we see that He "does" in someone else's life it spurs our hope that He "will" in our life. 

Mark also mentioned in his book something that really struck me.  He said "we get a testimony by being tested."  I know - it seems incredibly elementary seeing as how the word "test" is actually in "testimony" and yet this simple sentence gave me a whole new perspective on my trials.

We will have trials in life.  It's a given fact.  But what will we do with those trials?  Will we get through them and never speak of them again?  Does this mean all the pain was in vain?  Or will we use our trials as an opportunity to glorify God, encourage others, strengthen our faith and build someone else's?

Testimonies don't just occur through trials.  They also occur through the abundant blessings God lavishes on us.  What a shame we don't spread the riches and wonder of being a child of God.  People need to know that following God doesn't mean we're all tight-faced, grumpy rule followers.  People need to see by our testimonies that following God is a joyful experience.  How will they know if we don't tell them?

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done, 

and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Isaiah 12: 4-5

Find your testimony and share it.

Basking in His Delight

Praying The Scriptures

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

Father, I thank you so much that you are forever with me.  You never leave my side even when I doubt - even when I'm frustrated - even when I throw a temper-tantrum.  My heart and my life belong to you and because of that your love for me is so strong and so complete that leaving me behind is not even an option.  Thank you for being better at loving than I am.  

And if that wasn't enough, your love leads you to take great delight in me.  To be honest - sometimes I can't imagine that because of my sin.  But - despite my sin you rejoice over me with singing because I have chosen you - I have chosen you to be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer!  And because of that - there is singing and dancing as you prepare a home for me.

Father, You not only have saved my soul and claimed it for eternity but you are my biggest defender here in this earthly life.  Sometimes I try to fight all the battles that come my way.  Some battles are just to big for me and some battles you never intended for me to fight.  Help me to let go and let you defend me. You are more than willing and I thank you.  I praise you for your power and might.

I love you, Father.  Thanks for loving me.  Amen.

Praying the Focused Life

Praying The Scriptures

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you." declares the Lord.  Jeremiah 29:11-14

Gracious heavenly Father, I praise your holy name.  You are all-knowing.  You have a plan and gratefully, I am a part of it.  Your love knows no ends.  I know this verse can be misinterpreted to mean we will never have any troubles.  But I know and believe that when we truly seek you your plans for us will flourish.  Yes, we will have troubles in this earthly life but you are more concerned about the safety and well-being of our eternal soul.  With you - no harm will come to our soul.  Our future is bright and our destiny is secured.

Father, help me to be more diligent in seeking you.  Life has a way of distracting me with busyness and laziness.  Help me to focus my eyes and my heart on you.  When the direction of my eyes are set, the path I'm supposed to take will become more clear.  I love that the more we seek you the more you listen to us.  If we're not serious in having a relationship with you, you're not necessarily interested in listening to our empty words.  Help me to have a heart filled with you and a desire to live for you.

The more I am found by you, Father, the more others can find you in me.  May your glory be seen shining through me. Amen!

Praying the Worthy Life

Praying The Scriptures

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  (Eph. 4:1-6)

Dear heavenly Father, I want nothing more than to live a life worthy of the calling I have received.  A life that's pleasing to you - one that glorifies you and one where I truly live as a conduit passing your blessings on to other people.  I admit - sometimes I find confusion in the specific details of your calling but I pray that the details (or lack thereof) don't prevent me from recognizing the God-glorifying opportunities around me.

I pray that my attitude in service is always what it should be.  Just as there's a danger of me thinking more highly of myself than I should, there's also a danger of me thinking too lowly of myself.  In either case - the possibility of conflict can arise when serving with others.  Help me to keep a humble and gentle spirit and to be patient with others.  Help me to strive to keep the unity of the Spirit alive through the bond of peace.  Help me to focus on the goal.  

Father, I know we have enough battles to face in this world.  We don't need to allow ourselves to be distracted by fighting our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are family and you are the Father of us all. You are in all - and through all.

May your love and patience abound in us. Amen.