Daniel had the proper resolution in Daniel 1:8.
"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine,..."
He had the proper response in Daniel 2:14.
"When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact."
Thirdly, Daniel had and knew the proper reward for himself in Daniel 5:17.
"Then Daniel answered the king, 'You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means."
But Daniel did not get a chance to even react to the charges brought against him in Daniel 6:16. "So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den." However, it is interesting to note that the king at that time, King Darius, must have liked Daniel because Scripture previous to that says, "When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him."(Daniel 6:14)
When I first read this verse, I thought - Really?! The king cannot make a new law that would save his friend? The king even seemingly knew Daniel's history with run-ins with the law and miraculous rescues because - "The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!' " (Daniel 6:16) With this previous knowledge and extended effort to keep Daniel from the sentence to come, by the king himself, this situation was NOT reversible. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, "a stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed." (Dan. 6:17) During the night, the king could not sleep, could not eat, and did not have any entertainment that night because of this situation and how he felt about it.
The culprits that began this whole disturbance were the administrators and satraps of Babylon. Daniel was up for a promotion of the biggest kind - one that would place him over the entire kingdom (Daniel 6:3). Guess who did not care for the king's pick? So, their plan consisted of trying to trap both Daniel and the King. The only way, they figured, to do that was to mix Daniel's belief with a new law made by the King that clashed with both Daniel's faith and Babylon's political/religious system - then catch him at violating the new law. Their plan worked, but my message throughout this writing is - for a reason.
God sent an angel and shut the mouths of the lions during the night. Daniel probably slept just fine with lions being tamed to that of house cats by one of God's heavenly agents. The next morning the King was elated when he found out Daniel was still alive and had Daniel lifted out of the den. The only time Daniel speaks is in response to the king's inquiry about his condition in the den before he is hoisted up, "Daniel answered, 'O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
Notice how Daniel answers the king's question but then adds his own displeasure or by-the-way statement at the end and I don't blame him - "Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
Add guilt for Daniel's innocence to the already mounting emotions the king might be feeling toward the administrators and satraps and you have one part of God's plan about to see fruition - certain evil governmental officials eliminated. In fact, they and their families would receive the same sentence that Daniel was given - death by lions.
Another reason this played out was so that a decree in every part of the kingdom of Babylon, for people to fear and reverence the God of Daniel, would be initiated and executed. Thirdly, the experience was to personally prosper Daniel (Daniel 6:28).
Favor, is the key reason things played out the way they did in Daniel's life. God's favor toward Daniel was in direct relation to Daniel's proper living and within this life properly reacting in the beginning of his circumstances. Daniel received favor in the most elevated places of government. He was the sole interpreter of the king's dreams and visions which saw it's own rewards. And God saw to it that worship of Himself was allowed by His people while they were in pagan captivity - what an awesome God!
I say this for myself as well as for you the reader - the next time you are going through something you don't think you should be going through (maybe you don't even get a say in the matter, like Daniel), allow it to play out, being faithful to God and His way of living. It never hurts to pray it out while you play it out either, but the main thrust here is not to force any issue. Be observant as possible and be carefully selective with your words upfront in the situation. Then the God of Favor will bless you according to His will for your life.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
FAITH WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF ATTITUDE
Daniel's friends and brothers in the faith - Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were all insulted as captors by having their names changed. Their original names reflected their Jewish background or belief in Yahweh. The king now called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - after the gods the Babylonians worshiped. Then in chapter three of Daniel we read about a very proud King, Nebuchadnezzar, that sets up an image of himself to be worshiped whenever the musicians make a certain call on their instruments.
Whether or not the king knew he would get a certain reaction out of Daniel's friends is mere speculation. However, the decree was made, "the astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews" for not following the decree and the three Jewish captors were escorted in to the king's presence by a summon from the king himself.
And now behold, faith with attitude (in the presence of arrogance).
Wow! Who is the teachable moment for in this instance? Daniel's three friends all knew where they stood. It is the king that had the question(s) about the Judahite's faith and how far they would be willing to go for it. In addition, this was just one of many opportunities God used Daniel and/or his friends to try to reach the king. God still uses this faith with attitude to teach us many millenia later - who to stand for - God/Jesus, because He first loved us. When to stand for Him - all the time, even in the presence of a mighty king, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15). How to stand for Him - fearlessly to the death. Where to stand for Him - everywhere, everyone and everyplace needs to be saturated with the Gospel (Good News) about Jesus and His provision.
Ah! To have this kind of boldness. To have this kind of faith with the right kind of attitude. Let it be said of me, my Lord, amen.
Whether or not the king knew he would get a certain reaction out of Daniel's friends is mere speculation. However, the decree was made, "the astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews" for not following the decree and the three Jewish captors were escorted in to the king's presence by a summon from the king himself.
"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? .......if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
And now behold, faith with attitude (in the presence of arrogance).
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from you hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:14-18)
Wow! Who is the teachable moment for in this instance? Daniel's three friends all knew where they stood. It is the king that had the question(s) about the Judahite's faith and how far they would be willing to go for it. In addition, this was just one of many opportunities God used Daniel and/or his friends to try to reach the king. God still uses this faith with attitude to teach us many millenia later - who to stand for - God/Jesus, because He first loved us. When to stand for Him - all the time, even in the presence of a mighty king, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15). How to stand for Him - fearlessly to the death. Where to stand for Him - everywhere, everyone and everyplace needs to be saturated with the Gospel (Good News) about Jesus and His provision.
Ah! To have this kind of boldness. To have this kind of faith with the right kind of attitude. Let it be said of me, my Lord, amen.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
DANIEL'S RESPONSE
Daniel 2:14 - 49
Daniel was not around for the ordeal that took place between his highly advanced-in-knowledge staff and the king of Babylon.
Talk about being on the short end of the stick! Daniel did not even hear that he, his Jewish brothers, and his Babylonian counterparts were sentenced to death until almost the last minute.
Daniel's approach in Scripture is what initially halted a whole cabinet of officials and potential knowledge from certain death. Verse 14 says, "Daniel spoke to him [Arioch, commander of the king's guard] with wisdom and tact."
Daniel then "asked the king's officer" (v.15) about Arioch's charge, sought the king's presence and "asked for time" (v.16) so that he may fulfill the desire of the king to both speak the dream and it's interpretation. Then he got a prayer team organized (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) and asked, actually Daniel instructed his brothers - "plead for mercy from the God of Heaven concerning this mystery" (v.18). God came through. He answered their cry. The dream, once inside the king's head, was now revealed to Daniel's mind and the interpretation as well.
So Daniel seeks an audience with the king and reveals what God has revealed to him. The result? You can't fail when God gives you the answer(s). In addition, to being correct, observe what happened afterward -
"Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, 'Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.
Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court." (vv. 46-49)
And to think all this started with Daniel's response to a dire situation that he was removed from, relating extremely well with those in authority, not challenging, but asking the right question to the right people in the right positions - "Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact."
How I hope and pray for the same kind of "wisdom and tact" in and out of times of great stress. What charisma this man had!
DANIEL'S RESOLVE
Daniel 1:6-20
The phrase "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" (v.8) implies to me he was not happy with his name change and those of his fellow Jewish brothers (v.7).
God rewarded Daniel's resolve not to defile himself by causing the official to show "favor and sympathy to Daniel" (v.9), by supporting Daniel in a ten-day test of a particular diet, and by giving "knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning" (v.17), plus the understanding of "visions and dreams of all kinds" (v.17) to Daniel.
Daniel found what he could control and dedicated that to God. In the midst of Daniel's captivity in Babylon and after a recent slap-in-the-face name change, God honored Daniel's resolve and Daniel's concern for the official's life. The official was afraid that the diet would make the Jewish men appear undernourished, therefore his life would be required of him by the king. But Daniel set up the ten-day test with him and God supernaturally honored this concern. Great knowledge and understanding were granted Daniel and his team. So rewarded was Daniel that the Scripture says,
"In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." (v.20)
Imagine how God may choose to reward us if we will gut-out of our lives that which is defiling, ugly, sinful, and non-eternally productive to and for God. He has got an awesome plan for our lives and when we learn to get out of the way or at least remove defilements so He can move through us, life is much more meaningful!
The phrase "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine" (v.8) implies to me he was not happy with his name change and those of his fellow Jewish brothers (v.7).
God rewarded Daniel's resolve not to defile himself by causing the official to show "favor and sympathy to Daniel" (v.9), by supporting Daniel in a ten-day test of a particular diet, and by giving "knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning" (v.17), plus the understanding of "visions and dreams of all kinds" (v.17) to Daniel.
Daniel found what he could control and dedicated that to God. In the midst of Daniel's captivity in Babylon and after a recent slap-in-the-face name change, God honored Daniel's resolve and Daniel's concern for the official's life. The official was afraid that the diet would make the Jewish men appear undernourished, therefore his life would be required of him by the king. But Daniel set up the ten-day test with him and God supernaturally honored this concern. Great knowledge and understanding were granted Daniel and his team. So rewarded was Daniel that the Scripture says,
"In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom." (v.20)
Imagine how God may choose to reward us if we will gut-out of our lives that which is defiling, ugly, sinful, and non-eternally productive to and for God. He has got an awesome plan for our lives and when we learn to get out of the way or at least remove defilements so He can move through us, life is much more meaningful!
Monday, May 2, 2011
ARE YOU OUT OF DEBT?
Have you ever owed so much that you may be spending the rest of your life repaying your debt(s)? Have you ever been so indebted that no amount of time you have could ever help pay back the debt?
The obvious area of our lives that comes to mind concerning debt is money. Unfortunately, money, instead of love, is what makes this world go 'round. However, there are many other things that we can be indebted too. Such things as priceless advice, from an invaluable person, right on time to give us direction - how do you pay that back? Other areas we can be indebted too are time, energy, and talents. Many of the handicapped community will never be able to get beyond a hug or simple "thank you" offered back to those caretakers who pour loads of time and energy and talents into care and hopefully cures. For them it is hard to pay back in full.
Then there is someone who pushes you out of the way of a Mack truck and dies instead of you. You can't pay him/her back. Or can you? You may visit his/her grave every year and care for the his/her family as your own. You could also go on living remembering him/her every day in some form or fashion.
Apply the Mack truck picture spiritually and what a hit the human race took through our collision with sin!
Through our original rebellion/disobedience we took on all the wages/debt of sin, which the penalty if you could not pay the debt was death physically and spiritually. No amount of righteous deeds or attempting to follow a divine Law to the T would be able to repay this debt. Everyone would eventually slip, do a mistake, lie, cheat.....sin. Nobody could ever live life perfectly. Nobody could satisfy the sin debt - the payment required to cancel the debt. There were great men and women who lived and supplied humanity with ways of living but they did not take care of the debt owed to God for our original rebellion and continual disobedience. Even spiritual beings could not pay the ultimate price required to take away the sin of every human past, present, and future.
Hell was not originally meant for us, but for all the angels that fell with the rebellion of Lucifer (2 Peter 2:4). Now because God cannot tolerate sin and will not have it in His immediate presence and His Heaven, humans are also co-signed to hell because when Adam and Eve rebelled/disobeyed sin effected the nature of the whole human race and the creation they were stewards over. Angels were not made in the image of God and nobody was around to tempt Lucifer into rebellion, which makes his judgment and all the angels with him FINAL. Humanity, however, was made in God's image and we were tempted, which means if another way was presented it could be the saving grace for our dilemma. It took, none other than, The Creator becoming His creation, His image/likeness - living a perfect life, dying a sacrificial death, and victoriously raising from the dead - to purchase that option, that saving grace, for us.
Enter - John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
You have a lot of questions answered in this verse. Why did God sacrifice Jesus? Because He "so loved the world". What did it cost? It cost Father God "His one and only Son". Who does this "love" or sacrifice really address? Salvation is for "whosoever believes in Him". The reward for choosing this love gift/sacrifice and way of life? Choosing Christ means you "will not perish but have everlasting life".
Yet put one more way...
Father God sent Jesus, the Son of God, the Word of God, to be the one to live the perfect life, teach how we should live, pay for our healing and the sins of the world with His beatings, crucifixion and death, then conquer death, hell, and the grave to seal the deal and prove His divine mastery over everything. That is what it took and there was no other person qualified for the mission - Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ.
I cannot begin to imagine, without help, the magnitude of those moments when the sins, the wrath, the judgment was starting to be poured out on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. That visual help comes in Mark 14:32-42 where Jesus is seen crying out to Father God three times for this "cup to be taken from Him". Jesus is even strengthened by an angel during this time so that He can endure all the more what He has to endure (Luke 22:43-44). Still concerning the aide of angels, Jesus said in Matthew 26:53 - "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions [72,000] of angels?" Then the ultimate test - although He could have come down from the Cross, He did not. "Oh What A Savior, Oh Hallelujah...." (Sounds like a great song)
The obvious area of our lives that comes to mind concerning debt is money. Unfortunately, money, instead of love, is what makes this world go 'round. However, there are many other things that we can be indebted too. Such things as priceless advice, from an invaluable person, right on time to give us direction - how do you pay that back? Other areas we can be indebted too are time, energy, and talents. Many of the handicapped community will never be able to get beyond a hug or simple "thank you" offered back to those caretakers who pour loads of time and energy and talents into care and hopefully cures. For them it is hard to pay back in full.
Then there is someone who pushes you out of the way of a Mack truck and dies instead of you. You can't pay him/her back. Or can you? You may visit his/her grave every year and care for the his/her family as your own. You could also go on living remembering him/her every day in some form or fashion.
Apply the Mack truck picture spiritually and what a hit the human race took through our collision with sin!
Through our original rebellion/disobedience we took on all the wages/debt of sin, which the penalty if you could not pay the debt was death physically and spiritually. No amount of righteous deeds or attempting to follow a divine Law to the T would be able to repay this debt. Everyone would eventually slip, do a mistake, lie, cheat.....sin. Nobody could ever live life perfectly. Nobody could satisfy the sin debt - the payment required to cancel the debt. There were great men and women who lived and supplied humanity with ways of living but they did not take care of the debt owed to God for our original rebellion and continual disobedience. Even spiritual beings could not pay the ultimate price required to take away the sin of every human past, present, and future.
Hell was not originally meant for us, but for all the angels that fell with the rebellion of Lucifer (2 Peter 2:4). Now because God cannot tolerate sin and will not have it in His immediate presence and His Heaven, humans are also co-signed to hell because when Adam and Eve rebelled/disobeyed sin effected the nature of the whole human race and the creation they were stewards over. Angels were not made in the image of God and nobody was around to tempt Lucifer into rebellion, which makes his judgment and all the angels with him FINAL. Humanity, however, was made in God's image and we were tempted, which means if another way was presented it could be the saving grace for our dilemma. It took, none other than, The Creator becoming His creation, His image/likeness - living a perfect life, dying a sacrificial death, and victoriously raising from the dead - to purchase that option, that saving grace, for us.
Enter - John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
You have a lot of questions answered in this verse. Why did God sacrifice Jesus? Because He "so loved the world". What did it cost? It cost Father God "His one and only Son". Who does this "love" or sacrifice really address? Salvation is for "whosoever believes in Him". The reward for choosing this love gift/sacrifice and way of life? Choosing Christ means you "will not perish but have everlasting life".
Yet put one more way...
Father God sent Jesus, the Son of God, the Word of God, to be the one to live the perfect life, teach how we should live, pay for our healing and the sins of the world with His beatings, crucifixion and death, then conquer death, hell, and the grave to seal the deal and prove His divine mastery over everything. That is what it took and there was no other person qualified for the mission - Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ.
I cannot begin to imagine, without help, the magnitude of those moments when the sins, the wrath, the judgment was starting to be poured out on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. That visual help comes in Mark 14:32-42 where Jesus is seen crying out to Father God three times for this "cup to be taken from Him". Jesus is even strengthened by an angel during this time so that He can endure all the more what He has to endure (Luke 22:43-44). Still concerning the aide of angels, Jesus said in Matthew 26:53 - "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions [72,000] of angels?" Then the ultimate test - although He could have come down from the Cross, He did not. "Oh What A Savior, Oh Hallelujah...." (Sounds like a great song)
Oh What A Savior
Once I was straying in sin's dark valley
No hope within could I see
But they search through Heaven and found a Savior
To save a poor lost soul like me
Chorus
Oh what a Savior! Oh Hallelujah!
His heart was broken on Calvary.
His hands were nail-scared, His side was driven
He gave His life's blood for even me
Death's chilly waters, I'll soon be crossing
His hands will lead me, safe o're
I'll join the chorus in that great city
And sing up there forever more
______________________________________________________________________
God the Father has sent the full expression of His Love, Jesus, to us and paid the Debt in full. We still have to choose. Choose to acknowledge our eternal debt. Choose to accept Jesus for who He is - The Son of God. Choose to accept what Jesus did for me, for all of us and believe that we are a new creature because of what He did and Because He Lives (Sounds like another awesome song).
Because He Lives
God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives!
And then one day, I'll cross that river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of Glory and I'll know He lives!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
GOD AND HIS MIND
God NEVER changes, BUT His mind seems to.
A little more to the blog CAN WE REALLY CHANGE GOD'S MIND (Things That Make You Go Hmmm).
There are a handful of Scriptural passages that speak to God not changing. The most well-known, at least in my mind, is Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Another one is Numbers 28:19 - "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind."
In addition, Psalm 110:4 - "The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
The theme continues in Malachi 3:6 - "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."
The New Testament gets involved with the previously mentioned Hebrew passage and James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
BUT THEN along comes Jeremiah 18:7-10 and makes you think. The LORD says,
"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it."
This conditional statement of possible reconsideration leads me to believe God may be influenced to change His mind, especially, when He was the one who stated the "if...then" formula to begin with and in light of the word "reconsider". If you observe the other verses that I have sited, you will note that the Hebrews, Malachi, and James text do not refer at all to God's mind. The Psalm 110:4 passage is speaking to a specific decision and not to God's overall decision-making process. Another Scripture passage to consider that is not mentioned is Genesis 18:16-33. Here, Abraham attempts to influence the Lord's decision to destroy Sodom because his nephew Lot lives there. This bartering or negotiating with God seems to be working until we get to the end and find out that there are not even ten righteous people in the cities. But God is still merciful to Lot. Numbers 28:19, however, poses an interesting ponderment.
To start off, the first part of "God is not a man, that he should lie" - "God is not a man" - is interesting because later in history God becomes man in Jesus. The second part is interesting too, it reads "nor a son of man, that he should change his mind". One of the titles Jesus held was Son of Man as well as Son of God. The way in which my spirit-man interprets "nor...that he should change his mind" in this verse is nor...that He should be wishy-washy in His decisions with everything, all the time, especially us.
According to the Jeremiah passage mentioned above, I read and hear God's essence does not change, but His mind on certain matters can change. After the last word of that verse I can see and hear God tacking on - I have the right and reserve the right to change my mind - for my decisions are righteous in justice and schedule - perfect in fairness and timing.
So, is God the same yesterday, today, and forever? His nature is. He may change His mind, but it will always be in line with His nature. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5 There is nothing that we can say or do to ever force God into any decision. God is going to do what God is going to do. However, it is very comforting to know that God is going to hear our (the believer's) prayer or petition because of His promise to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and because of the high price He paid to be our Mediator (Hebrews 9:15).
Here's a little extra - did God know about the change of mind beforehand? Is the Jeremiah 18:7-10 statement in the Bible and the portrayal of God as a God that can be influenced really a show, at least to God Himself? Another "Bunny Trail" for another day.
A little more to the blog CAN WE REALLY CHANGE GOD'S MIND (Things That Make You Go Hmmm).
There are a handful of Scriptural passages that speak to God not changing. The most well-known, at least in my mind, is Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Another one is Numbers 28:19 - "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind."
In addition, Psalm 110:4 - "The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
The theme continues in Malachi 3:6 - "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."
The New Testament gets involved with the previously mentioned Hebrew passage and James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
BUT THEN along comes Jeremiah 18:7-10 and makes you think. The LORD says,
"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it."
This conditional statement of possible reconsideration leads me to believe God may be influenced to change His mind, especially, when He was the one who stated the "if...then" formula to begin with and in light of the word "reconsider". If you observe the other verses that I have sited, you will note that the Hebrews, Malachi, and James text do not refer at all to God's mind. The Psalm 110:4 passage is speaking to a specific decision and not to God's overall decision-making process. Another Scripture passage to consider that is not mentioned is Genesis 18:16-33. Here, Abraham attempts to influence the Lord's decision to destroy Sodom because his nephew Lot lives there. This bartering or negotiating with God seems to be working until we get to the end and find out that there are not even ten righteous people in the cities. But God is still merciful to Lot. Numbers 28:19, however, poses an interesting ponderment.
To start off, the first part of "God is not a man, that he should lie" - "God is not a man" - is interesting because later in history God becomes man in Jesus. The second part is interesting too, it reads "nor a son of man, that he should change his mind". One of the titles Jesus held was Son of Man as well as Son of God. The way in which my spirit-man interprets "nor...that he should change his mind" in this verse is nor...that He should be wishy-washy in His decisions with everything, all the time, especially us.
According to the Jeremiah passage mentioned above, I read and hear God's essence does not change, but His mind on certain matters can change. After the last word of that verse I can see and hear God tacking on - I have the right and reserve the right to change my mind - for my decisions are righteous in justice and schedule - perfect in fairness and timing.
So, is God the same yesterday, today, and forever? His nature is. He may change His mind, but it will always be in line with His nature. "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5 There is nothing that we can say or do to ever force God into any decision. God is going to do what God is going to do. However, it is very comforting to know that God is going to hear our (the believer's) prayer or petition because of His promise to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and because of the high price He paid to be our Mediator (Hebrews 9:15).
Here's a little extra - did God know about the change of mind beforehand? Is the Jeremiah 18:7-10 statement in the Bible and the portrayal of God as a God that can be influenced really a show, at least to God Himself? Another "Bunny Trail" for another day.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
FORGIVENESS - NOT A SUGGESTION
I need forgiveness. I feel like I am worse than Paul, at times, when it comes to being the worse sinner of us all.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." - Romans 7:15, 17,18
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." - 1 Timothy 1:16
What is the difference between forgiveness provided by Christ through His death on the cross and the forgiveness He says He will NOT give unless we forgive others? How is it that a believer can be saved/born again, his/her sins forgiven, the penalty of sin paid for in full and yet God says He will hold sins against them if they do not forgive others? How does this translate? If we forget or choose not to forgive and Christ returns, does our unforgiveness merit a mark against our works for the kingdom?
Paramount to receiving forgiveness is to give forgiveness. This teaching is found in many Scripture passages.
Matthew 6:15 says, "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Mark 11:25 says, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Luke 6:37 says, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
John 20:23 says, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
2 Corinthians 2:10 says, "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,"
Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
This teaching goes right in line with another piece of Scripture, Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." If we could all keep this in the forefront of our mind, forgiveness would come to us easier - as would a lot of other virtues. If it is important enough to say blatantly in seven passages of the Bible then I think God thinks it important too.
The story of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35 is a lesson on forgiveness. The Lord's concluding remarks - "This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." - should set off bells and whistles, red flags and the like to take notice of why Father God would treat believers like this or what would warrant such a reaction from God.
"Each subject in a parable is symbolic. The master represents the Lord, the servant is you and I, and the fellow servant is the one who sins against you. The debt is our sin, the prison is whatever emotion locks up our reason, and the jailer who tortures us is Satan.
Please understand that failure to forgive each other doesn't suspend our salvation. Salvation is not behavior driven like this parable is. Salvation is belief driven. What's being suspended until the debt is repaid is the relationship. The servant doesn't stop being a servant. [And us as Sons and Daughters doesn't stop being thus - my words.] He no longer has access to the master, and the jailer now has access to him, but the implication is that once the debt is repaid he'll be restored to the master's good graces.
It helps when you see that there are 2 levels of forgiveness; one that comes through belief and one that is the result of behavior. The first is the forgiveness that the Lord purchased with His life. ...the other level, what I call fellowship. Fellowship is temporal, carries earthly benefits, and is subject to interruption. God can't relate to us while our hearts are full of anger, lust, envy, greed, or any other of the destructive human emotions that imprison us, because during those times we're like the unmerciful servant, needing discipline. In the context of the parable, He's still our Master and we're still His servants, but we can't enjoy the full benefits of the relationship. Something's come between us that has to be resolved before we can go on. More often than not, it's our failure to forgive someone who's wronged us.
Depending on the intensity of our emotions and the determination with which we justify and cling to them, we may lose out on blessings and experience other deprivations like the limited loss of protection from our enemy. Justified or not, these emotions are called sin in the Bible. They make us impure and give the enemy access to us. The Lord permits this access (Job 1:12). Being unable to tolerate the presence of sin and unwilling to interfere with our choices, He can't do otherwise. But as soon as we ask, we're forgiven and the sin is forgotten, the price having been paid at the cross and we're back in fellowship. Then the Lord turns that which Satan had intended as torment into a blessing, showing that all is forgiven (Job 42:10-17).
The next parts of the equation to forgiveness are - repenting, and the difference from forgiving. In addition, is there a limit to our forgiveness of others?
"The word repent means to change your mind, not your behavior. That's why the Lord said, 'If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent', forgive him.' It's also why in Matthew 18:22 He corrected Peter 'not 7 times, but 70 times 7.' both passages cover repetitive commission of the same sins as well as sequential commission of different ones.
When we say the sinner's prayer, we're admitting that we can never meet God's requirements and need someone to intercede for us. We ask the Lord Jesus to intercede and be our Savior. He agrees to do this, not because we promise never to sin again, but because we admit we can't stop sinning." (Jack Kelley)
And that is the rub. This is a view of the height from which we have fallen. When we, as a race through Adam and Eve, disobeyed God, sin did not only enter into humanity and creation - it became our natural tendency. We gravitated toward and still gravitate toward things that would feed our sinful nature. Our normal operating procedure does not include God or His ways.
"All of us are living in deliberate and open sin because in each human life there is observable behavior that violates God's word and is knowingly and willfully repeated. It's not that we discover one sin in our behavior and root it out only to be made aware of another. We deliberately repeat the same sinful behavior over and over. If we could progressively root out and eliminate the sins in our lives we could eventually stop sinning and wouldn't need a savior. Somehow we've come to believe that repent means to stop doing something, and if we don't stop doing it, then we haven't repented and therefore don't qualify for forgiveness. If that's true and the required salvation sequence is to repent and be saved, then none of us is saved, because none of us has stopped sinning." (Jack Kelley)
In the Old Testament, God reached out to humanity with rules, regulations, and guidelines to follow for their benefit. In the New Testament, God in the flesh, as a lowly servant, is displayed and exemplifies the life to follow and teaches how to live, promising that once He leaves He will send the Comforter, the one whom will lead you, guide you, and direct you in all truth - the Holy Spirit. The next manifestation and extension of His reach will be in the Millennium from His throne. Still, because of our "faulty wiring", their will be those, making it through the Tribulation Period, who reject the rule of King Jesus. Jack Kelley states this same thought as follows -
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." - Romans 7:15, 17,18
"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." - 1 Timothy 1:16
What is the difference between forgiveness provided by Christ through His death on the cross and the forgiveness He says He will NOT give unless we forgive others? How is it that a believer can be saved/born again, his/her sins forgiven, the penalty of sin paid for in full and yet God says He will hold sins against them if they do not forgive others? How does this translate? If we forget or choose not to forgive and Christ returns, does our unforgiveness merit a mark against our works for the kingdom?
Paramount to receiving forgiveness is to give forgiveness. This teaching is found in many Scripture passages.
Matthew 6:15 says, "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Mark 11:25 says, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Luke 6:37 says, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
John 20:23 says, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
2 Corinthians 2:10 says, "If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,"
Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
This teaching goes right in line with another piece of Scripture, Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." If we could all keep this in the forefront of our mind, forgiveness would come to us easier - as would a lot of other virtues. If it is important enough to say blatantly in seven passages of the Bible then I think God thinks it important too.
The story of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35 is a lesson on forgiveness. The Lord's concluding remarks - "This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." - should set off bells and whistles, red flags and the like to take notice of why Father God would treat believers like this or what would warrant such a reaction from God.
"Each subject in a parable is symbolic. The master represents the Lord, the servant is you and I, and the fellow servant is the one who sins against you. The debt is our sin, the prison is whatever emotion locks up our reason, and the jailer who tortures us is Satan.
Please understand that failure to forgive each other doesn't suspend our salvation. Salvation is not behavior driven like this parable is. Salvation is belief driven. What's being suspended until the debt is repaid is the relationship. The servant doesn't stop being a servant. [And us as Sons and Daughters doesn't stop being thus - my words.] He no longer has access to the master, and the jailer now has access to him, but the implication is that once the debt is repaid he'll be restored to the master's good graces.
It helps when you see that there are 2 levels of forgiveness; one that comes through belief and one that is the result of behavior. The first is the forgiveness that the Lord purchased with His life. ...the other level, what I call fellowship. Fellowship is temporal, carries earthly benefits, and is subject to interruption. God can't relate to us while our hearts are full of anger, lust, envy, greed, or any other of the destructive human emotions that imprison us, because during those times we're like the unmerciful servant, needing discipline. In the context of the parable, He's still our Master and we're still His servants, but we can't enjoy the full benefits of the relationship. Something's come between us that has to be resolved before we can go on. More often than not, it's our failure to forgive someone who's wronged us.
Depending on the intensity of our emotions and the determination with which we justify and cling to them, we may lose out on blessings and experience other deprivations like the limited loss of protection from our enemy. Justified or not, these emotions are called sin in the Bible. They make us impure and give the enemy access to us. The Lord permits this access (Job 1:12). Being unable to tolerate the presence of sin and unwilling to interfere with our choices, He can't do otherwise. But as soon as we ask, we're forgiven and the sin is forgotten, the price having been paid at the cross and we're back in fellowship. Then the Lord turns that which Satan had intended as torment into a blessing, showing that all is forgiven (Job 42:10-17).
Complicated by human standards, it's exquisitely simple by God's. When wronged by a brother, you suffer. By staying angry and refusing to forgive, you wrong your brother and suffer again. But when you forgive him he is convicted and he suffers. In Rom 12:17-21, Paul says it's like heaping burning coals on his head. Meanwhile, the Lord takes the anger from your heart, restores you to fellowship with Him, and gives you peace. When you punish someone by failing to forgive them, do you realize you're the one who suffers most?
(Jack Kelley, Forgiveness article, http://www.raptureready/)The next parts of the equation to forgiveness are - repenting, and the difference from forgiving. In addition, is there a limit to our forgiveness of others?
"The word repent means to change your mind, not your behavior. That's why the Lord said, 'If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent', forgive him.' It's also why in Matthew 18:22 He corrected Peter 'not 7 times, but 70 times 7.' both passages cover repetitive commission of the same sins as well as sequential commission of different ones.
Just as repent doesn't mean, "I'll never do it again," forgive doesn't mean, "It's OK to do it again." Remember forgive means to lay aside or leave alone. Neither word is behavior driven. Both are perception driven. Jesus doesn't condone sin, but if we've accepted His remedy for our sins and confess (1 John 1:9) He chooses to leave it alone. He's done that for us because we asked Him, and now He asks us to do likewise for each other.
When we say the sinner's prayer, we're admitting that we can never meet God's requirements and need someone to intercede for us. We ask the Lord Jesus to intercede and be our Savior. He agrees to do this, not because we promise never to sin again, but because we admit we can't stop sinning." (Jack Kelley)
And that is the rub. This is a view of the height from which we have fallen. When we, as a race through Adam and Eve, disobeyed God, sin did not only enter into humanity and creation - it became our natural tendency. We gravitated toward and still gravitate toward things that would feed our sinful nature. Our normal operating procedure does not include God or His ways.
"All of us are living in deliberate and open sin because in each human life there is observable behavior that violates God's word and is knowingly and willfully repeated. It's not that we discover one sin in our behavior and root it out only to be made aware of another. We deliberately repeat the same sinful behavior over and over. If we could progressively root out and eliminate the sins in our lives we could eventually stop sinning and wouldn't need a savior. Somehow we've come to believe that repent means to stop doing something, and if we don't stop doing it, then we haven't repented and therefore don't qualify for forgiveness. If that's true and the required salvation sequence is to repent and be saved, then none of us is saved, because none of us has stopped sinning." (Jack Kelley)
In the Old Testament, God reached out to humanity with rules, regulations, and guidelines to follow for their benefit. In the New Testament, God in the flesh, as a lowly servant, is displayed and exemplifies the life to follow and teaches how to live, promising that once He leaves He will send the Comforter, the one whom will lead you, guide you, and direct you in all truth - the Holy Spirit. The next manifestation and extension of His reach will be in the Millennium from His throne. Still, because of our "faulty wiring", their will be those, making it through the Tribulation Period, who reject the rule of King Jesus. Jack Kelley states this same thought as follows -
"In the Old Testament the emphasis was on obedience. The principle was behave or you won't be rewarded. And even with the threat of eternal punishment people still couldn't be good enough for God. In the New Testament the emphasis is on faith. Now the principle is behave because you will be rewarded and people still can't be good enough. In the Millennium the emphasis will be on experience. The principle then will be behave because you are being rewarded. Satan will be bound, God will live among His people and rule the world, the curse will be removed, and a Utopian life will be at hand. All of man's excuses for sinning will be gone. But at the end of that age, the people that God hasn't supernaturally perfected will rebel against Him. The underlying message of the whole Bible is that there is no circumstance in which mankind can achieve the standard God requires. Living in sin is a state of being, not just a state of rebellion. That's why we need a Savior."
Again, a great example of how to walk in forgiveness is to observe the awesomeness of Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." If we could all draw an attitude out of this action by Christ of "while our brothers and sisters are still sinners and doing us wrong we will choose to forgive them" I think that would go a long way in all the relationships we hold, especially our relationship with God.
"...in a parable from Luke 7:41-43. Two men owed money to a certain money lender. One owed 2 years pay and the other owed 2 months. Neither could pay so the money lender canceled both debts. Completing the story, the Lord asked, "Which one will love the money lender most?" Simon the Pharisee answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." Good answer. He who has been forgiven much, loves much. Have we been forgiven much? "As I have loved you," the Lord said, "You must love one another" (John 13:34, 15:12 and 9 other places). He could just as easily have said, “As I have forgiven you, you must forgive one another." (Jack Kelley)
Do you want good health? Favor? Do you desire to be in the middle of God's will, executing His plan for your life? If you seek these and more in your life but are not receiving quality feedback (i.e. audible voice, writings on the wall, etc..), one area of your life to start looking at is forgiveness. Is there anyone whom I have not forgiven? Freedom, restored relationship(s), and many other benefits are waiting after you effectively deal with that question. No matter whether the offender has sought our forgiveness or not, forgiveness is encouraged (Ro.12:17-21). This sets your house/heart in order and frees you from the bondage of never hearing an apology. Forgiveness, a commanded lifestyle not a suggestion.
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