From 2009

I stumbled across this old blog from 2009 - it didn't have a graphic so I did a screen shot of this 7/23/2022 @ 11:16 am strictly because of the first verse below and the current heat wave - where we are sitting under 89. Since the biblical message never changes, it is a small reminder that if we do certain things, God gives His response:

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; (2 Chronicles 7:13 KJV) 

 He can, you know, and has done so. Examples abound where God says “If” and explains the “Then”. The next verse in Chronicles, is a favorite and comes with a tremendous promise: 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV) 

Such is the gospel message: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (Ephesians 1:7-8 KJV) 

 This is what Christ sent His followers to do: 

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. (Luke 9:2, 6 KJV) 

If the message is received, then …? If it is not? 

And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. (Luke 9:4-5 KJV) 

Again, when He sent the seventy, the instructions were similar: 

And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. (Luke 10:6, 10-11 KJV) 

If, however, His message is rejected, then shall come a terrible result: 

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. (Luke 10:12 KJV)

I'll add one more, almost everyone knows this anyway, but it's always a good reminder:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

An awesome promise. Paul wrote what I think about this gift:

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

May God be with you as you read His word.

Forgiveness

 

“It’s a strange word, forgiveness,” he said. “I never really understood it until I studied Greek at the seminary. The Greek word in the Bible—aphiemi—means ‘to set free.’ When I heard that, I suddenly grasped what it was all about: forgiving is about freedom. It’s not just about pardoning the wrongdoer—it’s about releasing yourself from the power of what they did to you. Forgiving someone sets you free.”

That's a quote from "A Feather on the Water" by Lindsay Jayne Ashford. I finished the book this week, but this isn't a review of the book.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34 KJV)

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 KJV)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:4 KJV)

How do you forgive Dachau? Belsen Bergen? Ravensbrook? 

After we moved to Oklahoma in 1951, I ran across a black and white, glossy paper book, about 5"x7" that was nothing but photographs from concentration camps. The photo that first comes to mind is taken from a wall of an unnamed concentration camp overlooking a wide open flagstone area that women and children are running across. They were all running toward another building, all unclothed, women trying to cover themselves with their hands. 

They thought tthey were running toward showers. That was the reason given them to make them take off their clothes, but it was a lie. Every woman, every child, in that photograph taken by a German guard, would die in a room filled with zyklon B, the gas used at Dachau.

How does an individual forgive such atrocities? Corrie ten Boom told us in her book "The Hiding Place," and she showed us when she met a guard from Belsen Bergen. We forgive as we are forgiven. That frees us in such a way that we can actually pray for the soul of the person who did such terrible wrongs that are laid out in God's word, our Bible, and told to us by God's Word, His Son.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2 KJV)

Strong's G863 is ἀφίημι which is used 147 times in 133 verses in the New Testament (KJV) but not always as "forgive":

ἀφίημι aphíēmi, af-ee'-ay-mee; from G575 and ἵημι híēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eîmi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):—cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

When we forgive, we must send the hatred and fear away, forsake it, lay it aside, leave it alone, yield it up - mustn't we? Or we carry it with us. Absolutely appropriate actions when we forgive.

Isn't that what God gives us when we ask for His forgiveness? He accepts us as His children, joint heirs with His son:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:15-16 KJV)

That is true, even if we find being His child causes differences at the least, suffering at the most:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17 KJV)

Never forget these verses were written by a former Pharisee, a Jew who believed his God, but neglected Him until he was searched out and questioned. The answer to that question changed Saul into Paul - how much can it change each one of us when we answer it:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4 KJV)

Again, from "A Feather on the Water":

“You would forgive them?” 

"I would.” 

"How? Why?” 

“Because if I didn’t, I would be the worst kind of hypocrite. I believe in a God who, twice a day, washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world. He makes every mark disappear—from the gaping hole dug by a spade to the footprints left by a gull.”

Religious? Or Faith In Christ?

I read a recent Fox News article regarding statements made by Chris Pratt and I, too, do not think I am a “religious” person. The article states: "Over the years, the actor has faced criticism for being associated with religion." It is a pattern of attack when non-believers have doctrinal issues with religious organizations. In this instances, Pratt is accused of associating with a church questioning the LGBT+ basic beliefs. By such an association, he faces cancel-culture - which can kill careers.

There are people who use “religious” as a description when they really are describing a person of faith, not a person who is virtue signaling. 

When a person of faith relies on scripture, some use the “Bible thumper” pejorative to deny the value of scripture. There are church leaders who deny the importance of scripture even to the point of replacing it with current social value. 

What I am is a person of faith. I have faith in a number of things. Some apply to earthly things - such as my husband. I had faith in him when we married and promised each other to be faithful until death does us part. Now, sixty-one years later, I have the knowledge my faith was not misplaced. There is a story about our meeting, for another blog.

That is only one instance that affirms that faith is what operates within a person who is a follower of Jesus, Christ, Son of God, Savior, and multiple other factual titles.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

Now there's the description of Christians - a follower of Christ, as defined in:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26 KJV)

Jesus taught his disciples, the disciples taught others, and the process has continued for over two thousand years. Along the way there were arguments. At this point, I think the majority of denominations still believe belief in Jesus remains a necessity:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

May I remind you again - don't stop at reading these singular verses I post. Ephesians 2:8 should definitely be read in context. The verse following explains why virtue signaling isn't a part of salvation at all. Oh, there needs to be works (again - read this in context):

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17 KJV)

If you have a digital Bible, search with the two word "faith" and "work" with "search for all the words" selected.  With e-Sword you will find 15 specific verses, all in the New Testament. Disciples James and John wrote about it, along with Apostle Paul. I find Paul's verse here to explain a good deal why he changed from following Jewish Law as opposed to believing Christ in faith:

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (Romans 9:32 KJV)

All of this says the focus should be on Christ, even when we are accused of being against what is socially and even legally acceptable today. There are boundaries within love. Here are two examples I use often:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

Now take a look at 1 Corinthians 13 - the chapter defining what love is, and isn't. Start this time with:

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV)

Just as doctors are promising to "do no harm," love cannot support iniquity, Greek ἀδικία defined by Strong's as: 

(legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of character, life or act): - iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

It does not stop with legal injustice, though removing injustice is a human necessity to protect other humans. It includes moral wrongfulness as well as a person's character. Often we speak of getting to the heart of a matter, for thousands of years actually, since David made a specific request of God when he recognized his sinfulness:

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:9-10 KJV)

That's what the Bible offers. God remains the same - even today. Please do not cancel Him by ignoring Him and His word. Follow some good advice that takes a good dose of faith:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)