Filed under: journal | Tags: anger, forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, God, Jesus, pain, past, resent, resentment
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:9-15)
If you remember last week I wrote about how Paul called himself the “worst of sinners.” I can think of more “serious” sins than not forgiving someone. The next story in our series was sparked by a question from Peter. Peter asked Jesus how many times he ought to forgive someone who sins against him. He thought it was pretty darn good if he forgave someone seven times. Nope.
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Hmm. I can do the math. That makes 490. Wow. I have to forgive someone almost 500 times? The point Jesus was making is you cannot keep score. You cannot and you should not.
Then in Jesus fashion he told a story.
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 servant did the same and begged him to be patient with him. Instead he threw the man into prison. When others witnessed this turn of events, “they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.”
The master wanted a word with his servant. “You wicked servant. I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.”
Then Jesus drove His point home. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)
We pray it, but do we live it? We pray, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Do we just say it or do we really put it to practice? Has the Lord’s Prayer become something you simply say from rote memory or do you really want the strength to “forgive your brother from your heart?”
If there is something that needs to be forgiven, it means someone has done something to hurt us – sometimes deeply. It seems harsh, but Jesus is saying you will not be forgiven so long as you harbor anger in your heart.
The servant was thrown into prison. We create our own prisons when we don’t forgive someone for what they did. We think we are imprisoning them when really it places us behind bars.
The servant was tortured for his lack of forgiveness. Harboring hatred and bitterness has a way of torturing us. We think we’re “sticking it to ‘em” when we give someone a cold shoulder, a frigid stare, or a sharp word. When in fact, we’re simply sticking it to ourselves.
We want to torture them for the pain they caused and we realize we’re only torturing ourselves.
We want to hurt them for the hurt they put us through and we realize we’re only hurting ourselves.
The only way we can truly be free is through forgiveness. Forgiveness fuels freedom. Forgiveness is pardoning an offense. It’s canceling a debt. It’s ceasing resentment. I know you may feel you have an excuse for how you feel, but you are only doing yourself harm… and maybe even those around you. That man’s imprisonment also impacted his family.
Don’t let someone’s past actions (or maybe even your own) kill what happens in the present and taint what happens in the future.
Filed under: journal
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. 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. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
I’m not in a habit of arguing with biblical writers, but I think Paul is wrong in his letter to Timothy. I can think of many people who were (and are) worse off than he was. You are currently reading the words from a man who really is the “worst of sinners.” I guess I couldn’t imagine arguing with my brothers (we used to, we don’t anymore!),
“I’m the worst of sinners.”
“No, I am.”
That’s not something we would have argued about. Yet this is the truth. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I’m one of them, and so are you. (So let’s just praise the Lord. um, never mind).
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) That brings us to our next story on the kingdom. Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.” (Matthew 20:1-2) He went back out in the afternoon to gather more workers and still more in the evening. When it came time to pay his workers, he paid them all the same wage. Not fair, right? Those who worked less didn’t deserve to get the same amount, right?
“When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (20:12-15)
Do you know anyone who doesn’t deserve to be “paid” what you are paid? Will you be disappointed if the Landowner is as generous to “the worst of sinners” as He is to you?
Our family has vacationed in Canada at a little place called Kettle Point on Ipperwash Beach in Canada. A good month before we go my girls are thinking up ways they can “get” their uncle Rod. They pull pranks on each other all throughout our two week break.
Today is April Fool’s Day 2009, and according to my girls, Uncle Rod Day. It’s a day to be tricked, and not get tricked. A day to be fooled, not to be fooled. Who’s kidding who? The girls like it when they get fooled just as much as fooling their uncle.
I’m going back in history for this illustration, I know, but Mr. T from the show the “A-Team” had a saying. “I pity the fool…” In most respects we do not want to be foolish.
Aaron asked forgiveness of Moses because he and their sister Miriam were acting arrogantly, speaking negatively to this one that God had called. Aaron said, “Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.” (Numbers 12:11) Arrogance is foolish. I pity the fool who thinks more highly of himself than he ought. You see, “whoever spreads slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18) Whoever thinks so highly of themselves that they feel the need to put others down is a fool.
Samuel told King Saul, “You acted foolishly. You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.” (1 Samuel 13:13) Disobedience is foolish. I pity the fool who thinks she knows better than God of the way she should go.
Early in his leadership, when he led soldiers into battle, David was a very successful commander. He was so successful that they were writing songs about him, how Saul had victory over thousands, David tens of thousands. When he and his men stayed in different regions of the country, those around his troops felt very safe. One day David asked a favor of one neighbor by the name of Nabal. David asked if he had some food to spare that he could feed his men.
“Who is David?” Nabal asked. “Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to men who are from I don’t know where?” (1 Samuel 25:9-11) Did you catch how many times Nabal referred to himself? He is all about taking care of number one.
David was infuriated. Ready to kill the man, Nabal’s wife ran out to meet him.
“May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal,” she said. “He is just like his name-his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.” (1 Samuel 25:25) His name actually meant fool. I guess he lived up to it! Abigail’s actions persuaded David not to take revenge. “Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand,” David said. (1 Samuel 25:33) Inhospitality and greed are foolish. I pity the fool who thinks he is better than anyone else.
Job had it rough. Not only had he lost everything, his wife was no help either.
“Do you still retain your integrity?” she asked. “Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2:9-10) Thanklessness is foolish. I pity the fool who is not grateful for what she does have. I also pity the fool who tells others to curse God.
You see, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” (Psalm 14:1) Because of his rebelliousness the fool suffers “affliction because of their iniquities.” (Psalm 107:17) Though the “fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7) A fool is destroyed due to complacency and laziness. (Proverbs 1:32) Whereas “a wise son brings joy to his father…foolish son (brings) grief to his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1)
Playing the fool for Nabal meant thinking he was always right. You see, “the way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”
And David almost became a fool by letting his temper get the best of him. For “a fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” (Proverbs 12:15 16) Since David was “a wise man who fears the LORD and shuns evil” and knew that “a fool is hotheaded and reckless,” he took Abigail’s counsel to heart. For you see a “quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.” (Proverbs 14:16-17) I’m sure he taught his kids that “a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11)
Playing the fool means you watch who you spend time with. “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
Jesus told many stories to illustrate spiritual truth. In one of those stories he said how “everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
What are you practicing? What you practice you perfect. If you are practicing foolishness, you are on your way of becoming the perfect fool.
I always found it interesting that doctors called what they do a “practice.” In one sense I can be scared to think that they are “practicing” on me. In another sense, if you think you have “arrived,” if you are enamored with your own greatness, you could stop from practicing and cease learning. Those who put into practice the words of Jesus must first read and understand what He said. Those who practice keep learning and growing.
Here’s where things get interesting. Most of Scripture speaks against the fool and living foolishly. However, some people thought the message (gospel) of Christ was foolish. Paul wrote how the “message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’”
He then asked, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”
The Jews of Paul’s day wanted more than that. They demanded “miraculous signs” and Greeks looked for wisdom, “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,” Christ is the “power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Not only did the message seem foolish to the “wise,” those who practiced what Jesus preached were thought to be fools.
Paul told the Corinthians to think of what they were when they were first called into a relationship with Christ. “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
Those who do not have the Spirit of God living inside of them will have a hard time understanding what this is all about. “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Discernment. Gaining understanding and insight. In order to gain understanding and insight into spiritual truth one has to have “the Truth” (John 14:6) This doesn’t mean we leave our minds at the door. When you take a portion of Scripture, praying before you read it, reading it over and over again, what you will find is the Spirit himself whispering truth to your mind. You will start to gain understanding, and find wisdom in words you may have once found foolish.
In most cases, to be a fool is, well, foolish. Arrogance is foolish. Disobedience is foolish. Ingratitude is foolish. Greed and ingratitude are foolish. Venting and avenging is foolish.
In one case, on this April Fool’s Day, I want to be a fool.
“We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!” (1 Corinthians 4:10) If by my foolishness for Christ I somehow bring Him glory by sharing the wisdom of Christ, then today, I will be a fool.
Filed under: journal
While my wife Michelle is was away this weekend with our eldest daughter, Christina, at a retreat at Portage Lake, I took Sierra and Rebecca to the dollar theater in Allen Park to see Marley & Me. The movie hit home because I’m such a sucker for furry felines and crazy canines. Our home is actually full of them right now… kids and animals. What was funny was Marley (and our own one year old) had a problem with chewing everything in sight. She’s doing much better now!
The characters in the story are John & Jen. John is a writer, and he surprises himself by each new promotion. After movies like this where the main character is a writer (Runaway Bride, etc.), it always takes me back to when I used to write for a living.
There was a startup newspaper in the Pinckney-Lakeland-Hamburg area just north of Ann Arbor and south of Brighton. I wrote “Leadership Lessons,” as well as general news articles. From there, like John, I surprised myself. I landed a full time gig with the Insider Business Journal. Now that was a blast. I had a runners high most weeks working there, because I was either out meeting some pretty amazing people, writing from home, or writing in our office. Our office was a complete blast as well. (I need to look up Cal Stone, my former editor.)
When we were in Napa I got to write for the Napa Valley Business Times, the NV Register, and also freelanced for Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine.
I love writing. I just haven’t done it in a while. It’s time to start using what’s been given to me.
Are you using what’s been given to you? Are you spending time with the most important people (and felines, and canines) in your life? Don’t forget to walk the dog, or go on a walk with the family.
Filed under: journal
I enjoy special treats with my family. $147 gave us a family membership at a local indoor recreation center complete with two large pools and water slides. This weekend I decided I would take my family out for breakfast. Of all meals out, usually breakfast is the most economical. Oops. Not this one. We went to an IHOP (international house of pancakes) that just opened near us and was handed a bill (+tip) for $40. Forty. Hmmmm. When I got home, I picked up a book given to me, oh, two years ago, called Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey. I started to realize how my life has been a series of overspending $40 and up. I decided the best thing to do was follow the steps necessary to become debt free. We can actually do it. We could have zero car payments within this next year, begin saving for retirement and my girls’ education, and become more free financially.
Now I finally have a reason to speak on Sundays about financial freedom. I have a hard time speaking on something I’m not already doing. “I’ve heard this is a great thing to do. You should go do it.” Or, “do as I say, not as I do.”
Filed under: journal
I can tell someone really didn’t want this message getting out, but he didn’t prevail. We’ve been in a series on the supernatural and I could have guessed that on a day we focus on Satan’s plans for our lives – we would have technical difficulties. The fact is – we don’t need technology to worship anyway! What we use with our images (worship slides; power point) only enhance our experience. After an hour of fighting with our technical demons, we simply shut it down and worshiped low tech! (Anyone know what a hymnal looks like?)
Numbers aren’t everything, but when you realize that numbers represent a person, then they mean everything. 119 came out for worship yesterday. We’ve been breaking that 100 barrier more often this Fall. 100 is great. 1 is even better. The 1 out of 100 represents a friend of Miranda’s who came for the first time, who loved it so much she said she’ll definately come back. The 1 out of 100 represents a new couple that got to connect with another young couple. The 1 out of 100 represents the people who told me throughout the day how much they got out of the message. All praise to God!
Do you realize how many cases we have had of students being impacted by our ministry together who then drag their parents to church? That was the method to my madness from the start. When I came here preaching Psalm 71:18, I knew that as we proclaimed His power to this new generation, that this new generation would bring their parents and grandparents along with them. Sometimes it was assumed I didn’t care about the older generations when nothing is further from the truth. The truth is, that if someone is going to come to Christ, typically they will do so before the age of 18. As we invest in those with the highest return, we find that the way to the parents’ hearts and grandparents’ hearts is through their children and grandchildren.
Speaking of the next generation, we had our 3rd annual Nuclear Football. We had a great crowd of high schoolers out for this annual event, along with a number of spectators. It was an easy invite event, one where students could invite their friends for some fun in the (hmmm, not the sun!)… anyway, some glow in the dark football! Parents also had their friends out to watch as well. I do love the community in Christ that we are building together.
Filed under: journal
I had a great time of prayer with the girls last night as well as with Michelle this morning. Not only are we praying, we’re praying Scripture. Since the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), it is bringing life to dead places and activating God’s presence where there was once emptiness. It will be interesting to see what happens in the lives of my little women (all 4) and the lives of my friends (inside and outside my faith fellowship) as I continue to pray. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
I will more than likely finish up my third reading of God’s Word for the year this week. I am challenging myself to reading it four times this year. It has given me a great overview of Scripture, but I am missing going deep. My (written) journal is showing that fact. It usually takes me 6 months to fill the pages of a journal. I might finish one this year. I have taken most of my time with Jesus reading about 25 chapters a day. I have the Bible divided into parts. I read the Pentateuch (4 chapters), the History (5 chapters), the Poetry (5 chapters), the Prophets (5 chapters), the Gospels/Acts (3 chapters) and the Letters (3 chapters). It’s been great, and I’m missing going deeper, but I’m going to challenge myself to read it once more before the end of the year. Then, I’m going to go deep in 2008. I want to take my Inductive Study Bible and dive deeper, only reading a chapter a day a couple times through, and writing my notes in the margins.
God is reviving me!
My bride turned 38 today. It’s really hard to believe, since she doesn’t look a day over 24. It’s almost like God turned back the hands of time in her aging process. Maybe my purpose for her life is coming true. There’s a great book about an even greater man by the name of Samuel Logan Brengle. He once said, “I want to make some little woman unspeakably happy.” It’s my hope and prayer that I’m doing that for her. Her smile is radiant. In fact, I’m watching her crack one now as she plays card with her mom. Bonnie has her birthday a week before Michelle’s.
They’re really close, and I think that’s great. Family has been very important to both of us. She found that out by things going right. Not that the Martins didn’t go through any problems, but she saw her mom and dad love each other to this day. I learned through my own mistakes, some missteps my dad took, and his death in 1999 at the age of 55. Anyway, I couldn’t do life without her. I guess I could. I did life when it was just me and Jesus. It’s possible, I just don’t want to find out. We’re a really good match, and I can say that after 16 years of friendship (celebrated on October 31) and 13 years of marriage.
