Your Decrees Are My Delight

Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your decrees are my delight,
    they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:23-24 NRSV

 

I suppose that it is within the sinful nature of humankind to plot against one another; to delight in the fall of others, especially if they have played a hand in the fall. We see and experience it all the time; all around us. It may be a natural inclination; yet, it is still sin.

 

When we feel that we are being plotted against, it is not the time to retaliate; but, to keep our peace by meditating on the decrees of the Lord. We are to meditate not just on the law; but, on his promises so that we might truly know the peace of heart and mind that surpasses all understanding.

 

When we are wronged; when we are plotted against, we are to pray for our enemy, that they and we might be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ; that we might live in peace.

 

May God help us to stay in His Word, in His truth, and the truth shall set us free.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Forgive Us!

The Fifth Petition.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

http://zionlutheranskanee.blogspot.com/

 

Forgive us our trespasses. We begin this petition by asking that our sins be forgiven. We begin by acknowledging that we have sinned against God and others. We begin with repentance. We know that we are sinful beings and that without the grace and mercy of God we would be lost for all eternity. There is nothing we can do to redeem our sinful natures. Jesus the Christ did that for us on the cross.

 

He did that not just for me; but, for all people. It then behooves me to have empathy for others who have fallen and have been caught in the same trap of sin and to forgive them their trespasses against me even as our Father forgives me and all people by faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ, given for us.

 

However, we should strive to not use the grace and mercy of God to convince ourselves or others that because we are forgiven that it is ok to go ahead and continue to live in the old way. In Christ we have new life. Having received forgiveness let us live in Christ who would do no harm to our neighbors; who would never sin against our neighbors, us, or God our Father.

 

According to the Gospel of Luke (17:3-4), Jesus tells us: “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

 

May God help us to repent and forgive one another even as He forgives us.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

 

1 Peter 3:8-22 Turn To Him; He Died For You

1 Peter 3:8-22
All who sin (and we all do) are called to repentance. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." (vss. 17-22)

Christ died so that all who reject their sinful ways and turn to him are born again into the Kingdom of God, where he reigns. Everyone has this opportunity. None have been excluded. Turn to him and receive this gift of salvation. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 3 - He Leads Us

Hebrews 3 NIV

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ^'Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,' bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." (vs 4-6)

We are his house. He is faithful to us. May God help us to be faithful to him. God saved His people from the Egyptians. He delivered them from bondage. They followed him into the wilderness. But, once there, they began to rebel. They complained against God. They were not happy following in the way that He lead them. Those who rebelled perished in the wilderness. They never got to see the promised land.

God has delivered us from our own sinful nature by the blood of His Son, Jesus. He leads us through the wilderness. What shall we do there? Shall we rebel? Shall we complain against Him because the way is not always to our liking?

"Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house." We are his house. We are his children. Will we be faithful to him and follow through whichever wilderness he would lead us to the promised land?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 5:12-21 Saint and Sinner

Romans 5:12-21 NIV
Through Adam, sin came into the world. His trespass resulted in condemnation for all people. There is no way around it. We are sinful human beings. We are sinners. Yet, through Jesus Christ, we have received God's grace. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ we have received forgiveness. We have received life.

As confusing as that may seem to some, we are both sinners and saints. It is obvious to all (or at least should be if our eyes are open) that we sin daily. Who can question our propensity to sin; to turn our backs on God's will as Adam did? Yet, at the same time because of Jesus' righteous sacrifice for us, we have been justified. We are holy in the eyes of God.

Thanks be to God for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 23:1-11 Upset By The Truth

Acts 23:1-11 NIV
The truth has a tendency to upset people who insist on living their own truth, which is no truth at all; but, a justification for our sinful beliefs and lifestyles. They will rebel and this will attack those who speak the truth in attempts to make themselves look good and right.

With much turmoil, Paul testified to the resurrection of the dead in Jerusalem. The uproar that accompanied it was so horrific that the troops got Paul out of there for his own safety. "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and told said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'” (vs 11) And, so he will. Under guard Paul will be taken to Rome to testify to the truth in Jesus Christ again. He will witness to the resurrection and eternal life in Christ even as he makes that journey.

Where is our journey taking us? Along "The Way," will we be witnesses of the love of God in Christ Jesus; regardless, of how many might attack us because their lives are upset by the truth? How many lives will be changed by hearing the Word?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jonah 3 - Nineveh Repents

"When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened." (Jonah 3:10 NIV)

Yes!  We finally get to read about a people who were warned by one of God's prophets to repent, to turn from their evil ways, and they actually listened! The LORD's voice through Jonah was heard. Amazing! How refreshing it is to hear of a whole city repenting and turning to the LORD. The people of Nineveh repented of their sin; they turned to the LORD, and God relented and did not bring the destruction He had planned for them.

If only we could all be more like the Ninevites, with ears to hear. In fact, we are like them in that we are all sinners. May God remind us of our sinful ways so that we might turn and be delivered from all calamities; from even ourselves.

God's Peace - Pr. J