“Provoking Christian Insights” series

Part 11

“He Forgives”

“If you forgive men their trespasses, you heavenly Father will also forgive you,” Matthew6:14.

We talk a lot about being like Jesus. We ask God to forgive us of our sins expecting to be forgiven. Often we go through life with our petty feelings unwilling to forgive those who have sinned against us.

It is a noble thing to want to be like Jesus; it is quite another thing to follow His disciplined example in order to be, indeed, like Jesus. There is a huge difference between the two. Listen to what evangelist Leonard Ravenhill had to say on the subject:

“When we sin in a sunlit church, “Oh, to be like Thee; Oh, to be like Thee,” we get weepy and feel an emotional lift. But permit this simple challenge: Do we really mean “Oh, to be like Thee”-like the Christ of God, who was a man of discipline? Do we really mean “Oh, to be like Thee”-fasting alone in the desert? Do we mean, “Oh, to be like Thee”-so that without our wilting under it, the world can say of us as of Him, “He hath devil”? Do we mean, “Oh, to be like Thee”-to touch the depths of prayer that makes us cry “All Thy billows are gone over me”? Do we mean “Oh, to be like Thee”-to become habituates of the fastness of the prayer chamber? Do we mean, “Oh to be like Thee”-in a will like His, for He said, “I always do the will of my Father”? Is not that discipline”? –Leonard Ravenhill, Meat for Men, p. 32.

Do you still want to be like Jesus?

Do you want an agonizing Gethsemane experience?

Do you want a Judas in your life?

Do you want a friend who spent over three years by your side, to curse and say he never knew you?

Jesus has shown us the way. We must die daily to self, pick up our cross (disciplines), and follow in His footsteps.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me,” Luke 9:23.

Do you want to be treated like the least of men?

My wife gets upset because a mildly retarded man has called our house almost every day for several years. He wants me to take him to a doctor who can help him. Over the past 10 years I’ve taken this man to several doctors. Part of the reason is that he likes to go to the doctor. The other reason is that he does need some medical help. My wife says I’ve done enough. I wore out a car, paid for the last 22 trips myself, and don’t get too upset at his banging my phone day after day … but, have I done enough to help this man?

I feel I need to keep taking this man to the surgical doctor an hour away that can help him. Whom do I please?

For us God has freely poured out favors from His hand. Gratitude is simply appreciation for favors received, in each of our lives. The fact that we are breathing is at least one proof that the Lord has done much for us. But how do we respond to those blessings?

William Jay said; “The proud are never thankful. Heap whatever favors upon them, and what reward do you get? They think they deserve it! You are only doing your duty-you are doing justly, rather than loving mercy. But when we are humble, in the same proportion we should be grateful. When we realize that we are not worthy of the smallest of all God’s mercies, how thankful we would be for the bread we eat, and the water that we drink!”

Sometimes life’s difficulties can block our view of all the God has done for us. Becoming preoccupied with all that we don’t have can blind us to all that we do have. How sweet our peace when we realize that without the Lord we are nothing and can do nothing. In Him we live and breathe and have our being. He created us, loves us, knows us intimately and is constantly pouring out His mercy on us. How pleasing it must be to Him when we take the time to look up and say, “Thank you.”

No matter what we have done, or thought, in the past, God will forgive us. There is coming a time when He won’t contend with us anymore. But, right now, there is nothing that you have done in the past that can’t be forgiven and forgotten. We can still help “the least of men,” and we can still put away our pride and keep it from gaining a foothold in our hearts.”

How can I be forgiven?

John Wesley said; “If your pride has been hurt, it will become evident. Perhaps you are not so teachable or advisable as you once were. Maybe you are no longer so easy to be convinced or persuaded. Do you have a much better opinion of your own judgment, and are now more attached to your own will? You once were glad to be admonished or reproved: but that time is past. Formerly one might have guided you with a thread, and now one cannot turn you with a rope. And you now consider a man your enemy because he tells you the truth. Oh let each of you calmly consider this, and make sure it never becomes your own picture!”

“Nothing can destroy a solid Christian witness like pride. Everyone struggles with it at one time or another, but pride is dangerous; it will damn your soul to hell. It alienates you from others by making you ready to reject any thought that contradicts your own opinions.

Remember the Lord is looking for those who are humble, teachable, pliable. Those people are the ones He can use. The haughty will be passed by. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, for the flower of humility grows on the grave of pride,” – Evangelist Stephen Hill “Daily Awakenings.”

God is an instant forgiver. Jesus awaits to hear your prayer. Ask God to forgive you today. He tells us in His Scripture “I will remember it no more.”  And, he won’t! “It will be as far as the East is from the West,” and you can’t get any farther than that. The Eskimos have a word for it that I cannot pronounce, but it means; “I will remember it no more.” That’s forgiveness … and He forgives!

INSPIRATION: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” James 4:6 NIV.

Write: croneis@earthlink.net