Bat Crazy People

 November 16, 2024

Saturday

I just read the testimony of someone who experienced road rage from another driver. I wondered why someone would get so irate at such a minor mistake. The person had not gone when the light turned green so a tap of the horn was used to "wake them up." At that, the person went bat crazy. This person chased the person who tapped the horn, making dangerous moves with their car and hurling obscenities verbally and visually. The other person suddenly turns to get away from that crazy person.

If this story only happened once, then we could chalk it up to one crazy person but we see this type of road rage continually. It is not rare to be passed by two cars chasing each other down the road at dangerous speeds while trying to cause each other harm. This is simply not rational.

So, I have an idea why this may be true though I certainly do not have the psychological or sociological training to back it up. I believe that people who do not know how to receive forgiveness also don't know how to give it. Thus, they have learned to overlook what has happened to them but have not learned to put these things away. This results in the accumulation of slights and hurts and even circumstances that went the wrong way. This accumulation sets them on edge. If their emotional meter has ten points, they have the anxiety, frustration, disappointment and discouragement of nine points before anything else happens. They cannot keep it under control if anything brings their emotional meter up two points because they don't have two points left. So they go crazy.

Our post Christian society thinks that it doesn't need God. Yet, this same society desperately needs forgiveness. Forgiveness is the most prevalent divine attribute of the follower of Jesus Christ. Knowing forgiveness is the catalyst for forgiving others. Forgiving others allows the Christian to release the pressure being built up by all of the stressors each of us face. It can mean that a Christian can operate with their emotional meter on a one or two rather than a nine. It can mean that Christian operating at this level will be able to absorb anything that would bring that meter up two points.

Forgiveness is so important that those who don't forgive also don't really have salvation. That doesn't mean that they must forgive before they become Christians. It means that becoming a Christian causes them to forgive. Just saying that they are Christians without forgiving is just lip service. That is why churches can be as violent as those in the world. They have not received forgiveness because they have not truly believed in Christ for who He is as the one who has taken away their sins. They overlook rather than forgive sins until they can't overlook it any more. Then, they go bat crazy.

The scripture that says that God won't forgive those who won't forgive has always bothered me. Now, I think I may have a grasp on it. Those who won't forgive have never received forgiveness.

This world will, therefore, become more violent as their is a smaller percentage of people who know Christ. There will be a smaller percentage who have received forgiveness. There will be a larger group that are running on nines on their emotional meter.

 Matthew 6:14–15 (NASB 2020) ¹⁴ “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Just Be Generous

 November 15, 2024

Friday

We were created to be generous. Since we were created in the image of God and that image is in His attributes, generosity was created in us. After all, who has been more generous than God? He gave His only Son for us.

Then, why aren't all people generous. All of the attributes of God within us were corrupted in the Fall. Greed displaced much of our generosity. The Fall made us self-centered. A self-centered sin nature cannot boast having any good within it.

Still there is the remnant of God's creation in all of us. This is why so many stories have villains who show some good, some loyalty and even some generosity. It as if the world wants to say, "Hey, we're not all bad!" Yes, it is true that there is hardly a human who has shown no compassion or attribute of God at some time.

Generosity looks outside of ourselves. We give to others without expecting anything in return when God's attribute of generosity moves us to. We may not know the persons we give to but we know we must give to them. Thus, in a disaster the greatest forms of generosity come out of people who may not be Christian. 

People don't receive God's attributes when they become Christians. They receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves people to give when He is not quenched.

On the other hand, many Christians are just as stingy or even more so than non-Christians. The Church records that very few people give to the Church as they should. Most people can't see the disaster of lost souls. They don't realize that millions of people are marching into hell even as they read this blog. They don't realize who has their hearts when they are stingy or greedy.

So, we should be generous. Generosity must have discernment but if we take an assessment of our giving to anyone or anything, most will not get near ten percent.

It could be that the lack of generosity is what keeps you from getting that close to God. Jesus told the rich, young ruler to sell all that he had to follow Him. Jesus said that because that was the very thing that was dragging him down. It is like holding onto a chest of gold as you sink below the ocean waves.

Be generous. It seems simple. Try it out and see if it is more blessed to give than receive.

2 Corinthians 9:11–12 (ESV) ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

A Little Pride Goes a Long Way

 November 14, 2024

Thursday

If I were asked what the greatest detriment to the Christian life was I would answer "pride." Pride can be found at the root of many of our other sins.

It is pride that keeps us from considering others advice. Pride tells us that others don't know what we know so we discount others advice and do what we think is best without outside opinions. Of course, that means we will never get beyond what we already know. That will keep us in a rut. And a rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out.

Pride keeps us from apologizing and giving forgiveness. Pride will not allow us to see our own errors. It points at the errors of others without understanding what they may have gone through. How dare anyone do anything against us. How dare we forgive them because of that. The lack of forgiveness and giving forgiveness hinders true Christian fellowship. It estranges people from each other and from God.

Pride causes us to refrain from asking for help. It doesn't matter if it is help from a colleague or from the Lord. It limits the strength we could have and it severely limits our effectiveness. When it comes to doing anything with the Lord, we can do nothing. Pride makes us less than we could be.

Pride demands attention. It bristles when ignored. It expects others to serve. It talks about itself incessantly. It turns others off and doesn't care.

But the greatest failure of pride is that it causes God to oppose us. We are a people that need grace. We need it always and pride turns God off so much that He withholds grace from the prideful.

The real problem with pride is that it hides itself from the proud person. Therefore, there is no problem of pride.  Even when there is.

James 4:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

When Fear Takes Hold

 November 13, 2024

Wednesday

Some of us are afraid all the time. We all know that the only fear we should have is the fear of God but that's not the fear I am talking about. I am among those who have anxieties that I have trouble overcoming. Maybe you are like me. 

God knows all of us. He knows the fearful ones too. He has told us what to do to dispel this fear. 

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB 2020) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

One of the reasons we are so afraid is our belief of what will happen given current conditions. We get afraid for the future because we see the future outside of God's hands. This is never the case! No, God knows what is happening and He keeps things from getting outside of the limits He has set on it.

This means that I must pray until I have peace. I don't know about you but I am pretty stubborn. I need to pray a long time to have peace. I have to come into His presence and receive His assurances that He will be there even if the worst case scenario comes true. I have to acknowledge that I am His- not partially, but completely His. I have placed myself in His hands. He owns me. He can do as He wishes. 

Of course, this means I trust Him. Just like my kids would jump into my arms in the swimming pool I must trust Him to take care of me when I don't know how to swim in the waters of fear.

God loves me. I must realize that. I also must love Him. Love is a two way street when it is made whole.

1 John 4:18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Yes, I know that God has every right to do horrible things to me because of my sin. However, I do not know God in this way. I know Him as the One who loved me so much that He gave His only son for me. I know that this is His perfect love. This perfect love casts out all fears.

God assures me that He will uphold me. He upholds all of us who fear the future. He upholds all of us who fear our own failure. He gives His word on this.

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

After reading these verses (which I need to read a lot) I am not afraid. I am no longer depending upon my own ability to change the future. I am not afraid of the future because it is in His hands.

When this happens, I have peace. I hope you have peace, too.

If Possible, Be Forgiven

 November 12, 2024

Tuesday

I find that forgiveness is a universal problem. There seem to be as many people who need to forgive as those who need to be forgiven. (There may be more that need to be forgiven but they are so blind to what they have done that they do not realize they need to be forgiven. Maybe you know some of these people.) Let's just talk about those who need to be forgiven right now.

First, the person must realize that he has done something that is a violation of the other person. This may be as simple as hurting feelings or genuinely causing financial or bodily harm. The person who was harmed may automatically forgive but that will not make things right until this offense is acknowledged.

Second, the offending person must confess to the one who was violated. This is not informing the person what happened. More than likely, he already knows what happened. Confession expresses grief over the transgression. This is why it must not include excuses for the violation. Saying it was caused by stress or hunger or fear or anything else will not diminish the harm that was caused. Confession must be as pure as possible without any requirement of forgiveness being given. It may desire forgiveness but it can't expect it. The effort here is to make the transgressor vulnerable by confession. This means that the refusal to forgive after confession changes nothing in the confession. The confessor is at the mercy of the person who should forgive.

Third, forgiveness does not return things back to where they were before the transgression. Trust is not the same as forgiveness. Forgiveness is something that needs to be given. A gift is not earned or it isn't a gift. The person forgiving is administering grace. Trust is earned. Violation of trust brings trust down to zero. Building trust back is faithfulness plus time. It may take some time before things can return back to where they were before.

Many will argue that the one who was hurt may have also done some things that hurt the one confessing. That may be possible but as long as people are taking a tally of who was hurt first or who was hurt most, no one will receive forgiveness.

It takes a lot of resolve to confess to others so that you can gain their forgiveness. It means that you hold your tongue when they strike back. It means that you are silent when they accuse you of something greater than you did. You take these blows to make things right with the knowledge that they may never reciprocate. You cannot make someone forgive you nor can you make them recognize their own need for forgiveness. You must do what is in your power to make things right. 

It's in their hand after that.

Romans 12:18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

Count the Cost

 November 11, 2024

Monday

Luke 14:26–30 (NASB 2020)²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’

I hear so many people say that they need to put God first but that doesn't seem to be what the Lord tells us. Following the Lord is putting the Lord beyond a list of other things that are important. It is more like a whole other category than having other things that are the next on the list. I suppose there are people who love their cars but would they put that love against their own children? In other words, how far down that list would the car come after they had listed their children? It is a whole other category.

That's what it is like to follow Jesus. He is not in the same list with family or even your own life. He is a category that has no other members. 

This means that there will be no question when acting for the Lord. This means that nothing stands between the Lord and yourself. 

The problem is that many people are making the decision to love the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis. They need to make the decision that they will go the distance no matter what. Yes, it is counting the cost that says that the cost doesn't matter. It is saying whatever it takes. It says that convenience, possessions, family and even their own lives will be forfeited for the sake of Christ.

I remember having a speaker tell about the bravery of a young lady who was executed after saying she was a Christian. One of the people there stood up and said that this was crazy. He told his daughter to say that she wasn't a Christian if her life would be taken because of it. Unfortunately, that is the Christianity practiced by almost all Christians. It is the Christianity that is built on convenience. It is the Christianity that will allow the world to go to hell. It is the Christianity which has no testimony. It shows up at Christmas and Easter sometimes. 

But some people don't want that. A small number of people who call themselves Christians take the words of Christ seriously. They have counted the cost and decided that the cost doesn't matter. They are the Christians who are following Christ. They know Him intimately. 

Unfortunately, their testimonies make no sense to those who have never sacrificed for Christ. It is all nonsense to them. Those who walk with Christ know that the real nonsense is trying to hold onto their lives. They know that they cannot gain anything that way.

So, where are you? Have you counted the cost and determined it is worth it? Or, are you like most every other Christian who says the cost is too high?

Content with Heavenly Citizenship

 November 10, 2024

Sunday

To tell you the truth, I don't know how Paul did it. He had so many setbacks, so many discouragements and he kept plugging along. He must have set his eyes on a different goal.

I admit I have set my eyes on seeing people as the means of church growth. I feel like a failure when they don't come. I see others have the success I am looking for and feel badly that their success bothers me. This is the cause of much of my distress in the ministry. I have my eyes set on the things the world calls success.

 Paul set his eyes on God's kingdom. He had people leave him, too, but he looked beyond the moment to see his own success found in obedience rather than results.

Paul set his mind on heavenly things. The work of a Christian is to make disciples. The goal of a Christian is to live a life that will make those disciples. He would live that way even if others didn't follow his example.  He was satisfied with a life that pleased God without the accolades of the large crowds that would denote success.

Paul saw those who left his discipleship as those who did not know where their citizenship lay. Their god became their belly. This is the seat of emotions. They wanted what made them feel good.  And they felt good with their minds sated on the things of this world. Others who strayed from the faith bothered Paul but they didn't keep him from plugging ahead.

Paul saw that Jesus would transform his body to be like that of Christ's. He saw Jesus as having the power to subject all things to Himself. 

Yet, none of this keeps people from leaving. It brings pain to each of us to see people follow their emotions. However, we must realize that it causes God pain too. Still, God lets them leave. I guess no one gets dragged into God's kingdom.

I admit that it is hard to be content with obedience when it doesn't produce noticeable fruit. Paul learned that secret. We all must learn that secret. It is the same secret as being content with a little or a lot.

Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV) ¹⁷  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.