5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs3:5-6
The Soccer World Cup is over: it's back to school, back to traffic and back to the routines after six weeks of a very different vibe here in South Africa. We need to give thanks to God for His hand over our land and pray that the good work He has begun will be completed in us! May He make our paths straight as we trust in Him!
We're going to get back into Selwyn Hughes' "Seven Laws" as we still have two laws to go, but before we get into them, let's look back at the ground we've covered so far.
Here are the first five laws with a one sentence summary and a relevant verse.
1.The Primacy of Worship:
Recognise that living for God's honour is the only goal that is really worth pursuing.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 14:23f)
2.Making Gratitude a Habit
A "Gratitude Attitude" puts our eyes on the Giver of the gifts and keeps us from cynicism and depression.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col.3:17)
3.Perseverance
Trouble and hardship are not an exception to the rule - we were told to expect trouble - we need to rely on God and push through trouble.
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.� (Heb.12:3)
4.The Art of Forgiveness
Are you eating poison and hoping the person you're mad at will die? Let it go!
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.� (Col.3:13)
5.Give yourself to Others.
Service is the very nature of the Trinity - As Jesus washed feet, so must we.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.� (Matt.20:25-28)
Tomorrow we go on to Daily Repentance and Renewal.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-06-10 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Service: Discombobulate Them!
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans12:20
Have you ever been discombobulated?
I'm not making things up - it is a real word.
It means "To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex."
Many Christians have discovered how a genuine, loving and sincere act of service can discombobulate people. It shakes their presuppositions, breaks down their defence-mechanisms and opens their hearts.
Paul is quoting Proverbs here and, as far as the burning coals go, Proverbs is probably making reference to an old Egyptian ritual which the NIV Study Bible describes as follows: "A guilty person, as a sign of his repentance, carried a basin of glowing coals on his head. The meaning here, then, would be that in returning good for evil and so being kind to your enemy, you may cause him to repent or change."
I picked up two stories that illustrate this.
A church group went from store to store volunteering to clean up their staff toilets. At one shop the manageress was aggressive and suspicious. When she saw how well they worked and realised that there were no hidden strings attached, she told the pastor of the brokenness and waywardness of her life and then with a quivering lip she asked "would there be place in your church for someone like me?"
Another church offered free car-washes to the community, but they did not get many folk coming because people suspected that there was some kind of catch. So the next time the church advertised a "One Dollar Car wash" and this seemed to allay suspicions and soon there was a long queue of cars to be washed. When customers brought their cars to be washed, they were met by cheerful people with big smiles and warm welcomes and the car was well washed. You can imagine the speechless surprise for customers then, when the car had been washed, the church folk GAVE them a dollar and wished them a safe trip and a blessed day.
Service discombobulates people.
It breaks down the stereotypes of hypocritical Christians and creates a willingness to receive the message. So, after we have preached with our actions, we may just get to preach with our words too.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I'll be taking a break from eDevs for the school holidays. Have a great break and please keep our country in your prayers. Make a special effort to serve others and you may make a big difference!
God bless!
Theo
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Romans12:20
Have you ever been discombobulated?
I'm not making things up - it is a real word.
It means "To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex."
Many Christians have discovered how a genuine, loving and sincere act of service can discombobulate people. It shakes their presuppositions, breaks down their defence-mechanisms and opens their hearts.
Paul is quoting Proverbs here and, as far as the burning coals go, Proverbs is probably making reference to an old Egyptian ritual which the NIV Study Bible describes as follows: "A guilty person, as a sign of his repentance, carried a basin of glowing coals on his head. The meaning here, then, would be that in returning good for evil and so being kind to your enemy, you may cause him to repent or change."
I picked up two stories that illustrate this.
A church group went from store to store volunteering to clean up their staff toilets. At one shop the manageress was aggressive and suspicious. When she saw how well they worked and realised that there were no hidden strings attached, she told the pastor of the brokenness and waywardness of her life and then with a quivering lip she asked "would there be place in your church for someone like me?"
Another church offered free car-washes to the community, but they did not get many folk coming because people suspected that there was some kind of catch. So the next time the church advertised a "One Dollar Car wash" and this seemed to allay suspicions and soon there was a long queue of cars to be washed. When customers brought their cars to be washed, they were met by cheerful people with big smiles and warm welcomes and the car was well washed. You can imagine the speechless surprise for customers then, when the car had been washed, the church folk GAVE them a dollar and wished them a safe trip and a blessed day.
Service discombobulates people.
It breaks down the stereotypes of hypocritical Christians and creates a willingness to receive the message. So, after we have preached with our actions, we may just get to preach with our words too.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I'll be taking a break from eDevs for the school holidays. Have a great break and please keep our country in your prayers. Make a special effort to serve others and you may make a big difference!
God bless!
Theo
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-06-08 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Service: Jesus did it
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew20:26-28
This text is Christ's Mission Statement:
"To serve and give my life as a Ransom."
All His life was prayer and love.
He gave Himself generously:
- Sacrificed the glory and perfection of heaven for the brokenness of earth.
- Put omnipotence in the background to embrace our frailty.
- Tasted poverty and simplicity, working for a living. (Can you imagine the Creator of Heaven and Earth, making furniture to put food on the table?)
- Once His public ministry began, He sacrificed privacy and "me time" for the sake of the needy masses. (Even the disciples disturbed His prayer times.)
- Healed others even though energy would leave Him when He did. (See the account of the woman who touched the hem of His garment.)
- Walked, Worked and Taught to the point that it left Him tired. (See Him sit down at the well in Samaria, "tired as He was.")
- See Him washing the feet of disciples who were arguing about who was greatest, and this after three years of being with Jesus!
- He wrestled with His destiny at the cross and accepted it, even the the enormity of it weighed very very heavily on Him. (Describing His state of mind to the disciples in Matt26:38 He says:"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death...")
- He endured the cross and all of hell for us
- Even after His intercession He continues to serve us, because the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that He makes intercession for us. (Heb7:25)
In His letter to the Philippians, Paul quotes what many scholars believe to be an early Christian hymn:
2:6 [Jesus] who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
If Jesus lived a life of service and He is God's Son, what excuse do we have not to serve?
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
This text is Christ's Mission Statement:
"To serve and give my life as a Ransom."
All His life was prayer and love.
He gave Himself generously:
- Sacrificed the glory and perfection of heaven for the brokenness of earth.
- Put omnipotence in the background to embrace our frailty.
- Tasted poverty and simplicity, working for a living. (Can you imagine the Creator of Heaven and Earth, making furniture to put food on the table?)
- Once His public ministry began, He sacrificed privacy and "me time" for the sake of the needy masses. (Even the disciples disturbed His prayer times.)
- Healed others even though energy would leave Him when He did. (See the account of the woman who touched the hem of His garment.)
- Walked, Worked and Taught to the point that it left Him tired. (See Him sit down at the well in Samaria, "tired as He was.")
- See Him washing the feet of disciples who were arguing about who was greatest, and this after three years of being with Jesus!
- He wrestled with His destiny at the cross and accepted it, even the the enormity of it weighed very very heavily on Him. (Describing His state of mind to the disciples in Matt26:38 He says:"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death...")
- He endured the cross and all of hell for us
- Even after His intercession He continues to serve us, because the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that He makes intercession for us. (Heb7:25)
In His letter to the Philippians, Paul quotes what many scholars believe to be an early Christian hymn:
2:6 [Jesus] who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
If Jesus lived a life of service and He is God's Son, what excuse do we have not to serve?
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, June 4, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-06-04 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Service: What is love?
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John4:7-10
If God is love and we, in His image, are called to love and serve our neighbours, then what is love?
Selwyn Hughes offers some definitions:
* Bringing out the highest good in another person.
* Love is the only service that power cannot command and money cannot buy.
* Love is always open arms. If you close your arms about love, you'll find you are left holding yourself.
* To love is to be vulnerable.
John's definition of love is simple: When God saw our need, He took the initiative. Jesus came into our circumstances, He paid the price, He shed His blood.
Love is when we
1. take the initiative,
2. step into the situation
3. and give of ourselves.
Although this looks simple - it is actually very profound.
The enemies of love are fear and self-centredness.
And the more we reach out in love, the more these get pushed aside. A little later in the same chapter John writes: " 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear"
May we begin to practice this kind of love.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
If God is love and we, in His image, are called to love and serve our neighbours, then what is love?
Selwyn Hughes offers some definitions:
* Bringing out the highest good in another person.
* Love is the only service that power cannot command and money cannot buy.
* Love is always open arms. If you close your arms about love, you'll find you are left holding yourself.
* To love is to be vulnerable.
John's definition of love is simple: When God saw our need, He took the initiative. Jesus came into our circumstances, He paid the price, He shed His blood.
Love is when we
1. take the initiative,
2. step into the situation
3. and give of ourselves.
Although this looks simple - it is actually very profound.
The enemies of love are fear and self-centredness.
And the more we reach out in love, the more these get pushed aside. A little later in the same chapter John writes: " 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear"
May we begin to practice this kind of love.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Thursday, June 3, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-06-03 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Service: Give as God gives
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalms86:15
The Fifth of the Spiritual Laws is "Service" ("Giving yourself to Others")
Selwyn Hughes describes his own journey into a new paradigm - a "Spiritual Revolution." It all began when he was reading a theological book on the Trinity by DB Knox.
These two sentences grabbed his attention:
"We learn from the Trinity that relationship is the essence of reality and therefore the essence of our existence, and we also learn that the way this relationship should be expressed is by concern for others. Within the Trinity itself there is a concern by the persons of the Trinity for one another."
The nature of God is to share, care, and give.
Granville Morgan, the much-loved Welsh Minister who served at St Columbas Presby Church in Parkview for many years, once said:
"God's favourite word is AND. He made trees _and_ flowers, elephants _and_ kangeroos, planets _and_ stars, you _and_ me."
All the bounty of creation is testimony of God's extraordinary and extravagant (in the best sense of the word) generosity.
Created in His image, we reach our fullest created potential when we are generous and serve others. Being loved by God and created in His image, we are impelled to serve others and all the more so when we are confronted by the staggering example of Christ's earthly life of generosity and sacrifice, succinctly wrapped up in his own mission statement "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
We give and share because that's what God does!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalms86:15
The Fifth of the Spiritual Laws is "Service" ("Giving yourself to Others")
Selwyn Hughes describes his own journey into a new paradigm - a "Spiritual Revolution." It all began when he was reading a theological book on the Trinity by DB Knox.
These two sentences grabbed his attention:
"We learn from the Trinity that relationship is the essence of reality and therefore the essence of our existence, and we also learn that the way this relationship should be expressed is by concern for others. Within the Trinity itself there is a concern by the persons of the Trinity for one another."
The nature of God is to share, care, and give.
Granville Morgan, the much-loved Welsh Minister who served at St Columbas Presby Church in Parkview for many years, once said:
"God's favourite word is AND. He made trees _and_ flowers, elephants _and_ kangeroos, planets _and_ stars, you _and_ me."
All the bounty of creation is testimony of God's extraordinary and extravagant (in the best sense of the word) generosity.
Created in His image, we reach our fullest created potential when we are generous and serve others. Being loved by God and created in His image, we are impelled to serve others and all the more so when we are confronted by the staggering example of Christ's earthly life of generosity and sacrifice, succinctly wrapped up in his own mission statement "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
We give and share because that's what God does!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-06-01 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Forgiveness: And now it's time....
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke6:37-38
Do you have a scarcity or an abundance mentality?
People with scarcity-mentality see everything as a finite resource,
- the glass is on its way to being empty,
- they are afraid for the future,
- they fear that there will never be enough,
- have a cynical perspective on life,
- pain and resentment is their god
- and they find it hard to forgive.
Verse 37 describes the symptoms clearly:
- They are judgemental
- Quick to condemn
- Slow to forgive and uncertain of their forgiven-ness.
People with an abundance-mentality see a world brimming with opportunities because they are convinced that God is good,
- their glass is on its way to being filled,
- they are optimistic for the future,
- and trust in today's blessings as hope for tomorrow's provision
- and are able to forgive because they have a deep and abiding sense of being forgiven.
Which are you?
-----------------------------------------------------
We've talked about forgiveness, we'd explored the foundations, the walls and the roof of forgiveness - now it's time to move into the house.
It's time to forgive.
But how??
1.Own your own forgiveness. Draw deep on the well of your forgiven-ness - think of Jesus forgiving you while hanging on the cross - Hear Him say "Father forgive..." and "It is finished."
2.Make a decision to let it go!
- Remember that God will sort out the justice side of it.
- Speak it out! (This is Behaviour Modification.) Whether you tell the person that you forgive them, speak it out in prayer or write it in your journal, the point is you need to make a statement of forgiveness.
- Remember forgiveness does not make something all-right, it is just letting go. (Remember God deals with the justice side...)
Ask God to help you remember without pain.
3.If the memory hurts, go back to step 2. (Remembering without pain)
Deal with any lingering resentments.
4.Wish the person well. You don't have to be their buddy, you're simply relinquishing the blood-lust of vengeance.
--------------------------------------------------
Forgiveness is one of the hardest yet most-important things we can do.
The choice is yours:
You can:
- walk around with festering resentment toward people who don't know,
- live with unresolved rage toward people who may even be dead already
- or harbour bitter condemnation toward yourself for past failures.
Alternatively you can GET FREE by letting it go. Read back over the last 6 eDevs, get your head around it and fill your heart with forgiven-ness and just do it!
Now is the time.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Do you have a scarcity or an abundance mentality?
People with scarcity-mentality see everything as a finite resource,
- the glass is on its way to being empty,
- they are afraid for the future,
- they fear that there will never be enough,
- have a cynical perspective on life,
- pain and resentment is their god
- and they find it hard to forgive.
Verse 37 describes the symptoms clearly:
- They are judgemental
- Quick to condemn
- Slow to forgive and uncertain of their forgiven-ness.
People with an abundance-mentality see a world brimming with opportunities because they are convinced that God is good,
- their glass is on its way to being filled,
- they are optimistic for the future,
- and trust in today's blessings as hope for tomorrow's provision
- and are able to forgive because they have a deep and abiding sense of being forgiven.
Which are you?
-----------------------------------------------------
We've talked about forgiveness, we'd explored the foundations, the walls and the roof of forgiveness - now it's time to move into the house.
It's time to forgive.
But how??
1.Own your own forgiveness. Draw deep on the well of your forgiven-ness - think of Jesus forgiving you while hanging on the cross - Hear Him say "Father forgive..." and "It is finished."
2.Make a decision to let it go!
- Remember that God will sort out the justice side of it.
- Speak it out! (This is Behaviour Modification.) Whether you tell the person that you forgive them, speak it out in prayer or write it in your journal, the point is you need to make a statement of forgiveness.
- Remember forgiveness does not make something all-right, it is just letting go. (Remember God deals with the justice side...)
Ask God to help you remember without pain.
3.If the memory hurts, go back to step 2. (Remembering without pain)
Deal with any lingering resentments.
4.Wish the person well. You don't have to be their buddy, you're simply relinquishing the blood-lust of vengeance.
--------------------------------------------------
Forgiveness is one of the hardest yet most-important things we can do.
The choice is yours:
You can:
- walk around with festering resentment toward people who don't know,
- live with unresolved rage toward people who may even be dead already
- or harbour bitter condemnation toward yourself for past failures.
Alternatively you can GET FREE by letting it go. Read back over the last 6 eDevs, get your head around it and fill your heart with forgiven-ness and just do it!
Now is the time.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 28, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-05-28 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Forgiveness: As we forgive
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew6:12
Here's a profoundly uncomfortable truth and principle:
Our experience of being forgiven by God and our track-record with regard to forgiving others are linked.
It always remains true that Christ's death is sufficient to forgive all sins. There is no question about His ability to forgive and wash away our sins. Jesus died to pay the price of your and my sin, past, present and future.
But what good is a gift of a billion rand if it is in my bank account and I never withdraw a cent?
If I have a deep sense of forgiven-ness, it is a deep well that I can draw from and I can offer some of that living water to those around me. If I am unwilling or unable to forgive, then the implication is that my well has a locked lid on it and even I can't drink from it.
Understand the principle: we don't forgive others to earn forgiveness - that would be the cart before the horse - we forgive others because we ourselves have been forgiven.
This is the point of the parable about the slave who was pardoned a huge debt by the king and was thrown into prison when he would not forgive a tiny debt incurred by another slave.
If we are UNABLE to forgive, it is because we have not completely understood how great a debt God has released us from.
If we are UNWILLING to forgive, it is because we have hardened our hearts to the reality of our own sin and the grace that sets us free.
In short, complete forgiveness is available to us in Christ, but if we have not fully embraced and connected to that forgiveness it manifests in us being unwilling or unable to forgive. Not forgiving others is a _symptom_ of not connecting to and experiencing God's forgiveness.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew6:12
Here's a profoundly uncomfortable truth and principle:
Our experience of being forgiven by God and our track-record with regard to forgiving others are linked.
It always remains true that Christ's death is sufficient to forgive all sins. There is no question about His ability to forgive and wash away our sins. Jesus died to pay the price of your and my sin, past, present and future.
But what good is a gift of a billion rand if it is in my bank account and I never withdraw a cent?
If I have a deep sense of forgiven-ness, it is a deep well that I can draw from and I can offer some of that living water to those around me. If I am unwilling or unable to forgive, then the implication is that my well has a locked lid on it and even I can't drink from it.
Understand the principle: we don't forgive others to earn forgiveness - that would be the cart before the horse - we forgive others because we ourselves have been forgiven.
This is the point of the parable about the slave who was pardoned a huge debt by the king and was thrown into prison when he would not forgive a tiny debt incurred by another slave.
If we are UNABLE to forgive, it is because we have not completely understood how great a debt God has released us from.
If we are UNWILLING to forgive, it is because we have hardened our hearts to the reality of our own sin and the grace that sets us free.
In short, complete forgiveness is available to us in Christ, but if we have not fully embraced and connected to that forgiveness it manifests in us being unwilling or unable to forgive. Not forgiving others is a _symptom_ of not connecting to and experiencing God's forgiveness.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-05-26 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Forgiveness: Forgiven-ness
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians2:13-14
Here's a basic, fundamental principle underlying the law of forgiveness: Our capacity to forgive deepens as we understand that we are forgiven.
Selwyn Hughes writes at length about how a deep sense of being forgiven has been central to his relationship with God. When he was a young boy he would stand up whenever the pastor asked if anyone had anything to share and he would say "I'm forgiven" and then sit down.
A couple of hundred years ago an English gentlemen played a prank on five of his friends. He sent them anonymous letters saying: "All is found out - all is revealed." All five left the country. Guilt weighs heavily on all of us.
Christ went to the cross to forgive us.
Not for our good points, good looks or multitude of talents.
He went to the cross for our sin: that dark, horrible store of deception, self-centredness, hatred, arrogance and shame that lives in each of us.
He dealt with it decisively. It will never come back to haunt us.
In his book on the Seven Laws Selwyn Hughes, now in his eighties, wrote: "Tears are flowing down my face now as I write. To be forgiven by God and to be reconciled to Him through His Son Jesus Christ is the most glorious thing that can happen to anyone."
Our capacity to forgive deepens as we understand that we are forgiven.
If we find it hard to forgive, we may not understand how much we are forgiven!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Here's a basic, fundamental principle underlying the law of forgiveness: Our capacity to forgive deepens as we understand that we are forgiven.
Selwyn Hughes writes at length about how a deep sense of being forgiven has been central to his relationship with God. When he was a young boy he would stand up whenever the pastor asked if anyone had anything to share and he would say "I'm forgiven" and then sit down.
A couple of hundred years ago an English gentlemen played a prank on five of his friends. He sent them anonymous letters saying: "All is found out - all is revealed." All five left the country. Guilt weighs heavily on all of us.
Christ went to the cross to forgive us.
Not for our good points, good looks or multitude of talents.
He went to the cross for our sin: that dark, horrible store of deception, self-centredness, hatred, arrogance and shame that lives in each of us.
He dealt with it decisively. It will never come back to haunt us.
In his book on the Seven Laws Selwyn Hughes, now in his eighties, wrote: "Tears are flowing down my face now as I write. To be forgiven by God and to be reconciled to Him through His Son Jesus Christ is the most glorious thing that can happen to anyone."
Our capacity to forgive deepens as we understand that we are forgiven.
If we find it hard to forgive, we may not understand how much we are forgiven!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-05-25 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Forgiveness: An imperative
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians3:13
When I was in primary school, one of the secretaries had a coffee mug that read "I don't get mad - I just get even!" ((Too) many years down the line I still remember it.) Modern society regards vengeance as a right and rage as something we are entitled too.
From God's perspective forgiveness is not optional. It is an instruction and a command. We MUST forgive. It is a Spiritual Law. We can not and may not reserve the right to withhold forgiveness or take vengeance.
Why?
1. Because we are unjust people - we will never balance the scales. Our vengeance is usually over the top and we trigger off endless cycles of downward spiralling violence.
Some people quote the Old Testament eye-for-an-eye principle as a justification of vengeance, but they miss the bigger picture. In ancient culture in a scenario where I had a fight with someone and he broke ONE of my teeth, I would go and get my brothers and we would break TWO of his teeth, and then he would get his brothers...
The eye-for-an-eye principle was just the start of limiting the cycles of violence. The Old and New Testaments move us toward a better principle: "Vengeance is mine" says the Lord. He alone can balance the scales with true justice.
2. Because we have a deep well of forgiven-ness (more on this tomorrow)
3. Matthew (6:15) says: "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." The degree to which we harbour resentment and unforgiveness in our hearts has an impact on our experience of forgiveness (the poison principle we spoke about previously) More on this in the next few days...
4. It's what Jesus did: "Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."
So, forgiveness is not optional - we are not making a big concession when we forgive - we're just doing what is required.
---
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
When I was in primary school, one of the secretaries had a coffee mug that read "I don't get mad - I just get even!" ((Too) many years down the line I still remember it.) Modern society regards vengeance as a right and rage as something we are entitled too.
From God's perspective forgiveness is not optional. It is an instruction and a command. We MUST forgive. It is a Spiritual Law. We can not and may not reserve the right to withhold forgiveness or take vengeance.
Why?
1. Because we are unjust people - we will never balance the scales. Our vengeance is usually over the top and we trigger off endless cycles of downward spiralling violence.
Some people quote the Old Testament eye-for-an-eye principle as a justification of vengeance, but they miss the bigger picture. In ancient culture in a scenario where I had a fight with someone and he broke ONE of my teeth, I would go and get my brothers and we would break TWO of his teeth, and then he would get his brothers...
The eye-for-an-eye principle was just the start of limiting the cycles of violence. The Old and New Testaments move us toward a better principle: "Vengeance is mine" says the Lord. He alone can balance the scales with true justice.
2. Because we have a deep well of forgiven-ness (more on this tomorrow)
3. Matthew (6:15) says: "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." The degree to which we harbour resentment and unforgiveness in our hearts has an impact on our experience of forgiveness (the poison principle we spoke about previously) More on this in the next few days...
4. It's what Jesus did: "Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."
So, forgiveness is not optional - we are not making a big concession when we forgive - we're just doing what is required.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 21, 2010
EMMDEV 2010-05-21 [Seven Laws of Spiritual Success] Forgiveness: What UNforgiveness is.
"Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew18:32-34
One of the most powerful definitions of unforgiveness I have ever heard goes like this: "Unforgiveness is me drinking the poison and hoping that the person I am angry with will die."
Think about it for a moment... There are people we are still mad and resentful at who don't even know it - they may already be dead (and not even at our hand!) - and we still harbour all sorts of hate, hurt and unforgiveness in our hearts. Who's getting hurt? Not them, but us.
Jesus tells a hard-hitting parable of a servant who owed his master an obscene amount of money and was pardoned and then refused to pardon a fellow servant who owed him a teeny tiny amount.
The master hands him over to the "torturers." Selwyn Hughes and many modern psychologists make a big deal over the havoc unforgiveness can cause in our lives. When our souls are burdened with the baggage of past hurts and resentments, it leads to:
- Destructive behaviour
- Diminished mental and physical health
- Anguish (or Obliviousness) for the one we are not forgiving!
- A warped perspective of God
When we refuse to let go of past hurts, we find ourselves in the hands of the "torturers."
Is there festering rage, an inexplicably poor self-image, a sense of the world being grainy monochrome instead of colour, a constant sense of tiredness or a lingering sadness in your life?
Maybe you need to let someone go - maybe you need to release a past hurt - you may be in the hands of the torturer - maybe you need to forgive.
The worst is when we are drinking the poison of unforgiveness against ourselves...
It's time to stop the poison drinking - it's time to escape the torturer. Next week we'll look at how.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Matthew18:32-34
One of the most powerful definitions of unforgiveness I have ever heard goes like this: "Unforgiveness is me drinking the poison and hoping that the person I am angry with will die."
Think about it for a moment... There are people we are still mad and resentful at who don't even know it - they may already be dead (and not even at our hand!) - and we still harbour all sorts of hate, hurt and unforgiveness in our hearts. Who's getting hurt? Not them, but us.
Jesus tells a hard-hitting parable of a servant who owed his master an obscene amount of money and was pardoned and then refused to pardon a fellow servant who owed him a teeny tiny amount.
The master hands him over to the "torturers." Selwyn Hughes and many modern psychologists make a big deal over the havoc unforgiveness can cause in our lives. When our souls are burdened with the baggage of past hurts and resentments, it leads to:
- Destructive behaviour
- Diminished mental and physical health
- Anguish (or Obliviousness) for the one we are not forgiving!
- A warped perspective of God
When we refuse to let go of past hurts, we find ourselves in the hands of the "torturers."
Is there festering rage, an inexplicably poor self-image, a sense of the world being grainy monochrome instead of colour, a constant sense of tiredness or a lingering sadness in your life?
Maybe you need to let someone go - maybe you need to release a past hurt - you may be in the hands of the torturer - maybe you need to forgive.
The worst is when we are drinking the poison of unforgiveness against ourselves...
It's time to stop the poison drinking - it's time to escape the torturer. Next week we'll look at how.
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
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