Compassion and Forgiveness

We are going to be persecuted in this world for those things that are not in line with what is considered socially acceptable. Take all of the challenges and persecution that is taking place in the Middle East at this point in history. Whether you are on the side of Israel or the side of Palestinians, there is persecution that comes with your decided views.

“³³And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” – Luke 23:33-34 (ESV)

Notice here Jesus’ approach to the persecution. He calls for God to “forgive them”, and why, “for they know not what they do”. Jesus was in a situation where He was being persecuted well beyond anything that I will be subjected, and His go to was to show compassion for those persecuting Him and ask that they be forgiven. He is not asking for one side to be right and the other side to be wrong, Jesus is simply asking for compassion and forgiveness for all involved.

I have to remember that people are going to be people and they are going to do what is in the mind, whether that is of their own volition or it is driven by the evil one. These are only people and have every opportunity, just as I did, to repent and accept Christ. My role is to bring the love of Christ to them and as I do so, I have to show compassion to them and forgive them.

I do not have any special powers and am certainly not Christ. But, I am one of His children and am tasked to bring His way to the world. I am to demonstrate and be the example of Christ in the world today. The example that Jesus set was one of compassion and forgiveness and it is my role to bring the same to others in this world.

I believe that we are sorely missing God in the world today and we need all of His children to take up the example of Jesus and spread it far and wide, yet not to forget those in our immediate vicinity. I have a duty to complete the work Christ set for me:

“¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus went through this world bringing His message to ALL, regardless of who they were or where they came from. He provided countless examples of compassion and forgiveness in His time here. He then challenged me to do as He did and bring His message to all and demonstrate that same compassion and forgiveness in the process.

What are your actions when things go sideways around you? Are you taking the process of condemning those who hold a different view? What if we used the example of Christ and showed compassion and forgiveness to all involved?

Father in Heaven is Number One

It seems as though the title of my post this morning should go without saying, but does it? As I read in Luke this morning I find that Jesus states that fathers will go against sons and sons against fathers.

“⁵³They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” – Luke 12:53 (ESV)

This certainly caught me off guard when read only on its own. As such, and as always, the context and completeness of God’s Word is where the substance is, not in cherry picked verses. The entire passage is referring to the coming of Jesus to demonstrate the differences in following Him and following the world. He was sent to divide the world into those who follow Him and those who do not. And this is in reference to the fact that even in one household, there will be that division. That division is part of the plan.

I know what I was thinking in this instance, likely the same that you are thinking. How could the LORD be about division as opposed to unity? He is all about unity, as everyone, and I mean everyone has the opportunity to join Him. It is easy enough. The only thing required is to accept the gift of salvation and repent of the sinful ways and profess Jesus as LORD and you have joined Him. From then forward you will have Him on your side and regardless of the challenges you face, you will always, and I mean always have Him to fight your battles with you. Unless our families do the same, they will then be against us.

It is not our earthly family that we should be relying on as we move through this world, it is our heavenly family. And that family start with Jesus our heavenly Father. I have to place Him number one in my life to ensure that I am on the right side.

“²¹Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²²and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:21-22 (ESV)

When we are in line with the Father, we are divided against the world. I have to remember to put the LORD in the number one position. He is where I focus my time and energy. He is where I go for comfort and guidance. He is where I go for glory and joy. It is fully worth it all to follow Him.

Where is the LORD in your life? Are you somehow trying to have it all with all? What if you placed Jesus number one in your life and world and allowed for the division in the name of the Father?

Fathers are Good

What a statement, not just from me, from our Father in heaven.

“¹¹What father among you, if his son asks ford a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹²or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:11-13 (ESV)

I am pretty sure that we have all received a gift that was less than underwhelming from our fathers. We expected one thing and got something that we could not really see the value in. But I am also pretty sure that it was not intentionally given with an evil heart (there are those one off instances for sure). The thing is, Jesus has it right. When we ask for something, we are not given the opposite. Yes, it may not be exactly what we asked for, but it is of value to us.

When we receive from our father here in this world those things of value, then how much more value are the things we receive from our Father in heaven. It may not seem like it at the time, as the LORD gives based on need and less on want. I may want a steak for dinner, but only get a ham sandwich. My want was not filled, it was my need that was. The value from the LORD is packed in the provision. I have to remember contentment and then I will value all that I receive.

Fathers are good. They want for us to receive. They want for us to be fulfilled. If this is what we get from our fathers in this world, just imagine how much more we receive from our Father in heaven. Remember that the LORD gives a heavy coat to the animals in winter when they need it and wouldn’t He do the same for me.

What is your view of fathers? Are you looking to them to provide for your wants and when they are not meeting those wants are you disappointed? What if you saw fathers as good and wanting to meet your needs and then what if you saw our heavenly Father as greater than even that?

Only the LORD is Our Father

“⁹And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.” – Matthew 23:9 (ESV)

I do not want to get into the argument over religious or denominational customs. I am looking here, as I have said before, at the words and their meanings. I will speak to the way the words are written and point out what my thoughts are when seeing them.

These are the words of Jesus. These are not from man, but from the LORD Himself. He points out as He speaks to crowds and His disciples, as noted in the beginning of the passage, that religious leaders are quick to make sure that they are recognized as being something. And then He indicates that they are just men and that they are not to be referred to as something that they are not, fathers to all. They are just men and really do not understand all they claim to understand as Jesus points out in the balance of the passage. They are not to be revered as bigger than they are.

I guess that I have always considered this as I have but two fathers ever, my earthly father and heavenly Father. As I look back sitting here this morning, I am not sure that I have really considered the words of Jesus here, even as I know that I have read through and studied this passage before based on the notes I have in the margin of my bible.

I am grateful for the LORD’s guidance in drawing me to the passages and learning He would have for me. I am not young in years, but still consider myself young in knowledge and take the approach of being a lifelong learner who is determined to grow each day.

The LORD led me to this particular passage as I study the word “father” to ensure that I would learn, even in the face of having been introduced to the passage before. Just because we have seen something in the past, does not mean that we have learned all we can from that past. There is always something more to learn and that is why we study.

I have learned this morning that I have two fathers, one on earth and one in heaven. My earthly father is the only one to be called father as he was the one who gave of himself for me to become. My heavenly Father is the only one to be called Father in any other situations. He is the one who provides for me and the one who guides me and the one who comforts me and the one who teaches me. And He is your heavenly Father also as noted in the instructions from Jesus as He teaches us to pray. And we should take note of the reverence associated with Him as “hallowed”.

“⁹Pray then like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.’”

— Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

It is easy to get caught up in the social construct of things and allowing others to impact our thoughts and ways of doing things. It is hard to go against the grain. I choose to go against the grain and only recognize God as Father.

How are you referring to others around you? Are you aware that you only have one Father and He is in Heaven? What if you went against the grain and referred to only the LORD as your Father?

Your Wife, Not Your Father is Your Best Friend

It may be hard for some to fathom, but your wife is your best friend. You should be inseparable once you have been joined. You should not even let your father get in the way.

“⁴He answered, ‘Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? ⁶So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.’” – Matthew 19:4-6 (ESV)

Now before we get too deep into the male and female and what about the wife as this passage speaks of the husband, we have to remember that it was the custom of the time to speak about the men. For sure, wives hold to the same that they are joined to the husband as one, just as Jesus explains above, but for the sake of my thoughts here I take the same approach of the time and speak of the man, not to mention that I am a man and husband myself.

Jesus was asked about divorce in the passage and is addressing the Pharisees. He was expressing that men are to leave their fathers and devote themselves to their wives from that time forward. When I see this mention of devotion, I see that when it comes to my life, I am to do all of life with Lori. I took her as my wife and would not have done so had she not been the one who I wanted to ensure was with me for the rest of my life.

Lori and I started our lives together and did all things as one. Then we were blessed with the boys, Bryson and Aarron. We poured ourselves into them as one and for about 25 yrs, they were the focus of our attention. And now, it is again just the two of us and we are able to just get back to focusing on each other and doing all together as one. We are with each other for the long haul and I will speak for me and say, I would have it no other way.

We are best friends and are inseparable. We do all things together and everyone knows that we are a package deal. When you invite one of us, the other is expected to be there. I say this not from my own thoughts, but we have been told too many times that when thought of one of us, the other is just part of it.

So, knowing that others see us as the package deal, I say that we have done it. We are best friends and have largely separated ourselves from the parents and have become one, just as Jesus indicates above.

Now, I am not saying that one should not have relationships with their father and others. Lori and I do find and make the time to do our separate things. We have other friends and those we do things with, but our BEST friend is one another. I still interact with my father and mother, yet my life is devoted to Lori, has been for over 27 yrs and will be as long as I am here with her.

Who is your best friend? Are you finding yourself spending more time with others? What if you devoted yourself to your spouse and spent the time together as BEST friends and as one as Jesus speaks?

Habit/Tradition or Following God

How much of what we do in this world is due to habit or tradition and not really in the line of following the commandments of God. Take going to church as an example. We tend to go to church on Sunday’s, but why? Are we doing it to worship the Father and come to Him, or are we doing it because it is what we have always done. Another example is giving to the church. Are we doing it out of habit and not really conscious of our giving, or are we thoughtful and prayerful with every gift.

I believe that we have to push tradition aside and be more thoughtful in our following of God. We have to do things consciously in service to Him and prayerfully considering all our actions in relation to the glory of God at all times.

“⁷You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

‘⁸This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

⁹in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

— Matthew 15:7-9 (ESV)

As I read this morning in relation to my study of the word “father”, I was brought to this passage and at first reading, I was drawn to the honoring of father and mother. But, as I read on and multiple times, I found what I believe God wanted me to find. The title of the passage in my ESV Bible is “Traditions and Commandments” and that is where God wanted me this morning.

I see in the verses that Jesus is speaking with the religious leaders about traditions and commandments and how all will break them. He speaks to them to say that if there is something to be broken, it should be the traditions as they are not from God in this time. Tradition falls into legalism and does not necessarily involve thought and prayer. We are doing them because the law says to and not because it is right.

I have a saying to “Focus on Getting it Right, and NOT Just Getting it Done”. Tradition falls into the “getting it done” for the sake of doing it. Following God is “getting it right” and requires thought and prayer in order to do so. Notice in the verses above that Jesus calls out the religious leaders for just getting things done and not really thinking of whether or not it is indeed right and in following of God.

Where are you in your actions? Are you working through things using tradition and/or habit? What if you were to be more thoughtful and prayerful to follow God and “get it right”?

Love Your Heavenly Father More

This should go without saying, yet, Jesus said it. Yes, He did.

“³⁷Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” – Matthew 10:37 (ESV)

I love my father here in this world. Where he may not have been the man that raised me day to day, he was the man I could call dad. And still, even though he is still with us here in this world, I do not love him as much as I love my heavenly Father.

My heavenly Father will be with me forever and will never leave. I devote myself to my heavenly Father just as He is devoted to me. I am to raise Him up as He will raise me up. I will follow Him and He will carry me. My earthly father has his life and immediate family in his household that he cares for and lifts up. My heavenly Father has all of me and you and everyone that He cares for and lifts up.

There is a saying in sports, “play for the name on the front of the jersey and not the name on the back”. This is in reference to name of the organization and the last name of the person. Translating this to this message is to say we are to serve the family of God more than the family here on earth. I have to remember to follow and be with my heavenly Father and family more than my earthly family.

What father are you loving and following more? Are you concerned more with the love of your earthly father or your heavenly Father? What if you followed and loved your heavenly Father more and served the family of God?

Quid Pro Quo with Jesus

This may sound to some that Jesus wants something from us to give something to us. I guess to some degree that is true and I have to say that I am all in with that way of thinking.

“³²So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33 (ESV)

Here we find Jesus indicating that when we acknowledge Him, He acknowledges us in return. And, the opposite is true as well. Notice that in order to be acknowledged by Jesus, what we are to give in return is simply acknowledgment of Him. And, we will be denied when we deny Him. There is the something for something in return.

I will say that where it is simple in word, it is not as simple in deed. I must acknowledge the LORD and do so with all that I am. I give myself over to Him with all of me and when I do, I am acknowledging His greatness and holiness and rule over me. I am to be fully committed to His rule over my life and actions and now and future. In return, God will devote all of Himself to me. And there we have the quid pro quo.

Here is where things are a bit different in the idea of the quid pro quo with Jesus. Once I have given myself to Him, He does not turn His back on me. Even when I may fall away due to my human qualities, He does not abandon me. Even when I may not acknowledge Him fully, He does not turn away from me. Even when I may experience challenges, He continues to support and love and acknowledge me. So my quid is just the full acknowledgment of Jesus and He provides the forever quo.

Jesus is family who will never turn His back on me. Since I have joined the family, He comforts, guides, protects, defends, and acknowledges me for eternity. I gave Him me and He gave me Himself.

What are your thoughts on what you get from Jesus? Are you looking for something from Him without giving anything of yourself? What if you remembered the quid pro quo with Jesus, you acknowledge Him and give all of yourself to receive all of Him in return?

Our Everlasting Father

This morning I am reading in Isaiah about the coming of Jesus. I am here for verse six and as always, God presents to me that which He wants for me.

“⁶For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

— Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Jesus, born and named. The name I am looking at is “Everlasting Father”. He is to be, born as, and will ever be my Father.

I know that it may be difficult for some to imagine the magnitude of Jesus. I know that every day I am amazed at all that He does, did, and will do for me. And as such, I am brought back, reminded of it all thanks to the Word of God and my study of it. I get so caught up in the world and what is going on in it that I “forget” that whatever happens, it was and has been scripted by God and He is now allowing me to witness and experience it. All that goes on in my life is made possible by God and will continue to be so for eternity.

Jesus is our Father forever. He is the one born into the role from God so that He would be able to experience all that I will experience. He knows the difficulty of this world and the Word of God guides me through it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I am grateful for my Father and all that He does, did, and will do.

How are you seeing Jesus? Are you seeing Him as a figure for today? What if you see Him for the eternity that He is, everlasting and remember that He does, did, and will do all for you, His child?