Forgiveness and Love

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:34 ESV)

Forgiveness (2) and Love

At the very moment Jesus is praying, His blood is being shed. That blood that is not randomly dripping, but instead each individual drop is paying for the sins of those whom Jesus loves.

That is why He is, almost at that very moment, dying.

And among His last words are an amazing statement of how and why salvation works.

He is speaking particularly about those who are crucifying Him. By the context of the lot-casting, He is speaking about the Roman soldiers and officials.

Jesus says, “THIS blood is for them.”

Of course, more events need to happen. The soldiers and officials WILL come to realize their need for Christ’s blood because of their sins. The gospels record centurions saying conversion-like things, (Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47) and perhaps this was a part of that story. But Jesus’ statement on the cross indicates that His blood was being shed for some of those folk standing right there.

But He was also, perhaps, referring to all of His saints.

Because we do not know what we do, either.

Our sins are often unnoticed and unconfessed.

But Jesus bled and died for us.

Forgiveness (2) and Hope

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)

Forgiveness (2) and Hope

Lately I have been trying to drink less carbonated drinks. Since I am not a fan of drinking water straight, I have been using one of those powdered drink mixes. My favorite flavor is called Raspberry Ice.

Almost.

The problem with Raspberry Ice is that it stains. Because it is red. Other colors of powdered drink mix do not stain as readily, or as badly. But that red dye leaves marks on tabletops, shirtsleeves, carpeting, and lips.

Maybe Isaiah was thinking about Raspberry Ice powdered drink mix.

Because our sins stain like that.

Our sins are noticeable, damaging, and embarrassingly ugly.

But no matter how red-stained our sins make us, there is something that gets rid of the mark. Jesus’ red blood somehow makes our red stains disappear. Better than that, Jesus’ red blood makes our red stains pure, clean, and beautiful.

Today we feel shame, remorse, sorrow, embarrassment, fear, loneliness, and guilt. Today we might not think that stain will EVER come out.

But in Christ, and Christ alone, the stain will be gone.

The crimson will be as white as snow.

Take the hope God grants us.

Forgiveness (2) and Faith

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 ESV)

Forgiveness (2) and Faith

What a different statement this would be if we lived on a map instead of a globe. “East” and “West” on a map is a measurable yet relative concept. On a limited flat surface, “as far as the east is from the west” might be next door… or 2000 miles.

So the separation, due to God’s work, might be a very close thing or a very distanced thing.

That would not be encouraging, would it? “Hey, all you folk aware of the serious nature of your sin… God has done an amazing work to forgive you! But how MUCH He forgave you… how MUCH He removed your sin from you… is kind a vague uncertain thing. Oh well… have a nice day! Now go on to Psalm 104.”

But instead, even if the Psalmist did not understand the geographical facts in play, God says in this Psalm that the difference between God’s redeemed people and our sin is INFINITE.

Picture yourself on a globe. Face east and start traveling.

When do you stop heading east?

Disregarding place names like East Coasts, Western Deserts, and ‘Out West,’ there is no end to heading east once you start.

East and West are infinitely apart.

I realize the slightly paradoxical situation here. But I am glad of it. Because it reinforces my understanding that God’s Gracious Forgiveness requires faith to accept it.

Christian, do you wonder if God has forgiven you?

Take the faith God grants us.

Forgiveness and Faith

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

Forgiveness and Faith

A few years ago we paid a home mortgage off early.  The payoff was unexpected.  And writing that check and knowing that our dept was paid was thrilling!

Each month, however, when our usual mortgage paying day came around, I still felt bad.  It had been a regular check, and we usually felt pressure and tension.  Once the mortgage was gone, our habitual uncomfortable feeling overwhelmed the fact of our freedom.

And it was silly.

The forgiveness that God gives us is just the same.  In HIS book, our sin-debt has been paid.  In HIS book, we have redemption.  In HIS book, we are forgiven.

Our continued feelings of guilt, fear, and awkwardness before Him is not connected to truth.  I will not call us silly for these feelings, instead I note their inaccuracy.  God’s statement and judgment outrank our feelings.  God’s decrees of grace outrank our feelings.  God’s choice to forgive outranks our feelings.

Believe what He says and rejoice in being forgiven!

Take the faith God grants us.

Forgiveness and Love

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Forgiveness and Love

The hippies might have had it right. They seem to have coined the phrase, “I am in to that.” While hippies never endorsed an official Hippie Dictionary, being “in to something” meant more than liking it, appreciating it, and admiring it. It also implied a selfless devotion, a heart-felt dedication, and perhaps almost a worship.

That sounds a lot like love.

Insert a tiny, ‘to’ into Paul’s words, and the phrase describes loving Christ Jesus.

I am in to Jesus.

And therefore, there is no condemnation for me as I stand before His judgment throne, not only at my death, but every day.

I certainly deserve condemnation. I certainly deserve punishment. I certainly deserve a resounding, “GUILTY,” and hard gavel slam.

But because I am in to Jesus, instead I am adopted, made holy in His sight, and pronounced ‘innocent.’ With Jesus’ innocence.

Love leads to forgiveness. And forgiveness leads to love.

Take the love God grants us.

Forgiveness and Hope

Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (Hebrews 10:17 ESV)

Forgiveness and Hope

I admit to displaying a bit of belief in Christian karma, until I recall this verse. I sort of expect that bad things happening to me are still somehow God punishing me. But clearly God promises that He does not remember my sins.

If He does not remember my sins, He is not punishing me for them.

Perhaps the troubles are logically the result of my poor choices or foolish actions. If so, God is using them to teach me, guide me, remind me, or actually help me. He is NOT punishing. Perhaps the troubles are meant to teach, guide, remind, or actually help someone else. He is NOT punishing me. Perhaps the troubles are somehow exactly what God knows I (or someone else) need, and are truly for my good. (Romans 8:28) He is NOT punishing.

Which means that tomorrow, the only thing that God remembers about us is His Son’s death on our behalf. Tomorrow, the only thing that God remembers about us is His Son’s righteousness worn by us like a robe. Tomorrow, the only thing that God remembers about us is His love.

Take the hope God grants us.

Hair and Love

And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38 ESV)

Hair and Love

The sacrifice of something precious is an expression of love.  God loves us and sacrifices His Son.  Jesus loves us and sacrifices Himself.  Jonathan loved David and sacrificed Jonathan’s position.    Parents love their children and sacrifice time, resources, and energy. 

This unnamed woman loved Jesus. (Luke 7:47) She showed it by personal sacrifice.  She ruined her hair to humbly wash and anoint the feet of Jesus.

Jesus exclaims, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV) But after this woman’s work, he might have said, “This is a pretty good expression of love, too, that someone gives up their beautiful hair for their beloved.”

We are not often given the opportunity to show love by giving up our hair. 

But we are often given the opportunity to show love by giving up something.

Perhaps it is power.  Perhaps it is a position.  Perhaps it is a possession.  Perhaps it is our reputation.  Perhaps it is time.  Perhaps it is energy.

We can love like this woman loved, because God has taught us… Jesus has taught us… His people have taught us what love is.

Take the love God grants us. 

Hair and Hope

So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.” (II Samuel 10:4-5 ESV)

Hair and Hope

David’s servants lost half of their beards. But they lost more than that. Culturally, they had lost their respect, standing, and reputation.

Most of us have lost something. Maybe not half a beard. But we have lost possessions, positions, and companions. And like David’s servants, we have at times lost respect, standing, and reputation.

David was a good King. He was sensitive to his servant’s loss. And he acted to restore what he could. He could not make their hair grow, but he could help them restore their place in society. He helped them wait.

We have an even better King. Jesus restores what we have lost, too. And He has more power and ability than David did!

I can not promise that Jesus will restore tomorrow what is causing you to feel loss. But He will restore, and so urges our attention on, all that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) He is the Greatest King.

Perhaps not until we open our eyes in His Kingdom. Perhaps after a wait, like David’s servants. Perhaps sooner.

But because He is King, we can hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

Hair and Faith

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7 ESV)

Hair and Faith

It is sometimes said, “the devil is in the details.” But I disagree. God’s care for His people is displayed in the details. Jesus reminds us here that even the individually insignificant hairs on your head are identified, counted, and known by God.

Since God pays such close attention to such tiny things as an individual hair, it follows that He also pays close attention to the whole head of hair. If God pays such close attention to the whole head of hair, it follows that He also pays close attention to the entire head. If God plays such close attention to the entire head, it follows that He also pays close attention to the rest of you.

God’s children, adopted through the priceless sacrifice of His only begotten Son, are of immense value to Him.

He apparently cares about sparrows… but He cares more about you.

He apparently cares about your individual hairs… but He cares more about you.

The next time you wonder of God notices you, look in the mirror and try to count your hairs.

God has already counted them. He has already noticed them. He has already noticed you. He has already purchased you. He already gives you something to believe in.

Take the faith God grants us.

Stars and Hope

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3,4 ESV)

Stars and Hope

Extravagant (not merely in price) gifts are indications of care.

Once when I was leaving a congregation, an artist friend gathered bits and pieces of reminders of my time in the church and town. The handle of a coffee mug from the radio station that I enjoyed. Bits of plates and cutlery from friends’ kitchens. Rocks and materials from ranches and farms.

She then combined them into a wall-hanging. When I glance at that collage, I remember the church, the town, and the people. But I also remember and feel again the fact that she is mindful of me… and cares for me.

Finding that someone cares for me is like finding a treasure.

The Psalmist sees the artistry and order of the night sky as proof that God cares for him. He arrives at that conclusion by noting that the lights in the sky are amazing. And that we humans, whom God is mindful of, and whom God cares for are not nearly so amazing. Yet God made the wondrous and extravagant so that we can occasionally look at it and grin.

He created the fantastic because He cares so much for little, tiny me.

The awesome skylights remind us of God’s affection, care, and attention.

If the sky were dull grey ALL the time… and if the lights were un-twinkling, few in number, and uninteresting, would not that imply that God was not interested in us? Instead, the varied lights, the artful patterns, the predictable yet wild movement, and the music of the spheres shout, “GOD CARES.”

When we wonder if tomorrow will be lonely, look at God’s gifts in the sky. When we expect that our loneliness has no end, look at God’s gifts in the sky. When think that tomorrow we will be unloved, unnoticed, un-understood, and unimportant… notice for a moment what God did for you.

Tomorrow, Someone will care for you.

Take the hope God grants us.

Stars and Love

The moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:9 ESV)

Stars and Love

Helen Keller, famous for her literary contributions despite being blind and deaf, declared that when her teacher, Anne Sullivan, taught her to read, the young Keller, “awoke from fear. I was no longer quite so deaf, or quite so blind.”

Sullivan is reported to have smiled in response and said, “What else could I do? I had grown to love you.”

Solitary confinement, with sensory deprivation, has been outlawed as a cruel and unusual punishment.

While a night storm’s noises are terrifying, the worst part is when the power goes out, and our homes are plunged into darkness.

Perhaps for profound spiritual as well as emotional reasons, we were created with an awareness that we need light and Light. And our creator knows this.

So when He was making the stuff of this universe, the first thing He made was light. (Genesis 1:3) And further, He blessed even the darkness of night with smaller lights. (Genesis 1:16) So we would not have to be in the dark.

God frees us from the dark, even before creation was finished. Because He loves His people.

The stars, given to diminish the darkness of light, are evidence of God’s love.

Take the love God grants us.

Stars and Faith

He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name. (Amos 5:8 ESV)

Stars and Faith

One summer, as a part of a Boy Scout Merit Badge, I memorized the names and locations of the 50 brightest stars. I suppose if I had ever been lost in the woods, I would have a valuable resource!

A few years ago, while investigating some astronomical concepts, I found that the 50 stars that I had memorized had not changed! They remained the 50 brightest stars, and they remained in the same locations!

I was not really surprised.

But Amos understood my excitement.

Those stars are from my short-lived perspective, unchanging. Those stars are a part of the cycle of day and night, light and dark, winter and summer. Those stars are regular, reliable, predictable, and familiar.

The Lord made them.

The things that I make usually are recognizable as mine, often taking on my characteristics.

And what the Lord made has His characteristics. He, like His stars, is regular, reliable, predictable, and familiar, too.

When we feel unsettled, unstable, and insecure, look up at the stars. The same stars that Adam saw. The same stars that Abraham saw. The same stars that Amos saw. The same stars that Paul saw. The same stars that Martin Luther saw. The same stars that George Washington saw. The same stars that Robert Burns saw. The same stars I saw as a lad. The same stars I saw yesterday. The same stars I will likely see tomorrow.

The Lord made them.

Take the faith God grants us.

History and Love

Things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78:3,4 ESV)

History and Love

One of my fondest memories is of my grandfather telling the story of his adventures during World War II. From the laughter of galley shenanigans to the terror of approaching Pacific Island beaches in the dead of night, he told me history, and it was not dull. He also told me about the kinds of bushes he had grown successfully. And it was not dull. He also told me of his office work, he called it, “pushing pencils.” And it was not dull.

Some of his stories were obviously more thrilling than others. Some of his stories were obviously more useful than others. Some of his stories were more understandable than others. But his stories were never dull.

Because the stories were about a man I loved. The stories were told by a man who loved me. The stories were usually, just because of the relationship between us, about love.

This Psalm also declares that the study of history is not dull. Because the stories of his history were stories of His God.

My love of Scotland drives my appreciation for Robert Burns. My growing (slowly) love of poetry fuels my interest in Burns’ writings. My love for my civilization pushes me to share his work with my community.

Of course, the Psalmist is talking about an even richer history than Scotland’s. He is talking about the history we find in Scripture. And that history, more than any other history, is about love. That history is written through love. That history is written for love.

Because that history is all about Jesus. Every book of the Bible… every chapter of every book… every verse of every chapter… is all about Jesus.

His love is on every page.

Take the love God grants us.

History and Faith

Things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done (Psalm 78:3,4 ESV)

History and Faith

Faith is founded in God’s actions in the past. We study the past, history, to allow faith to have fertile soil.

Sometimes that soil is a complicated mix of minerals, nutrients, and waste. But mixed together, the soil of history is rich, profound, and valuable.

This week, Jubilee is celebrating Robert Burns Day. Burns was an 18th Century Scottish poet. He lived a wild, often lawless life. He sowed his oats freely and drank his large quantities of whiskey straight. He rejected authority, particularly the authority of the kirk.

But surprisingly, Presbyterians love Robert Burns. Pressies love Burns for at least two reasons.

First, his unrighteous choices and actions remind us of our own sinfulness. We could be just as wild… in fact we are. Perhaps not with Burns’ particular rebellions. But our purposeful push-back against God is no different than His. We, like Burns, are poster-children for the need of redemption, found only in faith in Christ Jesus.

So Burns’ life is a part of the gospel story. A part that we need to be reminded of.

Second, as a part of the gospel, Burns’ art was both earthy and majestic. His poetry (you might recall Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, or Auld Lange Syne) captures 18th century Scottish sentiments, culture, and heart. He was deft in his use of metaphor, allegory, and visual descriptions. In his poems, Burns displays our need for humility, patience, reality, and even love.

Burns’ beautiful poems are a reminder that God reveals the majestic in the mundane, mines value from the broken, and transforms human fallen nature into the fantastic.

When we, therefore, notice the mundane, the broken, and the fallen… we can believe that these are not obstacles to God. But raw materials for wonder.

Maybe you do not like Burns’ lifestyle or his poetry. If not, I understand. But find someone from yesteryear to read, study, and appreciate. In such are the soil of faith.

Take the faith God grants us.

Wind and Love

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (Matthew 6:3 ESV)

Wind and Love

Wind is powerful. But all we see is the effect, not the wind itself.

Wind is not a blow hard, even when it blows hard. Wind does its job.

Wind does not claim credit, even when it moves the turbine, moves the dunes, and moves the ocean waves. Wind does its job.

Wind does not attempt to win popularity contests. Wind does not ask to be remembered in statues, or memorials, or holidays. Wind does its job.

Wind is a lot like love.

Love does not draw attention to itself, even when it changes the world. Love does its job.

Love does not claim credit, even when it changes hearts, changes motivations, and changes lives. Love does its job.

Love does not act to be popular. Love does not ask to be remembered. Love does its job.

Love is a lot like wind.

When we love, whether we love God or mankind, be like the wind. Behind the scenes. Doing the unnoticed necessary. If the right hand, do not draw the left hand’s notice. If the left hand, do not draw the right hand’s notice.

Love like God, in fact.

Behind the sunrise, not printing His name on it. Behind the peace, not printing His name on it. Behind the provision, not printing His name on it.

Take the love God grants us.

Wind and Hope

Who has gathered the wind in his fists? (Proverbs 30:4 ESV)

Wind and Hope

Agur, in the book of Proverbs, has figured out that we humans at times feel helpless. As he describes his awareness of his lack of control, power, and knowledge, it is easy to imagine that Agur might be writing from today in Wichita, Kansas instead of writing in the ancient Middle East.

We wonder, today, if we really can do anything to hurt or help our environment. We wonder, today, if we can change the minds of our confused neighbors. We wonder, today, if we can plan for retirement. We wonder, today, if we can affordably affect our health. We wonder, today, if we can help our crying children. We wonder, today, if our votes actually matter.

Helpless.

Agur tells us though, that there is One who holds the wind in His fists!

He describes the Holy One, Jahweh, the One True God in these terms:

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and what is his son’s name?

Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:4)

When you feel helpless, cling to the One who holds the wind…

Take the hope God grants us.

Wind and Faith

So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts… And the Lord turned the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. (Exodus 10:13,19 ESV)

Wind and Faith

I once listened to a group of high school science students and teachers trying to describe wind. The answers were astonishingly all over the place. No one suggested MY obviously true answer: Wind is the breath of dragons, giants, and leviathans attempting to move a huge beach ball in a game of Monster Soccer.

Few of us actually DO understand the wind… and if we have had to endure a tornado, hurricane, or a South Dakota spring, we are a bit apprehensive of it.

When we do not understand something, it can be a cause of concern, worry, or mistrust.

The Egyptians and the Israelites learned something about wind, though. Exodus 10 describes two winds from opposite directions, with opposite purposes. Without Moses’ commentary, the weather must have been very confusing. But the lesson is clear. The wind is God’s tool.

The Egyptians had reason, therefore, to be afraid… but the Israelites had reason to be excited. God was at work. Behind the scenes… invisible, but not with invisible effects.

What wind is in our lives this week? Maybe you feel the wind of political change. Maybe you feel the wind of financial upheaval. Maybe you feel the wind God’s spirit driving you to stop sinning. Maybe you feel the Wind of God pressing you into His loving arms.

Whatever your wind… remember Exodus and God’s control. It is His wind.

Take the faith God grants us.

How-to-Change-the-World and Love

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. (II Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

How-to-Change-the-World and Love

I stopped playing chess for a while because I was tired of not winning. I did not care about the sharpening of my mind, the community, the mathematical intricacies, or the joy of the game itself. I discovered that all I cared about was the result. And it ruined the game for me.

But recently I have enjoyed playing again. I discovered that chess is not about winning.

Neither is life.

The triumphal procession that Paul describes here is not the spiritual form of the celebration at the end of Star Wars. While it sounds exciting to have the saints and angels cheering us on as we receive our ‘well-done’ medals, victory in Christ is a different thing. It is actually a better thing.

The fragrance of the knowledge of Him that spreads though us to the world is love itself. His love for His beloved enables us to love Him. His love for His beloved enables us to love others.

And THAT is what changes the world.

There is cheering going on… but it is aimed at the love-bringer. There is praising going on… but it is aimed at our Savior. There is a victory parade, but at its beginning, middle, and end that parade involves us putting our meager crowns at JESUS’ feet. (Revelation 4:10)

Christ’s changes the world and we are along for the ride. Not a simpering, silly, bland love. But a gracious, sacrificial, purposeful, powerful love.

Take the Love God grants us.

How-to-Change-the-World and Hope

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

How-to-Change-the-World and Hope

I worked sometimes for the local radio station in Lemmon, South Dakota. By the time I greeted the audience, the play list for the day was arranged. Often even days ahead.

Occasionally, on other days, the radio announcers would ask for requests. And I found it fun to call in… knowing the upcoming schedule… and request a song that was coming up soon.

The best way to get your requests met is to ask for what you know is coming. Especially when what is coming is grand!

At the risk of sounding like a fortune teller, here is a prediction of coming events. Jesus is going to win.

It is even more guaranteed than the playlist on KBJM.

When we pray, then, why not pray for what you know is going to happen? Pray that the Kingdom of God will expand. (Matthew 6:10) Pray that the gospel will go out, and not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) Pray that every knee will bow! And that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Praying for what we know is going to happen can be easy. It is also exciting. It is also a source of hope.

Take the hope God grants us.