FORGIVENESS

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,  John 3:16,  12:24-26,  17:20-26,  Eph.4:11-16.

FORGIVENESS,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”   (Across my desk this morning.) 

Today’s Scripture
“…and [love] keeps no record of being wronged.”  (1 Corinthians 13:5, NLT)

Keep No Record
The Bible says that God is love. He doesn’t just have love, He is love. The love we have is an extension of Him. When you invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life, the Bible says that He actually makes His home in your heart. Think about that for a minute. The Creator of the universe, who cannot be contained by anything, chose to make His home on the inside of your heart. That means that perfect love is on the inside of you. First Corinthians 13 tells us what that looks like. When we are walking in God’s love, we are patient. We are kind. Love always forgives. That means choosing to let go of bitterness, hurt and anger. If you have a mental list of all the people who have hurt or offended you, let it go. Let His love work in you and through you today.

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, thank You for loving and setting me free. Thank You for choosing to live on the inside of my heart. Show me if I am holding on to unforgiveness in any area so that I can forgive and walk in peace and victory today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Thoughts,
In talking with a young man a few days ago I noticed that he totally avoided another friend of mine due to something that HAPPENED in the past????   He said that Jesus was with him and so I asked him about forgiveness??? as in the “Lord’s Prayer.”    His reply was that he had forgiven him but it was OK not to like him and to avoid him.  My thoughts ran to ,  “I am sure glad that my Heavenly Creator does not treat me that way.”  

Also we also  have a big problem with guilt by association.  We were deeply hurt by someone in the past and our heart has lockeded in on that.   And here comes along someone in the future who for some reason reminds you of that pain and we tend shut out that person for no reason at all.  To reject someone is really the root meaning of hate.  But in the Early Church rejection was also used for correction,  but always with the opportunity for forgiveness and restoration.  We call this tough love.  But the motivation is not personal but community corrective as in:
Matt. 18:11¹¹ For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.¹² How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?¹³ And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.¹⁴ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.¹⁸ Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

And we need to be constantly be reminded in reality that we stand in faith as in Rom. 11:21               For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: (Faith)  otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.²³ And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

So we stand in and through faith to be found in HIS KINGDOM and James teaches us that our works will truly reveal our faith.  James clearly teaches that faith without resulting action does not exist.  So if you have no concern for the lost no desire to find and keep the commandments of Christ Jesus your eternal  fire insurance may have become invalid as in Isa.28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.¹² To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.¹³ But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.  ¹⁴ Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:¹⁶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.¹⁷ Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.¹⁸ And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

This is very important so let me put it into another translation for those interested:   Isaiah 28:⁹ To whom will He teach knowledge? [Ask the drunkards.] And whom will He make to understand the message? Those who are babies, just weaned from the milk and taken from the breasts? [Is that what He thinks we are?]¹⁰ For it is [His prophets repeating over and over]: precept upon precept, precept upon precept, rule upon rule, rule upon rule; here a little, there a little.¹¹ No, but [the Lord will teach the rebels in a more humiliating way] by men with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people [says Isaiah, and teach them His lessons].¹² To these [complaining Jews the Lord] had said, This is the true rest [the way to true comfort and happiness] that you shall give to the weary, and, This is the [true] refreshing—yet they would not listen [to His teaching]. ¹³ Therefore the word of the Lord will be to them [merely monotonous repeatings of]: precept upon precept, precept upon precept, rule upon rule, rule upon rule; here a little, there a little—that they may go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and taken.¹⁴ Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem!¹⁵ Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol (the place of the dead) we have an agreement—when the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter.¹⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not ^[b]be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].¹⁷ I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place (the shelter).   AMPC

So what is the evidence that you are a True Believer in Christ Jesus?   Do you share His word and commandments when given the opportunity?  Are there others living in Faith in Christ Jesus as LORD due to your help?  If you were convicted for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you.   Even the lost,  love and do good  to those they love.  Even atheists do this…..  So works alone do no qualify.  It is in making Christ Jesus LORD that HE becomes our Savior.  Christ Jesus as LORD is the only way of Salvation.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org   (Friday evening,  House Church here in Kealia,  Pot Blessing,  come if you can.   Past issues of “WORTH CONSIDERING” are available on our Home Page as a link if interested.)