The Freedom of Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Christians are viewed meticulously by the world and it is the qualities in this verse that they look for the most. Kindness is essential, care is highly desired and forgiveness is demanded. The only problem with forgiveness is the fact that all people want it but very few want to give it. If we can learn to forgive, we will free our life from much bondage.

Jesus, our greatest example of forgiveness, put the utmost importance on forgiveness. He said, “¹⁴ For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”, (Matt. 6:14-15, NKJV). He was not referring to salvation here. At the moment, we repent of our sins and trust in Christ as Savior, we are forgiven of past, present and future sins and sealed with God’s Spirit. But our fellowship with God and the quality of life which we live is in jeopardy if we do not forgive others. We need to forgive others and then ask God for His forgiveness to have unhindered fellowship.

So many people do not want to forgive because of past treatment or hurt. We need to realize that when we do not forgive, we will end up harboring bitterness, anger, enmity and/or many other evils. We end up hurting ourselves more than the one we do not want to forgive. We do this by creating an inescapable hole of criticism and resentment. By denying forgiveness, we will severe the ability to communicate and fellowship with that other person. This lack of obedience is sin and thus we are completely limiting growth in our own life and with our walk with God. How can God forgive us fully and allow us to have unhindered fellowship with Him, if we are holding on to sin?

Most of us have been hurt deeply by a parent, a spouse, a close friend or a mentor in our life. If we do not release this hurt through forgiveness, we will limit every other aspect of our life. It is like gripping a rock in each hand and holding on tightly. We may be able to function somewhat normally but only in a very limited fashion. We may be able to perform the basic actions of life. But other more complicated actions will be completely disabled. We need to put down the rocks of unforgiveness and open our hands and our lives to the freedom of God’s blessings.

It does not matter, how many times the other party has offended us. In order to forgive like the Lord Jesus, we need to forgive others as much as He has forgiven us. We don’t need to hold the hurt from another as hostage. This is only an excuse to hold on to unforgiveness and bitterness.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Who Is On the Lords Side

Psalms 127:1-2 (NKJV)
¹ Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. ² It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so He gives His beloved sleep.

        We all could save ourselves a whole lot of problems if we would just trust God’s promise that He is always in control. We see in these verses that if we seek any effort outside of the will of God, we will be doing all in vain. We should not even start an effort unless we realize that it is within the guidelines that God desires. We step out of the will of God when we openly disobey Him or when we step ahead of God – doing the right thing outside of God’s timing. God’s clear guidance is in His word. All other solutions are answered on our knees, beckoning the heart of God and seeking godly counsel.

        This process begins with our thoughts. When we are not submitted to the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit, our thoughts will turn to worry or anxiety. Just as a night watchman who fears attack, he will rise often, check around constantly and thus he will not rest or have any peace throughout the night. Trusting God is the same. If we cast our cares upon the Lord and trust that He is in control of our situations, then our thoughts and fears will be at rest.

Verse 2 says that it is vain to eat the bread of sorrows. He is telling us that we must not get distraught about the affairs of this life. There are many other matters about which we need to be concerned. Since Christ promised to clothe and protect His children, we need not be worried or even concerned about these matters. Jesus said, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clotheyou, O you of little faith?”, (Matt. 6:30, NKJV).

Rest follows trust. God Himself rested the seventh day after creating the heavens and earth. Rest and renewal are in His plan for each of us. If we are overly distraught, too busy or if we are trying to bear the burden of life on our own shoulders, we will be full of anxiety and turmoil. We will not get rest that we need for our body, our mind and our spirit. We can rest and trust, while obediently following God’s word. This kind of rest will bring true peace. The outward circumstances will not matter when our faith is planted in God.

Thought, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Discipline and Training

Hebrews 12:5-7 (NKJV)⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. ⁶ For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”  ⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

        Correction and discipline are subjects that most people do not like to deal with, but they are a necessary area in life if we are going to mature. We need discipline as a child to learn what is right and wrong. We also need discipline as an adult because as Christians, we are children of the heavenly Father and need His guidance. If we look at discipline in the way that God does, we can save ourselves a great deal of problems.

        First of all, God disciplines us because He loves us. He wants us to stay on the right track so that we can walk in His ways. Secondly, we need to realize what discipline actually is. Discipline is training which aims at increasing in virtue. God does not seek to harshly show negative response to our actions in order to parade His authority. He uses discipline for training, for establishing virtues, and installing proper habits and motives.

Discipline and training take time and commitment. For example, schooling and experience for a career is not accomplished over night. We also must be trained, over time, in order to operate vehicles or machines. In the same way, we need to be committed to read God’s word each day and to pray in order to grow spiritually. We need to actively desire personal holiness, biblical generosity and sharing the gospel. We need to stay willing to the ways of God, committed to do whatever He wants us to do.

        God may have to use His discipline over a long period of time in order to establish correct motives and patterns in our life. But the length of time that it takes is usually up to us. The quicker we submit to God’s authority and learn what it is that He wants to teach us, the quicker the trial period will end. But if we resist, the trials may persist and then God may need to use harsher methods.

        When God uses harsh correction, it is because we knowingly rebel and disobey His authority. Does this happen every time we step out of line? Not at all, God’s mercy and patience is much greater than His justice. But He will allow us to reap the consequences of wrong behaviors if we reject Him and seek to disobey. The prodigal son had to learn by extreme and harsh methods, but it was what he needed to learn.

        God knows our weaknesses and our rebellions. It is in the areas of weakness that He seeks to train and discipline us into correct behavior. But if we openly rebel against Him, He will need to use harsher methods. Solomon calls this foolishness, “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent”, (Proverbs 15:5, NKJV). It’s up to us, walk with God and win or walk away and be a fool.

        Thoughts, comment, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

God’s Gentle Strength

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

        Throughout scripture God tells us not to fear or to be anxious. We are told, in this verse, that we are to do this based on the fact that He is God. God promises us that He will strengthen us, help us and uphold us. God is the creator, the great healer, the complete provider and so much more. His power and strength is limitless. But the main difference that we find with God is His method of showing this strength. Man wants to show strength in self glorification, but God shows strength in weakness.

        This is one of the reasons why the Lord Jesus was rejected. The Jews and many others were expecting a powerful deliverer, mounted on an awe-inspiring white horse coming from the heavens to make life truly astounding. Instead God gave an infant baby, born in a foul stable, who lived as a servant. He only showed love and compassion for others. People still rejected Him and ultimately killed Him. Many gathered to receive His gifts of food and healing, but most rejected His love and His plea for repentance.

        Why should we not fear? Why should we not be dismayed or anxious? This is all wrapped up in trust. When we have a simple trust in God, there is no situation which we cannot overcome with His power. Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior have no idea what gentle strength is. This is because they do not possess the Spirit of God.

        Christ was condemned and hated because He showed such a gentle response. But, it takes much more strength to show gentleness and trust when responding to others. Responding in the natural is far easier. We all know that it takes far greater strength to bite our tongue than to speak our thoughts. It is much more difficult to trust the Lord and stand firm in temptation, than it is to yield to that temptation. Turning the other cheek is far more difficult than responding the way we may want to. Is it easier to trust in the Lord or to worry about our circumstances, during a long trial?

        It was because of His unshakeable trust in the Father that the Lord Jesus was able to not revile when accused of horrendous falsehoods. Because of this trust He could pray, while being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”, (Luke 23:34, NKJV).

        This principle takes a lifetime to learn. But, as we learn to trust God more and more throughout different situations, we will be able to have a greater rest in His strength and wisdom. Once we realize that God will fight the battle for us, we then can rest in Him and let Him fight for us. The battle will no longer be in our minds, but it will be in the Lord’s hands.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Mercies of God

The Mercies of God

Ecclesiastes 3:22-24 (NKJV)

²² Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

        The mercies of God are revealed in many different ways. The child of God can rejoice in the mercies of God at the moment of salvation. It is at this moment, when we trust Christ as our Savior that we first realize that God’s mercies are greater than the penalty we deserve. It is because of the mercies of God, that we are delivered from the ravages of hell.

        Many people view God as a mean, impersonal judge who sits in heaven just waiting to swiftly punish those who step out of line. God is the final judge who will eternally judge those who reject Him. But God is love first and foremost. His love and mercies far outweigh His desire to judge. He wants to show kindness and love above all other qualities. It is only when we knowingly reject His ways that He will then allow us to reap what we sew.

        Another aspect of the mercy of God is faithfulness. His compassions are abundant and they always show up at the right time of our need. He not only supplies abundant mercy, but He also grants us new and fresh mercy each day. This is why David said in Ps. 23:3a, “He restoreth my soul”. We can rest in God’s mercy because His promises are just as faithful as He is. He has promised His mercy to those turn to Him.

        God also mercifully works with those who seek Him. Working with us tenderly until we understand what it is He is trying to express. Since God is not bound by time, He has all the time in the world to teach us His principles. It is our responsibility to listen and obey. The longer we resist Him, the longer it will take us to learn. Many times, God knows that it may take a long time before we can learn a particular principle. It is then that He teaches us, trains us and guides us in such a way that we will eventually understand. Many people treat us harshly in this world, but God always seeks to convey His truth in a gentle and loving manner. This may take many years for some of us. But His main desire to own that part of our heart and not for us to be mastered by a disobedient spirit. As God works with us, the light may go on one day and it is then that we will say, “Why didn’t I understand that sooner?” We will then look back and rejoice in the mercies of God. It is at this time, that the Lord is our total portion.

        Thoughts, comment, objections, prayer requests.

All His Blessings,

Dan Smith