Forgiveness

One day I asked the kids in my 'Tween' class at church where forgiveness begins and where it ends. I was met with wide-eyed faces in response. I asked the question because I like to make them think, ponder concepts and really give more than a passing once over to issues. Forgiveness is an issue they will need and deal with the rest of their lives. Frankly, many people just do not know how.

Forgiveness begins with a decision to forgive. Our soul is made up of our mind, free will, and our emotions. The forgiveness cycle begins when we use our free will to make up our mind to forgive…the emotions usually have to catch up later. If we wait until we 'feel' like forgiving, forgiveness may never happen. However, if we decide to forgive, renewing that decision every day if necessary, the emotions eventually catch up. I like to think God honors our decision and effort to forgive and blesses us with the emotion jumping in. We feel better mentally, spiritually and emotionally when we do not allow un-forgiveness to fester and poison us.

Let's face it, we hurt ourselves more than anyone else when we hold on to past offenses, hurts and anger. Sometimes those we need to forgive are not even aware we feel that way. If we waited for people to ask for forgiveness before we started the process, again, probably not a lot of forgiving going on. Years ago, one of my brothers made a blanket disparaging remark about my life decisions and choices. He was, in a backhanded way, trying to compliment me but it came out as judgmental and …well, backhanded. His words stung and it hurt me to think my brother considered me a failure. I decided at that moment to forgive him and I did. Years later, in another conversation, he was complementing something I had accomplished and I told him it felt good to know he no longer considered me a failure. He was stunned at the remark and asked why I said that. I reminded him of the earlier conversation and he was dumbfounded. He asked me to forgive him, saying he never really felt that way and he didn't know what he could have been thinking when he said it. I informed him I had forgiven him long ago; no need for forgiveness now, it was a done deal. If I had hung on to the hurt and offense I felt when he spoke those painful words, I could have chained myself and been a prisoner for years before he asked for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not dependent on the other person; it is ours …our decision, our choice, our path to emotional and spiritual health.

Sometimes the person we need to forgive more than anyone else is ourselves. Un-forgiveness is not prejudice; it applies to and profoundly affects everyone. Sometimes the devil will remind you of a mistake from your past to jiggle the guilt chains. If you have repented and asked God to forgive you, He has. There are no guilt chains from God. The enemy uses filthy old guilt chains to mess with you. Just know, when God forgives, any guilt chains you hear rattling are from the enemy and rebuke it in a hurry! Perhaps you should check to see if you have forgiven yourself. Why hold on to un-forgiveness when God wiped your slate clean?  

Forgiveness is not really in those I refer to as 'The Punishers'. These are people that believe they have the right to make other people 'pay' for their sin, real or perceived. They typically zero in on the offenders most vulnerable area as the target of their punishment. They may have nothing to do with the person they feel has offended them, they may stop talking to them, cut them out of their lives, reject any and all attempts of reconciliation. They usually say they have forgiven the person but continue the punishing behavior until they determine the other person has suffered enough. Usually, the punishing ends when it no longer amuses them or they move on to the next person they must correct. They are never in the wrong, it is always the other person, and no amount of reasoning or asking for forgiveness (assuming the offense is real) appeases them. They hang on to offenses like badges of war. They must exact their revenge and punish those they believe offend. I'm scared for these people! They may be professing Christians yet it would seem they have no idea just how offensive this behavior is to God. I would not want to be in their shoes when they have to account for it.    

So, when does forgiveness end? Never! As long as we walk this earth, we will be disappointed and offended by others. We will disappoint and offend people ourselves. We will always need forgiveness and need to forgive. Remember, God forgives us on the same standard and level we forgive others. Not something to take lightly, is it?

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happinesss

It is incredibly sad to me how many people are working themselves into a tizzy to pay for the 'things' they believe will make them happy. Using the analogy of 'life' being a journey, they are zipping down the highways of life at breakneck speeds preoccupied with the extensive juggling they must do to keep all the balls in the air. Meanwhile the wheels are coming off their lives and they are too busy to even notice….all in the name of seeking the elusive "happy."

I had a friend that, when asked what his long-term goals were, would reply, "I want to be happy." He couldn't tell you what 'happy' meant to him or what steps he would take to get there but 'happy' was his destination. It seems to me that if you cannot describe what 'happy' looks like to you or what direction you need travel in seeking it, how will you know when you arrive?

Look around, it is common to find people doing the same thing. They are chasing happy and missing the beauty of life all around them. Bigger houses, newer vehicles, more big-boy toys, trendier clothes, and elaborate vacations are leading these folks around as if they had a ring in their nose. The 'American Dream' has blinded and confused people for a long time. Once the American Dream was living a life of freedom, now it is enslavement to debt. Though we no longer have a foreign king taxing us to death, we are taxing ourselves. Our battle cry of "Give me liberty or give me death" has turned into "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go."

Meanwhile, our kids are growing up and we are missing it. Our parents grow old and leave this world and we missed that, too. Our loyal canine companions are stuck behind a fence in the backyard waiting to see if they will get a loving word or touch from their 'owners'….hmmm, it just struck me that 'owner' is awfully close to the word 'owe'….bet that isn't a happenstance.

Debt is the result of constant yearning for more, and requires working beyond reason to repay, which in turn prevents us from spending time in those bigger houses with our kids (that miss us whether they admit it or not). Still no one in our home is either happy or satisfied, then tell me again…..why are we doing all this?

If it were a math sentence, it would look something like this:

(Yearning for more + larger purchases = Debt) > (hours in the day + energy) X (less time with family + more stress) = unhappy family and less quality of life

When I think back on the things that made me happy as a kid, I recall walking in the woods with my grandpa, sitting on the pier watching the sunset over the water, hearing my Daddy sing, marveling at the smell of sweetpeas, listening to the wind howl at night through open window, watching ducks float on the pond, hearing the coo of doves, playing with my cousins, sharing a bowl of fresh figs and cream with my grandma…..those things I remember. I cannot tell you what I got for any given Christmas or birthday present or what kind of car we had.

As an adult, it is the smell of a baby, a good cup of coffee, laughing with friends, walking in the woods, sitting on a pier watching the sunset over the water, hearing the coo of doves, seeing the faces of my grandbabies, hearing my children's voices, hugs and smiles from people I love…those things and more like them make me happy. It is the people with which we share our lives and memories that bring the greatest happiness. You can't find that in a catalog or department store.  

Seems to me people work terribly hard at being happy. My husband's arm around my shoulder makes me happy and it doesn't cost a thing. "Happy" is appreciating the journey, not a destination. That's why so many people never 'find' happiness, they flew past it too quickly without seeing it go by as they pedaled as fast as they could trying to get ahead of debt and constant yearning. Sad that.

Here We Grow Again!

The hills are alive…with sound of barking. Not exactly a song sung in a famous movie from a hilltop in Austria, but true nonetheless. The first cool fall mornings have graced us with an opportunity to open the windows and, as my son-in-love, Michael, would say, "Blow the stink out."

While the cool breeze is a treasured delight, the village dogs are all atwitter and are communicating with one another via the 'bark-line'. My dogs get a on my nerves when I am trying to write and they go bonkers over a wild rabbit or feral cat but, I must say, this morning they have been the least of the barking in this early morning serenade. Were it not for said cool breeze, I would shut the windows as tightly as possible in effort to drown out much of the barking noise.

They are dogs doing what dogs do. Nina, the puppy, is busy being a puppy. No one has to tell her how to be a puppy; she has it down pat. She dashes from room to room at the speed of light and she naps often – just not when you want her to. She investigates everything that moves and most that doesn't, tasting as she goes. She drags her toys around, even though some weigh more than she does. She torments her siblings, when they are inside, much to her delight and their dismay, and in spite of the numerous trips outside in our potty training, she will have an 'accident' on purpose when you are least able to jump up and catch her. Of course, there is that unconditional love in her eyes when she's snuggled down in your lap. Yep, Nina is quite good at being a puppy.

I wonder if people can look at us and know we are a Christian just by the things we do. Can they tell by the way we talk that we spend time in prayer? Does the look on our faces reflect the love of Christ or the frustration of traffic? Do we 'bark' at people? Is joy in the Lord evident as we go about our business? Do our words carry a message of Jesus regardless of the topic on which we speak? Do others hear compassion in our conversations or does busy-ness talk louder? Are we Christians doing what Christians do without having to think about it or do we have to make an effort to show Christian attitudes? Do we, like Nina does as a puppy, function as a Christian is to function because we have been changed, born again, in the image of Jesus or is it really difficult to maintain the 'image' we think we are to present? Can people tell we are Christians by our daily walk; or do we have to tell them? And, if we have to tell them, ARE we being the kind of Christian we strive to be?

It is a dog's nature to be a dog. Man has dressed them up as little people and created psychotic animals out of them. However, when left to their true nature, a dog is a dog, pedigree, or mutt. A dog is a dog. A man or woman left to their true nature will reflect all that is driven by the flesh and the world. A Christian isn't like the dressed up dog, it is not an outward appearance that makes the difference. The inner changes of our soul (mind, emotions, and will) reflect the new creature we become in Christ when truly transformed and living in and by the Spirit. We cannot merely call ourselves a Christian and really be one no more than calling ourselves a dog and barking makes us a real dog. A true committed Christian acts like one without even having to think about it because it IS what and who they have become in Christ. A puppy grows and learns to be a dog. A baby Christian grows in Christ and learns, maturing into a true Christian that walks and talks like a mature Christian because it is now their nature. Here we grow again!

Well Worth the Wait

I need to set the record straight before getting into the blog post this morning. You see, I feel I had turned my back on waiting for God to give me something to write about and started just writing something because 'it worked.' I was asking God this morning why I hadn't heard from Him lately on blog subjects. In my spirit, I heard I hadn't waited to hear, so there was no need to give me anything….and He was right. I was eager to share what I got from studying; God didn't tell me to work on that. I just moved forward in it. That is not what He has charged me to do. He still 'talked' to me about other things because I had not jumped ahead and did what I thought I should do. In that light, let me say I have missed the 'holy taps on the shoulder' a great deal. There's a lesson in that, Folks. When we clog our minds with our own agendas, we are closing the door and our spiritual ears to hearing from God. I do not think God micro-manages our thought life but He should be the voice we listen for daily, not a guest speaker. That being said…

As a child, I was moved around rather than planted some place in which to grow roots. As an adult, I still moved around, taking my children with me. I put them in the same boat. I had a heart's desire to give them the sense of roots I always longed to have, yet, did not see that come to fruition. My 'gypsy' mentality was always looking for something, anything to give that to me. Now, after living in this house for almost nine years, a record time living in one place, I found myself thinking about moving. I have been asking myself why. Here are a few things I see as logical reasons…

1. I need to get away from the Texas heat. Having suffered two experiences with heat exhaustion, I cannot handle the heat anymore at all. Forced to spend most of the summer indoors, I feel like a captive. I love to garden but it has to happen in the very early morning hours ...aka…my writing time, before the sun gets serious.

2. I want to downsize our carbon footprint on the earth. Sounds very eco-friendly and tree hugger-like, but it all makes sense to me. I have spent a lifetime drawing various house plans that I wanted to have and now they no longer appeal to me. I am now drawn to small & cozy as my 'dream house'.

3. The gypsy in me wants to experience something new and different. I've never felt compelled to move back to any place I've lived before. I have a 'been there-done that' mentality that does not need to 'go home again', if you will. I'd rather expand my horizons than relive them. I'll just visit, thank you.

The other day I realized I was at peace with the idea of leaving our beloved hilltop hacienda. This surprised me a little since it is the closest I've come to ever having those roots I've longed for. I asked God to help me understand. His answer was simple and forthcoming. He said I had found my roots in Him, not in location, not in a house. I was content with meeting our needs rather than our wants because I had surrendered my life to Him and the external issues of 'want' no longer mattered. Made me cry tears of joy! A peace washed over me I had not previously known. I'm glad I asked and thankful He answered!

This bears repeating: When we clog our minds with our own agendas, we are closing the door and our spiritual ears to hearing from God. I do not think God micro-manages our thought life but He should be the voice we listen for daily, not a guest speaker.

Salt of the Earth

The Beatitudes behind us, I continue my study on Matthew. The Sermon on the Mount did not end with the listing of character traits of a true believer. Jesus further instructed the Disciples on what the life of a true disciple would and would not look like.

Mathew 5:13-20 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."

The phrase 'has become tasteless' is comprised from the words moraine and moros and musterion.' Musterion' refers to having been instructed, schooled, in something not obvious and above human insight. Used in the New Testament: spoken of facts, principles, etc not previously revealed. Moraino is the passive verb –to make as a simpleton, become foolish, make foolish. Moros is used in the New testament as: of the mind, stupid, foolish.

The word 'good' here is ischuo meaning to have force, prevail, be of strength, be whole.

The phrase 'to be thrown' is ballo and in verse 13 is followed by  exo to mean cast out, rejected.

Jesus' audience at least partly includes "disciples" (5:1-2). Having described the appropriate lifestyle of disciples, Jesus now explains that a professed disciple who does not live this lifestyle of the kingdom is worth about as much as tasteless salt - nothing.

The truth of Christ does not rise or fall on the claims of his professed followers, but on Jesus himself. Unbelievers often credit their unbelief as a result of observing the "Christians" they know and not seeing anything that resembles the teachings of Jesus. The faith of nominal Christians, (those that talk the talk but do not walk the walk) may appeal to non-Christians who can use it to justify their own unbelief, but such "Christians" will have no part in God's kingdom. Instead, they will be thrown out and trampled (5:13).

A disciple who rejects the beatitudes' values is like tasteless salt: worthless. Salt had a variety of uses; probably the most evident use was as a flavoring agent. In any case the point is, what is to be done with salt that no longer functions as salt should?

Just as tasteless salt lacks value to the person who uses it, so does a professed disciple without genuine commitment prove valueless for the work of the kingdom.

Mathew 5:13-20 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."

Think ABout It

Yesterday, Honey and I discussed the thoughtless and inconsiderate actions and/or words people take/use, hurting or offending others, without specific intent. We decided to see if we could find references to such in the Bible. Matthew 12:36 says, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." Proverbs gives many an account of how not to treat people and Jesus reinforced treating people well when instructing people to "love thy neighbor as thyself…" I searched for biblical references to thoughtlessness and found none specifically using that word. I did find a Bible Concordance that used words such as 'hater of knowledge' and 'leave simple-mindedness and walk in understanding' when searching for thoughtlessness.  Thoughtlessly  produced this reference: Leviticus 5:4 Or if anyone, without thought, takes an oath to do evil or to do good, whatever he says without thought, with an oath, having no knowledge of what he is doing; when it becomes clear to him, he will be responsible for any of these things."

Just these few examples alone show this to be ignorant, foolish behavior for which we will stand accountable. We all know people, including ourselves, that have tossed verbal shots at someone thinking we were brighter, quicker, 'showing them' and/or 'giving back what we got' without much concern for any harm our words or actions produce. Sometimes we feel quite proud of our verbal prowess. How foolish we will feel when we stand up on Judgment Day and have to account for all that….we won't feel so proud then, will we?  Some people toss verbal bombs in the name of 'teasing' or 'just kidding' or 'I'm just messing with you' and try to laugh off any injury they may have caused. This is passive aggressive behavior capable of drawing blood just as a sword might.

I think people mask selfishness when thoughtless in deed and action. Perhaps even, in lack of action in some cases. We all know those that will not do anything that may put them out or is inconvenient for them no matter the situation. They are all for helping others as long as it doesn’t really require anything extra on their part. This attitude usually collaborates with a "What's in it for me?" mentality. James 3:16 "For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed." (WEB NAS RSV NIV  Proverbs 18:1 "An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment." (Root in WEB NIV)

Have you ever heard someone justify a thoughtless word/deed with "I just wasn't thinking"? Can we really say we were just not thinking? Are we ever in a state of brain activity when we are truly not thinking? No, our brain rolls on whether we are paying attention or not. Dreams are brain activity themselves. So, no, we cannot say we were just not thinking. It would be accurate to say, "I wasn't thinking of how my actions may have affected you" or "I was only thinking of myself and what I wanted" but we cannot dismiss carelessness and thoughtlessness by claiming lack of thought. Isaiah 47:8 "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; …"

Friends, our desire to be more Christ-like as we walk in faith here on earth does not make allowances for thoughtless words or deeds. We have the mind of Christ; we cannot pass that off as careless and unthinking. Neither are we to function as those living for and in the world.  

Romans 12:2-3 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

We are to take ownership of your actions and words, making sure we reflect the love of Jesus Christ in all we say and do. Think about it….

The Beatitudes - Part 8

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

One of the true benefits of living in America is that we are free to practice our faith without fear of persecution. If you focus on the news reports, it may seem as if that may be ending for American Christians today but it was especially a harsh fact in the days Jesus walked the earth. Many places around the world today persecute people for their Christian faith to the point of killing and imprisonment.

Persecution is not new or foreign to the Christian believer. In these last three verses of the Beatitudes Jesus addresses this. He is saying you've reached the highest rung of satisfaction of blessedness when you are persecuted for His namesake. That is Jesus' description of true faith. It starts with humility and reaches fruition in obedience.

When does this state of blessedness begin with the believer? The Greeks believed it began in the afterlife but it is something that begins the very moment that a person believes on Jesus Christ. This, demonstrated by the fact that the promise concerning the kingdom of heaven, as in v.3 and v. 10, is in the present tense, while all the other promises are in the future. The fruit of one's obedience to the conditions for blessedness begins here, but they are not all given here. They will be given in their totality in the future, in heaven.   

God's standard is higher than anything we can possibly obtain. Understanding this puts one on the road to true faith, a road that begins with the humility that grows out of a sense of utter spiritual poverty, the knowledge that we are poor in spirit. However, it consummates inevitably in righteous obedience.

When Jesus wanted to illustrate the character of saving faith, He took a little child, stood him in the midst of the disciples, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3). A child is the perfect picture of obedient humility, an object lesson about saving faith.

Jesus used this illustration to teach that if we insist on retaining the privileges of adulthood – if we want to be our own boss, do our own thing, and govern our own lives - we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Nevertheless, if we are willing to come on the basis of childlike faith and receive salvation with the humility of a child, with the willingness to surrender to Christ's authority, then we are coming with the right attitude. Faith obeys - unbelief rebels. The fruit of one's life reveals whether a person is a believer or an unbeliever. There is no middle ground.

The blessings of the beatitudes are for a people ready for the kingdom's coming. This passage shows what kingdom-ready people should be like; hence, it shows us prerequisites for the kingdom as well as kingdom promises.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The Beatitudes - Part 7

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Pure in Greek is katharos. Used in this context it means sincere, upright, void of evil. Purity of hear is not something that is achieved once and for all, but it is a continuous cleansing that the believer experiences as a result of the fulfillment of the previous conditions of blessedness. The more pure a person is, the clearer his sight of God becomes.

This shows the dots still connected. Being poor in spirit, knowing how utterly dependent we are on God and mourning for our sins and the sins of others brings about the meekness inherently needed to make the choice to subdue and control our anger against injustice, sin and the wrath others may try to provoke. Hungering and thirsting for God's righteousness that fully satisfies and empowers leaves the true believer wanting more and more of that righteousness. Because of that righteousness, the true believer develops a heart of mercifulness toward the unbelievers, suffering the consequences with him and doing all he/she can to relieve those consequences by helping the unbeliever come to know salvation through Jesus. In addition, as the believer grows in these character traits, maturing in his own faith, his heart is open to a purifying process that cleanses and refines as the character of Jesus reflects in his life.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Eirenopoieo to make peace – Peacemaker, an ambassador who comes to bring peace. "Peacemaking" is not simply trying to stop the feuding between nations and people, but bringing the peace of God that the believer has experienced to his fellow human beings.

First, kingdom people do not try to force God's whole will on a world unprepared for it. Many first-century Jews had begun to think that revolutionary violence was the only adequate response to the violence of oppression they experienced. Matthew's first audience no doubt could recall the bankruptcy of this approach, which led to crushing defeat in the war of A.D. 66-73. However, Jesus promises the kingdom not to those who try to force God's hand in their time but to those who patiently and humbly wait for it-the meek, the poor in spirit, the merciful, and the peacemakers.

Of course, Jesus' demand does not merely challenge the bloodshed of revolution. Peacemakers means not only living at peace but bringing harmony among others; this role requires us to work for reconciliation with spouses, neighbors and all people-insofar as the matter is up to us. Romans 12:18 instructs: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

The Beatitudes - Part 6

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

The outward demonstration of the Christian character is shown in "mercifulness" (eleos).This is the missionary and altruistic attitude of the Christian in empathizing with the unbeliever, suffering with him the consequences of his sin, and doing everything possible to relieve the tragic results. The difference between "grace" (charis) and eleos, is that the first affects the character of a person and changes it. Only God can affect grace but we are admonished to show mercy and be eleemones, "merciful", to alleviate the consequences of sin. As God satisfies our hunger for righteousness, He makes the believing one merciful.

The word 'altruistic' underlined above, defined by Merriam-Webster as "unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others"

The word 'missionary' underlined above is an adjective to the word 'attitude'. To have a missionary attitude one must look at the different meanings of the word.

(A) a ministry commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on humanitarian work

(B) assignment to or work in a field of missionary enterprise

(C) (1) a mission establishment (2) a local church or parish dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial support d plural : organized missionary work (3) course of sermons and services given to convert the un-churched or quicken Christian faith

(D) a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity

(E) a specific task with which a person or a group is charged

Other words used similarly are calling and vocation.

"Blessed" is, also defined, and translated as: "It goes well with those…"  Putting all that together, Jesus issued a simple statement that states this: "It goes well with those believers charged to empathize with unselfish regard for and devotion to the welfare of the unbeliever and, suffering with him the consequences of his sin, do everything possible to relieve the tragic results by sharing their knowledge and trust in God. They too, then, receive mercy from God."

It might seem a daunting task to not only empathize with the unbeliever but also suffer the consequences of his sins. Isn't that exactly what Jesus did for us? Since our hearts as believers long to be more 'Christ-like' in every aspect of the word, the charge to take the Word of salvation to those that have not heard seems like a natural progression when viewed from that perspective. Salvation and the requirements of the true believers set down before us in the Beatitudes are not little treasure we hide away. On the contrary, we are to walk and live them openly and publicly for all to see and emulate. We were lost, too, before we heard of the Truth, the Way, and The Light. To receive mercy we must first be merciful.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

The Beatitudes - Part 5

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

In the description of a true believer as reflected in the Beatitudes given us by Jesus, humbleness is the foundational character trait. Without a humble spirit, none of the others would be possible. I read in one source that 'humbleness' also means to become angry at sin. As we read about meekness, it is the controlled anger, not lack of, which signifies a meek spirit. Therefore, in that context, humbleness is the active attitude of the Christian toward sin in combating it instead of a passive, indifferent attitude. When one exercises active combativeness against sin, he hungers for a new filling of God's righteousness (dikaiosune) which is the realization of God's rightful expectation of the believer. Here in Matthew 5, the form of righteousness used is the "Internal, where the heart is right with God, piety (devotion) toward God and hence righteousness, godliness."

"Those who hunger…" in Greek is the present participle hoi peinontes, rendered 'the hungering ones," indicating constant and repetitive satisfaction with God's righteousness, expending the received energy and hungering anew over and over as with physical hunger. In other words, we long for it, we receive it, and we are satisfied with it, then hunger for it all over again! Rather like eating a Lay's potato chip, you can't eat just one – except on a much grander and eternal scale.

Further, these humble people are also those who yearn for God above all else. Luke emphasizes those who hunger physically (Luke 6:21); Matthew emphasizes yearning for God's righteousness more than for food and drink, perhaps also implying that those who hunger physically are in a better position to begin to value God more than food (Mt 5:6; this may include fasting). In this context, hungering for righteousness probably includes yearning for God's justice, for his vindication of the oppressed; the context also implies that it includes yearning to do God's will (5:20; 6:33; 21:32; 23:29). This passage reflects biblical images of passion for God, longing for him more than for daily food or drink (Job 23:12; Ps 42:1-2; 63:1, 5; Jer 15:16; compare Mt 4:4). God and his Word should be the ultimate object of our longing (Ps 119:40, 47, 70, 92, 97, 103).

Having grown up in the time and culture I did, a common mentality and saying was "It's your thing, do what you want to do." That is not what I read in the Beatitudes at all. Not only can we not do our own thing, we are not to be passive about others doing their own thing when that 'thing' is sin. We cannot candy-coat sin like an M&M and just hope it doesn't melt all over us. You cannot combat what you do not recognize, so turning that blind eye toward sinful behavior is not in keeping with Jesus' description of the true believer, either. Neither is a judgmental outburst spewing anger and ugliness. How damaging would that be? This true believer stuff is not for the faint of heart and those that crumble easily, no lying down on the job in this. However, when filled with a daily dose of godly righteousness we are renewed and nourished to stand strong against the raging sin around us because we take assurance that our strength comes from God.

 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

The Beatitudes - Part 4

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land."

Blessed are the meek….in the verse above the word meek is underlined because it may be written as 'gentle' in other versions of the Bible. In fact, in the Hebrew-Greek Study Bible it is written as gentle and is underlined to look up in the reference material such as the New Testament Dictionary for specific meaning as used in the verse. In this context, it comes from the Greek word praus –' meek, meekness, forbearance, mildness.' In the New Testament, it expresses a meekness that differs from the usual connotation of the word in English. The root word Prautes is 'the middle standing between two extremes, getting angry without reason, and not getting angry at all. It is the result of a strong man's choice to control his reactions in submission to God. It is a balance born in strength of character, stemming from confident trust in God, not from weakness or fear.'

If that last couples of lines do not describe Jesus, I do not know what does.

Also underlined in the verse above is 'inherit the land.' Some versions read 'inherit the earth', however, it is used with the Greek word kleronomeo, which comes from the word kleronomos meaning 'to be an heir, to obtain, acquire, possess. Used in the New Testament, it is spoken as friends of God receiving admission to the kingdom of heaven and its attendant privileges.' We cannot earn our way into heaven; we receive admission when living in submission to God.

 So, still connecting the dots…

Jesus is talking of the qualities of true believers, the redeemed. The foundational characteristic is humility…a poverty of spirit, a brokenness that acknowledges spiritual bankruptcy (Matthew 5:3). Genuine believers see themselves as sinners; they know they have nothing to offer God that will buy His favor. This is why they mourn (Matthew 5:4) with sorrow that accompanies true repentance. They are of a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil. Heaven is the joy of our Lord, a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. God shall comfort such mourners. (Matthew 5:5) shows us once again we are to be under submission to God as evidenced by the willful choice to rely in confidence, to trust, in His strength not our own. Without which we will not become heirs and receive admission to heaven. Meekness is not a position of personal ineptitude or lack of courage but a choice to fore-go any action of our own abilities or attitude of entitlement regarding our 'right' to fight back when we perceive a wrong done to us, trusting in God alone.

  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land."

Blog News

Hello, Friends.....

Just a note to let you know I will be headed out of town very early in the morning to attend a family funeral, so the blog will not be posted again until Monday. Keep me in prayer for traveling mercies as I make this journey.

Papa John was used by God today as a rescue angel. While checking out some work they had completed along Medio Creek @ Hwy 90, he heard the desperate whining of a tiny abandoned Chihuahua puppy that came running to him when he whistled. This baby was so starved you could see every bone and joint in her tiny body. He took her back to his shop and called me. We decided to take her to our vet to be checked out and to make sure she did not have anything bad that might effect our four other critters. She had an eye infection and was too thin to even get her shots. So, we now are the proud parents of yet another little Chihuahua, our third! So far she has had several names but for the last little while Papa John has been calling her Carmelita Consuela...??!!?? Oh, MY! What a big name for such a tiny baby!!

Have a great weekend and we will meet right back here on Monday!

Blessings to one and all.......

The Beatitudes - Part 3

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Before doing this study, I never connected the dots between the verses of the Beatitudes. It was evident to me that each one spoke of a character trait, which reflected the character of Jesus, but I did not connect them to one another. This verse "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted", to me, meant anyone mourning for any reason. Everyone mourns at one time or another if they have lost someone they loved. Moreover, in that same light, is it very different to read 'the poor in spirit' as anyone depressed, or down like David when he said his soul was downcast? I do not think that such a stretch; especially when the reader is young in faith or not familiar with the original languages. That's why this study excited me so!

The phrase "…those who mourn..." in this verse is hoi penthountes in Greek. It translates to "sorrow for one's sins and the sins of others." It is the passive attitude used here. Not passive as we might think of it as doing nothing, but as in attitude and not the physical action of beating one's chest and wailing in sorrow. Admittedly, I wailed aloud in sorrow over my sin when the true ugliness and failure was revealed to and overwhelmed me. In this verse, however, it is sorrow and sadness over sin against God.

So let's start connecting the dots…

Jesus is talking of the qualities of true believers, the redeemed. The foundational characteristic is humility…a poverty of spirit, a brokenness that acknowledges spiritual bankruptcy (Matthew 5:3). Genuine believers see themselves as sinners; they know they have nothing to offer God that will buy His favor. This is why they mourn (Matthew 5:4) with sorrow that accompanies true repentance. They are of a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil. Heaven is the joy of our Lord, a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. God shall comfort such mourners.

John 14:1 [ Jesus Comforts His Disciples ] " Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

The Beatitudes - Part 2

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The word "blessed" is makarioi, which means to be characterized by the quality of God. Blessedness is makariotes. When God indwells one, and God's nature is in him, he has the kingdom of God within him. (Luke 17:21) A blessing, indeed!

"Blessed" also means to be fully satisfied. Can you imagine? In this one verse, we are first called blessed because we have God's kingdom already in us and we are, by definition, fully satisfied. This satisfaction is not due to circumstances of life nor the fulfillment of the conditions prescribed in these beatitudes, but due to Christ's indwelling. Therefore, it is wrong to translate makarioi as 'happy' because happy would imply luck of circumstance, hap from the word happen. People can be happy because of favorable circumstances, but they can only be blessed because of Christ. Blessedness is that basic condition created by Christ's indwelling in a man's heart that brings a fundamental satisfaction in the life of a believer.

Blessedness is a progressive state, depending upon the fulfillment of the conditions set down in the Beatitudes. "..the poor in spirit…" ptochos, used here indicates the complete spiritual helpless person contrasted to penes, which means "poor but able to help oneself." This means that the first step to blessedness is the realization of one's spiritual helplessness. We cannot 'earn' blessedness and it is not without conditions. God is always faithful to provide the way and offers it to those who spiritually submit in recognition of their total and utter helplessness. This is speaking specifically to redeemed people who have believed. That being said, the unredeemed and non-believers cannot be blessed. They can be happy and they can have luck of circumstances but not blessed without first recognizing their sin and dependence on Christ….thus becoming believers.

It is important to make note of the setting in which Jesus spoke these teachings. There are those that think He spoke from a mountain, as did Moses when he brought back the written Word of God, God's word taken higher by locale. Some suggest He moved up onto the mountain to get space from the crowds pushing in on Him, trying to touch Him. Some think, perhaps, that from His position on the mountain His voice carried more, heard by the masses. Jesus sat to teach the disciples. In the day, rabbinical teachers would stand in authority over their students. Jesus sitting revealed His own humble spirit. Looking at those to whom He taught, His message spoken to His disciples for their enlightenment so they could teach others…yet He did this teaching when a crowd was present. Perhaps this was in preparation for His later command that all go out taking the gospel, making the masses disciples in training. Regardless of the mechanics of the setting and those present, you can be sure that it was not a coincidence and Jesus knew exactly what He was doing.

 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The Beatitudes - The Beginning

I'm excited about starting the study of the Beatitudes this morning. Just as a FYI, the resources used for study, information gathering and fact citing are The Amplified Bible, The Complete Jewish Bible, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible and the in-depth study I'm doing on Jesus called The Gospel According to Jesus. Oh yes, there is also the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. I hope you find this study as insightful and thought provoking as I. It may challenge and/or expand your understanding as it did with me. Maybe I'm the only one that this study is intended for, I do not know, but I hope you read it with spiritual eyes and a teachable spirit. Everyday I ask God to give me such as I read and study his Word.

Matthew 5:1-12 The Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes

1. And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2. And opening His mouth He began to teach them saying,
3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5. "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied,
7. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy,
8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,
9. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.
11. "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke recorded The Beatitudes Chapter 6, as well. The word 'beatitude' is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible and, in fact, is not mentioned in many Bible versions at all. The only time we see it is as a subtitle for the Sermon on the Mount.

According to Webster, beatitudes means "utmost bliss" or "any of the declarations made in the Sermon on the Mount." (Interesting to find that in the dictionary.) Utmost means: 1: situated at the farthest or most distant point : extreme 2: of the greatest or highest degree, quantity, number, or amount  and bliss is defined as: 1: complete happiness 2: paradise, heaven  In today's language, utmost bliss would mean: it just doesn't get any better than this! It is the highest point of complete, satisfying joy and contentedness of the true believer in righteousness; the qualities Jesus defines as necessary for entering the kingdom of heaven. As such, Jesus reveals the character of true faith.

We are not given a timeline in either Matthew or Luke but it is after He called His disciples (mathetes- Greek – a learner, pupil, follower of a teacher); twelve of which He called apostles ( apostolos –Greek- a delegate, an ambassador of the gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ[with miraculous powers] )  to follow Him. Luke records that many disciples were with Him. Additionally, multitudes of people who heard of the healings Jesus performed came seeking their own healing, and to hear Him teach. They, too, followed; trying to touch Him. Can you imagine how it must have felt to have throngs of people pushing in trying to touch you, to receiving power from you? It would have overwhelmed mortal men yet in the face of the crowds, Jesus turned to His Disciples and started teaching. Amazing!

Though not stated in the Bible, I imagine a hush fell over the crowd, starting with those closest to Him and washing like a wave throughout, as they strained to hear His voice over the din of confusion and chaos. Picture the scene, the craggy rocks along the mountain path, the dust from all those trailing along behind Him. The sun shining down and sounds of desperate people pushing and jockeying for position so they, too, can touch Him and receive. Tired babies cry out in frustration, birds sing their songs as Jesus turns to His hand picked students and shares with all authority the character traits mandatory for entering the long awaited kingdom of heaven.

And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth He began to teach them saying,

Eyes Wide Open

Let me just say right off the bat, I love our new Hebrew-Greek Study Bible! I do not yet understand how to reap all it provides but, what I have gleaned thus far is cause for excitement. The only thing I would change is to have purchased the large print version. Study in the early morning light combined with aging eyes illuminates the need for bigger print! Pardon the pun.

As I have mentioned, I am doing a study on the ministry of Jesus. This morning my reading included the Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes. I have to admit, there has been an extended amount of time I read over these verses and assumed I understood them. Today, I can honestly say I have a new perspective and depth of comprehension that has me all atwitter. I just adore study that brings revelation knowledge! I'll take that over a new toy any day! I pondered how to share, asked God to lead me to His preference in methodology. It is too important in the life of every believer to condense it into one writing, so I will take the time to explore and study verse by verse and share as I go.

Today is, for some, the first day of the long Labor Day weekend. My Honey is off work preparing for his annual Labor Day camping retreat with the grandchildren and neighbor kids. They leave this afternoon. Therefore, in light of so many being gone or busy over the holiday weekend, I will wait and start this series on Tuesday.

I would like to say how enriching this study of Jesus has been. I whole-heartedly recommend doing this yourself, doesn't matter if you have done it before, God always shines a new light on that which He wants us to grasp. I am a career student of all things Jesus. I count it all as blessings. I never want to lose that desire to pursue a deeper understanding and connection to the One that has given me so much.

And, now we come full circle as I rave again about the study Bible. This particular study Bible references the definition of the original verbiage of scripture in Hebrew and Greek. Our versions of the Bible, translated many times over, use contemporary language and, often, words condensed to a single meaning, which underscores how it is used today. My Honey is always telling me how Spanish is more versatile than English because there are expanded meanings to simple phrases than the English version. I believe him, though it often befuddles in my literal mind. It is my lack of command of the Spanish language that prevents me from fully appreciating the extent the more versatile language expresses. This is the same with not knowing the Hebrew-Greek definitions of words and the application in which they were understood in Biblical days. It is this very issue that gave me new insight regarding the Sermon on the Mount. I'm excited about sharing with you that which God has given me. Have a great long weekend and see you next week!

Cry Out to Jesus!

Music has been used to worship God for as long as there have been people intent on so doing. Yesterday, I was feeling a little blue, downcast and maybe even a little sorry for myself. Nothing takes you outside of yourself more than praising God so I cranked up the radio in the car and sang along to K-Love. One of my favorite songs, Cry Out to Jesus , by Third Day came on…I knew it was God's way of talking to me, He's good like that…sending you just what you need when you need it. I knew right then I would share this today because we all have times like those that I was going through.

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

Chorus
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith and love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

Chorus

When your lonely (when you're lonely)
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

You know, it is the submission and acknowledgment that you cannot 'fix' things yourself that brings us to a point of crying out to Jesus. Friends, that's when He can help us the most! As long as we cling tenaciously to the mindset that we can 'handle it' on our own, God will allow us the free will to do so. That's usually when we fall flat on our faces in our failed efforts. It is the genuine heartfelt crying out to Jesus that shows we submit to His power, His authority, and His way with our situations. As long as we are stiff-necked about 'doing it our way' we flounder in the sea of failure and despair. Crying out to Jesus asks Him step in to render His healing and mercy. The more dependent on Jesus we are, the more He can work in our lives. Being independent only shuts the door to His help. There is neither valor nor wisdom in stubborn, independent suffering. Cry out to Jesus when you are ready to receive… Hope for the helpless, Rest for the weary, Love for the broken heart, grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing..
He'll meet you wherever you are…Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus!!