Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear...” (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Matthew 13:43, Mark 4:9, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35—for example)
He didn’t say, “He who has a mouth, let him speak...”
Rather, we are told, “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak...” (James 1:19)
I like the age-old maxim, "It is better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Oh that I could learn to live by that!
Lord, please put wisdom in my words; and help me to know when it’s time to let them out of my mouth.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
I Forgive You
“Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you because you have hurt me.”
That’s not my original thought...far from it. But when I read this in one of my favorite books recently, the Holy Spirit highlighted it for me.
This little phrase goes against everything that human fairness demands...you hit me, I hit you back; you yell at me, I yell back; you hold a grudge against me, I hold one against you. Nobody is willing to “give” in these fruitless tug-of-wars.
But “giving” is exactly what is required.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
God expects me to give up my perceived right to fairness, in humble obedience to his command to forgive. After all, look at what he gave up for me.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Thank you, Lord for giving up your right to hurt me, in spite of all the times I have hurt you. Help me to obediently forgive others, even when the world tells me I have the right not to.
That’s not my original thought...far from it. But when I read this in one of my favorite books recently, the Holy Spirit highlighted it for me.
This little phrase goes against everything that human fairness demands...you hit me, I hit you back; you yell at me, I yell back; you hold a grudge against me, I hold one against you. Nobody is willing to “give” in these fruitless tug-of-wars.
But “giving” is exactly what is required.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
God expects me to give up my perceived right to fairness, in humble obedience to his command to forgive. After all, look at what he gave up for me.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Thank you, Lord for giving up your right to hurt me, in spite of all the times I have hurt you. Help me to obediently forgive others, even when the world tells me I have the right not to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)