Category: Forgiveness

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Optional Love

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 8:5

It is so easy to take love and trivialize it to the point of making it all about self and very little about anyone else.  We throw out the word and give an expression here or there, but when life boils down, we rarely make decisions, behave, and more often than not, forget to respond out of love.  Instead it looks a great deal like self.

My love for you is optional.  At least that’s how I’ve justified it in my own mind and mainly because I have a choice to love you or not.  Some would argue that, as a Christ-follower, I am “required” to love you.  And while there may be some truth to that, it is still very much a choice. We become examples for each other on giving answers to some of life’s most challenging questions such as:  “What about when I get hurt?” or “How can I love her, look what she did?” or “That man just stabbed me in the back, forget him!”  And these examples serve as reference, defense in our own behavior to justify how we treat others.  So we choose, without much thought, to make love optional.

But God’s love for me has NEVER been optional.  The difference between the measure of God’s love for me and the optional love I give others is unmistakenably different.  Because, when I am in the depth of sin, the darkness of self-consciousness, the option of love is dry and unmerited.  And yet, at that moment, weathering the storms of life, the very action of Christ on the cross became the ultimate demonstration of the depth of His love for me — His unwavering love!

My hearts desire is to love as Christ loved!  To see others, regardless of sin, as Christ sees them.  To shed my self-contiousness and live in the brightness and fullness of Christ-consciousness that my love for others will have no options, but instead reflect what can only be a small, tiny demonstration of God’s love.  Wow — what would that look like?

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Toxic Heart

Resentment kills a fool, and envy stays the simple.  I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. . . . But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.  He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.   Job 5:2-3,8-9

I’m finding that I am holding resentment in my heart.  There have been at least 4 different occasions  in the last week that I have heard the topic spoken in my presence by someone.  When this sort of thing happens, I know God is trying to tell me something so I begin to really examine my heart.  In most cases like this, I stumble to find the clues, but this one might as well be like a zit on the tip of my nose.

I know this is about me and God.

Resentment is a poison that courses through the veins of the soul and eat away at the heart.  It will, single handed, destroy whatever remains in relationships.  When resentment hits home and is identified, the healing begins.  And, the nectar of resentment tastes oddly sweet, but breeds bitterness and hate.  Love is the antidote!

Far from affection, love translates into seeing and living your true identity found in Christ alone.  It is critical to live your identity toward those whom you find resentment and in that love be set free!

Lord Jesus, thank you for being persistent with me this past week and showing me what my heart looks like right now.  It’s clearly time for some spiritual spring cleaning!  Show me today what love requires of me!  Thank you more so for the power in the wonders you perform and the many miracles you display!

© 2012-2013 Mark Cruver. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder.

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Right Place, Right Time

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.  Mark 15:21

Ever wonder whether or not you were where you should be or doing what you should be doing or going where you should be going?  I can imagine most everyone has asked these questions of themselves at one time or another.  And sometimes, after our experiences we second guess our purpose there.  Why is this?  Is it a lack of faith or a hole in our trust?

There was a man that the scripture tells us was just “passing through from the country.”  Not much else is said for his purpose in Jerusalem, but it’s likely he was there to bring a sacrifice not realizing that which was going on at the time.  And this man, observing the radical journey Christ was taking through the streets, being led to the Hill, by cracks of the Roman whips and shouts of hurt and pain from those whom He loved.  Simon found himself in the right place at the right time.

Unlike anyone else to have ever lived on this earth, Simon from Cyrene actually carried the cross of Christ!  It doesn’t make him any more holy by any means, but to have carried the cross for Christ must have been the most unbelievably symbolic moment of time.  As I mentioned before, it is most likely Simon was there for his own purposes, but God chose him to escort THE Lamb of God to be sacrificed for the sins of all.

I would dare suggest that Simon would have preferred not to be the one to carry this cross.  I might figure that he was wishing he was not standing where he was standing, or made eye contact with the Roman soldier that called him out.  He may have even felt as though he was the one “helping” Jesus to the cross.  The opportunity for doubt, shame, regret and wishing he had not been there at all was ever-so present.  He might even had thought he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  But God used Simon for the Glory of God and the Salvation of the World!

Lord Jesus, today is the anniversary of the day Simon carried your cross!  We speak of how you carry our burdens and the weight of all sin hung with you on the cross that Simon carried for you!  I’m in awe.  It has shed a whole new light on the events of this day.  May I be reminded often of your journey to the cross — for me — and the many times you demonstrate your love for me!

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”   Genesis 50:20

 

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A Dark Place Called Pit

And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.   II Peter 1:19

Last night I had the opportunity finally to see the first episode of the new series, The Bible on The History Channel.  It was exciting to see the Bible come to life and get more of a sense of human emotion as God stirred the hearts of His people.  It was very dramatic — yet still, it was perhaps nothing compared to the actual events.

In one particular scene I noticed something that had not occurred to me otherwise in reading of this account.  The excitement and energy of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground has, as for many, been a moment of intrigue for me.  Imagining a wall of water on either side being held back by nothing but the strength of God himself is for me, a more than remarkable event.  But in this particular episode, I noticed the people grabbing torches to use for light as they journeyed quickly to the other side.  It never occurred to me that the walls of water might be so high as to block the daylight.  And as they reached the other side, it was as bright as noon.

I can only imagine what the Israelites must have felt while in the middle of the Red Sea, walking a dry bed.  Frightened.  Worried.  Confined.  Limited.  Uneasy.  Scared.  Curious.  Amazed.  Doubtful.  Confused.  Who could blame them?  They were just led into a very dark place!

For me, this dark place is called a pit.  I could spend a few days on my thoughts about the life and way of the pit, but for now, the measure of the journey is most important.  In the lives of so many, unlike the Israelites, the journey ends somewhere in the middle of the Red Sea.  Pitching a tent and making the pit feel like home.  Let me just say, there’s no place like home and the pit is not it!

It’s all about the journey, because, like the Israelites, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — my and your God, lifts me, leads me, guides me, teaches me to finish the journey.  He wants me to learn, forgive and love, and experience His life on solid ground!

Grab The Torch and journey through that dark place called pit!

Lord Jesus, I give you thanks for giving me your Light of Truth to guide me and teach me!  Your deliverance from my pits I’ve called home far too long is truly a celebration — a homecoming!  May I continue in my journey bearing witness to your hand as I learn to have eyes for you!

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  II Samuel 22:29-30

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The One Big Mistake

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Yesterday, my son forgot his lunch for school.  Oops!  That didn’t turn out so well for him.  A costly mistake!  Luckily his older brother felt some compassion and shared a portion of his with him.

How many times have we made the trip into town for an errand, only to realize we left the bag of stuff to return to the store just next door was left at home.  Oops!  That’s gonna require another trip.  A costly mistake!

When was the last time you decided not to lean over your bowl while enjoying some nice hot soup?  Oops!  That’s gonna need a stain-stick!  A costly mistake!

It’s not so unusual for at least one adult member of the family to push the indicator light on the gas gauge.  Oops!  That’s not gonna end well.  A costly mistake!

Those are examples of the many mistakes we commonly make throughout not only our day, but life.  The consequences are expected and not that drastic.  We kick ourselves with words like, “Are you kidding me?” and “How could you have been so dumb!” and “What in the world was I thinking?”  We even recreate an alternative ending in our minds by recusing our actions by saying things like, “I should have . . .”  or “I could have . . .”  or “I would have if only . . . ”

My life, like yours, is filled with a bunch of these “little” mistakes.  In most cases, turning around, making another trip or learning a lesson and changing are simple solutions to these daily misfortunes.  But life dishes out some game changers too.  You may know what I’m talking about — those mistakes that alter the course of your life, bring disaster to you and others, they hurt, rob and destroy.  They bring regret to a whole new level.

However, regardless of my many minor mistakes or major mistakes, my God is with me.  Today this is true: I know not what God will do, but God will do!  His presence is with me always and I must not forget that God is in control of my life.  Whatever experiences I have today, He has them with me!  He will restore through my mistakes!  It is true that my decisions can bring disaster into my life — and others — but God is the only one who can keep the disaster from destroying me!  “Lord Jesus, do not allow me to try and take control because I will make a mess of it.  I cannot meet life today without you!”

The ONE big mistake I can make today is forgetting you in the struggle around me.  I must not . . . MUST NOT . . . make that mistake today!  I must rest in you today!

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge.”  Psalm 62:5-8

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