Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 12

 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV).

 

I have found that retribution never ends well. The Scripture teaches this truth clearly, though often we tend to ignore it in favor of “getting even.” We have even developed a few common proverbs to describe this principle: “I don’t get even; I get ahead”; or “to the victor belongs the spoils.” There are many others, however, the teaching of the bible is clear. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God forgave you” (v. 32).

 

The life of Nelson Mandela provides a great illustration. He courageously fought against apartheid in South Africa. His actions led to wrongful convictions and time in prison because of political enemies. As he was leaving prison, he was quoted as saying, “As I stand at the door of my freedom, I realize that if I don't leave my pain, anger, and bitterness behind, I will always be in prison.”

 

Self-imprisonment is worse than the imprisonment that is imposed on us. Many people suffer from self-imposed prisons by refusing to forgive. But the inner walls of anger and resentment do not make us strong; instead, they make us bitter and miserable. When Nelson Mandela later came to power as the president of his country, he did not establish the law of the victor. Rather than seeking revenge against his political enemies, he showed forgiveness to all.

 

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, and he even died for his enemies—that is, all of us. Christ's compassion for us is incomprehensible; he showed it by forgiving us all and dying for us. This love also moves us to forgive others for their faults against us. The Lord can help us to forgive everything.

 

Perhaps you have fallen into the temptation that it is acceptable to hate others for their differences. We are closing in on the season of Thanksgiving. Use this time to reevaluate your attitude toward others. Get rid of all bitterness and practice forgiveness.

 

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 11

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV).

 

John teaches that “God is love.” One of the clearest ways God has shown his love to us has been through sending Jesus to us. And it’s important to note when God did this: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 

God wants us to reflect the love he has shown to us as we interact with the people around us. As John puts it, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Likewise, Paul calls us to “follow God’s example” by showing love to all people. This is the response we should have in gratitude for His grace and mercy.

 

In some ways, love is what makes Christianity special. Other religions seem to focus more on obedience or a system of rewards for certain actions. And human reason cannot make sense of the focus on love. Loving actions that reflect the love of God can be so contrary to corrupt human reason. Our hearts are used to a quid pro quo—I’ll do this because you did that. Following that system, love is merely earned and not a gift.

 

But if God's love had to be earned, none of us could ever be loved. Christian love is free; it is expensive for the one who offers it, but not for the one who receives it. Take care to cover all your actions in the same kind of love God has shown to us.

 

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 10

 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV).

 

The Bible urges us to guard our hearts, for our actions flow from what is in our hearts (cf. Proverbs 4:23). Jesus also teaches that whatever fills the heart overflows into our words and actions. He points out that if there is wickedness in our words, that is the result of what is rooted in our hearts. (cf. Matthew 5).

 

It is so easy to harbor negative or destructive feelings in our hearts. Biblical history is full of stories of bitterness, envy, and anger that caused serious problems in families and among God's people. Cain, Adam's first son, was bitter about how Abel’s offering was received with God’s favor. Rather than dealing with his anger, he let bitterness and envious anger rule his heart. Because he could not quench this fire in his heart, the fruit followed: he committed the first murder (Genesis 4). In another story, Joseph's brothers were so blinded by their jealousy of Joseph that they sold him into slavery (Genesis 37). These are just two examples about anger causing serious problems in people’s lives.

 

In the history of the church, we see divisions without justifiable causes; conflicts and individual interests have often been the root of these problems. As adopted children of God, we are already seated with Christ in heavenly places, but we must daily examine our attitudes and motives to see if our desires match with who we are in Christ.

 

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 9

 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV).

 

Many studies have been conducted into the emotional and psychological effect of negative versus positive words. In fact, numerous conclusions have shown that in order to cancel the devastating effects of one negative word, four positive words need to be spoken. This shows how negative, harsh, and humiliating words can do great damage to human beings.

 

Our reading for today uses vivid imagery to speak about the impact our words can have. Just as a small rudder can steer a ship or a bit can control a horse, so the words of our mouths can make a big difference in life. Further, our speech can have the same effect as a spark: it can cause great destruction! We are encouraged, then, to choose our words carefully and to recognize the impact our speech makes (cf. James 3:1-12). The Apostle Paul echoes these words in these verses today. We are called to build others up and speak in a way that helps the people who hear our words.

 

There are many children who suffered from such harshness. Demeaning words used by a domineering father or mother, spouse who cannot model kindness and graciousness haunt them for a very long time. Thankfully, the love of Jesus can heal much of this trauma. I am grateful to the calling of God in my life to help people find this grace and break the cycle of this kind of abuse.

 

As we reflect on the power of words, let’s consider how—with the Spirit’s help—we can all bring healing for people who have faced trauma.

 

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 8

 

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:20-24 ESV).

 

Mary and I went to Chedder’s Scratch Kitchen recently for a bite of lunch. We have always found the food tasty and plentiful. In fact, we rarely return home without enough left over for dinner! One of our favorite parts of the meal is the honey-butter glazed croissants they serve prior to the meal. You can see from the picture they are amazing. When we went this last time we were seated quickly and a server came almost immediately to get our drink orders. In the past, the rolls were always served with the drinks, prior to ordering. It is a wonderful way to start a “lunch-date.” This time I was a bit surprised that the server did not bring the rolls with the drinks. We ordered and I asked if she was going to bring us any rolls. She said, “We have a new policy. Our guests need to request the rolls before we bring them to the table.” Well, I did request them, but thought, who wouldn’t want them? It was odd to me.

 

Our Christian life can be like that in some ways. We often do not realize that everything has been provided for us in the grace of God. And we merely need to rely on the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit who already resides within us.

 

As Christians, we are—so to speak—in a new system. We are no longer prisoners of our old lives. Every child of God has a new life in Jesus Christ. We have entered a new reality. In Christ, your old life has been put to death, and you are called into new life. You have received a new nature, conformed to Christ and pleasing to God.

 

This is good news for us all. Instead of feeling weak and powerless against our sinful nature, we can live into the new reality that Christ has paid for everything we need to be saved to new life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live grateful lives that are filled with God’s righteousness and holiness.

 

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 7

 

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-23 ESV).

 

In some translations of the Bible, this passage tells us not to live “as the pagans do.” That term “pagans” might make you think of primitive people groups of long ago, with idols and all sorts of superstitions and outdated religious rites. But Paul thinks differently. In this passage, “pagans,” or “Gentiles,” are people who get stuck in idle thoughts and unrestrained behaviors associated with human depravity and sin. The idols of these people are mainly in their own hearts. In fact, greed seems to be at the heart of this sinful behavior.

 

This problem is subtle; it hides behind all sorts of modern-day expectations and appearances. The behaviors associated with greed are complacency, the need to be in the limelight, material comforts, popularity, fashion, freedom, and more. And all of these are idols.

 

When Israel entered the land of Canaan, God warned them not to imitate the neighboring peoples in their pagan behaviors (cf. Deuteronomy 8:17-20). And Jesus prayed for his disciples, knowing they were still in the world but “not of the world” (John 17:16). In Ephesians, Paul reminds us again that the Lord calls us to follow him and to leave our old, pagan ways behind.

 

Gratitude for our new life through the grace of God calls us to live differently. This is a good time of the year to reexamine our priorities and values. Seek the real treasure of Christ in your life. Be different!

Responding with Gratitude - Pt. 6

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16).

 

Our culture often ignores or discounts elderly people.  Many societies in the world today tend to neglect elderly people. They often focus on youth, innovation, and the desire to get ahead. Being young is fashionable, and people who can't keep up are often pushed aside. I like the old proverb that says, “What an old man can see sitting down, the youth cannot see standing up.” It is a reminder that while young people are full of youth and energy, they often don’t have the wisdom that is acquired through experience.

 

Even in the early days of the church there were winds that could blow new believers off course. Ideas, ideals, and ideologies could sway new Christians one way and then another. To withstand the storm of doctrines and sort out what is wise from what is foolish, it is important to become mature. An immature Christian may be joyful and full of energy but can also be unstable and undiscerning. Mature Christians confess the truth in love while continuing to grow. They know that love and truth, doctrine and life, grace and holiness go hand in hand and should not be separated. It is wonderful to be able to grow in this way. All of us continue to grow in faith, no matter how long we have followed Jesus.

 

God has generously provided for this in the gifts He gives to people within the church. A part of our expression of gratitude for these gifts is to connect with others in a community of faith to continue to mature.