Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008

TWG - August 6, 2008

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TWG - August 6, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Leviticus 17; Psalm 70; Acts 22

Today is August 6, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Yesterday was a bit of a slow day for me in the office. I watered the amphitheater… oops… I left the water on for several hours! I did some work on finances. I tied up a few loose ends on the “faster pastor” tickets. Phil from KGRV wrote to say that thanks to the sales from the churches the speedway had a record attendance this year. They were truly grateful for the exposure. I got a letter from Merwin Rhodes from truckers for Christ. He is in need of help ministering to truckers at the truck stops. After work I played a set of tennis with Phil in the 90+ degree weather. I won – yay! Then it was off to a great men’s meeting! We had such good fellowship, encouragement and prayer! What a group. I put a picture of my mom on the Blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out. She visited me for a few days!

This week’s theme verse is Luke 6:27-31 27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

The Old Testament laid down the law on justice. It demanded “an eye for an eye!” Jesus laid down the gauntlet for grace. He gently commanded “love your enemies…” do not repay evil for evil. Justice requires equity, but grace returns a blessing instead of demanding repayment for wrongs done. Jesus holds us Christians to a higher standard. As ministers of the Grace of God, we must exhibit a positive attitude of grace no matter the circumstances. That’s because Justice is about us being made whole, but Grace is about us making someone else whole! Our goal is to heal broken hearts and bring “wholeness” that comes with the saving message of the Gospel to everyone possible. Now that we are ministers of Grace, our whole focus in life is off us and the spotlight is on everyone else. We are to build up the brothers by demonstrating a kind and courteous spirit toward them at all times, and we are to win the unbelieving by treating them with honor and goodwill. The ultimate test of grace is to love those who attack and hate you by doing good to them. This will truly take a mammoth shift in our mentality! It is much easier to say it than to do it. It will require a complete recalibration of our instincts and responses. Have you ever been on the receiving end of a hateful attack? Perhaps it even came from your family or church people. False, cutting rumors may have been spread around about you! They hurt! I remember the time at one church where someone spread the rumor that I had said, “I’d rather be a Communist than a Catholic!” It wasn’t true. But that’s what gossip is all about. That was meant to get the Catholic’s angry at me! Shortly after that someone put up a large poster in front of the local store, “We need a new pastor!” Did I have a few enemies? Yes I did! Those words seemed filled with hatred to me! I remember driving across the bridge with my motor scooter and my eyes caught the words on that sign. Was I ever discouraged! But I couldn’t quit! In fact that was the perfect opportunity to “love my enemies, and to do good to those who hated me.” Love and good are verbs that require action. Love results in good works. So in return for hatred and personal attacks, we go out of our way to be kind and as Romans 12:20 says, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” That is the greatest form of revenge ever! It is like pouring burning alcohol on his wounds. But alcohol is medicinal! It heals. And that is the way to make the world whole. Do unto others as you wish they would do to you.

Lord teach me to love like you loved. Help me to repay evil words with kindness, and repay ugly attacks by generous acts of mercy. It is hard not to recoil when wounded. I want to strike back. Father I am learning to be like you. And I want to move beyond myself to see their wounds made whole in Jesus Christ!

The Lord bless you; we bless you in the Lord’s name.”

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:01 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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