Soft Heart Required

What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Do you seek forgiveness? Do you ask God to forgive you regularly? Do you ask others to forgive you when you have offended them? Are you willing to forgive others when they offend you?

We talk about forgiveness quite often. Perhaps it is because we need a constant reminder. We need to be reminded that we are forgiven by God when we ask. We need to be reminded that we are to forgive, just as God forgives us.

Wait! Are we forgiven by God? As it turns out, the answer is, “it depends.” Depends on what? It depends on whether we forgive. Jesus tells us in straight forward language that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven. It is a hard truth. It is a truth we do not like to talk about.

Any ideas why God would do such a thing? Allow me to make a suggestion. A heart that is not willing to forgive is a heart that is not capable of receiving forgiveness. Sound odd? Think about it for a bit. If our hearts are so hardened by Satan and the corruptness of this world that we cannot forgive, how can our hard hearts truly receive forgiveness? A hard heart holds on to all the bad, including our own. We don’t forgive others and we don’t forgive ourselves.

The indicator of whether we will be forgiven or not is whether or not we forgive. It’s all about our heart. It has nothing to do with whether God is willing forgive. He is willing and capable. Our choice is to continue to be swayed by Satan and the harshness of our culture or we can become like Jesus and be willing to forgive. God sits waiting patiently for our decision.

I pray we all give up our hardened heart. I pray we stop being fooled by Satan and culture. I pray each one of us will decide to be forgiving—of others and ourselves. Ask God to soften your heart. Be willing to forgive. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Accept God’s forgiveness.

Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Be Like Jesus

Have you noticed how awful our cultural behavior has become? Have you seen people become angry at the drop of a hat? Do you hear them slandering one another? Have you become just like all those people you abhor?

It is easy to sit back and pick apart the behavior of someone else. We are very good at seeing every fault. We say, ‘they should do this’ or ‘they should do that’. Our view of the world is tainted by our own faults and failures.

The Apostle Paul tells us to get rid of that type of behavior. He lists bitterness first. We must start on the inside. Resentment of others, what they have, who they have, what they do needs to be removed from our hearts. From there, he says to remove anger, which causes us to rage. Yes, anger needs to be thrown out. We can argue all we want about Jesus having righteous anger, but I dare say few of us ever have righteous anger. Our anger comes from feeling jilted, wronged, or from jealousy. Toss it out of your heart. Once we have fixed our heart, the rest of it comes naturally.

How do we fix it? Paul says to replace the bad with the good. We are to be kind. We have heard the saying, ‘kill them with kindness’. There is wisdom in that saying. Kindness doesn’t come naturally at first. We must work at it. We must be intentional. We may need to force ourselves to be kind when we first start out. He goes on to say we are to be compassionate. Care for one another. This isn’t a ‘one and done’ caring. It is continual. It is a way of life. Paul continues by reminding us to forgive one another. We all slip up. We all need forgiveness. We are all to forgive. How? In the same way Jesus has forgiven us.

How can we make this change? Simply put, we can’t. We must ask God to fill us with His Spirit and make the change for us. Being kind, compassionate, and forgiving are not always a sign that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit. But the opposite is true. Being filled with bitterness, rage, anger, and bad behavior is a sign we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, because He does not cause that type of behavior.

I pray we all ask God to fill us with His Spirit. I pray we relinquish our old ways for God’s ways. I pray each one of us ask God to make the change in our hearts and minds. Ask God to change you. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be forgiving. Speak well of one another. Be like Jesus.

Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Make Jesus Top Priority

Have you heard a rich person cannot be a follower of Jesus? Or have you heard it is hard for a rich person to follow Him? Is it a reason for you to dislike rich people? Have you known someone who is rich and is a disciple?

Yesterday, we saw that Jesus said it was hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yet Jesus did not say it was impossible. It is a matter of attitude in the person. Many rich people worship money rather than Jesus.

Today, we see there was at least one rich man who was a disciple of Jesus. Joseph, though we are not told much about him, had evidently been a follower of Jesus for some time. He was known by Matthew. He likely had heard Jesus speak on several occasions. He believed Jesus was the Messiah.

I’m sure Joseph was as confused as the apostles when Jesus died. He may have even wondered if he had mistakenly put his trust in Jesus on the day of the crucifixion. At a minimum, he held Jesus in high enough esteem to give him a proper burial, using his own tomb, one he had recently carved out of the rock.

Joseph, though rich, had made following Jesus a priority. He was willing to pay for a new tomb to be carved out for himself so he could bury Jesus in the tomb he had recently carved out. We might jadedly think Joseph could afford it. Yes, he could. But he also put Jesus higher on his priority list than his money. Even those of us who are not rich can learn this lesson from Joseph.

I pray we all make Jesus our top priority. I pray we are willing to sacrifice of ourselves for Him. I pray each one of us will set aside our money and time to be followers of Jesus. Make Jesus your priority. Be willing to sacrifice for Him. Designate a portion of your money for Him. Set aside time to spend with Him.

Matthew 27:57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

Riches of Heaven

Do you long to be rich? Are you playing the lottery every week with the hope of winning? Are you saving every dollar you can? Do you invest your money wisely? Would you trade all your riches here on earth for the riches of heaven?

Our culture is obsessed with money and public image. We seek to portray an image of wealth, whether we are wealthy or not. We purchase status symbols when buying clothing, accessories, jewelry, and vehicles—even if we cannot afford them.

There is nothing inherently wrong with money. We need money to purchase necessities. There is nothing wrong with saving for retirement or emergencies. In fact, being prudent and wise with our money is being a good steward with God’s blessings.

However, Jesus tells us it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The real issue is not the money itself; it is the person’s attitude. Too often, the rich person has allowed money to become an idol for them. If we worship money, we cannot worship God. If we serve money, we cannot serve God. If we are not worshiping God, we won’t enter the kingdom of heaven.

It is easy to say we worship God and not money. It is harder to put it into practice. We can go to church every time it is open and still be worshiping money rather than God. It is our attitude that must change. We must put our trust in God rather than money.

I pray we all worship God over money. I pray we make God our number one priority. I pray each one of us ask God to help us with making Him our priority above wealth. Put God first. Worship God rather than wealth. Seek God’s kingdom. Keep your focus on eternity.

Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Eternal Treasure

Are your treasures stored in a place that cannot be robbed? Have you successfully deposited your treasure in a place that will never decay? Is your treasure imperishable? Are you curious where you can deposit to keep your treasures safe?

We deposit money into a bank for safekeeping. We may invest money in the stock market in the hopes of it growing. We may invest our time and money into a business with the expectation of making more money.

We are cautioned about putting our trust in the wealth of this world. Whether we want to admit it or not, everything in this world will decay, crumble, and ultimately be destroyed. It will all fade away, even buildings made of stone.

I’m reminded the Jews thought the temple in Jerusalem would never be destroyed. Jesus told them it would fall. Roughly thirty-five years after Jesus was crucified the Romans destroyed nearly all of Jerusalem, including the temple.

We don’t know the future, with one exception. We know Jesus will return, this earth will be destroyed, a new heaven and new earth will come, and those of us who have put our treasure in heaven will live with God for eternity. The treasure we have stored in heaven will never be destroyed; it will never be stolen.

I pray we all put our treasure in heaven. I pray we invest in our relationships with God. I pray each one of us looks forward to spending eternity with God and reaping the benefits of our investments. Give to the poor. Invest in heavenly treasure. Trust God. Put your treasure where it cannot be destroyed nor stolen.

Luke 12:33 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”

Everything in Moderation

Does it seem as though the days are long, but the weeks or months fly by? Do you look back over time and wonder how it has gone so quickly? Has it seemed to pass quicker as you have grown older? Does it worry you?

If you are like me, time seems fly as fast as a speeding bullet at times and crawl along like a snail at others. It especially feels like it has flown when I look back over the past few weeks, months, or years. Our perspectives change depending on our situation.

In today’s passage, King David is looking back over his past. He sees his life as if it is merely a vapor, a breath, or a phantom that passes quickly and nothing more than a blink of an eye to God. He views it foolishness to gather large amounts of wealth, not knowing who will end up with it when all is said and done.

It would do us well to ponder our own situation as David pondered his. We work hard to save, often holding every penny we have in fists squeezed so tight our knuckles turn white. For what reason? So we feel secure or pass it on to others or merely because that is what we were taught.

Should we spend foolishly? No. That is not the point at all. The point is to find a balance between spending and saving. We should save some for our retirement years. On the other hand, we should enjoy the blessings God has graciously shed on us. It brings to mind an old saying, “Everything in moderation.”

I pray we all find balance in our finances. I pray we determine to enjoy God’s blessings. I pray each one of us decide to save for our future but do so with moderation. Plan to save. Plan to enjoy. Plan for moderation. Avoid extremes in either direction. Life is short, even if time appears to crawl.

Psalm 39:6

“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;

in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth

without knowing whose it will finally be.”

Gold or God

Where do you put your trust? Do you put your trust in gaining wealth? Do you believe the more you are worth monetarily the more secure you are? Have you put your trust in money to the point you have pushed God to the side?

We often put a significant amount of trust in money. We strive to make more of it. We work to save money. We like to have large bank accounts. We invest in the stock market, real estate, or new businesses to grow our money.

Is there anything wrong with saving or investing money? No…unless it becomes more important to us than God. When we put making money or growing wealth above God on our priority list, it becomes sinful. Money and wealth will have become an idol to us.

Our culture, and Satan, wants us to believe we will be happier with more money. True, we may be happy for a little while, but it will not last. Within days, weeks, or months, the gold loses its gleam, and we go off searching for more. We work harder, gain a little more, and are temporarily satisfied again. The cycle becomes an endless cycle of yearning, but never being truly fulfilled.

However, when we put God first, we are eternally satisfied. God grants us joy and peace by his grace. He provides for what we need. He may or may not grant us wealth. If he does, it is for us to share with others, not to hoard and satisfy our earthly desires. It is God’s generosity with us and our reciprocal generosity with others that God provides for all. It is by obeying God’s will in our lives that we are truly satisfied.

I pray we all make God our top priority. I pray we seek the eternal joy only God can give us. I pray each one of us seek to follow God’s will, being generous with the gifts he has given us. Do not put your trust in wealth. Put your trust in God. Seek to follow his will. Be generous with your blessings.

Job 31:24, 28

“If I have put my trust in gold

or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ …

then these also would be sins to be judged,

for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”

Answer God’s Call

Does the thought of being called by God scare you? Are you like the child in the classroom who didn’t read the assigned text and hopes the teacher doesn’t call on you? Do you feel as though there is too much on your plate already and you don’t need God adding to it?

We often think God only calls people to the big tasks. When we think of being called, we think of missionaries, pastors, or another significant ministry. But God calls people for numerous reasons and often right where they are at.

Jesus related to Simon Peter in his own language. He told him he would fish, but for something different. In many ways, the concepts were the same. Throw out the net. Pull it in. Did you catch anything? Cast out the line with a hook and bait. Reel it back in.

Jesus often does the same with us today. He calls us to work for Him in the places we are. We may be in an office setting, in construction, in retail, or even within our families. There are only a few whom He calls to completely change their profession.

When Jesus calls, there is no doubt. There will be a stirring within us, or a jolt that shocks us. It can come at any time and any age. He may even call on us multiple times before we finally relinquish our hardheaded refusal and accept His call.

John Wesley was called twice. He was first called early in life to pursue ministry and became a priest in the Anglican Church. After having preached in several churches and going on a mission to Savannah, Georgia, Wesley was depressed. It was during this low period in his life that his second call came. It was during a service in Aldersgate Street that his heart was “strangely warmed.” God let him know in no uncertain terms that Christ had died for him and for his forgiveness. God may call us multiple times during our lives.

I pray we all listen for God’s call upon our lives. I pray we answer His call with a resounding yes! I pray each one of us overcomes our fear and understands that God will provide for whatever ministry He may be calling us to. Listen for God’s call. Answer His call. Trust that God will provide. You are never too old for God to call. God will use you right where you are.

Luke 5:10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid, from now on you will fish for people.”

Calling All Sinners

Do you know the reason Jesus left heaven to come to this earth? Are you sure you know why? Have you heard there are several reasons for Him coming? Are you willing to answer His call? Have you heard His call?

Jesus came to this earth for one primary reason. There are sub-components to the reason. There are steps required to accomplish the goal. He had to provide the means to accomplish it. But there is only one primary reason He came.

The primary reason for Jesus to come to this earth is the same as the prophets were inspired by God to do for hundreds and even thousands of years before Jesus came—call sinners to repentance. Surprising? It shouldn’t be.

Sure, Jesus had to be the perfect sacrifice to provide the means by which we are forgiven. Yes, He taught using parables and performed miracles. But those are steps to accomplishing His mission. He came to call each one of us to repentance.

Jesus also came to call us to work with Him, to become His co-workers. Jesus never intended to do it all on His own. He always planned to plant the seed, call others to work with Him, then work through those He called. His plan is that every sinner repents of their wrongs, turns to Him, and commits to working with Him. He continues to call sinners and His plan continues to be executed today.

I pray we all repent of our sins. I pray we commit to working alongside Jesus. I pray each one of us will sprout from the seed of Jesus and spread the seed to others. Jesus is calling. Answer His call. Repent of your sins. Be a co-worker with Jesus. Know that Jesus’ plan is being executed today.

Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Excited To See Jesus

Are you an excitable person? Do you get excited to see a loved one you haven’t seen in quite a long while? Do you rush to get to them? Do you wrap your arms around them, give them a hug, and let them know you have missed them?

When I think of someone being excited to see a loved, I often think of movie scenes at the airport. Perhaps it is a military homecoming. It may be a return of a person whom the other thought had left forever. But there is always happiness and sometimes tears of joy.

The Apostle Peter is known as a reactive, impulsive, and excitable person. So, when Jesus showed up at the edge of the Sea of Galilee while they were fishing early one morning, his excitement overcame him, and he swam to shore. The boat was going to be too slow.

When we stitch together the gospel accounts, sequencing events can be a little challenging. Especially for the days immediately following the resurrection. However, it is very possible this is the first time Peter has seen Jesus after He rose from the grave. That merely increases Peter’s excitement and makes it all the more understandable.

I often ask myself, and I’ll ask you now, am I excited to see Jesus? It is highly unlikely we will see Him face-to-face in our lifetime. But we can see Him in others. Do we even look for Him in others? Do we listen for His voice? Just as Jesus called the apostles and other disciples while He walked this earth, He continues to call people today. Are we listening? Will we answer the call? Are we excited to see Him? Serve Him?

I pray we all are excited to see Jesus. I pray we look for Him every day in others we meet. I pray each one of us are listening for His call and are willing to answer it with a resounding, “Yes.” Be excited about Jesus. Look for Him every day. Listen for His call. Answer His call. Rush to meet Him. Willingly serve Him.

John 21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.