In Advance
Heb.12:6 “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
For our relationships to thrive, forgiveness should happen before correction. Forgive means to completely bestow upon in advance. Choose to forgive in advance regardless of what people do. We see that this is the way our heavenly Father operates. Read the rest of this entry
Love’s Comfort
Heb.12:5 “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you”
Being at peace with others does not mean keeping peace. Being at peace with others is making peace. There is a huge difference between keeping peace and making peace. Similarly, there is a huge difference between correction and revenge. Read the rest of this entry
J.O.Y.
Matt.23:37 “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
J.O.Y. – Jesus first, yourself last and others in between; a formula for joy taught in Sunday school based on our scripture reference for today. Jesus has already made peace for you with God by making you right with God. Focus on pleasing God alone and not performing to impress any man. Read the rest of this entry
With God & Self
Ps.139:13 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”
You cannot give what you do not have. If you do not like what you see in the mirror, you cannot bring life to your relationship with your spouse. I am not saying you should be carnally minded. What I am saying is everything God made is good; God made you and everything about you is good. Read the rest of this entry
Love Thing
Rom. 5: 1 “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” [with emphasis].
We have already been made right and there is nothing more you can do to be made right. This applies to people who are in Christ. If you are not in Christ then the only thing you can do is to give your life to Jesus Christ and be made right in God’s sight. Read the rest of this entry
Heavenward!
Eph.2:14 “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. …he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us” [with emphasis].
I am so confident that until I am raptured, then rapture will not end. A lot of people question my confidence and I turn them back to God’s Word. My confidence is in the truth that Jesus has come to break down the wall of hostility that separated me from God and now I have peace with God.
But Now
Eph.2:14 “For Christ himself has brought peace to us …in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us”[with emphasis].
It is when we receive this gift from God, which is Jesus Christ, that we experience a three-fold peace. And the three-fold peace is peace with God, peace with self and peace with other people. When people do not fully embrace this gift, they struggle with having peace with God. Read the rest of this entry
Birth Place
Isa.9:6 “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His government and its peace will never end…”
For you to love someone you have to be humble. You cannot forgive without loving. For you to really forgive someone, you must love from your heart. Also you cannot have peace without forgiveness. For you to have peace, you must forgive.
Not Without
Matt.5:39 “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also…43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” [with emphasis]
If you really want to follow Jesus and be a follower of Christ, you have to love. Some people say that Islam is a religion of peace and I say they have not read the Koran. Whoever really wants to be a follower of Mohammed has to fight jihad.
For-Giving
Matt.5:38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” [with emphasis]
The word forgive is a two part word “for” and “give”. “Give” means to bestow upon while “For” primarily means completely. Forgive means to completely bestow upon in advance. To forgive someone of a debt owed is to completely write off the debt. Read the rest of this entry
