Freedom Unlimited

Not many options in life are unlimited. There is one important area, however, where we can determine how free we will be.

I’ve been studying *Parables” by John White. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asked a simple question, which in his mind had a simple answer. “How often should I forgive someone? Up to seven times?”

Wouldn’t that be easy? You wouldn’t even need all ten fingers to count them off!

Peter was probably shocked by Jesus’ response, but put yourself in his shoes. He was familiar with Old Testament scriptures which said you could retaliate an eye-for-an-eye, or a tooth-for-a-tooth (Exodus 21:23-24; Deuteronomy 19:21). With that mindset, doesn’t Peter’s idea seem generous?

Jesus was an expert at getting His point across. His parables or stories were simple enough for people of all ages and cultures to understand.

I was raised on the King James Bible which said to forgive 7X70, but some of the new translations say 77 times. I’m not going to argue over numbers because the point, as I see it, is this. Jesus was setting the bar high so we couldn’t easily say, “I’ve forgiven my limit. Now I quit!”

Forgiveness is not limited - - - it’s for a lifetime. What kind of life do you want to live? A stingy one, where you’re tied to a scorecard? Or, freedom - - - where you recognize the offense, but choose to forgive and move on.

There’s also a heavenly lesson here, not to be missed. Jesus had already taught about it in The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:12). But now He reemphasized the point with the story of The Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35).

What could be simpler than His closing line? To be forgiven in heaven, we must forgive on earth (V. 35).

Freedom unlimited is available . . . but the choice is up to you.

*Parables by John White. Life Guide Bible Studies by Inter Varsity Press (ivpress.com), Downers Grove, Illinois. Copyright 1988, 1999. (also available through Christianbook.com)

Pixabay: Sunset, Nature, Boy; geralt.

  

One Special Day

God hears and answers prayer. I know because He’s answered many prayers in my lifetime. But I have one daily request: “God, please put me in the right place at the right time today, whether I’m home or out and about.”  

Here’s how God answered that prayer one day this week.

As I was getting ready to run errands I started to tuck my cell phone in my purse. But I noticed a text message. A friend needed a ride. Could I help?

I called and said, “Good timing! I was just getting ready to leave. What do you need?”

I knew she had a son in hospice care in a city two hours away, but as his fiduciary, she was on a timeline to mail yearly reports. We decided to run her errands, then one of mine, and lunch would be later.

After her second errand, I had to admit I was very hungry. She was too, so we agreed on a favorite quick spot.  Over lunch, she said, “My son is not doing well. I wouldn’t be surprised if he passes away before the doctor’s three-month deadline.”

Shortly after, her phone rang. Her son had passed away, and that meant a lot of quick changes in her day. I said, “My errands can wait. I want to be sure you get these papers in the mail, and I’ll take you to the shuttle when you’re ready to go.”

At the end of the day, I gave thanks to God for answering my simple prayer.  It was such a good feeling to have been free to help her.

You see it was a day I could be flexible; my errands were not pressing. But the day before this, and the day after, I had someone scheduled to do house repairs.

I think my prayer does a couple of things: (1) It’s a way of saying, “Thy will be done . . . ” (Matthew 6:9-10), and (2) it fulfills Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

God answers prayer! I have a plaque on my wall with this reminder:

Yesterday He helped me

Today He did the same

How long will this continue?

Forever, praise His name.

Pixabay: Sun, Cloud, Nature, Sky; kropekk_pl

Honorable Equality

We hear a lot about equity and equality these days. But perfection in these two areas is not possible, for various reasons.

First of all, physical differences create male/female identity. People also differ in their thought processes and emotional makeup.

Another difference appears in gifts and abilities. For example, we have statesmen, nurses, doctors, entrepreneurs, and skilled laborers. They can be either male or female. But while education and training vary from one skill to another, no one person is more important than another.

Consider this question:  Can two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going to the same place? (The MSG, Amos 3:3). Whether you are a couple or a business or sports team, there must be agreement on goals.

A good leader listens to others, considers what to do, and then shares his plan. With people in agreement, each does his best to help the plan succeed.   

There is also more to walking in agreement? While using our gifts to help one another, we are also to love and honor each other (Romans 12:6-8, and 10).

Every team needs a leader. In marriage, the husband is to be head of the wife, but he is not to be a tyrant. He is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and was willing to give His life for her (Ephesians 5:23-28).

My husband and I worked through a rough patch after I stopped telling him what I thought and he stopped asking. We were looking for housing in a new ministry when I started to cry. He asked, “What’s wrong?”

I said, “The Lord gave me a warning to share with you but I didn’t do it because I thought you wouldn’t listen anyway.” He was shocked, and said, “Well, share it with me now,” so I did.

He said, “Promise me you will always tell me what you think, and I promise to listen before I make a decision.”

It was a fresh start. This honoring of one another became mutual submission out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). That set us on a renewed path for a happy marriage of fifty-two years. Praise the Lord!

Let’s aim for honorable equality, doing it as unto the Lord, not just unto man (Colossians 3:23-24).

  

Perfectly New

Isn’t it fun to get something new? You open a package knowing the item has never been used and you get to enjoy it.

I find it interesting that God built the idea of “new” into His Creation. Each day begins with a new sunrise. Every seven days we start a new week, basically every thirty days a new month, and every twelve months a new year!

Cartoonists like to draw "Father Time." At the beginning of the year, he is pictured as a baby. But by the end of the year, he’s gray-bearded, old and scraggly. Perhaps people feel that way, too, as they make new-year resolutions to improve life.

You’ve probably heard life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Plans are good, but life is full of surprises. All we can control is how we will respond to unexpected challenges.

Read the heading on my blog and you’ll see I believe in “new.” To me, it’s a gift that Almighty God offers in many ways.

First, is the gift of salvation: Forgiveness of sins and eternity with God by accepting His gift of Jesus, who died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We are born again (spiritually this time), and no more animal sacrifices are required (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17). We have a fresh start.

Then we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How? By going to church and reading our Bibles with a heart to obey God’s Word.

One day this old world will be replaced. God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13). But, to me, there’s even a better “new!” Here’s a scripture I live by:

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,

For His mercies never fail. They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23 BSB)

Read a little further, and you’ll find that in God we have hope, and He is good to those who seek Him.

With that in mind, I'd say we have good reasons to enjoy a perfectly NEW year!