Forgiveness.... and Breathing

Matthew 5:23-24

Jesus said,

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar

And there remember that your brother has something

Against you,

Leave your gift in front of the altar.

First go and be reconciled to your brother;

Then come and offer your gift.

Try this……

Take a deep, long, full breath….

And hold it in as long as you can.

Okay….

How are you doing?

Did you let it out yet?

Alright…alright….

You can let it out now.

How did that feel?

How did it feel to take in…….

To receive….. life giving oxygen?

Now what about when you were holding it in…..

How did that feel?

Did you begin to get a bit….

Uncomfortable?

Oh, and what about when you finally let the air out……

Yeah……. what about that moment…..

What was that like?

Hmmmmmmm…….

Guys…..

You know,

I am beginning to think……

Forgiveness might be Spiritual Breathing.

Think about it.

Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit,

Help me to receive Your Love and Forgiveness

As easily and naturally as my own inhalations…….

And so Live.

And Lord…..

Help me to offer Your Love and Forgiveness

As easily and naturally as my own exhalations…..

And so Live.

Oh Father

Let this way and rhythm of life…..

Be my way and rhythm of Life.

Amen

Luke 19:1-10 Join the Search Party

Luke 19:7 and 10

All the people saw this and began to mutter,

“Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” They said………..

……Jesus said,

“The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.”

Lost……

Every second the light seemed to dim a bit more.

All rational thought or action had vanished.

I was quickly becoming desperate.

Was I walking in circles?

Was I……. lost?

Have you ever been lost?

I mean really lost.

Now there are times I have been lost and……

Maybe didn’t realize it……

Or…..

Maybe wouldn’t admit it.

I have driven along and acted as if nothing were wrong.

I could always backtrack.

I might even ask for directions.

No panic…..

Oh, but there is something different……

Different about being lost in the forest……..

Lost……… with night coming on…….

In the dark…..

ALONE.

That kind of lostness…….

Well……

It might be enough…….

To make a man climb a tree…….

Just in hope of a glimmer of rescue.

That kind of lostness…..

Well……

It might be enough…..

To lead a man to give half…….

Half of all his possessions to the poor……

When he’s found.

Maybe it  helps…..

To remember our own lostness……

To remember our own time of desperation…..

When Jesus found us.

Now what about…….

Those who have wronged….. us……

Well….Maybe they’re lost..…

Maybe they’re lost…

Just like we were.

Jesus said,

“The Son of Man came to seek and save…..

What was lost.”

Come on guys,

We’ve been found….

We’ve been…….

Rescued.

Maybe it’s time we join the Search Party.

Father,

Thank You for sending Jesus to find me…..

To rescue me from the darkness,

From the aloneness,

From the fear,

From the pain.

Holy Spirit,

Bring me into deep union with my rescuer….

So that I may join You in the search party.

Amen

Psalm 56 Forgiveness and Enemies

Psalm 56: 6

My enemies conspire, they lurk,

They watch my steps, eager to take my life.

Do you have enemies-

People who have hurt you……

Who would hurt you again if they had the chance?

A new question-

Are you another man’s enemy-

Have you hurt someone……….

Would you even hurt them again if you had the chance?

“For all have sinned……

All fall short of the Glory of God”

Romans 3:23

Sometimes I wonder if………….

In my own hurt-

In my own anger-

In my own desire for vengeance-

I miss seeing my enemy……….

My real enemy.

Oh, you have heard about him haven’t you?

Jesus says he is the one who comes to…….

Steal and Kill and Destroy………

The man I see in front of me-

The woman whose words cut me like a knife-

Could it be- Maybe…….

These are not my real enemies.

Could it be-Maybe……..

The real enemy has tricked me?

Could it be- Maybe……….

The real enemy has even tricked them?

What if…….

I could see this real enemy?

Maybe then……….

My hurt could move me-

My anger would rise up in me-

My desire for vengeance could be redirected-

To fight………….

Our real enemy.

Our……Our……Our……

Can we not see?

Can we not all see?

Both me and my supposed enemies-

The schemes of….

Our Real Enemy.

All us who are Christian-

Us who are led by The Mighty Captain-

The Lord Jesus Himself-

Us who know…….

“Our battle is not with flesh and blood”

Let us join the battle together-

With OUR Real Enemy………

Today.

Oh by the way-

Don’t forget your weapons……

You know- things like……….

Faith

Kindness

Meekness (Real Strength)

Forgiveness

Prayer

Self-Control

Patience

And maybe the most powerful weapon of them all…….

The Love of our Lord Jesus that lives in us……..

For your supposed enemies.

Okay guys let’s go to war!

Psalm 56:11

In God I trust; I will not be afraid;

What can man do to me?

Father-

Lead us in battle against

Our Real Enemy

Today.

Amen

Psalm 55- A Thought On Forgiveness

Psalm 55: Excerpts

If an enemy were insulting me I could endure it….

If it were a foe I could hide…..

But it is you…..

My companion, my close friend……..

Betrayal,

Being stabbed in the back-

By a friend-

“The unkindest cut of all.”

How do I respond to such a thing?

Hurt- Yes

Anger- Certainly

Bitterness- Oh, I hope not……..

There is another choice.

Truth

The same Jesus who suffered and died for me…….

Suffered and died for my betrayer.

The same betrayal I am so hurt by is exactly what…….

I have done to my Jesus.

Let these Truths sink in.

I am the betrayer………

I have been forgiven much.

I can entrust these who have hurt me to.....

My Father.

He has redeemed me..........

He can redeem them.

 

Psalm 55:23

…………..But as for me,

I will trust in You (My Father in Heaven)

Father move in my own heart 

To begin to grasp the depth of  Your Compassion

Toward me.

Empower me, Jesus.......

Spirit of the Living God

To live out that same Love You have poured out on me

 To friend and foe alike.

Amen