forgiveness

A Nation That Has Forgotten God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I have lived on this earth long enough to remember our great nation’s two hundredth birthday. Yes, I’m of that age. It was the summer before my senior year of high school. I recall being slightly jealous of the senior class that graduated that year, because they could say they graduated the year of the big birthday of our nation. It was a trivial thought, but I thought it. And now somehow fifty years have passed. Far too quickly, I might add. But here we are.

As I reflect back on the last fifty years, I’ve seen many changes in this land. In the people. Some good changes. And some not so good. Progress is good if it’s done with the best intentions and in the best interest of the people. Some ideas for change should never even pass the lips of the one with the idea. They’re that bad. But again, here we are. Good and bad changes have transpired in the fifty years since we last celebrated a big birthday for our country.

As those Englanders boarded that ship to America, they were hoping for change. Good change. They were looking for freedom to express their own faith and beliefs without fear of persecution. They wanted the freedom to govern themselves with equality and justice for all. So they moved.

And we know that freedom isn’t exactly free. It comes with a great price. Just ask those pilgrims who traveled so far to enter this land and make it their home. They lost many of their people after they arrived. Life was hard. They came with nothing to a place with nothing. They had to build their lives from scratch. And look at us today. Many of us just want handouts. Or we give handouts to those who come wanting something for nothing.

I don’t watch soccer, but I’ve been seeing stories of visitors from Europe traveling our great country. They’re here for the World Cup, and they’re just in time to celebrate our nation’s birthday with us. And they’re in awe. They’re seeing the results of the hard work of their forefathers who sacrificed to move here. And they like what they see. We who have lived here for generations take our freedom and what they call luxuries as a right. We demand our rights, even if they are dangerous and damaging. And we think nothing of it. We’ve become desensitized to the wealth that we have. Our middle class lives far beyond what the upper class of other countries does. In some ways. And we take it all for granted. Perhaps when they return home, they’ll be as jealous of Americans as I was of the class that graduated fifty years ago.

When I say “we”, I’m speaking of a collective we. Not all Americans have turned their back on this county, but some have. That group seems to have the loudest voices, and they’re being heard. And yet they stay here. Really. They’re a minority, but they’re changing the culture of this great country. And we’re headed down a dangerous path if they have their way. Mark my words. And it’s interestingly refreshing to hear the Europeans praise our land as they have fallen in love with it. And yet we don’t seem to do the same. We’ve become hardened to the good that we have. And we want more. Or we want something else that is a bit more unseemly.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of men signed a document declaring their independence from their native land. And history was set in place. As we look back, we have much to be thankful for and much to still accomplish. You could say we’ve come a long way, baby, but it now seems as if we’re backtracking instead of moving forward. Oh. I’m not talking about industrial inventions and progress. I’m talking about cultural swings into a perverse belief system that reflects nothing our founding fathers set forth. We can do better. We must do better. And there’s no better time than the present.

How grateful we ought to be that we can meet together to worship God after that form which best satisfies our consciences without any fear of being hunted down by the authorities of the land…We worship God in unlimited liberty, and we ought to be exceedingly glad of the privilege, and infinitely more grateful for it than we are…Blessed is the land in which we dwell, and blessed are the days in which we live, when in all peace and quietness we worship God in public and sing his high praises as loudly as we please. Great God of peace, thou hast give us this peace, and in remembrance of our hunted forefathers we bless thee with our whole hearts! ~Charles Spurgeon

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! Psalm 33:12

The state of our country reminds me of the Israelites who left Egypt to pursue God’s call to a promised land. It was a hard road for them, because time after time they turned their back on him. They tried to do things their way. And it backfired every time. Unlike the pilgrims who sailed for over two months to cross the ocean to this land, they wandered in the desert for forty years because of their disobedience. And everyone who left Egypt on that fateful night died before they were able to enter Canaan, the land God had promised to them. All but one of the one hundred two passengers on the Mayflower survived their trip.

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. And yet, they’re a great example of a nation that turned their back on God. God chose Canaan as their new home, because he knew it would give them a life of abundance. They had multitudes of fresh food and water. They conquered cities and took over the land. Each of the twelve tribes moved to their designated areas of the country. And they settled in. But settling in wasn’t enough for them. Instead of fully obeying God by destroying everyone who had lived in Canaan, they allowed some to live. And over time, the original inhabitants of the land persuaded them to abandon God and worship their idols. They married and had families with the people they were slated to annihilate.

Each time the Israelites found themselves at a crossroad of hardship and desperation, they remembered how God had led them on the journey to this new homeland. And they turned their backs on their idols and once again worshipped God. But their commitment would continue to wane until finally God had had enough. He allowed them to be conquered by the Babylonians. Many of the elite Israelites were sent into exile in a foreign land where they had to identify as someone they weren’t. This continued for seventy years when they were allowed to return home to rebuild their land.

I think of the state of our nation and how what had started as a nation under God has become a nation that ignores God. We are on the same destructive path that Israel walked, and we seem content to do it. No remorse. Oh sure. They are plenty who are enraged that our nation has fallen so low in our morality and ethics. It seems that everything goes these days. We freely kill unborn babies and applaud men in women’s sports. We overlook the unethical behavior of elected leaders and call it good. We ignore the laws of the land and welcome those who enter our country without proper authorization. We are a country wallowing in deep decay.

In his Farewell Address to the nation the first president of this country, George Washington, discussed religion and morality as a means to support political prosperity. His view was that while some individuals of “refined education” might maintain morality without religion, the same couldn’t be expected to hold true for a nation as a whole. How right he was.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. ~George Washington

I believe George Washing was onto something, but I believe religion alone isn’t the answer. We can be religious about anything. It is a personal relationship with God and a commitment to serve and obey him alone that will turn individual lives around. Godly leaders in our country can right the ship that has been steadfastly sinking over these past decades. Prayer and commitment to God Almighty can save this nation and delay any judgment and punishment that is headed our way. Oh. We as a nation won’t get off easy when God judges us. But we can repent today and commit to following him. One person at a time can help turn the tide and get the country back on course to being a Christian nation.

The Hounds of Hell

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It was an overcast morning as I started out on my daily walk. It’s a very, very small town where I live, and I passed five people who waved and said “good morning” as I walked my familiar path. Not bad for friendliness in small town USA. As I came upon one corner where I would turn to head east, I noticed a young mom pushing a stroller my way. She, however, took the shortcut through the church parking lot, and I headed toward the end of the street. We raised our hand in greeting as we moved on down the path.

Later in the walk as I was heading down the long stretch going west, I saw her in the distance. Once again, she was heading toward me. As I said hello to the older gentleman sitting on the tailgate of his pickup truck, I noticed the three dogs that lived on the opposite street corner out in their yard. They heard my greeting and ran to the fence barking wildly. Then they noticed the young mom and turned to run in her direction, once again barking wildly. As we met on the street, she said that the dogs seemed as if they weren’t sure which of us to bark at. I laughingly noted that it was obvious to the dogs that we both were a huge threat to their existence. Then we moved on down the path once again.

I’ve noticed these dogs on other mornings. They’re not always outside, but when they are they make their presence known to anyone passing by. They want to make sure someone coming near their territory knows that it’s their territory. I wave to their owners if they happen to be outside, but no other contact is made. I’m not sure if these dogs are friendly or aggressive. I’m just thankful they’re behind a fence while I can walk freely.

Oh. I come across other dogs on my morning walks. Some are friendly. Others aren’t. And still others pay me no attention. Some are behind a fence and others aren’t. There have only been a couple of incidents where the dogs came close enough to touch me, but no harm was done. A couple of the owners make sure to pull their dogs closer to their side as I’m walking past. They don’t want any ugly incidents, either.

Oh. The dogs at the fence may look harmless, but their bark sounds menacing. If the dog doesn’t know you, you just don’t know what it may do. Is it friendly or ferocious? Who wants to find out? If you’ve ever been attacked by a dog, and I haven’t, it’s not a pretty picture. Great harm can be done.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Imagine yourself going through a busy day, and a pack of dogs started following you. You can see them. You can hear them. You don’t know their intent. But they sound like they mean business. Do you run or stand perfectly still? What should you do to avoid harm?

Do you ever stop to consider what you should do when you realize Satan is pursuing you? Do you run in the opposite direction or straight toward him? Do you stand perfectly still hoping to avoid detection? Do you flirt a little, trying to appease him? Do you introduce yourself, so there’s an air of familiarity the next time you meet? Do you make a scene and hope someone standing nearby notices and helps rescue you? What do you do? Do you want to be rescued?

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:23

In 1 Peter, Paul compared Satan to a lion. He knew that Satan was a great deceiver and usually works under the cover of darkness. He’s sly and sneaky. He’ll attempt to trick anyone who isn’t paying attention. And sometimes, we’re easily fooled by what seems to be good intentions. He knows who he’s looking for. The weak follower of Christ. The one who isn’t in the Word of God on a regular basis. The one who is weary when their prayers aren’t answered in a way that pleases them. The one who is losing their way because they are following the wrong crowd. The one who is angry. The one who feels betrayed. The one who is proud and self important. I have to ask. Are you a weak target?

Don’t think that Satan is targeting those who aren’t following Christ. He’s not. He’s already got them where he wants them. They’re not a problem. He’s going after the ones who have rejected him outright. He wants them back, and he’ll do anything to get them.

Oh. Don’t worry. Satan doesn’t go instantly for the jugular. Once you’re in his grip, he likes to toy with his prey. It will be painful for the victim, but they won’t succumb to the wounds early on. He’ll continue clawing and biting to see how much he can get from you before he strikes the deadly blow. It’s a game for him. He wants to take another one to his lair with him. He’s aiming for a large den of victims.

But, just so you know. Satan doesn’t have to be the winner, just because you’re his prey. There is a way out from his manipulating power. He doesn’t hold all the keys. Even when in his death grip, the vilest sinner can call out to the Living God for rescue and salvation and they will be heard. God hears the sincere sinner’s cry, regardless of their situation. He will answer and he will save them from their sins.

The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalms 145:18-19

Attitude Check on Aisle Four

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I was in the grocery store, and I was in a hurry. I was trying to get all my errands run before my appointment, and I was rushing. Oh, I know it was all my fault, but here’s how the grocery shopping went. I rushed through the store, gathering up the items I needed. Then I went to stand in line, and there were three people in front of me with only one cashier working.

This grocery store is known for slow cashiers and even slower baggers. But there I was standing in line behind two people who were waiting for the one at the cashier to finish, and that transaction was taking awhile. I’m not sure why, but they were going slow. I dared not look at the clock because I didn’t know want to know what time it was. I knew my appointment was fast approaching, But here I stood with a cart full of groceries, and I was determined to pay for them and take them home with me.

First cart in line went through with a few items, and they went slowly. As the couple in front of me was checking out, I saw the cashier put a package of meat under the counter. Toward the end of scanning their groceries, the woman customer left the line and went to get a new package of meat. I was annoyed, to say the least. I knew I had little time, and here I was waiting for somebody to get another item. They had picked up one that had an expired date on it and didn’t want to buy expired meat.

As I stood there waiting impatiently, I reminded myself that I was the Christian here. I needed to represent Christ, just as he would have lived. But in that moment, I wasn’t feeling holy. I wanted to become like Jesus as he threw the the money changers out of the temple. I wanted to act in a holy rage and tell them I was in a hurry, and could they please move along. I wanted them to respect my schedule and my needs, but I stood there quietly. Yep, I drummed my fingers on the cart. I tried not to look at them, because I knew I wouldn’t have a happy look. I had an attitude problem. Finally, the woman reappeared with a new package of meat. They got checked out, and then it was my turn to have my groceries scanned.

I emptied my cart as fast as I could, and the cashier began scanning the items. He picked up a can of green beans that was dented, badly dented. He asked me if I wanted the dented can. Yes. I said I don’t have time to get another can. And he said, I’ll give them to you for 50 cents or for $1. Which would you prefer? I don’t care. So he settled on $1.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

The Bagger was slow as always, taking his sweet time. I finally had to help him put the groceries in my cart because he was just dawdling. I don’t know what goes through his mind. He never has a sense of urgency about doing his job. As we were putting the last items in the cart, he almost forgot one bag. So I had to hurry and put it in my cart. I needed to leave. I rushed to my car and unloaded all my groceries. As I pulled away from the grocery store, I realized I still had 30 minutes before I needed to get to the next appointment. I was going to make it on time. Why was I even worried? Why did I let myself get into such a stew over nothing?

When the spirit or the heart is the stage whereon sin is enacted, it is a spiritual sin; such are all impure thoughts, vile affections, and desires which do not break forth into overt action but are nonetheless real acts of the inner man. As with all sin, Satan is the great, unseen instigator of every sin of the heart. Keep a close watch on your heart.

~William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

My bad attitude might not have been obvious to the people standing near me in that grocery store, but I knew that God had seen it. I knew that he was probably shaking his head knowing I had plenty of time to get to my next appointment. And then once I got to my destination, I would have to sit in my car for 15 minutes before going into the office. Otherwise I would have been waiting an extra long time in the doctor’s office.

And I just have to ask, why do I do this to myself? Why do I get all in a tizzy for no reason? I don’t know. It’s just the way I’m made. Probably nobody else in history has this same problem, but there I am being so human. And all the while knowing I’m a Christian and I don’t know if these other people are, and they were kind. The woman was apologetic for having to leave the line and get a new item. Yet I was frustrated. Thank goodness I didn’t actually say anything, because there was no need. I knew there was no need, but in my frustration I had plenty of unkind thoughts swirling in my head.

I can’t even say, Father forgive me, for I know not what I do, because I knew what I was doing. I knew my attitude was wrong. I knew my thinking was wrong, and I thought it anyway. So still I must say, Father, forgive me, especially when I know I’m wrong. Help me to be more like you in my words, in my actions, in my thoughts, in my attitudes, in the way I approach people. Help me to show kindness. Even if someone isn’t doing a good job. I can help them. I can be a good example.
Help me, Father, I need you.

I need Thee every hour,
  Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
  Can peace afford.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
  Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
    I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour,
  Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power
  When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour,
  In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide,
  Or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour,
  Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
  In me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour,
  Most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
  Thou blessed Son.

~Annie Sherwood Hawkes/Robert Lowry

Immaturity on Display

~ mercyfortheday ~ 2 Comments

I sat at lunch the other day with people I didn’t know, and I witnessed something unsettling. Our church hosts a monthly potluck on the first Sunday of the month, and we were sitting with people unfamiliar to me. The husband and wife are both retired. Their nineteen year old grandson and his seventeen year old girlfriend were seated with us, as well. The grandson has lofty goals but a very slim wallet. He’s dreaming up schemes on how to get the “toys” he wants. Just that afternoon, he was scheduled to sell some tires out of his dad’s garage. He knew the price he wanted, and he knew exactly what he would do with the money. Part of it would be used to take his dad to dinner, and then a bulk of it would go to buy the gun of his dreams. The price of the gun is the same amount as his monthly car payment, which he can’t afford this month. So, instead of making his car payment, he’ll buy the sweet gun.

Oh. He’s starting a new job soon, which will mean he now has two part-time jobs. And he was bragging about the amount of money he would be making per month with those two jobs. He was so proud of that amount. His grandfather quietly suggested that he open an IRA. IRA? Said the grandson. What’s that? He had no clue about retirement savings. I understand that at nineteen years old, no one is seriously thinking about retirement, but planning and saving early in life greatly enhances a retirement plan. Every saved dollar goes a long way later on down the line.

Then he starting talking about the next toy he would buy after he got the gun. Honestly. I can’t recall what it was, but it was also not a smart decision for someone who doesn’t really have money and can’t afford their car payment. Oh. But he decided that he would sell the car he can’t afford and purchase a rust bucket he had found on social media. This young man does not live in reality. His dreams wore me out.

The grandparents acted as if they had heard similar dreams from him in the past. They weren’t shocked at his plans to spend money he didn’t really have. Because, at the same time, he’s dreaming up a scheme to buy an even bigger toy for himself. He said he didn’t mind if he lived in his dad’s basement all his life, as long as he could have all his toys. I wonder what his girlfriend was thinking. I was thinking she should run while she could, but I just sat and listened.

The reason this scene was unsettling was because it dawned on me that too many people live with the same mindset. They’re surrounding themselves with all the material and sensual pleasures they can buy, and they have no regard for their future or their need for Christ. They seem to think they can rule their own lives and that’s all that matters. What a tragedy. My prayer is that this young man’s eyes will be opened to the disaster that awaits him unless he matures and also pursues a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

This entire scene got me to thinking about how immature we can be as Christians. We can talk big about how good God is without ever having a personal relationship with him. But then. If we don’t have a personal relationship with God, we aren’t Christians. By personal relationship, I’m talking about repenting of our sins and asking God to forgive us. If we haven’t experienced God’s forgiveness, then we aren’t Christians. No matter what we say. We just aren’t.

And a personal relationship with God is not just a one-time transaction. It’s not a one-night stand. After repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness, it’s a daily walk with Jesus Christ. Just as this young man and woman are building a relationship, while shaky at best, we must intentionally build a solid foundation of faith in our quest to live for Christ. It isn’t a one and done type of event. It’s a lifelong process, which unfortunately, many do not pursue. Many treat their salvation moment as a once in a lifetime event and never pursue Jesus with all their hearts. It isn’t a transaction. It’s a lifelong commitment.

Ask any Christian who is running the race in pursuit of pleasing Christ. The race is full of highs and lows, trials and temptations, growth and stumbles. It’s the race of a lifetime, and we can’t just claim salvation and call it quits. We’re running the long distance race of faith and obedience. We can’t just look for the “toys” of faith that will temporarily satisfy us. We must be all in.

I recall a song from my childhood Sunday School class about the foolish man and the wise man. The foolish man built his house on the sand without any foundation, while the wise man built his house upon the rock that would withstand any type of storm. That’s based on a parable that Jesus told to the crowds who had gathered to hear him speak. And the advice is true for us today, just as it was so many years ago. Our faith must be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and not on the sinking sand where it will collapse and drag us into spiritual ruin.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:24-27

I was listening to the podcast that our pastor’s record every week, where they dig deeper into the Sunday sermon. This week, they were talking about spiritual maturity. One of them said that spiritual maturity is doing the right things — loving God and loving others. It isn’t a list of things you don’t do, as much as a list of the things you do, is what he said. I agree with this. Sure. While there are things we shouldn’t do as believers, our faith grows by refusing to sin. It grows by faithfully obeying God’s leading, and not succumbing to every temptation that shines it bright light at us. That’s what roots our faith in Jesus Christ.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

Fighting the War

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

When you read Numbers 31, you will find that God sent twelve thousand Israelite men to fight the five tribes of Midian. One thousand men from each of the twelve tribes fought the Midianites who were ruled by five kings. To understand why God wanted the Israelites to destroy the Midianites, we need to look at history.

God directed Abraham to leave the land of his forefathers to move to an unknown location. God told Abraham that he would show him where to go. And he did. Abraham, his wife Sarah and nephew Lot left the land of Haran and set out for Canaan. Due to a famine, they went through Egypt and landed in the hill country east of Bethel. Both Abraham and Lot owned large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, so they decided to split up instead of sticking together. Lot chose the more fertile land of the Jordan Valley, leaving Abraham to settle in Canaan.

Lot and his wife had two daughters. They eventually moved into the town of Sodom, which became so evil that God declared he would destroy it. He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to leave the town immediately, so he and his wife and daughters were forced to flee the next morning. The two men engaged to Lot’s daughters refused to leave with them. And as Lot and his family were running for the hills, his wife turned to look back at the destruction. God had strictly warned them against this, and she turned into a pillar of salt right on the spot. Lot and the girls kept moving forward.

The story turns very sordid, because the daughters knew they would never find other men to marry them and have families. They somehow decided to get their father drunk and sleep with him. And, lo and behold, they both became pregnant. By their father. They each had a son, and the boys were named Moab and Ammon.

The Israelites were descendants of Abraham who had one son, Isaac, with Sarah. Isaac’s son Jacob had twelve sons. These twelve sons and their descendants were the nation of Israel. After Abraham’s wife Sarah died, he had several sons with Keturah. One son named Midian then had five sons, who were named kings over their own tribes.

God commanded Israel to destroy the Midianites because their women had seduced the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. God would have none of it, and they had to be destroyed for their evil behavior and influence over his chosen people. During the battle, Balaam a Moabite, was killed along with the Midianite man and the five kings. Balaam was a key figure in Midian’s fight against Israel. He had been very influential in advising the Midianites on how to turn the Israelites away from worshipping the One True God to worshipping false gods. He had encouraged the Midianite women to seduce the Israelite men into sexual immorality and idol worship.

The Israelites won their battle that day by killing the Midianite men. Then the Israelites took all the Midianite women and children captive and plundered Midian, taking all the cattle, flocks and goods. And finally, they burned what was left. Upon the order of Moses, all the Midianite women who were not virgins and boys were killed, as well. Only the virgin girls were allowed to live. This may seem extremely harsh, but God does not play around with the worship of false gods. He will exact revenge however he deems best, and the Midianite women were the instruments used to entice the Israelite men away from serving God. The Midianite culture taught boys to avenge their father’s death, so they too were a continual threat. It’s a gruesome story, but God was fed up with any evil nation that would lead his chosen people, the Israelites, to bow down to other gods. He would not stand for it.

Although they had not been instructed to kill the women and children, the women were not allowed to live because of their earlier participation in leading the Israelites into sin. God exacted the appropriate punishment upon them and used Moses to correct that wrong in a mighty way. It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fun, but it was necessary in order to wipe out the threat of the Midianites.

When they went home and all the Israelite soldiers were counted, not one of them had been killed. Yes. All twelve thousand soldiers survived this huge battle. Oh. Some may have been injured. And I’m sure there was physical, mental and emotional trauma they dealt with. But none of them died. We would ask today how that could happen. But let’s look at the source of their strength. The giver of life and the taker of life won the battle through them. Supernatural protection by our God Almighty is real. God’s vast providence and protection in the battle was immense in preparing the Israelites in future battles against the Canaanites.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God. Psalms 42:5

Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses and said to Moses, “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us. Numbers 31:48-49

You can read the full story of the Israelite victory over Midian in Numbers 31.

We may ask what this story tells us today about our fight with sin and temptation and disobedience to God.

When we walk faithfully with God, we will fight many spiritual battles in our lives. They don’t have to destroy us. We may walk away from those battles with scars and wounds, hurts and aches. But we will survive them. With God’s help, we can be victorious over the tests and temptations thrown at us. We can stomp on Satan’s plan to destroy us and come out walking closer to the Lord. He is with us in our battles and he will fight for us.

In this historical story of the battle with the Midianites, the Israelites were led by God to eliminate these enemies who had swayed their hearts from serving God. Sure. They won the battle, but there was still a cleansing to be done. They not only divided the spoils of war with the people, the officers generously gave an offering to the Lord in gratitude for his provision and protection. They showed a reverent obedience to the God who had spared their lives.

We too must live and act in gratitude for Jesus’ sacrificial gift of dying on the cross for our sins. It was a necessary, painful death required by his Heavenly Father. We too may be asked to suffer for our Lord and Savior. Will we be faithful in our calling to serve him regardless of the cost?

We must prepare for spiritual battles on a daily basis. We must stay in prayer, asking for God’s provision and protection in our battles. We must surround ourselves with godly people who can mentor and support us. We must remain in God’s Word, taking life from his message of forgiveness, hope, sacrifice, justice and mercy. With God’s help, we can be victors over Satan’s ploys.

Read God’s Word attentively. It gives a history of the most remarkable battles between the great soldiers of Christ and their adversary Satan. You can read how Satan has foiled them and how they recovered lost ground. There is not a lust of which you are in danger, but you have it disclosed; there is not a temptation which the Word of God does not arm you against. ~William Gurnell, The Christian in Complete Armour

The Light of the World

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I had just gotten into bed and turned off the light. Then I heard the doorbell camera chime. It chimes a lot when it’s windy outside, so I assumed it was just the wind. But then it chimed again, so I picked up my phone and opened the app. And I saw the beam of headlights heading straight toward the garage door. Someone was in the driveway. When I saw the vehicle, I knew immediately who it was. It was the neighbor plowing our driveway after ten o’clock on a snowy Saturday night. I nudged my husband, and he saw what I saw. A good neighbor, indeed.

This man who plowed our driveway is a good and thoughtful man. He’s been overly generous sharing the excess of what he has with us. He’s not typically one I would associate with, because our style of living is very different. He’s a little rough around the edges. I would say he’s not refined, but then I’m not sure I am either. We just have different priorities in life, and that’s ok. He’s good people.

He offered his lawn equipment and air conditioners to us to use free of charge. He freely gave of the excess of firewood to us and our friend. He’s taught his young adult son to be as thoughtful and giving as he is. He also works to make this small community of ours better and safer.

This man is no different from anyone else. He has his own set of faults and flaws. I’m sure if I spoke to his family, they might hint at some of his failings if the conversation went on long enough. I don’t need to know those things about him. I want to know him as a good neighbor.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

This man whose lights were beaming onto my garage door is a good man, but that won’t save him. He can perform acts of goodwill and kindness every day like it’s his job, but on judgment day that won’t be what God is looking for. God says that all mankind must seek forgiveness and repent of their sins. Jesus is the light of the world, for all of us walk in darkness. When we receive his forgiveness, we have received the light of the world into our lives.

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Ephesians 5:8-9

Jesus is the fountain of life. The thing is. We can’t just look at the light, like I did from my doorbell camera. We must follow the light of the world. Wherever he leads, we must follow. We must walk in the light, for it is not only a light for our eyes. It is a light for our feet. Jesus says that if we follow him, we won’t walk in darkness, but we will have the light of life.

When we walk in spiritual darkness, we can’t see the path ahead. We make wrong decisions. We act on selfish impulses. We take risks that can cause life-altering changes. We stumble around not seeing the trouble that could be right in front of us . And we say that we love our life.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3:19-21

When Jesus said that he was the light of the world, he had just forgiven a woman caught in the act of adultery. That act would have typically sentenced the person to death by stoning. Her accusers stood nearby pointing the finger of shame and accusation at her, ready to throw stones. After Jesus heard their accusations, he bent down and wrote in the dust. Then he spoke a profound sentence that stunned every one of her accusers. He told this group of important men that the person in their group who had never sinned could throw the first stone of death at her. And guess what happened. When Jesus stood up to face them, the woman stood alone. All of her accusers had silently walked away. They too were guilty of sin. Perhaps not sins that required them to be publicly rebuked and stoned to death, but their sins may have been even greater than hers. And they knew it. Their silent walk of shame spoke more words than their loud accusations of adultery.

Yet Jesus did not require them to repent. He allowed them to walk away unchanged with hardened hearts. He knew and they knew they were guilty and needed to confess their sinful ways. They had the option to repent and turn to faith in the One who knelt drawing in the sand before them. And they did not.

But this woman caught in an adulterous act was not condemned by Jesus. He knew her sin, yet he told her to go and sin no more. He offered her a word of hope because he knew she would be shamed by her community. He knew she needed hope because her sin would perhaps cause her lifelong harmful consequences. She needed forgiveness and hope, which Jesus freely offered. And she walked away forgiven.

Read the story of the adulterous woman at John 8:1-11.

God does not push us to seek him. He waits for us. He’s everlastingly patient with each of us. But the light of the world continues to shine for all of us to see. And in our moments of despair, when all seems lost, the light of the world is waiting for us to reach out to him and repent. He will accept with open arms anyone who calls on his name. But we have to know that faith in God and salvation are always optional. It’s a risk we take when we choose to walk our own path in the darkness. We may believe that our walk in the darkness is a great life, but little do we know the joy and peace we’re missing without the light. Only the light of the world can save us.

But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. ~Oswald Chambers

We have a choice today and every day. We can choose to walk in darkness, or we can choose hope and forgiveness and the light of the world. If you are still walking in darkness, open your heart today and seek forgiveness of your sins and repent. Your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will lead you into his light.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2

Mouse in the House

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We have a mouse problem in our house. Yes, we’ve seen mice. It seems they like to taunt us, running to and fro throughout the living room as we sit and watch. We hear them feasting on the poison bait that we’ve set out for them. If we’re lucky, we’ll find the dead bodies the next morning. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. I’m thankful that we haven’t noticed any bad odors, but I wonder where they go to die if not on my living room floor.

But now I’m hoping we’ve turned a corner for the good. I don’t want to be braggadocious, but we may have found a solution to keep our house rodent free. We’ve discovered a product that is supposed to repel all rodents with a high frequency sound that isn’t heard by humans. The first night these night lights were plugged in, we heard a bit of mouse noise but didn’t see any mice. I want to say that so far it seems to be working. We’re hoping to keep the winning streak going.

The problem with the mice is that we don’t know how they’re getting into the house. We’ve seen evidence of them in the kitchen, and we’ve seen them dead and alive in the living room. Oh. We had the same problem last year and never figured it out. But this year, we’ve already seen more mice in one month than we did all last winter. That’s a problem in my book. We did plug one hole in the kitchen with steel wool, so hopefully that problem is solved. But we have no idea how they are getting into the living room.

I walked into one room the other day, and I thought I noticed a bad odor. It smelled like a rotting carcass. It’s rather faint and intermittent, so I’m not sure if it’s real or imagined. If it’s real, then the evidence is hidden and I’ll have to find it. I’m not looking forward to that. I’ve started an investigation, but I haven’t found anything. I’m afraid to do a thorough search, because this is one time I don’t really want to find what I’m looking for.

I can’t say that our house is free of mice. It may take some time and some waiting. We’ll have to watch and look for evidence. Or maybe we’ll hear a mouse but not see one. It’s a bit of a wait and see time for us right now. Time will tell if these new magical night lights work long term.

Then just yesterday morning, as I was walking to the kitchen I saw it. A dead mouse near the front door. At least it was dead. That’s what I tell myself. When we installed the repellant night lights, I knew we might need to get a few more to thoroughly block the mice. Now I know where I need to place a few more. I’m glad they found the new treasure trove of poison traps in the laundry room that did the work. But my goal is complete eradication of these pests. I don’t want them lurking anywhere in my house.

I also noticed a couple of days ago that the poison trap I had set out near the front door last year was empty. It wasn’t touched last year, but I guess the mice are hungry this year. I need to replenish my supply of bait.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14

When we repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Christ, we are free from sin. The burden of carrying the weight of unforgiven sins has left us. We are free. But here’s the thing. We can’t keep on sinning. We must turn our back on any sins that had a stranglehold on us and walk away from that life. Otherwise, we’re like the mice that keep returning. We don’t need to return to our old way of life, because we live by another standard. We live by biblical standards and beliefs once we’ve rejected sin. We can’t just dodge sin. We must reject all acts of sin in our lives.

As new believers, we need to put barriers in our life to keep us from veering back to sin. We’re living a different life now. In this new forgiven life, we’re now living under the crucifixion of Christ.

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. Galatians 6:14

Just as I’m unsure yet if I’m smelling a rotting mouse carcass, sin can sneak in and entice us when we least expect it. The thing about sin is that we can’t wait to sniff it out. We must remove it immediately before it takes hold in our lives. Oh. We’ll notice the odor all right, because it doesn’t come off as a fine fragrance. It’s rotten to the core. And now that I know the mice have found a new path of travel in my house, I need to button down that area with more nightlights to ward them off. The same goes for my spiritual life. I need to equip myself every day with the full armor of God. Otherwise, a temptation to sin could catch me off guard.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. ~Oswald Chambers

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:12-14

Unearned Favor

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We moved to a new state eleven months ago. This new state doesn’t have the bank where we have banked for our entire marriage. So, throughout the last months, we have been slowly moving checking and savings accounts to a new bank closer to home. It’s been a process. Stopping and restarting automatic payments and deposits. Hoping we haven’t forgotten any. I think we’ve finally crossed the finish line with the previous bank. Oh. We didn’t have any complaints with the former bank. We just needed a bank that was close to home. Not two states away.

We happened to be near a branch of the old bank a couple of weeks ago, so we stopped in to finally close out all the accounts. It was the end of an era. As we sat down with the bank manager, he pulled up our accounts. He calculated any interest that might be owed on the small amount we still had in the bank so he could produce a final check for us. And then he said the words we all hope to hear but usually don’t. Do you have another account? I told him that we had already moved our investment accounts, so no. There are no other accounts.

But lo and behold. There was an account in the name of the man of the house. It had sat dormant for many years. And the balance in that account blew us away. How could an account with that much money be forgotten and set aside? How does that happen? I don’t know. But it did.

I have to confess. As I sat there, I created in my mind a long list of ways to spend that wad of unknown money. We had hit paydirt. Oh no. Don’t get me wrong. We weren’t suddenly wealthy. But when you’re told you have a nice amount of money coming to you that you didn’t expect, you get a little excited. But I do have to admit that I sat there waiting for the shoe to drop. Would he discover that the account really wasn’t my husbands? Would the man have to come clean that what he thought was our account really wasn’t? But no. He didn’t. And we walked away with a lot more money than we had expected. It felt good to have that extra cash in our pocket.

What will we do with the money? You ask. I have no idea. Right now it’s sitting in a savings account accruing a very small amount of interest. But it’s ours, and it feels good. To be honest, I could have it spent in no time. Our new home has a host of updates that need to be made. Oh. We’re whittling down the list a little at a time, so every little bit of unplanned financial surprise is just that. A surprise.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Did you know that the word grace was used 124 times in the New Testament? And the apostle Paul used that same word 86 times in his writings. Grace is undeserved favor in God speak. And grace is getting something that we shouldn’t get without working for it. But God gives it to us without charge to us. Oh. There was a payment for grace. A huge sacrifice. Anyone who knows anything about the Bible knows that the sacrifice was God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified and died on a cross for the sins of every person who has ever had life. We didn’t have to ask for this favor. It was given to us freely. At least, it’s free for us. Someone did die for us to have that favor. And he did it willingly.

I think about the free gift of grace. It’s similar to the free money we discovered in a forgotten checking account. Oh. But this gift of grace is different.  It has eternal consequences.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

When I think of grace, I’m reminded of the neighbor who shoveled my driveway all winter.  And he asked if I minded if he did it.  And then another neighbor recently loaned us two window air conditioning units when our central air stopped working. They didn’t have to offer these acts of kindness to us, but they did it from the bottom of their hearts with no expectations of receiving anything in return. That’s what grace is. Good neighbors. Kind hearts. Acts of generosity.

Grace is an act of kindness we don’t expect or deserve.  It’s just given free of charge without any expectation of repayment.  So when the snow shoveling neighbor asked if we would mow his lawn while he was on vacation, you bet we said yes.  And when the air conditioning neighbor asked to use our water line and hose while he worked on a concrete project next door, you bet we agreed. 

God’s grace extends to everyone who calls on his name for salvation. We can also offer grace in a multitude of ways to those who need a helping hand or a favor. They may ask, but they may not. We can still offer a loving hand to help.

I remember the story of Jesus stopping to rest at a well outside of the town of Sychar in Samaria. He knew that a woman with a checkered past would come to the well in the heat of the day to draw water. She didn’t come with the masses of women during the cool morning hours, for fear of being rejected. She came alone when no one would be around. Except on this day, Jesus sat there waiting. He asked for water, and she was surprised at the request because he was Jewish. She knew Jews looked down on Samaritans. And then he offered her living water that would quench her thirst forever. She questioned how that was possible. So he told her of this living water that would change her life. And he continued on to tell her that he knew of her five husbands and that the man she currently lived with wasn’t her husband. He didn’t judge her or rebuke her. In love he offered her forgiveness and grace. Undeserved favor. And desperate for it, she gratefully accepted the invitation. And she ran and told the people of her town the good news.

Oh. Don’t be fooled. This woman from Samaria was very aware of the tensions between the Jews and her people. She knew exactly why Jews wouldn’t associate with people from her region, so she was very surprised when this obviously Jewish man sitting alone at the well asked her to get him a drink of water. She didn’t hesitate to serve him, but she had questions and he had the answer she didn’t know she needed.

You can read the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24

Did the bank manager, out of the goodness of his heart, just randomly offer us a sum of money that wasn’t owed us? Did the neighbor just randomly choose me out of thin air to shovel my driveway? Did the other neighbor happen to walk down the street and assume our air conditioning wasn’t working because our windows were open? No. The banker realized the money legally belonged to us, so he set the bank right with us. The neighbor shoveled our driveway because he knew I was living alone. The other neighbor offered the two air conditioners when I happened to mention our situation during a random conversation. These men used the gifts they had to serve those who were in need. Oh. They didn’t have to offer anything, but they did. And that’s exactly what Jesus Christ offers to anyone who comes to him. He offers forgiveness, grace and mercy. He will wipe our slate of sins clean when we confess and repent. He will make us a new person ready and willing to serve him. The least we can do is bow in submission and receive the free gift of salvation that he is offering.

Know Your Instructor

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I’ve never been good at what we used to call “new math.” Oh. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. That’s all I need to know for what I do in my life. I don’t need new math. I just need the old, basic arithmetic. But I remember my high school algebra teacher. Well, here’s what I remember. I didn’t learn much, and I’m not sure how I even passed the class. I never took another math class in high school. Then I went to college, and one math class was on the agenda. The instructor was amazing. She made learning math seem easy. I’m not sure that I aced the class, but I learned more than I ever had in high school. But the information didn’t stick with me because I never needed to use it again.

Years later when I went back to school, math was one of the required courses for the degree I was pursuing. But I had to take a placement test to determine my proficiency level. It was maybe a fifteen question quiz. When I took my finished quiz to the proctor, she started grading it. Then she looked at me and said that I must have mixed up the answers to the questions. I said no, I didn’t and walked out. I knew I would have to take the most remedial math class that was offered before I could take the one math class required for the program.

I began the class. The instructor was good. He explained things well. I thought I was catching on, but then I would go home and start on the homework. I wasn’t keeping up with the work. My math knowledge had reached its limits. I quit the class and the school. Years later, I opted for another school and degree that didn’t require math.

From my failed math experiences, I learned that I need a math instructor who keeps things simple and uncomplicated. If I had had that type of instructor in high school, perhaps I would have been able to go further in my “new math” skills. But ever since then, I’ve opted for a life without the requirements of too much math, and I’ve survived just fine. And I’ve decided that if math becomes a requirement in my life, the key for my success is having the right instructor. I need someone who is patient and keeps the instructions clear and simple.

I realize that math proficiency is not related to only the instructor. It lies with me, too. And I realized many years ago that math just isn’t my strong point. And I’m fine with that. But I do need to have math skills in order to be proficient in this life, whether I like it or not. It’s up to me to take the initiative to learn the basics and apply them to the areas of my life where arithmetic is needed. I can’t slough off on it just because it’s not one of my strengths.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalms 25:4-5

Life can teach us hard lessons if we live a hard life. If we always seem to go against the teachings of those in authority, we can end up in tough life lessons. And it’s not really necessary, but we do it to ourselves because we think we know best.

The same can be said for our spiritual lives. We want what we want. And we don’t want God telling us what we can and can’t do. We want to set the rules for how we live our lives. And we let our social influences lead us. Even when they lead us down a dark and winding path that moves us further from God, we seem to follow blindly.

Oh. We may think we’re following God because, after all, we’re Christians. We go to church. We give money to the church. We may even volunteer to work in different ministries in the church. But we may find ourselves following the latest spiritual leaders who aren’t leading us biblically. And we think they are because their teachings sound so easy to follow. They don’t require use to change to do anything uncomfortable or self-sacrificing. But when we don’t read and study God’s word, we can be easily led astray. It’s easy to trust anyone who tells us to do only comfortable things. But when we read the Bible and Jesus teaches us that those who call themselves his followers must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him, then we start squirming in our seats.

Just this week, I saw a conference posted online where speakers and pastors were teaching other pastors unbiblical lessons. And then those pastors will go back to their churches and possibly teach their congregations these same unbiblical lessons. What is going on?

The only instruction that believers can trust is Scripture, which was inspired by God who doesn’t lie. He doesn’t bow to the latest fads. He doesn’t show favoritism. He offers full and complete forgiveness when we confess and repent of our sins. He instructs in the way we should live. He corrects us. He shows love and justice to everyone, regardless of the color of our skin or our birthplace.

Oh sure. We need others to come alongside us to mentor and disciple us. We need pastors who speak solid biblical truths preaching to us from the pulpit every Sunday. And then we must read and study the Word of God and apply it to our lives. There’s no way around this requirement, because it’s the only way we get to know God.

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. Matthew 7:15

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 2 Peter 2:1-2

God’s instructions are straightforward, not complex. The ten commandments clearly tell us how to live. The Sermon on the Mount spells out the gospel of holy living in clear and concise words. Jesus didn’t beat around the bush when he preached to the multitudes, and those same simple words of instruction are given to us today to hear and obey. And every word written in that precious Book leads us to God. The story of salvation is not rocket science, and it’s definitely a math assignment. No one needs an advanced degree to understand it. The homework given to us is to obey the message of Jesus and embrace a life of repentance and forgiveness and then walk in obedience.

As Oswald Chambers says, if God speaks to us then we either do what he asks or tell him that we will not obey. We’re more than happy to listen to what other people say about God. We just don’t want to hear from God directly, because then we have a decision to make. And if the decision to obey God may cost us something more than we’re willing to give, we turn in the opposite direction. As a pastor recently said, there is a point of no return, and it’s either at our last breath or at the second coming of Jesus. Let’s not wait too late to make the decision to follow Christ.

Kindness is Refreshing

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The apostle Paul wrote a personal letter to a fellow believer and friend, Philemon. Now Philemon was a slave owner in the times of the early church. Paul also mentioned Apphia and Archippus in the letter. Scholars have noted that these two were most likely the wife and son of Philemon. This family had a slave named Onesimus, who had run away from their home. This, of course, was very upsetting to the family for various reasons. And somehow in running from his master, Onesimus found his way to Paul. And Paul learned to love this runaway slave as his own son. Somewhere in his life, Onesimus had become a follower of Christ. Was it because of his master’s Christian witness, or was it from Paul’s?

But matters needed to be settled between the slave and his master. Onesimus couldn’t keep running forever, so Paul wrote to his friend Philemon with the hopes of making amends for this errant slave. No one knows why Onesimus ran away. Was he mistreated? Or misunderstood? Was he dishonest or difficult to work with? It could have been that he just longed for freedom. But in those days, punishment for a runaway slave was not pleasant.

Onesimus had wronged his master. But Philemon was known as a kind man. His reputation was one of kindness. So he must have been disappointed, to put it mildly, to find his slave had betrayed his trust. And now his friend Paul was asking him to accept Onesimus back in the spirit of kindness. Could he make amends with the one who had wronged him? Would he? 

I have to ask myself how I would treat someone who had publicly wronged me. Because it wasn’t as if losing a slave was a private matter. Word gets around when a slave goes missing. Some owners might bend to threatening their slaves in case they get the same idea and there’s a made rush for freedom. 

What is the proper thing to do if the slave comes back seeking restitution?

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Am I known for kindness? Do I always offer the hand of kindness when I have been wronged? Would my first instinct be to play the victim and then speak ill of the offender? Or would I instead speak of their positive traits that I appreciate? Would I dredge up all the inconsistencies I’ve seen in their life or share the good I witnessed? Would I keep my thoughts to myself or would I share every dirty secret I know about the traitor?

When I am remembered by others, what do they remember? Is it my sharp tongue? My art of putting others in their place? Or am I fondly remembered for my kindness? Do others consider the kind deeds I’ve performed in their time of need? Do they know of my goodness and not only my badness? Not that my reputation is of necessity, but as a known follower of Christ, how do I represent the one I claim to represent?

The thing is. Paul expected Philemon to kindly welcome Onesimus back home. Oh. Maybe there would be restrictions on his freedom. There would most likely be a time of testing. But it was clear that Paul’s expectation was that Onesimus would be welcomed with outstretched arms. Philemon’s reputation preceded him, as he was known for his deep faith in Christ. Paul knew Philemon’s faith was proven and true and that it had produced in him the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is kindness. Philemon bore the image of Christ. And didn’t Christ tell us to forgive others as we have been forgiven for our sins? So wouldn’t it be natural to expect Philemon to forgive his disobedient servant? He had shown kindness to others in times past. Why not now?

Oh. No one said it would be easy to forgive a wayward slave. But as one whose faith in Christ had matured, Philemon knew the value of forgiveness. He knew the saving work of grace in his life, so why wouldn’t he extend it to others? As the Holy Spirit had worked to trim the unproductive vines in his life, he had become a solid example of Christlikeness to others. Now he must act on it.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:22-26

Are the fruits of my faith and love on display for others to see? Do others know that I’ll treat someone who’s wronged me with forgiveness? Or, do they wonder how I’ll handle this obstacle in my life? Am I consistent in my faith, or do I act on my feelings and fears? Do I hold a grudge, or do I hold my faith strongly? No one knows our hearts but God, until we act publicly on our heart’s leanings. Then our true nature is on display for all to see.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:6-7

Hearts are unknown but to God, till overt acts discover them. Matthew Henry