Devotions, Life

Revenge does not belong to me.

Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Revenge is an attitude the seems to permeate our culture. When we feel put upon, or canceled we quickly fall into response mode.  We want to react in to wreak vengeance upon the offender.  A simple sarcastic comment slips out of our lips or runs through our minds. Even occasionally even the most devout Christian has visions of due justice.  We want people to get exactly what they deserve.

God tells us we are not to seek revenge but submit these feelings to God and respond His way.  Jesus challenges His people to choose a different behavior when we are confronted with anger and want revenge. I must resist and convert my feelings of anger into attitudes of positive action.

Devotions

Forgiveness as Justice

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The closer the relationship and the stronger the offense, the more we MUST walk in forgiveness, compassion, and love. When we resist the urge to pay back evil for evil, God rewards with blessings.  Going the extra mile in Godly responses brings life instead of death.  Responding the way Jesus would promises blessings on you that will pour over on your household, relationships, marriage, in your work life, and in your church. 

Couching our lives to be more Christ-like is Justice.  Reacting to insults or offenses is a critical place to begin walking out our faith.  Imagine if your reputation at home, work, or your neighborhood was that of understanding, love, kindness, compassion, and humility.  People would trust and respect you more.  These characteristics open doors to all kinds of blessings in your life. 

Devotions

July is justice month Day 3

Hebrews 10:30

For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

There have been times when someone I love and respect simply lashes out with a hurtful comment or condemnation.  I am bruised and wounded.  How am I to understand the innermost feelings and pains of others?  I cannot come to an understanding of someone lashing out because of some perceived slight.  Justice is about mutual agreement.  An agreement between two people which have lived in two different lives.  I am not making excuses for bad behavior. I have no position of authority to pass judgement. I do not set the rules for you.  I hope you do not have a set of rules for me that is different than those who you hold yourself to. Please do not demand of me that which you do not exhibit and live yourself. Show to me they are better than mine. That is justice. Until that day, I must follow the expressed expectations in the will of God. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Just Larry

Uncategorized

“What shall we call Him?

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. – John 8:48-59

What is my identity? Who am I?  What is the adjective that describes my noun? I call myself “Just Larry”.  It is intended as a double entendre; a word or phrase that is open to two interpretations.  First, Just Larry as one of the multitudes, not much, not seen as important.  And second,  Just Larry as one justified by Christ, a child of the King, an heir to a kingdom, and loved and cared for by the Jesus.  One is filled with anxiety and fear.  The other one with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The only time he was ever stressed out was in the Garden when he struggled with his “Who I AM”. How did Jesus relax with the weight of humanity on his shoulders (literally)? Ultimately, He lived a life perfectly because he knew without doubt who he was. As Jesus said, “I AM the way the truth and the life.”  “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”

I know who I am because I believe in the Great I AM and that makes a difference.

What shall we call Him?  Jesus my example.

Just Larry.

Uncategorized

“What shall we call Him?”

1 Comment

I John 11-4  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you that we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I’m not much of a prayer warrior. Before you gather up your stones to throw at me, I do pray, I do lift up to God my life in expectation of change. But sometimes my requests are about control.  I want to control my circumstances and my plight by manipulation of God to do my bidding. My prayer requests seem to only be about things.  About things I cannot control.  I pray for healing; it is a great thing.  I pray for employment for my fellow travelers so there will be food on the table; good stuff and is sorely needed. I pray for church growth; cool beans, I like to be associated with something that is growing. But as I pray these things which I cannot control they seem to weigh upon me. I like control.  It is hard to “let go and let God.”

The uncontrollability of each situation speaks of my inability to do something about that situation. These uncontrollable things steal my temporary and fleeting happiness.  They make me sad. Prayer requests do not make me happy. Never-the-less, in the hope of joy, that innermost peace that only comes with God’s presence, I pray. I pray to bask in joy, the very evidence of God.  Until then I will pray without stopping.

What shall we call Him? Jesus the hearer of my prayers.

Just Larry.

Uncategorized

How was your hike!

John 15:16 You did not choose me, bit I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I grew up in the late 1950’s in a little town pushed up against the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally in the summer as the fog began to lift, I would walk the mile or so down to the beach. Across the dunes I would go. As my shoes would fill with sand, I threw stones into the ocean surges. An occasional starfish would wash up and I would throw it back in. I would walk the beach looking for sand dollars and castaway junk thinking I would find something of great value. Sometimes I simply did nothing but stare at the constantly breaking waves. Time seemed to stop and yet pass by quickly.  At the end of my walks was the realization I had to get back home. The urge of return was complicated because of two paths.

One path was a retracing of my steps back to home and probably chores. The other was to go over the dunes, along the school yard and cross a four-lane highway and show up at my fathers’ workplace.  He was a mechanic at a small local shop. “Hi dad, I hiked over to see how you are doing.” With a smile he pulled out a slightly greasy three wheeled stool, sat me down and gave me a soda. “How was the hike?”, he would ask. And I would respond with my usual, “good”.  He acted like he expected me. Not an overly emotional man, but I could tell he was glad I was there. To share a moment of quiet between father and son.

I am expected in another place someday.  And my heavenly father is expecting me. He may not have a greasy stool and a coke, and He may well ask me, “How was your hike?”. There will be a smile on his face because will be glad to see me.

What shall we call Him.  Jesus our expectant and emotional greeter.

Uncategorized

May is MERCY Month, INOGAM –“In Need Of Grace And Mercy”

Matthew 25:35-40,45.

I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. … Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’”

When I was 7 one of fondest memories was the seesaw.  We had four of them in the “little kids” playground at Marina Del Mar Elementary school.  Each was set in concrete in a dirty, sandy area. Each recess included running to this simple lever-based plaything.  The excitement was not in the contraption itself, but having someone to share the experience. It was a gleeful thrill to be raised up in the air with a little push.  Then came the dependency and the assurance of an equal push of your companion would bring me back down. Up and down, up and down, it was wonderful.  But the bell would ring and inevitably either I or my partner in joy would stepped off when at the bottom.  Down you would come with a great thump. We all have all felt the disappointment and pain of the bottom. Mercy is someone always willing to balance you.  Balance, that is mercy.

Uncategorized

May is MERCY Month, Day 5 INOGAM –“In Need Of Grace And Mercy”

Psalm 86: 1

You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

I look at my hands and see the years of use and abuse they have endured. Quite a few years back I was a meat cutter.  And I have the hands to prove it.  Scars of knife wounds and arthritis both point to the years of heavy and physically demanding work.  When I grab a rope to pull a tarp tight on my truck, one of my finger’s lock in a closed position of pain.   I am tired of the scars and injuries of the past dictating to my present. The pain of life is part of the mortal experience. Please Oh God grant me mercy for this day, to carry on, to be an example of perseverance.  Show me mercy and I will follow it all the days of my life.

Uncategorized

April is ASSURANCE Month, Day 29

God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10*

May a sweet feeling of assurance fill our hearts for a moment with a sweet glow. For a twinkling of an eye, we let that experience wash over us.  There have been events of blessing in my life.  They have happened in good time and in some not so good times. In these occasions I have given God all the glory.  But what about the in-between times? The very experience of God’s presence is not enough to keep me all the time.  I have discovered it is the assurance of faith that is the best of all.  It endures whether I am blessed or not. Assurance is the benefit of faith.  I live and breathe in the constancy of assurance. It is held on the level of perfection because it is bound on a promise of God who never changes.    

Uncategorized

28th day of assurance

April is ASSURANCE Month, Day 28When you were dead in your sins and in in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

Why was Jesus destined for the cross? Why would he submit his head to be crowned with thorns and his back bloodied? Why would a blameless and a perfectly loving person have to die? He submitted to it for me. It was so I can have my own personal shortcomings and willful disobedience separated from me. All that would weigh me down and slow me are rolled away. It is only at the cross where I can see the light of forgiveness and assurance.

The Study of God and Life