| Author |
Message |
Doug222 (Doug222)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 11:02 am: |     |
Lisa,
One other thing you might want to consider is the comment Jesus made in the Sermon on the Mount when he said that "except your righteousness exceed that of the Pharisees, you will never see the Kingdom of Heaven." The Pharisees were "experts in the law." Paul, who was a Pharisee himself, said that when it came to lawkeeping, he was second to none." Lawkeeping has never been the issue. It has always been faith in what Jesus would do and has done for us.
In His Grace
Doug |
Janice (Janice)
| | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 3:13 pm: | |
That's a good thought, Doug. I have read all the posts concerning this newspaper reply and after reading everyone's comments, it is like you said, too much of a good thing is sometimes overwhelming. I find myself so guilty of jumping from one thought to another and that is why I keep suggesting the web site www.rbc.org for all the informative books online because they are so good at keeping with the topic at hand and don't do like I do with all my posts. The preacher calls it "chasing rabbits" and if you have ran rabbits with beagles like my husband is always doing, watching them opens your eyes as to the analogy, a rabbit will always back track and run circles around a dog and when a dog is sniffing the trail of a rabbit, the dog can get confused if it can't distinguish between the hot trail and the cold trail which makes it hard to keep on the "right track" of the rabbit. That is what I do, I run after one thought and then back track or get off on the wrong track. I will try to improve in my approach on any given topic and try to break down my posts into separate units for the different topics that I read on instead of trying to preach one long winded sermon.
Thanks for that insight.
Janice |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 1:18 pm: | |
Just say this and thought it might fit good under this post:
Jesus at the window
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods. He practiced in the woods but he could never hit the target. Discouraged, he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just on an impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile only to see his sister watching.
Sally had seen it all but she said nothing. After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." But Sally just smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"
So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But, because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
Thought for the day:
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done that the enemy keeps throwing in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.); whatever it is, you need to know that Jesus Christ was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.
He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that He not only forgives you but He forgets. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today. Share this with a family member or friend.
Remember that Jesus is at the window.
I am so glad that Jesus rescued me from slavery, Carol |
Doug222 (Doug222)
| | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 1:39 pm: | |
Great story Carol. The version of it I heard has Sally attempting to extort Johnny once again, and the freedom he experienced as he told her that she no longer had any power over him because he had already confessed it to Grandma.
Since Lisa has probably pretty much finished her response already, maybe this is a good time for a spin off discussion. In practical terms, what does it mean to confess and to repent? I think this may have been at the heart of Bob's initial comment about the editorial?
Do you mean to tell me that all Johnny had to do was to go tell Grandma that he had killed her duck?
In His Grace |
Gracehound (Gracehound)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 6:17 am: | |
Hi all,
I wanted to update you on where I finally ended up with regard to sending a response to the letter in the paper. Before the beginning of the weekend, I prayed about this response with my prayer partner. I also requested for you folks to remember me as well as another close friend and my brother to remember me in prayer.
Yesterday morning as I was having my private morning worship and I feel strongly that the Holy Spirit was directing me toward not sending a response, perhaps indicating that He's doing something else with this. Regardless, I have a distinct impression that it's not for me to respond.
One of the places I feel the Lord led me during that worship was to Proverbs 9:7-9 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning."
I did write my reply, and I'll share that with you below. There is a 200 word (with about a 100 word wiggle room) limitation to responses. The response I came up with even after all your help did not speak to me and only felt empty like I was just trying too hard. Then Sunday morning the Lord showed me this is His battle and not mine. I do want to thank everyone for their help though. If nothing else, this mans letter served to put me back into the word and no bad can come from that. Thanks again.
- - - - - - -
Drafted response not sent
- - - - - - -
Response to ëA 10-Point Check Listí Letter to the Editor from Thursday, February 27 2003 Edition:
Jesus illustrated that law keeping was not the issue when he said ìÖunless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heavenî. Pharisees were experts in the law. Paul, himself a Pharisee, said when it came to law keeping, he was second to none. Holding firm to what Jesus has done for us is the real issue. (Galatians is a great book to illustrate these points.)
Gal 3:24-25 explains the law was to lead us to Christ so we are justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. To use an analogyÖa sonogram image of a baby in the womb gives a good representation of what the child will look like. But once that child enters the world, the image in that snapshot pales in comparison to the reality of the child. The law also pales in comparison to the reality that is found in Christ. The reality of the law is found in Christ through His Holy Spirit.
When Christ died, he took our curse on himself. When we have faith and accept the gift of salvation, He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us where He writes the law on our hearts. If we need a checklist to measure our lives, I suggest Gal 5:22-23. ìBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.î |
Cindy (Cindy)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 7:05 am: | |
Dear Gracehound,
I liked your (not sent)letter--the analogy of the sonogram and the reality of a real baby was wonderful. Thank-you.
I, too, have a recent letter marked "not sent", although on a different topic. I find I can get in a state of unrest just trying to prove my rightness...and have to get back to really focusing on Jesus alone.
Grace always,
Cindy |
Pheeki (Pheeki)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 8:30 am: | |
Good response Gracehound. very succinct and to the point. I suspect someone will have taken him on...check the paper in a day or two and let me know.
I think I have had the same message lately. I have been trying desperately to get my point across about the Law to the Messianics (and my SDA brother) but it only frustrates me. We go in circles and the Holy Spirit has been trying to tell me to stop. Now that I have, I have a lot of peace. Funny, I thought I was doing God's will by debating with them...trying to show them the truth. I guess it isn't my job, it's his.
God bless. |
Another_Carol (Another_Carol)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 8:37 am: | |
Doug,
I think it was what happened in Johnny's heart. He wanted to be released from paying for his wrong doing and the only way to do that was to tell grandma thus no hold could be perpetrated on him and his heart was now *circumcised by the fact he took the inititive to do something about what he had done. And then when he found out that it had already been forgiven his heart was overwhelmed with compassion. What did Jesus say about compassion? Matthew 9:13
13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[1] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
[1]Hosea 6
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Merriam-Websters Dictionary Mercy
1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment <begged for mercy> b : imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion b : a fortunate circumstance <it was a mercy they found her before she froze>
3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress <works of mercy among the poor
I think for me this sums it up. God wants us to feel the same feeling Johnny felt when he found out that she already knew as she stood at the window and saw all that happened and had already forgiven him.
Johnny needed to repent to feel that mercy that his grandmother had for him. Jesus forgave, those who laughed at Him, who pushed the thorns in His head, who made Him carry His cross, who mocked Him and told Him to get off that cross if He was in fact Jesus, did he not? Or was that just some nice words He was using when He said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".
As long a human person believes that they can in fact affect their sinful nature and never understands that forgiveness that grandma had for Johnny, even before he asked, they will never understand God's compassion for us by sending His only begotten Son to take the place of sin for us especially when they try and mix our responsiblity with keeping the 10 commandments and believing in Jesus. Isn't that what all of Galatians is about? Not mixing law and grace. As 2 Cor. 3: 15 says
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
*circumcised: I think I am understanding something that for so long I have not understood about circumcism. It is the outward sign of obedience to God.
Our outward sign is repentance for which we receive assurance.
Main Entry: as·sur·ance
Pronunciation: &-'shur-&n(t)s
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : the act or action of assuring : as a : PLEDGE, GUARANTEE b : the act of conveying real property; also : the instrument by which it is conveyed c chiefly British : INSURANCE
2 : the state of being assured : as a : SECURITY b : a being certain in the mind <the puritan's assurance of salvation> c : confidence of mind or manner : easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty; also : excessive self-confidence : BRASHNESS, PRESUMPTION
3 : something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence <gave repeated assurances of goodwill>
synonym see CONFIDENCE
When we have that assurance as the definition says we have confidence.
Hebrews 4
16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
I have had this scripture on my refrigerator since this whole thing started with my son-in-law and might say I believe it 100%.
Comments anyone, Carol |
Doug222 (Doug222)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 8:44 am: | |
Gracehound,
I too think that it was the Spirit speaking to you through Proverbs 9. I thought you might be interested in hearing the same passage from "The Message:"
Quote:If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you'll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins. So don't waste your time on a scoffer; all you'll get for your pains is abuse. But if you correct those who care about life, that's different--they'll love it! Save your breath for the wise--they'll be wiser for it; tell good people what you know--they'll profit from it.
When we look at the life of Jesus, even He was judicious in his interactions. He was more than willing to counsel and teach the sick and the infirmed, but to the Pharisees, he said "its not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
I liked the spiritual way in which you decided how to approach this issue. By the way, I liked your response too.
In His Grace
Doug |
Gracehound (Gracehound)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 9:05 am: | |
Pheekie,
I think often times we try an take on the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting those of the truth with our 'knowledge' of what we have been convicted of. But it's only the Holy Spirit that can truly convict someone of the truth and only when they are ready to hear it. I did gain a great blessing by looking back into the word. It only served to reaffirm that I'm on the right track and so glad to be free. But I also feel that responding wasn't my place for this go round.
Doug 222,
Wow! (LOL, that's been going around lately) I really love the way 'The Message' put that verse. It took something that was very clear in the NIV that I use and turned it into a very vibrant picture using terminology that makes it come alive. I can't recall ever reading about being 'kicked in the shins' in my bible. If nothing else, you've got me seriously considering buying that version as well to add some additional flavor to my morning worship. I already refer back to the KJV when I want clarification on something, but it would be nice to add another translation (oops, paraphrase) into the mix to add some color to my worship on the days when that feels right. Thanks again to everyone for your feedback. |
Colleentinker (Colleentinker)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:57 pm: | |
Gracehound, good response, and I'm sure that you followed the Holy Spirit's leading by being silent. That's such an important point--I needed to be reminded of that text in Proverbs! Thank you!
Colleen |
Freeatlast (Freeatlast)
| | Posted on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 3:44 pm: | |
Gracehound, I am impressed by your restraint in view of how you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you. It is very tempting to feel that if you can just explain something to someone, it will result in understanding and acceptance. Reality isn't as neat & tidy however. Explanation doesn't guarantee understanding, and understanding doesn't even guarantee acceptance. Sometimes the best response to foolish words is to just let them hang out there and their foolishness will become readily apparent in time. Kind of like the old adage "give a fool enough rope and eventually he'll hang himself with it." You're not going to change this guy's opinion, only the Holy Spirit can do that. Discerning Christians will see this guy's theology for exactly what it is, pharisaical legalism. Undiscerning Christians will either be deceived by this, or the next deception that comes down the pipe. Maybe God wants you to simply keep up your grass-roots campaign of personal grace and growth going and let Him deal with the letter to the editor. |
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