Lincoln

I wish to encourage you to walk in mercy.

The psalmist declares that “the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalms 145:8-9). Job explained God’s impartial mercy to all mankind in that He “shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands” (Job 34:19).

Mercy is spoken of often in Scripture, mostly as integral to God’s holy character. Generally, mercy speaks of great compassion and deep love, agape styled love. In fact, biblical grace depicts that we who are underserving of God’s love have had mercy shown to us. God’s matchless love and His incomparable compassion motivated Him to sacrificially send His Son from Heaven, to an unworthy and rebellious world of sinners. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been save” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Walking in mercy begins with the Cross, walking/living daily in dependence upon “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). From that beginning of spiritual rebirth, God’s mercy is established in our souls as the only foundation on which His Holy Spirit builds our sanctifying relationship with the Almighty through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

As God’s people, we should be identifiable by God’s mercy. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart” (Zechariah 7:9-10). As recipients of God’s mercy, we are to “be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude 1:22-23). God’s mercy, through Christ, should impact us so noticeably that it transforms us to become with ever increasing intensity, believers who dispense mercy to others (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Our prayers should resound with humble certainty, as we “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The certainty of our eternal hope in Christ enables us to say; “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalms 23:6). Our faith clings to Jesus words; “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Mercy is not weak, it’s not a compromiser, its not indecisive or unreliable. Rather, mercy carries a heavenly focus, a divine reflection of Christ’s character for the purpose of His glory and pleasure. Mercy authenticates the believers evangelistic efforts as we tell the lost of the only compassionate Saviour this world shall ever know. Mercy seeks reconciliation of damaged relationships because mercy “is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Be encouraged today, reach out to God, grasp hold of His mercy found in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. Invite the Holy Spirit to make you a vehicle of His mercy for others who so desperately need to experience the soul saving grace of God!

 

I wish to encourage you to use past failings for Christ.

More often than not, we simply want to put our sinful failings behind us and move on with life. While that’s a good attitude to have, we often fail to see the opportunities Christ gives us, where we can use lessons gained from our failings for His glory and the benefit of others.

Scripture is rich with people who, like us, were repeat sinners, through whom God graciously worked to accomplish His will and purpose. Like many, the apostle Paul had a wicked past. Yet in Christ, he could say, “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul accepted his cleansing through faith in Christ’s substitutional death. Consequently, he looked forward to exalting Christ in the realisation of his past being left behind. Therefore, Paul put his past out of his cognitive thinking, allowing him to stride ahead for Christ more fully focused.

The apostle Paul, following a list of sinful people who will not inherit the kingdom of God, reminds us that; “such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Believers are sinners saved by grace, reborn, regenerated by the Holy Spirit. God cleansed us of past sin “by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Praise God for His grace and faithfulness that brought you out of past sin; “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

From failings you learn how you were led into temptation, and then seduced by sin. From that, you can form a strategy to prevent that particular stumbling reoccurring. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Part of God’s sanctification for you, is to wisely use the lessons gained in the Christian walk to serve others, for their strengthening. Past failings equip you for rescuing those presently caught in the same sin. Paul puts it plainly; “if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). This is how you can assist other believers from being side tracked from an obedient walk with the Lord. It makes you an effective discipler of other’s on Jesus behalf, maintaining the testimony of believers for Christ. But more importantly, it serves to strengthen the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sin is a messy business! Hypocrisy damages the individual believer, discredits the Body of Christ, and dishonours the name of God. As those who are growing in our faith walk with Christ as Lord, we need to persevere in upskilling ourselves against the seductiveness of sin. Don’t allow yourself, or anyone else, to hold you down in the mud of discouragement with false guilt over past failings and sin that you have repented of.

Today, be encouraged to use past failings for Christ’s glory, for strengthening others, and as a tool to share the gospel of Jesus Christ!

 

I wish to encourage you to surrender doubt to truth.

Matthew 28:17 records a peculiar occasion with Jesus’ disciples; “And when they saw him (Jesus) they worshiped him, but some doubted.” These eleven disciples were privileged beyond compare, learning under the Lord of Glory. And yet, they experienced that inner nonsensical nagging, that questioning for no good reason, heart driven doubt directed at Christ. How deceptive the human heart can be, to worship and doubt simultaneously (Jer 17:9).

Doubt can be an insidious thing, robbing us of certainty, stealing security, and thieving hope from us. Like the disciples, our fleshly hearts have the capacity to worship Jesus Christ while doubting. While there are many possible causes for spiritual doubt, the truth of Jesus Christ is the universal remedy (Jn 1:17, 14:6).

Lordship crushes doubt

In response, Jesus immediately presents these 11 doubting men with His ultimate doubt killer; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Absolute sovereignty! The resurrected, glorified Lord Jesus Christ is the highest, unequalled, unchallenged, and immutable authority in all realms and spheres. The apostle Peter states it this way; “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (1 Peter 3:21-22). Therefore, we believers embrace this fact. We trustingly surrender our thinking and beliefs to this biblical truth – Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords!

That being said, Matthew records Jesus moving these 11 disciples attention directly onto His multi-generational instruction with surgical precision. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). By design, we Christians experience our fulfilled purpose in Christ once we go, serving Christ in His mission. It is at this point that we experience more fully the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ with doubt crushing impact. Once we are active in the discipleship of others on behalf of Jesus Christ, doubt is weakened.

Fulfilment, assurance, security, satisfaction, joy, dignity, and peace are experienced with a lethal blow to doubt, once the child of God unites with Christ’s program. Discipleship alone carries the certainty of sovereign authority, eternal purpose, and providential inevitability. Plus, discipleship is uniquely approved by the Son of God with His assurance of divine presence.

What blessed people we are? What a high calling we have? That we redeemed sinners should be reborn to such a divinely noble task as teaching others the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord!

God’s weapon against doubt

The apostle John records Jesus telling some ”Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). To be a discipler, a teacher of Jesus, we are to be specifically engaged in teaching God’s Word (The Bible) to those who say they believe in Jesus (Jn 17:17). The assurance is given to those who genuinely believe, for those who abide, who remain connected to and embedded in God’s Word, the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord will spiritually set you free. Doubt is obliterated when truth is believed in and surrendered to with no intention of taking back control.

Today, surrender any doubts to the truth of Christ in God’s Word, and get involved in planting that truth in other’s lives.

 

Be encouraged to mutually reverse conflict in your marriage.

The Christian couple is able to counter the causes of conflict, allowing marriage as God designed it by mutually obeying God’s Word. First, recognise that marriage is to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church (Eph 5:23-24). Likewise, realise that sin does NOT have to be the prevailing wind in your marriage. In Christ, we are free to live God’s way (Rom 8:1-2). Following are 5 principles that will allow two soft hearts to unitedly experience marriage as God intended.

• Mutually submit to each other within your unique roles.

  The apostle Paul details in Ephesians 5:21-30 that mutual submission is the foundation of marriage, practiced as an expression of respect for Christ as Lord. While all men are the wife’s equals, only her husband is spiritually head of the family. The husband’s headship is to be characterized through leading by humble, self-sacrificing servitude as he establishes the spiritual headship and authority of Christ in the family.

• Mutually pursue reconciliation.

  When sin or offense is present, and the guilty person turns from their wrong, “you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him” (2Co 2:7-8). To reconcile is to love, to love is to forgive, to forgive is to confirm the authenticity of love.

• Mutually yield to love.

  Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 that we are to recognise the reality of sexual temptation. Be proactive against temptation by satisfying each other. Especially as husband and wife, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1Co 16:14). Endeavour to make life together an act of love in word, in body language, through intention, in your planning of events, and in speech.

• Mutually pursue truth.

  Truth is the foundation for trust. It builds trust, because trust is an expression of genuine love – to deny trust is to deny love. “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph 4:15). Truthfulness is not to be used as a weapon, or as an excuse to inflict pain, or to gain control. It’s not to be manipulative or self-seeking. Rather, “Love rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things” (1Co 13:6-7).

• Mutually commit not to fight.

  Passionate discussion can be healthy; however, anger turns it into a fight. Anger, grumbling and moaning, are inconsistent with the character of a Christian, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Php 2:14). Yet we so often excuse these painful qualities as mere personality traits. Quite likely, it’s selfishness. Conceit fighting to demand the submission of your partner to your way of thinking. Selfishness is the enemy of unity, and the causer of fights.

• Mutually don’t flirt with the enemy.

  “Abstain from every form (appearance) of evil” (1Th 5:22). It’s too easy for our conduct around others to suggest vulnerability; a suggestive smile, an inappropriate wink, immodest clothing, off-coloured jokes, or overly familiarised touching. Both husbands and wives are equally vulnerable to the inappropriate allurement of others. Protect and enhance the sanctity of your marriage by not emotionally or physically stepping outside of God’s boundaries. Remember, don’t punish your spouse when they share with you of their temptations – thank them for their honesty, integrity, and love.

Today, live as free people in Christ. Live for His glory, for the testimony of the church, for the expression of the power of the gospel, as witnesses to the authority of God’s Word, and for the blessing of your families.

 

I wish to encourage you to guard against conflict in your marriage.

For many newlyweds, it doesn’t take long for the honeymoon to wear off and a less favourable reality sets in. Traits and habits in each other that weren’t obvious in the past become a problem. While it takes two soft hearts to experience the dream marriage as God designed it, it only takes one hard heart to create conflict.

Sin’s Consequence in marriage:

Obviously, there will always be minor, inconsequential differences between spouses, but its sin that causes conflict and damage. From the beginning, when God administered judgment on Adam and Eve’s sin, we see the ugly reality of sin’s curse upon marriage. Genesis 3:16b ”Your desire (desire to master) shall be for your husband, and he shall rule (to make to have rule) over you” [Emphasis added]. Today, we still find these two sinful traits in marriage. Two spouses, both with an internal, and often unidentifiable desire to get one over the other. The unspoken desire is to master and rule the other through the small and large issues of life, often silent, yet powerfully undermining the other for dominance.

The Internal Seeds of Conflict:        

God’s Word gives us many warnings of the source of sin that damages relationships; these relate to marriage also and should not be ignored. Following are just five key passages which assist us to identify our internal causes of conflict, for which we are responsible.

• Internal passions that war within. James tells it the way it is, ”What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). Our self-centered desires will sooner or later lashes out in arguments. If unchecked, these can become a bloodthirsty war fueled by the blinding desire to have what it wants at any cost.
• Internal hostility toward godliness. Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the only hope of victory over “the mind that is set on the flesh (which) is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” (Romans 8:7). Sinful human desire will always lead away from a God honouring marriage.
• Internal Idolatry. It’s all too easy to become your own god through self-obsession. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Believer’s put their spouse before self as an expression of the Lord’s character within. Once self becomes primary, idolatry is established, and others must bow to it.
• Internal condemnation of others. Here’s where the flesh rages against the Holy Spirit. Sin empowers the critical heart. Instead, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Forgiveness and reconciliation is wonderful in marriage, but better still, is the absence of a condemning attitude which creates the need for reconciliation. Forgiveness is a powerful comrade of holiness and best expresses the gracious character of Jesus Christ.
• Internal antonyms of love. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

Today, tell your spouse of your unfailing love for them by guarding against conflict in your marriage. Our Heavenly Father will be glorified and your marriage will be blessed.