The Pastor’s Pen

Amongst the many wonderful qualities of love, the apostle Paul tells us that; “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Here we see that patience grows out of love, it’s the product of love, and it’s the unavoidable and irresistible child of love.

Most of us can recognise impatience at work within the character of another person. They want what they want, and they want it now! Not so the child of God. That’s because patience trusts in God’s compassionate sovereignty rather than getting flustered with its inability to control life. Why, because patience expresses the character of the indwelling Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness etc.” (Galatians 5:22-23). It is He who enables us to “be patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12) as we persevere in trusting prayer and obedient behaviour.

God’s Word tells the full story

When reading the Bible, it’s not long before you see the Lord’s patience when dealing with belligerent humanity. We see God’s evangelistic heart evidenced as the apostle Peter explains; “God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared” (1 Peter 3:20). For 120 years Noah persevered as a preacher of righteousness on God’s behalf, while building the ark. Yet only eight people believed Noah’s warning and entered the ark’s safety. Meanwhile, the rest of humanity chose independence from God to their peril.

Patience is also evangelistic by nature because it’s focused on the spiritual wellbeing of its recipients and not simply on self-gratification. We read of this quality once again from Peter; “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:15). We’re grateful that due to the Lord’s patience “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalms 103:10 NIV). Evangelistic patience delays judgement, creating the opportunity for repentance. It also gives us believers more opportunities to persuade unbelievers to turn to Christ for salvation (2Co 5:11). In this evangelistic patience, we Christians praise God for His long suffering mercy!

We see this quality in the apostle Paul’s life, when he writes to exhort younger Timothy. He explained that he “was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16 NIV).

Patience invites today

My friend, do not take the Lord’s patience for granted. Just because you lived today basking in the Lord’s gracious patience, is no guarantee for tomorrow. The timeless cautionary of Hebrews 3:8; “do not harden your hearts” still applies today. With our propensity for standing critically apart from the Lord, in spite of His patience toward us, we should surrender to His loving kindness without delay.

As was proven in my life today, that common enemy of God and man; Satan, will employ all means possible to dissuade you from implementing any degree of faith and obedience in Christ. Surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ never comes easy, and will always be met with resistance. However, as Paul prayed; “that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:10-11).

I encourage you today; “admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

 

I encourage you to consider your soul

The human soul is almost never spoken of by the world. The media, public education, public health, and social media seem to have wished the soul into non-existence with their silence on the matter. However, God is not so easily silenced on this critical component of life.

Instinctively, we humans get hung up acquiring stuff. Accumulating things which we think will somehow benefit us and our descendants forever. Thankfully, Jesus correctly prioritised the value of stuff compared to the soul when He asked; “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Your soul is of infinitely greater value to God than any amount of money or possessions that you may accumulate in this short earthly life. The fact is; there is nothing in this world capable of securing a reservation for the eternal soul we possess.

Jesus Christ alone has paid the price on the cross of Calvary by purchasing the forgiveness required to set our souls free from the death penalty our independence and sins demand. The apostle Peter says that by believing in Jesus, you are “obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).

Soul Grown Belief

Belief goes like this; a repentant sinner turns to Jesus and attaches their affection wholly on the Lord. It’s as Jesus explained to the lawyer attempting to trick him; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Turning your life to live for Christ begins with the surrender of Heart, soul, and mind, to loving the Lord before all else. Faith engages our entire being for the purpose of living out the spiritual expressions of worship for which we were created.

Jesus warned that we should “not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Obviously, the soul is eternal, whereas the physical body is mortal and finite. Yet God has ultimate control over the destiny of both. Therefore, He is worthy of our utmost reverence as the one who oversees the course of our souls.

The apostle John recognised that at an earthy level, physical health is of no greater value than the soul. He prayed; “that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (3 John 1:2). John’s point is profoundly simple, yet easily missed. For the believer in Jesus Christ, the spiritual health of the soul sets the benchmark by which all other wellness in life is measured. The greatest events of life, even our emotional and physical health at their very best, can only ever achieve second place to the condition of our regenerated souls in Jesus Christ.

Faith recognises the importance of helping others to let the Lord cleanse their souls also. Evidence of an authentic faith is that “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Christians love others because their own souls have been purified by Christ. The challenge is to prevent our fleshly weaknesses from contaminating that which Christ has purified.

Today, I encourage you to consider your soul, and the souls of those you rub shoulders with.

 

I encourage you to be Christians who comfort for Christ

Comfort is such a wonderful capacity within the human heart. After all, we’ve been made in the image of God who is “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). It’s a soothing experience which affirms of the right, good, and lasting things in a relationship even while disaster may be happening. Comfort layers the realisation of peace, love, and personal acceptance upon the distressed soul.

Most of us, at some point, have appreciated the comfort of others; likewise we’ve appreciated the comfort Jesus Christ gives during great anxiety. However, as ambassadors for Christ, we Christians are “able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

During Job’s terrible time of misery, his 3 friends “made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him” (Job 2:11). Their intentions and motives were great, even if their words later fell short. Never-the-less, these friends started out doing something beautiful for their friend Job, who had lost everything within 24 hours. First, they recognised Job’s severe suffering. Second, they felt compassion and sympathy. Third, they put their sympathy into action by going to do something about it. Fourth, they didn’t simply barge in, they made an appointment. There are no bullies in God’s work of comfort. Fifth, they endeavoured to impart to Job forms of compassions which would ease his discomfort.

Here’s the distinguishing nature of godly comfort; while recognising that we may not be able to remove pain, we are able to help the troubled person to focus on the certainties they have in Jesus Christ. To assist them to bring to the forefront of their thinking that eternal nature of God’s promises and the life He has gifted them within Christ. King David said it like this; “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (Psalms 119:50).

David knew what it was to live in great happiness, and also to plunge into the depths of dark despair. Yet, even when he experienced the realities of isolation and loneliness, he still chose to fix his attention on the eternal and secure resources of God. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).

The fact is; God does not always remove suffering. But He does remain actively present in our lives during those times, even if we can’t perceive His presence. Like David, we can assure ourselves that in spite of how we feel; we don’t have to be overwhelmed by the fear of evil being done to us.  Our knowledge of the loving, eternal, and sovereign character of Almighty God is the source of soothing security during the greatest of pains (Psalms 119:76).

In our human relationships, disturbance is inevitable at some point. Yet, for the child of God, the pain of a damaged friendship is not the end. Rather, the believer sees the opportunity for the Lord to work His grace, to express His mercy in such a way that would influence the aggrieved person by God towards reconciliation. Comfort is not an end in itself, but it does honour God, sooth the afflicted, and create opportunity for restoration of relationships. “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

 

I encourage you to be cheerful in the Lord

King Solomon observed that “a glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed” (Proverbs 15:13). It’s a sad reality that so many people smile so little. However, what’s worse is that many people fail to see the many reasons we have to be cheerful, especially as the children of God!

Solomon realised life’s great variableness of circumstances, something we humans often struggle with. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” …”a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). We, like Solomon, are capable of experiencing the full array of life while responding appropriately, for the Lord’s glory, and our blessing.

The world typically pays more attention to a Christian’s extreme responses to life, like sadness and joy. While little or no attention is given to our mundane and flat-line responses. Therefore, as an effective evangelistic testimony, we should honour the Lord with our expressions of joy, gratitude, and cheerfulness. Even during times of great pain, the Holy Spirit enables us to distinguish our human struggle from our spiritual security and hope in the Lord, enabling a genuine degree of joy to be expressed in an authentic and appropriate manner.

The apostle James explains how we should respond to extremities; “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13). Just as seeking God’s mercy during times of suffering is the best action, so praising Him is the highest expression of cheer because; “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).

Realism is important

For the most part, cheer is a choice. One we believers are able to make because it is an intrinsic part of our faith character; “the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalms 68:3). Meanwhile, the apostle Paul explained to the Corinthian church the balancing factor of Christian reality. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

The fact is, “a joyful heart is good medicine,” (Proverbs 17:22) not only for ourselves, but also for those around us, permitting others to participate in the benefit of our joy in the Lord.

I encourage you today, choose to be cheerful in the Lord, and watch others receive the blessing.

 

 

I encourage you to forgive the unforgivable. 

Today I shall speak of those deepest pains which are often considered unforgivable.  When considering the severest hurts and the practical implementation of forgiveness, remember that forgiveness:

• Does NOT mean legal action should never be pursued. 
• Does NOT mean separation from a physically or emotionally abusive person should never happen. 
• Does NOT mean that restoration is always possible. 
• Does NOT mean that all moral and legal wrongs are completely overlooked and treated as if they never existed. This form of unbiblical passivity can lead to long term damage by a perpetrator who has no intention of stopping their abuse (Rom 13:3-4). 

Even when an abuser is forgiven, you may not necessarily allow that person back into your trust or even fully release that person from the legal consequences of their sin (Crime dependent) – Much wisdom from the Lord is needed in such cases. 
Unfortunately, some abusers are so twisted in their sin, that they view your forgiveness as an opportunity to abuse you all over again, or to gain access to other vulnerable people in your life. Forgiveness does NOT mean that you become a push over for anyone who wants to abuse you!

You see, forgiveness is not about getting personal justice, or vengeance, or even getting what you want.  It’s about personally expressing God’s character, while letting God be God when dealing with the offender. It’s about trusting God’s justice more than man’s justice – His mercy in place of man’s anger. 

Forgiveness is about setting the offender free from personal animosity and personally inflicted consequences. It’s about giving up your desire for your aggressor to hurt like you hurt. It’s about allowing God the freedom to save some offenders through salvation, should He choose – and NOT holding a grudge against God should He regenerate a sinner that has hurt you. 

First and foremost, a Christian is one who has already confessed (1Jn 1:9) and been forgiven of their sin (Col 2:13) before holy God, that humanly speaking was unforgivable! As a forgiven sinner yourself, you are now equipped to do the same (Rom 5:5; Col 3:13).

Below are 4 daily disciplines which will assist to empower forgiveness:

• Design and verbalise forgiveness into your daily prayers (Mat 5:44).
• Be willing and ready to forgive a repentant person, losing count of offenses (Luk 17:3-4). 
• Don’t let anger determine forgiveness (Eph 4:26).
• Resist gossip about and mentally replaying the offenses (Eph 4:31-32).

I conclude this mini-series with 6 practical characteristics of a forgiver from Romans 12:14-21

• Bless – do not return abuse.   :14 ”Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”
• Empathise with others.   :15 ”Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” 
• Live humility toward others.   :16 ”Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”
• Do not treat others as you are treated.   :17-18 ”Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” 
• Trust God’s Justice.    :19 ”Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”  (Deu 32).  
• Administer Mercy as God Does.   :20-21 “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Pro 25:21-22) 

Today, I encourage you to forgive the unforgivable, for God’s glory and everyone’s blessing.