GREENE STREET LETTERS: Love And Forgiveness

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Love And Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

I Corinthians 13:4
.....Love keeps no record of when it has been wronged.

For some reason during my Bible time yesterday these two verses met head on in a collision. We are told in Matthew to forgive and receive forgiveness. Receiving for our sins and giving for those who have sinned against us. This forgiveness includes the act of forgiving ourselves for all the destruction and pain we have caused because of our addiction.

I have some who say they can never forgive themselves and what they have done to the families. But at the same time, they make reference to being a loving person. They refer to the love of God that dwells within, but according to I Corinthians.....love keeps no record of wrongs. Do you see the problem here?
We don't and can't forgive...........either ourselves or others, yet we lay claim to the idea that we can love as Jesus loves. If the Holy Spirit of God is in us, then all claims to unforgiveness has to be turned loose of. Unforgiveness and the presence of God will not dwell together. The greatest act and present ever given to fallen man was wrapped up in the death and resurrection of Jesus. IF anyone had a reason to not forgive, I think it would be Jesus. All the humiliation and pain and suffering he endured finding its completion on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. There, on that cross, Jesus said the most incredible words ever recorded............"Father! Forgive them............they don't know what they are doing." Love and forgiveness coming together to create the ultimate divine ripple that has passed down through the ages, not loosing power........not loosing purpose. The love and forgiveness that is poured out on every generation. Some accept this incredible gift. Some reject it. But it is there! The invitation has not slackened or become irrelevant. That is why we can scream with incredible joy...."UNTO US IS BORN A SAVIOR, CHRIST THE LORD!

Merry Christmas!
Michael and Vicki Bynum

1 comment:

Bobby said...: Thanks for that Gospel message...we need to hear it everyday!; December 7, 2011 at 8:25 AM

Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Love And Forgiveness

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD