How do we respond?
I have often times stated in my preaching and teaching that it is not the actual circumstances of the trial that we are going through that are what is so important to God, rather it is how we respond and get through the trial that is truly important. For instance I was just reading a prayer request from a friend of mine who's mother had a heart attack and passed away. Dan was stating in his request he didn't know how to feel. He got to her house the day she passed and when he walked in the door he said he was overwhelmed by the fact that she was having the best day of her life. How so you say? She was a born again believer who was finally at home with the Lord Jesus. So Dan was sad that his mom was gone, yet happy for her at the same time - how do we respond?
Death is one that everyone of us will encounter in our lives. However an even bigger question is how do we respond when someone that we care about deeply has a moral failure? Another friend of mine who is a Pastor had a mentor that he truly loved and looked up to have a moral failure. This mentor of his had been caught in an adulterous affair with one of the women that attended his church. Years of mentoring and caring had taken place between these two men, yet here is the mentor falling into the very sins that he had cautioned the pupil against. To make it worse from many of the accounts that I have heard this Pastor/mentor has not yet repented of this moral failure, and is now in the process of divorce - how do we respond?
What about the person who is a leader in the church has a moral failure that they are repentant from? The person who didn't get caught in the failure, but came forward and admitted the failure. The person who came forward and said, "I have sinned in "x" manner, and I am sorry and want to turn away from that. I have to admit it and ask for your forgiveness as well as God's." How do we respond? Jesus told his disciples when they asked him how many times they should forgive the brother that sins against them and then asks for forgiveness. Jesus response was basically that we forgive them every time without keeping track. (Matthew 18:21-35) John tells us in 1John 1:9 that if we confess our sins to God he is faithful not only to forgive us of those sins, but also to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Basically God is saying that he accepts our apology and acts as though it never happened. Wow - what a love we have from the father, and if he responds that way to us then how should we respond in this?
How do we respond?
Death is one that everyone of us will encounter in our lives. However an even bigger question is how do we respond when someone that we care about deeply has a moral failure? Another friend of mine who is a Pastor had a mentor that he truly loved and looked up to have a moral failure. This mentor of his had been caught in an adulterous affair with one of the women that attended his church. Years of mentoring and caring had taken place between these two men, yet here is the mentor falling into the very sins that he had cautioned the pupil against. To make it worse from many of the accounts that I have heard this Pastor/mentor has not yet repented of this moral failure, and is now in the process of divorce - how do we respond?
What about the person who is a leader in the church has a moral failure that they are repentant from? The person who didn't get caught in the failure, but came forward and admitted the failure. The person who came forward and said, "I have sinned in "x" manner, and I am sorry and want to turn away from that. I have to admit it and ask for your forgiveness as well as God's." How do we respond? Jesus told his disciples when they asked him how many times they should forgive the brother that sins against them and then asks for forgiveness. Jesus response was basically that we forgive them every time without keeping track. (Matthew 18:21-35) John tells us in 1John 1:9 that if we confess our sins to God he is faithful not only to forgive us of those sins, but also to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Basically God is saying that he accepts our apology and acts as though it never happened. Wow - what a love we have from the father, and if he responds that way to us then how should we respond in this?
How do we respond?
posted by Pastor Jerry at
7:40 AM
2 Comments:
We are weak in our humanity but ever strong and powerful when walking in the Holy Spirit...we who are greatly indebted for our forgiveness should easily forgive. That means even if a person doesn't ask for it. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we accomplish this. When we are dead to self and alive to Him!!! There is nothing more wretched then the smell of decaying flesh - much better to be the fragrance of Christ! ~ Barbara M.
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Anonymous, at 9:06 AM
Jerry I just love to read your blog. YOu have to think!
Garold
Missionary to Kosovo
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Anonymous, at 10:04 AM
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