Monthly Archives: March 2009

Paid in Full

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“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”1

I have read how when the books of a certain Scottish doctor were examined after his death, it was found that a number of accounts were crossed through with a note: “Forgiven—too poor to pay.” But the physician’s wife later decided that these accounts must be paid in full and she proceeded to sue for money. When the case came to court, the judge asked but one question. Is this your husband’s handwriting? When she replied that it was, he responded: “There is no court in the land that can obtain a debt once the word forgiven has been written.”

One of the problems common to many—if not most—of us is that we find it very difficult to forgive someone whom we feel has hurt us deeply.

The good news is that when we confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness, he forgives us totally and absolutely. He does this not because he ignores the just penalty for our sins, but because in his everlasting love for us he gave his Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty for us through his death on the cross. Because Jesus paid our penalty for us, God can now write across our debt, “Forgiven—too poor to pay.” And he wipes out our debt forever!

If we have confessed our sins to God and asked for his forgiveness, we need to accept his forgiveness by faith—regardless of how we feel. However, if we still don’t feel forgiven, we need to deal with the problem of false guilt and/or shame. I have addressed this problem before but will do so again in the next Daily Encounter. In the meantime be sure to thank God regularly for his forgiveness regardless. And because God forgives all of our sins and wrongs, we need to forgive all who have wronged us. As we have said before, “Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for all you have done for me in giving your Son Jesus to pay the penalty for all my sins. In confessing my sins to you, I thank you for your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to be as forgiving to others as you have been and are to me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: If you have never received God’s forgiveness, for help be sure to read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. 1 John 1:9 (NIV).

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Fear Vs. Love

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“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”1

As we noted in Friday’s Daily Encounter some unresolved fears from the past can cripple us and hinder or even block us from becoming and doing all that God envisioned for us to be and do. While it is true that perfect love casts out fear, unresolved fear can block out love.

For example, in today’s world untold numbers of people are being terrified through abuse of one sort or another. Think of the terror of those living in war-torn places where parents are killed, children are left homeless, women are raped, and homes are destroyed. Think, too, of the children who are abused—physically, emotionally, and/or sexually in every society. Unless these fears and terrors are confronted, dealt with and resolved, a person can be greatly limited or even left emotionally handicapped in adult life by these hidden tormentors.

To be made perfect in love, it is imperative that these hidden tormentors be confronted and resolved. I wish I had a simple, easy answer for resolving these fears but I don’t. I can only talk realistically from my own experience. Because of a terrifying experience in early childhood I was left with a buried terror which caused me to unconsciously run from love much of my life.

At the risk of being repetitious, here’s how I overcame my deep seated fear. In my loneliness and despair I literally begged God to confront me with the truth and reality of what I was contributing to the situation I was in. Almost immediately I saw how codependent I was which had caused me to mistake need for love. I then came to the realization that I had been running from close relationships all of my life for fear of being hurt again. Once I saw and admitted my problem, I was able to realistically ask God to lead me to the help I needed to overcome my problem. The answer didn’t come easily but I was determined with God’s help and to do what I needed to do (get in depth therapy) to overcome my fear—otherwise I knew I would be running from love for the rest of my life.

What others do to hurt us is their problem. How we react is our problem and our responsibility to overcome it. So the first step in overcoming our fears is learning to pray the right prayer; for it is only when we admit and own our problems that we are in a position and open to receive help from God or anybody else.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see any fear in my life that is blocking out love. Give me the courage to confront it and lead me to the help I need to overcome it so I can be made perfect or complete in love. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For further help read, “How to Pray Effectively” at: http://tinyurl.com/kb62w

1. 1 John 4:18 (NKJV).

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Faith Vs. Fear

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“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”1

Nelson Mandela may be a controversial figure to some but I think you will agree with what he said when quoting Marianne Williamson (I believe it was) in the following: “Playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within you. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as you let your own light shine, you unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As you are liberated from your own fear, your presence automatically liberates others.”

I don’t know whether we are ever totally liberated from fear in this life;for fear seems to be inherent in all of us to some degree. And while faith in God doesn’t guarantee freedom from fear, it does empower us to defuse fear’s control over us and free us to achieve all that God has envisioned for us to do and achieve.

Think again of the heroes of faith in the Bible—faith empowered them to do what God had called them to do. God’s Word says about them: “By faith Noah … By faith Abraham … By faith Isaac … By faith Jacob … By faith Joseph … By faith Moses … By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land … By faith the walls of Jericho fell … By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets … conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”2

True…some unresolved fears from the past can cripple us but these, too, through faith, doing our part, and God’s help can be overcome. We’ll address these in Monday’s Daily Encounter.

While only a few may be called to do great things for God, all of us are called to bring glory to God through what we do. To achieve this we need faith. And faith is a choice…it is a choice to put our trust in God (regardless of our fears) and to do what David chose to do. He prayed to God, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you … in God I trust.”

When our time on earth is done, may it also be said of you and me, “By faith _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (put your name in the blank space) walked with God and achieved….”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, today I choose to trust my life to you. Help me to know what you want me to achieve with my life and give me the faith to do it—and the faith to not allow any of my fears to control me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 56:3-4, (NIV).

2. See Hebrews 11.

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The Power of Faith

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“According to your faith be it unto you.”1 This is what Jesus said to the blind men whom he healed.

I believe it was Napoleon Hill who said, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe can be achieved.” I wouldn’t necessarily accept this statement in totality, but there is a lot of truth in it. The idea of course wasn’t original with Hill by any means in that it is very much akin to what Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you.”

Certainly we need to be realistic and not overestimate what God will do through us, but it’s equally important not to underestimate it either. It all depends on what God has called us to do.

John Kennedy and NASA scientists not only conceived placing a man on the moon but believed it was possible and were in a position to make it happen. And they did. According to my interests, knowledge, and training it would not have been possible for me to be a part of that team. So, obviously we need to be realistic about what we conceive. However, it is amazing what God can and will do through anyone who is totally committed to him. He’s not going to call most of us to walk on the moon, but he is calling every one of us to walk worthy of him on the earth and to achieve all that we are meant to be and to do.

That’s the challenge we all need to face and accept…then add a good dose of faith in God and you and I can also be among the heroes of faith as listed in the Bible.2 These heroes were ordinary men and women who knew what they were meant to do—and by faith in and help from God they did it.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please show me how I can best serve you and exactly what you want me to do with my life—be it large or small. And give me the faith to do it. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 9:29 (KJV).

2. See Hebrews 11.

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Wants Vs. Wishes

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“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, “After many years of counseling and prayer for help, my brother who has been a Christian for many years can’t seem to let go of his emotional problems and failures. Is there anything I can say to help him forgive himself? What might be holding him back from finding healing and freedom?”

There may be any of a number of reasons why this man seems to be “stuck” in his situation. One may be that deep down he doesn’t want to get well.

According to reports I have read from both a Christian and a secular source, of all the people who go to a counselor or physician saying they want help approximately 25 percent actually don’t want to get well. Some of these people like to feel sorry for themselves and get some kind of satisfaction from seeking sympathy. A further 50 percent expect the counselor or physician to heal them. Only 25 percent actually take responsibility for doing what they need to do in order to get well. One physician said that some patients would rather he operate on their body than they operate on or change their lifestyle!

Many of us say that we want to lose weight, too, but do little or nothing about it. What we do is confuse a wish for a want. It’s one thing to wish for something, it’s another thing to want it.

As Jesus said to the sick person, “Do you want to be made well/whole?”

To be made well/whole, I need to be committed to being made well/whole and accept responsibility for doing whatever I need to do in order to get well. I can pray forever about losing weight but if I don’t watch my diet and get sufficient exercise, it’s not going to happen. And if I cling to my grudges and refuse to forgive all who have hurt me, I won’t get well either.

True, some ills and miserable circumstances are beyond our control but there are many that we can do something about ourselves. Yes, pray for wisdom to know what to do, for truth to see what we need to do, for courage to do it, and for God to lead us to the help we need to overcome. When we do our part, we can be sure that God will do his.

The bottom line is do we truly want to be made well/whole—or do we just wish for it?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to accept responsibility in every adverse situation that comes my way. Besides trusting in you, help me to see what I can and need to do to make healing and wholeness possible. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 5:5-6 (NKJV).

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IDD

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“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”1

Ours is a day filled with numerous abbreviations: In computer talk we have: RAM, KB, MB, GB, ISP, HTML, PHP, IE, Etc. In the recovery world: AA, CODA, SAA, etc. And in psychological circles: OCD, ADD, DID, etc.

I heard about a new one (at least it’s new to me) in an article by Otis Young. It’s IDD, and stands for Integrity Deficit Disorder (not to be confused with the medical term, IDD, which stands for Iodine Deficiency Disorder).

As Young put it, “A person who is afflicted with this disorder knows what’s right but doesn’t follow through and do what’s right. He or she makes a promise or commitment, and then fails to keep it. Thus when you meet a person with integrity deficit disorder, you’re never quite sure if you can trust that person or not.”2

IDD people make excuses for why they didn’t do what they said they were going to do. They fail to accept personal responsibility and blame the weather, circumstances and especially others for their failures and the problems they have. They are defensive and hide behind a mask of superficiality, saccharine sweetness, religiosity, negativism, and/or phoniness. They refuse to take a good hard look at themselves and are masters of self-deception. Many IDDs believe the lies they tell themselves.

IDD is not a mental illness. It is a choice—a sinful choice. As God’s word says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please deliver me from the sin of IDD and help me to be a man/woman of integrity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. James 4:17 (NIV).

2. Rev. Otis Young, “Integrity Deficit Disorder.”

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Moral Relativism?

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“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”1

Brett Blair wrote, “A few years ago … [Mr. X, a well-known media personality] made headlines when he said the Ten Commandments were obsolete. He went on to say, ‘We’re living with outmoded rules. The rules we’re living under are the Ten Commandments, and I bet nobody here even pays much attention to ‘em, because they are too old. When Moses went up on the mountain, there were no nuclear weapons, there was no poverty. Today, the Ten Commandments wouldn’t go over. Nobody around likes to be commanded. Commandments are out.’

“Mr. X then modestly offered his own version which he called the ‘Ten Voluntary Initiatives.’ … Listen to his first two: #1, ‘I promise to love and respect planet Earth and all living things on the earth, especially my fellow species.’ Not bad. #2, ‘I promise to treat all persons everywhere with dignity, respect and friendliness.’ What was intriguing about this second Initiative was that he violated it a few minutes later by bashing Christians. He called us losers and bozos. He later apologized.”2

Could you imagine the State calling the laws of the road: “Voluntary Initiatives”? Half of us would be dead or maimed for life already.

Some time ago someone said the following about Nietzsche who declared that God was dead:

Nietzsche: “God is dead.”

God: “Nietzsche is dead.”

Mr. X will also go the way of all such “prophets” as will all who discard the Ten Commandments and God’s universal moral laws.

In America today (as in many other parts of the world) many “believe that there are no ‘moral absolutes.’ Many hold to a philosophy of ‘moral relativism.’ One poll found that 67% of Americans do not believe in moral absolutes. Among ‘Baby Busters’, those born between 1965 and 1983, the percentage was even higher at 78%. Even 62% of professing Christians said that there was no absolute standard of right and wrong.3

We have taken God’s Word and prayer out of our schools. Many are trying to do away with and prohibit any public display of the Ten Commandments. Others are determined to take the words “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance. These same people sarcastically ask Christians when we see senseless violence, random shootings, vicious killings, and acts of terrorism, “Where is your God now?”

God is where he always was and is. It is we who have left God and discarded his commandments, and we are reaping what we have sown.

“James Madison, the 4th President of the United States said this, ‘We stake the future of this country on our ability to govern ourselves under the principles of the Ten Commandments.’”4

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for all your commandments and your universal moral laws which are for our safety, protection, and survival. Help us as a nation to see that we have sown the wind and are reaping a whirlwind. Please have mercy on us and send us a great awakening and a revival of the Spirit that we so desperately need. And start you work in me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 1:7-8 (NIV).

2. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, Oct. 2002. Adapted from a sermon by Dr. David E. Leininger.

3. Alan Carr, Sermon: “Ten Commandments.” From www.eSermons.com.

4. Ibid.

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Criticize by Creating

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When God called Moses to deliver the ancient Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, “Moses answered, ‘What if they [the Israelites] do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The LORD did not appear to you”?’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The LORD said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.’”1 This was to confirm to Moses that God was the miracle worker and Moses only God’s agent.

On one occasion, I believe it was to the evangelist Dwight Moody, a woman said, “Mr. Moody, I don’t like the way you do your evangelism.”

To which Moody replied, “I don’t particularly like the way I do it either. How do you do it?”

The lady replied, “I don’t do it.”

“Well I like the way I’m doing it better than the way you’re not doing it,” Moody answered.

Moody’s answer may have been somewhat blunt but he made a good point. In more youthful days I was invited to a planning session for the college-age youth group in the church I was attending at the time. They asked for my opinion about what I felt was not working and how their program could be improved. I said, “I don’t feel I have a right to criticize if I am not willing to do something about it.” So guess what? I was made the new program director!

It’s very easy for all of us (including myself) to sit back and criticize our group, church, politicians, leaders, etc., etc., and not do anything about it.

Michelangelo had a great answer. He said, “Criticize by Creating.” True, most of us will never be a Michelangelo and none of us can do everything—but every one of us can do something no matter how small to help the world we live in become a better place in which to live.

And none of us will ever be called to do what God called Moses to do. But in essence God says to every one of us: “What is that in your hand?” That is, “What ability do you have?” Whatever it is, God wants and expects us to use it to serve him—and we serve him by serving others.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the gifts and abilities you have given to me. Help me to know what they are and find a place to use them in loving service to you and others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Exodus 4:1-2 (NIV).

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Something Beautiful

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“‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”1

In the country of Thailand is a statue of the Buddha that is ten feet tall and made of solid gold. Estimates of its worth range around $200 million. But for many centuries, no one knew this statue’s worth. When the Burmese invaded Thailand many centuries ago, it is believed that the Thai villagers covered the Buddha statue with layers of mud so that the Burmese wouldn’t steal it. It wasn’t until 1957, when workers tried to move the statue to a new location that the mud began to fall away and reveal the true nature of the statue. For centuries, no one had known its true value.2

True, this statue of Buddha, while of great monitory value, in and of itself is worse than worthless in spiritual value; for the only one who can ever forgive sins and grant eternal life and a home in heaven is Jesus Christ.

However, what happened to this statue is a vivid illustration of what God can do for you and me. He sees beyond our outer covering and can take a sin-scarred life—no matter what shape or condition it is in—and make something beautiful out of it if we will come to him through Jesus and surrender our life to his will and control. As Jesus said, “Whoever desires may come to me.”1

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you look beyond my outer appearance and see the value of my soul and spirit and have a wonderful plan for MY life. I come to you today and surrender my heart and life to you. Please make something beautiful out of my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: If you would like to recommit your life to Jesus Christ, you can do so at: http://tinyurl.com/pgntm.

Or if you have never made a first time commitment to Christ, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Revelation 22:16-17 (NKJV).

2. Doug McIntosh, Love Full Circle (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 76-77.

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The Best Policy

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“You may be sure that your sin will find you out.”1

Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. “I really need a bit more chicken than that,” she said. “Do you have any larger ones?”

Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. “This chicken weighs one pound more,” he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, “Okay. I’ll take them both.”2 Don’t you just love it?

Honesty is still the best policy—and we can be sure of this, our sins/lies will find us out—even if it is eventually!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to always be honest with myself, with you and with others in all of my dealings. Please forgive me where I have sinned and, wherever possible, help me to put right any wrongs that I have done to others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For further help read the article, “Forgiveness: The Power That Heals” at: http://tinyurl.com/3bw3q3.

And, if you have never received God’s forgiveness, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian (without having to be religious) at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. Numbers 32:23 (NIV).

2. Charles Mims, Sermon: “Morality and Integrity in Society.”

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