Isaiah

24
Dec
2019

God doesn’t hold grudges

Originally published on the Electric Gospel on February 25, 2017.
Author’s name withheld by her request

God doesn’t hold grudges

She could not forgive herself. She was convinced that God was angry with her over her sins. She felt the need to keep begging for forgiveness as though God were holding a grudge against her. She just assumed that until God was satisfied that she had suffered enough for her sin, he would not help her if she prayed for help. The reason this woman felt this way was because, as a child, someone would grow coldly silent for long periods of time and hold grudges against her. She tried and tried to get forgiveness but nothing worked. As a child, she didn’t have many experiences and this was normal to her. She ended up translating this behavior to God.

Maybe you endured someone’s silent anger when you were growing up. Maybe it is happening now. Maybe you tried and tried without success to get this person to forgive you. As a result of this, you may have a hard time forgiving yourself, thinking that God is treating you the same way. Maybe you feel like you can’t be forgiven. Maybe you can’t forgive yourself.

God is not like this. He did not wait until you “suffered enough” to send Jesus to be your Savior. If he had, Jesus never would have come, because we deserve nothing less than eternal suffering for our sins. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Jesus died for you when there was nothing good in you. That is how much he loves you. Because Jesus was punished for you, your sins have been forgiven in full. “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).  There is no need to earn your forgiveness by begging God. Your forgiveness was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross. When he looks at you, God sees Jesus’ righteousness in place of your sins. Because of this, you can live in peace, knowing that Jesus already did everything necessary for you to be forgiven. God does not hold grudges, no matter what it is you have done. Like Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, he will say to you, “‘Then neither do I condemn you…Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11).

Posted by Electric Gospel
24
Dec
2019

Blessed are the peacemakers

Originally published on The Electric Gospel on September 12, 2015.

Blessed are the peacemakers

by David Sellnow

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18).

What does it mean to be a peacemaker?  Is it about negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration?  I suppose if you’re a diplomat trying to resolve tensions and conflicts on this or that part of the planet, that’s what peacemakers do.  But that’s not exactly what James was writing about when he spoke of sowing peace and reaping a harvest of righteousness.

Think of the message of peace you hear in the Bible again and again.  What sort of peace is it?  Where is it found?  Let me remind you of some prominent passages:

  • Psalm 29:11 … The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
  • Isaiah 9:6-7 …  To us a child is born, to us a son is given …  He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
  • Isaiah 53:4-5 … [The Servant of God] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
  • Isaiah 54:10 … “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
  • John 14:27 … Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
  • Romans 5:1 … Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Philippians 4:7 … The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  • And the beginning lines of several epistles:  “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 2 Thessalonians, Philemon).

Peace comes from God, from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Peace was brought into the world for us by Jesus Christ.  True peace, lasting peace, saving peace is what God gives us in Christ.  It is just as the angels announced when Jesus was born into this world for us, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

So again, when James says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18), remember that he’s writing to us as “believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (James 2:1).  The peace we sow is the peace that comes from Christ.  The righteousness we reap is the righteousness found in Christ.

In tangible terms, how do you sow peace day by day?  How do you act as a peacemaker?

Well, it starts with talking to people.  It starts with greeting people, caring about people, getting to know people.  The early church had a tradition of the kiss of peace.  At the end of several of the epistles in the New Testament, God’s people are encouraged, “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians).  Maybe you’d think a kiss in church would be weird – it’s not your cultural custom.  But the point is to connect with each other, to relate to each other, to be encouragers of one another in Christ.  A hug, a kiss, a handshake, an arm around someone’s shoulder – along with the reassurance of peace and love and hope in Jesus – that’s how we are peacemakers with one another.

As Christians living in community with one another and with other neighbors, does it happen that sometimes we don’t even take the time or the care to introduce ourselves to each other?  At school or at work, we don’t go over to sit at lunch with someone we haven’t met before.  In the neighborhood, we avoid interactions more often than we befriend and connect with others.  In the community, we pass each other in our cars on the street or with our carts in the stores, but maybe not much more.  I know; I understand.  We’re all so very busy.  We all have so much work and so many tasks to do.  But what is our first calling to one another?  Is it not to be peacemakers – to be peace-bringers – to be gospel encouragers to one another day by day, sharing the peace of Jesus?   Paul put it to us this way:  “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. … Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:15-16).   The Bible tells us to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Day by day, in the midst of each day’s business and busyness, Jesus is calling us to be peacemakers in his name, to sow seeds of his peace, his hope, his love, his forgiveness.  As we do so, the Spirit of God produces a harvest of righteousness in our lives and in our relationships with one another.

I urge you to follow up on this message with intentional action.  To those you know and those you don’t yet know, keep reaching out with a hand of fellowship, with a kiss of peace, with the love of Christ.  You are peacemakers to one another and to all the world in his name.

Posted by Electric Gospel