I often have good intentions that do not always turn into actions. The Bible teaches me that if I know how I could help in any given situation and I do not act upon it, then it is sin; This is the question we must ask ourselves and see if we are clear in the matter; "For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." (2Corinthians 1:12)
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” (Isaiah 1:17): - Therefore when the scripture teachers us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God, how must we do that? We must personally, on a practical level, get our hands dirty. We must get involved! Do not be fooled, Christianity is a walk for the faithful, and not for those who are unable to endure hardship. It is training of the elite and we must and will remember our Captain’s example; we must learn to follow Him. There has been no greater leader throughout history, how He has lead from the front with such persistence and humility coupled into one, without the enemy ever penetrating His defence. Praise the glorious name of Jesus! I know I have often had my defence penetrated, but "while we have breath we have hope" and we must once again get up and resolve to fight the good fight of our faith, no matter how many times we fall. “If God be for us who can be against us”! Faith has a promise attached to it, our great Redeeming King; the Lord Jesus Christ will get His Father’s children Home. Come what may, we must have the faith of Joshua and Caleb and if we have His Spirit then we have that faith. God has given it to us, praise His name!
The Lord Jesus marched forth on earth with His Father’s will in the forefront of His mind and He marched to victory. But His march was not the march of a king but He was treated as a stray dog and as a lamb to the slaughter they lead Him to die on a cruel Roman cross. And through it all, He was able to forgive not only in His heart but audibly He pronounced His forgiveness and uttered these glorious words; “And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."” (Luke 23:34)
Let us consider what it was that the Lord was forgiving His accusers for; where do I begin?
Christ our Saviour was not just a man of words but of action; "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:27-35)
Here we see the Lord giving his disciples instruction on how to practically act in a world that demands and takes its pound of flesh. For all those who have received Christ Spirit, we are His disciples! These instructions then apply to us! It is far easy to turn a blind eye to the one in need and to justify why we shouldn’t help, we reason like this; I work so why doesn’t he! The point in case is this; the Lord Jesus gave verbal instructions but then He was not only willing to be tested but was established by His very own teachings.
This is how they treated the One who came to save the lost; “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:1-12)
Our great Saviour not just a man of many words but action a way of life, God give us ears to hear and help us to be more like Him we cry, Amen!
Signing off
Tyrone
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