Please Don't Read This Post!

No, really.  You should definitely NOT read this blog.

If you do, just know that I warned you....I'm about to go on a full-blown rant.

You see, I've had it.  I'm sick and tired of people who say that they are Christians and then fail to bear any resemblance whatsoever to Christ.  I'm not talking about 'we all make mistakes' and 'nobody's perfect'; that I understand.  I'm far, FAR from perfect.  I fail to live up to God's will for my life everyday and must confess and set my sights once again upon the Father's will.

But I'm talking about the very opposite of the 'fruit of the Spirit.'  You've probably heard of the fruit of the Spirit - from Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  Notice that the verse begins with "But"; that is because the preceding verses (which are much less-oft quoted) describe the converse.  The fruit of the sinful nature, so to speak.  "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like." 

So why am I so fed up?  Because a bunch of my facebook friends, ones who have frequently posted scripture and posted various statements about being a Christian, and have joined every facebook group that claims to represent Christ, have recently chosen to openly and publicly post statements that are filled with just this sort of rotten fruit!  Brothers and sisters, if you belong to Christ, don't you know that you are known by the fruit that you bear?  We all fail to live up to God's standard - but if we can proudly boast to all our friends the nature and details of our failures - without ever suggesting that we've stumbled; can we truly say the Holy Spirit lives in us? 

If you are not a believer then please know that I am not ranting at you!  I am frustrated with my brothers and sisters in Christ - or at least those who have claimed to be such - who are dragging His name through the mud by posting as their status that they are enjoying a sexual relationship outside of marriage; or that they spent the night in sin, saying casually that 'oh well, I'll repent tomorrow', or those who express their hatred for those who disagree with them politically.   I'll add to that those who boast of following their horoscope and those whose constant presence on facebook approaches idolatry!

But maybe I'm taking this all too seriously.  That's what Grace is for, right? 

"I warn you, as I did before, that those who like like this will not inherit the kindgdom of God." Galatians 5:21b.

"Do not be deceived.  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  the one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  Galations 5:7-8.

Lord, forgive me for the many times that I have failed to live up to the gift that you've given through your Holy Spirit.  Help me to not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit but to live a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit.  Forgive me for taking my eyes off of you to dare to sit in judgment on anyone.

Forgiveness and Peace

Have you ever held a grudge?  You know, held it in your arms and nurtured it, fed it, watched it grow over the years?  People might suggest along the way that you let it go - but no, you kept it like an overgrown pet.  And then one day you realized that it had taken over your life.  Every choice you make, every thing you do and say - it's all about the Grudge!

How do you forgive when you've been hurt?  I don't mean how do you say the words - I mean how do you FORGIVE someone from the heart.  How do you move on without the hurtful words or deeds replaying in your mind on a daily basis, generating tension and frustration all over again?

One of the most vital lessons that I have learned about forgiveness is that it is similar to sanctification in that it is both a 'one time' event and an 'ongoing process.' 

What I mean is this - when we are saved, we are sanctified by the work that Christ did on the cross.  Although we are declared holy, because God sees not our sin, but Christ's sacrifice, we are not perfect; we continue in a process of sanctification throughout our lives as Christians. 

Similarly, when we forgive someone, we have the initial moment when we say that we have forgiven - and then we have an ongoing process of demonstrating that forgiveness on a daily basis.  Whenever circumstances or the enemy tries to bring the offense before us again, to stir in us resentment and frustration, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5)  Given that Christ gave His life to forgive us - we can be confident that making our thoughts obedient to Christ means forgiving others.  Each time the hurt comes to mind and we are tempted to dwell on it, to recall the pain, to remember the hurt, to think about how unjustly we were treated - we must make a conscious choice to forgive again.

If we don't, over time, the hurt grows into bitterness.  Bitterness marries trials in our life and brings forth a Grudge.  It starts as such a small thing - but it feeds on every disappointment and grows with amazing speed! 

Don't let your little pet Grudge grow into a monster that rules, and eventually destroys, your life.  Starve it to death.  Deny it the anger and frustration on which it thrives.  Feed it forgiveness and love every day and it will waste away to nothing - and in its void will be peace.

Lord, there are so many people in my life right now who are dealing with hurt.  Although the offenses against them differ, each is in pain.  Some of the wounds are fresh and raw while others have never properly healed and continue to cause them suffering years later.  Help them sense your Holy Spirit giving them the strength to let go of the pain and to forgive today.  And tomorrow. And the next day.  And every day until one day they realize that, though a scar may remain, the wound has healed.