Knock, knock, who's there?

Today, I have no new news, but I do have some good news: Jesus loves you and has done everything he possibly can to make life meaningful and worthwhile for each of us.

Jesus says to the church at Laodicea:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in … (Rev. 3:20).”

The decision was theirs. He had made his. So, I think I can safely say that he stands at our doors also, just waiting for an invitation—the choice is ours, however, as said, he has already made his. The unpleasant truth is; however, we have barred the door from the inside, not him. Yet, we grieve that we feel spiritually dry, and long for fellowship while all the while he stands outside knocking.  There is always in Christ a new door of opportunity, and best of all he stands behind that door anxiously waiting to give purpose and new meaning to life.

Old age in many senses of the word is a closed door. Some recognize that and sit down in their rocking chairs and while away their time for that final curtain call. It will come, that is for sure, and in these cases no doubt sooner before later.

For those of us in the so-called twilight years, there are doors of opportunity all around us. There is the door of listening to some poor soul pour out their frustrations and share their fears and disappoints with you—take a load off their shoulders, you might say. In times like that, it is best to leave that door open, kept your mouth shut and listen. Simply listening is therapy. Sometimes the best there is. Consider it a door of opportunity. We in these instances can stand-in for Christ, and listen just as he does.

Mother Teresa, who I had the privilege of meeting on more than one occasion, is quoted to have said,

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

KnockHow true that is. Small doors only open out to much larger opportunities; and if not, what have you lost?

Resplendent testimonies abound from missionaries around the world are a sobering reminder that God does answer intercessory prayers. Prayer in faith can and does remove mountains. Just plain hospitality is another door of opportunity. There was a time that missionaries were invited into homes for times of fellowship and sharing—today is not one of these times. All through scripture and up to recent times itinerate evangelists and missionaries were part of a larger family of God’s children and considered as such. Not anymore. Show hospitality. It’s Biblical (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2). Peter even goes so far as to say,

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).”

Prayer and hospitality are not the only neglected doors of opportunity, either. There are many more. One dear lady years ago decided that the orphan children in Egypt where Bonnie and I served as Directors of the Lillian Trasher Memorial Orphanage needed clothes. She began a Goodwill style drive that collected thousands of used clothes, tied them up in big cotton-like bundles and shipped them to us. Clothes that Americans had discarded as old or out of style were like inheriting a clothing factory to these kids. So, what am I saying? Look, pray, and expect God to lead you to new doors of opportunity even as you reach these golden years.

Practical Christianity is just as much of Christianity as a feel-good worship service. As a matter of fact, you and I will feel much better when we get off our duffs and do something worthwhile.

Blessings, and may God give each of us the wisdom and strength to take this good advice and put it into good use until we breathe our last breath. 

Take good care of others and God will take good care of you!

JimR_/

Forgiveness the old fashioned way ...

Forgiveness comes with undeserved grace.  God, the Father of all graces forgives, choose to forgive. We don’t deserve forgiveness, but He, nonetheless, chooses to forgive. For it is by grace that we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is not a one-way street, however. We too must be full of grace—as a matter of fact, our eternal salvation depends on it (Matthew 6:14-15). So, in this sense grace is a two-way street. God forgive us conditionally. That being so we too must show grace in forgiving others. They may not deserve it, but we must forgive them, nonetheless.

No, this is not a doctrine of works, it’s the gospel of grace; a kind of Godly tit-for-tat grace, you might say. Now that’s pretty strong medicine—a bitter pill for some, but one that we must take if we want God to forgive us. 

This brings up a very necessary point which elicits a question: “Can a Christian keep score—that is hold a grudge?” According to God’s holy word, the answer is no. Yet, we all know that there are many that do. For sure, such are not walking in the light as they see the light for Godly light exposes such hypocrisy. And, hypocrisy it is. Be that what it may be— an alcoholic parent; or a double-crossing “friend” or an unfaithful spouse; the list could go on and on, but the bottom line is that they feel offended and will not forgive. No, they would rather nurse old wounds and muddle on, grumbling through life, and with all assumed piety recited the Lord’s Prayer faithfully each Sunday and sing with the best of them “All is well with my soul.” Nothing could be farther from the truth.

These are tough words, but true words, nonetheless. 

Now, may I go one step further and simply say that you or I cannot expect peace of mind until we are willing to accept God’s conditions for forgiveness. The truth is that nagging guilt complex that many carry around can easily be taken care of in an instance, if only they would give and then ask for forgiveness. For without giving forgiveness, forgiveness is not received. Now, friends, that God’s condition; not just something I pulled out of the thin blue air.

So, forgiveness is serious business, particularly in the Kingdom of Righteousness. Give and it shall be given to you is an eternal principle in all walks of life, and happy is the man whose sins are forgiven (Psalm 32:1; cf. Strong’s).  

Now, take care, and take time to forgive!

 JimR_/

The Living word

Listen as Isaiah proclaims, that the Word of God stands forever

A voice says, “Cry!”

    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

    and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades

    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

    surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

    but the word of our God will stand forever.

Now hear the words of Peter as he explains the meaning of Isaiah’s message,

[The] word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you (Peter 1:25).

So, we ask ourselves, “What is that word?” Most certainly it is His Living Word Jesus Christ as evidenced in word and deed. “How can a dead sheet of paper with nothing but writing on it be alive,” you may ask? Well, the simple answer is, “It cannot.” That is, it cannot unless it is the voice of God. Then it has the weight of His power behind it, and we mustn’t forget that He is alive forevermore.