Forgive Them Father, but Search Me First

You know what’s easy? Praying for and loving those who are kind to you. It’s even easy to pray for those who have wounded you, especially when you know they are in bondage and pain. I am struggling to pray for those on the sideline who are cheering and mocking.

The Master experienced this and sought God: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

I don’t want to pray like that; not really. Truth be known I want to pray as David did:

O God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord. - Psalms 58:6

O that Thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against Thee wickedly, And Thine enemies take Thy name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate Thee, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against Thee? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies. - Psalms 139:19-22

Now THOSE are prayers I can get behind! Get ‘em God, did you see what they did to me, I mean what they did to You?

I sense that is what was on David’s heart; he had been wronged and betrayed. And despite his failings, he truly wanted to please God, to honor his King. But when he was wounded and scared he wanted God to vindicate him and destroy his enemies.

I find it so valuable to see what the Holy Spirit guides David to write just moments later:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. - Psalms 139:23-24

So before I pray for the Creator to destroy my enemies, before I seek my own vindication, I will first ask Him to search me, to know my heart and if there is any hurtful way in my heart (and there is), to purge this and to lead me in His way.

I will pray as Jesus did on the night He was betrayed, nevertheless Lord, not my will, but Yours be done. Then, and only then, can I pray, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

It Has Already Been Said, But Bears Repeating

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. 

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

Acts 17:22-31 (NIV)

This is the Good News of Jesus Christ:

"The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent His Son, God in the flesh, to bear His wrath against sin on the cross and to show His power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in Him will be reconciled to God forever." - from "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt

A Prayer and a New Year's Resolution

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

I am not one for making “New Year’s Resolutions” per se; sure there are goals to meet and tasks to accomplish and the beginning of a new year is a great time to inventory and start anew. That said, losing weight, exercise more, make more money etc. they tend to be as Mary Poppins said “That's a pie crust promise; easily made, easily broken!”

So I avoid making these proclamations, instead I strive to improve, to “be” better than I was last year or yesterday. This year however I am making a New Year’s resolution, a desperate prayer if you will:

I resolve to be more loving, kinder, to put an end to the harsh and hurtful words and to ask God to bring my tongue into submission. I know I cannot do this on my own, but I know that with God ALL things (even my boastful & arrogant tongue) can be transformed.

The apostle James wrote:

“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” – James 3:8-10

Peace

On Death and Sadness

I am not afraid of dying, not really. Oh I’m not in a hurry mind you, but I am not afraid. Regrets, sure, but as old Blue Eyes said, too few to mention. I would hope my sons know how much I have loved and treasured them and that I am content and completely trusting in Jesus.

Sure there is work left to be done, but if Father is calling me home, then He must have someone else lined up to do that work. And yes there are things I would like to have done and places I have always wanted to see, but nothing could compare with what is waiting. So I am fine, really, fine if it is today.

I'm not a poet and cannot say I have read a great deal, but two come to mind this morning; William Wordsworth & Emily Dickinson.

Wordsworth wrote:

What though the radiance that was once so bright,

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;

In the primal sympathy

Which having been must ever be;

In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;

In the faith that looks through death,

From “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” (glory of the flower)

Here is an excerpt from Dickinson's “In this short Life”:

In this short Life

That only lasts an hour

How much — how little — is

Within our power

A brief reflection, a broader vision

2010 has been an eventful year; January started a declaration of remission of my leukemia, followed by two months of respiratory infections! So much for better health through remission!

Like all of us I had my share of ups and downs, although it seemed like this year had a few more downs than I would have liked. I face this coming new year with hope and optimism. I often deflect by using humor and use negative circumstances as a prop for laughs, but the reality is, I am an optimist. I believe tomorrow can be better than today, that next year can be better than last year.

I live in a nation with unlimited opportunities, where a person is truly limited only by the ceilings they themselves build in their mind and their life. I am guilty of not counting nor treasuring the many blessings I have been given, so if I were to make a New Year’s resolution, it would be to savor the moments am given, to stop dwelling on what might have been and what will never be.

The apostle Paul wrote: “I have learned the secret of being content in all circumstances”; I knew that truth once, not that long ago and I let it slip away and that is my responsibility, no one else’s. So I have goals for 2011 and beyond and I have a vision for my life, but my resolution is simple, to be at peace with where God has me, to be satisfied in Him and to be content, regardless of my circumstances.

God bless you and may 2011 be your year best ever.

Discovery & Change

I picked up my Bible this morning; yes the leather one, rice paper, gold gilded edges. As much as I love my Kindle, there is nothing quite like the touch and feel of a book in one’s hands. I thought about two things, one is those first books in the people’s hands, how a whole world opened up before them. Second, I thought about the revelation and discovery of God’s Word, His ultimate truth and the liberty we can enjoy resting in Him. Yet there are so many who have rejected this truth out of fear and ignorance; still others because it upsets their precious apple cart and threatens to turn their world upside down.

We dislike many things in our human condition, not the least of which is change.

The song 2112 by the Canadian trio Rush speaks of a great discovery and how that discovery from a past age is rejected.

What can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It's got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?

See how it sings like a sad heart
And joyously screams out it's pain
Sounds that build high like a mountain
Or notes that fall gently like rain

After being rebuffed by the elders, those "in the know", our hero despairs:

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams

Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen
I don't think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
Oh...noo!

We too have a great discovery from a past age, yet as current and relevant as ever; God’s Word and His promises to us, His beloved. Let’s not let our fear of change, or the pain of transformation keep us from embracing this greatest of gifts.

How to Thank a Veteran

I saw dozens of posts today thanking veterans and I added a few myself, so I got to thinking what it means to actually thank a vet. Certainly saying thank you is due, as are the complimentary meals offered by some restaurants; but shouldn’t more be done to show our appreciation?

First of all, saying thank you isn’t glorifying war or violence, nor is our appreciation the same as some nationalistic, jingoism; no, showing gratitude to those who sacrifice for the benefit of others is just human decency.

I was thinking about a 10 year old boy I know whose father is serving in Afghanistan right now and I imagined the sacrifice this 10 year old was making, along with his family. What thanks do we owe them?

Remember the movie Saving Private Ryan? Toward the end, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) whispers to Private Ryan (Matt Damon) and says, “Earn this”. Years later when Ryan is visiting the Normandy beach with his family, looking over the thousands of crosses of those who gave their lives to rescue Europe, he stopped at Captain Ryan’s grave and with tears and a heavy heart he asks his wife if he has been a good man. He knows too well what his life cost, how so many gave up their future that he might live his.

So how do we thank a veteran for our freedom? Live as good citizens, contribute, work hard, be honest, love America by loving your fellow Americans; participate in this experiment in democracy, vote, get involved in your community, be informed, care, or as Captain John Miller said, “Earn this.”

Happy Veterans Day.