FORGIVE! & PSALM 112

Time with Jesus - 18 July 2013

Hi all,

Front-end Loader

What is the difference between a front-end loader and a thimble? The obvious one is size. The front-end loader takes a far bigger load than a thimble. Which would you prefer? To answer, you need to know what it has been made for. A front-end loader is ideal for moving large quantities of material. 

Ornate Thimble

A thimble is made for protecting your finger from a needle while you are sewing. You could use a thimble for moving materials, provided it’s small quantities of sand, you want to move. With a thimble, it would take you forever! Likewise, you can’t put your finger into a front-end loader and use it for sewing.

Used for Earth Moving

Now the big question; which one would you prefer for forgiveness of your sins? If a thimbleful of forgiveness is sufficient, you must be very young and have committed only one or two sins, a thimbleful may well be enough. Don’t count on it, but it may be sufficient for you. 

Thimble Used for Sewing

At my age several overloaded front-end loaders full of forgiveness might just about do. A couple of spare front-end loaders in the background would make me feel a lot safer.

Jesus' Words on Judging

OK. Jokes aside, what am I getting at? Well, Jesus made a fascinating statement in Matthew’s gospel. He said, ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. Mat 7:2 NLT

Measuring You By
Your Standards

Now Jesus is referring to judging others. However, judgement and forgiveness are, in loose terms, more or less the opposite of each other; with one difference; the more the judgement, the less the forgiveness. So if I judge you, I haven’t forgiven you. Likewise, if I forgive you, I am not judging you! OK so far?

Be Set Free!

It bears repeating that God is not “fair”. But He is infinitely just. Mat 7:2 tells me that He will use my standards on me. He doesn’t use His standards on me when it comes to judgement and forgiveness. Similarly, He won’t use my standards on you. He uses your standards on you!

Forgive Us As we
Forgive Others

Now I can’t speak for you, but this leaves me with a problem. If I don’t forgive you, He won’t forgive me. Let me rephrase this. When it comes to forgiveness, I’d better make sure I forgive everyone completely “from the heart”. If I don’t, that’s how much I won’t be forgiven!

My Forgiveness Depends
Upon Me!

For the record, Jesus made similar comments along the same lines. These are: ³⁷ "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37 NLT - ²¹ Then Peter came to Him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" ²² "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven! Mat 18:21-22 NLT. We need to realise that Jesus is serious about our forgiving others.

No Judging

Now these comments don’t fit in with the “Once saved, always saved” doctrine doing the rounds in many churches. It also doesn’t “gel” with the idea that, “God understands my problems and He will forgive me!” What we see here is that your forgiveness from Him depends on your forgiveness of others.

Perhaps this explains my comments at the beginning of this message. There is a huge difference between a front-end loader and a thimble. When it comes to my forgiving others, I’d better go along to JCB and get a fleet of the things. Thimbles are useless for this purpose!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 18 July 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	FORGIVE! & PSALM 112
“What is God like?” A few days ago we looked at this and observed that Jesus is like God. This has nothing to do with physical appearance. The connection is character. In fact God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are indistinguishable. You and I cannot see any differences. But when it comes to His appearance, we have a problem. God is Spirit. What that means is unknown. There may well be some sort of a clue evident in the post resurrection appearances of Jesus. He appeared and vanished apparently at will.   So, what is the significance of the descriptions of God in His Word? What is likely is that the Prophets and Psalmists were using “anthropomorphisms” in their descriptions of God. i.e. Using familiar terms to describe the indescribable. Moses’ illustration in Psalm 91 is a good example. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Psalms 91:4 NLT The factors that really scare me about God are His Holiness, Purity and Righteousness. Outside of His Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to Him would be fatal. We know and have some understanding of this. His Righteousness scares me the most. In this regard, He is utterly consistent. Judgement is an excellent example. You and I have certain values and standards by which we measure others. Perhaps it’s a thimble-full. Perhaps a table spoon-full. It could be a shovel-full or even a front end loader-full. In other words someone fails our test if it is bigger than the standard we’ve set. If we are pernickety or pedantic, our standard will be a thimble-full. If we are generous and forgiving our standard would be a front end loader-full. We know the “size” of that standard. Furthermore, we evaluate and judge others in terms of that standard. God also knows its “size. He then uses the same standard on us. He will judge you and me in terms of the standard we set for others. So the more forgiving and generous-hearted we are the better for us. Most of us love the first half of Luke 6:38. The second half is not so well known or understood,. 38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you." Luke 6:38 GW We need to be very generous with our forgiving others. In fact we need to be more than merely four-giving. Let’s go for five-giving or even twenty six-giving. If we don’t, God will judge us in terms of the standards we have set. That really scares me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 She (Mary Magdalene? or Lazarus’ sister Mary?) did what she could. She poured perfume on my body (Jesus) to prepare me to be buried. Mark 14:8 NIrV	FORGIVE! Forgive the sins of everyone, whatever they've committed; Loose them all from what they've done and let them be acquitted; Follow the example of Him who reigns on High; Who cleanses and remits the sins of all who would draw nigh. For those who would pass sentence on any of their peers, Will find that all the wrath of God is heaped around their ears! Those who judge their brethren, are certain to obtain, That very self-same judgment. The One who does ordain, That we ourselves are always judged, in ways that will comply, With all of the parameters which we sought to apply! We receive THAT measurement; THAT standard which we set, Is How He'll deal with all of us and that is what we'll get! So Christian, be careful. If you desire to live, There isn't an alternative. You simply must forgive! Jim Strickland Psalm 112 1)   Blessed is the person who fears the Sovereign Lord, Who takes a great delight in His command. 2)   His children will be mighty in the land. And his reward? A blessed generation who can stand; 3)   Wealth and riches in his house, with righteousness forever; Where the light obliterates the dark. 4)   Gracious deeds, compassion, will forsake the righteous never. An upright, righteous man will have this mark. 5)   Good will surely come to him, who generously lends, Conducting his affairs and being just. 6)   He will not be shaken; will not need to make amends; Remembered as a person one can trust. 7)   He will not be fearful of bad news for he will be, Steadfast, ever trusting in the Lord. 8)   He will be secure and will not fear what he might see; Triumph o'er his foes is his reward. 9)   He has scattered gifts unto the poor. His righteousness Endures until the very end of time. His horn will be exalted and with honour he'll be blessed. He will not be guilty of a crime. 10) Wicked men will see it and be vexed as they observe; Will gnash their teeth and quickly waste away. Their longings come to nothing, they’ll get what they deserve; Reaping what was sown yesterday. Jim Strickland  Both Written 1987
			3 He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. Luke 21:3 MSG
			41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be rewarded. Mark 9:41 TNIV
			12 Do you really want to give? Then the gift is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don't have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 NIrV
			18 Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 NLT
			15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup--where does that get you? James 2:15-16 MSG
			6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NLT
			10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" Luke 17:10 ESV