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Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Be Still & Know That He Is LORD

1 John 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us…

You may know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you, but do you believe it? It is one thing to know about the love that God has for you, but another thing to actually believe it in your heart.

It is one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it is another thing to believe that the sun is still shining even though we don’t feel its warmth and all we see are dark clouds. Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a tough time. But God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow in coming, when the boss is fault-finding or when your child still refuses to come home.

In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly on your side defending and taking care of you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you. The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.

When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the umpteenth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8) at your worst and ugliest, how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Forgiveness

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
When it comes to forgiveness, we're tough negotiators. We open with an offer like, "I'll forgive you, if . . . ." Then, we follow with a subtle concession that sounds like a confession: "I can't forgive her until she learns her lesson."
When we think the other side is stonewalling, we take off the gloves: "If I forgive him, he'll just think he got away with it."
We think we're negotiating for God; we think we're negotiating for their souls; we think we're negotiation for justice, when all we're really doing is negotiating for control over the situation.
Truth says we can't conduct these negotiations. We're ambassadors of the King, and we represent, not our own, but the King's intentions as well as his character. The King says forgive and that means we forgive. See the period at the end of the previous sentence? We forgive.
The King's instructions are clear and unambiguous: If you forgive those who sin against you, then the King will forgive you for your sins against him. If you don't forgive those who sin against you, then the King won't forgive you for your sins against him. No room for negotiation there.
Anything else, such as saying, ""I'll forgive him, if . . ." isn't really forgiving; it's just negotiating, and God's court of justice will not recognize contracts made without kingly authority or permission.
The question is not shall, if, or can someone be forgiven; the true question is will you make the choice to forgive?

I’m facing with this problem as well. Very often, I can forgive someone who has wronged me but I cannot forget what that person did to me. Because of the hurt that the person did to me was too hurtful for me to forget.
Last weekend, I went for my church camp that afternoon I was very angry with something and some people but when I walk in to the night session, God spoke to us through the wise pastor. First thing we have to ask ourselves, why are we angry? Jesus mentioned in the bible that we ought to forgive like He has forgiven us. Yes is difficult but Jesus has forgiven us no matter how we did wrong. Before us even in this world He has already crucified for ALL our sins. Jesus is our strength.
Real Maturity Takes Time

By Rick Warren

Our life gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. 2 Corinthians 3:18b (Msg)
"Every day God wants you to become a little more like him. "
Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ. The Bible says, "We arrive at real maturity—that measure of development which is meant by 'the fullness of Christ.'" (Ephesians 4:13, Phillips)
Christlikeness is your eventual destination, but your journey will last a lifetime. This journey involves believing (through worship), belonging (through fellowship), and becoming (through discipleship). Every day God wants you to become a little more like him: "You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you." (Colossians 3:10a, NCV)

Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar, or experiences that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release us from all growing pains.
But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him." (2 Corinthians 3:18b, Msg).

When I read this article by Rick Warren, I truly thank God for bringing through all these. When I was being cheated, He rescued me. He healed me from my sickness (which requires me to take the medication without me needing to go through any sufferings.) Last time when I was a “baby” Christian, He changed me to be more secure in Him. He blessed me with good friends in my life.

As time past, I’ve grown to be more mature but still I still need to pray to God that He will change me more like him. I want to care & love people like Jesus care & love me. Please O Lord, change me to what He wants me to be.

Before the world began, I’m in His mind. Everything I went through or I’m going through He is there beside me. Because of His great love, He gave His only son-Jesus to me. I thank You Jesus. Thank you once again for everything.
Thought of The Day

God knows all that has happened in your past; He is aware of the circumstances you find yourself in today; and He knows the challenges you will face tomorrow. He understands your thoughts before you even think them and your words before you say them. God created you, and you are precious to Him. You can take comfort in the realization that God anticipates your needs and is able to meet every one of them.

When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheer me up.