Part 3 - Indescribable - https://youtu.be/GhsGrkY67I4
Our God is an awesome God!
Genesis 1 says in the Beginning, God.
God said "Let there be light". And there was light. He made the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. God created the Sun and the moon.
He spoke them into existence. Wow, right? But after watching this video, seeing the massive power that is our SUN, I get just a glimpse into how powerful God is.
This is a quote from Louie Giglio's Indescribable video series. Think about it:
Scientists say it would take the gross national product of the United States of America 7 million years for our local power company to run the Sun for just one second.
One second!
and God spoke that awesome ball of power into existence!
Do you think there's anything our God cannot do?
If we had any idea of His awesome power, we'd be on our knees worshiping Him every single day. And as amazing as His power is, there is one other thing that blows me away about our God.
He loves us. The Creator of the entire Universe loves us!
We are this tiny speck in the Universe, so insignificant when you think about it. And yet, out of all His amazing creation, we are His very special possession. Deuteronom
Why?
He wants you and me to be with Him and to share in the love between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -that perfect love. That's what He desires for us - that we will know His love and be with Him for all Eternity.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty ashamed of how little time I give to my Father. I'm a little sad to think how many times I push Him aside so that I can do what I want to do instead of spending time with Him. I ignore Him and take Him for granted, but still He loves me.
One of my very favorite parables in the Bible is in Luke 15. You'll recognize the passage as The Prodigal Son.
I am the prodigal son.
I wanted my inheritance so I could go spend money and do things God told me not to do, because I wanted to have fun, to be happy. What did my Father know about that kind of stuff? Let me tell you. I found out He knew so much more than I did. I found out that all wanted for me was eternal good, not the 5 minute of happiness I might find on my own.
When I realized how empty chasing my own dreams and plans had made my life, I wanted to go back Home, to Jesus. I was so ashamed and humbled beyond words. It's hard to face the fact of our sinfulness without feeling discouraged and hopeless. But as soon as I turned back and repented, my Father saw me coming and ran to me. You know, He didn't one time stop to scold me for the wasted years of my life. He knew how much I was hurting. He knew my heart. He knew how sorry I was. And He wrapped me in His love and forgave me of my sins, just like they never happened.
I have been forgiven so much! Haven't you?
So why, after receiving such undeserved grace and mercy ourselves from the Creator of Universe, no less, how do we not show mercy and grace to others who are just like us? Sinners in need of the Savior. We all are Prodigal sons at one time or another, who long to come to back home so desperately.
I am so thankful that God is merciful and removes my sins as far as east is from the west. I just wished I could do the same thing for others who have failed, just like I do every day. I can't cast the first stone, can you?
One of my favorite passages is the woman caught in adultery. The self-righteous Pharisees brought her before Jesus and accused her that heinous sin. They felt perfectly in their rights as God's chosen ones to sit in judgment over this woman. But do you remember what Jesus said to them?
I do. It's written on my heart and in my brain.
"he who is without sin, cast the first stone."
I am a human being who fails to follow God's direction for my life. I take charge all the time, instead of listening and obeying Him. As a sinner myself, how do I sit in judgment against someone else who is a sinner, just like me?
The Creator of the Universe, our Almighty God is so good that we cannot use one "Holy" to describe His righteousness. Our Father is HOLY HOLY HOLY. and yet He is willing to forgive us our sins, and forget them, to give us a clean start every day, if we need it. But I, as unrighteous as I am, cannot show mercy to another human being who has fallen and needs forgiveness. That's a shame and it does not honor my God.
God is Holy, Holy, Holy. And for Him, sin offends Him so greatly that He will never tolerate sin in His Presence. Therefore, if it were up to us, not one could ever stand in His presence. But as Christians, we are covered by the blood of our Perfect, spotless Lamb, our Savior and Redeemer. God looks at us and sees His precious Son, His righteousness becomes our robe of white.
We still sin, falling short of all He has purposed for His children, don't we? I lived a terrible life full of selfishness and evil, but that was so many years ago, I tell myself. But the sad thing is I know how much mercy I've received from my Abba Father, and yet I fail to show mercy to others who are struggling. And then God is called to forgive me again, for my self-righteousness - and he does it, because of Jesus.
It's hard to forgive, but until we learn to love like Jesus, to give people the same mercy He gives us, we will keep falling short of His plan for us. We miss out on an incredible relationship with our Father and Savior because we don't submit to His will and simply obey. I want God to be proud of me. I want others to see Jesus shining thru me. He cannot do that when I'm living in a state of un-forgiveness.
Jesus said to forgive. He didn't say wait until someone is worthy of the forgiveness. He didn't say wait until I know they're really sorry. No. He said forgive them, as many times as necessary. It's not my job to judge. It's my job to love and to forgive - seven time seventy. He said forgive those who persecute you, and do good to those who despitefully use you. He didn't say it was easy. He didn't say, "if you feel like it, forgive..." He said "Love your enemies, do good to those who use you, forgive..."
What's in it for me, right? Thought you'd never ask. = )
Luke 6 Love for Enemies
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
All we have to do to receive the blessings God promises is to obey Him and trust that He knows how hard it is to forgive when we have been hurt. He is faithful and if He calls us to forgive, and we finally decide to do things His way, He will bless us for all Eternity.
Oh Father, forgive me for failing to forgive as I've been forgiven. Help me to love like You love. Purify my heart and renew a right spirit within me. Thank you for being so merciful and gracious to me. Thank you being ready to pick me up each time I fall. I love You LORD, and will praise Your Name for all Eternity. In the blessed Name of my Savior, I pray.
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