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Archive for the ‘Forgiveness’ Category

Quenching Bitterness

Posted in Bitterness, Forgiveness, tagged on January 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Joseph said … Don’t be afraid … You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish … the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:19b-20

Actions from others turn sweet kind youth into cynical bitter revengeful, old before their time, people.

There is a way to avoid that – Joseph, in the Old Testament, did it by employing three (3) life principles:

  1. Living in the fear of God;
  2. Recognizing God used even the very wrong and painful deeds of others to work a blessing;
  3. Choosing to live for God’s purposes instead of one’s own

– fritz

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>Voices beyond Death

Posted in Forgiveness, Voices, tagged , on November 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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“And [God] said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” – Genesis 4:10b

The Bible has always taught this physical life is NOT all there is. An early example of this was Abel, who’s blood cried out to God when he was violently murdered.

His blood cried out before God for the justice and caused the perpetrator, Cain, to be banished from God’s presence.

Jesus’ blood also cried out when he was violently murdered. But it cried for the opposite,

The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace. – Hebrews 12:24b (MESSAGE)

Our sins were the cause of his death but we, the perpetrators, are brought by that sacrifice of Christ into the presence of God.

What a deal!

– fritz

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>Not Excused but Cleansed

Posted in Forgiveness, tagged on October 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – David (Psalm 51:7)

David sinned, a man died, and a woman lost her baby.

His request for forgiveness reflects something we sometimes forget – God doesn’t offer excuse but cleansing.

“Hyssop” is a small bush with a very specific use in the David’s day. It was used to sprinkle blood for cleansing. First used at the passover to put lamb’s blood on the door post, it continued to be used for sprinkling blood on lepers, various instruments for God’s service, and people – all with the idea of cleaning.

David wasn’t asking to be excused for his actions but to be cleansed.

Jesus is our sacrifice. Like the passover lamb, his blood is figuratively sprinkled on our lives to save us from eternal death and to cleanse us from our sins.

God offers not to excuse but to cleanse.

– fritz

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