“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5 NLT
Our righteous acts on this earth have positive results among people in need. Recipients of our gracious good-will are blessed beyond measure in receiving what they desperately need but do not have the means to provide it. Lending a helping hand to non-profit organizations and supporting our local police and fire departments and being good neighbors goes a long way in caring for others. But all these righteous deeds added together don’t do a thing to get us into heaven.
You have heard some people say, ‘I’m hoping my good outweighs my bad.’ It’s sad how many people have that perspective when it comes to their eternal destiny. Perhaps you are one who is counting on just that, ‘good outweighing the bad.’ But the sad reality is that you can never do enough good to overcome the bad. Our bad is a sin nature which can never be changed by a lifetime of good behavior and righteous acts towards others. Our sin nature alienates us from God. God may be pleased with acts of kindness towards others, but it doesn’t erase our sin debt. Our self-righteousness doesn’t cut it.
The apostle Paul explains we are saved not because of ‘the righteous things we had done’ but because of God’s mercy to us. God washed away our sins by the sacrificial blood shed by His Son on the cross of calvary. Our righteous acts could never do that. God gave us a new birth and a new life which is impossible for anyone of us to do, but not through the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as our savior. It’s time to stop weighing the good verses the bad, not stopping the good, but trusting our salvation on what God has done for us because of His mercy. Our self-righteousness just doesn’t cut it.
“For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13 NLT
I must admit there are some things I do not understand about God. Noticing the ways God has worked overtime the best authors, playwrights, and screenwriters couldn’t conceive such stories. God works in ways we could never imagine. He even takes our sin and works His purposes through it. That doesn’t leave us off the hook of responsibility. We are still accountable for our sin and there will be consequences. But I do not understand it and need to take it by faith trusting in the holy God of the universe.
King David probably never thought when God promised that one of his ancestors would build the Temple it would be a son from a wife he took from one of his soldiers after he had him killed. The story of David and Bathsheba is well known and there is no need to repeat it here, (2 Sam.11) except to say it was a grievous sin. Yet, before that unconscionable moment, God told David, “I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.” (2Sam.7:12-13 nlt) That son was Solomon.
The Bible tells us David repented of his sins, (Ps.51) but there were consequences for his actions. The child that was conceived in the adulterous affair died, and David would live the rest of his life with the memory of it. However, God’s grace and mercy upon David and His steadfast love for him and his throne would be forever. “Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” (2Sam.7:16 nlt) David was promised this at the same time he was told his son would build the Temple. We may not understand how or why God works His plan the way He does but let us be grateful He does.
I say to myself, ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ after I already did it. Then I ask myself, ‘why did I do that?’ to which I have no answer, most of the time. Solomon’s proverb may or may not be comforting at this time when he writes, ‘The Lord directs our steps.’ If I did something stupid, how could that be the Lord directing me, but on the other hand if it turns out for the good it had to be the Lord directing me. As I look back over my life, I’ve had many of those occasions perhaps you have too, but do not waste your time trying to figure out how the Lord directs our steps, just accept it.
You may ask, ‘Is God directing my steps when I am involved in sin?’ Absolutely not! God is holy and cannot accept sin in His sight. That is why God the Father turned His back on Jesus at Calvary when the sins of the world were placed on Him at the cross. God gives us free will in making choices in this life, but when we put our trust in Him and accept His Son as our savior God will lead those who are His according to His will. Do Christians still sin. Absolutely! Although God is not directing our steps into sin, He will still work out His purposes as we confess and repent providing us with grace and mercy.
It’s hard to accept at times that we could be in a certain place due to the consequences of our sin and yet the Lord continues to bless us. He uses us in influencing others towards Him according to His will. God does not give up on His children who confess and come back to Him. He will even use our past to glorify Him as we repent and live a life of righteousness. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” (Is.42:3 niv) God does direct the steps of those who are His, even the stupid things we do. He will make them right. But remember God never directs us into sin, but as we confessed and repent, He will forgive us applying His grace and mercy. Hard to accept, I know. Just accept it and praise Him for it!
“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble. The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The LORD nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.” Psalm 41:1-3 NLT
Guarantees are hard to come by these days. There is no such thing as a ‘sure thing.’ Certain consumer products are labeled to be guaranteed to work for a specified about of time, but we all know that is not always the case. You are guaranteed a degree by a major university if you study hard and apply yourself, but the school suddenly closes without warning. The same is true in the workplace, you’re guaranteed employment if the company can afford to stay in business. There are no guarantees, or sure things, in life outside the intervention of the Lord God.
David, the author of Psalm 41, gives us the assurance that joy is guaranteed when we are kind to the poor. These first three verses of Psalm 41 correspond to one of Jesus’ Beatitudes given in the Sermon on the Mount. “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Mt.5:7 nlt) David is ill and sees himself in this psalm he is writing. He was one who had shown mercy and knew the joy he had helping others. David trusted the Lord would show mercy and heal him giving him future joy in helping others who are sick and poor. David understood this as a sure thing.
Joy is extended to us as we give to the poor and meet their needs. The recipient of the gift, the poor, is joyous in the generosity of the giver for the adequate supply of needed substance. David continues noting the blessings bestowed upon those who are kind to the poor. The Lord God will rescue them from trouble and their enemies giving them on-going protection and prosperity. These are signs of a sure thing, guaranteed joy when helping the poor. David was confident God would show him mercy as he had shown mercy to those under his rule who needed help. The Lord will sustain us in our continued efforts to help the poor, bringing joy to all and that’s a sure thing!
“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” Jude 1:22-23 NLT
The small New Testament book of Jude containing only one chapter is a must read for every Christian as is all the Bible, but Jude in particular. Jude, our Lord Jesus’ brother, is warning us of false teachers who claim being saved by grace give us license for immorality. The thought is our sins will not be held against us, which is true, and we won’t lose our salvation which is also true, but sin is sin and evil in God’s sight. What Jude had written to the early Christians he could have written specifically to us today. “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.” (Jude1:4a nlt)
Many Christian churches today are succumbing to pressure compromising the truth with voices that contradict Scripture. Some Christians are easily swayed especially if it is presented in a way that applies to our current day and culture. Accepting these new norms will confuse a new Christian and will prove disastrous for the church. False teachers seem so eloquent, reasonable, loving, knowledgeable, persuasive, and most of all seem to be telling the truth. Jude writes, “In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.” (Jude1:8 nlt) We must be aware of the progressing influence of those who want to deny Biblical truth.
There will be those among us in our church family who will fall into this trap and begin to live out and support those involved in the social norms of society that contradict Scripture. Jude encourages a gentile approach to those who are confused. “And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.” (Jude1:22 nlt) We are not to jump all over our Christian brothers and sisters but take an approach that rescues them from judgment. The consequences of sin including God’s judgement on what He hates should be presented in a gentle manner. Most importantly, the rescuer must be in a right relationship with God and living righteously with sin confessed. We all sin daily whether we think we do or not.
Paul, the apostle also gives us advice on rescuing others from coming judgment, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Gal.6:1 nlt) Let us be on the alert. There is enough of temptation to sin in the world without having false teachers who ignore or put their spin on God’s Words deceiving even the very elect of God.
“……But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.” 2 Samuel 14:14 NLT
Photo by Askar Abayev
Are you separated from a loved one or a dear friend by something you have created? Perhaps the separation is the fault of the other party. Regardless, there is separation. Do you have a desire to restore the relationship or are you just as content to throw it away for good? Maybe you have done all you can to reconcile but to no avail. Don’t give up, ‘God devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.’ We should do the same. You possibly may be one who refuses to make amends but hear this, ‘God does not sweep life away’, and neither should we. Living in a sinful world always hinders us from doing the right thing or even pursuing it. But a better understanding of God and His mercy will go a long way in helping us strive for reconciliation.
A story is told of King David longing to see his son Absalom in the second book of Samuel. Absalom had been banished after killing his brother Amnon for raping their sister Tamar. Joab, captain of David’s army, sought a way to convince the King to bring Absalom back. He sent a woman to David claiming to be a widow with a story about her two sons, one dying by the hand of the other accidently. The rest of the family was demanding he be turned over for execution, leaving her husband’s name erased. David responded, ‘“Leave it to me,’ the king told her. ‘Go home, and I’ll see to it that no one touches him.’” (2Sa.14:8 nlt) The woman then confided in King David revealing her true purpose, “She replied, ‘Why don’t you do as much for the people of God as you have promised to do for me? You have convicted yourself in making this decision, because you have refused to bring home your own banished son.’” (2Sa.14:13 nlt) David got the message Joab sent him and had Absalom brought home.
Difficult passages in the Bible such as the one above provide real life situations for us with truth and wisdom in handling them. Joab devised a way for the King to bring back Absalom. When we have strayed from our King, the Lord Jesus, due to our sin he doesn’t throw us away, but is constantly devising ways to bring us back into fellowship with Him showing us His mercy. It doesn’t matter what we have done. His mercy covers it. When we devise ways to reconcile with those who are separated from us, we extend mercy to them as the Lord extends it to us. Devising ways to reconcile is a lot harder than just throwing them away, but it is worth it in the long run. So, don’t give up!
“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.” Daniel 9:18 NLT
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We have come to end of our short study of the book of Daniel covering the historical narrative of chapters 1-6. The rest of the book is apocalyptic material and eschatological in theological content. We will conclude with the main theme of our study ‘Living in Babylon’ a comparison of living in our world today with lessons we can learn from the Jewish captives living in ancient Babylon. In our final lesson we will learn from Daniel’s example of his prayer in chapter 9.
Daniel is in his 67th year of captivity with his Jewish brothers and sisters. Taken captive as a teenager, Daniel is now past eighty years old. He is keenly aware from reading the Old Testament scrolls of Jeremiah’s prophecy the captivity would last 70 years. The time was rapidly approaching for the nation to return to their homeland. Daniel offers up a powerful prayer of repentance not only for himself, but for the whole nation of Israel, fasting, covering himself with sackcloth and ashes. The nation is about to go back to the land they were driven from due to their sin towards the Lord God. Daniel’s pattern of prayer serves as a good model for us to follow in our daily prayers. It is filled with worship to God, humility, confession of sin, and making our requests known to Him.
Daniel begins his prayer by acknowledging how great and awesome God is. He always fulfilled His covenant with Israel keeping His promises as they obeyed Him. But then Daniel confesses, “But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.” (Dan. 9:5nlt) The Jewish people refused to heed the many warnings God had given for many years through the prophets He sent them. Daniel furthers acknowledged God was in the right to punish them as He had. The guilty was not just a few or those only living in Jerusalem, but the entire nation was guilty. “All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice.” (Dan. 9:11nlt)
The confessions in Daniel’s prayer can easily be applied to the modern-day Babylon we are living in. Referring to ancient Israel Daniel confessed, “O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.” (Dan. 9:8nlt) All one needs to do is to look around and review the news cycle over the last 50 years to wonder if Daniel wasn’t referring to many countries in our world today with the United States on top of the list. Israel had been warned many times throughout their history of the consequences of their disobedience and even suffered for it before the Babylon captivity, and still they refused to obey God. “Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth.” (Dan. 9:13nlt) I’m afraid if the United States and other countries around the world continue this path of rejecting the Lord God of heaven and earth, a day of judgment is the horizon.
Daniel praises God for His blessings of bringing the nation Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt. “O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.” (Dan. 9:15nlt) Dismissing the Lord’s past blessings they continued to sin against God bringing judgment upon themselves. The United Staes of America has been richly blessed by God from its founding, but as with the nation of Israel, it has turned its back on God. If God had not spared His people from judgement, the United States and all other countries of the world will not be spared either.
Making his petition to God, Daniel knowing of God’s mercies asks Him to turn His anger away from them as they prepare to return to Jerusalem. Daniel doesn’t want God’s name to dishonored by the surrounding nations as Israel was a reproach to them. Daniel pleas for mercy for their restoration back in the Holy Land. “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.” (Dan. 9:18nlt) Daniel is offering a prayer for repentance for the nation because God is merciful. May all of us pray for the country in which we live during our days in Babylon and be praying for each other, not that we deserve it, but because God is merciful.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV
The apostle Paul writing in the New Testament book of Ephesians lays out the pattern believers in Christ are to follow. As members of Christ’s church we are to adhere to the new requirements of every child of God. Paul writes we are to walk in unity, each of us is to administer their gift God has given for the building up of the saints. We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit by walking in our former worldly conduct, and we are to have compassion for one another, willing to forgive as God, in Christ, forgave us. Paul most likely had Matthew’s account of Jesus’s instruction about forgiveness in mind. It is possible Paul was familiar with Matthew’s writing as Ephesians was written some ten years after the gospel of Matthew.
Jesus had been teaching His disciples that forgiveness should be always be granted to those who repent. Peter questioned Jesus by asking if there were any limits to forgiveness. Jesus simply answered forgiveness was limitless and then went on to explain why a follower of Jesus would always forgive over and over again.
Jesus used the illustration of an earthly king who began settling accounts with governors who owed the king money through taxation. A certain governor owed a tremendous about of money he would never be able to pay back in a lifetime. The king demanded he be sold along with his wife and children, and all he possessed to make payment. The debtor begged for mercy and the king had compassion and forgave him his debt. It is an example of Jesus, the king, forgiving each of us our debt of sin which we could never pay. Being released from so great a debt should encourage every Christian to forgive others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Painting entitled ‘il Mantovano’ by Domenico Fetti
Unfortunately the forgiven debtor did not show the same mercy and compassion afforded him when he demanded payment from one who owed him money, a very small amount at that. When the king discovered the forgiven debtor’s actions he was angry and handed him over to the jailers. Although his debt was already paid, the king put him in the hands of the jailers to suffer severe discipline until he was willing to forgive others.
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation. When we, as Christians, consider the forgiveness shown to us by our Lord, how is it possible that we find it hard to forgive others? Let not our ingratitude come to the surface by not forgiving fellow believers for the little debt against us in relation to our great debt we have been forgiven by the Lord. Let us forgive each other as God forgave us.
“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV
Are you an advocate for the administering of true justice with mercy and compassion? Where do you find the source for true justice, mercy, and compassion? There can only be one source, the Word of God. The prophet Micah confirms this by saying ‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.’ (Mic. 6:8a) Therefore by following the principles and guidelines found in Scripture we have a solid foundation to build upon in administering justice with mercy and compassion.
Every Christian is to be outspoken with the injustices committed in our society. Whether it is the neglect of the poor and homeless, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, or religion, Christians should be out front not only with calls for justice, but with the actions to back it up. The New Testament book of 1 John tells us, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (3:17, 18)
The key word in in I John 3:18 is ‘truth.’ Our advocacy must be based on truth. The truth of God’s Word. There is a problem today for many Christians and it has made its way into many Christian churches. God’s justice (Biblical justice) is being intermingled with the world’s term of ‘social justice.’ They are not one and the same. It is true caring for the poor, the homeless, and standing in the face of discrimination are some tenets of ‘social justice’, but not all the tenets of ‘social justice’ are tenets of ‘God’s justice.’
As Christians we are to be wise and discerning in what constitutes ‘social justice’ of our day. The cries of each injustice are to be examined in the light of Scripture to test and prove it is a Biblical principle that has been violated. It is to be understood that it also does not contradict any other of God’s principles in Scripture. If it passes the test then we are to be an advocate for the injustice by following Micah’s exhortation, “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8b)
Word for the Soul 