Something Greater

Love's Cover-up: Hiding Sin? Several verses in the Bible describe a radical, extreme level of love, requiring Christians to love others despite the other person's sin, even to the point of covering up or hiding their sin . "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:27-31 (ESV) I am to love my enemies, doing good them who hate (detest, persecute) me. I am to bless (speak well of, to thank, to pray for good) them that curse (condemn me to doom). I am to pray for those who abuse (insult or slander) me. Even for one who strikes (repeatedly hits me with a stick) me on ...

Forgiven and Forgiving Jesus, my Lord, My Redeemer and Rescuer, My Ransom paid to set me free from sin's doom, I cannot forgive the one who has hurt me Because I do not feel forgiven for my sin. As long as I grip my sin like a bloody glove Used to commit murder, As long as I wear a veil of mourning To grieve over my sin, As long as I ignore Your forgiveness of me, I cannot forgive another. Oh! But when I see You! When I see You spending Your life for me, When I see You pay the ransom for my sin, When I see You witness for me before the Judge, I am set free! Now free, I see others differently. Others are gripping their sin and veiling their sorrow, Causing them to bitterly hate and judge themselves and others. Others are where I was. I forgive you. You hurt me like I hurt you. I forgive you because Jesus forgives me. Image courtesy of Marco Michelini

Pressed Down and Overflowing "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38 (ESV) God rewards those who give. God Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the evil (Luke 6:35). We glorify God when we act, even in small ways, like Him . If we give love to others, especially to enemies, God gives us much more love . If we give mercy, if we withhold biased judgement or condemnation, whatever good we give to others, God will give good back to us . His reward will be multiplied times more that the small that we give. Imagine buying a cup of rice to give to a hungry child. The rice merchant himself is a kind man, and he sees my generosity and compassion. He calls me back to the counter and fills a cup full. Before giving me the cup of rice, he presses it down, settles it down with shaking, pours more rice into the cup, the c...

Hearing and Measuring "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you." Mark 4:24 (ESV) The King James Version of this verse more accurately follows the original Greek: "Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given." Mark 4:24 (KJV) The emphasis of this verse is upon hearing with understanding . Jesus earlier ended a message to a crowd by saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9) The disciples of Jesus lacked understanding, just as much as the crowd. They asked Him to explain why he spoke obscurely, using symbolic stories or parables, rather than plain, simple language. His answer indicated that the stories were a proof or test: "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that they may indeed see but not ...

Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." James 3:14-16 (ESV) Bitterness and selfishness are two inescapable evidences of a heart that is controlled by Satan . Satan is able to influence and deceive human hearts , appealing to their natural self-love, making them believe that their carnal, selfish desires are paramount, above the needs and concerns of any other person, including the God Almighty Who created and sustains them by His general mercy. Appeals for assistance from others and opportunities for self-advancement all are filtered by the natural man's filter, often producing a false appearance of an attack or a threat to the natural man's desires. The demon-control...