A Chance to Reconcile

 

A Chance to Reconcile

Genesis 27: Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.”

 

And he answered him, “Here I am.”

 

² Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. ³ Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. ⁴ And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

 

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Years and years after moving back to the place where Abraham bought, Isaac watched Esau grow up. He was getting old and could not see well. He called to Esau and gave him his request.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac could have blessed Esau right on the spot, but he gave him something to do.
• Isaac must have known that Esau gave away his birthright for a meal, so he gave him the opportunity to make it right.
• Isaac was willing to reinstate the blessing if Esau put in the effort.

 

Esau saddened Isaac and Rebekah by marrying the Hittite women. These women may have lived in the “care-less” culture, doing and saying as they please. They may not have followed what GOD wanted. Esau had great hunting skills, but may have left the cooking to everyone else.

 

Isaac requested that “he” make the food this time and was prepared to make everything right again by blessing him. This could be Esau’s chance to fix what he had broken.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD tells Moses about the conversation between Isaac and Esau?
• Have you ever thought you messed up with GOD and was given the opportunity to reconcile?
• Can you take a moment and ask GOD to reconcile with you, so HE can forgive and cleanse you to do HIS next assignment for you?

Unstuck

Unstuck

Colossians 1: ¹⁹ For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. ²⁰ Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

 

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After years of dedication and hard work, I was told “the position is being eliminated.” Handing me an award for the best team added insult to injury. I could not concentrate during the final days. So much of my identity was tied up in work.

 

• I was stuck on “my” accomplishments.
• I was stuck on trying to make sense out of something that made no sense.
• I was stuck trying to see if I made mistakes, so I spent hours replaying words, actions and thoughts.

 

GOD the FATHER gives the ultimate example of moving forward, according to Paul’s letter. HE showed unmatched restraint by allowing the creation to senselessly murder and blame the creator. HE decided to reconcile versus destroy everyone and everything.

 

My Observations

• GOD provides me with a way to become unstuck when I get stuck in the past.
• GOD’s example of forgiveness is something I can obtain when I ask for it.
• GOD can help me to let go, especially when I relapse into pitying my circumstance.

 

“Forgive and forget” seems impossible when I am stuck. I mean, when I replay past hurts over and over and over again, I get stuck in a loop where there is no room for forgiveness. BUT GOD wants me out of the loop.

 

HE picks me up out of the hole of unforgiveness and moves me forward. HE gives me words of peace and reconciliation through the SON and enables me to serve those who threw poison darts at me. I am glad I can let go of seeing “punishment” and turn to GOD’s example of hoping everyone knows JESUS in a saving way.

 

Challenge

• What human intervention does the writer mention, if any?
• Have you ever been stuck in hurt or cannot see a way out of your situation?
• Will you follow GOD’s example and decide to move forward regardless of past or current circumstances?

Restored After the Stew

Restored After the Stew

Ephesians 3: For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. ² Surely you have heard that God in his grace has given me this work to do for your good. ³ God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. (I have written briefly about this, ⁴ and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.) ⁵ In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God's blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.

 

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Standing on the sideline, I waited to be picked to be on one of the teams. I was not athletically inclined, so my draft pick was extremely low. I was finally chosen, but did not get a chance to play that time, but when I did, I actually got on base!

 

• At one time I felt left out.
• When I was chosen I still felt like I did not belong.
• When I participated, I did not know I could actually contribute.

 

Paul goes to enormous lengths to explain the Gentiles have a part in GOD’s promise. For centuries, the Gentiles heard of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and “Jacob”, (the swindler who tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright for some stew). While Esau was careless, he did not know he would be the father of a group of people who were left out of the Promise.

 

My Observations

• GOD sees my mistakes and forgive me anyway.
• GOD wants me to be part of HIS family, even though I do not deserve it.
• GOD wants me to actively participate as much as those who are gifted.

 

Some people who follow JESUS can be intense or even a bit intimidating. I mean, he may give more or she may serve more or someone else may not sin as much. BUT GOD doesn’t look at the score when it comes to HIS Promise. HE wants all of HIS children back, period.

 

HE chose a group to spread HIS Gospel, and they held it to themselves. HE then allowed HIS SON to fulfil the Gospel and they killed HIM. HE raised JESUS from the dead and gave HIS promise to the descendants of Jacob and Esau. He restored the Gentiles without having them need to follow all the rules. I am glad JESUS was raised from the dead for me.

 

Challenge

• Can you feel the passion of the writer over those who were at once left out?
• Have you ever felt left out or less than another person?
• Will you accept JESUS as your Savior and be a part of a family who HE care for and guides daily, in spite of flaws?

 

Women Leaders Needed

Women Leaders Needed

1 Corinthians 14: ³³ because God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace.

As in all the churches of God's people, ³⁴ the women should keep quiet in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak; as the Jewish Law says, they must not be in charge. ³⁵ If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in a church meeting.

 

³⁶ Or could it be that the word of God came from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it came? ³⁷ If anyone supposes he is God's messenger or has a spiritual gift, he must realize that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. ³⁸ But if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him.

 

³⁹ So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God's message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues. ⁴⁰ Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

 

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Ugh! Another tough message from Paul! When I first glanced at the message I dreaded the thought of addressing the statement because I was taking it out of context. I mean, I can only imagine my wife dreading hearing any words that would place her in an unheard state. We are working through hearing each other to this day, as all marriages should. But Paul raises a doozie!

 

• At first glance it looks like women are not valued.
• At first glance it looks like women can never say a word.
• At first glance it looks like women would cause disgrace.

 

My Observations

Again, I have to return to the curse of GOD when Adam took down all humans in Genesis 3. GOD made a hierarchy that showed sin caused disharmony between HIM and HIS creation. GOD also added pain and struggle in this curse. Nothing exciting happens in a curse. But what does the curse have to do with women speaking in church gatherings?

 

I wish I had the letter or letters written to Paul. I mean, Paul’s reference seems to be focused on married women, not all women. He seemed to be addressing an issue written to him versus bashing women. I don’t know is my answer. Here is what I believe.

 

• I believe GOD made man and woman to live in harmony.
• I believe GOD wants man and woman to have peace.
• I believe GOD wants HIS message proclaimed by every human, man and woman.

 

In this chapter, being heard “is” the problem. Not everyone can rush the stage with a message and not everyone can speak in strange tongues without full understanding. All must have the desire to spread GOD’s message of love and sometimes be silent and use restraint as the example.

 

Women leaders are needed more and more as men have not brought the harmony and peace GOD is seeking. Women who can proclaim GOD’s message while bringing in harmony and peace are desperately needed these days. Both my grandmothers and my mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, sisters-in-law, aunts, cousins and daughter have been and should be icons of harmony and peace pertaining to proclaiming GOD’s message. I have learned a lot from them as do many.

 

Challenge

• What are your observations about harmony and peace in this chapter, not just the passage?
• What do you think about women speaking and leading in the gathering of people?
• What suggestions do you have for seeking the “harmony and peace” GOD is looking for?

Grace Terms

 

Grace Terms

Romans 5: ⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

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Realizing I was wrong I had to go to the person and ask for forgiveness. This did not feel good at all. When the person rejected my request, I felt even worse. I mean, I did what the manual said and humbled myself to ask for forgiveness. I wanted an immediate reaction that I did not get.

 

• There have been times when I asked for grace but wanted it on “my” terms.
• There have been times when I wanted grace but had an idea of what it should look like.
• There have been times when I was in the wrong, but I did not want to admit it.

 

Paul continues his explanation of JESUS. Paul had just mentioned that trouble brings on perseverance which grows character and enables hope. That hope is in JESUS. Paul also explains that JESUS provided grace to those who do not deserve it. HE died for HIS enemies. Who are HIS enemies? All of us.

 

• GOD saw every sin I would commit and while HE disliked all the sin, HE died for me anyway.
• GOD was extremely angry at anyone who would side with those who would kill HIS SON, and I was on that side, yet JESUS died for me anyway.
• GOD knew I would never choose HIM and I sometimes think “I don’t need grace” or tell HIM “this is what grace should look like”; but HE overlooked my broken thinking.

 

GOD’s grace is pure and is not up for negotiation. The only term HE has is for all humans to realize the need for forgiveness and to believe JESUS is the judge who forgives those who believe in HIM.

 

Asking for grace requires me to humble myself and not expect to be raised up to the level I once was before I messed up. GOD’s grace means I did not get what I deserved, and I am thankful HE loved me so much that HE died for me in the middle of being HIS enemy. I am grateful of HIS grace and accept HIS terms for my life.

 

• Are you wrong, but anticipating how grace should look?
• Do you think it is on the other person to show forgiveness “your way?”
• Will you stop placing terms and conditions on GOD so you can see how much grace HE has poured out to you and how much restraint HE has for not pouring out punishment on you daily?

It’s all about GOD!

Colossians 1: ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

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Pondering GOD is a good exercise for me to do every once in a while. I begin by asking questions that I can’t answer like “how have YOU always existed” or “how are YOU three separate yet equal parts?” These are too complicated for my little brain but HE does give me a glimpse of HIS “supreme” nature.

Supreme means above all others or the highest or the ultimate, yet sometimes I think I am the highest.

• When life is tough I want my problem fixed immediately.
• When life is good I want more good.
• When life is boring I want a change.
• When life is erratic I want peace.

Sometimes I view GOD by the temperature of my life. GOD is good when the weather is warm and HE is a punisher when the weather is bad. Unfortunately this is the wrong view of GOD.

• All things were created by JESUS.
• Everything in heaven belongs to JESUS.
• Everything in and on Earth belongs to JESUS.
• Everything I can see belongs to JESUS.
• Everything I cannot see belongs to JESUS.
• Every boss I have ever had or will have was put there by JESUS.
• Every elected official was put there by JESUS.
• Every pastor, teacher, trainer was put there by JESUS.
• Everything is held together by JESUS.

JESUS created it all and put everything in place just for HIM. HE made the church and is the church. HE became the firstborn human and died for me now I have peace!

• Have you asked GOD “what do YOU want” instead of telling HIM what you want?
• Do you believe that even your problem was made for HIS glory?
• Can you see GOD in the middle of a storm in your life?
• Can you see GOD loving “bad” people?

I can tell I’m nervous because I’m selfish!

Philippians 2:  ¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

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There my mind goes racing again at 3:00 A.M. wondering if I passed that exam or if that presentation went well or if I got my point across in the argument. Many a sleepless night I’ve faced because of worry, doubt and fear and it seems like I wake up at the same time.

Thought after thought comes racing to my mind over what I could have said or what they said or did. Is there any rest?

• I think of something I want now it’s on my mind.
• I convince myself I really want “what I want” now it’s in my heart.
• I pray for the thing “I want” now I set the LORD up for possible failure.
• I sometimes get disappointed by not getting “what I want”, now I pout and blame GOD.

One of the reasons I get angry or nervous is because I get frustrated over a situation that GOD is in control of.  Blame is hurled at GOD because I want “my way” and HE has another plan. Unfortunately I do the same things over and over. GOD has another way.

• Unity in CHRIST makes me relax.
• Unity in CHRIST enables me to show what love really is.
• Unity in CHRIST comforts me in times of trouble.
• Unity in CHRIST turns my hard heart tender.
• Unity in CHRIST helps me show compassion.

Serving others occupies my “worry” time in ways that I can’t express. Each time I focus on serving someone else, I rest better. I also rest better when my ambitions are coupled with GOD.  HE tells me to do “nothing out of selfish ambition” which seems harsh at first, but makes sense.

• When my ambitions are couple with GOD I can’t lose.
• When my ambitions are couple with GOD I remain focused instead of worrying.
• When my ambitions are couple with GOD my selfishness goes away and unity reigns.

Unity is the one thing GOD seeks out of every human and it’s up to me to take the first step.

• Are you nervous?
• Could it be possible that you are selfish right now?
• What are you fighting about now?
• Do you want to restore the relationship?
• Can you take the first step towards reconciliation?