Mark 10:17-31
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’"
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied,
“no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
2 Thessalonians 2
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who loved us and by his grace
gave us eternal encouragement
and good hope,
17 encourage your hearts
and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Forgiveness is asked to let love flow. To heal harm and makes an upward path to God.
Forgiveness is sought to allow us to be God's child.
Seeks God's Will for us.
Forgiveness seeks the blessing of others and sustains faith, hope and love.
Forgiveness uplifts your family.
Forgiveness is not for power and control of others.
Forgiveness builds up lives.
God does not put us in harm's way to forgive very often. God calls us to live in a real peace. When the other person's motivation is harm, abuse, usury and power without a real peace or love and only a show of presence - we have not found relationship or a Godly peace.
1 Corinthians 7
15 God has called us to live in peace.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
Psalm 121:7-8
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead
our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Rick Warren did a tremendous talk on forgiveness. Huge calls for forgiveness in serious matters like divorce.
We are told how to handle these serious matters in the Scripture. Just as we are told to rejoice in all things and give thanks, we would never be asked to give thanks for murder. For violence done. For acts of sexual impropriety. Rick Warren says the Bible is about seeking what God will do in healing. We are to have humility and see others better than ourselves - this does not include every situation and every person. God says see good whenever possible and see good traits in people to aspire their good ideals and qualities.
There are times when restoration isn't the goal. Victims of pedophilia do not return to the violent. When the goal of peace is really abuse, usury or power, God cannot say peace is more of the same.
God said marriage is violated with sexual impropriety - adultery. Marriage is also violated when peace is destroyed. God calls us again and again to have peace. We learn in 1 Corinthians 7 God has called us to live in peace.
Not the peace of the world. What is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
God says pray peace for people and do not be troubled, worried. Cast your cares Upon Him, for He cares for you.
God is Good.
For what we cannot solve - God is the One to allow Him to have souls to save. We are not capable to Judge someone in their entirety. We need to be in Him to be fruitful. We stay in what is noble, right, lovely, admirable and away from what is displeasing to God coming from our heart.
When the path is rocky and we wonder - Jesus didn't have a lot to say to Pilate. He wasn't rude. When even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
God calls us to be centered in the midst of things that are a trial to us. Not to the right or left. Jesus is the center.
We see together about troubles fade away when we trust God. Cares about riches fade away and God is good. All Things are Possible with God.
James 1
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test
he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love him
To forgive is to be able to take a deep breath - to feel living water pour over us - and to release the worry, anxieties and fear.
Jacob became Israel - God's chosen - he forgave his sons - giving blessings as they had earned not sugar coated - Scripture does not record the sons asking their father for forgiveness.
Jesus, Son of God, forgave Caiaphas and Ananias - He just never returned to proclaim Himself Lord of the Temple. The Pharisees who watched Jesus' every move and word - only one fell down in realization and asked to be forgiven. The Pharisees were not interested in the Love and Works of God - they were interested in power and position - for - themselves.
Abba, Father God,
We yearn for Your' heart's blessing, Father God,
Dwell within us - help us to establish our soul
and a fruitful place for Your dwelling.
You are God.
Nothing is impossible with You. A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by. In the morning, Your mercies renew!
If you set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence, we would not stand.
Help us to have a heart of wisdom.
Help us to have joy seeing Your deeds and allow us the splendor to tell
our children of Your Love.
Pour Your Living Water in our lives - sweeping suffering aside and real healing and real forgiveness to continue in health and holiness. We ask Love and Joy to
draw us forth into abundant Life.
Father, be our Guide and Center.
May Your Favor
Father Lord God rest upon us.
And establish our works
in Your mercy.
We believe in the Love of Jesus Christ and ask Your mercy, Amen.
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