Forgiveness – We Need Clean Hearts

Matthew 5:23-24

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

We just concluded the series on Forgiveness – May 6, 13, 20.  I enjoyed reading and preparing the messages for that series.  I hope some enjoyed listening and learning together.

I didn’t use this passage in the series – but this morning it was part of my daily reading.  It follows along with my question asked each week in the messages – Who do you/we have to forgive?  Who is it in our lives that we have anger – bitterness – resentfulness – revengeful feelings toward?  Jesus says that before we give our offering – even our prayers – to God – we need to make it right with them.

To reconcile doesn’t mean everything is OK and fine.  It means – as far as it relies on you – you have cleared your heart and made amends.  You have taken every step possible to make it right – whether the other person has also or not.

So – today – who do you need to reconcile with so you can clear the hurt in your heart?  Remember – forgiveness is all about us – about our heart being clean and ready to embrace God fully.  It is the attitude of Christ we are to embrace.  Remember what Jesus said about those who had crucified Him: Forgive them for they know not what they do.  And those He forgave had not asked for it nor did they deserve it!  We need clean hearts to draw close to Jesus.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Christianity Boils Down to Attitude

1 Chronicles 28:9

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”

Much of the Bible and thus Christianity comes down to attitude – motivation – the desire of one’s heart.  In today’s passage we read – for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  David was trying to pass on some words of wisdom to his son Solomon and others and urged him to acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.

Throughout the Bible we are urged to have the attitude of Jesus – an attitude of a servant.  Our motivation is to be clearly for God’s purposes.  Our heart is to be set on God and God’s kingdom – all of us who call ourselves after Christ.  Here are a few of many passages that pass along these truths.

Philippians 2:5 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  It is from this passage and others like it that my old saying comes – Christianity boils down to attitude.  I often add – the condition and position of one’s heart!

Matthew 20:26-28 – 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  If we are to follow the example set by Christ – all who call themselves after Christ should have a servant’s heart – a servant’s attitude – and be motivated by what motivates Jesus.

John 13:14-17 – 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  Again – if we are to follow Christ – we must have the heart – the motivation – the attitude of Christ – willing to do anything God asks of us to serve Him and to be faithful.

What has God called us to do for Him?  Are there things we have pushed aside – because we thought they were not worthy or because we thought they were beneath us?  Are the things God has called us to not been in the limelight – and we wanted to be upfront?  Were they not what we imagined for us?  Did we want to sing with the praise team and feel God calling us to do something else?  Do we believe that only certain things are worthy to be called ministry?  Do we think if it isn’t Sunday morning – it isn’t really ministry?

A few members & friends of our church enjoy playing basketball on Wednesday nights. More than playing basketball – these members and friends want to serve Jesus with their time on Wednesday nights.  On most Wednesdays – 20-25 young men and some not so young men gather in our gym to play basketball – but that is not all they do.  From the outside – someone might think – oh – that’s just a bunch of guys playing basket-ball.  Others might feel put out because they feel crowded out of the gym before their conversations are finished on Wednesday nights after AWANA – Youth Small Groups and other discipleship gatherings. But believe me – from 8:30 to 10:30 – ministry is going on.

My personal attitude toward Wednesday night basketball will never be the same after a recent encounter with Jesus.  I thought it was just an open gym for church guys and some guys from the community to play basketball – until one recent Wednesday night when I found out it is a portal to encounter Jesus – a bring them in event.  As we broke halfway through the evening for devotions as we always do – we asked for prayer concerns – as we always do.  This group of guys has been playing together for a couple of months now and they are getting more comfortable with each other and starting to open up.  One young man opened up and asked for prayers for his father – who can’t seem to stay out of jail.

That one sentence opened my heart  – once again – to the potential this open gym night has and the possibilities of ministry for Jesus.  A couple of weeks later this young man volunteered to close our devotions in prayer and said in his prayer something like – I’m thankful for my friend who invited me to play basketball – I have never been to a church before and I really like it here.  I was floored and tears came to my eyes.  I looked around and knew our time had more meaning than we thought.  Over the last few weeks several of these young men – as they arrive – have started to greet me with hugs – handshakes and kind words.  For me –this is a very emotional and powerful time of worship and service.  Believe me – or don’t – and come see for yourself.

God has used Jonathan Johnson, Stephen Dinolfo, Jimmy King, Justin Linehan, Anthony & Michael Epps, Alan Smith, Ron Yelverton and others to MINISTER to some young men that may never see Jesus in any other place in their lives.  Where can we be used by God – with the right attitude – motivation and heart – to serve Him for His glory?

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Where Do the Struggles You Face in Your Life Originate?

James 4:1

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

In a recent holiday episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos there was a set of videos about children and Christmas morning.  Some of us have such videos.  During this segment in the show we saw videos of children opening gifts – excitedly – only to be disappointed in what they found.  The disappointment was evident in their faces – in their behavior. 

One child received a new pair of socks and began to cry – uncontrollably.  Another received a matching outfit and ran upstairs in anger.  Another child charged the camera in anger – presumably at the parent holding the camera.  This went on for some time – some real funny videos – right?

In that segment was another child who was dressed in her pink night-wear.  She was jumping up and down in excitement.  You wondered what it was that she just received.  She held in her hands a tiny chestnut.  She turned to camera and shouted with joy: A nut! A nut! I got a nut! I don’t know what kind it is, but I got a nut! 

James 4:1-6 – 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?   6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Where do the struggles you face in your life originate?

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Love One Another! It Will Help Your Attitude!

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Over the next few days we will examine the Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5. We just took a few days to look at attitude – and several have remarked at how those hit home.  Our love quotient goes a long way toward having the right attitude my friends.

The first fruit listed is love.  Love is THE most important of the fruits – because without love we could have all the rest – all of the fruits and gifts of the Spirit – and something would still be missing.

1 Corinthians 13:2 – If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

We are called to imitate Christ and the love He showed us.

Ephesians 5:1-2 – 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The commandments were summed up by Jesus with a heavy dose of love.

Mark 12:30-31 – 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’   31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Today – and throughout the rest of our lives – we should be working on being more loving.  Allowing the fruit of love to invade our very being.  For some that is easier – because it is their nature to be loving.  For some – this will be a task – but it will help us produce a better attitude and will help us be a better witness for Christ.

Love one another – even as Christ loved us.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Renewing and Transforming Our Minds – To Be Like Christ!

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Yesterday we looked at Philippians 2:5 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.  We wrote about the trend a few years ago to wear jewelry that said WWJD – what would Jesus do? The jewelry was a reminder that we should constantly think about how Jesus would handle a given situation.

In today’s Scripture we are told to turn away from the sins of our life – the sins we lived with before turning to Christ.  We’re told to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.  Paul then instructs us to be made new in the attitude of your minds.  The attitude of our minds!  Another passage that helped form the phrase – Christianity boils down to attitude.

Dennis Green –when he was the coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team – had a meltdown in a post game interview after playing the Chicago Bears.  He said that now famous line – they are who we thought they were!  Our thoughts are very important.  We are instructed in today’s passage to be made new in the attitude of your minds.  We are told to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Today – I pray for you and for me – that we would put on a new mind – daily – and let our minds be transformed by the renewing of the Spirit.  I pray that we would think on good things – Godly things – and be transformed into the mind and likeness of Christ.

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Christianity Boils Down to Attitude

Philippians 2:5

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Recently I have become more aware of my attitude and the attitude of those around me.  Some may have a natural tendency to see the negative first – rather than the positive.  For instance – when they arrive at home it is more natural for them to notice the lights on in rooms not being used – the TV running and no one watching – the children’s bikes in the driveway – than to notice that all the children are doing their homework – their partner busy fixing dinner – and their pet meeting them cheerfully at the door.  Because this might be natural for some – it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to overcome this tendency.  Our attitudes impact people around us – our family – our co-workers – folks at church – folks at the grocery store – etc.

Throughout my ministry and my life – I have seen the impact a negative attitude can have on people – on me.  Snide remarks on Facebook – in person – in an e-mail – on the phone – can scare people and damage our witness for Christ.  Some people might think their spiritual gift is to complain – to be negative – to point out to those around them the things they are doing wrong – but that one is missing from the list the Bible gives us.  Some seem to see the negative first.  Some see the glass half-empty.  For those with these natural tendencies – the task at hand might be tougher.  But all of us should hear today’s Scripture and examine our attitudes with the attitude of Christ.

Before we make that snide comment (catching ourselves is not easy but doable) – we should ask ourselves – would Jesus say – type – post this?  It might just help.  The WWJD craze was something that was supposed to remind us – what would Jesus do.  I’ve started wearing my bracelet again – as a simple reminder to me.  It has helped some – but I still slip.

I once coined this phrase – which I got from today’s Scripture.  Christianity boils down to attitude.  This is not a theological statement as much as it is an acknowledgement that we can have all knowledge but without the right attitude – it could be for naught.  I would think we all know people who have great Bible knowledge – a sincere love for Jesus even –but their attitude stinks – and this impairs their witness – greatly.  As a pastor – I would rather have someone working in the ministry with the right attitude – who is trainable in the ways of God – than a person trained in the ways of God with a bad attitude.

Today – and for the foreseeable future – let’s work on our attitudes.  Instead of looking for things to complain about – let’s look for the good in those around us and in the work that we and others are doing.  I guarantee it will make things better!  A good attitude goes a long way!  A good attitude can cover over a multitude of mistakes – where a bad attitude can destroy a lot of good works.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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Encourage Others as They Seek After Jesus

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Yesterday we discussed our attitudes – a little.  I really believe that our attitudes are a major stumbling block for ourselves and for others – as we seek after Jesus.  How welcoming are we to visitors?  How open are we to enabling others to join our groups and ministries?  Are we in cliques?  Do we have a quick tongue?  Do we tend to gossip?  Do we encourage others in their walk with Jesus?  Are we humble in our walk with Jesus?  Do we have a servant’s heart?  Do we see our salvation as a gift that we want to share with as many people as possible?  Do we encourage others as they seek after Jesus?  We could go on and on – right?

Today’s passage – is about checking our attitude and encouraging one another – daily;

Hebrews 3:12-14 – 12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

If the heart – the attitude – is right – the actions will follow.  If the heart is not right – the actions can only be faked for so long – and we can never fake out God.  We need to examine our attitudes my friends.  Our attitudes may be the stumbling block that keeps some from coming to know Jesus.  The Scriptures tell us to encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of us may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  I pray we will search our hearts – our attitudes – because God knows our hearts - He knows them full well. 

Something to think about today as you go on your way.