No Resistance in doing Mercy

Today’s scripture:

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel - rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Today we are looking into the eighth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Nonresistance”. In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus says not to take matters into your own hands but to empty the pride in you and give yourself and show love with meekness and humility.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” (Matthew 5:38) Oh, how quick we are to seek revenge when we are being wronged. This is one area I struggle with, especially with those who are closest to me. Actually, this verse came from Exodus 21:24, which was meant to be a way for the judge to determine justice when a crime was committed. Jesus explains that it’s not for us to seek revenge. He desires mercy and restoration. He wants us to have a spirit of meekness, which takes us back to the Beatitudes… “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Of course, Jesus is talking more about theft and violence, or is He? See, the real point here is if He is saying we need to act with meekness, humility, gentleness and love even with the most difficult people, how much more with people who are close to us and we deal with every day? Truthfully, sometimes I find it harder to let these fruits of the Spirit show with people I’m closest to than people who have really done me harm. My sister’s husband murdered her with an AK-47 assault rifle in 2011, and minutes after finding out I started to pray for him. But sometimes when my wife and I get into it, all the sudden it becomes very hard to show meekness. Meekness is humility, dyeing to your own way of things and loving instead.

Have you ever been in an argument and so sure that you are right? I mean, you have no doubt in your mind and you can prove it. You may feel your so right that you will drive home your point of view even if it means having the argument escalate to the point of a screaming match. But after all, you’re right…Right?

Well, It can be so easy for me to go down that road of trying to prove I’m right. If it gets to that point, YOU ARE WRONG! You are wrong because you have not humbled yourself to do what is more important than proving you’re right, and that is to “die to self” and win them with meekness, gentleness… LOVE! Have faith God knows all things and He will handle the situation justly and rightly, but in the meantime, we need to show love and give ourselves through meekness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT – “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

The one part that so much sticks out to me in this passage is v.5 “It does not demand it’s own way”! That word demand carries some weight to it. It reeks of pride! What this is saying is that love does not say, “I deserve this”, or “I’m entitled to this”, or “I have rights”. Once you gave your life to Christ, you gave up all your rights! You are not your own anymore because you belong to Christ. If you belong to the Prince Of Peace, who is lowly and meek, you have it in you to do the same, and He requires it. He commands it.

Notice at the end of this passage… “Love…endures through every circumstance.” Through EVERY circumstance??? YES! Even in the middle of an all-out-raging-war of ridicule, violence, condemnation, etc. What is love anyway? Well, it says love is patient and kind and rejoices in truth and it never fails! So, if you have love then you will show meekness and humility in the most difficult situations.

Reflection:

This needs an attitude of humility. Beloved, anger and wanting our own way is probably one of the toughest things you will fight against. But we MUST do it! We must LOVE with MERCY! We must die to self. We need to pick that “old man” up by the back of the neck, shake him up and crucify him because he brings no good fruit. He only brings jealously and he is boastful, proud, and rude. He demands his own way. He is irritable, and he keeps records of being wronged, and rejoices about injustice.

Challenge:

We all need to learn more about love, especially the kind of love 1 Corinthians talks about which is “agape” love. For this next week, memorize 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Don’t just memorize, but put it into practice. I guarantee you will have some opportunities to pull that scripture out in those tough moments and DO what it says. How can you show patience? How can you show kindness? In other words, how can you “die to self”? Figure that out and do it!

-Doug McGowan

The Guarded Tongue

Today’s scripture:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

“neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:4)

The tongue is one of the most powerful tools we have. It can be used to curse, hurt, and destroy, or it can be used to glorify the God of the universe and actually please His heart with your words.

Today we are looking into the seventh topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Speech Guarded”. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus says we should really watch our words because words are powerful. I’ll explain just how powerful they can be in a minute. Jesus says we should not swear at all. He says man cannot be trusted (John 2:24-25). So, if we can’t be trusted, then how can we swear we will never be a certain way or do certain things? I told myself I wouldn’t let my sexual sin go too far, but I took it as far as homosexual acts! We can never be so sure of ourselves and truly have a real thorough knowledge of how wicked our hearts can be.

In Luke 18:11 The Pharisee said he is not a sinner like everyone else. And he doesn’t cheat, or sin, or commit adultery. We have to be real careful when we talk such foolishness. It is way too easy to get caught up in thinking we are better than others, then we begin to speak it into the air and we can actually curse ourselves that way. See, we start to show how prideful we can be by such words and if we choose not to be humble, in Luke 14:11, God says He will humble us and it can be very uncomfortable.

On the other end of the spectrum is equally true as well. I spent several years going to a S.A. support group for sexoholics. I was taught by that organization that I would always be a sexoholic. In fact before I could speak up in meetings, I would have to proclaim that out loud… “Hi, my name is Doug and I am a sexoholic”. For approx. 10 years I did that every week and bought into that lie. But, that is NOT WHO I AM, that is what I was doing! I AM a created human being made to worship God, but who is deceived by this world, the devil, and my own heart and someone who desperately needs Jesus. And now, I AM a child of the King and I AM made holy! However, by saying that I was forever a sexoholic and speaking that into the air, I continued to live like that until God knocked me over with His Holy Spirit. By my own words I was repeating lies and the more I did, the more I belied it, and the more I believed it, the more I lived like one. See how powerful our words can be?

My wife Cyndi said she used to say to herself, She would never do certain things. She said she would never get divorced so she would never get married. She said she would always let her kids have all they wanted (cable TV in each of their rooms, toys, etc.). But, now she and I both are reaping some of that fruit that has not been good.

I grew up being around my dad who would drink, my siblings often did drugs and I vowed to never go down that road. I was going to be better than that. I swore I would not be like those scum of the earth drunks and drug addicts. I was developing a strong self-will that reeked of pride. Guess what, I didn’t drink heavily or do any drugs, not even pot, but I ended up going down the spiral of degradation of sexual immorality that costs my family a lot of pain!

Reflection:

The Attitude here needs to be of one that has a commitment on keeping your promises as well as speaking wisely with careful thought on glorifying the Lord with thanksgiving. Be careful of the sureness of your words. Speak with truth of what you know and not of speculation. Speaking with an attitude of gratitude and of integrity is the kind of talk that glorifies and pleases God’s heart.

Challenge:

Today, meditate on where your attitude is with a thankful heart. Where is it with integrity? Are you someone who speaks with truth and always guarding your tongue? Are you someone who people would say keeps your promises? Don’t make a vow to God or say “This time, I’ll make it right”. Just make up your mind of what you need to do and commit it before the Lord. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

-Doug McGowan

The new covenant

Today’s scripture:

“(v.11) Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, (v.12) To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, …(v.17) Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.” (Proverbs 2:11-12, 17)

I need to forewarn you, this is probably going to be a very controversial topic but I feel it needs to be said and biblically explained. I’ve often wondered in the past after being born again, if I can loose my salvation, and believing very strongly that I couldn’t based on John 10:28-29. But I didn’t read it carefully and consider all the other passages that say otherwise. But I prefer to put it in another way. Maybe it’s possible for us to give up our covenant with God by our own will. Please dear ones, let me explain and carefully study the scriptures of what I’m presenting here. Don’t take my word for it. But consider what God’s word says about this.

Since the beginning of time, God has held a special place in His heart for marriage. In fact, in Genesis 1:27, we see this on the sixth day of the creation of the world. In chapter 2:18 God says it is not good for man to be alone, that he should have a helper.

It is amazing to me how the words marriage, covenant, testament, and relationship all tie in together. Marriage is a covenant, but we also are familiar of the term covenant when speaking about God’s promise to His people. See, the word covenant and testament are the same, and this all is about a relationship. He says that our intimate relationship with Him is like a marriage. A marriage that is so sacred, it should not be defiled with harlotry. Harlotry in the since of anything that we go after with our heart that separates us from God.

Today we are looking into the sixth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Marriage Sacred”. In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus says that it there is absolutely no reason a husband and wife should get divorced except for sexual immorality. And if we take in consideration of Matthew 18:21-35, we see that God wants restoration, especially in marriage. I believe God would have a spouse to stay with the other spouse who has committed adultery if there is genuine repentance. I don’t think it would be in God’s will for a married couple to get divorced IF there is true repentance. Can you see the commonality or the sameness of a marriage between a husband and wife vs. the marriage between God and us?

I’m writing this verse out because I want you to see how plainly God puts it as He compares our marriage with Him and with the passage in Matthew 5:32. Look what it says in Jeremiah 3:1–9…

1“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.

2 “Lift up your eyes to the desolate heights and see: Where have you not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them like an Arabian in the wilderness; And you have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness.

3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; You refuse to be ashamed.

4 Will you not from this time cry to Me, My Father, You are the guide of my youth?

5 Will He remain angry forever? Will He keep it to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken and done evil things, as you were able.”

6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.

7 And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.”

You may read this and ask “what about the verse in John 10:28-29?” Where it says that no one can be snatched out of His hand. But God has given us free will (Luke 13:3, 2 Thess 1:8, Prov 3:31, Joshua 24:15, Duet 30:19). These verses show that we have a choice to obey. What the verse in John 10 is really saying is nobody outside of the relationship between God and us can snatch us out of His hand. But, because of our own will we can still choose to rebel. If we rebel enough, He will give us over to sin and to the devil (1 Corinthians 5:5) but for hopes that we will repent.

Now of course, God is also a forgiving God. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 18:21 to forgive an infinite amount times, that is if you plead for mercy with a contrite (brokenness) heart. See, after He tells Peter to forgive many times, He gives a parable. He said heaven is like this… a servant (you and me) who owed some money to his king (God) couldn’t pay what he owed so he fell on his face (contrite heart or Godly sorrow) and begged for mercy. Then the king (God) forgave all what he owed (salvation). But later the servant was faced with the same thing only this time he was on the forgiving end, but he would not forgive the person who owed him money (backsliding). So, when the King (God) heard this He would not forgive him and through him into prison (gave him over to Satan) until he could pay what he owed (come back to God).

Reflection:

The attitude in this is an attitude of reverence and holiness. If you truly look at scripture you can see how much God holds marriage as a very sacred thing. So sacred He does not want it to be defiled. He would rather give you over to Satan and let you have your way than defile your relationship with Him. God is not forceful. He will go after your heart but if you want sin then sin you will have.

Challenge:

Is there anything that your keeping as an idol in your heart that He looks at as harlotry? I have one in my marriage that I struggle with, and that is having my own way. If your married, go to your spouse and no matter what they have done, forgive them. Explain how sacred this marriage is to you.

-Doug McGowan

Purity of the Heart

Today’s scripture:

1. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36 NIV)
2. “Blessed are the pure in heart,
 For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV)
3. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9 ESV)

Today we are looking into the fifth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Inward Purity”. Please read Matthew 5:27-30… Jesus is saying His standards of living according to His will is so high, He considers sexual lust to be adultery! But this really isn’t just about sexual lust. It’s about having a pure, undefiled heart before God. He also says if you are entering into any area of your life that is impure, you need to go to extremes to get rid of that which causes you to sin. If you struggle with pornography, you may need to get rid of your smartphone and computer. If you struggle with drugs, you may need to move to a different area where it would be harder to get drugs. And the list can go on with any issue. The point is, you have to get very serious about it because it should concern you not just of your health and well-being but your eternal soul!

All three of the verses above are so significant I just couldn’t leave them out of today’s scripture reading. I’ll explain why in a minute, but first, what really is “Purity”? Purity is to be free of ANY defilement of the mind, body, and soul. To be pure means to be absolutely flawless, 100% without sin, completely perfect! How can that even be possible, you might be saying…Right?

Well, first you have to understand that you cannot be pure in God’s eyes with out being born again. Refer back to the first of today’s scripture…“but whoever rejects the Son will not SEE life…” Now, look at the second one which is in the beatitudes of what this series is all about…“Blessed are the pure in heart,
 for they shall SEE God.”

Sadly, there are many people in the Church that say they are born again, but we know that can’t be all true if we look at the passage in Matthew 7:13-23 …v.13,14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.” Notice the word “many” and “few”. God’s Word says that there will be few that will find Life. God says He is the Way the Truth and the Life. And sadly, there will be few who will see Him. It also says there will be many who will go to destruction which is hell! MANY WILL GO TO HELL!!! That means a whole lot more people will go to hell than the ones who will enter heaven. Oddly enough, most of America believes themselves to be christains!

Jesus goes on to say that you will know people who are true christains by their fruit. If they are truly belonging to the Kingdom, you will see a change in their life. A sorrow when they sin, a concern about holiness, and a reverence for the Lord Jesus will be the good fruit that they will show.

Many people grow up in the church and say they believe in God. The last part of the passage in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus is saying that not everyone will go to heaven. They will even preform many miracles like casting out demons and prophecy in His name but they never knew Him. Even Satan believes in God. In fact, he has even seen God more majestically than we will ever see while here on Earth because before he fell he LIVED in heaven WITH God! And yet he rebelled. He wanted to live his own way. Sadly, that is the attitude of MANY so called christains in the Church today. They believe in God but they really don’t want to give Him every area of their life.

So, how are we expected to live a life that is absolutely flawless, 100% without sin, completely perfect? Remember, if you are truly a born again christain, you are pure because you have a perfect person (Jesus) living in you. If you do have Jesus living in you then you will WANT to live a pure life. Now, look at the third verse of today’s scripture. King David gives the answer in Psalm 119. He firsts asks how can we keep our way pure, then he gives this answer… “By living according to your word.” Simple, right? Of course it is simple but it is also hard. But as long as we live with that desire, Jesus will keep us!

Reflection:

To live a pure life is difficult just like it says in Matthew 7:14, but we really don’t have to be perfect, we just need Jesus who is perfect in our life and us willing to accept whatever He wants for us. If we do have Him living our life for us, we will have a desire to be holy. We will be concerned with how we live and that it would be pleasing to the Lord. But if we do slip off the path of purity, the Father comes for us and corrects us just like any loving father or shepherd would do.

Challenge:

Dear beloved, I say all this because I truly am concerned for the Church at large. There are so many people saying that they believe in Jesus but yet they live like the rest of the world. Please check to see every area of your life is a pure way. Would it be pleasing to the Lord? Pray and ask God in every area and have Him “clean house”. Pray the Psalm 51 to the Lord, which is a psalm of repentance.

-Doug McGowan