NEW :AUGUST 2006
STORM BEFORE THE CALM
Matthew 6:14
IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL
ALSO FORGIVE YOU.
THE SMALL CHURCH WAS STRUGGLING, AND EVERYONE KNEW WHY. TWO
ELDERLY CHURCH MEMBERS HAD A CONFLICT, AND THE PEOPLE HAD DIVIDED
THEIR LOYALTIES BETWEEN THEM WHICH MADE ANY KIND OF PROGRESS IMPOSSIBLE.
THEY BLATANTLY DISREGARDED JESUS INSTRUCTIONS ON FORGIVING OTHERS
(Matthew 6-14).
A NEW PASTOR CAME TO THE CHURCH AND SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS TEACHING ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND TRUST. FOR A WHILE, THE PEOPLE STUCK TO THEIR DIVIDED LOYALTIES AND CONTINUED TO SLOG ALONG IN THEIR STAGNANT POOL OF DISTRUST.
AFTER MUCH PRAYER, THE PASTOR FELT DIRECTED BY THE LORD TO TAKE ACTION. SO DURING A MORNING SERVICE, HE CALLED ON THE TWO MEN TO STAND AND THEN ASKED THEM TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER. HE KNEW THAT IF THE CHURCH WERE EVER TO HAVE PEACE AGAIN, A STORM OF CONFRONTATION HAD TO OCCUR.
THE MEN FACED OFF, PAUSED, AND THEN EMBRACED. TEARS RAN DOWN THEIR FACES AS EACH BEGGED THE OTHER FOR FORGIVENESS. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE CRYING AND HUGGING AND FORGIVING THOUGHT-OUT THE CONGREGATION FINALLY STOPPED.
THE CHURCH WAS REVITALIZED TO SERVE TOGETHER AS A LOVING COMMUNITY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. FORGIVENESS IS A POWERFUL THING, BRINGING A COMFORTING CALMNESS, WITH IT, WE CAN ENJOY HARMONY WITH GODS PEOPLE; WITHOUT IT, THE STORM CONTINUES.
We are the church, God has told us that in his word. When we do not abide in his word, he is not pleased and our lives go into a tail spin. Forgiveness is really a simple thing, and it does bring forth comforting calmness. Division brought forth by anyone is a sin, God intends for his church, (you and me) to preset ourselves only in ways to Glorify the living God. Causing division is not a way to glorify God. And for those who are able to cause calmness and do not, they also do not glorify the living God.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS GOD HAS LOVED YOU.
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