Tag: Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.’ Matthew 19:23-30(NLT)

Thoughts on the message

First, rich people have a difficult time getting to heaven because they will not put God ahead of their wealth. Money holds them so strongly that they cannot let go of it. Everyone wants to be wealthy, but God says it is a dangerous place. 

Second, Peter asks an important question: “What about us; we have left everything to follow You?”

I love Jesus’ answer. No one gives more to God than what we get back. You lose your family? God gives you a bigger family. You lose your family inheritance? God gives you an eternal inheritance that is greater than anything you miss here. You put everyone else ahead of you here on this earth? God will put you ahead of others in heaven. So never give up. Never turn back. Never.

Prayer

Father, there are times I get tired of missing out on so much here on this earth. I struggle not having a home, not being close to my family (children, brothers and sisters, mom, grandchildren), or not having time for what I want to do. Like Peter, I ask the same question—do You really see what is happening? Yes, You see! I do not know what heaven will be like, but I know what I will have there is much greater than everything I gave up here on this earth. So today, help me to bless others. Help me to not worry about how about my future. Help me to just give everything I have today to You—my time, my strength, my focus, and my hopes and dreams. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

To continue on the Disciple Makers Series click on the link below:  

 Preparing For The King 

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.’ Matthew 19:16-22(NLT)

Thoughts on the message 

It is a powerful description of the difference between our thinking and God’s thinking.

Man: What must I do to be good enough for heaven?

Jesus: To be “complete”, you obey the law, have nothing ahead of God, and follow Jesus.

We have so many things attached to our lives. Our needs, our comfort, our dreams and hopes, our expectations for this life all impact how we follow Jesus. We wonder if we do a “good enough” job of following Jesus given all the challenges we face. Jesus’ answer to us is exactly the same—no there is none good enough. Jesus wants us to have nothing ahead of God—everything can be dropped at any moment so we can follow Him. Sometimes that is very painful. Sometimes so painful that we walk away rather than be obedient.

Prayer

Father, I ask for forgiveness for trying to find out what is “good enough” for You in my life. I am asking what I can keep and still have You happy with me. Your answer is that everything must be given to You. That is hard sometimes. We all want to keep some things—and I am no different than anyone else. So today I offer everything again to You. It is painful because I have dreams and hopes like everyone else. Still, I would rather have Jesus than anything. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘Jesus’ disciples then said to him, “If this is the case, it is better not to marry!” “Not everyone can accept this statement,” Jesus said. “Only those whom God helps. Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.’ Matthew 19:10-15(NLT)

Thoughts on the message

Marriage is not for everyone. That is what Jesus is saying. The challenge of marriage is that it takes so much effort and work to do it the way God requires. Both husband and wife need this mentality so that it works.

Getting in the way of children coming to Jesus. Stopping anyone coming to Jesus. Be careful that we do not say or do anything that causes children to stay away from Jesus. Jesus rebuked His disciples and He rebukes His church today for the same things. Take some time before God and ask Him to reveal if we are doing anything that stops people from coming to Jesus.

Prayer

Father, today You remind me of the challenge of being Your disciple. I must have not just an understanding of You, but a commitment to have Your heart for people. How do I do it, Lord? How can I speak with integrity and speak with Your heart? Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord. The Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the Fear of the Lord. Most of all with the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord so that I never speak words that bring dishonor to You, Your name, Your bride or cause other people to do any of these. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went down to the region of Judea east of the Jordan River. Large crowds followed him there, and he healed their sick. Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”’ Matthew 19:1-9(NLT)

Thoughts on the message

People still try and use divorce to divide people.

In Jesus’ time there were two opinions on divorce. One said men could divorce whenever they wished and another said what Jesus said. It was a divisive issue. Jesus goes back to the beginning of marriage—and shows that God never wanted divorce to happen. When they bring up Moses allowing divorce, Jesus basically says this:

“Divorce happens because people are sinful. Divorce happens because people have a sinful nature and follow it. Be people who have been restored by God—and live together as God designed us.”

If we are truly living as redeemed, restored and regenerated humanity, then we can deal with our differences with God’s help.

Prayer

Father, I thank You for my wife. She has been a tremendous blessing to me in so many ways. It has not always been easy—we both struggle with our fallen human weaknesses. Still, as we have committed to follow Jesus and God’s Word, He has strengthened us to handle these challenges. Father, without Your help—we see what happens. It is a picture of brokenness that goes through the generations. The saddest thing? None of it needs to happen. I pray that my wife and I continue to look to You when we struggle, and I pray for my family and friends that You protect them, restore, and heal any brokenness in their marriages. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘“But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”’ Matthew 18:28-35(NLT)

Thoughts on the message

This is part two—God’s response when we do not forgive.

What does unforgiveness cost us?

The man refused to forgive his brother. So the king took back his forgiveness for the man and his debt. 

How can God do the same to us—as Jesus said will happen in verse 35?

Well it is not that God takes it back—the man never took it. He said he received it with his mouth, but it did not change his actions. Forgiveness must change our hearts—or we have not received it. Without God’s forgiveness changing our heart, God says we do not receive it. He can withdraw the offer of forgiveness at any time then. That is what the king did.

That is what God does too. So let God’s forgiveness change your heart. 

Unforgiveness is very expensive.

Prayer

Father, I need You to change not just my words or my actions. I need You to change my heart. Without a heart transformation I am still stuck in my failures, my debt, my brokenness and my sin. Father, I see it all around me in people—in good people. They say they forgive, and then they show an unforgiving heart to others. I never want to respond that way. So help me today with everyone I face who needs forgiveness. Help me to continue forgiving when they do it 77 times. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19

‘Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.’ Matthew 18:21-27(NLT)

Thoughts on the message

This is part one—where we see how God chooses to release forgiveness.

How much do we need to forgive people who continue to choose to do us wrong?

10,000 talents was about the same as the whole budget for the Roman government—the greatest power on earth at the time! (Today, that would be like the budget of the US government—trillions of dollars.) This was a debt no one could comprehend or pay.

When the man asked for mercy, The King released compassion and mercy—totally and freely forgave the debt. This is the way God forgives us—our massive debt of sin against Him. He takes it away and we cannot even begin to understand the magnitude of the debt that we owe. 

So why do we worry about whether someone needs us to forgive them 77 times?

Prayer

Father, You help us to understand the principle of forgiveness by giving us an understanding of the heart of God. Honestly, I do not think we understand it any better than the servant understood the massive nature of his debt. How could anyone have such mercy? How could anyone have such compassion? My God has that kind of mercy! Hallelujah!

Your mercy comes at a great cost though. Jesus paid the debt in full. I do not understand it; I do not comprehend it, and I do not deserve it. However, I received it. Thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

from Forgiveness & Marriage—Disciple Makers Series #19