Forgive and Forget

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

– Mark 2:5

The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 70% of adult smokers want to quit the habit, but fewer than one in 10 succeeded over the past year. However, author and humorist Mark Twain once quipped that it was the easiest thing he ever did. “I ought to know,” he explained, “because I’ve done it a thousand times.”

The same goes for Christ-followers when it comes to temptation and sin. Even though we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior — and asked him for forgiveness and received it — we still tend to backslide into those same errant words and deeds that we thought were far behind us. 

Doesn’t the Bible proclaim that if anyone is in Christ, they’ve become a new creation? Indeed, it does. But this transformation is a work in progress that runs on God’s timetable. That often means it’s happening little by little, day by day. What’s more, the pathway along our faith-journey is narrow, twisting, and full of unexpected hairpin curves. And when we don’t keep our eyes on the destination, we can end up in a ditch.

But we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus even told his disciples to expect obstacles: 

"Things that cause people to sin are bound to come,” Christ explained. “But woe to that person through whom they come.”

Let’s also consider a life-lesson taught by the apostle Paul — the Christ-follower who wrote much of the New Testament. In his 2,000-year-old lament that still rings true to modern-day readers, Paul complains that he continues to do the very things he despises. And at the same time, he fails to do the things he knows he should accomplish. So, here’s the question: If one of history’s greatest Christians had so many problems with sin and temptation, what hope is there for us?

Paul’s struggles were nothing less than spiritual warfare — the same ugly conflict that we all fight every day in one way or another. But he has some good news for us in Romans 8:1:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

As Believers, we don’t have to accept sin’s dominance in our lives. But when we do fail and surrender to temptation, we can freely ask our Savior for forgiveness. As Psalm 103:12 puts it:

“… as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

A-ha Moment

The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey him.”

– Mark 1:27 

An a-ha moment is that split second when our eyes are opened to a spiritual truth that changes everything. As Christ-followers, we can experience an a-ha when God shows us that we're going down the wrong path in some crucial area of our life. It's then up to us to respond and turn in the right direction.

Then there's the ultimate a-ha: when a non-believer finally sees the light regarding their need for Jesus. Unfortunately, most people choose to remain blind, enjoy the darkness … and then attack those who don’t embrace their example. There’s no shortage of politicians, Hollywood celebrities, or other "progressive" thinkers, who are quick to label others as close-minded or intolerant.

But depending on the context, is intolerance always a bad thing? After all, Jesus doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. What's more, he declares himself to be the exclusive pathway to God:

"I am the way, the truth and the life," we read in John's gospel. "No one comes to the Father except through me."

That's anything but tolerant. And Christ’s bold proclamation defies today's inclusive, politically correct environment. After all, it hurts feelings and declares that one faith is better than all others. But society's demands for open-mindedness and equality are irrelevant. Jesus has no tolerance for false, second-rate gods and allegiances. And as God’s own Son, his authority is absolute.

But before we point fingers at those who haven’t yet had their a-ha moment, let's all take a long look at ourselves in the mirror. Are our own words, thoughts, and actions beyond reproach? Jesus was right on the mark when he said that we must remove the plank from our own eye before we can remove the speck from our neighbor's eye. 

The point is that Christ-followers must answer to the ultimate authority and let God be the judge of others outside the faith. He knows the whole story, and we're hardly in a position to condemn anyone.

Let’s consider that today’s a-ha moment.

Help Wanted

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

– Mark 1:14-15

The news is filled with stories about job layoffs, empty storefronts, and companies fleeing big cities. But Help Wanted signs are still out there, and some businesses can’t fill their open positions.

If you’re in the job market, your first hurdle is to demonstrate that you’re available and can do the work. What’s more, employers must decide if they like you. Even if you’re well-qualified, you probably won’t get the job if they think you lack the right chemistry. And they also want to know if you’re a risk. In other words, do you have a reputation for being difficult to manage? And finally, you must be affordable. Employers will drop you from consideration if your salary demands are unreasonable.

Fortune 500 companies aren’t the only ones with high standards for their team members. For example, Christ-followers are tasked with preparing God’s Kingdom and being a bright light in a dark, troubled world. And since it’s such an important job that can yield eternal, life-changing rewards, only certain candidates are considered. If you’re up for the challenge, be aware that you must be available on an as-needed basis. (Expect to work weekends and holidays.) You also must be obedient and follow the Boss’ (Jesus) instructions — even if they don’t make sense at the time. Humility is likewise important, so you should share the credit whenever it’s due. Expect overtime and sacrifice. And to top it off, you must take the initiative and be on the lookout for opportunities to help your customers (neighbors), both local and foreign.

Here’s Jesus’ admonition to his would-be employees (disciples) as recorded in Luke’s gospel:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Landing a job can be difficult — even in a vibrant economy. But here’s some good news: Jesus is hiring right now for his organization’s growing team. And many of his highest producers started with no experience in the field. The working conditions aren’t always ideal. But there are plenty of rewards along the way ... and the retirement plan is out of this world!

Believe It or Not

 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, 

“Surely this man was the Son of God!”

  – Mark 15:39

Can we really believe what's in the Bible? And is all that stuff true about Jesus being God-in-the-flesh and rising from the dead? 

Those are lofty questions with eternal implications. But who really knows for sure? After all, many people say the Bible is no greater than the scriptures of other religions, and that Jesus was just a good man or a wise teacher.

The truth is, however, that the Bible and Christ are both unique and extraordinary. 

First, the Bible claims to be God's word — and then backs it up with hundreds of prophesies (predictions) about events that happened decades or centuries later. For example, the Old Testament records God's plan for saving mankind through a Messiah. The prophet Micah wrote that the Savior would be born in — of all places — an obscure backwater of the Roman empire called Bethlehem. And as we read in the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled these prophesies to the letter through his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection!

Historically and scientifically accurate, the Bible is also the most studied and critiqued book in history. Try as many have, no one has been able to disprove its claims. Luke, the physician who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, also wanted the real scoop. So, he interviewed the people who knew Jesus best and could attest to his words and deeds. Let’s consider the opening passage of Luke's first book:

"Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. ... I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard."

The apostle Peter — someone who knew Jesus personally — also gave us his own testimony recorded in the New Testament’s book of 2 Peter:

"When we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling just clever stories that someone invented, but we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes."

With all of this in mind, IS the stuff in the Bible about Jesus really true? That’s the ultimate question. So, let’s consider this answer from the apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, through 1 John 4:14:

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

It’s up to you and me to believe it or not.