Healing Rays of Righteousness

Forgiveness and Pressing Onward

If asked whether or not we always did our best, most of us would probably ashamedly answer, “No, I did not.”  And, if asked whether or not our conversations and actions may have caused others unnecessary hurt, again most of us would probably sadly answer, “Probably so.”

Such mistakes in judgment and regrets of our past often become heavy self-punishing baggage, crippling our journey with Jesus and others. And sometimes the burdensome baggage is nothing more than the nagging belief that we could do better if given another chance.

Whatever its contents, the baggage of self-deprecation cannot be easily dismissed, for it is the consequence of mistaken judgments and unwise decisions that have left painful wounds and deep scars in both our psyche and relationships with others.

Many years ago, Louisa Fletcher Tarkington, authored a perceptive poem entitled, “The Land of Beginning Again.”  It begins and ends with a verse which gives voice to the regret we feel when we realize what we have done or have not done.

              I wish there were some wonderful place

              Called the land of beginning again

              Where all our mistakes,

              And all our heartaches,

              And all of our poor selfish grief,

              Could be dropped like a shabby

              Old coat at the door,

              And never be put on again.

And I ask, should not being Christian in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, make us uniquely equipped to forgive (let go) and leave the past behind? And does not this inability to forgive ourselves contradict everything we profess to believe about the forgiving, healing, redeeming power of Jesus Christ? I am convinced that it does.

This is what the apostle Paul was referencing when he wrote, “But one thing I do; Forgetting what is behind (forgiving-letting go) and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14).

I hear Paul encouraging us not to look back in ways that keep us from going forward, in ways that make us a prisoner of our past mistakes and sins, in ways that prevent us from experiencing the healing (letting go) of old hurts and painful memories.

Yes, there is great value in looking back to learn, to affirm the places, faces, and circumstances from which we have come, and to remember what and who has shaped our lives. Yes, there is a time to look back if done so with a positive learning purpose.

But if our looking back is clouded with a sense of self-deprecating failure and guilt, our efforts to grow in our relationships with God and others will most certainly be hampered, if not completely blocked. That is why Jesus’ invitation is such good news, assuring us that carrying such baggage is totally unnecessary. For Jesus daily invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (forgiveness, set free).” (Matthew 11:28).

Yes, the pain of mistaken judgments and regrets may shadow us, robbing us of freedom and potential, and hampering our ability to use our spiritual energy and gifts for enjoying the today and moving with joyous anticipation into the new tomorrows of our life. And, YES, the possibility of new beginnings is always God’s invitational good news to every one of us, no exceptions.

And so, I say, instead of fretting our failures to forgive the past, let us choose to press onward toward maturing faith and Jesus-like character and behavior. God waits, ready to help us gather the regretful pass into a self-forgiveness that opens the door into new tomorrows and new beginnings. Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – November 15, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Forgiveness and Letting Go

Many of us have a painful past to live with; a past that we can neither escape nor change. And for many, the painful memories are so overwhelming that their recall brings deep pain to the present. Feelings of inferiority, unfairness, and anger quickly surface, and the long-forgotten fears once again grab a haunting chokehold on our life.

From Jesus we hear, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25).

And from the apostle Paul, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:32).

Biblical wisdom consistently teaches that forgiveness means completely “letting go” and releasing the person or persons responsible for causing the pain, whether by actions or words, from any resentment or revenge. To forgive and forget is to completely “let go” of the old wounds with their pain and anger.

The resentments and lingering bitterness of any painful past must be forgiven and discarded if we wish to enjoy a good life of health and peace as we grow older. Furthermore, it is the only doorway to experiencing God’s abundant life of divine forgiveness, peace and joy in our own life and spirit.

The biblical story of Joseph is a story of repeated, continuing painful experiences caused by jealousy, hatred, and murderous betrayals, by his own brothers and the wife of his Egyptian owner. The story is recorded in Genesis 37-45 and is a powerful portrayal of how forgiving and forgetting, letting go of the past, is the only response to a painful past that brings healing of mind, spirit, and relationships.

Joseph, the favorite son of his father Jacob, grew up in a large family, where favoritism and sibling rivalry was rampant, causing brotherly relationships to be infected with jealousy and anger. It became so bad that one day Joseph’s brothers caught him, threw him into a pit, and discussed killing him. One brother intervened and convinced the rest to instead sell Joseph as a slave to traders headed toward Egypt.

Even though life in Egypt was painfully difficult and disappointing, Joseph never wavered in his love relationship with God and of God’s purpose for his life. And years later, while living in prison, that purpose began to materialize.

The Egyptian Pharaoh had a dream that no one but Joseph could interpret. The dream revealed that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. And to reward Joseph for interpreting the dream, the Pharaoh gave Joseph charge over all of the agricultural activity in Egypt. The years of plenty came and Joseph stored up the abundance of grain for the future survival of Egypt. Seven years later the drought and famine began.

The drought and famine became so widespread and severe that people in neighboring countries came to Egypt to buy food from Joseph. And it was not long before Joseph’s own brothers arrived to buy food. Joseph recognized them, but they no longer knew their own brother. Joseph sold them the grain they requested, but he also tricked them into coming back to him several times before he revealed his true identity.

When he did identify himself as their brother, they were terrified. They remembered the pit and the time they bartered with traders and sold their own brother into slavery. They had every reason to be terrified when Joseph says to them in verses 4-5, “Come close to me. …I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

Joseph had learned that the grace of forgiveness frees him from resentment and the need for revenge. He even named one of his sons, Manasseh, which means “God has made me forget.”

Like Joseph, the apostle Paul came to understand the way God uses adversity and pain. He wrote in Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Our difficult and painful experiences often become God’s classroom of learning how to trust God and forgive others. Those of us who have been there, who have journeyed through the valley of painful events, who have suffered much but chose to forgive the past, can now look back and attest to God’s leading, providing, shaping, healing, and calling us into a larger life and ministry. I know because I have been there and done that.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – November 9, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Essence of Life is LOVE

Every human being has three things in common. We need to be loved, we need to learn to love others, and we have people in our lives who need our love. Being loved and loving others is the proven, solid foundation and expression of genuine, authentic living. Truly, the essence of life is in receiving and giving LOVE.

When I read chapter 2 of apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, I hear his unashamed, genuine expression of his love for them. And as we follow the flow of his thought, we are exposed to LOVE as God meant it to be lived. It also gives us a guide for loving others.

The first thing we discover in Paul’s letter is that the source of genuine love is Jesus Christ and is not dependent on other people. The love Paul communicated to the church of the Thessalonians was of the kind that the world could neither give nor take away. It was the outflow of Paul’s intimate companionship with Christ. “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well.” (v.8). Likewise, the outflow of love from our life is directly proportionate to the inflow of Christ’s love into our life and is not dependent on people loving us.

Paul was free to love in spite of what people said and did to him. Imprisonment and persecution did not diminish his love. Neither did he pout about his rejection at Phillipi. “We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.” (v.2). We need to allow the full impact of that truth to stir within our soul. So often we allow our minds to brood over past hurts, rejections, and disappointments, causing a protective covering to form over our heart so that we will not be hurt again.

And as additional hurts come that covering or wall, continues to thicken until we become incapable of emotionally experiencing warmth and love in relationship with God and others. Also, whenever we love in order to solicit or assure a return of love, we will be disappointed and deeply hurt. The basic truth is that no one can love us as much as we need to be loved. Only Jesus Christ can do that.

Too often we inherit the “If you love me, you will do what pleases me” syndrome from parents who used that phrase as a way of getting obedience. And sadly, many continue playing this game all through their life, and it even tarnishes their understanding and relationship with God.

The indwelling, genuine love of Christ makes us honest, direct, and decisive. Genuine Christ-like love wills the ultimate good of the other and initiates needed steps toward that result. If we have genuine love for others, people will know and feel they are loved, valued, and cherished. And they will know that we are willing to make sacrifices on their behalf, in the same way loving parents do for their children.

There is more to learn from these verses, and I plan to do so in my next blog. Until then, I encourage you to read and thoughtfully ponder the truths I have shared with you, and “live lives worthy of God.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 25, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

CULTIVATING COMPASSION

Compassion – “Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortune of others.” “The deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another in the inclination to give aid or support, or to show mercy.”

In order to cultivate compassion as defined above, means I will deeply care about my world and do my best to bring it help. It begins by my choosing to ask God to give me a tender heart that is painfully disturbed by the pain of others and seeks to act in their behalf as Jesus would do.

The scriptures convincingly portray Jesus as a “compassionate” person. Mark’s gospel records a story that clearly reveals Jesus’ heart of compassion. “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said, ‘Be healed!’ Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.” (Mark 1:40-42, NLT).

The word “compassion” comes from the same Greek word as “viscera, bowels, intestines” or, as in our vernacular, “guts.”  Mark uses this word to communicate how deeply Jesus feels into the sufferings of the leper. It is as if Jesus himself takes on the suffering of the leper as his own.

Mark does not use the word “pity” because that would be too condescending, or “sympathy” because that would be too superficial. Rather he uses “compassion” to inform the reader that “flesh for flesh, gut for gut’ Jesus feels his way into the leper’s needs.

Mark also makes clear that Jesus did not simply feel with compassion toward the man with leprosy. He “reached out and touched him.”  Violating every medical warning and risking every social taboo, Jesus makes physical contact with the leper, thus confirming his loving concern for the leper and his needs.

This and many other Jesus stories support the conclusion that in order to compassionately respond to the suffering of others, we must first enter into and empathically feel the pain of those seeking our caring assistance.

Paul Brand, a noted physician and author, writes, “In the human body, when an area loses sensory contact with the rest of the body, even when its nourishment system remains intact, that part begins to wither and atrophy. The body poorly protects what it does not feel. So much of the sorrow in the world is due to the selfishness of one living organism that simply does not care when another suffers.”

I think Dr. Brand’s statement can be expanded to include all bodies, whether they be the church, the organization, the community, or the government. There is substantial evidence that such bodies will not appropriately protect what they do not feel. Until they feel the pain of those suffering, these bodies will not respond in appropriate ways to meet their needs.

The challenge of Mark 1:40-45 is to every person, including you and myself, who have the capability and opportunity to make a difference in the life of suffering persons. Indeed, the challenge is for every human to compassionately feel their neighbor’s pain and respond with unselfish acts of caring love. This is God’s command and Jesus’ example.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 11, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Clothed with Compassion

The impressive description of our Christian identity as “God’s holy people” in the first half of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, is the wondrous thought that empowers Paul’s “Therefore” in chapter 3, verse twelve. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

Paul is urging us fellow believers in Jesus to understand that since God has chosen us to be his Kingdom ambassadors in the world, we are expected to be appropriately dressed with the beautiful and lovely garments from God’s own wardrobe of Jesus-like virtues. These garments will visibly set us apart and identify us as the people of God who pray “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

The first virtue that Paul lists is “compassion.”  To be clothed with “compassion” will be seen in our sympathetic sharing, like Jesus, in the suffering or misfortunes of another, coupled with the desire to give aid, support, and mercy. “Compassion” will also be seen in my being emotionally moved by your pain and seeking to act on your behalf with consoling presence and empathy.

The Gospel writers repeatedly used this word to describe Jesus’ response to others. Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Again in 14:14, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”  And in response to the request from two blind men for healing in 20:34, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

James 5:11 tells us that “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  This echoes the psalmist in Psalm 145:8-9, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

And the other Jesus-like virtues in Paul’s list, “kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” are interwoven into this lovely garment of compassion,

Then in verse fourteen, Paul describes the outer garment as love. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”  According to Paul, “love” is the visible outer garment that completes and unites all the parts of our character into a single whole. Being and doing cannot be separated. What we say and do flows out of who we are.

Paul addresses us as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” As Christians our identity is certain and clear. We are God’s chosen people, and being such, we are expected to be appropriately and fully clothed with his garments of love and compassion every day and in every situation.

Holy compassion is so needed in our communities and nation today. Let us recommit ourselves to caring about our neighborhoods and doing our best in being compassionate and loving.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 4, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

GOD’S HEALING PRESENCE

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27).

As I reflect on these words, I hear them to be an invitation to enter into a human connectedness more fully with the compassionate, healing presence of the risen Jesus, who is the Supreme Healer of all wounds.

I am challenged and encouraged by the thought that Jesus wounds are not only to be seen but also to be touched and entered into. Most certainly there is an intimate power, a healing connectedness present as we with Thomas put our hand, heart, and mind into the wounds of Jesus, for this leads us directly to the compassionate heart of God.

It is not enough for us, living within the arena of worldwide pains, merely to know of a God who is compassionate and sympathizes with us.  It is not even enough to know of a God who heals.  We need to know of and be connected to God who experiences with us each grief, each wound we suffer.  We need to be love-bonded to God who had nails pierce his hands and a sharp spear thrust into his heart.

It is only as we enter into the sufferings of Jesus that we are more fully connected to God. And as, with our trembling hand, we touch his wounded side, will the wounds we suffer become healed wounds, as Peter knowingly wrote, “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).

And, most amazingly in turn, when we touch another wounded person with compassion and comfort, the healing presence of Jesus Christ encompasses us and His healing love is transmitted to the other through our touching, making us “wounded healers” of God’s healing presence in our world.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

My notes on this invitation remind me that we cannot do healing presence, instead, we become a healing presence as we strive to be more aware of those around us, and humbly move toward them with compassionate concern for their welfare. And we deepen God’s healing presence by gently listening, holding the other’s pain, and with God’s gracious love and forgiveness comfort them.

Can we consider our own healed experiences of suffering to be a calling from God to physically incarnate his compassionate healing presence whenever and wherever we encounter the pain of others? I think the answer from apostle Paul would be “Yes.” I pray that you and I will be enabled to be such.  Amen! 

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 27, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Laboring in God’s Kingdom Business

The Labor Day holiday is a good time to be reminded that “the work of God happens when the people of God work.”  God has chosen to work in this world through us. God daily awakens us to the new day, and graciously invites us to busy ourselves in his Kingdom business of loving and serving others.

The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, is repeated every Sunday by millions of Christians around the world. And in that prayer, we petition God that his name be made holy and that “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” But how do we know what is his will and how it will be done?

In Luke 4:16-21, we read that Jesus returned to his hometown, Nazareth, and on the first Sabbath, went to the synagogue where he read Isaiah’s prophetic listing of the Messiah’s work credentials, and to the surprise and chagrin of his listeners, he claimed these work credentials as his own.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 And later, in response to the disciples of John the Baptist asking him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” he again listed the same work credentials.

Undoubtedly, this is God’s Kingdom business. And the whole of biblical scriptures affirm that these same social concerns continue to be the authentic work credentials for all God’s people living today.

To follow Jesus is to commit to daily participation in God’s transforming, redemptive work in the world, so that God’s will is made evident “on earth as it is in heaven” by our actions (labor) and conversations.

Followers of Jesus, being rooted in Anabaptist-Christian theology, strongly believe the New Testament scriptures teach that Christian faith is made visible in Jesus-like acts of compassionate love and material generosity. We believe that Christian faith is more than our worship and verbal commitment to the Lordship of Jesus on a Sunday morning. We must make our faith visible with a living performance of that commitment in our daily work, conversations, and activities from Monday through Saturday.

As evidence of our walking with Jesus, we strive to cultivate the practice of participating in opportunities for helping, sharing, and serving others in their time of need, because this is the example of Jesus and God’s second greatest command for all who accept his Kingship. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This is often described as “walking the talk” of Jesus’ lordship, or as Jesus would say in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

Truly, God’s Spirit is at work wherever social concerns and human needs are responded to with authentic love and practical efforts. This is what identifies us as followers of Jesus Christ.

During this Labor Day week, let us rethink how much we believe that serving others and making sacrifices in their behalf is normal behavior for those who allow Jesus to be Lord in their life. May we deepen our commitment to laboring in God’s Kingdom business of loving and caring for the world through us. May we become more thoughtful and sincere in praying “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?

Indeed, the biblical prophets and Jesus’ himself, repeatedly challenge us to fully invest ourselves in God’s Kingdom business of bringing life, light, joy, and peace to our churches, towns, nation, and world through us, his people who “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8).

And in doing so, may we be encouraged by Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 6, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The FOOLISHNESS of BIGGER BARNS

“Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” These are the words of Jesus in response to a request that he intervene in a family squabble regarding the dividing of an inheritance. (Lk. 12:15). 

Jesus then reinforces his warning with a story of a rich man who experienced an abundant harvest and due to insufficient storage space decided to “tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.’” (Lk. 12:18-19).         

The “rich man” of Jesus’ parable was concerned with no one’s life and opinion except his own.  His only point of reference was himself and his crops, his barns, his pleasure, his supposedly unlimited future.  As the center of his own universe, he gave no thought to any ethical responsibility toward others or accountability to God.  He had little concern for anything but himself and his possessions.  He was blind to all that happened around him and blind to the needs of others.

It is because of this blindness that Jesus’ words are relevant to both the man who came requesting Jesus’ intervention and to us claiming to be Jesus’ followers. “But God said to him, ‘You fool!’ This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”                                                                                         

Jesus is not condemning possessions, nor prudent preparation for the future. Many other scriptures would such efforts.  Rather, Jesus is condemning the spirit of covetousness which concludes that meaning in life and joy in life are the result of having things. 

Covetousness is more than just wanting something.  It is the deep-seated belief that accumulating things is the way to life and happiness.  But Jesus teaches that a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.  And other teachings of Jesus tell us that neither does it consist in an abundance of accomplishments, applause, or self-indulgence. 

Jesus addresses the rich farmer who decided to build bigger barns “You fool.”  Why? Because he lived life, made decisions, as if there were no God.   

To conclude that there is no God leaves one to their own resources and blinds the person to any recognition of their blessing’s source or responsibility to share with others. In both Psalms 14:1 and 53:1, the psalmist writes, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds (ways) are vile; there is no one who does good.” 

The hurts and needs of others are shut out of the fool’s mind and heart because they compete for what the fool desires for him/herself.  Such people lay-up treasures for themselves, rather than becoming rich toward God, and the consequences are very grim.

Remember the story recorded in Matthew 19:16-22.  “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ …….  ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”  

The bigger barns for accumulating earthly things/treasures being built by so many who call themselves Christian reveals a serious failure of understanding Jesus’ call to lay up heavenly treasures.  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). 

The ultimate truth is that all we are and have ultimately belongs to God, and as stewards, we need to give God a daily accounting of the use of our time, gifts, and energy. 

To become “rich toward God” followers of Jesus, we must learn to think of ourselves as laborers in our master’s fields, rather than as private landowners answerable to no one.  The harvest belongs to Christ, not to us, and he calls us to use the resources given us to help in caring for others, and in this way glorify Him in this world.  May God help us to do so!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 1, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Excell in Generous Giving with JOY

Twenty-one years ago, July 16, 2002, Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan was testifying before a U.S. Senate committee and said, “It is not that humans have become any more greedy than in generations past. It is that the avenues to express greed have grown so enormously.”

That was twenty-one years ago, July 16, 2002, and since then “the avenues to express greed” have grown even more rapidly.

Because our society constantly entices us with its preoccupation with “getting,” we often fail to hear God’s invitation to experience the freeing truth of “giving.” The apostle Paul urges us to remember, in everything we do, the words of Jesus; “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).

And when he felt the Christians at Corinth were becoming less enthusiastic about giving an offering to help the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem, he reminded them of the example set by their fellow believers in Macedonia; “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. … Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.”

And then he challenges them; “But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:2-7).

Paul also believed that joy-filled giving should be based on the self-giving example of Christ. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (v. 9).

Furthermore, Paul says, the Macedonian Christians had taken Christ’s model, and in total disregard for their present needs or future requirements, they gave “beyond their ability.”  Theirs was a sacrificial offering that was voluntarily and joyfully given, and it became an inspiration for Christians everywhere.

And finally, Paul tells us that joy-filled giving flows from the gift of self. His statement that they “first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” (v. 5) gives us the clue to their generosity. There is a sense in which the only thing I can really give to God is myself, and this is the gift that needs to come first. Those who give their money but not their hearts have made a lesser gift.

The story is told of a missionary who was witnessing to the chief of a very primitive Indian tribe. In response the chief tried to impress the missionary with gifts of horses, blankets, and jewelry. But the missionary said, “My God does not want the chief’s horses or blankets or jewelry. My God wants the chief himself.” Then the chief smiled and said, “You have a very wise God, for when I give him myself he also gets horses and blankets and jewelry.”    

Amazingly, the chief had a better understanding of total life commitment than many who call themselves “Christian” do today.

Along with the Corinthian Christians, we, too, are called upon to share out of the abundance that we have received. It is not enough in God’s eyes that we excel in faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and in love for others apart from joy-filled giving. This is a stern challenge to us in a world obsessed with “getting” for myself all that I can.

With God-given wisdom, Solomon wrote, “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT).

I wonder whether the apostle Paul, if he were writing to our church today, would say, “Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in knowledge and wisdom, in teaching, in music, in fellowship, in a commitment to justice—so I want you to also excel in generous giving with joy.”

Jesus gave up everything, even life, to redeem us. And in doing so, he has set us free to respond with the same sacrificial love in sharing with the less fortunate. By this, we show and confirm the depth and genuineness of our love for Christ and others. May we daily stretch for this JOY.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 25, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Bridges of Two-Way Forgiveness

John MacArthur, a popular religious writer of the recent past wrote, “We live obviously in a society that knows little about forgiveness. We live in a society that cares little about forgiveness. In fact, I would think that one of the major contributors if not the major contributor to the destruction of relationships in our culture is the absence of forgiveness.”

In last week’s blog, I urged us to build bridges of acceptance and reconciliation rather than fences, separating ourselves from others with whom we disagree or do not like. Such bridges are never easy to build and must be built with the right kind of lumber.

It is biblical to think of the bridge’s beams and flooring being “forgiveness” wood. This is the same sturdy, enduring wood that built the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Hanging on that cross and with the words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Jesus built an amazing bridge of grace and forgiveness, because he loved us and wanted to reconcile us to himself.

We see in Jesus’ crucifixion how building a “forgiveness bridge” to another can be very painful and sacrificial. But we also know from Jesus’ life and teaching that it is the only bridge that can adequately cross the divide and make possible a reconciliation between us and others.

Building a “forgiveness bridge” may appear too difficult or impossible. But Corrie ten Boom offers a different perspective. She likens “forgiveness” to simply letting go of the bell rope.

Corrie ten Boom reminds us that if we ever have seen a country church with a bell in the steeple, we will remember that to get the bell ringing we need to tug awhile. Once the bell has begun to ring, we merely maintain the momentum by continuing to pull the rope. As long as we keep pulling, the bell keeps ringing. And likewise, it is with “forgiveness.”

Corrie says, “Forgiveness is letting go of the rope. It is just that simple. But, when you do so, the bell keeps ringing. Momentum is still at work. However, if you keep your hands off the rope, the bell will begin to slow and eventually stop. It is like that with forgiveness. When you decide to forgive, the old feelings of unforgiveness may continue to assert themselves. After all, they have lots of momentum. But if you affirm your decision to forgive, that unforgiving spirit will begin to slow and will eventually be still. Forgiveness is not something you feel, it is something you do. It is letting go of the rope of retribution.”

Most importantly, Jesus makes it clear that the “forgiveness bridge” we build to cross over, accepting and restoring relationship with the other, is the same bridge that he, Jesus, will cross over in returning to forgive and reconcile us to himself. Many Christians seem ignorant of this critical teaching from Jesus.

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he included this phrase; “And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who sin against us).”

Then Jesus adds this emphasis to the above request for forgiveness; “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” There is a loud “if” in his teaching.

And again, Jesus emphasizes this “if” in his answer to Peter’s question, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” After telling a parable about an unmerciful servant, Jesus concludes with his answer, This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35).

There is no wiggle room in Jesus’ response to Peter’s question as Peter had hoped. Nor does Jesus limit the need to forgive only to those who commit unjust or violent (sinful) behavior toward us. Why? Because God regards all contentious, divisive arguments and behaviors as sinful. This is clearly heard in his several commands to love our neighbor as ourselves and to love and do good to our enemies?

This is how the apostle Paul understood Jesus’ teachings, as seen in his letter to the Ephesian Christians, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32). And to the Christians in Colosssae, “Bear with each other and forgive one another is any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13).

Because God created us uniquely different human beings, we are prone to disagree with the beliefs and/or behaviors of others. And our defensive arguments frequently cause us to build fences that divide and disassociate us from others, rather than build bridges of forgiveness, acceptance, and reconciliation. Why? What if Jesus treated us that way?

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – August 11, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley