Unpardonable

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (Matthew 12:30-31).

The only sin that can’t be forgiven is more of something that we don’t do, rather than something we do. We are all imperfect, born with a sin nature. Born with selfishness, pride and other inclinations that put us on the throne of our lives rather than the God that created us and loves us.

Jesus’s own words tell us that every sin can be forgiven. Even the vilest things man’s evil mind can conjure up can be forgiven, and has been forgiven, if that man repents (turns away) from unbelief and trusts that work of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection has paid his penalty for his personal sin. Jesus becomes his personal Savior.

We can’t remain neutral with faith in the saving power. Either we believe it, or we don’t. And refusing to turn to God and accept His forgiveness is the eternal sin, the one that is not forgiven.

There have been instances where people have led the most depraved, abhorrent and revolting existences, yet before going on to eternity, they have repented. And just like the thief on the cross, after death, joined their Savior in an amazing eternity.

We never know when that last breath will come, when we exhale that last breath on earth and inhale in the eternity that we have chosen.

Seek His Face

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14).

I have often been given the advice, especially in challenging times, or times when a decision had to be made, just to “seek His face.” And it also appears in this familiar verse. I get the pray part and the turning away from evil, but there it is again—”seek My face.”

What does it mean, and how do we do it?

I read once that “His face” means three things—His advice, a relationship, and His presence. Please excuse me for being so analytic, but this is how God teaches me. How I long for the faith and trust of a child, but that’s an admission and confession for another day.

His advice. I seek His direction daily, not just for big things, but also for me to be part of His agenda today, not just for Him to okay my plans. I usually start off with good intentions, but often set about ticking off my never-ending list.

A relationship. Reading His word and praying are ways to know Him better, to understand His character, to see examples of His love. We can’t really get to know anyone without spending time with them.

His presence. This was a hard one for me because I’m usually trying to complete that never-ending list. Then a friend said this simple, simple thought and I got it! “Look for the life lessons that God is teaching you in the ordinary tasks of your day.”

His presence is always at hand in the life of believers. The lesson can be as simple as “Be thankful” or something so profound that it carries us through the rough times. Seeking His face is acknowledging Him and tuning in to what, in His boundless love, He is trying to communicate to this sometimes-inattentive heart.

His presence is always present.

For Such a Time

This book of Esther has so many take-aways that point to our amazing God. The way it spoke to me can be summed up in Romans 8:28, We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. The emphasis doesn’t end with “to those who love God,” because each of us who do love Him have a role in His plan. I am hardly a Bible scholar, but to me it seemed that one of God’s major purposes here was to foil the plans of the enemy. At every turn the evil plot, turned around against the wicked adversary.

Haman, the egoistical, self-seeking character, planned a celebration to honor himself, only to find that he was planning it for the godly Mordechai. And the gallows that he built to kill Mordechai and humiliate God’s people, was used to hang Haman.

There are many “coincidences” that occurred in this book that served as a reminder to me once again that our God is faithful, and if I follow His agenda instead of mine, He works out the details better than I could ever imagine.

Religion vs Faith

Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32).

Whenever I am referred to as being religious, in my heart I feel insulted. I am not offended by the person who said it because most likely he/she meant it as a compliment, but I would prefer being thought of as a believer whose faith is in the Lord, Jesus Christ. To me, religion is man-made and filled with man-made restrictions.

Jesus, Himself, had nothing good to say about the religious. He called them vipers and described them as white-washed tombs.

Religion equals constraints, limitations, and the guilt that comes with never doing or being enough. Religion adds hundreds of thou-shalt-nots to the freedom and assurance that we can experience in living in the grace that is freely given though faith in Christ Jesus.

And if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Because of the Blood

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

A few years ago my husband, my sister and I toured Italy. We started in the north, in Venice, and worked our way south. The original plan was to tour with the group for nine days then fly out of Naples. However, we were fortunate to have cousins–many, many cousins, who lived within a few hours further south, so we were able to add a few days to our trip. My husband bravely volunteered to drive in a foreign country in the days before GPS devices were available with rent-a-cars.

We had a few challenges along the way. We had never met the cousins with whom we were to stay. Our deceased grandparents were brothers, and although our parents had met, we had not. They welcomed us with open arms and hugs, and we felt loved from the start. Oh, did I mention that we didn’t speak Italian, and they didn’t speak English?!

Thanks to hands, and drawings, and Google Translate, by the end of the visit we were able to communicate not just survival language, but words from the heart, and more than that, we felt a closeness that was hard to describe. The nearest I can come up with is “kindred-spirits.” And before we left she said a phrase that I have savored many times. It had the Italian word “sangue” in it, and when I looked it up, it translated to “I love you because of the blood.”

Isn’t this the perfect phrase to also explain our relationship to the Father? We could not have any relationship, or even come into His holy presence wearing our sinful nature. But because Jesus paid my penalty, I am able not just to communicate with Him, but I have actually become His daughter—a child of the King.

His word says that from the start, He doesn’t want any of us to perish, but through the miracle of the spilled, perfect blood, we can become a joint-heir with Jesus.

We are His. He cherishes us, values us, and dearly loves us–because of the blood.