I’m a fan of the TV series 24 and have enjoyed watching Jack Bauer and friends for the last few seasons. Monday night was this year’s series finale, 2 hour special. It was full of action, suspense and drama.
Jack had been exposed to a very deadly toxic gas for which there was only one long-shot cure, which he refused. As Jack lay on his death bed, a friend came by to see him and pray with him. Jack, at what seemed to be his last hours of life, was wanting to ‘make things right’, thinking about all the bad he had done during his lifetime. His friend suggested that they pray. I thought this was a great idea, then it took a little twist. The friend said that they should pray and forgive themselves for what they had done. That’s it. The message was that if you want to get things right before you die, forgive yourself.
I was disappointed, as a Christian, follower of Jesus Christ and student of the Bible, that God was not included in the touching moments of ‘getting things right.’ The Bible clearly teaches that true forgiveness of our sins comes from God and Him alone. Most are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer, which includes the words… Our Father in heaven… forgive us our sins as we forgive others. 1John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ephesians 1:7 says, In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
I have a pretty good idea that Jack Bauer will be back next season and that the life-threatening toxic gas poisoning will be dealt with and he will continue fighting terrorists, and should have another chance to get things right… hopefully next time with the only One who can really make things right, God.
Peggy and I are spending a few days on Kauai... it is called the 'Garden Island' and is well named.
In the movie 'What about Bob', Dr. Leo Marvin wrote a book named 'Baby Steps' which proved very helpful for one of his patients Bob Wiley.
The premise behind the book was that progress can be made by dealing with an issue or problem by taking 'baby steps' and more 'baby steps.' The progress may not be impressive, but it is progress.
One of the areas that is important for all followers of Jesus Christ is that we continue to grow in loving people (love God and love people - Jesus made it clear). I think the 'baby steps' idea can be helpful in growing in love... a smile, a handshake, a comforting word, a phone call, a card, a helping hand, a listening ear, and unexpected visit... all these are baby steps toward love.
Don't be discouraged by the seeming slowness, be encouraged that a pattern and pathway of love is happening... and it's a beautiful thing... don't stop.
In light of recent situations in our national government, it seems that repentance may be viewed as the actions that I need to take because I got caught doing something wrong... whoops, I forgot to pay my taxes, so I better do that to try to get out of trouble or get what I want.
Christian discipleship is a process of paying more attention to God's righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing in God's will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall or our enthusiasms.
Therefore the Lord HImself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isa 7:14)
A prophesy of Isaiah, given over 700 years
before the birth of Jesus Christ, telling of a sign from God Himself, of a
miracle conception in the womb of a virgin, a Son to be born…His name,
Immanuel!
Years later, a righteous man named Joseph,
struggles with the news that his wife-to-be is with child….knowing that it is
not his, he makes plans to quietly protect her from public embarrassment.
But while he
thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary
your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she
will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His
people from their sins." (Mat
1:20-21)
Could this be? An angel…in a dream…a
Son…conceived by the Holy Spirit…the Savior? At the prompting of the angelic messenger,
Joseph believed.
So all this was done
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they
shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with
us." (Mat
1:22-23)
Foretold…fulfilled….God with us!
May joy, praise and
thanksgiving fill each heart this season as we remember and rejoice at the
birth of the Savior – Jesus Christ!
In my devotional reading this week I was drawn to verses in Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing (1Thes 4:9-12)
Paul encourages the Thessalonians in their love for one another. He said be didn’t have to write to them about the issue because ‘God was teaching them to love one another.’ But even thought this seems to be a point of effectiveness, he ‘urges’ them to ‘increase more and more.’ Obviously there is always room for growth and increase in the area of loving one another.
My prayer after reading these scriptures was: Lord Jesus, thank You that You are constantly teaching me and giving me more and more opportunities to love others… help me increase more and more as I walk with You.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death (1John 3:14)
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart… (1Pet 1:22)
Following Christ is a journey.
The destination has nothing to do with us.
Jesus secured it.
