Some people think it’s too hard to forgive certain offenses, or they believe they have a right to remain angry and bitter. But the truth is—forgiveness is a choice…and it is also a command.
God has two reasons why He requires us to forgive anyone and everyone:
The Bible speaks strongly and clearly against the sin of fornication, which is sexual intercourse outside of marriage. In fact, the Apostle Paul was strong in his writings about this (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:9; Hebrews 13:4).
Often people wonder if painful or disruptive events are permitted by God to correct or discipline us.
But how does God discipline His children?
You can pray the prayer of intercession. Briefly defined, intercession is prayer made in behalf of another person or persons who have brought judgment upon themselves for wrongdoing. The Scriptures teach us that sin provokes God, and because of His just and righteous nature, sin calls for judgment (James 1:15; Romans 6:23). But God has no pleasure in judgment; instead He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18).
The compassionate attitude of Father God toward one of His children who has gone astray is clearly revealed in Scripture. He declares in Jeremiah 3:14, “Return home, you wayward children,” says the Lord, “for I am your master. I will bring you back to the land of Israel—one from this town and two from that family—from wherever you are scattered.”
Many people don’t realize how devastating pornography is to those who view it. Just as the devil intended, it causes untold damage to a person—spirit, soul and body. That’s to say nothing of the hurt it causes the loved ones of those who view it. It can lead to divorce, mental problems and even physical issues.
The devil has tried to convince people that pornography is just “harmless fun.” It can be difficult to talk about, but here is what pornography really is:
Trying to control the flesh is not something you were meant to do on your own. The Apostle Paul wrote of his frustrations: “I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (Romans 7:22-23). Be assured Jesus understands the pressures that you are faced with, and He desires to help you. Hebrews 4:15 says, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”
The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of alcohol. The abuse of alcohol can lead to addiction, health problems, legal trouble, strife and can destroy marriages and other relationships. That is why we are instructed in Ephesians 5:18 (NLT), “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
First and foremost, God hates divorce (Malachi 2:14-16). It is never His best, and the damage it does to families and children are the evidence.
God created marriage and intended for it to be a lifelong union. The apostle Paul taught that the marriage relationship is a demonstration of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33). When we stray from His plan, the results are damaging. That is why Jesus emphasized the importance and sacredness of marriage in Matthew 19:6, saying “What God has joined together, let no man separate” (NKJV).
God’s blueprint for marriage and sex is found in Genesis 2:24, where you’ll find His design is for man and woman to be joined together with no other option suggested. Throughout the Bible, you’ll find God’s praise of marriage between a man and a woman and only strong rebuke for homosexuality.
Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 refer to homosexuality as “detestable” and an “abomination.” And in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, we read that homosexuals, along with others who are unrighteous, will not inherit the kingdom of God. Romans 1:22-27 offers the most extensive reference against homosexuality:
God is the creator of life. He is life. In Him no death or darkness exists.
When God created Lucifer, He created an eternal being. God did not create him to die or cease to exist, but to live forever. Ezekiel 28 tells how Lucifer was created perfect and then iniquity was found in him (see also Isaiah 14:12-15).
The Bible certainly teaches there is an unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. But fearful thoughts of whether you have committed this sin are designed by the devil to keep you out of fellowship with God. Think about it: if you’re concerned about having committed the unpardonable sin, you’re proving by your concern you have not!
But what about others? Time spent trying to judge whether another has committed the unpardonable sin removes you from the proper place of love and intercession for that person.
Romans 13:1-5 states that those in civil authority are ministers of God for our good. For those who observe and obey the authorities and the law, the law will work to their benefit. But judgment awaits whoever rebels against the law and resists that authority. Disobedience to the law permits those in authority to have the right to execute judgment.
You are forgiven! It’s so important to realize that. Whatever you have done, God forgave you the moment you asked Him and received His forgiveness. At the same time, it is important to understand that forgiveness doesn’t keep undesirable circumstances from coming into our lives as a result of our disobedience.
When God made us, He gave us the ability to choose. It was an act of mercy and love. God’s desire was for pure love to exist between Himself and His creation. God did not want to create robots that could only do what they were programmed to do, nor did He want to make slaves out of any creature. God gave man a will as part of His goodness, knowing the potential for love and sin is there.
Webster defines gambling as “the payment of a price for the chance to win a prize.” The lottery does fit this definition. While the Bible does not explicitly list gambling as a sin, the greater question for a believer is whether something is pleasing to God.
The Bible teaches clearly about the importance of good stewardship (Proverbs 21:20). Every dollar we have belongs to God and He is trusting us to manage it well. When we do, we reap a harvest.
What would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What's His most important characteristic? Some people would say it's His power. Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer.
You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.
Now the word glory could literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their worth.
Be not conformed to this world. If you live like the world, you'll be overcome by the world. It's as simple as that. So don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold.
Instead "...be transformed" by the entire renewal of your mind. Overcome the world by having your mind transformed to think like God thinks. In other words, when you see something in the Word, say, "I agree with that. From now on I'm acting on that instead of what I used to think."
Remember when...? That's a question we hear a lot this time of year. Reminiscing with family and friends, we browse through Christmases gone by, enjoying the memories until inevitably, we stumble across the memories we would rather forget.
Suddenly, the pain comes rushing back. The sting of a parent's criticism, the broken promise of a friend, the rejections, the disappointments, the heartaches....
What should we do with memories like that? Do we have to drag them along, like so much baggage, from year to year?
A covenant of grace. That's what you and I have with Almighty God. If you could truly grasp the significance of that, you'd never be the same again.
What exactly is a covenant of grace? It's a relationship of favor that gives you access to someone else's power.
An illustration of a covenant of grace is the covenant the old Sicilian "family" members have with the "godfather" of the "family."