Sunday, October 28, 2012
Right with God and Men
2 Samuel 21:1
There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the LORD about it. And the LORD said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”
Not all famines are because of disobedience, but this one was. There was a wrong that needed to be made right, and God held back His provision in order to be heard. It worked. David asked God what was wrong, and God showed him. This is where many people get to, but few take the next step. Once David got the information, he did something with it. He saw where the transgression was, and even though it happened under the leadership of King Saul, it was now David's place to make it right. It's easy to be forgiven, but its tough to make things right with the people that suffered because of our sin. It's tough, but its the right thing to do. It's tough, but it might just be that the spiritual famine in your life is happening because God is trying to show you something that could open up a whole new world of peace in your spirit that you never knew existed. Don't confuse making things right with others as a way to earn God's grace in your life... because it isn't. But you would be amazed at how much better you can sleep when you are at peace with God, and with the people that you have wronged. You've heard it said that "two wrongs don't make a right", but I would like to offer that "two rights will turn you around"! After you make the decision to get right with God by trusting in His payment for your sin, ask Him to help you make things right with others so that they can see what a difference the Holy Spirit has made in your life.
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Step # 9 in the Celebrate Recovery Program is "We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others". (Matthew 5:23-24) "Therefore,if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:9) "Happy are the peacemakers." Forgiveness for our past sins against others is key to having the full measure of peace in our life. One step closer to having all that Jesus Christ died to give us!
ReplyDeleteThe step was harder for me than 4 it seems like. It was and is so easy to do those things of the flesh but it is so hard to tell God and the people we love we messed up. Making amends is not about justifying or excusing what we did but instead sincerely saying we were wrong and asking that person for their forgiveness. What makes it hard is sometimes people are not so willing to forgive. In this case I just have to pray for God's peace in that situation. Lastly I want to say that just because I can ask for forgiveness from God and others doesn't give me the right to keep hurting them over and over. I have to continually pray for wisdom and guidance.
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