Do you ever think about the turning point? You know, the time when something happened that changed the focus of your life.
The scope of our spiritual realities can often be narrowed to a specific event like the death of a loved one, a close call in our own life such as a car accident, drug addiction, alcoholic parents, a hard break up, marital issues, etc., the list goes on. Many will cite these as the reason they turned to faith in Jesus.
So too can the scope of our spiritual reality be narrowed to a specific event like the death of a loved one, a close call in our own life such as a car accident, drug addiction, alcoholic parents, a hard break up, marital issues, and let’s not forget church hurt and the all encompassing sour grapes. The list goes on with just as many citing these as reasons or excuses, to leave their faith behind all together.
We’re kind of weird like that, aren’t we? Thank God for His grace cause sometimes ours ain’t much.
We are on a tightrope in our Christian walk everyday as we watch our friends and family blow through life, involving themselves more and more in amoral behavior. We know that to say too much can result in wrath or ostracism. Conversely, saying too little can result in pain and even, death.
In Mark 11, the Bible says, “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
I want to say this to my readers this morning. The turning point of Jesus’ teaching is forgiveness. If you are holding grudges, does it seem unreasonable to you that God might withhold blessings such as healings, stability and comfort? All are necessary components of a strong spiritual relationship.
So on this Monday afternoon, if we really want to move some mountains, could be that we need to forgive some things that we might be forgiven. Only then will we have the stability to stay on that tightrope. Sure, you might have to endure an argument or ten. But if a life is led to Jesus, it’ll be worth it.
Some of the things that I listed will be avoided. Some of them will go away. I’m telling you that faith such as that which Jesus describes will pull the finger from the trigger. It will take the foot off the gas. It will remove the taste of addiction. It will take the bitterness from the tongue and replace the deceitful heart with the heart of the Holy Spirit as no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Pray for the spiritual life of your family and friends and let God work today.
Stay on that tightrope in the name of Jesus.