Idols? What idols?

But when all was going well, your people turned to sin again…. yet whenever your people returned to you for help, once more you listened from heaven, and in your wonderful mercy, delivered them. Nehemiah. 9:28

In those few lines, you pretty much have the history of the Children of Israel. God would bless them with peace and prosperity. But then they would forget about Him and fall into sin. So God would allow them to come under enemy attack. 

Someone stands up and says, “Maybe it’s because of the idols we’ve been worshipping.” Another guy says, “What idols? I don’t see any idols. Unless you’re talking about that golden calf everyone is dancing around.”

So they humble themselves, seek forgiveness, lose the idols. And once again, God comes to their rescue. Peace reigns. Prosperity is restored. A chicken in every pot. Two cars in every garage. Everything is hunky-dory. Too hunky-dory, because they fall right back into sin.

And the cycle repeats. Second verse, same as the first. 

Well, it’s easy to find fault with the Israelites but in a way, we’re not much different. The job’s good. The wife’s happy. The kids ain’t misbehavin’. And we become spiritually complacent. We’re not on our knees in prayer because, what’s there to pray about? Everything is good. And without knowing it, we begin to slip from God.

So in His wisdom, He sends a little pain. A little mini-crisis. Or a major one. Now, we’re crying out to God. “Help! Where are you?”

When He doesn’t answer, we do some introspection. Look inside. See if there’s anything going on that might be displeasing.

After discovering thirty or forty things we repent, ask forgiveness, lose the golden cow. And true to His promise, He comes to our rescue. Sound familiar?

Today’s verse says, “When all was going well, your people turned to sin again.”

Sometimes, I wonder if we need a little pain. A few trials and tribulations. To keep us on our knees. To remind us of our constant need for him.

Hmmm?

 

I’ll pray for anyone but him

Then when Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his wealth and happiness. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before. Job 42:10

I find it intriguing that God turned Job’s fortunes around when Job prayed for his “friends.” For the past forty or so chapters, these so-called friends have been badmouthing him, telling him what a scumbag he is, what a worthless excuse he is for a human being. Talk about being kicked when you’re already down. They not only kick him, they get in the SUV and back over him a couple times.

Why is it we can be so brutal when it comes to letting others know their faults and failures? I’m speaking of people we love. Our spouse. Our children. It’s so easy to hurl insults at each other not realizing that each time we do, we erode the foundation of our relationship. Each stinging critique chips away at the mortar that holds the structure together.

The message I am getting today is to pray for those who despitefully use you, as Jesus once said. I’ve done that in the past, but only halfheartedly. I cannot say I have prayed sincerely for those who have hurt me. Why? Because I really don’t want God to bless them. They don’t deserve it.

But Job prayed for his friends and when he did, God restored his wealth and happiness. It makes no mention of whether God blessed the friends, but He definitely blessed Job.

Hmmm?

 

May he choke on a chicken bone!

Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him. Luke 17:4 (LB)

Man, that is one passage I could have gone all day without reading! It is not the message I was hoping to find when I opened my Bible this morning. But somehow, the Holy Spirit knows what we need and flashes it in our face like it’s in neon lights!

At this moment, I am dealing with a situation – one of those “enough is enough” situations – where forgiveness is the last thing I want to offer this particular individual. Jesus said to pray for those who despitefully use you. I do pray for this guy. I pray he will get hit by a cement truck. I pray he will catch bubonic plague. I pray he will choke on a chicken bone. No one can accuse me of not praying for him.

But for some unexplainable reason, my prayers have gone unanswered and I am beginning to think that God may want me to try a different approach. It may involve such things as love, patience, understanding, compassion – and that word for today – forgiveness!

But how can I forgive someone who has caused me such pain? Well, I always proudly proclaim that I want to be more like Jesus, who, oh, by the way, just happened to forgive those who nailed him to the cross. If he can forgive them, certainly there must be room in my heart to forgive the one who wronged me.

O God, I do want to be more like you, but sometimes my feelings get in the way. May I never forget how you have forgiven me. And may I be willing to extend forgiveness to others. Amen.