April 1, 2010

Leviticus 4
“So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him." I am so thankful that my High Priest, the Lord Jesus the Messiah, took my sin upon Himself and offered His own body for my sin so that I am forgiven by trusting in Him. I committed the sin. He made the atonement with His own body. Thank you Lord Jesus. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

Luke 6:27-49
Since World War II the USA has tried to improve the nations we first subjugated. Study World History and you will find that, that is pretty different from what most nations do to those whom they defeat. The USA has had mixed motives in doing this. Some of it is that we have come to see that it is in our best interest to feed our enemy and help him rise from the dust that we put him in. The reason we have somewhat decent relations with Germany and Japan today is because we helped in the post-war years feed their people and rebuild their economy. We have since learned that in general, countries that we have helped don't usually attack. Hence, the rationale for our continued involvement Iraq is that if we rebuild a secure Iraq, we will have a more secure future. But what has caused us to take that route after WWII? Part of it is that at that time we were still a Christian culture. The teaching of Jesus to love your enemy, do good to those who hate you, was at least partially embedded in the culture. It wasn't purely from that motive, but that motive was undeniably part of it.
I am currently reading Tea with Hezbollah by Ted Dekker. It is fascinating reading, and I recommend it if you would like to meditate some more on Jesus’ teaching concerning loving your enemy, and how that plays out in our world.
Jesus offers us the commands to love our enemies, not because we might become their friends if we do, although that might happen. He offers the commands because it is the right thing to do. It is also the glorious thing to do. Look at His example. He died for the sins of the whole world. But the whole world does not receive the provision for which he died. He loves the world none-the-less. Yes, many of us become His friends because He turned the other cheek on the cross. But many still find the cross an abomination, a stumbling block. But right up until their death Jesus extends the offer of forgiveness. Now that is glory! I cannot prove it with chapter and verse but I think that at the Great White Throne Judgment, when He has the final judgment of all those who refused to receive Him, they will bow the knee, but not willingly. They will go into Eternal Judgment still rejecting Him, still fighting Him. It will be clear to all of us that He is just in sending them to the lake of fire. After all, He died in their place, He turned the cheek and they struck it again and again and again. He loved them but they refused to acknowledge their utter need for Him. Love will not force love to be returned.
He loves us. Even when we were still enemies with Him, He loved us. As we fall in love with Him and gaze upon His glory, we are changed into that same likeness. To build upon any other foundation brings extreme ruin. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John