Tag: Saint Peter

Posted in FORGIVENESS

Seventy Times Seven

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

cant forgive“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Matthew 18:22

People find it hard to forgive those who deliberately sin against them. That person (your friend, brother, sister, mother, father, colleague at work, etc) knew it was wrong yet he/she did it. In the scripture, Peter came to Jesus one day and asked him a question about the number of times he should forgive those who sin against him? He thought up to seven times were enough but Jesus replied “No, not seven times but seventy times seven”

Jesus told Peter to forgive 490 times. In other words, Jesus told him to be ready to forgive each time his brother sin against him. In Luke 17:4, Jesus added “Even if that person wrong you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive”

Someone may ask “what if that person is conscious of what he/she is doing and keeps on repeating the same mistake every day, week, month, or year. Must I forgive him/her?” The answer is Yes.

Forgiving your brother’s mistake(s) must be something you do every day because human beings are people, and they are going to hurt you in one way or the other.

Do you know that God doesn’t answer your prayer for forgiveness when you don’t forgive people who sin against you?

Jesus told his disciples in Mark 11:25 that “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you failings and shortcomings.”

Friend true love overlooks a person’s failings and shortcomings. God shows us this kind of love daily. The scripture says while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He bought us with his precious blood and the least, I believe, you can do to show your love for him is to look around you today, pick up your phone to call the person who hurt you or  sinned against you in the past. God will bless you as you choose to forgive all who have sin against you today. The Right Time is Now!

“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4, MSG)

 

 

Posted in GIVING, HOPE

ONE ACT OF KINDNESS

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

When hope is lost, I believe one act of kindness could turn things around.

Thank You Father for Your gift of life today, and it is my prayer that You open our eyes so that we do not miss the hour of Your visitation. Amen!

I want to talk about Peter today. Luke chapter 5 tells a story about Peter, his companions, and Jesus. From the story, Peter had worked for the whole night and he could not catch anything. He thought it was all over and I believe he probably might have said “today is a bad day, nothing in the net. Let me wash me wash these net and go home”. In the natural, there was no hope. However, something happened; a man showed up and asked for a favour. He helped this Man. Peter did not for anything but the Man said “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch”. I would have said the same thing as Peter did and even added more. My version would have been; “hey man, do you know what you are talking about, and by the way, what experience do you have in fishing. I had worked all night. It is time for me to go home. Thanks but no thanks”.

Logically, it would be unwise to do what the Man asked Peter to do but Peter obeyed and the response was marvellous. Things turned around for good. He regained his hope and even called for help.

Friends, life may throw so many challenges at us. You might have tried so many things but have failed to produce a “single fish”. I could say you are discouraged because you do not see any hope in what you are doing. It could be your job, relationship, family, etc. I pray you do not let that situation hinder you from doing good to people. Abraham helped some strangers, who happened to be angels. And Peter helped a man, who happened to be the Son of God. Some years ago, I helped a woman. I gave her money for transport. Something strange happened; after I had given her the money, I turned after some seconds and she was nowhere to be found.  Friends, I ran because I thought I had seen a ghost. Later, I heard a voice telling me she was an angel. The good news was I received something I had been praying for so long through miraculous way.

I want to encourage you that do not let your situation hinder you from helping people because ONE ACT OF KINDNESS could turn things around for your good.

I will close with what Paul said in Hebrews 13:2;

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Posted in GOD'S KINGDOM, OUR WORDS, SOUL FOOD

GOD IS THE JUDGE

Posted on by Uplifting Christ

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Romans 2:1-3

All of us have strengths, and we all have weaknesses. You are strong in an area where your neighbour is weak. And you neighbour may be strong in an area where you are weak. None of us is perfect. Over the past years, we have heard stories about great ministers who engaged themselves in things we least expected. I wouldn’t narrow it to ministers alone but your friends, some people you respected, etc. It is easy to think “I wouldn’t do that. How could a whole Pastor, Teacher, President, Christian commit adultery, steal, etc”. But the truth is you are strong in that area because of the Grace of God. Take time to understand a persons’ situation before you pass a comment. If you took time to understand their story, you wouldn’t be critical and judgemental.

Do you remember the story of the woman who was caught in adultery in John 8? All her accusers were not perfect so none could throw the stone at her. Think about this for a moment; if God should expose you (what you do in secret) to the rest of the world, could you imagine what people would say about you? From today, don’t join unbeliever who mock at believers when they fall into temptation, or their secret sins come to light. Don’t be quick to pass a comment when you hear your brother or sister has done something wrong because you are not perfect. If nothing at all, you lie on phone some times.

I have learnt that no matter what a person does, how stupid or foolish it might be, there is a reason for that. Rome was not built in a day. No one was born a prostitute, a drug addict, a thief, a cheat, a liar, a gossip, lesbian, homosexual, fornicator, masturbator, adulterer, etc.  Something probably led them into that, and as God’s children, instead of us being critical and judgemental, we have to minister Grace to them. Let us pray for one another, and encourage one another because no one is perfect in all his or her ways. We are all striving to be perfect. Matthew 5:48

Do you know that God used people with weaknesses most in the past? And He is still using people in such situations? I have realised that when a person is weak in an area, he draws closer to his or her Saviour for strength.  They live in Him daily, and He lives in them. Don’t let your weakness be a stumbling block rather let it a stepping stone. Know that Jesus is your strength and He will see you through. Focus on Him daily as in Hebrews 12.

The Law was given through a man. He disobeyed God, and he was a murderer. Moses was not perfect. The man after God’s own heart committed adultery. He was a murderer. David was not perfect. The strongest man was brought down by a woman. Samson was not perfect. The wisest man on earth followed other gods. Solomon was not perfect. Peter was closed to Jesus. He was among the closest disciples to Jesus yet Peter denied Him three times. Peter was not perfect. The greatest apostle, Paul, was not perfect. Friends, we were all saved by Grace through Faith. It is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, and criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbour’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole travelling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbour. Matthew 7:1-5 The Message.

God is the Judge