July 4, 2024 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John (2SoJ)
Not Your Typical July 4th Article
(Job, Christ & You)
Every Christian thinks that once he or she repents, all is forgiven, and God now loves you and will protect you. That line of thinking is not based on Biblical teachings. There are consequences for our sins and effects that can follow us all the days of our lives.
Recently a prominent Christian pastor resigned from his Church. It sent shockwaves through the leadership of America’s churches. What? He was forgiven! How can that be? He did not hide his sin! Why would God allow this to happen? I have never met Robert Morris, the founder of Gateway Church who resigned from his job as its senior pastor last month. This article is not directed to him, but I was asked by a close friend, Rev. D. Hauser, to write what I understand about God and Bible teachings. I do know that all Christians need to be humbled and understand that the wisdom of God is above our thinking processes and our rationale for God’s judgment. There are three truths that we all must understand and follow. We cannot follow Christ into heaven without these truths working in our lives.
One, the Book of Job has lots of insight into the ways of our Father. Job was perfect the Bible says and Job was protected by God for Job’s believing and following God in all his ways but fell none the less and Job was made a better man for it. God allowed for everything Job had to be taken away from him. Job now had to find his way back to God. Satan’s job—to steal, kill, and destroy, and this is what Satan did to Job. The one biblical attribute or quality Job did not have was the ‘fear of God’. The Bible says in Proverbs 9:10-12, New International Version (NIV), The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom, your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. No fear, no wisdom! As Christians we must have the ‘Fear of God’ which is, “Whatever God does, whatever God does, it is always righteous and just and our duty is to only believe, humble ourselves, and repent.”
As I am sure you know Jesus when He was praying before His death on the cross prayed that what He was about to experience would not happen but deferred rather to the will of His Father and said, “Not my will but your will be done.” The Bible makes this statement that His prayers were heard because ‘He feared God’. Christ had and chose the will of His Father but gave to Christ all he asked for—to have all the Glory He had before His life as a man on the earth.
Two, in Mathew 5:23-25, New International Version (NIV), Jesus is speaking, ”Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”
Too often there are things in our past that have never been resolved, and Jesus is giving us wisdom on how to address these acts/behaviors of sin. These sins cannot be forgotten or forgiven us less we listen to the Holy Spirit and resolve not only our sins but also our iniquities (the impact of our sins on others—the consequences of our sins). The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment. I must warn you not to resolve any evil deed unless the Holy Spirit directs you to do so. Only the Holy Spirit can do this, and He will direct your way how, when, and what to do or say to people you have sinned against, but failure to act when He directs you to go and resolve your sinful behavior will only result in Satan’s judgment on your life.
Three, what about you? Do not judge or become God’s judge when dealing with other people’s sins! God asked us to show kindness, forgiveness, and being a peacemaker to all who are repentant or in the process of finding forgiveness. If we judge others and do not offer forgiveness, then God is not about to forgive us of our sins. Job’s friends failed Job the Bible says, and Job had to forgive them and prayed that God would forgive them also.
God placed all our sins on Christ during His death, and I mean everyone’s sins, iniquities, and sicknesses, as well as all wrong and hateful thoughts, actions, and motives that are not good, wholesome, and righteous. Our sins became Jesus’s sins and Jesus still forgave each one of us. Jesus made all things right, so we must do the same. We must forgive others (and ourselves), bear each other’s burdens, and mourn for each other by standing in the gap, carrying our cross for others as Christ carried His cross.
Jesus did God’s will and it is time for you to do God’s will. Let’s fear God together and do what God asks of us—leaving our gift at the altar of God. It’s your turn now!
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What would Jesus want me to do?
Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com
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