So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. ~2 Corinthians 5:16a (NIV)
Wouldn’t you agree that now is as good a time as any to stop regarding others from a worldly point of view? We all want mercy and grace for our failures, but are we willing to give it? Love is what draws people to God, not law. Rules and regulations create boundaries, but they don’t create a willing heart. God says He has given us the ministry and the message of reconciliation. We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (NIV) If God isn’t holding peoples sins against them, who are we to? How are we able to tell people God has forgiven them when we are not forgiving them ourselves? God’s forgiveness isn’t immediate, His forgiveness occurs even before the transgression. His forgiveness took place over 2000 years ago at the cross. Now that is something to think about. Is your heart ready to forgive even before you have been wronged?
The Lord tells us in Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." (NIV) The Lord says He is able to make anybody stand no matter what they have done or how they act every single day of their lives. He says His love is unconditional and it’s time we learn to love that same way. God’s fidelity, His loyalty and faithfulness, is not based on anything we do or don’t do and our loyalty and faithfulness to others should not be based on their works either. Ask God to show you how to regard people from His point of view verses the worlds. Ask Him to give you a heart ready to forgive even before you are wronged. The Lord will enable you to let disappointments and disadvantages caused by others to roll off your back like water off a duck’s back! Commit to acting just like your Heavenly Father. When you see in God's word a character trait that you need to discipline yourself to, then start by confessing that is who you are. Let your self-talk be full of testimonies of how loving, forgiving, kind and generous you are. When you take time to tell yourself every day that you are generous and giving you will be more generous and giving. Being stingy will start going against your grain because that is not who you have come to believe you are. Faith comes by hearing. We have the power to conform our thinking to God’s way of thinking and when we do, we will change our actions. What are you telling yourself? Make up your mind that just as God’s steadfast love never ceases, yours will not either. Let your mercies towards others be new every morning, just like the Lords and let God’s character shine through in your life this year!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
What character traits of God do you plan on disciplining yourself to this year?
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