1620 - Mayflower Compact is signed by Pilgrims at Cape Cod, establishing the first framework of government in the territory that is now the USA .

1880 - Australian bushranger, gang leader and outlaw legend Ned Kelly is hanged at Melbourne Gaol.
1921 - In Britain, the first British Legion Poppy Day.

1925 - American scientist Robert A. Millikan announces discovery of cosmic rays.
1940 - The Willys-Overland Company starts production of an all-purpose four-wheel drive 'Jeep' for the US Army - the name derived from the letters GP (general purpose).
1944 - Britain disbands the 'Home Guard' - formed in 1939 to defend Britain from invasion by Germany.
1965 - Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith proclaims UDI - a Universal Declaration of Independence from Britain.
1975 - Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam is removed from office by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, the first elected Prime Minister removed in Australian history.
1987 - Van Gogh 's painting 'Irises' fetches $53.6 million US, at auction in New York.

We are often offended and threatened when people disagree with us, or appear to be hostile to our Christian cause, or church doctrine. We can easily conclude that anyone who believes differently to us is an enemy... someone to distrust or fear. This is not in the best interests of our salvation nor is it in God's best interests either. We often classify people as enemies because we find ourselves out of our depth in debate or understanding, but that doesn't make them an enemy. 

Jesus disciples were full of zeal and tried to stop a stranger from performing miracles because he wasn't in the disciples' immediate fellowship... nor chose to be... Jesus rebuked them 'But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.' Mark 9:39. Jesus interpreted this man's actions differently than we would. 

That is why we have such stories; so we can learn from them and make informed righteous judgements, rather than self-righteous, close minded reactions. Just after Pentecost a real enemy of the church arose... there was no dispute on this occasion. His name was Saul (later, renamed Paul... the great apostle). He was responsible for the death and imprisonment of many saints... he was also guilty of self-righteous arrogance... but God had other plans for him. 

God tells us how to treat our enemies... 'But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.' Luke 6:35-36. This is part of God's instructions of how to deal with perceived enemies. Forgive them... pray for them... speak no evil.

God made a pathway available for Paul, despite the fear and immaturity of the church. If it wasn't for God intervening, we would be devoid of all the wonderful blessing and instruction contained in Paul's epistles. What would have happened if the church had rejected God's instructions?.. what would the terrible cost have been? 

What is the true cost to ourselves and our church if we also mishandle our 'enemies'... or even misjudge our friends and falsely label them? If we are instructed how to handle our enemies in such a way... how much more should we be diligent to assist our weaker brothers... or work mates, etc?

'When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.' Proverbs 16:7. Please the Lord and your enemies will be silenced... mishandle your enemies and they will haunt you. Mislabel a friend of God and be judged accordingly. God is in the business of turning enemies into friends... where possible.

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A woman was leaving a 7-11 with her morning coffee when she noticed a most unusual funeral procession approaching thenearby cemetery. A black hearse was followed by a second long black hearse about 50 feet behind.

Behind the second hearse was a solitary woman walking a pit bull on a leash.

Behind her were 200 women walking single file.

The woman couldn't stand the curiosity. She respectfully approached the woman and the dog and said, "I am so sorry for your loss, and I know now is a bad time to disturb you, but I've never seen a funeral like this. Whose funeral is it?"

The woman replied, "Well that first hearse is for my husband." "What happened to him?"

The woman replied, "My dog attacked and killed him." She inquired further, "Well, who is in the second hearse?" The woman answered, "My mother-in-law. She was trying to help my husband when the dog turned on her."

A poignant and thoughtful moment of silence passes between the two women.

"Can I borrow the dog?"

"Get in line."

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A Miracle Transformation

An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again. The boy asked his father, "What is this, Father?" The father responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is."
While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed an old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched small circles of lights w/numbers above the walls light up. They continued to watch the circles light up in the reverse direction. The walls opened up again and a beautiful 24 year old woman stepped out.

The father said to his son, "Go get your Mother."

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 When God forgives our sins, how far away are they? At the equator, the Earth's circumference is 40,000 kilometres. Is that far enough? No! Our Milky Way galaxy is about 30,000 light years across at the centre, with an overall diameter of 100,000 light years. Is that far enough? No! 

At present, scientists estimate the size of the entire universe at about 93 billion light years in diameter. Is that far enough? No!

When God forgives our sins, they're gone, utterly gone. As far as the east is from the west is not a measure of distance but a symbolic reference of how thoroughly and completely He forgives (Psa 103 v12). God also said, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." (Isa 44:22). 

As we've seen, God's forgiving love is central to His nature (Psa 103 v8; cf. Ex 34:67). His love is as boundless as the earth and the heavens; similarly, His forgiveness is as wide as the east and the west (Psa 103 v11; & Psa 57:10-11). That is to say, the height, depth, and breadth of God's mercy cannot be measured (Eph. 3:18-19). It's infinite.

In His mercy, God He hath not dealt with us after our sins (Psa 103 v10). He has compassion on those who fear Him and understands our weaknesses. In His love, He removes our sins far away, blots them out, hurls them into the sea, and treads them underfoot. Forgiven sins are gone from memory and gone from experience. No divine grudge list is kept in a secret drawer somewhere. Instead, the guilty are made innocent, and sins as red as scarlet are transformed to be as white as snow (Isa 1:18).

This is an amazing thought. How can an omnipresent God remove our sins far away? How can an omniscient God remember our sins no more? The metaphysics may be mysterious, but if we respond to Him in faith, this is what God has promised He will do.

Consider the huge distance between you and the nearest star, or try to imagine the vast reaches between galaxies. In all the universe, your sin is nowhere to be found (Jer. 50:20). God has removed it. It's been forgiven, literally lost within His love. 

Keep that in mind next time you have to deal with someone else who is also seeking forgiveness... whether from you personally or from someone else, or even from God... what are you going to encourage them with? Forgiveness needs no form of human judgement to complete its work.


The Treasure in Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Too often we emphasize the earthen vessel. It symbolizes our body, our life and our circumstances. It is true that all these things are, indeed, made out of clay. When God created man, He made him out of earth and moisture... out of clay. We know that we are dust. But that is not all we know. We know something more. 

Through Jesus Christ we have been made alive. We have received a whole new life. God has deposited His Spirit, His life and His glory in us. This is the treasure in the earthen vessel. And this treasure is extremely valuable. This began son the day of Pentecost and has not ceased.

It was a real find when the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered at approximately the same time as Israel became a nation. Among the treasures was an intact Isaiah scroll, much older than any other previously found. Today this scroll is priceless. And when we speak of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we think of the content of the pots, not of the pots themselves.

The same is true concerning your life. That which God has placed inside of you, that which is in your inner man, is far more important than your outward appearance. Despite outer faults, shortcomings and imperfections, you are the bearer of an enormous treasure... the gospel and power of Jesus Christ. You must understand what you have within.

 

You must begin to appreciate what God has given you. When you use the treasure God has placed inside of you, it will be obvious to everyone that it is not about you, your strength or your skills but rather about a wonderful treasure from God, who works in you. No wonder Jesus commanded them to go into the world and preach the gospel.