Windows On The Soul

Was forgiveness of your sins something that happened at your conversion, or something you seek and thank God for day by day? Did you realise that your view of God's forgiveness colours your attitude to forgiving others? Jesus puts it even more strongly - God forgives us in the same way we forgive others. A right view of forgiveness begins with a correct understanding of our sinful state - nothing we can do can add one speck to God's gift of forgiveness - we stand convicted on "death row". God's forgiveness is not a reward for our attempts to make "good", but a gift from the depths of His boundless love. In the same way then, our forgiveness of others must be unconditional. Yes, it isn't easy, it requires sacrifice of pride, but then didn't God's forgiveness only come about through sacrifice? (Some précised thoughts from " Practicing Peace " by W.Glyn Evans) Mt.6:15 "If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father w...

In Paul’s letter of guidance to the young new minister, Timothy, he warns him of what sort of things he can expect to see happening in his congregation in “later times” ( 1 Tim.4 ). Apart from some things we normally see as being evil, such as people being led astray by “ lying spirits ” and the “ teachings of demons ” ( v.1 ), Paul also mentions some things that we might not normally consider as being wrong. He warns against various obsessions, such as physical exercise ( v.8 ) - we saw the newspaper article just last week about people becoming “hooked” on work-outs. He warns about an obsession of celibacy ( v.3 ), and obsessions of what to eat or not to eat ( v.3 ). Whilst we don’t see much of the former (although the opposite addiction to sex is now recognised), the later obsessions about foods, diets and ‘health’ regimes are rampant. Whilst our physical ‘needs’ are important, it is more important that our spiritual needs are nurtured. The spiritual ‘food’ to take in ...