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...

My computer Bible Search tells me that the above phrase appears 32 times through-out the New Testament, from Jesus’ verbal command ( John.13:34,35 ), through the epistles of Paul, Peter and John. Interestingly, it is the only new commandment that Jesus gave to His follows, because it distilled the essence of all the ‘old’ commandments that had gone before.  But Jesus then went on to say three more very important things about this commandment. He pointed to Himself (“ As I have loved you... ”) as an example, an inspiration, and in a sense as our ‘debt’ to love. He reinforced the imperativeness of the command with “ ...so you must love... ”. The powerful impact of this type of love will be such that it will be the mark of His disciples within the world. The Apostles then go on to teach what this type of love involves.  It will be familial and honouring ( Rom.12:10 ), serving ( Gal.5:13 ), humble, gentle, patient and fore-bearing ( Eph.4:2 ), considerate and encouraging ...

Said the robin to the sparrow, "I would really like to know Why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so." Said the sparrow to the robin, "I think that it must be. They have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me." Thanks Carol D. for this quote. We were privileged in the past week to again witness the miracle of birth with the arrival of a litter of 8 puppies. Our concerns about whether the rather immature mother would cope with her 1st litter, were quite unfounded. Seeing her hovering over her "brood" then gently settle down and gather them all in to herself, and the very protective growl when we got too close, told us that she would protect them. The same expression is used of the Holy Spirit "brooding" (moving) over creation ( Gen.1:2 ). When the Holy Spirit is called our "comforter", it is not the comfort of an acquaintance, but the deep feeling of a "parent". Thank God this week for his continu...