dW 11.15.07

scripture

 

Proverbs 13:3

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.  

 

quote

 

If a man cannot be a Christian where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.
Henry Ward Beecher

dW 11.14.07

scripture

 

1 Peter 2:1

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

 

thoughts

 

Today in college hour Rod Reed spoke about verses 1-12. In particular with this verse, he pointed out that the things which Peter tells use to rid ourselves of are not sins against us as individuals but sins against others. It’s these things that divide and destroy community.

dW 11.13.07

scripture

 

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

 

thought

 

I’ve heard it said that Jewish law stated you had to forgive someone three times. Here Peter sounded really righteous saying seven times. Jesus deflates that ego and wrong thinking by saying seventy times seven. Does this mean that we only have to forgive 490 times then after that we don’t have to? No. Jesus said this to say that forgiveness is required and expected. The greatest demonstration of our faith is our obedience to forgive. The greatest hypocrisy of our faith is to choose not to.