“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).

12 September 2020

Luke 23

The Crucifixion of Jesus

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

This blog puts into record reflection I had on 19 and 20 August 2017.

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Prayer is prayer of a contrite and sincere heart.

Prayer is asking God's forgiveness for our trespasses; in turn we must be easy to forgive.

Acts 7:13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.

Joseph, more known as Joseph the Dreamer, who is the son of Jacob, is famous for the line, you meant evil against me but God meant it for good (Genesis 50:20), forgiving his brothers, who years earlier sold him into slavery into Egypt, after he, the younger, told them about his dream suggesting he will reign over his brothers, which made them hate him (Genesis 37:8). Joseph later came to be second in command in Egypt, next to the Pharaoh, after he interpreted the dream of the Pharaoh, saving Egypt from a great famine. (Genesis 41). The famine caused Joseph's family to come to Egypt for food.

Joseph was Jacob's favorite, he as a young boy must have asked his father about his uncle Esau, his father's older twin brother, and got to know about his father's misgiving of deceiving Esau twice (Genesis 25 and 27).

Joseph was there when his uncle Esau forgave his father (Genesis 33:2-4). That must have flashed back, the meaning of forgiving another, when he, now in charge of the whole land of Egypt, came face to face with his brothers who years back meant harm on him.

Prior to Monday's prayer, I came about Luke 23:34, Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. It struck me that those words were not necessarily directed to the soldiers who crucified Him, but to me.

Lord, how ironic that I am sharing insight on forgiving another, yet it is my very own failing. I would rationalize the other person is not apologetic. Yet, forgiving is without waiting for the other party to apologize, unilateral on my part, for my own good that I may be released from bitter feeling, unburden and calm my heart. Lord, You have forgiven me so many times, and yet many times what I want is to get even with others. Let me be conscious about this because my children are watching. Lord, heal my hurts and soften my heart, that I forgive another, no ifs and buts, by Your grace, Your power made perfect in my weakness. This I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

19 August 2017

 

God's mercy turned around the worst of sinners.

The Apostle Paul is regarded as having written much of the New Testament.

Acts 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

Saul is no other than the Apostle Paul, as referred to starting in Acts 13:9. Saul was a Pharisee, he approved of the stoning of Stephen, one of the first disciples (Acts 8:1). He would later write: But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:16).

Grace is the other side of God's coin of unconditional love. Amazing grace how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.... Such was the life of John Newton, from slave master from the 1740's to a revered preacher up to the 1800's, and author of more than 280 hymns.

In our time, there is a sweet singing Pastor in Olongapo named Basilio Clark (Heroes, authored by Dr. Harold Sala, a book, a copy given as birthday gift from our Pastor in Lipa). Son of a US serviceman, born of a Filipino mother, he as a teenager was a gangster, head of the gang that terrorized Olongapo, robbed, plundered, murdered and pillaged at will. Later, the law caught up with him and his eight companions; they were all sentenced to die on the electric chair. This man, who had been without fear, feared the electric chair, smuggled into prison insecticide and mixed with paint thinner, and the gang took the poison. He had failed in life and he failed in death, he was the only one left alive and became blind. Not by accident, in prison he got hold of a portable missionary or PM radio and started listening to DZAS, and was later discipled by the American missionary Olga Robertson; he was later pardoned to live as a freeman, forgiven for his sins to be a servant of God.

Lord, I thank You, for great is Your mercy and grace, You redeemed me from my sins, or I suffer in eternity. Thank You for Your sacrifice on the cross, I am saved by faith not by deeds. In the words of the Apostle Paul: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). 

Merciful God, Beautiful Savior, there is no one like You. Among the gods there is none like You, Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours (Psalm 86:8). Only You, Lord, deserve the honor and the praises, in Jesus' name. Amen.

20 August 2017