Justin Yang

God is omniscient. 

What does this mean?  What does it imply?

It means - God knows how evil you can be.  

He sees - not only you actions - but your imaginations.

The brutal, perverted and flat out evil scenarios played over and over in our minds - He sees them all.

And yet - it doesn’t surprise Him.  

He knows that’s the only choice we have without Him in our lives.

After He sees the “heart of who we are” - He has compassion on us and loves us and draws near to us.

He then loves us, transforms us.

And works in us to transform the world around us.

This is His Omniscience at work.  

When you see someone better than you — and we all do — there are two ways to respond.

1) Find ways to downgrade their human value, then rationalize your own contempt as justified criticism.

or

2) Celebrate their achievements and generously promote their growth while learning from them in humility.

 - Wise words from J. S. Park

The delusion that human effort (the right pastor, equipment, program, and resources) can generate mature faith - in young people or anybody else - is as old as fiction itself. 

This “delusion” is what kept countless false prophets in business in Bible times. 

We live in a age where puberty starts sooner and adulthood begins later.

It’s almost as if “someone” wants to squelch purity and postpone maturity. 

If you’re between 11-35 and find yourself constantly bored, amused and confused - begin to seek God with everything you’ve got.

If you don’t - you’ll successfully waste 20+ years of your life - and will live to regret it for the rest of your life.

We are not what we do. We do what we are.

Our identity determines our activity.

This was true for Jesus and it’s true for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Today, we say no to sin because we are holy in Christ.

When parents go back to church for their kids (for christian morals & values) this is what happens:

1. They want solid programs, activities, events and a youth professional who will keep their children spiritually entertained.

2. So they hire a youth pastor who can keep their kids in church through fun, culture-friendly, and christian-lite events. (Trips, pizza parties, game nights, amusement parks, bowling, etc)

3. The pressure is on the youth pastor to be ‘not boring’ so they respond to young people’s most carnal appetites to slip in a 5 minute bible study.

4. If somehow one youth makes the radical decision to follow Christ and be a missionary in Afghanistan the parents get angry at the youth pastor for ‘crossing the line’.

5. For the parents did not want their children to be a christian that followed Christ but wanted them to be nice moral and nominal christians that were easy to manage & went to church like they did.

6. The youth that were raised like this usually leave church when they graduate & return to church when they have kids only to begin the cycle again.

______

When youth realize that youth ministry is about alleviating the fears of their parents rather than about Jesus … 2 things happen.

1. If youth ministry gets uninteresting (aka provide few social gatherings and opportunities) they eventually leave.

2. But if the ministry provides with fun outings, entertainment, and opportunities to socialize - the youth is happy to play along and ease the fears of their parents and the congregation.

They assent to being paraded in front of congregations and be photographed for the church newsletter to confirm & show to the leadership that their church isn’t dying and their financial sacrifice is ‘bearing fruit’.

As long as there are trip to Disney World, church socials and the annual summer mission trips - they’re happy to pretend and play along.

But don’t expect them to stick around after high school - or when the program budget dries up. That’s when they get on with life.

Perhaps, without ever having encountered God.

1.  아들 (예수)를 믿으면 

2.  그 믿음의 열매로 계명을 지키게 되고 (계명은 믿는 사람이 지킬 수 있다)

3.  그 계명을 지킴으로 인해 그리스도 사랑 안에 거하게 되며 (요 15:10)

4.  그 사랑 안에 거하므로 인해 우리는 하늘 빛과 기쁨을 얻게 되며 

5.  그 빛과 기쁨은 자연스럽게 타인에게 넘쳐 흐르게 되는 것이다.  

그러나 믿음의 기초가 없이 계명을 지키려고 할 때 그 ‘믿음’은 율법주의가 되고 …

율법주의는 그리스도 사랑 안에 거하지 못하게 하고

그리스도의 사랑을 경험하지 못하기에 빛과 기쁨이 없고

빛과 기쁨이 없기에 자연스럽게 맺어지는 열매 또한 없는 것이다.  

1.  Give them freedom with their schedules. (creates buy in & loyalty)

2.  Provide them projects, not a career. (young leaders desire options, like free agents)

3.  Crate a family environment.  (work, family, social life are intertwined)

4.  Cause is important.  (compassion and justice)

5.  Embrace social media. (young leaders live with it) 

6.  Accept that they are tech savvy.  (tech is the norm)

7.  Lead each person uniquely.  (customize approach)

8.  Make authenticity and honesty the standard for your corporate culture.

9.  Understand they are not interested in climbing the corporate ladder.

10. Give them opportunities early with major responsibility.  

11. Accept that they want the larger win, not the personal small gain.

12. Meet their desire for partnering and collaboration.  

13. Realize they’re not about working for a personality.  

14. Provide opportunities for mentoring, learning and discipleship.  

15. Coach them and encourage them.

16. Create opportunities for quality time, individually and corporately.

17. Hold them accountable.

18. Grasp that the sky is the limit in their minds.

19. Recognize their values, not just their strengths.  

20. Provide a system that creates stability.  (emotional, financial, and organizational)   

- From the book Catalyst Leader

Character:  is an outward reflection of an inward connection.

Discipline:  is doing what you ought to do so you can do what you want to do.

Endurance:  is stampeding through the stopping points of life

Courage:  is the God-given ability to stand

Vision:  is seeing the apparent through the transparent

Creativity:  is riding on the rugged edge of innovation

Love:  is a supernatural commitment lived out through the grip of God’s grace.

Organization:  a decision followed by a process

- The Creative Leader

It was when me and Iris were eating our breakfast.  

As I was about to help myself with another spoonful of my milk-saturated quaker oatmeal squares that were well mixed in with thinly sliced bananas, walnuts, almonds and raisins - - - I heard it.  

An explosion that ended with a huge splat at the end.  

Bweeechzeeeck!

It did not sound good nor pleasant so I went into the bedroom to check out what happened.

Apparently Enoch had dropped a humongous ‘bomb’ on his diapers.

Upon releasing the straps on the diapers and checking on the aftermath of the explosion - it was indeed huge.  

The dung was all over his back - down to his thighs … dripping down from his pelvic area to his legs.  It was also mixed with the pee he had freely released and … the sight and the smell kind of resembled the kind of out-houses my grandparents had back in Korea out in the country.  

At this point - Enoch had nothing to offer to our relationship - except for his dung exploded self.  

He laid there helpless with his dung basically owning him.  

So dirty and so helpless.  

In desperately need of cleaning and salvation from his dung.  

As I began the process to remove the diapers and to clean him up - God directed my thoughts to that fateful day 16 years ago.  

When I was being owned by the dung of my sin … when I was laid there dirty and helpless.  

He drew near - took off my diapers … and with the most loving smile on His face - started cleaning me up.  

I had nothing to offer to our relationship - except for my sin-stained and sin-owned self.  

Yet He drew near and gave me a bath I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.  His hands wiping away every sin I’ve ever committed.  Him clothing me with His “diaper of righteousness”.  

Unmerited Grace.  

I knelt down once again in tears with Enoch in my arms - thanking God for His amazing grace.  

“Amazing love.  How can it be.  That you my King would die for me.”  

“Amazing love.  I know it’s true.  It’s my joy to honor you.  In all I do.  I honor you.”  

“You are my King.”

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.”  - 1 Tim 1:15

“What is man that you are mindful of him?” - Ps. 8:4

Saul was walking one day to Damascus and received an unsolicited visitation from heaven.  He didn’t ask or pray for this to happen, but it happened.  

He was a blasphemer, persecutor and a violent man who killed people. But Jesus met him and changed his life and transformed him into an apostle for us gentiles.  

David was the youngest son out in the field taking care of sheep.  He was also a potential adulterer and a murderer.  

But God loved him anyway, called him, anointed him, made him king and transformed him into a “man after God’s own heart”.  

I went up to Camp Au Sable to check out girls, kill time and skip class.  I was also a glutton, compulsive liar, porn-addict, and a hypocrite. But Jesus loved me anyway, bore long with me, and transformed me into a sinner saved by grace. 

Names change over time but the story remains the same.  The story of grace always trumps the story of sin.  

God is always on the run - to seek and save the lost.  He stops under a sycamore tree to save a thief.  He goes through Samaria to save the woman at the well.  He invites Himself over to dine with the sinners to save them.  He stoops down to save the woman caught in adultery.  He uses His last dying breath to save the murderer on the cross.  

He still chases with a passion those that are drowning in secret or blatant sins.  Those with guilt, shame, hurt, pain and regret.  

He has been and will always be faithful to save - if we’ll let Him.  

Wherever you are tonight - your Savior is Mighty to Save.  

it all makes sense.

You can connect the dots.

You understand why certain things happened.  

And you would have it no other way.

Only in retrospect.

But does it have to be this way?

Couldn’t you simply appreciate this moment though you didn’t understand it? 

I used to hurry through life.

Ever desiring to fast-forward and skip to the good parts.

I wanted to be 16, then 18, then 21.

Always on the run for the next meal, next person, next break, next vacation, next semester, next year, next opportunity, next job. 

In desperation for next … I lost the present.  

Always groping but never finding.

But this semester I found it, by God’s grace.

For what seems to be the first time in a long time, I was content, where I was, who I was with, and with my present and current circumstances.

I was fully in the present - relishing and treasuring everything and everyone in my life.  

I was going sleepless, with tons of assignments, projects, events, work while trying to graduate with a newborn baby.  

In times before, I would’ve wished myself out of the present condition - and would’ve hurried through everything that was going on.  

But this time it was different.  I wanted to fully taste, experience and see where I was, who I was with and what I was going through.  

And now that the semester’s over, with graduation around the corner with a 40-day-old baby Enoch - I praise God for the contentment in my heart and the serenity in my soul.  

And no longer do I need a “retrospect” to understand what happened - I fully gained understanding by choosing to live in the present.  

Everything is in place.

The bathtub inside the bathtub - a pool of water that has been warmed up to just the right temperature along with a basin on the bathroom sink that has been strategically placed to wash Enoch’s hair.

I ease my way to Enoch’s crib, take him out slowly and gently - not to startle him - and begin explaining in both Korean and English the process in which he must undergo for the next 5 minutes.  

He keeps on bobbing his head, blinks his eyes, tosses his overweight head from one side to another while making unexplainable and indescribable noises with his body and mouth.  

He seems ready.  Or so I pray.

I pray with Enoch before we enter into this rather holy ritual of cleansing.

Then we walk together to the sink and begin the washing & bathing process.  

He’s strangely silent and observant.  His intense gaze meets my eyes as my hands cup his rather plump sized, double chinned, oval-shaped head and shampoo in rhythmic movement in attempt to remove the strange odor his hair.  

I’m careful and try to be swift and professional - but my amateur washing skills soon rise to the surface - as Enoch begins to fidget, jiggle and twiddle his entire body and oops … some water gets into his eyes, perhaps and ears … and definitely in his mouth.  

He then bursts out crying and begins to shiver - frightened, scared, discomforted - and cries for his mother.  

I somehow, finish rinsing his hair and scrub down his face - calm and steady - not ready to hand over Enoch to Iris - not just yet … but Enoch doesn’t stop his lament for the amateur washing skills of his earthly father . . and is quite desperate to return to the ever warm, comforting embrace and bosom of his mother.   

As soon as he is handed over to his mother’s bosom, sobs discontinue … his breathing returns to normal … and magically he actually falls asleep, in matter of seconds.  

Magical indeed.

Somehow and in some way - I rewind and travel back in time - to about 32 years ago - and see myself cuddled and comforted in the loving embrace and bosom of my mother.  

Tears well-up in the deep recesses of my soul as I think of many times where I have failed to express gratitude for my mother who has always opened up her arms and unconditionally loved me and comforted me and fed me.  

We’ve all been there.  In the bosom of our mothers … receiving something that we didn’t deserve.  We did nothing to deserve it.  But it was rather, graciously and sacrificially given.  

In the midst of tremendous fatigue and sleeplessness - our mothers faithfully and consistently got up, took us up on their arms, sang to us, fed us, cooed us, held us and just simply loved us.  

Thank God for mothers!  

Performance deteriorates when you’re “choking on thought” (consciously thinking about what you’re doing or what you’re supposed to be doing).  

The more golfers think about their swing or pianists about their playing - their performance deteriorates. 

It is only when their performance have become automated (transition from conscious to unconscious) - they achieve peak performance.

When Christians keep thinking about reading the bible, praying, doing mission work - they choke on their thoughts and their “performance” deteriorates. 

By continual and consistent action - Christians need to automate their spiritual life to the point - where they are christians unconsciously. 

This is what daily spiritual discipline is all about.

Next time you find yourself “thinking about doing something” - STOP - and just do it and keep doing it till you’re unconscious about it.  

조지 휘트필드는 하루의 일과를 세 등분해서 사용할 정도로 철저하게 시간을 관리해 나갔다.

그의 일과를 대강 “식사와 잠을 위해서 8시간, 기도시간, 방문, 교리공부 등으로 8시간, 연구와 묵상을 위해서 8시간으로 나누어서 보냈다.

이 기간에 휘트필드의 생활을 알려주는 그의 일기는 얼마나 철저하게 자기를 관리해왔는지 보여준다. 그의 일기에는 하루동안 자신의 행동을 스스로 판단하는 근거로서 매일 밤마다 점검했던 목록들이 있다.

나는:

1. 개인기도 시간에 뜨겁게 기도했는가?

2. 정해진 기도의 시간을 지켰는가?

3. 모든 시간을 아꼈는가?

4. 모든 대화나 행동을 하기 전에 하나님의 영광을 추구했는가?

5. 어떤 기쁨 후에 즉시 감사했는가?

6. 하루의 일을 계획 가운데 진행했는가?

7. 모든 면에서 검소하고 침착했는가?

8. 무슨 일을 행할 때 열심히 혹은 힘있게 했는가?

9. 말하고 행동하는 모든 면에서 온화하고 상냥하고 친절했는가?

10. 거만하거나 허영을 일삼거나, 난잡하거나, 다른 사람을 시기하지 않았는가?

11. 먹고 마시는 데 점잖았는가? 그리고 감사했는가? 잠자는 일을 절제했는가?

12. 감사하는 시간을 가졌는가?

13. 연구하는 데 최선을 다했는가?

14. 어떤 사람에게 불친절하게 말하지 않았는가?

15. 모든 죄를 고백했는가?

Whatever the reasons for it, virginity continues to receive bad press in public discourse and in most emerging-adult subcultures.

Virginity and the endorsement of it is seen by many as naïve, doomed to fail, or even oppressive. 

But the fact is many Americans reflect negatively on the circumstances in which—or the timing of when—they lost their virginity. Most emerging adults—70 percent in Jeffrey Arnett’s study — think they were Too Young to have lost their virginity when they did.

- Mark Regnerous

__________________

Think it through.  There is something or someone that wants you to lose your virginity when you’re young - even though they know it’ll be awkward and you’ll regret it later.  

There’s considerable evidence that class size is a major factor in effectiveness if the learning environment.

Small classes increase the quality of education.

Why would we assume anything different for the church?

Disciples are not and can’t be mass produced. And one size does not fit all.

When are we happier?

When we’re free?  Or when we’re committed?

When we’re footloose?  Or when we’re firmly rooted?

Many in the “18-to-30-year-old” bracket take on a view that goes something like this:

Freedom is all about endless spontaneous and exciting diversions you can take whenever and however and whomever you want.  You can travel the world, try new things, casually have sex with absolute freedom and live the “life”.  You don’t have to get stuck in a “middle-aged drudgery” - going to work at the same job and home to the same wife - shackled and chained to the same o’ same o’ experience 24/7, 365 days a week.  

However, when you’re living it up with endless parties, bars, cafes, clubs, friends, tribes, hook-ups and jumping from one gig & event to the next … and from one night to another night … and from one relationship to another … and from one job to another …

You’re missing out on loving, deep, committed family relationship and stable bonds - old friends over for dinner, watching the kids grow up and making consistent impact and difference in your town and community.   

The contrast that you need to open your eyes to is this:

Do you want to waste your life to a life of shallow fripperies - zipless sex, vacuous possessions, showy luxuries and yet sad & lonely existence?

Or do you want to commit your life to deep committed relationships with your family and people in your community?

The sort of illusory, peripatetic and freewheeling life that seems on the surface - free & full of pleasure - is only an illusion.  

For the last 40 years, America has celebrated expressive individualism, self-fulfillment, and personal liberation.  But now more than ever, America finally feels the desperate need for more community, connection and interdependence. 

It is only when we overcome the fear of commitment - and freely and voluntarily commit to someone other than ourselves - happiness, meaning and fulfillment freely flows into deep chambers of our souls.  

I’ve been married for 6 years and now have a son.  

I’m the happiest man alive.  :) 

True Story.

A faint cry from the bedroom gets me racing to check on my 17-day-old son, Enoch.

He’s fidgeting, flailing his arms, kickin’ his legs and lets out in exasperation a near-deafening cry that demands 110% of my attention and observation skills.

The mosaic of a million different expressions on his face that changes every nanosecond makes me second-guess and third-guess the prescription that I gave myself a second ago.

Is he wet, soiled, hungry, stuffed (nose), hot - or all at the same time?

But no matter what condition he might be in - he simply cries.

I talk to him and reassure him that I’m there for him.

He cries.

I gently pat him and sing him my bass-version of lullaby that’s supposed to soothe him.

He cries.

I pick him up and lay him across my chest and rub him to help him either burp or fart.

He cries.

I lay him down on the changing-table and get ready to check & change his diapers.

He cries all the more. With every ounce of milk he has sucked in his last feeding session w/ his mom.

He simply cries.

Crying is all he can do.

He sees me. He knows I’m there. He know I’ll help him and do whatever it takes to give him comfort, peace, and rest.

But he cries.

Because crying is all he can do when he’s wet, soiled, hungry, stuffed uncomfortable, frustrated and etc.

_______________________________

I think of how much my crying God has put up with.

How much of my incessant, loud, obnoxious, not-knowing-when-to-stop crying - He has endured.

At every turn of discomfort - I’d keep crying till He’d somehow come and make it go away. Like my son, Enoch.

The desperate and helpless cry would never fail to reach the ears my heavenly Father. He’d be there, every time to reassure me of His presence.

The divine pat or the rub - would always put me at ease and help me to surrender and fall back to sleep in His arms of love.

When crying was all I could do - it was enough to awaken and summon the presence of my heavenly Father.

As the psalmist testifies:

I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore. (Ps. 131:2-3)

There he goes again.  

Ruthlessly belching and screeching out a cry that pierces the night with all the energy he can muster with his full 14-days-old, 20-inch frame.  

Why would a baby cry?  

Well, according to the book I have in front of me … because he’s

• tired or exhausted
• over-stimulated
• needs change of environment
• hot
• hungry
• cold
• filled w/ gas
• uncomfortable
• having trouble breathing
• needing a hug
• full
• wet or soiled his diapers

and on goes the list of all the myriad of reasons of why a baby might be crying.  

The key to discovering what that baby might be crying for is close and intimate observation.  

We need to be very observant.  

Instead of panicking and picking up the baby and frantically trying to stop the crying - we need to stop, listen, observe and discover. 

This is so counter-intuitive that I had the hardest time trying to stop and listen to observe and therefore discover.  

I was often busy trying to quench the fire, the screaming, the noise, the crying baby - my son.

I was too busy trying to “quench” or “silence” my son - that I forgot to stop, listen, look into his eyes, love him and let him communicate what he desperately needed for me to do.

All of us - like newborn babies are crying for one thing or another.  When was the last time someone stopped, listened, observed and discovered what we really needed and delivered?  

Rude people, annoying people, crazy people - they are all crying for something. 

Whether they be LGBTs, Muslims, Fundamentalists, NRAs, or North Koreans - they are all crying for something.

The entire world is one crying planet.  

What are we crying for?

Like my son, if we only stopped, listened, observed and discovered - you’d see that all of us are crying for a Savior!

Crying for Salvation.  

Contractions.

Intervals.

It all began on the night of March 23, 2013. They were 5 minutes apart. It was time.

Started carrying all 12+ bags that were packed to the brim with all kinds of items that we might need … just in case … at the hospital according to my wife.

Then, snapped on the carseat, let the engine roar, said a brief prayer that went something like “it’s time God, you know what to do” - then slowly eased out of the parking lot and headed for the hospital.

After 12 long hours of standing, walking, hip-turning and breathing (or the attempt to breathe), there stood and sat before us the midwife that brought in the crew together - and Iris gave the final push and out came Enoch - full of blood and bruises and crying like … well … a baby.

I stood stunned, unable to speak - and at the same time tried to peer off the enormous grip Iris had on my already blood-drained hands.

My eyes began to water … (something in my eyes) - and whispered to Iris “수고했어” and thought about the woman who brought me in this world - and rediscovered the profound gratitude respect for her and the woman before me - the woman I loved with all my heart.

Then my eyes turned to my son … the helpless quivering and crying babe that softly rested his tiny little head upon the bosom of his mother - who by instinct began to satisfy his craving from his mother’s breast.

The tiny little babe, my son, who came naked with nothing in his name, nothing in his hands - fully satisfied and content by the free, sacrificial, and loving provision made by his mother.

7 full days have passed with that little tiny infant - him taking fully for granted everything that was prepared in advance for him - enjoying and relishing being the son of his father and mother. Ruthlessly crying out and demanding that we wake up in the middle of the night and early hours of morning to feed him and comfort him to a blissful rest and sleep.

Just before he’d go to sleep … he’d wink, smile, make faces, that would cause us to wonder, clap, laugh and celebrate him. We’d take out our cameras - take and record endless photos and video clips of this little boy.

Then my heart turns to our heavenly Father - who, in His delight in us - would not miss a single heartbeat or movement that we’d make - and make sure He captures ALL of them.

Sometimes Enoch would straight-up pee in my face and in my shirt - but lo and behold - I find myself laughing, rejoicing and somehow delighting … yes, in his bowel movements.

I don’t know how many times I’ve peed in my heavenly Father’s face - and yet He doesn’t turn away - rather He draws ever nearer - cleans me up with His divine baby-wipes - smiles and changes my soiled human diapers and still calls me His son.

Oh, the depth of love of our heavenly Father.

Dimly but surely - in my short 7 days of fatherhood - I do raise my voice and praise my heavenly Father for His undying love and deep compassion for me - His son.

Happy Fatherhood!

Happy Easter!

Praise God!

The wages of sin is death not eternal torment in hell-fire.

If the wages of sin was eternal torment, Jesus would still have to be suffering in hell-fire right now.

But Jesus paid the FULL PENALTY of sin by dying (not eternally burning in hell-fire) on the cross for us.

Belief in eternal hell-fire denies Jesus’ complete sacrificial death for us.

It’s been awhile.  

Amidst flurry of activities, trips, events, studies and prep for the even more hectic, busy, sleepless days that lie ahead (due to the soon arrival of my son) … I had lost all track of time.

At this rate, it just seems like I might lose all sense of time and after 3 years of life gone by - I would look back and ask myself, what on earth have I been doing for the last 3 years of my life?

There is definitely a greater need for me to just stop … reflect and recap.  Sort out and make sense of the overloaded schedule and activities that crushes the spirit out of my soul day after day.  

Where am I headed?  What am I after?  What kind of person am I becoming?  Am I being led by God?  

The ever annoying and incessant attempts of lure and temptation presents itself to my ever vulnerable soul.  

The enticement to lose myself, keep myself busy and occupy my mind with whatever I see fit.  To choose restlessness and thoughtlessness over contemplation and prayer.  

The Spirit leads and prompts me to be still before Him … through His Word.  The book of Matthew open before me.  Jesus, in tune with His heavenly Father … never hurries or fills his life with His agenda or His desires.  

He simply submits ALL … in the presence of His heavenly Father.  He daily picks up His cross and follows the voice of His heavenly Father.

He takes time to pray, touch, listen, heal, meet, eat, cleanse, forgive, revive, resurrect and restore.  

Every moment and every encounter is specified by the iCal of heaven.  

He seems far more interested in being present than being productive.  

He doesn’t try to achieve - rather He simply obeys and follows.  

He takes time to care. love and have compassion.  His ultimate agenda is love and to give Himself to those who need Him.  

In that moment of stillness, while the fresh dew of His Spirit falls upon my silent and yet attentive heart … Jesus bids me … to follow Him.  

So where am I headed and what am I after?  

Time with Jesus.  Period. 

O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. - Ps. 130:7

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.- Eph. 4:32

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. - 1 John 3:16

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Nothing can justify an unforgiving spirit.

He who is unmerciful toward others shows that he himself is not a partaker of God’s pardoning grace. 

He who refuses to forgive is thereby casting away his own hope of pardon.

We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. 

- COL 251

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These words penned by inspiration are solemn words.

Many can sing about Jesus, talk about Jesus, attend a gathering about Jesus and tweet about Jesus.  

But the fruit of a real and authentic encounter with Jesus is our forgiving and gracious attitude and spirit toward those who have wronged us.   

That is where the rubber meets the road.  

Will you, by God’s grace, as one who has received grace, forgive and be gracious?