4/19/16

From Gary... Re-markable Forgiveness


I have grown quite fond of these jokes.  The play on words is cute and often result in groans on my part. In this instance, dry erase boards are both remarkable and re-markable!   Wouldn't it be nice if like were like that?  Do something wrong, say something you shouldn't have, or worse- physically hurt someone and you just erase it? Well, life isn't like that! There are consequences to the life we live.

The apostle Paul illustrates this perfectly.

Galatians, Chapter 1 (WEB)
 13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.  14 I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.  15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,  16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,  17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.  18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.  19 But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.  20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.  21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,  23 but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”  24 And they glorified God in me. 

Paul had to live with the memory of his efforts to persecute his fellow Christians and they in turn had to accept him as a brother-in-Christ. It must have been difficult for both parties, but with love, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!  Seems to me that there is a lesson in all this for EVERYONE!!!