Battle of the Grudge

Posted September 16, 2013 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Galatians 5:17 (New Living Translation)

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Consider

Our sinful nature is always willing to do battle over injuries and insults we suffer in relationships. Selfish motives compel us to hurt back, punish, or escalate conflict rather than let some wrongdoer off the hook. Far from wanting to appear weak, we may even argue our moral obligation to teach the wrongdoer a lesson for the good of humanity!

Paul calls this kind of thinking slavery to our sin nature. The Spirit, he claims, has come to set us free, not so we can indulge our natural inclinations but so we can love and serve God by loving and serving one another.

Faith teaches us that we have nothing to fear from our neighbors. We can afford to be generous and forgiving because our souls are safe and our value is guaranteed through the saving grace of Christ’s death for us on the cross. What truly threatens us is the evil that tempts us away from God and leads us into quarrels and jealousy and vengeful behavior.

Although God desires that we forgive one another, our pain over an injury may be so great that forgiving seems utterly impossible. If that’s true for you, take heart and don’t try to force the issue.

Instead, offer a simple prayer: “Father, give me faith to love you more.”

Just that. Pray it several times a day. Pray it every day. If you do, two things will happen:

  • God will honor your prayer and give you what you ask. He will fill you with the reassurance of his Spirit because that’s what he desires and has promised to do.
  • God’s Spirit will form in you desires that your sinful nature will resist but cannot defeat—desires to love and be merciful and in every way manifest your Father’s loving nature in your life and your relationships.

Pray

FATHER, give me faith to love you more.

Reflect

Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 5:13-15

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How can love for God help you to let go of a grudge?

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Love Turned Bitter

Posted September 9, 2013 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

2 Samuel 6:16 (New International Version)

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

Consider

Bitterness often draws its energy from a love betrayed or a loyalty or trust that was abused. We may get annoyed or even angry at a stranger, but we rarely feel bitter. Bitterness takes hold of us in proportion to the depth of our passion—if we love deeply, our bitterness will be sharp and difficult to dislodge.

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Book Review: Sober Mercies

Posted September 7, 2013 | Judith Ingram

Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk. By Heather Kopp.

In September 2006 Heather Kopp, a longtime Christian who authored and edited Christian books, was forced to confront her drinking problem. Sober Mercies is the true story of her journey toward sobriety and of finding hope when the God she had always believed in couldn’t save her.

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We Have A King

Posted September 2, 2013 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Judges 21:25 (New Living Translation)

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Consider

The phrase, “Israel had no king,” appears four times in the Book of Judges and each time is associated with a story of sin and destruction among people who had no moral compass outside themselves. In truth, God was Israel’s King, but they refused to acknowledge his authority over their lives.

We, too, have a King. Yet just like Israel, we resist his authority and prefer to go our own way.

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In Pursuit Of God’s Heart

Posted August 26, 2013 | Judith Ingram

1 Samuel 13:13-14 (ESV)

And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Consider

Through the prophet Samuel, God called Saul’s successor—David—”a man after his own heart.” How could it be that David—a man of grievous sin and shattered relationships—found such honor in God’s eyes?

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