Month: October 2018

Ready for Battle

The Apostle Paul spent a great deal of his career chained to a Roman guard (Colossians 4:18). Can you imagine what it must have been like – for the guard? What had he been told about the apostle? That he was Jewish? Certainly. That he was a revolutionary? Probably. That he was dangerous? In the first century, Jew and revolutionary often went together, but they must have quickly learned there was something different about the apostle.

I have so many questions about this relationship. I don’t see Paul being a trouble-maker. Paul probably was just the opposite. As a Christian, he must have been interested in the welfare of his guardian. It was probably a very easy duty. It might have even been enjoyable! I’m sure Paul asked each guard questions about his welfare and his life. Where had he been stationed? Did he have a family? I think Paul even asked the soldiers about their equipment for the apostle uses the soldier’s equipment to illustrate the Christian life. I like to think about the guard’s smile as he listened to Paul as the apostle dictated his letter to the church in Ephesus:

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Ephesians 6:11 – 17).

Forgiveness

In the book of Genesis, the boy Joseph was irritating to his brothers!

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors, (Genesis 37:3).

If their father’s favoritism wasn’t bad enough, Joseph was a tattletale (37:1). On top of that Joseph not only had self-aggrandizing dreams, he told his brothers about them (37:5 ff.)! As a result, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and lied to his father about what happened to him.

We don’t have space to tell the stories about all the hardships Joseph had while he was a slave in Egypt, but the good news is: God never forgot Joseph. Later Joseph and his brothers were reconciled in Egypt, but they were worried that when their father died, Joseph would seek vengeance on them. Why didn’t he? 

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. ­(Genesis 50:15-21)

Why should we learn to forgive? First, because forgiveness frees us from the burden of hatred! Second, because forgiveness is divine. God forgave us so we should forgive one another. Third, because forgiveness is the foundation of love.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, (Colossians 3:13, 14).