Day 84: PEOPLE DO CHANGE — Pastor Bryant
Today’s Reading
1 Thes 1 – Philemon
On a memorable September night in 1985 at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, Pete Rose transformed his baseball career into something legendary. With hit number 4,192, Rose passed Ty Cobb to become baseball's career leader in hits. At the time, Rose - who played so hard he was nicknamed Charlie Hustle and was a cinch to be elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. But four years later, Rose was banned from the sport after an investigation found he had gambled thousands of dollars on baseball games as a player and a manager for the Cincinnati Reds. Rose said he "made some mistakes" but denied betting on baseball.
In 2002 during the World Series game the commissioner introduced Pete Rose back to the baseball fans and all that could be heard in the stadium was a loud, long ovation and the public chanting Hall Of Fame! Hall of Fame! With their applause and their chant, those fans were stating that they had forgiven Pete Rose for his betting behavior as the Cincinnati Reds' manager. And more important, they were telling the Major League Baseball commission to take him back because he had learned his lesson and “People Do Change.”
In today’s reading we read the books of Thessalonians and Philemon. Philemon is a little Book with a big lesson. Paul teaches Philemon about forgiveness, the foundation of Christianity. Paul wrote this letter to Philemon asking him to forgive his slave, Onesimus for running away. Philemon was probably a wealthy member of the Church at Colosse. This epistle was not a public document for the Colossians, though. It was a personal letter to Philemon. It was to be shared with Philemon’s home church, a small group of believers who met in Philemon’s home, as it is also addressed to people other than Philemon. Written about 60 A.D. during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, the letter instructs us about forgiveness and accepting our fellow Christians as our equals not matter what their perceived class might be. The homeless man in the mission shelter is as much our equal in Christ as the wealthiest member of the congregation. This is the teaching, but not often the practice.
Onesimus stole from Philemon when he ran away. He ran to Rome where he learned of Paul and had the opportunity to hear Paul preach. Onesimus was converted to Christianity and faced a serious challenge in his new life. He knew that he had to set the account straight with Philemon, but risked the penalty of death for his crimes. Paul intervened on the behalf of Onesimus by sending this epistle to Philemon through Onesimus. A mere 26 verses long, the letter still manages to pack a strong punch. The Book of Philemon is a work of applied Christianity. Paul wisely opens his letter to Philemon with a reminder that he is a prisoner. He has an understanding of Onesimus’ position as a slave. Paul makes no social commentary on the ethic of owning slaves, but he does gently remind Philemon that he is a captive, too. (Vs. 1 and Vs. 9) Paul does make it clear that Christianity can never sanction slavery. Christ came to set the captives free and make Christians equal. In verses 16 and 17 Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus as his brother rather than his servant. Even though Onesimus had stolen from Philemon, Paul tells him to receive him back as he would because People do Change. Paul formerly known as Saul who was the ex Murderer and chief persecutor of the church now turned chief Apostle and author of the majority of the New Testament was a first hand witness and product of that!!!!!!!
There is an age old saying that a Leopard can’t change its spots (Jeremiah 13:23) other wise known as "People don’t Change”. The saying “people don’t change” is harmful and one of the most untruthful statement made because it denies the possibility of redemption. There is something profound about the redeemed. The man who’s experienced the lowest level of existence and conquered his personal demons has an empathy that’s lacking in more saintly people. In a society supposedly built on the Christian doctrine of forgiveness it’s remarkable how eager we are to label people as permanent degenerates. Circumstance and hard ship lead many good people to do foolish things. To say those mistakes are irredeemable is hypocritical. If the world considered only your most depraved moments, how would you be judged? People do change. We make every decision for the first time with no obligation to the past. If we control anything, we control our own thoughts and behavior. If we can improve anything, it should be ourselves. So today before you judge someone or decided to hold something against them take a look at the man in the mirror "YOURSELF". Look how far you have come, look how you have grown, look at the wrongs you have made right, look at the smile that once was a frown, look at the joy in your heart that once was full of sorrow, look at the old bitter heart that is now open to give and receive love and most of all look at the old sinner that is now saved by God’s precious grace. So before you decide to throw someone away and cut them off forever, just remember people will NEVER be perfect but People Do Change. Because you DID!!!!!!!
I praise the GOD of another chance.
He alone is able to intercede, and redeem. I am a Living Testimony that CHANGE IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.
AMEN!
Reply to this
This blog along with your 11:30 service today is the kind of encouragement I desperately needed! Thank God for endless opportunities to change! I have been redeemed!
Reply to this
Amen..all with the Grace of God...
People do Change...
Reply to this
Please help me my daughter was molested by a family member, I know I have to forgive them, but am I suppose to allow them to come over and visit and act like nothing happen?ed Please tell me.
Reply to this
Kim,
I pray that GOD will embrace you with his loving kindness, strengthen your broken heart and heal your daughter's confused mind. Faithfully surrender to our Heavenly Father and listen to his tender sweet voice. Free yourself from anger or hostility, you must FORGIVE and lift your family member in prayer. Watch GOD work it out VICTORIOUSLY!! Satan never wins!!!
Reply to this
To me forgiving is not holding something against someone anymore. But you must still use wisdom. i think u should listen to the curse of R. Kelly by Pastor Bryant it would give you great insight
Reply to this
trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path
Reply to this
Kim,
Terrible situations happen in life,but these things are beyond our control.You being a mom,and I am one also.We are like the mother bear thats there to protect her cub.Sometime we try our best to keep them from all hurt,harm,and danger and we can't.But,we have a God that can protect them.Release this hurt to God,he's a heart fixer,a mind regulator,and a burden bearer.He's our present help in the time of storm,and the rock that we should run to.This will eat at your flesh,release it to GOD! My heart is heavy for you.Pray for those that despitefully use and abuse you and let God handle the rest.You will definitely be in my prayers.God Bless You Sister!
Reply to this
Dear Kim:
If you are in possession of the Holy Ghost then the Spirit inside of you bears witness to what is true. Whether this individual "has served time" already -- for his behaviour or not, your inner voice has a sense of whether this family member is truly reformed.
It is best to go by what your Spirit says rather than rely on the offender's or his friends pleas that he's changed.
If you still have questions regarding the authentic transformation of this family member then this is what I'd suggest:
FORGIVE THE OFFENDER, MEANING don't retaliate in any way, rather, PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION AND COMPLETE DELIVERANCE.
BUT
Keep everyone's safety a priority.
So NO, until I was confident that this family member would never molest again, then I WOULD NOT be amenable to his visits.
A dog that bites in a yard will bite again. That's why he's put to sleep!
(And even the Bible allows a complete relationship cutoff called divorce for a sexual offense called adultery (Mt 5:32).)
May the Lord guide you rightly and you be enlightened real good now.
Reply to this
Dear Sister Kim,
I just want to add that I agree that counseling or therapy for your daughter and yourself or perhaps your household, if you can swing it, may be good ideas. I didn't write this in the earlier blog believing you've already begun counseling for your daughter.
When I saw Sister J Marie's response I thought maybe I had been too presumptuous. I hope you will seek out counseling if you haven't already done so.
Reply to this
Dear Sister Renaya, thank you my sister, I knew I could count on you to stand with me on this. Let's continue to pray for this situation.
Reply to this
Sister J Marie, you've got it! I'm sure Sis Kim would appreciate all of our prayer support on this.
God bless you real good now.
P.S. Just think this Internet journey is almost over.
Reply to this
Dear Sister Reneya, this internet ministry is not over, we are just getting started. Sister Kim is not the only one benefiting from this, there are others out there in cyberspace who did not put their personal concerns on this website that we are praying for.
Reply to this
Dear Kim, the molestation of your daugther by the family member is a deep tragedy for you and her both. Please, if possible seek counseling for her either through social services at the school she attends or within your community, or if you live near or attend a local church, seek out their help as soon as possible.
You must do whatever is within your means to protect your child from any more abuse by this person, an no do not act like nothing just happended!
This is serious, and your child will be affected by it.
Yes, we all will be in prayer concerning this, and we bind that wicked spirit, that demon of molestation, from your presence, in the name of Jesus, and pleading the Blood of Jesus over you and that child's life.
Reply to this
amen!
Reply to this
What If?
What if,
God could't take time to bless us todaybecause we couldn't take time to thank him for yesterday?
What if,
God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?
What if,
We never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sends rain?
What if,
God didn't walk with us today because we failed to reconize it as His day?
What if,
God took away the Bible tomorrow because we did't read it today?
What if,
God took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
What if,
God didn't send His only only begotten Son because He wanted us to prepare to pay the price of sin?
What if,
The door of the church was closed because we did not open the door to our hearts?
What if,
God stopped loving us and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
What if,
God would not hear us today because we would not listen to him yesterday?
What if,
God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if,
God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?
We were all ex's something WHAT IF WE DIDN'T SERVE A FORGIVING GOD?
Reply to this
I am a witness to this.... every day I change into a better person and hope to be all i can one day
Reply to this
All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory - Judgmental unforgiving people tend to forget about God’s mercy that was made available to them. On many occasions I had the opportunity to become angry by the blogs that were written but before fulfilling the natural tendency of the flesh to become offended, I reread them to be sure I didn’t misunderstand the message being conveyed. A soft answer turns away wrath. Scriptures admonishes us to withhold our gift until we have rectified our grievances with each other so to take the power from the enemy I will simply clarify in hopes there is understanding – By faith we pursued that which was revealed in the spirit and is destined for our glory by expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words though others may chose or cannot understand it. Who could judge God’s will and the response – our obligation is not fleshy but spiritual for kingdom purpose. Christ suffered for the cause and was raised into glory. Blessed are ye when men persecute you and say all manner of evil against for my name sake. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. See It’s coming!
Today Jesus admonishes us to not make demands of people that we ourselves can’t keep... this would be unfair. When you offend in one you offend in all. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - So before you decide to throw someone away and cut them off forever, just remember people will NEVER be perfect but People Do Change. Because you DID!!!!!!! - Be quick to pray for understanding and slow to judge. God has given you a way of escape. I forgive and understand.
James 1: 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Forgive to be forgiven and forgiven to forgive. Now I can take my gift to the altar.
Peace, prayers that will cover and not expose and blessings for you always!
Reply to this
Luke 6:37 says "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." There is a significant difference between judgment and discernment. God sees people's hearts and knows their motives. Only God can accurately judge those who deserve punishment. Ultimately, Christ will sit in judgment upon us all in the day of judgment. Our problem is that we like to sit in the judgment seat and pronounce condemnation upon those whom we think have sinned. Scripture commands us not to judge or condemn others, for we cannot be judgmental and redemptive at the same time. It is difficult to pray sincerely for someone while we are judging them. At times our judgmental attitude can seem to provide us an excuse not to become involved in God's redemptive work in someones' life. Scripture reminds us that God will treat us with the same grace or severity with which we treat others. God commands us not to judge others, but He does want us to be discerning. Jesus said we would know people's spiritual condition by the fruit of their lives. He said grapes are not produced by thorn bushes. If a person's life produces thorns, we can assume that person is not a grapevine. Are we being judgmental? No, we are being discerning. Scripture commands us to avoid associating with scoffers and fools, (Prov 22:10, 17:12). Unless we are able to identify scoffers and fools, we cannot obey God's command. That is not being judgmental; it is being discerning. As Christians, we have been instructed to observe the lives of others so that we can help them while avoiding any sinful influence. You will be helpful to others only if you see them as God does. If you have been judgmental of others, ask forgiveness and pledge yourself to let God use you as His minister of reconciliation (2 Corin 5:18).
Reply to this
I believe if we do not forgive we become that person's prisoner. We allow ourselves to become shackled and bound. I believe, forgiveness is a process that contains willingness, consistency, wisdom, love and strength. It is God's grace, His mercy and His love for us, that strengthens us to forgive others that trespasses against us. We know that we have forgiven when we have peace within ourselves and unspeakable joy.
Reply to this
Every times it's hard for me to forgive and forget, I try to remember how Jesus fells every time I mess up and he gave his life for me to be free,
Reply to this
Dear Anonymous, God is about love, not about holding an offense over someone head, God looks at one's heart, and when He sees you, He sees His child, made in His image, filled with His spirit.
We all have issues of unforgiveness, even Jesus disciples wanted to know how to handle this, and in Matthew 18:21-35, they come to Him and ask, "what to do when a fellow believer sins against me?". They wanted to know how many times to forgive someone who keeps on doing this, should I forgive as many as seven times? Jesus told them that they must forgive, even if he wrongs you seventy times seven, which equals 490 times!
Reply to this
Forgiveness is mandatory. Holding onto unforgiveness can literally kill you.
Many times we think that if "so and so" would change THEN I could forgive him/her; but GOD is NEVER like that with us. (GLORY TO GOD!!!!) His only requirement is that we come to HIM just as we are and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
The second you really allow the love of God to reside in - IT IS ONLY THEN that God will be able to move on your behalf.
You can sing and shout, turn around and slap your neighbor 3 times, tithe, give first fruits and offerings but if you are not walking in the love of God (especially where your enemies are concerned) - all of those things are an exercise in futility. In other words, those things are meaningless. Why? Because although you may "appear" to be "good" Christian on the surface - GOD sees and knows your heart.
Colossians 3:13-14 reminds us to:
13: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Whenever you feel like holding onto unforgiveness - stop and think about God holding onto ALL of the stuff that you've done and holding it over your head!!!
Reply to this
Must Jesus bear the cross alone and the whole world go free. If he had to forgive so must we. It's so easy for us to ask for his forgiveness but it's so hard for us to give forgiveness.
Reply to this
I forgave my husband for physical and mental abuse. I am a believer and attend church services. He has backsliden from the church. He brings up the past and we argue and say harsh words to each other and don't forgive each other after it's over.
Yesterday I enjoyed the word of God that was preached on yesterday. Why did I have to come home and all hell breaks lose? I pray day and nite over this marriage that the past will stop coming up. I just felt like giving up. I have been trusting and staying in God word, that this too shall past.
Reply to this
Dear Anonymous, this is a delicate situation that you are in, if you are being physically and mentally abused, and it is not my place or station to advise you to "step".
But God did give us some instructions through His word when we find ourselves experiencing what you are speaking about. In fact, we just finished reading this passage of scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:31-16, "and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away, for an unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife...."
We will continue to pray for you and any situation that wants to steal your peace, because People Can Change, and if you love your husband, do not give up on your marriage.
Reply to this
2 Corinthians 7:13-24 reminds us about "unbelieving spouses". It also reminds us that we are to live in peace and if the unbeliever leaves - say goodbye. (v. 15)
Again God did not create you to live in confusion and turmoil. You are called to live in peace.
2 Corinthinas 7: 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
Reply to this
You can forgive from a distance. You do not need to put yourself or your children in harms way to do so. God did not create you to be his punching bag mentally and especially physically.
I know most churches are silent on this issue but if you are being physically abused - you must find a place of safety and get out of harms way.
It's wrong to lead you in prayer but still leave you in danger.
Therefore, I'm listing some links that can provide you with immediate assistance.
www.hruth.org - House of Ruth MD
www.bcdvi.org - The Black Church and Domesitic Violence Institute
www.ndvh.org - National Domestic Violence Hotline
You've prayed and the key for you right now is to get help. Forget about the opinions of people and focus on your sanity and safety.
Peace & Blessings
Reply to this
I know for a fact that through God's grace and mercy people do change because I am a living witness (my testimony alone will throw you for a loop but because of HIM alone) I was given many many chances and I thank my GOD. I still today can't thank him enough.
Reply to this