I went to the Women's Bible Cafe and was going to post my answer to a couple of questions there and I just really felt as if I needed to blog here first. This week's lesson on patience defined patience with two different meanings that although related needed to be understood distinct from each other. Beth Moore pointed out that one Biblical definition of patience is related to hope. It means to persevere, endure, and bear up under difficult things or circumstances inspired by a beneficial expectation. It is referred to in James, Romans, and even illustrated in the life of Job. The patience, as in the fruit of the Spirit, is related to hope but distinctly different from it. It means to be long-suffering, forebearing, the practice of self-restraint before proceeding to action and is used in reference to persons rather than circumstances.
Beth Moore notes that patience in difficult circumstances is far easier than this type of patience, practiced in our relationships or in the relationships we are supposed to build. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, hence His fruit, that involves a display of mercy and forgiveness such as God gave to us. It was at her biblical definition of forgiveness that I really began to sit up and take notes this week. She wrote, "The Greek word most often used in the New Testament for forgive is aphiemi. It means "to let one go from one's power, possession, to let go free, let escape." In essence, the intent of biblical forgiveness is to cut someone loose. The word picture drawn by the Greek terms for unforgiveness is one in which the 'unforgiven' is roped to the back of the unforgiven. How ironic: Unforgiveness is the means by which we securely bind ourselves to that which we hate the most. Therefore, the Greek meaning of forgiveness might best be demonstrated as the practice of cutting loose the person roped to your back."
The second thing she wrote that made me sit up and take notes was related to the "how" God forgives us. Beth Moore highlights four characteristics of God's forgiveness. The first is that God forgives ALL confessed sin and covers ALL confessed sin (1 John 1:9). Next, He removes ALL sin as far as the east is from the west, transferring it to our Savior (Ps. 103:12). Third, He keeps no record of wrongs (Ps.130:3-4). And last, He keeps NO MENTAL RECORD of wrongs (Jer. 31:34). Then she draws attention to the fact that this type of forgiveness makes us marvel, "Only God can forgive like that!" and reminds us that it is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and He can and does do it through those who are willing.
Now, bear with me. At the same time as I have been working to finish this week's study I have also been reading a short book by R.W. Schambach, entitled "The Price of God's Miracle Working Power." In it he draws attention to Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Granted I have not taken up serpents or drank deadly things but as for laying hands on the sick or casting out devils, I have not seen any of that happen when I lay hands on people. Schambach had a similar conviction and prayed about it and while in prayer, he believed that God told him the things that hindered him from being used in such a fashion. It bothered this man of God to go places and see people suffering and not be in a position to be used to alleviate their suffering and manifesting the glory of God. I have felt that same type of discouragement so I was very curious to read what he believed God told him.
Schambach noted that a servant is not above his master. I read that and thought, who in their right mind would even think they could be above God or His Son Jesus Christ, especially after reading about how Satan was cast out of the heavenlies for such a pride? Then I was convicted that I had lived in such a fashion, especially as I hearkened back to Beth Moore's association of patience, forgiveness, and mercy. I was pricked as I read of the servant the king had forgiven for 10,000 talents and how he imprisoned another servant who only owed him 100 denarii (Mt. 18:21-35). How many times have I held it against a person because they said or did something that made me feel left out, isolated, inadequate, or insufficient? My jealousy of others because of my own desire to be liked, accepted, and have my ego stroked had led me to rope several people to my back. God had forgiven me. Christ had died for me, but I wanted to be above my master and make other people pay for leaving me feeling hurt. I have been living according to my laws and determined my ways have been better than God's. It is this pride that screams, "I want to be above my master!"
Schambach also noted that we are to be perfect even as Christ was perfect. I read that and thought, "Surely the man must be wrong. I am not perfect, I am just forgiven." I continued reading. He drew attention to Scripture passages in the New Testament where Jesus told the rich young man how to be perfect (Mt.19:21); He also called Job perfect (Job 2:3). They did not have His written word the way we do. Christ had not yet died for their sins or been raised from the grave. They also did not have the Holy Spirit the way we do, so how is it possible that God called them perfect (Deu. 18:13)? Surely Jesus wouldn't tell us to do something that we couldn't do (Mt.5:48)? Is it really possible for me to be perfect? Yes, because my idea of perfect and God's idea of perfect are different. God wouldn't tell me to do something that He hadn't equipped me to do. In Job 1:8, where God calls Job perfect, He also defines perfection "one that feareth God, and shunneth, avoideth, evil." Schambach explains it this way, "Our perfection may likened to the fruit on a tree. From the time the bud appears, the apple on the inside, though very tiny, can be perfect. It has not yet taken on the size, color, or flavor it will eventually have, but in its present state it is perfect. As it is nourished, fed, and protected from frost and disease, it grows into a perfect little green apple...There is no stopping place short of ultimate perfection. Although the immature Christian may be perfect in God's sight, he will cease to be perfect when he is satisfied to stop growing! When the little green apple stops growing, it soon withers and falls from the tree. Perfection must be maintained and constantly striven after."
It was at this point that I began to see the picture in the puzzle pieces I had been fitting together. There was no more just a border, or even only similar colors grouped. I looked at the pieces and the Holy Spirit began to show me the picture. Not only can I be perfect but I can also forgive the way God forgives. It's not because I am greater than God or even equal to God but because the same Spirit which raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells within me. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and that includes forgiving exactly the way God forgives because it is His Spirit that will exercise it through me. Forgiving the way God forgives is a part of that perfection.
The last day of the lesson Beth Moore asked the standard question: How does God want you to respond to what He showed you today? I couldn't help but see it. God didn't want me to forgive and then claim but I couldn't forget, only God can. God wanted me to exercise patience (mercy and forgiveness) the same way He does because He wants me to be perfect as even as He is perfect. He wasn't asking me to do something that I couldn't do because He is going to do it through me. Remember in the beginning when I quoted Beth Moore and the word picture of dead bodies roped to our backs through unforgiveness? I now saw all the dead bodies I had collected over the years and because unforgiveness is a habit, I saw all the weight that I would continue to accumulate through jealousy, bitterness, and other traits linked to unforgiveness. What a mess I have gotten myself into! I am called to be perfect. I am called to be Holy as God is Holy. I am called to be like Christ. I have been equipped with the word of God for this purpose (2 Tim.3:16-17); yet, I am tangled up in rope and weighted down by weight of bodies that I have bound to me over several years. I couldn't cut the rope if I wanted to and I so desperately do!
So, in response to Beth Moore's question, how does God want me to respond, set me free Jesus! Cut the cords that I have bound others to me with. Let Your mercy overflow in my life and let it flow freely from me. Forgive me for thinking that my way could ever be greater than Your way and make me more like You. I want to say as David said, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way...I will walk within my house with a perfect heart (Ps. 101:2).
