I have quite a few notebooks with Dad's sermon notes. One seemed to jump off the book shelf tonight. I picked it up and turned right to a page that was dated 11/10/1957 - exactly one week after I was born. This intrigued me.
Dad had titled it "Refuse Him Not". It is just an outline on one page with the traditional three points and several bullets under each point. Dad used Hebrews 12:25 as his main Scripture text. He had this portion typed out in his notes: "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh". Of course, this is the King James Version but the meaning is clear. Dad went on to explain the various ways we refuse to listen to God as well as some reasons we should listen.
He pointed out that this was a personal warning; a positive warning; a present warning; a purposeful warning; and a passionate warning. I can just hear Dad preaching this. I know he would have been passionate in his delivery because he had a heart for people. He did not preach to condemn but to transform.
Dad's last point under the heading explaining why we should listen simply said this: "Because of the Spirit that moves him to speak. 'God so loved the world...' The strongest force in the universe." That is the point that struck me the hardest. Love is the strongest force in the universe. It was because of this force that Mom and Dad dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel.
This is why I know it is so important to forgive Jose. Because God so loved the world. Because God so loved Jose. He gave His only Son for Jose just as much as He gave His Son for me
Is there someone God is nudging you to forgive? Time is too short on this earth. Love as God loves you. Forgive as God forgives you. If you have not experienced the transforming power of God's love, I pray that today you will allow Him to become Lord of your life.
Hebrews 12:25-28 (New Living Translation)
Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
An unshakable Kingdom. What a wonderful promise! May we all heed His voice. Refuse Him not.
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