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Jesus Discipled Others
Jesus says to his disciple, "Forgive others and God will forgive you."1 Literally,
"Let loose, release, set free" those who have hurt or wronged you. But how hard it is to do this! One particular verse in the New Testament always baffled me until I read an explanation by an Indian Bishop, Bishop Pillai. The reference teaches the reader to heap burning coals of fire upon the heads of those who wrong you.
Disciple to Others
How vengeful and unchristian, I first thought. Then I read that it was the custom in a village and is still practiced in some parts of India today to carry smoldering embers in a piece of pottery on the head from one house to another in the early morning to start everybody's fires. This was a very pleasant, warming experience for the one who carried them, we are told by the teacher. The inference is therefore that we should first give blessings to those who wrong us that they might be ashamed and repent. This is how forgiveness should be!
Giving
The first law of nature is self-preservation, the first law of the Spirit is self-sacrifice. Jesus the teacher said,
"Give to others, and God will give to you." This is the complete opposite of the prevailing philosophy of our western culture, which says Get more and you will be better off! Perhaps this is the reason for the poverty of spirit in society. God gives back to the generous-hearted, a full measure, a generous helping, all that you can hold poured into your hands. The measure that you use for others will be used for you. Yes, the larger the ladle that you measure out gifts for others, the larger the one that God will return to you. Yet how often the opposite is true.
Jesus Disciple
Finally, where do you stand? How do you measure up to the standards set for Jesus' disciples. Beware, before you answer, of two pitfalls that Jesus pinpoints here also. First, One blind man cannot lead another one. If he does both will fall into a ditch.2
Be a Disciple
In other words, be sure that you have a living faith in a living Lord before you try to tell someone else about it! Secondly the teacher says, "No pupil is greater than his teacher, but every pupil when he has completed his training, will be like his teacher."3 Be sure that you are not filled with pride and are not doing it for your own benefit! Strive to be a disciple like your teacher.
A Splinter
The carpenter, Jesus, certainly knew how painful a splinter of sawdust in the eye was, how it made the eye water so that you could hardly see. In such a predicament, how on earth could you expect to pick a tiny speck of the same material out of someone else's eye.4 All is not lost however, for the carpenter knows all about removing splinters, if we will only let him!
1Luke 6:37 2Luke 6:39 3Luke 6:40 4Luke 6:41,42
"Forgive others and God will forgive you."
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