Tag: Mark Saunders

Bitterness is a prison… the road there paved with unforgiveness.

Keeping a pure heart is probably our biggest challenge as Christians.

The word of God encourages us to make peace with our adversary before we find ourselves in prison.

It’s bars are made from what we perceive as “justice denied.”

Someone did not get what they deserved.

But God’s doesn’t give us what we deserve.

He doesn’t give us perfect justice… we would be in real trouble if He did. Instead He gives us grace.

So as hard as it is, it’s better to let go of the false notion that everything must be equal, everything must always be just and fair… it never will be.

Christ laid aside every right he had to show us the grace of God… not justice.

Grace brings freedom to those who find it and strength to face the fallen and unfair world we live in.

Forgiveness is tough. We really need a work of God’s Grace to set us free.

• Mark Saunders

We need to feel liked, appreciated, understood and esteemed by people around us. Especially those we look up to. One could say it’s “normal” to want that.

But which is stronger ? The desire to be approved by men or by God?

At some point… we’ve all chosen to please people above the Lord.

As long as we seek the approval of people above the approval of God we’ll compromise in our Christian walk.

The desire to be “esteemed” needs to die. It’s a tough one… but it needs to be “put on the altar.”

The need to be respected and acknowledged… best we let go of that… it gets in the way of serving the Lord.

So then what? We become downtrodden losers? No, not at all!

We grow in the freedom of the Lord “to be ourselves.” Striving less to please people, but somehow having more of God’s heart for people.

• Mark Saunders

Whooah… just a minute… we’ve all said that and we’ve all heard that… but it’s a really bad attitude to have.

True the Lord does accept me as I am, but it doesn’t mean that I can stand on that to justify my weaknesses.

Our weaknesses and failings are certainly not an issue to the Lord if we sincerely want to grow, mature and have the victory over them through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

But, if I expect that you must “just put up with me” cause “that’s who I am” and you must “just live with it” then that’s a really inconsiderate attitude which doesn’t reflect the heart of the gospel at all.

We can’t change ourselves… that’s very clear… but we can’t be selfish and simply impose these issues on others.

Rather, with humility and brokenness we bring these issues to the cross… not condemning ourselves but trusting Jesus to deliver us from “this body of death”… which, in His time, He is more than able to bring the life of the Spirit to.

That’s Christian life… daily bringing our lives, in faith, to the cross so that more of His life in us can shine through us as we’re changed bit by bit to His image.

• Mark Saunders

“How are you brother? I’m blessed… but the reality is that we’re broke, fighting with our families and our lives are in disarray.

The approval of God is having his hand at work in our lives… approving his workmanship as he shapes and molds us into the image of Christ.

Christ didn’t chase the same type of “blessings” that so many of us Christians chase.

He valued things like relationship with God, truth, submission to God’s word, the freedom and clarity of heart it brings.

When we value the same things too, they bring order in our lives.

Too often we are seeking the kingdom so that “worldly blessings” can be added to our lives.

It’s not really the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace, joy and the things mentioned above) that we want.

• Mark Saunders

What?? That’s not right? Yes it is…

Our suffering is to identify with the sufferings of Christ or to experience the suffering, death and then “resurrection life of Jesus” at work in us.

An example… we disagree with our spouse, we argue, we stand our ground and defend our position because we are right.

The result? Condemnation, judgment and division.

Repeat and repeat until the marriage breaks apart.

What point is there praying for and expecting the blessings of God when you can’t talk to your spouse?

That’s the way of the flesh.

Now, the way of the cross… I’m right but it doesn’t matter and I seek the grace of God to equip me to follow the example of Christ who humbled himself, came down from his position and lost his life for those he loved. He accepted to take the cross and suffer.

The result? A work of God in our hearts as we allow ourselves to be “formed” to the image of Christ in us.

Repeat and repeat until our spouse feels the heart of God through you.

This is where the true power and impact of the gospel lies… and this is where our greatest challenge lies… to accept to loose our lives.

• Mark Saunders