Today’s passage mentions “predestination” a couple of times, I am not a theologian but I have participated in a few conversations on the subject. I am not advocating or condemning the belief and understanding of it. What I will do is tell you that I believe I was created by God, given a purpose and that I am loved by God. The world, the universe and all its wonders were created by God for His purposes and glory. There’s absolutely nothing on my part to be worthy of love, I know there are times that I think to myself, “of course I’m lovable!” That is mostly pride or over confidence and the truth all wrapped up together. I am completely ok with the belief in predestination and I am also completely ok with the belief in free will. Maybe this analogy will help or quite possibly I could lose you in translation! I have been interested in Chinese Dynasty films for a few years and the Dynasties were rulers usually from the same family, one might say their heirs were “predestined” to someday rule. Usually rulers had many wife’s to ensure a son would be born to eventually rule and carry on the family name and traditions. But…just because the father is a wise and fair ruler does that mean his heirs will be too? Each person is faced with choices, “free will” just because a parent is wise and fair there are no guarantees that their children will do the same. If the heir follows in the footsteps of their fathers/ancestors is it because of free will or predestined (hereditary). Pride has a way of showing up when people think and take credit for things that were really beyond their comprehension. If the heir does something completely different, the blame game starts because bad choices were made? I am not trying to confuse anyone or seem like I am afraid to commit, the truth is salvation, faith and knowing, not just believing that God is real is personal and public all at the same time. Whether or not I was “predestined” “chosen” by God, I know that I had a moment of decision and wanted to publicly announce my “come to Jesus” moment. I strive to be the best person I can be, I study and read my Bible, read books about the Bible and I watch movies about faith and the Bible; plus I do a lot of other stuff too that I’m not so proud of…I procrastinate, I say bad things, I speed while driving sometimes, I miss church a lot, I over eat a lot…you get the picture, I’m not perfect. God is not looking for perfect, he’s looking for honesty, courage, and love to mention a few. What I know for absolute truth is…I am a sinner, I cannot save myself, grace is given not deserved, mercy is applied and given instead of punishment. I will never be or do enough to be worthy of salvation so I’m thankful that God created me and loves me and I strive to live into the purposes He created me for. My Father is the King of Kings and I am His heir, my destiny and destination is Heaven.

Romans 8:26-39 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Psalm 44:20-26 “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.”

~Blessings and Peace~
References:
Preparing for Easter by C.S.Lewis
The C.S.Lewis Encyclopedia by Colin Duriez

C.S.Lewis wrote an essay entitled: Present Concerns “The Three Kinds of People” a summary of these are as following.
1. There are those people who live for their own sake and pleasure. We would call those non-religious or irreligious people. Regardless of what you call them, or how you describe them, they are people who live any way they want. They simply don’t care for God or religion or spiritual things. In many cases, spiritual things aren’t even on their radar. There are more of these people around than you might think. Philosopher Charles Taylor has noted that this is the first time in human history when one can live one’s entire life without any sense of the transcendent.
2. There are those people who live with a sense that there is a greater claim on their lives—God’s claim. We’ll call these religious people. But more often than not, they surrender to that claim like a man surrenders to paying taxes. They do it because they have to, but then, who wants to pay taxes?! Consequently their faith is as sterile as tax day. It’s there, but they hope that having done their due diligence, and paid what they owe to God, there will be enough of life left over for them to have some fun.
3. There are those people who don’t feel that the will of God limits their will, but it is their will. Unlike the non-religious and religious persons, they don’t live for themselves but for God; for Christ. They do what they do for Gods sake, for His beauty’s sake, for His glory’s sake. For them to live is Christ, as stated by Paul in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Luke 21:1-19 “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.”

A prayer of an inflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord. Psalm 102:1-11 “Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.”

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
Preparing for Easter by C.S.Lewis
Dave Miles http://cornerstonenorthshore.org/three-kinds-of-people/

Luke 6:37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…”

Forgiveness is more than simply asking for it, the Bible and the teachings of Jesus are clear in that to receive forgiveness, we must forgive others who have wronged us whether and most assuredly when they don’t deserve it. Isn’t that precisely what we do to God? There is absolutely nothing worthy in our attempts to seek forgiveness we are sinful by nature and from inception. It is God’s grace and mercy that bestows forgiveness upon and to us. We can not expect or should even ask for forgiveness if in our hearts and minds we are holding onto grudges and insults and wrongdoings of others, we must live into and through our beliefs that forgiveness is for everyone, regardless of its intent and circumstances. “…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. Amen!

1 John 1:5-10 “This is the message we have heard from  and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Psalm 19:7-14 “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
Preparing for Easter by C.S.Lewis
The Weight of Glory “On Forgiveness” by C.S.Lewis