Month: July 2025

This is the Way part six

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

This is the sixth post in a series where we are looking at the gospel way. What it means to follow Jesus. Today’s may be the most challenging yet. It confronts every single one of us. We have all faced unkind and even hateful people. So did Jesus. And He calls us fi respond just like He did.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:14 (NIV)

This verse doesn’t come naturally. In fact, it might be one of the hardest commands in Scripture. Our instincts cry out for justice—or at the very least, distance—when we are wronged. But Paul, inspired by the Spirit, challenges us to respond in a radically different way: with blessing.

A Countercultural Command

In a world that praises revenge, canceling, and self-protection, blessing our enemies seems foolish. Yet Paul’s instruction echoes the very words of Jesus:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

The way of Christ isn’t about repaying hurt with more hurt. It’s about overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21). When we bless someone who has wounded us, we are not approving their actions—we are rising above them. We are choosing mercy over bitterness, grace over retaliation.

What Does “Bless” Really Mean?

To bless someone in this context means to:

Speak well of them. To wish them good and not harm. Pray for their repentance, healing, or restoration. Refuse to return insult for insult.

This is an act of spiritual maturity and surrender. It means trusting God to be the righteous judge while we walk in the love and humility He has shown us.

Why Should We Bless?

Because God blessed us when we didn’t deserve it. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We were enemies of God, yet He chose to bless us with grace. Because it frees us. Bitterness is a prison. Forgiveness and blessing set us free. They release us from being defined by someone else’s actions and allow us to walk in peace. Because it reflects Jesus. When Jesus hung on the cross, mocked and beaten, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” If we belong to Him, we are called to mirror that kind of love—even when it’s costly.

How Do We Live This Out?

Start with prayer. You may not feel like blessing those who hurt you—but bring that honestly to God. Ask Him to soften your heart. Guard your words. Refuse to gossip or curse the one who wronged you. Instead, speak truth with grace. Seek peace, if possible. You may not be able to restore the relationship, but you can refuse to fuel hostility.

Romans 12:14 is a call to higher ground. It’s a reminder that we are citizens of a different kingdom—one marked by love, not vengeance. This kind of living doesn’t come from our own strength; it flows from a heart surrendered to Christ.

Let’s be people who bless when it’s hardest. Because in doing so, we show the world a glimpse of the Savior who blessed us first.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Freedom Through Forgiveness

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Acts 13:38-39

In these powerful verses, the Apostle Paul delivers a revolutionary truth at the heart of the Christian gospel. Speaking to both Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Paul announces something radically new: forgiveness and freedom through Jesus Christ.

Paul begins with good news: “through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” This is not forgiveness earned or negotiated—it is proclaimed. That word carries weight. It means the message is public, certain, and available to all who hear it. The gospel doesn’t whisper forgiveness—it declares it loudly for sinners, doubters, and outcasts alike.

In a world weighed down by guilt and striving, this message still breaks chains. In a world that has so many who are trying to figure out who they are, struggling with their gender identity, battling impure sexual desires, the gospel has the power to set them free. Free from guilt and free from brokenness. Our forgiveness is not based on merit or rituals, but on the person and work of Jesus. This includes the mistakes we regret, the habits we hide, and the guilt we carry. Jesus doesn’t offer partial freedom. He offers total release. This is a bold claim, but it’s the core of the gospel: Christ sets us free.

Paul contrasts this freedom with what the law of Moses could not do. The law was holy and good, but it could only reveal sin—it couldn’t remove it. It could show us our need for righteousness, but it couldn’t make us righteous. I know people who unfortunately cling to the Old Testament, believing the law can save. Elevating law over Jesus. Clinging to a form of self righteousness. Only Jesus, through His death and resurrection, could provide the justification the law could never achieve. In Christ, we’re not just forgiven—we’re declared righteous before God. This is grace, not earned status. It’s a gift, not a wage.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV

So today, let these words encourage your heart:

• You are forgiven.

• You are free.

• You are justified by faith, not by works.

Let this message be the one you proclaim to others, too. Because in Christ, freedom isn’t a dream—it’s a reality. Now let the weight fall off your shoulders. Love Jesus and make Him known. Run after the One who has set you free.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

This is the Way part five

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a few weeks since we looked at the Way of Christ as described in Romans 12. Today’s topic is one that I have been honored to experience with many believers in the last 16 years. It was a major attraction into the fold of Christ. When believers give of their time and resources to genuinely seek to meet the needs of others, and open their hearts, homes, and lives to hurting or lost people, the family of Christ grows and people’s lives are changed.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13 (NIV)

In just a few short words, Romans 12:13 captures the heart of Christian community: generosity and hospitality. These aren’t just nice suggestions—they’re tangible expressions of the love that Christ calls us to show.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need

The early church was known for its radical generosity. In Acts 2 and 4, believers shared everything they had so that “there were no needy persons among them.” This wasn’t socialism—it was sacrificial love. When someone in the family of faith lacked food, shelter, or support, the others stepped in. We are called to do the same. It might look like: Giving to a single mom who’s struggling to pay bills. Donating food or clothes to a local ministry. Covering a medical expense, school need, or gas money for a friend in the church. It could be sponsorship of children in developing countries who lack basic needs. Because the church is more than those in our building. It includes every believer around the globe.

Sharing isn’t always financial, either. Sometimes what people need most is time, presence, or a listening ear. The heart behind it is this: What I have is not mine to hoard—it’s God’s to share.

Practice hospitality

Hospitality means welcoming others into your space, your life, and your heart. In the original Greek, this phrase means “pursue the love of strangers.” It goes beyond entertaining—it’s about making others feel seen, safe, and cared for.

Hospitality might mean: Inviting a new family from church over for dinner. Opening your home for Bible study or prayer. Welcoming someone who feels out of place and helping them find belonging.

Hospitality doesn’t require a Pinterest-worthy house or gourmet food. It just requires a heart that says, “You’re welcome here.” And the “here” is wherever you are. Hospitality goes beyond the four walls of our homes and church.

Why This Matters

These two simple actions—sharing and showing hospitality—are powerful witnesses to the world. In an age marked by individualism and isolation, generosity and hospitality stand out as bright lights. They show that the body of Christ is a family. That we serve a God who welcomes and provides. That our faith is more than words—it’s lived out in love.

Lord, help us to live with open hands and an open heart. Teach us to notice the needs of others and respond with joy. Let our homes and our lives reflect Your generous, welcoming love.

When we live out Romans 12:13, we bring the warmth of God’s love to life in the everyday moments. May we be known as people who give freely and welcome fully—for in doing so, we reflect the very heart of Christ.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.