Examining Our Hearts: Love and Forgiveness in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: God as a Wonderful Counselor

God asks probing questions to help us uncover the root issues in our lives, leading to healing and transformation. His questions are designed to bring us closer to Him and to reveal the true state of our hearts. In Genesis, God asked Adam, "Where are you?" and Cain, "Where is your brother?" These questions were not about physical location but about the condition of their hearts. God, in His triune nature, often asks us such questions to bring about healing and transformation. By listening deeply and asking probing questions, God helps us uncover the root issues in our lives.

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV): "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you felt distant from God. What question might God be asking you to help you uncover the root issue in your heart? How can you respond to this question today? [00:43]

Day 2: The Significance of Sacrifice

Abel's accepted offering and Cain's rejected one highlight the importance of following God's instructions. Abel's blood sacrifice was a foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, teaching us that true worship requires obedience and a heart aligned with God's will. Abel's offering was accepted because it followed God's model of a blood sacrifice, while Cain's was rejected because it did not. This teaches us that our worship and offerings to God must be in line with His instructions and come from a heart that seeks to honor Him.

Hebrews 11:4 (ESV): "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."

Reflection: Reflect on your own acts of worship and offerings to God. Are they in line with His instructions and come from a heart that seeks to honor Him? What changes can you make to ensure your worship is pleasing to God? [06:28]

Day 3: Mastering Anger

God's plea to Cain to master his anger before it leads to sin is a timeless lesson. Anger, if unchecked, can lead to destructive actions. We must confront and master our anger through God's help to prevent it from harming our relationships. Cain's anger and jealousy led him to murder Abel, despite God's plea for him to master his anger. This story teaches us the importance of addressing our anger and seeking God's help to control it before it leads to sin and destruction.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV): "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."

Reflection: Think of a recent time when you felt angry. How did you handle it? What steps can you take to confront and master your anger with God's help in the future? [08:56]

Day 4: The Question of the Heart

"Where is your brother?" challenges us to examine where we have placed others in our hearts. Are they in a place of unforgiveness, hate, or love? God calls us to love and forgive, reflecting His love for us. This question is not about physical location but about the condition of our hearts. It challenges us to examine where we have placed our siblings and fellow believers in our hearts. Are they in a jail of unforgiveness, a dungeon of no relationship, or a room of hate? God calls us to place them in a room of love, forgiveness, and a desire for reconciliation, as much as it depends on us.

1 John 4:20 (ESV): "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationships with your siblings and fellow believers. Are there any relationships where you need to move from unforgiveness or hate to love and forgiveness? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today? [12:51]

Day 5: Loving as Christ Loved

Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us sets a high standard. This love is undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. It requires us to be vulnerable and open, even at the risk of being hurt, to truly reflect Christ's love. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us, a love that is undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. This love is not natural; it requires the Holy Spirit's power and a conscious decision to follow Jesus' example. By loving others in this way, we demonstrate that we are His disciples.

John 13:34-35 (ESV): "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show them Christ's love in an undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial way today? [19:46]

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound title given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, "Wonderful Counselor." A wonderful counselor listens deeply and asks probing questions to help us uncover the root issues in our lives. God, in His triune nature, often asks us such questions to bring about healing and transformation. Last week, we examined God's first question to Adam, "Where are you?" Today, we delved into His second question, "Where is your brother?" asked to Cain in Genesis 4.

We began by setting the context: Genesis 1-3 describes creation, the fall, and humanity's subsequent separation from God. This separation necessitated Jesus' sacrificial death to restore our relationship with God. In Genesis 4, we see sin's rapid escalation from disobedience to murder. Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve, brought offerings to God. Abel's offering was accepted because it followed God's model of a blood sacrifice, while Cain's was rejected because it did not. Cain's anger and jealousy led him to murder Abel, despite God's plea for him to master his anger.

God's question, "Where is your brother?" is not about physical location but about the condition of our hearts. It challenges us to examine where we have placed our siblings and fellow believers in our hearts. Are they in a jail of unforgiveness, a dungeon of no relationship, or a room of hate? God calls us to place them in a room of love, forgiveness, and a desire for reconciliation, as much as it depends on us.

Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us, a love that is undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. This love is not natural; it requires the Holy Spirit's power and a conscious decision to follow Jesus' example. By loving others in this way, we demonstrate that we are His disciples.

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Key Takeaways

1. God as a Wonderful Counselor: God asks probing questions to help us uncover the root issues in our lives, leading to healing and transformation. His questions are designed to bring us closer to Him and to reveal the true state of our hearts. [00:43]
2. The Significance of Sacrifice: Abel's accepted offering and Cain's rejected one highlight the importance of following God's instructions. Abel's blood sacrifice was a foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, teaching us that true worship requires obedience and a heart aligned with God's will. [06:28]
3. Mastering Anger: God's plea to Cain to master his anger before it leads to sin is a timeless lesson. Anger, if unchecked, can lead to destructive actions. We must confront and master our anger through God's help to prevent it from harming our relationships. [08:56]
4. The Question of the Heart: "Where is your brother?" challenges us to examine where we have placed others in our hearts. Are they in a place of unforgiveness, hate, or love? God calls us to love and forgive, reflecting His love for us. [12:51]
5. Loving as Christ Loved: Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us sets a high standard. This love is undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. It requires us to be vulnerable and open, even at the risk of being hurt, to truly reflect Christ's love. [19:46]
### [19:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:43] - The Role of a Wonderful Counselor
[01:31] - God's First Question: Where Are You?
[02:22] - Context of Genesis 1-3
[03:10] - The Impact of Sin and Jesus' Sacrifice
[03:46] - The Story of Cain and Abel
[04:23] - The First Human Birth
[05:34] - The Importance of Sacrifice
[06:28] - Substitutionary Atonement
[07:15] - Cain's Rebellion
[07:59] - God's Plea to Cain
[08:56] - The Seed of Murder: Anger
[10:44] - God's Question to Cain: Where is Your Brother?
[12:51] - Who is Our Brother and Sister?
[14:51] - Examining Our Hearts
[16:42] - The Jail of Unforgiveness
[19:46] - Jesus' Command to Love
[23:51] - Unselfish Love
[25:23] - Forgiving Love
[26:03] - Sacrificial Love
[27:22] - Controlling Our Hearts
[28:34] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does the title "Wonderful Counselor" imply about Jesus' role in our lives? ([00:43])
Why was Abel's offering accepted by God, while Cain's was not? ([06:28])
How did God respond to Cain's anger and what advice did He give him? ([08:56])
What was Cain's reaction to God's question, "Where is your brother?" and what does it reveal about his heart? ([10:44])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of God as a "Wonderful Counselor" help us understand His approach to our personal struggles and sins? ([00:43])
What does the story of Cain and Abel teach us about the importance of following God's instructions in worship and sacrifice? ([06:28])
In what ways does unchecked anger lead to destructive actions, as seen in Cain's story? ([08:56])
How does Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us set a new standard for our relationships with others? ([19:46])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt God asking you a probing question. How did it help you uncover deeper issues in your life? ([00:43])
Are there areas in your life where you are offering God something other than what He has asked for? How can you align your offerings with His will? ([06:28])
Think of a situation where you struggled with anger. How did it affect your relationships, and what steps can you take to master your anger with God's help? ([08:56])
Who in your life might be in a "jail of unforgiveness" or a "dungeon of no relationship" in your heart? What steps can you take to move them to a "room of love and forgiveness"? ([12:51])
Jesus' love is described as undeniable, unselfish, unconditional, forgiving, and sacrificial. Which of these aspects do you find most challenging to practice, and why? ([19:46])
How can you demonstrate Christ-like love to a difficult person in your life this week? Be specific about the actions you will take. ([27:22])
Reflect on a broken relationship in your life. What steps can you take to seek reconciliation, even if it means being vulnerable and risking hurt? ([26:03])

Sermon Clips

1. "Well, our God is a wonderful counselor. The Godhead is a wonderful counselor. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. And over 300 times in the Bible, God asks someone a question, a probing question, that gets to the very root of the issue so that we can discover what's really going on inside of me, so then we can be healed and changed and let God do all this wonderful work inside of us." [00:43] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And all of us who are born again, when we leave this life, our next breath will be in God's, in God's garden forever, into heaven forever with God and that fellowship with Him." [03:10] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "He's angry that God would not receive his sacrifice. He's angry about it. And he's got murder already in his heart. Jesus said if we're angry at someone without a cause, we've already murdered them in our heart. The seed of murder is anger." [08:56] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So God's pleading, do the right thing. I love you. I'm not giving up on you. I'm not turning my back on you. You're angry. You got to master this anger. Come on, I'm talking to you now, Cain. Cain goes out in the field and says, boom, and kills his brother instead." [09:44] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Now, who is our brother and sister? Well, scripturally, the category of brother and sister belongs to two different types of people. My brother and sister scripturally are, first of all, my siblings. They are my brother, my natural human brother, and my sister. But if you're a Christian, you have other brothers and sisters. And your other brothers and sisters are your fellow believers in all the world." [12:51] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Where is your sister? Well, some of us, she's in a dungeon called no relationship ever. She's in a place called dead to me, where I keep people that I have checked off in life. It's enough of you. I'm done. It's over. With some of us, we have a room in our heart called hate, and our brother and our sister is in the room that we put people we hate." [16:42] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Here's how Jesus said it. He said, a new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you. And who is he talking to? His disciples. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. And by this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [18:46] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "To love at all is to be vulnerable. anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Wrap it carefully with hobbies and luxuries. Avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." [27:22] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Where is your brother? Not where are they relationally. You can't totally control that, can you? I have people in my life that I have forgiven, that I have asked for forgiveness, that I told them I'm sorry and they want nothing to do with me. I can't control that. But I can control what I have to do with them, where they are in my heart." [28:34] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Jesus is telling you to love them. Doesn't matter how they respond. You are to love them. As Christ has loved you. By this all men will know you are my disciples if you have love one for another." [29:34] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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