MARCH 6-7 – If only....

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” - Micah 6:8 NLT

Near the end of the film Schindler's List, Oskar Schindler was filled with remorse. Despite risking his own life to save 1200 Jews from extermination during the Holocaust, Schindler wondered how many more lives he could have saved if only he had sold his car, his jewellery....if only!

Two Bible characters stand out for me in the “if only” stakes – Peter and Judas. Peter, a close friend of Jesus, who had walked with Him, watched Him heal the sick, raise the dead, and had filled his nets with fish....Peter, a man who loved Jesus and was adamant that he would sooner die than deny Him. Yet, as Jesus predicted, Peter, to save his own skin, three times said, “I don't know this man!” "When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away."… http://biblehub.com/matthew/26-72.htm. Yes, after the Crucifixion, Peter repented and was forgiven by Jesus, John 21:15-17. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A15-17&version=NKJV....but….if only!

Then there was Judas, Judas had also walked with Jesus, witnessed the same healings, resurrections, and miracles. He was present when Jesus fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, from a few small loaves and fishes. Judas held an important position amongst the disciples – he was treasurer, he took care of the money - literally. This was his remark when a women took perfume to wash Jesus's feet - "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.…” http://biblehub.com/john/12-6.htm Despite all this, Judas betrayed Jesus – sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. Too late, Judas said to the Chief of Priests, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.” http://biblehub.com/matthew/27-5.htm Judas hung himself from a tree....if only! How different things could have been.

As we look back, in reflection, we all have “if only” events that have occurred in our lives. How different would your life, and that of others have been, if you had acted differently? Perhaps this is why God gave Micah the perfect anti-”if only” lifestyle guide to pass on to us. In the book of Micah (6:8) He asks us to do just three things: “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly” with Him. http://biblehub.com/micah/6-8.htm. It's almost as though God was building a bridge between the Old and New Testaments before Jesus arrived to live as our example.

John Wesley's Dictum gives this advice to us for everyday living, and to avoid our “if only's,”

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

(Letters, Rule of Conduct)

Music today is sung by Marilla Ness - “Walk Humbly With Your God.”