LET IT DROP ROSS SMITH 21022015
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and LET IT DROP (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and LET THEM DROP. See also LUKE 6:37
We have been familiar with the conditions that surround The Lord’s Table for as long as we can remember, but that does not prevent us from engaging in behaviour that is contrary to the directions of scripture.
Let me remind us of what obligations we have around The Table.
1 Corinthians 11:29-33 For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ’s] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death. For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], (recall MARK 11:26) we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment]. But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world. So then, my brothers, when you gather together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], WAIT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
There is significant importance in these five verses which is so often overlooked or misinterpreted, and so we need to tie Paul’s instruction together so that it carries the proper intent.
You will see initially that he recommends that we need to recognise Christ’s body, now many have suggested that this refers to the emblems representing Christ’s death. But by regarding the further instruction in verse 33 we see that Paul is concerned about the “ONENESS” that constitutes Christ’s body “THE CHURCH”.
Romans 12:4-5 For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].
I am sure we afford the same degree of respect to each member/organ of our physical body, if one part hurts then that hurt affects the performance of the whole. It is no different to the spiritual body, as shown in:-
1Corinthians 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.
And so we have the principle well established that the “BODY”, as described by non-other than the Apostle Paul, constitutes the church.
So often we take communion for the benefits it provides for us, and ignore the effect it has on others. Our forgiveness is firmly tethered to our forgiving, and others health depends upon our partaking “worthily”, not “worthy”. It is a table of remembrance, not of what we want or need, but what He has done, and what we must imitate.
Christ’s body was broken so that the “body” of His church should not be broken, not subject to divisions and factions and hypocrisy, or sickness, depression, loneliness etc. The march of the church down through the ages has been ridiculed because of the inability to evidence the unity, the oneness, the singularity and all that Christ represents to us.
And so the exclamation of the Apostle Mark comes acutely into focus, he uses the term “LET IT DROP”, today we are more crude and say “get over it”, but I think it is more important that we “conquer it” in and by the manner the Word nominates. For if conceived wrongs are not forgotten then they have never been forgiven. And if we have trouble forgetting there is also a scriptural remedy for this, found in:-
Genesis 41:51 And Joseph called the firstborn MANASSEH [making to forget], For God, said he, has made me forget all my toil and hardship and all my father’s house.
Continuing, how pervasive is the instruction given by Mark, do I just ignore any further offence or am I obligated to go through the same procedure again, because sometimes we encounter folk who have a habit of making our lives miserable. “So last time he did it, I let it drop, next time I am going to drop him”, that is the attitude we so often adopt, even though it may be unspoken, but that person might just be the perfect “goad” to needle us until we are truly able to forgive and truly able to forget.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! (For those like me who are poor at maths, this is 490 times according to my trusty calculator)
Matthew 5:23-24 So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance] against you, Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift. (in other words, we must “let it drop” and the only way to do it is prescribed here by Matthew. And just as important is the fact that it is not us who have the “grievance”, but it is us who have to fix it. PLEASE NOTE, IT IS NOT THE OTHER PERSON THAT HAS TO RECTIFY THE MATTER, BUT ME, AND IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW THEY RESPOND)
Jesus puts a condition on answering our prayers. He is saying in paraphrase, “I would love for you to come and talk with Me, have fellowship with Me, but how can you freely talk with Me when you are not talking with your brother or sister. Until you forgive that person, I can’t forgive you and therefore there is a block in our communication and I can’t bless you like I want to.”
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;
There is an important aspect of what the Psalmist says here, the sin is not one in which we have engaged but it is one which we harbour. Consider what is implied in regarding iniquity in the heart. The words do not point to open, profane and scandalous sinners. But there are many who maintain a pious character before men, who, before God, will be found wanting indeed. They are deceiving themselves, and say they have peace when they really have none.
Psalm 133:1 BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
We can look at this verse from two perspectives, FIRSTLY the Psalmist is identifying the principle that it is proper and God glorifying that there be “Unity” amongst Gods people, a truth reiterated regularly throughout scripture.
Then SECONDLY, it is a very privileged place in which to live when there is no schism or faction or abrasiveness in relationship, particularly when it comes to a family including church family.
Mutual respect is foundational but proper behaviour is constructive.
This can only become a reality when we allow God’s Word to rule our nature, where we do not demand our way or push our opinion. But this pattern also springs out of a scriptural principle, one which it seems we so often ignore and as a consequence the “good and lovely” from Psalm 133:1 only exists as a theory. So what does it take?
1Corinthians 13:5 (LOVE) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
So we need to ask ourselves the question, if people outside can observe us within the 4 walls of our home will they see 1 Corinthians 13 in action
James 4:1 WHAT LEADS TO STRIFE (discord and feuds) (How often do we stop and ask ourselves that question?) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? (Refer to study “Key to Humility”)
2Timothy 2:23 But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels. (IN OTHER WORDS “LET IT DROP”. Also refer to study “Worthless Thoughts”)
Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
CONGENIAL COHABITATION IS CONSTRUCTIVE
Ross Smith 