Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Liberated

My daily devotional this morning was a reading on reputations; to be more precise, reputations before a Holy God.

The Scripture verse from Philippians 2:5-7 was quoted:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.” (NIV)

Oh, that we would offer ourselves that freedom. The freedom of no reputation; not having to prove ourselves to others; no bending and twisting of our lifestyles and our beliefs in order to suit everyone.

Let’s face it: We are never going to be liked by everyone. We are not even going to be liked by every follower of Christ.

We are different.

We think differently.

We behave differently.

Our beliefs, although Christ centered and yes, biblically sound…many of them will go against the grain of other Christians.

The author of my devotional reported that he decided some time ago that he would not correct a mistaken representation of himself.

Again he quoted Scripture. Jesus did what pleased the Father (John ).

Yet, Jesus, although he was called a glutton and a drunkard, did not feel it necessary to explain himself to those who accused him. (Luke 7:34)

Many hated Jesus. Countless numbers thought Jesus to be evil.

Imagine that?

What possible defense do I have against those who dislike me, when Jesus, my Lord and Savior, suffered hatred and insults from men who insisted they love God. Men who claimed to dedicate their lives to his Holy Word.

What I have to offer, I offer to God. My number One daily listener must be the Lord. It is to him I owe my faithfulness; it is to him I owe my very existence. It is to Almighty God, and he alone, that I must look to for guidance and truth.

He commands me to love others. Even in their disdain for me, I must pursue his order.

This is a stumbling block for many, yet it is behavior that honors God. It is the heart of God.

“Love one another.”

This Scripture is not found in merely one Scripture verse, but in many areas of Scripture:


  1. John 13:34
    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
     John 13:35
    By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
     
  2. Romans 13:8
     Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
     
  3. 1 Peter 1:22
    Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
     
  4. 1 Peter 3:8
    Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
     
  5. 1 John 3:11
    For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
    1 John 3:23
    And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
    1 John 4:7
    Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
    1 John 4:11
    Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
    1 John 4:12
    No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
    2 John 1:5
    And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.
He made it crystal clear, didn’t he? We don’t have the option to dislike and simply agree to ignore or stay clear of. We are to constantly work with the heart of God to love one another.

After all, where would we be today if not for God’s unending and faithful love?

Where would we be?

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Some Things are Better Left Unsaid

I had always believed that the best policy was honesty and openness.

Speak your mind; lay your cards on the table…do whatever is necessary to clear the air.

I know better now.

Honesty?

Absolutely.

Sharing that honesty?

No.

Not with anyone other than the Lord…(or possibly your very closest friend.)

Although I must admit, this continues to baffle me; I have no other option than to give in to my new policy; one that I have finally adopted from other Christians. I have learned over the years that this is, for lack of a better terminology, the “Christian way.”

I have a few reasons as to why I need to conform and behave in this manner, but I will not share them.

No, it doesn’t sit right with me, but I will change.

I will change and be determined NOT to hoard ill feelings.

Now that I cannot clear the air with those involved, I know my only other recourse is to turn to the Lord with my “issues” so that I can let go and get on with my life.

Lord, please keep me from storing up ill feelings and unforgiveness towards others. Help me to see where I go wrong and then continue to give me the strength to change my ways.
I see so much unforgiveness; so many hurting people. There are a great deal of misunderstandings and people who live lives daily far from you, although they profess undying love for you. 
Lord, help us to see ourselves and others as the broken jars we are; help us to love and forgive...and to look to you always for that love and forgiveness. Help us to forgive quickly before the evil one has an opportunity to further build a case on hatred in our hearts.

Romans 12:18: “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” (NLT)


Thursday, April 5, 2012

Don't be Ignorant

Each day we face opportunities the Lord gives us; we can choose to experience them in wisdom, or we can choose to be foolish.

I have returned to my blog because I felt the Lord speak to me to share this.


We will cross paths throughout our lives with others who suffer from relational loss.

Whether it is a death or an argument, pain is involved.

Be very careful what you say. Be very cautious what you think.

It is too easy to judge, condemn, or believe we have the right words to speak.

Think and pray.

Love and support.

Choose to be Christ.

He alone is the healer.

We rarely have the full knowledge of another’s circumstances.

Please consider others as better than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)

Be humble and kind.

But above all……love.

I have yet again experienced the pain of judgment from a well meaning, yet ignorant Christian.

Don’t tear down relationships, but build on them.

Be kind. Be patient. Loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, gentle, and…..exhibit self control. These are the fruits of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22)