"I am never talking to him/her again, they hurt me, they lied to me/on me and I just can't stand them."
"Ooooh when I see him/her I am going to give them a piece of my mind and let them know how I really feel."
"I could care less whether they live or die, they can kick rocks and eat dust."
As Christians, we are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We are to be examples of God's goodness. The only way to be that example is to demonstrate it with our actions. It is not enough to spread the GOOD NEWS we must embody/be the GOOD NEWS!
Jesus did not come only preaching and speaking the WORD he was THE WORD!
John 3:16 "16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
God Loves the World, he loves those who are in his body of believers as well as the World. He loves the WORLD so much that he allowed Jesus to die for it. So guess what? We are to love the World too.
What was Jesus' response to those who lied on him, beat him, persecuted him, flogged him, whipped him, those who gave him vinegar instead of water to drink, those who nailed him to the cross, those who screamed crucify him? "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." Luke 23:34
Think about how many times you have sinned against God, how many times you have been disobedient to his Word? Yet, you expect Him to forgive you right? The best thing about God is when He forgives He FORGETS!!!!!!!!!!!!
God already knows you are going to mess up therefore " 22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
Now God gives you new mercy every morning yet you have been harboring a grudge and malice in your heart against someone. I can hear you now they hurt me badly, they hurt me repeatedly I just cannot find it in my heart to forgive. Well unfortunately for you, you must forgive to be forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[f]
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[g] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[h] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Yes you are human and I already know God is not through with you yet. However, it is more of your flesh than your spirit that is the problem because 2 Corinthians 5:17 tell us that "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In Romans 12:2 (NLT) we are told "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
It is time for us Christians to be set apart and different. We are not warring with the world using the worlds weapons. We are hear to fight "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12 and we must recognize "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
It is time for the body of believers to see the best in God's people and see them for who they are. Who are God's people they include the World and believers as well. For God sent his son to save sinners not to come for the church or the Pharisees, although He would have that all men be saved. He sent his son to show His compassion, love, joy, and peace that He feels for ALL. He did not come to condemn World nor shame the World therefore we should not condemn or shame anyone.
I heard a Pastor say that the way you see yourself is the way you see the world. So if you are condescending, judgmental, cruel, rude, etc to the World that is how you treat yourself!
You want to see God's Power in your life? Treat His people with loving kindness, pray everyday that you are renewed with the fruit of the Spirit.
Finally on Good Friday my Pastor preached about 1 tough week. Take some time to read through Mark, Matthew or Luke....start when Jesus came in on the donkey and the people were yelling out Hosanna and read all the way til Jesus gave up his spirit. I guarantee you, you will never experience anything like that in your life to that magnitude ever. Yet as stated above he asked his father to forgive them!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
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