Tag: open-minded

The Hard Stuff: Love your enemies? “Christ in us, our hope of glory”

An empty glove can’t move. But with a hand in it, the glove is fluid to move in marvelous ways.

What’s natural in human nature, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43), is evident all around.

But “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?” this is hard stuff in Matthew 5:44.

What if Jesus could sit with us this morning and have our ear and our whole heart for a bit:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  

that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous Matthew 43-45.

Is there evidence of God in Christ Jesus in us? Are we “children of our Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5:45).

Do we love those who love us? Naturally, yes. This is easy. The Bible tells us that even tax collectors do that. 

But God calls us to impossible standards: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48.

 There’s no way, nada. Especially if we’ve been deeply hurt, there is often no willingness. 

We can’t naturally love our enemy. We’re much like the glove with no hand.

Jesus said multiple times, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.

“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes” Mark 9:23.

“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27. 

Who’s ready to believe big with me? Unity is what Jesus desires. Oneness of the Body of Christ, and salvation to the lost souls of the world. 

Time is short. Jesus is coming back again.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 
 
 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 
 
 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 
 
 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the worldJohn 17:21-24.
 

I want to believe God to work miracles of unity that “the world will know” that God sent His Son, and see that God loves everyone. His desire is that all should know Him and receive Salvation and grace in His name.

I want to believe in a revival of love and forgiveness one person at a time. 

This is big, but not too hard for God.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7

If I don’t have a heart willing to forgive, God sees and He understands the struggle. He’s been hurt more than any human being through all of time, as He laid His life down at the cross.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34.

How can we get to such a place? 

“Christ in us is our hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

He rose from the dead. Jesus is alive. 

Christ in me. . .  my only hope to love in a “perfect” way. 

The Potter adds the water of the Spirit and repairs dried-up clay to create a vessel fit for the Master’s use.

What’s impossible in ourselves, is possible in Him.

Let’s go to God for our “impossibles.” His hand in our empty gloves = possibility of amazing grace and His love spread in all dark places.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13.

“We pray dear Lord, ‘let there be peace and love on this earth, and let it begin with me. You are our only hope. Christ in us, our hope of glory.’ In Jesus Name, Amen.”

 

What have we done with Jesus?

“Don’t bring Jesus here. Don’t include Him in there,” growls the Public School System and the Public Squares.

“His name offends. Leave it out altogether. It’s time for tolerance,” exclaims the media’s voice.

Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 1 Corinthians 1:20.

Are we tolerant of everything except Jesus? Can we not discern the double standards?

There is no mystery. God’s Word explains:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Jesus. Foolishness to those who are perishing.

But God . . .

He allows in this broken world, the blessing of brokenness in the lives of man, that the heart of man might have vision, in due time, to finally see Jesus, as the Passover Lamb, who’s blood was shed that our lives might be saved.

And we are “being saved” after we finally admit we are “perishing” in our own wisdom and strength, and we pray for the first genuine time, “I need You Lord.” I need a Savior to deliver me from myself and sin. Forgive me and give me life again.”

And to us who are “being saved” we know Jesus, as the name who resurrects what was dead and brings it to life.

We know Jesus to be the Light for the steps we take in this dark world.

We know Jesus to be a flowing river of deep abiding joy and peace. Jesus becomes our “better than” wine.

God is Spirit. He’s everywhere. He’s in the Public School, whether they know it or not. God is in the Public Square, He’s in the history stories and science book.

God is in control.

What have we done with Jesus?

That’s a personal question. God works one-on-one.

Jesus waits.

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe 1Corinthians 1:21.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength 1 Corinthians 1:25.

The Report has gone out.

Privately, one-by-one, Jesus waits when we realize we are perishing after going astray, and grace enters full-view, and we see He died for just me,

only me.

And our minds open wide and we bid Him invitation.

He’s gracious. He’s compassionate. He knows we are but sheep:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6.

Have we invited Him in? Anywhere is fine for the Lord. The public square, the school library. He dwells in hearts of praise. Let’s believe Him today.

Isaiah 53:1-5: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”
“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from  him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities,
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; 
and with his stripes we are healed.”

Please talk to someone if you asked Jesus in your heart today! Angels in heaven rejoice when a heart receives salvation. God bless you, for all eternity with life abundant.