I catch myself getting spun up. Sometimes I get spun up, only to realize this again. I consider these words to be the start and the end of the conversation;
Matthew 5:43-48
"43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Do I want to be angry, censorious, judgemental; you know that my flesh desires it.
Matthew 16:24-25
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
What will I gain if I ruminate on it? I certainly will have a harder time being loving. In my opinion, the point the Lord was making was that he wants us to be perfect in love. That others would look and see that love and righteousness, and be convinced, that this love is supernatural, that Christ Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.
I heard a man once teach this: Consider for a moment the absolute power of Lord Jesus Christ. He had 72,000 angels, waiting for his command, they could have wiped out humanity, they could have destroyed the roman empire if he said to do it.
Instead, Jesus lowered himself even unto death. God, the Lord, Addonai, literally lowered himself to death, like a sheep, silent before his accusers, like a lamb led to slaughter. He did not protest, or attempt to save himself, but he suffered every almost ignominy humans can muster. Abandoned by his friends, falsely accused, imprisoned, beaten, made sport of, ripped open, bruised and mocked, and then, put to death without cause, he was sinless.
Brothers; Sisters: Hear me. We're not here for anything but his Kingdom, and we are here by his grace. He knows when peoples disappear, all have their appointed times and places. We all enjoy our entertainment from time to time, but we're not here for the gifts, but the giver.
I don't deride Jews anymore, because of what Jesus said about. Romans 11 is pretty clear as well on the matter as well.
It is my opinion, and I hope a gentle reminder; that if we don't abide in Christ, that is to listen to and live our lives in him, he will not abide in us. We have to love. When they hit us, we turn the cheek.
I implore and exhort those who read this. Benchmark yourselves, like the Apostle Paul asks the Corinthians to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5;
You have to die, every day. You have to say, I don't want to envision myself with that woman. You have to say, I don't want revenge, though my flesh desires it. You have to say, Please, bless them Father God, please forgive them, Father God. Please have mercy on them Jesus Christ, Lord God Almighty.
You have to be dying daily. Lord knows if all and each of our secrets were laid bare, we would all be ashamed before God, before Christ, and before Men. Denying yourself daily.
I am wide awake on the matter; I choose to deny myself. This isn't home. This isn't permanent. God is not God of the dead, but of the living; my citizenship isn't of the world anymore. Though I live here for now, I even enjoy a few things, a few luxuries.
Christians have to die to self, daily. Kill that anger, quench that frustration.
Bro, you don't have to let Jews or anybody take advantage of you and these verses don't give them permission. You don't have to get angry or hate to set boundaries, be kind but firm.
Noted, but I've lurked for a while, and I had another account at one point, but decided to delete it in a moment of frustration. I know the deal here. I want to promote the Kingdom, not how my incredibly foolish flesh wants to react.
I want to promote people ignoring, and denying the desires of the flesh.
James 1:20:
for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
So much of what we think we know, we don't know by witness, nor by first hand, but by 3rd party, but by agitators, exaggerators, and people keen to stir the pot.
I am a Christian.
I catch myself getting spun up. Sometimes I get spun up, only to realize this again. I consider these words to be the start and the end of the conversation;
Matthew 5:43-48
Do I want to be angry, censorious, judgemental; you know that my flesh desires it.
Matthew 16:24-25
What will I gain if I ruminate on it? I certainly will have a harder time being loving. In my opinion, the point the Lord was making was that he wants us to be perfect in love. That others would look and see that love and righteousness, and be convinced, that this love is supernatural, that Christ Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.
I heard a man once teach this: Consider for a moment the absolute power of Lord Jesus Christ. He had 72,000 angels, waiting for his command, they could have wiped out humanity, they could have destroyed the roman empire if he said to do it.
Instead, Jesus lowered himself even unto death. God, the Lord, Addonai, literally lowered himself to death, like a sheep, silent before his accusers, like a lamb led to slaughter. He did not protest, or attempt to save himself, but he suffered every almost ignominy humans can muster. Abandoned by his friends, falsely accused, imprisoned, beaten, made sport of, ripped open, bruised and mocked, and then, put to death without cause, he was sinless.
Brothers; Sisters: Hear me. We're not here for anything but his Kingdom, and we are here by his grace. He knows when peoples disappear, all have their appointed times and places. We all enjoy our entertainment from time to time, but we're not here for the gifts, but the giver.
I don't deride Jews anymore, because of what Jesus said about. Romans 11 is pretty clear as well on the matter as well.
It is my opinion, and I hope a gentle reminder; that if we don't abide in Christ, that is to listen to and live our lives in him, he will not abide in us. We have to love. When they hit us, we turn the cheek.
I implore and exhort those who read this. Benchmark yourselves, like the Apostle Paul asks the Corinthians to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5;
You have to die, every day. You have to say, I don't want to envision myself with that woman. You have to say, I don't want revenge, though my flesh desires it. You have to say, Please, bless them Father God, please forgive them, Father God. Please have mercy on them Jesus Christ, Lord God Almighty.
You have to be dying daily. Lord knows if all and each of our secrets were laid bare, we would all be ashamed before God, before Christ, and before Men. Denying yourself daily.
I am wide awake on the matter; I choose to deny myself. This isn't home. This isn't permanent. God is not God of the dead, but of the living; my citizenship isn't of the world anymore. Though I live here for now, I even enjoy a few things, a few luxuries.
Christians have to die to self, daily. Kill that anger, quench that frustration.
You have to die.
Bro, you don't have to let Jews or anybody take advantage of you and these verses don't give them permission. You don't have to get angry or hate to set boundaries, be kind but firm.
Noted, but I've lurked for a while, and I had another account at one point, but decided to delete it in a moment of frustration. I know the deal here. I want to promote the Kingdom, not how my incredibly foolish flesh wants to react.
I want to promote people ignoring, and denying the desires of the flesh.
James 1:20:
So much of what we think we know, we don't know by witness, nor by first hand, but by 3rd party, but by agitators, exaggerators, and people keen to stir the pot.