We ought to be kind! We ought to be tolerant! We ought to be understanding! We ought to be patient! We ought to realize that everyone has their own crosses to bear, and that many are on side roads far from THE PATH! We ought to be mature enough in THE SPIRIT to realize that forbearance is NOT complacency, nor does it mean that we sit by mute, well, let's look at it from this perspective: We should avoid becoming bogged down in disputations over secondary matters (2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9). Even when disputing/dialoguing over prominent doctrines, a Christian should exercise restraint and show respect. It is one thing to disagree with a position; it is quite another to disparage a person. We must hold fast to the Truth while showing compassion to those who question it. Like Jesus, we must be full of both grace and truth (John 1:14). Peter strikes a good balance between having the answer and having humility: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
In ALL matters, as Christians, we are urged to step into CHRIST JESUS' nature, and example, as we exercise restraint, and remain anchored in grace, respect, regard, kindness, gentleness, and other aligned behaviours, WHILE REFLECTING HIM, and HIS WILL! We best inspire BY BEING LIKE our LORD, and MAINTAINING characteristics, and behaviours which SHINE OF HIM!!!
It is REALLY difficult as we face times where our belief is challenged, and ostracized, indeed, to refrain from expressing THE TRUTH without stressing what comprises it, especially in situations which are being made acceptable when by HIS WILL, they are not, and yet, does anything good come from stepping off THE HIGH ROAD of LOVE???
We NEVER know when a person might be saved, nor how that saving might play out, and so, if someone is placed in our path, and we act, or react in ways that DON'T REFLECT CHRIST, then we are, even unknowingly, interfering with DIVINE works! It is WAY better for us to REMAIN in the heart of LOVE, compassion, and the components which define LOVE, than to use any negative to sway, or control another person's will to accept THE LORD! See???
Sure, there are LOTS of wrongs accompanying those who come our way, but do we not also, have our own wrongs? Are our wrongs less than theirs? Most certainly there WILL be infiltrators, there always has been, but they WILL be exposed! We CAN'T remake people, we can only hope to have a POSITIVE affect on their decision to RECEIVE THE LORD! The rest IS between HIM, and them!!!
From THE BIBLE we KNOW what kind of people won't be saved, but we DO NOT have a right to treat them in terrible, and awful ways, which in fact, IS against what we have been taught, BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE for EVERYONE IF they accept CHRIST JESUS as their LORD, and SAVIOUR, then step out of the flesh into the spirit!!!
This week I implore Christians everywhere to BE TRUE to THE WAY, so that we ARE SHINING OF THE BEAUTY of THE LORD, and HIS LOVE! We HAVE SO much to give, but if we try to manipulate, or control, or condemn, the message we are transmitting will work in opposition! Let us TRULY REVEAL LOVE, our LORD in whatever we think, say, or do!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2016
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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