Wait, what a title!
Read on and you will understand that question?
I was thinking about some individuals I have encountered in my lifetime who desperately crave love, but their cry often times is I have been hurt so many times. I can't invest in others again. They oftentimes focus on a wrong or some wrongs others people did to them and if someone does 99% good for them, they just can't "see" it. They definitely will focus on the 1% bad.
Here are some facts:
1 In any relationship you have you will have conflict hurt and pain
The word says Iron sharpens iron, I found a good exposition and I have shared the link below
It is unrealistic to expect to have a relationship that is always good wonderful "perfect". The best relationships are founded with Agape love, loyalty and acceptance. I pray God will empower us to be and do all of the above, it requires grace.
I was deep in thought and thinking on this ....maybe we can't accept others because we have not accepted our own selves with our imperfections.
2 Listen to these profound words: To have friends one must first be friendly
Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends [f]must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
It's simply what God's word says.
Are we "friend worthy"?
It's sad to say some people I come across are so disparaging and critical. Before going around them one has to pray for grace but it just so amazes me, these very individuals are so sensitive and easily offended. Not only that they are quick to expose (chat about ) the individual who offended them. I tell you the truth my friends, love is not about tolerating others or pretending to love. The word says let love be without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9)
Please my friends ask God to show you truth today about yourself, really humble yourself and even listen to others. I like to make myself accountable to others, that way the enemy will not so easily blind me or have a foothold in my life.
Let's raise the standard today - too many divisions in the body of Christ and if you're reading this and thinking it's "those" peoples faults, look again - the hand with the finger pointing at someone else also has a finger pointing back at you. Did God do this so we would never be so myopic in our vision towards others. We set the bar so high for others and we ourselves are not showering others with Agape love. Those individuals who are offended so easily, they cannot come to the place of "seeing" how much pain they cause others, because "hurting people, hurt people" they actually have opened the door to the enemy with an unloving Spirit
I once heard a Pastor say,
"I encounter many individuals who pray mercy for themselves and yet are quick to pray judgement for others"
My friends how does that work? For to the merciful, God will show himself to be merciful
And listen to these words:
Matthew 7:1 - 5
1“Judge[a] not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what [b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Our simple prayer today is Lord help us, may we be part of the healing in your body and not part of the breaking. Perfect us in love, give us the grace we need in our relationships. I ask you in the name of Jesus.
Amen
This message will have a part two...stay tuned. I think it will be titled
"After the offense"
Walk good in Christ
Till we meet again
Pastor J
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