Here is what I didn't get to last night. Took a while to find it. LOL
I agree. When you love someone, you forgive them, and are not sarcastic against them. That is perfect love. This is where I believe we have to work a little harder to not grieve or quench the Spirit. If you are already there, great. I try to be like Jesus and not speak at all in my defense when it is obvious there is no hope of getting through, and just leave, lest I say something less than perfect love.
Yes, we need to be aware what is not out of love, as it will not be of the Spirit. Already there? He who began a good work in you will complete it UNTIL the day of Christ Jesus. Still a work in process.
I realize also that the desire to defend one's self primarily is from the flesh. There are times. Jesus asked, which of you can convict Me of sin?? An 'in your face' challenge to those who wanted nothing more than to bury Him.
I need to be convinced there is a purpose, something good that will come from it. It all comes down to how much do I think this post may give a gift to you? The rest, delete delete delete.
I have a situation (in real life, not forum life) that I still need to reconcile. I don't think reconciliation means I'll hang out with that person, or go back to his Bible study. Forgiveness, doesn't mean trust, and put yourself in the same situation of abuse. Just not holding on to a grudge. What do you think. I need help. I think I may tell his mother-in-law to tell him I forgive him, and leave it at that. Just so he knows so he can feel healing. It seems that even though no one in the Bible study group came to my defense or said a word and just let him yell on and on, the Bible study seemed to end after years of meeting every Thursday night. I didn't go back, but found out that no one else did either. Personally, from experience, when something like this happens at a leadership level, God's hand of blessing lifts.
I think the solution is in coming to think of others in a different way. We can try to sort out what we should do, it's good to think about. But before the rest, I need to be certain in my heart that what I want is to give the gift God intends me to give, that I'm nothing, and His love being expressed is everything.
If that is my heart, then it won't matter what anyone has done to me, yelling and screaming, betrayed, whatever it is, It won't matter except to sadden me that the edification God wants is stalled.
Of course it is higher. The Ten Commandments were so easy to keep. You just didn't let your hate evolve to murder, or your lust to actual adultery, or your coveting to actual theft. Willpower, even in the carnal nature. Just knowledge. That is why I believe the Sermon on the Mount was about how the New Covenant is so much higher than the "you have heard it said of old..." Don't get me wrong. The Ten Commandments was based on the eternal law of love, but it left out the Spirit of Love. It merely had to do with outward actions, not what you may fantasize in your heart.
Of course, coveting is in the 10 commandments. That's a sin of the heart. And in the law it also commands that we love others. But I do agree, all God's commandments have their foundation in love. Even the not trimming the beard and such.
Another interesting thing from the Sermon on the Mount . . . if your right hand cause you to sin, cut it off . . . Is it your hand that causes you to sin? Sin is from the flesh. Therefore, we cut off the flesh.
True love that is part of our new nature, doesn't even want to. That is where we have to work out our own salvation. Look at the list in 2 Peter 1:5-7. Love is the last thing that becomes an actuality toward perfection; whereas it is the first fruit of the Spirit given. That would be a great study to discuss on here. You are given the power to love, but it needs many trials to be perfected.
Yes it will make a great study!
The two commandments,
trust Jesus,
love others.
To faith add . . . to brotherly kindness
add charity. These are the steps towards putting on Christ. They are equally the steps to adding love. I prefer the translation charity, as I think it more accurately reflects the meaning of agapeo.
Peter gives us a focus that we can use to understand ourselves correctly, and to accurately apply ourselves to God's Way.
"Stand at the ways . . . and look . . . and ask what is the eternal way . . ." Jeremiah 6 I think.
Wouldn't it be great if everybody on here practiced that, including myself? LOL
I'm taking a more serious look at myself on this score. I'm taking on a renewed commitment to be certain that what I write conforms to the standard God gave me, let NO corrupt speech come out of my mouth, but ONLY what is needful for building up others. It's all about His gifts. The one speaking as the oracle of God. There's a standard!
Much love!
