We looked at this verse from a personal standpoint, but I can't help but also hear the call to a large group of people to return to God's call on them and be restored. And I can't help but feel that the Christians in America are being called to do just that.
What I don't think is that we can force all the people of the United States to heed a call that they are not hearing...for they are not included in the call. Just as we can't hold non-Christians to our same moral standards (they don't have any reason to live as we who are trying to please God do), we can't force our whole country to return to a faith that they have never embraced.
What we, as Christians, as those called by God's name, can do is to return wholeheartedly ourselves. To make God and following His ways our highest priority...and His way has at the very top of the list showing love to each other. John 15:17 This is my command, love each other.
I am growing weary of Christians being angry and expressing agitation about things that are not right in our land. I know everything is not right, but I also think we need to be careful about the attitudes we portray in our opposition. What other Americans (non-Christian Americans) need to see from us is that at the very core of our being, we truly care about other people...that we are not selfish...and that our materialistic well-being is not as important to us as our concern for others. I think that was the message that Jesus preached while He was here on earth. We forget that He told us to treat even those whom with we most highly disagree, with not only courtesy, but graciousness and overt kindness.
Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
So what I guess I'm feeling tonight is that we, as Christians, need to live lives of true obedience and honor to our God and Father. To those who are not living as we do, we cannot show hatred. That is not what we've been called to do and it is not what will cause non-believers to see Christ in us.
True revival for our country starts with only those with the ability to be revived, and then, hopefully, we will, with the power of the Holy Spirit, cause others to see the enormous power of God's love living within us...a love that will compel them to desire to know the One who enables its action within us.
What I don't think is that we can force all the people of the United States to heed a call that they are not hearing...for they are not included in the call. Just as we can't hold non-Christians to our same moral standards (they don't have any reason to live as we who are trying to please God do), we can't force our whole country to return to a faith that they have never embraced.
What we, as Christians, as those called by God's name, can do is to return wholeheartedly ourselves. To make God and following His ways our highest priority...and His way has at the very top of the list showing love to each other. John 15:17 This is my command, love each other.
I am growing weary of Christians being angry and expressing agitation about things that are not right in our land. I know everything is not right, but I also think we need to be careful about the attitudes we portray in our opposition. What other Americans (non-Christian Americans) need to see from us is that at the very core of our being, we truly care about other people...that we are not selfish...and that our materialistic well-being is not as important to us as our concern for others. I think that was the message that Jesus preached while He was here on earth. We forget that He told us to treat even those whom with we most highly disagree, with not only courtesy, but graciousness and overt kindness.
Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
So what I guess I'm feeling tonight is that we, as Christians, need to live lives of true obedience and honor to our God and Father. To those who are not living as we do, we cannot show hatred. That is not what we've been called to do and it is not what will cause non-believers to see Christ in us.
True revival for our country starts with only those with the ability to be revived, and then, hopefully, we will, with the power of the Holy Spirit, cause others to see the enormous power of God's love living within us...a love that will compel them to desire to know the One who enables its action within us.
1 comment:
The world we live in today has become so broken. Broken lives, marriages, families. Things are so different now than when I was a child , the habits of the common family, their values, their thriftiness - my parents we so strong. Able to cook forms scratch, we didn't have a McDonalds down the block, microwaves, cell phones, a lot of the conveniences that exit today. Every one is in a hurry, caught up in there own lives, no time. God has made my life simple. I just speak to him each day and miracles of a gracious heart happen to me during the day - the strength to get up, go to work and focus on my job- not letting my trials ruin
my day.
Our country and every other country - their people are not banding together in Christian love - praying to Jesus Christ for his help. The more we need Him the further away we reach to everything but Him for resolution. So much pain in the
world - and so easy a resolution- reach out to God, repent, acknowledge
Him in everything we do. Ask for His help.
A campaign needs to be started by all of the churches - reach up to God,
recognize His abilities - He is Lord - He is able - we belong to Him. Only God can heal our country.
Good morning, anonymous. What are your thoughts. Janice is so eloquent with her remarks. She has insight - and has studied God's Word, she explains the nuts and bolts. A good leader, huh?
Our wold is so complex, our government beyond understanding.
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