God says that we should love our enemies.(Luke 6:35)
He also says that we shouldn't even so much as eat with the wrong-doers. (1 Cor. 5:11)
I know there has to be a balance....
So I'm stuck. At this point in my life, do I need to just weed out the 'bad' people and concentrate on letting people build me up? I don't really think I should 'shun' the people who need to be built up themselves. While I do realize that a person can't change based solely on my influence...they need to want to change and need to have God pushing them to do so. I know this.
On the other hand, I don't think that's what God wants of us.
Luke 15:7 says "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
So doesn't that mean we should go after that ONE? Or am I just reading this wrong...?
This leads me to the word Perception. It's all about how other people view things, situations, people. The world sees things completely out of context from what they really. Who knows what my own intentions are when it comes to the reasons why I do something or why I go somewhere besides me and God? Perception is rarely reality.
Its so much easier to look at a picture or a painting and see a flaw in a corner of it than it is to see the beauty of the whole thing.
That one lost sheep is what I'm after.......For the simple reason of Jesus. Salvation. Peace. Love. Grace.
.......But that doesn't mean I'm gonna marry that sheep.
That's when your perception turns into judgement.
And that is just not okay.
So for the remainder of my life, That's exactly what I'll do. People will be comfortable with me and with my church. I will not judge them. They are one lost sheep that God wants us to guide Home. That's what it's all about. I will not be selfish. I will not worry. God guides my steps....I do everything incredibly prayerfully. If there's ONE Man I can count on to not lead me astray....its Christ. And that's who I'm following.
Acts 15:19 "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.
This is very interesting, and you have actually hit the nail on the head (OK, this is my interpretation of God's intentions for us.) OK, the way I see it, we have NO right to call ourselves Christians if what we do is sit in judgement of others. As Christians it should be our ultimate goal to LOVE every single person into His kingdom, not convince or judge them into guilt. Every single one of us are His children, and although we like to look down on other people and justify our brokenness by comparing our faults to someone elses (at least I'm not THAT bad) we are ALL broken, and in His eyes none of us more than another. Therefor, as Christians, living our lives as Christ did, we love each other 'regardless' (or, we should). My favorite verse is Psalm 139, because it describes just how intimately He knows and loves me, and the funny thing is, with that grand affection, He knows and loves every single one of His creations. In His eyes and heart, we are all on equal footing, and your last paragraph sums it up beautifully :) especially this sentence:
ReplyDeleteThey are one lost sheep that God wants us to guide Home. That's what it's all about.
but, you brought up a good point, love and trust are 2 different things...a guy that is known to steal from everyone, I will love, regardless, but it doesn't mean I'm going to let him hold my wallet LOL
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