“To forgive for the moment is not difficult. But to go on forgiving, to forgive the same offense again every time it recurs to the memory- there’s the real tussle.”
— C.S. Lewis // Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
This is where I fall down. God help me
“In English the word ‘love’ primarily refers to a feeling—an emotion that happens to you. Can you see that Jesus means something very different by ‘agape’? Something totally different. Do you have warm feelings toward Zacchaeus when he backhands you? Is Jesus asking you to generate warm feelings towards Zacchaeus when he backhands you? We’re talking about and attitude—a mindset, and then an action that flows from that mindset. God has chosen to perform actions of kindness and generosity toward people regardless of how they behave, regardless of if they like him or if he happens to like what they’re doing at the moment. God has chosen to agape. So in Jesus’ teaching, it’s not like he’s asking you to generate warm fuzzies for your enemies, he’s asking you to choose to view them in a certain way—to choose to view them the way God sees this person. Within God’s economy, this person is beloved, they’re a human being, they’re made in God’s image. And they might be screwed up in ways that are different than me but they’re a human being made in God’s image. And God has come among us in the person of Jesus to choose to do an act of love on their behalf. If I’m a disciple of Jesus, I don’t have the right or the authority to treat someone as unloved, when Jesus has treated them as someone who is loved. That’s the logic of this here, so that you may become children of your Father who is in Heaven. This is an image-bearing human being, I actually don’t have the right—in the kingdom— to deny someone kindness and generosity.
It’s not like you just lie in bed thinking “I just love that person.’’ No, it’s more like “I can’t stand that person, but they’re made in God’s image. Jesus gave his life, he lived and died for that person, so I choose to adopt an attitude of kindness and generosity” There are some actions that we do because we feel like doing them. It’s not hard for us to choose to acts of kindness and generosity for people who are like us, toward people who are in our circle of family, toward people who are in our religious tribe, or our social-niche tribe, but that’s not the issue. The problem is that we love people within our tribes and we hate people outside of our tribes. Who wants to argue with Jesus on that one?
Maybe it’s the sabbath, and you’re having picnic with your family by the Sea of Galilee and a troop of Roman soldiers comes walking up and they’re carrying their heavy bags; they’ve been out on patrol around the lakes. Where these guys show up, there’s trouble. All of a sudden swords come out and you hear “You Israelite,” and the bags get thrown on the ground “pick up that bag and carry it up over that hill.” and they totally have the right and authority to do that. You’re a disciple of Jesus, what do you do?
We think that if we’re a disciple of Jesus, you just obey and then don’t do anything. Just do what your told, submit, let people walk all over you. That’s how many people perceive Jesus’s teaching, but that’s not what Jesus said. He said, you don’t shrink away, you find a place within you (because Jesus has opened up a place within you) to find compassion for this man. You say “Zacchaeus, you’ve had a bad day, clearly. Do you need to get anymore out? Here’s my other cheek.” You say to that Roman soldier “ You look so tired, could I have the privilege of carrying your bags to your doorstep? Could I do that for you?”
What is that? That is not being passive. That is not doing nothing. That is a very intentional, active response. What do you call that. It’s not revenge or retaliation. But it’s also not being passive and doing nothing. What is it? What Jesus calls it is Agape.”
—Dr. Timothy Mackie on Matthew 5:38-48
Everything seems different and better to what I initially thought before learning
‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” [13] therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword. [14] I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord GOD
This scripture reminds me of the line used Pulp Fiction. God acts sovereignly in the world; He is awesome. I don't understand. But what I do see is that God doesn't use evil/bad circumstances as we understand the word use.
2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin (NLT)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NKJV)
In a battle a king leads from the front. His troops eyes are on him. The Christian is led by the King of king's. Who has already won the battle. He is victorious. What an amazing King. He loves His own with an everlasting love.
Ezekiel 11:16 NKJV
Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone."'
Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, [23] to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Matthew 11:29 NIV — Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
C. S. Lewis "I cannot learn to love my neighbour as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him." This will take time to understand. I start by believing, then I see Jesus, then I see how good God is. To obey is peace, rest, allowing Him to move and then trust and obey and so on
9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Through the LORD ’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. [24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
Remember this verse in your difficulty, Jesus will lead you through
Even to-day our inner life groans after deliverance, but with its groan of "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" it mingles the thankful song, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Surgeons words, and I concur
Credit @biblesandcoffee Absolutely love this! ❤️ Also, check out @biblesandcoffee’s custom Bible designs, they are really amazing and you will love them!
Positivity, we need this
