Journey Struggles
Over the past few weeks, I have been reading a forum which deals with issues in the church with which we were formerly affiliated. I won't go into detail. What I will say though, is that there are a lot of hurting people out there who need your prayers. What does this have to do with me personally? A lot of those people are my friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ. There is this "thing" inside me that can't stand it when those I care about are mistreated, lied to, or in some other way wronged. It's that part of me that wants vengeance . Wow. Did I use that word? But it's true. I want the erring party to repent, yes. But I also want to see them do some groveling and major "making of things right". And that thing inside me is like a mother bear protecting her young: you hurt someone I love, and I will attack! Shocking, isn't it? Most people who know me think I'm this gentle, meek person. I've been accused of being a "goody two s...
Comments
Too true.
I see what you mean. Maybe he should have said that it's easier to obey when we love.
Romans 7:15-8:10 reminds us that even though we battle with our flesh, we gain ultimate victory over it through the power of Christ.
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord!" (vs. 24, 25a)
If we do something because we love rather than because we were forced, resentment cannot take hold. We also understand that, when it comes to God, He loves us and would never ask us to do something ultimately bad for us (as humans might).
Some don't want to look at becoming a believer because they don't want to follow "rules". Explaining to them that we don't follow "rules" because we have to, but that we do it because we want to, makes a difference, I think.
Just my two cents worth.