by David Brenneman
People and God's Purposes
"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."
1 John 4:20.
Perhaps you've discovered that one of the greatest enemies of
joy in your life is conflict with others. Relationship problems
in your work, family, church, or community can contribute signifi-
cantly to your sense of discontentment and despondency. Dealing with difficult people is challenging enough, and managing your negative thoughts about them can be even harder.
Maybe you're stuck being around them, you've had as much as you can take, and you really don't know what to do. But God promises to give you the wisdom and strength you need to deal with them with grace. And the most important step is realizing He allowed those people to be in your life for His purposes. So instead of allowing their actions to become the focus of your think-
ing, ask the Lord what He is teaching you or providing for you
through them
When the inappropriate, ugly words and deeds of others drive
you to turn toward the Lord, they can actually be the unwitting
agents of your spiritual growth. So make the choice to turn toward
God because that's the way you lay the groundwork for triumph
Jesus, help me to forgive others and to honor You. Amen.
Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.
"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.
"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister." Colossians 1:21-23.
At various times in the group that I'm a part of, as an example of a situation in life, the leader of the group said out loud what the subject of today's post is about was what he thought when he was a car salesman. The person or people were there, or at least thought they were there, to buy a car. But what they were presenting themselves as and how they were...sometimes was quite different.
In the devotional from Dr. Stanley, we read basically the same thought only expounded upon. Our greatest frictions in life are not with inaimate objects but rather in our relationships with people. The dynamic gets more complicated the more it's understood that it's rooted in how we relate with Jesus Christ. Whether or not He is a person's Savior is where everyone's relationships really begin their impact in the world.
Those who are in Christ are to be more than just on their best behavior. We are to be Ambassador's for Christ. His representatives in this fallen world. It doesn't matter if it's out in public or in the privacy of our own home.
i was taken to Colossians this morning in my daily reading plan and what Paul talked about seemed to fit. The first portion being of what he was praying for concerning those in that church. It's a prayer we ought to pray for one another.
We can forget our place and position in this world all to easily. Unexpected pain or an unexpected situation can cause the worst to come out in a person. A testimony that took years to build can take a serious hit but a single instance of a lack of control or lack of judgement. Yet another reason why forgiving others as Christ forgave us was a paramount teaching of Jesus. When asked how many times should someone forgive their brother who sinned the answer is essentially...as many times as they come to us. Whatever it takes.
We're not going to get most of this life right but we can be assured that we cannot foil the plans of God. We simply are not that powerful. Satan thought he could be that powerful until his complete and full defeat at the cross of Jesus Christ.
All he is today is an enraged, twisted, entirely deceptive, prisoner of war. We're called to stand firm in the Lord IN the whole armor of God. Not stand there with no armor on at all. Not to only have certain parts on us. We're to pray for one another. Bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. Even when we have no idea why the situation with whomever is in front of us is happening...put on Christ.
Our responsibility is to always put on Christ. Put off the old self with it's practices and put on Christ. Do away with who we used to be and be living in the image of the character of our Savior.
And a news flash for everyone. People everywhere are going to disappoint people everywhere. That's a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve. It will be that way until the call from on high and the Church is taken after those who have fallen asleep in Christ join Him in Heaven.
If you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior you're going to always have a rough go of it because you have nothing to put on that's different than you already are. The things of God...you're never going to really get until you come in faith to Jesus to be saved.
You're on your own. The good news is that as long as you're breathing there's hope for you.
That's what Believers ought to always be cognizant of...realizing that they could be dealing with people in this world who are not saved. God isn't willing that any should perish but that all might come to Jesus to be saved. Yes there's going to be those who won't but it's on us to always represent Christ no matter if it's family or a stranger. That's what we're still here for. We don't know who will be that last person that's saved in this Church Age. We have our Savior to represent no matter where we are no matter what we're doing.
Pray for one another.
Stand firm in the Lord.
Bear one another's burdens.
Always be ready to forgive no matter how many times a person asks us to forgive them.
Always be ready to forgive even if it's only you needing to forgive someone else and you're the only one who knows. Truth is Jesus will know.
These are only some of the reasons why people are in front of us.
They might only be there just for you to know to pray for them.
They might be right there at the door of their heart and are about to open it up to Jesus...all because of how you will be with them.
They may turn an go away and you may never see them again.
Point is...Jesus said what we're to do and it's upon each of us to do it.
Obey God and leave the consequenses to Him.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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