Amos 5:21-22 " 21"I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.…"
There are so many people who use the "friend" title far too loosely. When we are friends with someone we share their life experiences, while sensing a deep concern about them. We accept their personalities but not the sin. We are crushed and grieved when they sin, not hateful and contemptuous. When they are walking uprightly we are pleased and share in that blessing.
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
So many people have little to no respect for the very people they gift. They give presents to impress others, not because of a deep love for the one who receives the gift. These same people do this with God. They will "do something for God", even have certain knowledge about the Bible, but lack the desire to obey Him. Appearing intelligent to those around them is their goal, but practice negating most of His Word, is standard for these people.
John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God."
All believers should be treated as friends, we are a family. Those who reject the ways of God are not born again, they are not in our family. Our family is the Church that loves Christ and in whom He dwells. There is always a deep level of respect for those who walk with Christ, even if there are disagreement on questionable matters.
When we have a friend we are able to express ourselves openly and honestly without fear of retaliation. We evaluate things as they come up for the purpose of helping or being helped.
When someone who calls themselves our friend, continually judges us based on their own way of doing things, not the Bible, they are making themselves the judge, there is no love in that.
Friends do not rage when they are confronted with wrong thinking, they love to hear the ideas and counsel of others and will consider what they have been told. In short, they will actually listen patiently and with interest to a challenge or correction.
A friend seeks to understand why their friend does what they do, they never judge before they hear the whole matter. It is not possible to count the number of times I have heard through the grapevine about someone, only to find out later the perspective that was presented was not at all what was going on. Those who love their secrecy also love the power over others they have through that secrecy, they love the untruth they heard, it makes them feel superior.
Proverbs 18:12-14 "…12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. 13 He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?…"
Matthew 10:26-28
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
God is all about truth, honesty and openness. Yes, there are some people we cannot trust with information, they seek to gain tidbits about us to be able to gossip, they are not interested in our welfare nor do they care if they relay a matter based on truth. Contempt runs deeply in those that love their gossip. Most of the ills of the world come from those who lust for power over others, are jealous and develop contempt out of these elements in their soul.
1 Peter 1:22 "22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart."
John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Pray to learn what God's love looks like and you will know how to love people.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
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