Pray for those who are lost but remove yourself from them.

God clearly says we are to forgive when the offender is sorry. If the offender is not sorry and willing to change their behavior toward us then we are not to forgive. Forgiveness is for the purpose of reconciling a relationship not for personal feelings to avoid guilt. Confession of wrong and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin, both must be present in order for the relationship to be mended. The whole idea that we will become bitter if we don't forgive is a lie.

Luke 17:3-4 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”"

It is my belief that it is a sin to pressure others to forgive those who are not sorry. Why do we not see people pressuring the offender to be sorry? This is all backward and not Biblical. Also, there is false sorrow that is manipulation too, that we are not to forgive either. Those who say they are sorry but do not change their behavior. They are lying when they say they are sorry. Truly sorry people don't ever want to repeat their sin again. Some people say they are sorry because they don't like the consequences but are not sorry they did the deed.

Let's remember God's words; ""and if he repents forgive him."

If we are going to pressure others to forgive then we must also pressure the offenders to repent. This is God's formula for a reason, He wants people to learn from their sins and they can only learn if they are sorry about doing them, not just sorry about the consequences.

God will not cleanse someone from their sin if they do not want to be changed by Him. If the goal of saying "I'm sorry" is to manipulate people into accepting us back, then it is not true repentance.

Those who are sorry for offending others will always proclaim their own guilt without an excuse and without any expectations from the person to whom they confess.

When we forgive someone who is not sorry we are an enabler, the only purpose is to appear superior not a reconciliation of the relationship.

God's ways are higher than our ways, sadly psychology has twisted much of what God taught into ways that do nothing except focus on self.

The best thing we can do to protect our walk with God is to remove rebellious repeat offenders from our lives and stay close to those who love the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

God said to stay away from those who act badly, love themselves above others and refuse to repent.

Enduring in Hardship

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

It Will Be Worth It: James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Romans 5:3-5
"Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."

When we experience difficulties in life we know that God has our best in mind when we belong to Him. The lessons we learn from all our experiences are invaluable and will serve God in the Millennium when we rule with Him.
Those who resist the discipline of the Lord will miss the great lessons and the wisdom He has to offer through it all. Those who resist miss blessings and wisdom but worse than that their heart become prideful and bitter.

 
1 Peter 1:6-7
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

These trials come in the all forms, illness, rejection from people and heartbreak over those who say they are Christians but have no love.

Matthew 5:11-12
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

If we endure the hardships clinging to Christ we will come out the other side stronger than before, able to see the purpose.

Keep looking up, time is short and we will be going home soon.

God's People Understand, Unbelievers do not Understand

1 Corinthians 2:14. "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

When we attempt to discuss important Biblical matters with those who say they are Christians and they become angry or irritated, perhaps we are seeing someone who was never born again.

Those who love the Lord enjoy engaging in discussions of scriptural matters. They love hearing from others and love to express themselves.

Those who think they know, but do not, will be angry at having to pretend only to be exposed.

Romans 8:7-9

"because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."

John 14:17

"the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."

1 John 4:6

"We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception."

2 Corinthians 4:4

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Ephesians 4:18

"They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts."

John 8:47

"Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Those who love Christ and are indwelt by Him, are loved by all other born-again believers. We are all at different levels of maturity but remain connected by Christ Who lives in us. We all have value in one another's eyes and enjoy sweet fellowship because of Christ.

The More Humble We Become the More We Can Be Used of God

Pretense Plays a Greater Role Now Than Truth

Pride is at the root of fear!

Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."

Have you ever seen a dog or cat that hisses or growls at people? I have several times in my life, and these animals are always without a doubt, fearful. They are protecting themselves from perceived harm. They have either been trained to be afraid of humans at a young age or they are sensing something that is harmful.

When we experience people whose automatic reaction to normal and rational challenges is to rage we are watching a fearful person. Those who are not fearful can discern whether or not there is a real threat or just a disagreement.

Those who are fearful are not able to discern an actual threat from a trigger of their emotions based on their own pride. These people see every minor challenge as a threat as they respond irrationally and intensely to things that need no defense at all.

I have encountered many people in our region who are easily annoyed and even exasperated at the slightest disagreement. These people are unable to validate others who disagree with them. They cannot see anyone else's side of anything because their pride demands that others agree for them to feel affirmed.

Those who walk in confidence without concern if others like them will be able to hear a challenge without feeling threatened. Since confident people have no need to be validated by others to exist they can engage in open discussions to learn about others without panic or alarm.

God tells us not to be fearful we are to walk in truth. This affords us the enjoyment of calmly discussing matters with others even if we disagree without the need to be seen as superior.

Fearful people are driven to appear superior, if they are not superior in their own minds they are nothing at all.

Proverbs 22:4

"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life."

It is unthinkable for the fearful person to humble themselves. The thought of being less than someone else is outrageous to those who love to think highly of themselves. The fearful person counts themselves less than others if someone else knows something they don't know or is confident without the need for validation.

Fearful people are terrified of the confident person who has no need to be affirmed by anyone else. They see confident people as a threat to their perceived superiority.

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

We are exalted when we are humble walking without fear in confidence because we follow Christ.

We can see a confident person and feel a sense of trust in them. When trials come we know they will remain calm and think of others before concern for themself. These people want to bring people together in reconciliation because of their love.

Colossians 3:12 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"

Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

We can see a fearful person and the trials and foolishness they bring to any relationship. Chaos is constant with those who must appear superior continually bringing instability to every situation as well as dividing friends from one another through gossip.

Proverbs 16:27-29 "…27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.…"

James 3:5-6 "In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

It is fear that causes gossips to turn one person against another. The fear that someone will like the person they hate, dominates the gossip's mind. It is intolerable to the gossip that someone would enjoy the person they hate.

Those who love Jesus Christ and walk in His principles will have a far different bent from those who have "religion" but do not have Christ.

Ephesians 4:2 "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor."

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

Romans 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight."

Those who walk disobediently will twist scripture to justify their own defense of sinful behavior. They will claim others are angry when it is they who are fearful and deceptive. Let's not forget how the devil tricked Eve into believing God was doing something wrong when it was he who was wicked.

Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

Romans 16:17-18

"Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."

God Will Fight For Us

Genesis chapters 27-50 is a wonderful story of how God had a purpose for Joseph who was rejected by his jealous brothers and how God had a plan all along that would use Joseph for God's greater good.

Through Joseph God saved so many lives even the lives of his brothers who didn't even recognize him years later when God had placed Joseph in a position of power over his brothers.

The takeaway is this, God has a grand plan for all his children even when things look bleak and hopeless Christ is going through with us and even more exciting what is coming will glorify God.

Our difficulties and sufferings have a purpose for us and for God.

Genesis 50:20 "Genesis 50:20

"20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about [a]this present result, to keep many people alive."

Exodus 14:14 "14 The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.”

Put on the full armor of God and get out of His way.

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,"