Think you are pretty good huh? Got it all together. No real major issues you are dealing with? Well be careful as when we start thinking we are so wonderful, look out! 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"
Have you really let go of grudges you have against people? Have you really learned to forgive and forget? Can you overlook an offense or do you need to keep a fight going? Do you secretly form opinions of people in your brain? Do you avoid certain people? Do you conjur up things in your head that really aren't happening like for instance, "I do not think so and so likes me"? Do you harbor resentment? Alot of this garbage is there because Satan is alive and well and in a battle for our minds, hearts and souls. Confusion, for instance, is not from God. Lack of peace is not from God. Hatred is not from God. Grudges are not from God. Bitterness is not from God. You get the point. We have to make a conscious effort to stay in the word of God on a daily basis to feed our spirits with good things to fight off the mental attacks of the enemy that try to wage war within us and our souls and against other people.
Leviticus 19:17-18 says "Don't secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt. Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God." You have heard it said that "love covers a multitude of sins.(See 1 Peter 4:8) and we know from the 'love chapter' 1 Cornithians 13 what love is. This pertains to love between man and wife or love in general.In verses 4 through 7 of this chapter is says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Proverbs 10:12 says "Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses."
So where is your love meter set at? Do you truly love everyone? Can you forgot an offense or do you continue to 'run it into the ground'. You will never truly have peace within yourself til you can stop looking back and look forward to the good things God has in store for those who love Him.
2 Peter 3:17-18 says "Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen"
PRAYER: Father I know I have held onto hurts and pains and had grudges in my heart. I know this does not please you. I know the enemy wants to destroy me and my witness for you so I ask for your strength each day Lord to wake up with an attitude of love and forgiveness. Even if someone is hateful to me give me the supernatural ability to not lash back or dwell on the hurt but to dwell on you Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment