When God puts people together, there is always a reason and it is usually beyond our understanding. Whether it be a couple, family, children, friends, church or co-workers, there is always a relationship dynamic occuring. When we narrow-mindedly think that relationships are happenstance and we can pick and choose who we want to be friends with or relate with, we are interfering with God's plan. If we think we are too good to be friends with someone because of their faults or failures, we are being self-righteous and egotistic. God says, there is no difference between people in the Spirit.Gal 3:28- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
How can we possibly learn to love in God's unconditional love when we continually put conditions on who we associate with.
When you find yourself in close proximity with someone (or maybe more than one) person and you don't really understand them and they are different than what you are used to, but they are always there and there is kind of a highlight on them, it may be God has a plan for you to help each other on your path. If you extend a hand of friendship even if they are not your idea of what you would want for a friend, ( example: They are too poor, too rich, not pretty or good looking, dress funny, on welfare, street person, too young, too old, a different race or religion, too important, too pretty, too goodlooking, dress too well, too educated, not educated enough, they are ignorant, they are gay, have a crimminal record, they're in prison, they are alcoholic, druggie, ex-hippy,different nationality, supposed to be our enemy, they are a really rotten sinner, they are egotistical, self-righteous, too churchy, don't go to church, married, not married, too many children,don't have children, they are teenagers, gang-related, they have mental problems, or you just don't feel comfortable around them for whatever reason it may be!).
When God gets it through to you finally that He has a plan for you and someone else (or more than one someone else) to share some time together and break through some conventional thought patterns and let love happen, the world will light up around them and you! God's love engenders healing and when that happens, you will discover new dimensions of life. This is what Jesus was trying to say and show with His own life when he was here. Love those God gives you to love. Not just your family, friends and church brothers and sisters, but everyone ..the Samaritans, your enemies, the poor, the widows, the needy, the hurting and ill, the demon possessed, the robber, Mt 5:44- "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" Go the second mile. Give until it hurts. Love when you are not treated well in return. Give even when who you give to is ungrateful, ....give until you are drained out and turn to God for strength. This is God's healing love. When you never give up on the one or one's God gives you to love, healing will happen. Even when you can't see it, even when it seems entirely hopeless, love is still healing. Not just them, but you also!
When you find yourself in close proximity with someone (or maybe more than one) person and you don't really understand them and they are different than what you are used to, but they are always there and there is kind of a highlight on them, it may be God has a plan for you to help each other on your path. If you extend a hand of friendship even if they are not your idea of what you would want for a friend, ( example: They are too poor, too rich, not pretty or good looking, dress funny, on welfare, street person, too young, too old, a different race or religion, too important, too pretty, too goodlooking, dress too well, too educated, not educated enough, they are ignorant, they are gay, have a crimminal record, they're in prison, they are alcoholic, druggie, ex-hippy,different nationality, supposed to be our enemy, they are a really rotten sinner, they are egotistical, self-righteous, too churchy, don't go to church, married, not married, too many children,don't have children, they are teenagers, gang-related, they have mental problems, or you just don't feel comfortable around them for whatever reason it may be!).
When God gets it through to you finally that He has a plan for you and someone else (or more than one someone else) to share some time together and break through some conventional thought patterns and let love happen, the world will light up around them and you! God's love engenders healing and when that happens, you will discover new dimensions of life. This is what Jesus was trying to say and show with His own life when he was here. Love those God gives you to love. Not just your family, friends and church brothers and sisters, but everyone ..the Samaritans, your enemies, the poor, the widows, the needy, the hurting and ill, the demon possessed, the robber, Mt 5:44- "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" Go the second mile. Give until it hurts. Love when you are not treated well in return. Give even when who you give to is ungrateful, ....give until you are drained out and turn to God for strength. This is God's healing love. When you never give up on the one or one's God gives you to love, healing will happen. Even when you can't see it, even when it seems entirely hopeless, love is still healing. Not just them, but you also!
Heb 11:1- "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Don't listen to the voice of doubt, not in your own mind or in others. Others may tell you to give up on the one you love. "It is taking too much out of you. It is unfair. They are ungrateful, not worthy of it, you need to take better care of yourself, Look what they are doing to you, you're getting nothing out of this, you deserve better,Your getting pale, your going to get sick, this is hurting you, you are not happy, it is interfering in your normal life, "etc. They are regarding the evidence of the world. If there is going to be new life, something has to die. When the seed is buried in the ground, the tree shoots up with new life for itself and all those around it to enjoy and be blessed. This is the principle of the Kingdom of God. If you are not willing to die to the ideas and principles of this world for the one/one's God gave you to love, no matter what it takes, that new life can't happen. It is what brings the Kingdom of God to earth.
When will we Christians realize that Jesus IS our example to follow. He suffered, he cried, he prayed, he hurt, he sweat blood for others! He gave his life for the saving of all of us no matter what our sin was. Until we surrender in that love, through giving ourselves to others no matter what the consequences, no matter what anyone thinks, no matter if it offends our church friends or pastor, our family members or anyone else. Is God more important than what we or anyone else thinks? Are we obedient unto death? Can we serve in this endtime harvest? Do we have what it takes? ..Or are our wants and needs, our being comfortable, loved and accepted, our goodness and righteousness more important than quickly obeying God when He puts someone on our hearts. Can God trust us to set ourselves aside,even if it hurts tremendously, for the sake of another's soul? What has God been asking of you that you have been pushing aside as unworthy of your attention?
God's love is not like human love. Human love always expects something from the loved one. We want to be accepted, treated fairly, our emotional needs met, be respected and admired for our so-called sacrifices or we won't stay in the relationship. God as Jesus came to earth to re-establish relationship with us. He was rejected, hated, dishonored and shamed yet never wavered from His path. He extended supernatural, unconditional love with his last breath, and to everyone no matter how they had treated him. I believe that God's ultimate test for us is to plunge into that love so freely as to completely die to our own self-gratification in every way. Then the seed will be planted in our heart for the Kingdom of God.
Our relationships chosen by God, not ourselves, are the path to this death of our selfish nature. When we truly put God first by obedience in the area of these relationships, no matter the cost to ourselves in any way whatsoever, we will begin the journey which leads to the Kingdom of God. We will be the bride of Christ, cleansed from the selfish ambition of this world and made ready for His return as our bridegroom. If our lamps aren't filled, we will be somewhere else and not where he wants us to be when He returns and we will miss it.
Are you ready to die for God? Can you accept pain, rejection, humiliation, shame, be put down and despised by those who you look up to, have always respected and needed in your life? Can you be counted with the poor and needy that some may be saved? Can you give up everything you've always believed was important and follow a path of contempt by your fellowman? Can you become one with the brothers and sisters of dispair that you may die that they might live? This is the example of our Christ, the one we love and want to please and have live in our heart. Is our temple being prepared so that He can sit on the throne of it? Are we casting out the idols we have accumulated throughout our self-filled lifetime?
Everyone in this world is on Jesus' heart. Every bit of suffering and pain is felt by Him. When we surrender to His will and allow Him to put those loved ones of His on our hearts to love, cherish and heal as He directs our paths, we also heal and are made ready for His return. There is no other way that has been appointed that we attain the Kingdom but by the inner working of the heart. When we truly become one in heart with those that are put in our lives no matter what the cost, then the Holy Spirit will work a new work in us, the life of Christ will be formed in us as a seal within our spirit for Eternity.
Don't listen to the voice of doubt, not in your own mind or in others. Others may tell you to give up on the one you love. "It is taking too much out of you. It is unfair. They are ungrateful, not worthy of it, you need to take better care of yourself, Look what they are doing to you, you're getting nothing out of this, you deserve better,Your getting pale, your going to get sick, this is hurting you, you are not happy, it is interfering in your normal life, "etc. They are regarding the evidence of the world. If there is going to be new life, something has to die. When the seed is buried in the ground, the tree shoots up with new life for itself and all those around it to enjoy and be blessed. This is the principle of the Kingdom of God. If you are not willing to die to the ideas and principles of this world for the one/one's God gave you to love, no matter what it takes, that new life can't happen. It is what brings the Kingdom of God to earth.
When will we Christians realize that Jesus IS our example to follow. He suffered, he cried, he prayed, he hurt, he sweat blood for others! He gave his life for the saving of all of us no matter what our sin was. Until we surrender in that love, through giving ourselves to others no matter what the consequences, no matter what anyone thinks, no matter if it offends our church friends or pastor, our family members or anyone else. Is God more important than what we or anyone else thinks? Are we obedient unto death? Can we serve in this endtime harvest? Do we have what it takes? ..Or are our wants and needs, our being comfortable, loved and accepted, our goodness and righteousness more important than quickly obeying God when He puts someone on our hearts. Can God trust us to set ourselves aside,even if it hurts tremendously, for the sake of another's soul? What has God been asking of you that you have been pushing aside as unworthy of your attention?
God's love is not like human love. Human love always expects something from the loved one. We want to be accepted, treated fairly, our emotional needs met, be respected and admired for our so-called sacrifices or we won't stay in the relationship. God as Jesus came to earth to re-establish relationship with us. He was rejected, hated, dishonored and shamed yet never wavered from His path. He extended supernatural, unconditional love with his last breath, and to everyone no matter how they had treated him. I believe that God's ultimate test for us is to plunge into that love so freely as to completely die to our own self-gratification in every way. Then the seed will be planted in our heart for the Kingdom of God.
Our relationships chosen by God, not ourselves, are the path to this death of our selfish nature. When we truly put God first by obedience in the area of these relationships, no matter the cost to ourselves in any way whatsoever, we will begin the journey which leads to the Kingdom of God. We will be the bride of Christ, cleansed from the selfish ambition of this world and made ready for His return as our bridegroom. If our lamps aren't filled, we will be somewhere else and not where he wants us to be when He returns and we will miss it.
Are you ready to die for God? Can you accept pain, rejection, humiliation, shame, be put down and despised by those who you look up to, have always respected and needed in your life? Can you be counted with the poor and needy that some may be saved? Can you give up everything you've always believed was important and follow a path of contempt by your fellowman? Can you become one with the brothers and sisters of dispair that you may die that they might live? This is the example of our Christ, the one we love and want to please and have live in our heart. Is our temple being prepared so that He can sit on the throne of it? Are we casting out the idols we have accumulated throughout our self-filled lifetime?
Everyone in this world is on Jesus' heart. Every bit of suffering and pain is felt by Him. When we surrender to His will and allow Him to put those loved ones of His on our hearts to love, cherish and heal as He directs our paths, we also heal and are made ready for His return. There is no other way that has been appointed that we attain the Kingdom but by the inner working of the heart. When we truly become one in heart with those that are put in our lives no matter what the cost, then the Holy Spirit will work a new work in us, the life of Christ will be formed in us as a seal within our spirit for Eternity.
