PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Apr 24, 2018 15:32:19 GMT -5
Today the Lord impressed on me this comment in Matthew 5:
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
If I'm honest, I'll admit that I've sinned in this area. How often have Christians (including me) sat in the same church with someone we didn't like, pretending to worship together while childish offense divided us? How often have we sat with family at Thanksgiving, held hands to say grace, and secretly knew that we didn't even want to be there? How can we thank God for a roof over our head when we get off work and dread going home? Should God be pleased with these prayers?
Our society these days pushes it as normal behavior. People have almost come to expect disposable friendships. It's hard to reconcile, even with Christians, because people cut each other off. When you come back and try to reconcile, half the time they are not interested. But we are supposed to be better than our society.
Today, I invite you to examine yourself along with me. Let us get serious about lifting holy hands.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Apr 24, 2018 16:47:48 GMT -5
People have almost come to expect disposable friendships. Today, I invite you to examine yourself along with me. Let us get serious about lifting holy hands. It is sad! I always enjoyed having sincere friends, real friends around me.
But among Christians, we all should be friend to each other, more than that... Brothers and sisters in Christ.Today, I invite you to examine yourself along with me. Let us get serious about lifting holy hands. I believe we should all pursue peace with all people. But with truth, and not lies.
But there are people who will simply hate you and persecute you even if you give them no reason.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" - Matthew 5:44
And what should we seek to do to them?!
"not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." - 1 Peter 3:9
"And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." - Matthew 5:47-48
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:21
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Post by John on Apr 24, 2018 17:06:15 GMT -5
Thank you for that word PG4him. I think that hits home for most of us at times. We will develop a root of bitterness and we never really deal with it.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Apr 24, 2018 17:24:41 GMT -5
I think this ties into Paul's words that we must remove all malice. He didn't say it's okay to hold a little malice toward people who've really done you wrong. Malice will poison us, no matter if it's 'justified' or not. We all have to choose if that offense is worth the poison. Satan knows this, so of course he tries every which way he can to shove malice into our hearts.
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Post by John on Apr 24, 2018 17:41:23 GMT -5
I think this ties into Paul's words that we must remove all malice. He didn't say it's okay to hold a little malice toward people who've really done you wrong. Malice will poison us, no matter if it's 'justified' or not. We all have to choose if that offense is worth the poison. Satan knows this, so of course he tries every which way he can to shove malice into our hearts. It does us more harm than those we are angry with, and in the case of your spouse, if you are harboring anger towards them, it can hinder your prayers.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Apr 24, 2018 18:06:02 GMT -5
It does us more harm than those we are angry with, and in the case of your spouse, if you are harboring anger towards them, it can hinder your prayers. That's a very steep price. I don't want a prayer for deliverance to be hindered because of something so stupid. It doesn't sound like a good bargain when you put it that way.
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