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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2021 17:46:49 GMT -5
A Future with Forgiveness By: Monica La Rose
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Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Romans 12:9–21 In 1994, when South Africa made the transition from government by apartheid (imposed racial segregation) to a democracy, it faced the difficult question of how to address the crimes committed under apartheid. The country’s leaders couldn’t ignore the past, but merely imposing harsh punishments on the guilty risked deepening the country’s wounds. As Desmond Tutu, the first black Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, explained in his book No Future Without Forgiveness, “We could very well have had justice, retributive justice, and had a South Africa lying in ashes.”
Through establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, the new democracy chose the difficult path of pursuing truth, justice, and mercy. Those guilty of crimes were offered a path to restoration—if they were willing to confess their crimes and seek to make restitution. Only by courageously facing the truth could the country begin to find healing.
In a way, South Africa’s dilemma mirrors the struggle we all face. We’re called to pursue both justice and mercy (Micah 6:8), but mercy is often misunderstood to be a lack of accountability, while pursuing justice can become distorted into pursuing revenge.
Our only path forward is a love that not only “hates what is evil” (Romans 12:9) but also longs for the transformation and good of our “neighbor” (13:10). Through the power of Christ’s Spirit, we can learn what it means to have a future of overcoming evil with good (12:21).
SIGN IN Reflect & Pray When have you witnessed times when the goal of mercy and grace seemed distorted to enable injustice? When have you seen both justice and mercy working in harmony?
Loving God, when the pain and injustice around me breaks my heart, help me to still believe in Your love and power to transform and heal. Help me to point with my life to Your justice, mercy, and love.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT A distinctive of Paul’s letters is that they contain both biblical doctrine (teaching beliefs) and instruction on practical living. Having explained what the gospel is in Romans 1-11, in chapters 12-16, Paul applies it to the everyday relationships of the believer in Jesus, including our relationship with God (12:1-2), other believers (vv. 3-21), governing authorities (13:1-7), the community (vv. 8-14), the spiritually weak (14:1-15:3), and co-workers (ch. 16). Paul’s overarching emphasis in these five chapters is the importance of Christlike love in the life of the believer (12:9-10; 13:8-10; 14:15), for “love is the fulfillment of the law” (13:10). Today’s passage, Romans 12:9-21, may seem like a collection of unrelated sayings, but Paul is still talking about this love that reflects Jesus. Love for enemies (vv. 14-21) is the litmus test and demonstration of such a radical love (Matthew 5:43-48).
Romans 12:9-21 King James Version 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Post by frienduff on Jan 31, 2021 17:55:25 GMT -5
Rather odd that the solution offered unto the africans was a accept our views and be ye reconciled . Sounds just like the biden adminstration . Sound just like the popes calls too . I had rather be stone dead than accept the views of men . Give ME JESUS and if that means my death , THEN AMEN . I live with HIM and by HIM and forever will be with HE who saved me . They can keep their fake dead , empty , gagging all inclusive view . JUST KEEP IT i say . GIVE ME JESUS . OH GIVE ME biblical truth . And if it costs me all , GLORY TO GOD , ITS ONLY GAIN .
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Post by frienduff on Jan 31, 2021 18:52:57 GMT -5
Sound it out my friend . He or she who loves the LORD , ITS GONNA COST THEM EVERYTHING . PRAISE GOD its all gain . YEAH i said ALL GAIN . I got hardly a thing in this world . YET I GOT ALL . JESUS . OH i love saying it too . JESUS IS ALL I NEED . Whatever the cost is to follow JESUS , whatever we have to lose i mean , LES ITS ONLY GAIN . SING TO THE KING . I know it seems so odd to speak like that to most . OH But learn JESUS , and its only peace to know it . Whatever we gotta lose in this world for HIM , I PROMISE ITS ONLY GAIN and if the cost ends up being prison and torment and even death , AS I SAID ITS ONLY GAIN . OH i know i seem a dummy to most , but I KNOW THAT . AND truly its all i need to know . JESUS . NOW sing to the KING .
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Feb 3, 2021 18:39:35 GMT -5
I was talking about this today. Even though many on the left are our enemies, they are first and foremost lost souls being decieved by Satan who need salvation.
I never want to forget that about any group of people.
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Post by John on Feb 3, 2021 19:32:35 GMT -5
I was talking about this today. Even though many on the left are our enemies, they are first and foremost lost souls being decieved by Satan who need salvation. I never want to forget that about any group of people. It should be our desire that every soul be saved, but the realization sets in that some just do not want to be saved and they hate God and all He stands for. You have no chance to reach them. You can pray for them, and hope that God changes them to where they become receptive to the gospel, but without divine intervention, there is no hope.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Feb 3, 2021 19:37:32 GMT -5
I was talking about this today. Even though many on the left are our enemies, they are first and foremost lost souls being decieved by Satan who need salvation. I never want to forget that about any group of people. It should be our desire that every soul be saved, but the realization sets in that some just do not want to be saved and they hate God and all He stands for. You have no chance to reach them. You can pray for them, and hope that God changes them to where they become receptive to the gospel, but without divine intervention, there is no hope.
But how can we truly judge who is likely to be saved and who isn't? Saul of Tarsus wasn't a likely candidate. He'd whip God's people and put them in prison. Edit: I guess it did take divine intervention in this case. I was not a likely candidate either. I was agnostic and so were my peers. I was deeply loyal to the Democratic party and my biggest hero was Barack Obama.
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Post by John on Feb 3, 2021 19:46:20 GMT -5
It should be our desire that every soul be saved, but the realization sets in that some just do not want to be saved and they hate God and all He stands for. You have no chance to reach them. You can pray for them, and hope that God changes them to where they become receptive to the gospel, but without divine intervention, there is no hope.
But how can we truly judge who is likely to be saved and who isn't? Saul of Tarsus wasn't a likely candidate. He'd whip God's people and put them in prison. Edit: I guess it did take divine intervention in this case. I was not a likely candidate either. I was agnostic and so were my peers. I was deeply loyal to the Democratic party and my biggest hero was Barack Obama. You do not want to write anyone off, but when you share the gospel with someone, and they keep rejecting it, and cursing you and attacking you and God, there comes a time where you just need to leave them alone and pray for them that God will change their heart. You can let them know that if they change their mind, and want to know more, you will be there for them. While we waste time on people like that, there are others who might be receptive right away. That is all I am saying. Me and Frienduff have encountered some that have no interest in the truth, and at some point, you just realize they are choosing evil over good. There is nothing you can do.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Feb 3, 2021 19:53:37 GMT -5
But how can we truly judge who is likely to be saved and who isn't? Saul of Tarsus wasn't a likely candidate. He'd whip God's people and put them in prison. Edit: I guess it did take divine intervention in this case. I was not a likely candidate either. I was agnostic and so were my peers. I was deeply loyal to the Democratic party and my biggest hero was Barack Obama. You do not want to write anyone off, but when you share the gospel with someone, and they keep rejecting it, and cursing you and attacking you and God, there comes a time where you just need to leave them alone and pray for them that God will change their heart. You can let them know that if they change their mind, and want to know more, you will be there for them. While we waste time on people like that, there are others who might be receptive right away. That is all I am saying. Me and Frienduff have encountered some that have no interest in the truth, and at some point, you just realize they are choosing evil over good. There is nothing you can do.
This is true. What it took for me was someone who truly put Christian love on display. But everyone isn't like me or the people receptive to the gospel. Every person is different. Some people will not listen no matter what you do. While others may need to see real Christianity without hypocrisy. Ive been cursed out for sharing my faith on a couple occasions and it really stings. I guess I am really speaking to myself mostly when I say we have to keep Christian kindness at the forefront when dealing with others.
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Post by John on Feb 3, 2021 20:00:21 GMT -5
You do not want to write anyone off, but when you share the gospel with someone, and they keep rejecting it, and cursing you and attacking you and God, there comes a time where you just need to leave them alone and pray for them that God will change their heart. You can let them know that if they change their mind, and want to know more, you will be there for them. While we waste time on people like that, there are others who might be receptive right away. That is all I am saying. Me and Frienduff have encountered some that have no interest in the truth, and at some point, you just realize they are choosing evil over good. There is nothing you can do.
This is true. What it took for me was someone who truly put Christian love on display. But everyone isn't like me or the people receptive to the gospel. Every person is different. Some people will not listen no matter what you do. While others may need to see real Christianity without hypocrisy. Ive been cursed out for sharing my faith on a couple occasions and it really stings. I guess I am really speaking to myself mostly when I say we have to keep Christian kindness at the forefront when dealing with others. I am just wondering, have you ever had a situation where a person that was really hateful to you when you shared the gospel, and even cursed you out, eventually came around and got saved? I have never had that happen. I would suspect some have, but it likely would be a person who was just having a bad day when they were rude to you, or they had some kind of life altering experience that led them to changing their heart.
Most of the people I have given up on were supporting evil things like gay marriage and abortion, and they were very liberal. They were not going to change no matter what. They would attack the Bible and claim that it was the work of men, and they would attack things written in the Bible that God did. In some cases, I do not think they would accept the Lord if He made Himself known to them because they hate His ways.
I was once listening to a woman interviewed on Coast to Coast AM, and she was a Satan worshipper. She believed in God, and said she was once a Christian, but she just decided one day she hated God and His ways, and loved the devil. She went from being known as Patsy to going by Harlot, and said she looks forward to being cast away from God's presence at the final judgment and going to hell. You cannot really reason with someone like that. She just made a willful choice. We love God and she loves the devil. We love good and she loves evil.
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Feb 3, 2021 20:06:41 GMT -5
This is true. What it took for me was someone who truly put Christian love on display. But everyone isn't like me or the people receptive to the gospel. Every person is different. Some people will not listen no matter what you do. While others may need to see real Christianity without hypocrisy. Ive been cursed out for sharing my faith on a couple occasions and it really stings. I guess I am really speaking to myself mostly when I say we have to keep Christian kindness at the forefront when dealing with others. I am just wondering, have you ever had a situation where a person that was really hateful to you when you shared the gospel, and even cursed you out, eventually came around and got saved? I have never had that happen. I would suspect some have, but it likely would be a person who was just having a bad day when they were rude to you, or they had some kind of life altering experience that led them to changing their heart.
Most of the people I have given up on were supporting evil things like gay marriage and abortion, and they were very liberal. They were not going to change no matter what. They would attack the Bible and claim that it was the work of men, and they would attack things written in the Bible that God did. In some cases, I do not think they would accept the Lord if He made Himself known to them because they hate His ways.
I was once listening to a woman interviewed on Coast to Coast AM, and she was a Satan worshipper. She believed in God, and said she was once a Christian, but she just decided one day she hated God and His ways, and loved the devil. She went from being known as Patsy to going by Harlot, and said she looks forward to being cast away from God's presence at the final judgment and going to hell. You cannot really reason with someone like that. She just made a willful choice. We love God and she loves the devil. We love good and she loves evil.
I don't know if this counts but one time, I really told this guy about himself. It was weird, like this Holy indignation rose up in me and I said he was wicked and his behavior was repulsive---which it was but it was usually not like me to say anything. I said the young man was wasting his intelligence with useless conversations and mocking God. Then I left the lunch table and it was silent. The next day, he came to me and said, " Im rich in Christ." I asked if he was mocking again and he said no, he looked it up in the Bible and that he got saved! I was so happy but it was such qn odd thing because I really called this guy out the previous day. The fact that it was like a spiritual slap in the face seemed to awaken this guy's hunger for God. All credit goes to the Holy Spirit because I was truly disgusted with this guy.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 4, 2021 9:26:38 GMT -5
I have a few scattered thoughts on this topic...
1) We are instructed to maintain our Christian demeanor regardless of people around us. We don't stop acting Christian when it isn't "working" to impress someone. That's the biggest problem I have with the whole "love them to Christ" technique. Being nice to a customer while you try to sell your product. Christian love is not a means to an end, it's THE end of all matters. Yes of course there are moments when tough love is required, but tough love is not the same as dropping a charade. We turn the other cheek simply because Jesus told us to, not because we want it to "work" for our aims.
2) When we reckon ourselves dead, we lose all rights to be concerned with our bodies. My human body -- the one I've died to in Christ -- is like a ball gown I borrowed for a few hours. It isn't my property. If some other person damages it, they'll have to settle with the owner, not me, and then they'll wish they only had to deal with me. Contrarywise, if the owner chooses to let them off for some reason, it isn't my job to press charges on his behalf. It was his property, not mine. When we indulge a need for vengeance, it stems from the mistaken idea that we somehow own our bodies.
3) People have various reasons for being who they are, even on the left. I was raised by Democrat parents. There was a time when I believed Democrat talking points. Not because I hated God, but simply because I knew no other way to think. Many people on the left are ambulant about gay marriage and such because they're trying to be nice. They've never been told any substantive information about the nature of civilization -- and debates on Facebook don't count as substantive education. With each new round of an unpleasant debate, they walk away twice hardened, and their leftist controllers are very skilled at acting pious.
4) There are many people who've recently abandoned the leftist brainwashing and became Christian. Look at Brandon Tatum. David Wood. Mike Adams. Mariah Jones. You want to talk about getting a nasty response, David Wood tried everything he could think of to confound the evangelist working on him. Then after he got saved, he started doing evangelism on Islam. Many death threats later, he has Muslims emailing him to say they saw the light.
5) Evangelism requires anointing by the Holy Spirit. It's a calling. Not everyone is good at doing it, certainly not every day. Spirit-filled evangelists have such confidence that they can smile while getting death threats because they know they'll prevail. That kind of power simply doesn't happen in a Facebook debate.
6) When it's all said and done, you can't save everyone. You have to pick your battles. However, if you have an anointing for evangelism, you will get results somewhere.
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