Luke 7: 20,22 "When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"..."So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
John the Baptist knew who Jesus was. Just a few chapters earlier he heard the voice of God declaring him the Son of God, and Saw The holy spirit come down on him. Yet here, he questions who he really is, what he really is doing, and what his real motivations were.
The very nature of the question called my personal integrity into question. I was completely innocent of this and horribly hurt by what the question insinuated.
I denied the charge and asked them if there was anything in my life or personality that would warrant them to believe that I would ever do such a thing.
Of course they said no. But there it was, hanging there, and building a wall in our relationship. I forgave them of course, but I will not deny the hurt it caused.
How much more does it hurt our relationship with Christ when we think or believe he is against us? When we accuse him, even in our hearts, of being anything other than what he really is, I can't help but believe that it puts a strain on our relationship
I have heard some say
"I just can't win"
"God is against me"
" He doesn't care"
"He is angry with me"
"He just wants to punish me"
"I am not important/ my needs aren't important"
Instead he says
"I gave all that you might win the Holy Spirit"
"I am for you, who can be against you?"
"I intimately care about you, and have lavished my grace on you"
"I have given you peace with God"
"I want to bless you with every spiritual blessing"
"You have been saved and set apart"
"You are precious in my sight"
We need to see Christ for his true character, what we see as evidence about him in scripture and in our life transformations, rather than our momentary feelings in a time of crisis, doubt, or worry.
Know him today friends. Know his character. And when you are tempted to believe otherwise remember...
..."The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
Blessings ~
I believe it hurts the Lord's heart when we His children think He is against us..God never will leave us or forsake us what happens is we leave His side...Our character should always be a reflection of Jesus at all times...when we say and make promise we should keep our word..that is why the Lord says don't make a promise to God for you know you won't be able to keep it...But far to sad our character don't always reflect Christ and that to me is sad..I know I am guilty at times for example I might of had a bad day and when I take it out on someone else or get snappy that is not showing Christ character...for this is not how the Lord would have me to act...thanks for this posting and I pray it be a blessing to so many others for we truly do need to have the character of Christ..it's not going to be easy for us for our flesh always want to have it's way but we must put flesh in subjection to the word. AMEN
ReplyDeleteAmen, thank you SO much for this Kari...we all need to be reminded from time to time of His love and goodness...who HE really is...and who WE are in HIM!! Thank you! <3<3
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