There was a blog the other day that I was reading. The man who writes the blog considers himself a minister of God. He met a man that he believed was mocking God and when the man asked the minister to pray for him, he refused, believing that this man was not deserving of prayer because of his ungodly attitude. I was heartbroken when I read that.
The fact that the man asked this minster to pray for him at all, shows that he at least acknowledges the fact that he needs prayer and the Lord. The Lord has chosen US, his sons and daughters to be the ones who show the lost who God is. Unfortunately for that man, the God he was shown was one who looks on the outward appearances and attitudes and condemns them, and forever separates Himself from that lost sinner.
But that is NOT who the true God is. The true God would have mercy on that poor lost man, who knows ONLY what the world has taught him. The true God would love the sinner and especially those that oppose themselves in their ignorance. The true God would have had mercy on that poor man, and said, "God loves you, even if you don't know it or appreciate it." God would forgive that man seventy times seven times, or so many times it would be beyond our human ability to count.
I do not even judge this particular minister. He is blinded by the same legalism that blinds the pharisees. The pharisees would say everyone who was not them was a sinner, and they could not see that they themselves were the biggest sinners of all because of their lack of love and compassion. This minister built a case against this man, a case in which the minister was justified in his condemnation of this poor lost man. This minister believes that his judgement against this man is God's judgment against this man. I'm sure the man believed that too. How very sad.
We are not to judge the lost, but love them and speak grace to them and not condemnation. There is ENOUGH condemnation in this awful evil world. We should endeavour to love people like Christ loved them and NOT condemn them, even if they are guilty - just like the woman taken in adultery. Jesus could have condemned that woman, but He didn't. Why? Because God is in the business of mercy more than judgment.
Be merciful to the people you come across in life today my friends. Love them that oppose themselves and are guilty. Forgive them and love them and don't hold their sins against them, because there may come a time in your life, when you need mercy and forgiveness. What goes around comes around.
Love in Christ
Linda
4 comments:
This minister built a case against this man, a case in which the minister was justified in his condemnation of this poor lost man. This minister believes that his judgement against this man is God's judgment against this man.
This is what I used to do. I could be justified in NOT loving someone because I thought that is what God wanted.
1Corinthains 13 and some questions a friend asked me about it was the beginning of me realizing my "cognitive dissonance" in this area.
Amen to that! Mercy over judgment. When God shows me how messed my own heart is, I realize how we actually are in no place to judge others--I really get why we are in no place to judge, we all have the same heart issues.
Every single one of us who think we are the sin-police are sinners ourselves.
God help us!..
Alicia
You and me both Ma. I definately qualify for "it takes one to know one."
Yes, Alicia, we are all sinners. That was why the Lord made us this way, that we are all under sin so that the Lord could have mercy on us ALL!
Lord knows we NEED His mercy!
Love to you all!
Linda
Indeed! It is all by his making that is for sure..How else would we know his Mercy?
Amen..I sure need it!.....whew.
Love ya too!
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