Genesis 1:26-27 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.(A) 27So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Every single person on Earth is made in the image and likeness of God. Man is God's highest creation. Male and women are His expression. We must ask for the Father's Heart when viewing and treating others. We must have His Heart of sacrifice and service. Love is not just a thought or an emotion, it is fully expressed and manifested with action.
The famous and popular verse of John 3:16 is promoted in many venues. "16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."
The Great Love of God was expressed in action as He gave up His only begotten Son to die for the world. He sent Love to die for us. We must possess this type of Love if we are to enter the Kingdom of God. We must possess the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We must live a life of service and SACRIFICE. Are we willing to die for our Lord? It is not only to be a martyr if necessary but it is to literally DIE to self. Our life is no longer ours but His.
We must learn to Love Everyone including our enemies. But sadly, many have a hard time loving each other including their own family or brothers/sisters in Christ. We do not need to put salt on peoples' wounds. We do not need to shine a flashlight on their sins. Most of the people know where they are at and they already know where they need to be. There are too many preaching where people need to be but very few to preaching on how to get there. Many of us need to stop slandering and gossiping about the weakness of others and many need to stop bashing their civil leaders, church leaders, and those in authority.
We are called to be gentle as dove and to express the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The children of God will be known by their ability to WALK IN LOVE. It will not be based on how dogmatic they are on a doctrine or their ability to point their finger at others who know less or at those who are being misled.
Galatians 5:22 (Amplified Bible)22But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
1 Peter 2:17 (Amplified Bible)17Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God. Honor the emperor.
1 Corinthians 6:7 (Amplified Bible)7Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you). Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due? Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)?
Peter says show respect for all men. In other versions, it says to honor everybody. Honor the emperor or king. In those days, the Roman emperor was not as kind as our presidents but we are told to honor their position of authority. Our job is to pray for everyone. Christians do not take up arms and rebel. Peter attempted to fight when they were taking Jesus away and He said those who live by the sword will die by the sword. He rebuked Peter.
When people come against you and they especially will if you properly serve the Lord. Yes, the temptation will be there to fight back verbally or get the last word in. But you must renew your mind and continue on the narrow road of LIFE. You must rather suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due as stated in Corinthians above. Vengeance is His. Stop looking at people as though they are your enemy but rather look at them as GOD'S HIGHEST CREATION IN WHICH HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR THEM. Renew your minds!!!
Philippians 2:3 (Amplified Bible)3Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) LET EACH REGARD THE OTHERS AS BETTER THAN AND SUPERIOR TO HIMSELF[thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].
Colossians 3:12 (Amplified Bible)12Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, A LOWLY OPINION OF YOURSELVES,gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
We must learn to ASK for His help. Too many of us take His Love and Sacrifice for granted. Yes, He did it all. Yes, He said it is finished but He also said to carry your own crosses. If we literally carried a cross during our normal routine, we would become very tired, we would be Mocked, and we would have to negotiate it through small areas and corners. It will take much effort. As a result, many will want to lay it down and rest their flesh. But sadly, when many lay it down to rest, they never pick it back up again. He said He will be our strength. We must ask for help. We must ask the Holy Spirit for more strength. We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us repent, forgive, to let go what needs to be let go, and to help us Love as He Loves. What good is our flesh? We must have more of Him for He is LOVE. He is Good. He is Peace. He is Joy. He is Justice. He is Righteousness. He is Mercy. Without Him, we do not have any of those attributes and this is why many Fail in Love because they attempt to Love with their own effort. Therefore, we need His Love. We need to ask for His Heart. Do not take anything for granted brethren, you must ASK. Yes, He knows all but He desires you to Ask.
Do not rejoice even when your enemy falls. King Saul chased and literally tried to kill David but yet when King Saul fell, David mourned. Why did David mourn? He had the heart of God. Even though King Saul chased and tried to kill him, I believe David would have let him keep the throne if King Saul would have repented. David had the Love of God. He did not want any one to end up in Hell, not even his enemies.
2 Samuel 1:11-12 (Amplified Bible)11Then David grasped his own clothes and tore them; so did all the men with him. 12They mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan his son, and fasted until evening for the Lord's people and the house of Israel, because of their defeat in battle.
Proverbs 24:17-18 (Amplified Bible)17Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown,18Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].
God will deal with the rebellious and those who are against Him. Vengeance is His. He does not need His children to become finger pointing accusers. He has the devil filling that job. We do not need to help the devil. What do we do with such people who do point fingers. Avoid them and pray for them.
Romans 16:17-18 (Amplified Bible)17I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. [I warn you to turn aside from them, to] avoid them.18For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites and base desires, and by ingratiating and flattering speech, they beguile the hearts of the unsuspecting and simpleminded [people].
Romans 12:1-3 (Amplified Bible)1I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. 3For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.
Love will conquer all!! Overcome evil with good! God bless you all!
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
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