To forgive someone who has wronged you is one thing. To invite them to literally eat and drink at your table is another. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you", (Matthew 5:38-42). Only the process of Jesus Christ being manifested in you can produce the fruit of being able to sit across from your enemy with no bitterness or guile and wish the same thing for them that you would your loved ones and that is that they would come to know the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are wronged or sit in the company of those who wish to persecute or attack us, we sit in the same seat the our Lord sat in. He gave us specific instructions what to do when we are faced with this difficult situation. "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times", (Matthew 18:21-22). How can this be done? "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”, (Matthew 19:26).
The process will transform us from a people who says; "I cannot forgive that", to a vessel that says; "God, please heal me of this unforgiving heart"!!! When we understand what we have been forgiven and the Grace and Mercy that has been poured out on us, it allows us to understand why forgiving others bring glory to God. Once again when man is operating in his own flesh, this is impossible, but when operating in Spirit, this is more than possible. When Jesus Christ washed Judas Iscariot's feet along with the rest of His disciples at the last super knowing that Judas that very night would betray Jesus, we see a totally different principal being introduced into the earth. We see that everything your enemies do to harm you or bring you destruction, God uses to glorify Himself. Judas did exactly what was needed for the Son of Man to be ransomed for the penalty of mankind's sin. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ", (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Walking in the Light of Christ affords us the courage to sit at the table with our enemies and love them knowing that all that the enemy wishes to do to us God will use for our good, and His Glory!!! We as the children of God, above any others walking the face of this earth should know full well and live out the principal of "Not taking it personally"!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of enjoying the process on purpose!!!!!
Romans 12
A Living Sacrifice
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Thessalonians 4
Plea for Purity
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given[a] us His Holy Spirit.
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