Hello bloggers! Well I'm back to work and back to the daily grind after the holiday weekend. I'm guessing most of you are too. The next couple of days we're reading in Luke 6. There's some pretty hard hitting stuff in there. After reading it through, I came away saying "ouch, but thank you for the good reminder, Lord." Jesus pretty much tells it like it is, and that can be tough to hear. As I read Luke 6:22, my conscience was pricked a little because, honestly, I had to think some to recall the last time someone acted hateful or reviled me because of my stand for Jesus. Then, I moved down to verses 27-36 about loving our enemies and on to verses 37-42 about judging others. There went my conscience again. I'm pretty sure I could do a better job at loving others and particularly those people who aren't so loving to me. Plus, if I'm honest, I have a few planks in my eye that need removing. :(
Ok, by this time I was feeling a little low--but then, I got to verses 46-48. What a shot of encouragement and hope. You see, I had been focusing so much on those things I could do better at that I lost sight of the fact (just for a short while) that I have built my house with Jesus as the foundation (praise the Lord!) and that I'm not perfect and never will be. So what does this all mean for me? Well, for one, I'd better get out there and be aggressively talking about and promoting Jesus to people who don't yet know Him. And secondly, I need to be more intentional and work on loving and helping people.
So that's how God spoke to me through Luke 6. How about you? Did you get any of the same messages, or maybe something different? Drop me a blog. Tami W.
Has a Pastor and being in the same church for near fourty years. I have seen some splits amidst the brothers and sisters in Christ and I believe it is what our Lord is telling us in the passage today. it comes down to mercy and forgiveness. we may have reasons for being angry at another believer's actions towards us or towards other in the congregation but the failure and the cause for splits in our fellowship is because we will not extend mercy to them. Mercy preceeds forgiveness because mercy withholds the penalty that was deserved and in it's place forgiveness is given. I need to realize this truth our Lord gives us that i need my fellow brothers mercy because i have been given precisely this from my Lord.i miss the mark but if i will take the log out of my eye i can then see and give mercy and forgiveness to others. this is what real God given Love is.It reflects what is really going on in our lives and how much love is a gift.
I have in the pass had a personal problem with forgiveness. I would also hold grudges for a long period of time. But who am I not to forgive someone and the Lord GOD forgives me for all of my sins. I had to repent and turn from my wicked ways and learn how to love the person who spitefully hurt or disappoint me. The Lord is working on me and in Luke 6 I have learned how to forgive and love the one that may want to harm me, I have to pray and meditate and hear from him.The co-worker who is trying to steal my joy...but I will pray for peace on my job and continue to pray for her and myself. In Jesus name I know and feel that everything will come to pass.
Sincerely,
Candice S.
u know in my walk with the lord one thing that has hepled me with unforgiveness, anger and all the "log" in my eyes is light. in john1:4 jesus is life and this life is light and darkness cannot comprehend light. As the light of the lord has been shinnin in my life i have seen all the dark and terrible areas and the Grace of the lord has indeed been sufficient. thank you my dear lord and saviour.
uche
Regarding forgiveness:
Try this...WRITE out a request to the Lord for the one who has hurt/angered you.
Read it daily for a while...then as needed...or IF. Here's an example:
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy and blessings You give. Lord, let the pure desire of my heart be pleasing to You. Instead of vindication and human justice, let me long for the salvation of my enemy. Let my true desire be that she hears Your calling and responds to Your Holy Spirit. Let my request be that she grow in the knowledge of Your will. Turn my heart from this sinful thinking, for Lord I know it is sin. Help me to see her through Your eyes and love her with Your heart. Keep this hurt from seeking revenge. Keep my thoughts in line with Your Holy Spirit. Muzzle my tongue until my heart is right with You.
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God can do ANYTHING. We can do all things through Him!
I have recently gone through a divorce. To seek forgiveness for things in my past was hard, yet I know that I am forgiven by our Lord. I find at times though it is harder to forgive myself for my transgressions than to forgive others. I have to daily lay this at the cross and rely on God mercy.
Blessings Jay
What a beautiful chapter. I say this because the Lord reveals so much to us. What a loving Father to show us our not so wonderful self, but, also through His Holy Spirit empowers us to change.
It is so much easier to see the "speck" in someone elses eye, then to see our "plank". What a blessing to have forgiveness and be able to remove our "plank" then to go on love others as Christ loves them.
One thing I try to do is pray for the homeless person or someone who causes me to take a second glance and think of their sin. I also try to smile at every person I see. Of course, I fall short, but, have found if I am seeking the Lord continually, He gently reminds to pray.
Thank you all for your open and honest hearts. You have given me many things to think about and great encouragement.
Glory to God in the highest!
Just joined the site. Not even as a resolution, just looking for a bible study/devotional. Wow, what a day to join. I have read that passage several times before, but it never hit me like it did today. Made me want to be a better Believer and provided tangible "tools" for walking in His light/way. Have been looking for that. The Word had become existential and needed it to be concrete. He knew what I needed. Love Him for that. OK. later.