About 'These' People

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day:  Romans 12:2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Jeremiah 20-21 2 Timothy 4

About 'These' People...

In Second Timothy 3, verses one through five, Paul speaks of 'loveless' and treacherous people and ends by saying, "...have nothing to do with these people".

The human part of me says, "Good, I can forget them". However the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me that Jesus died for all. So, how do I love my neighbor and have nothing to 'do' with the folks Paul addresses in 2 Timothy 3?

I must drop back and look at what the scripture says about me.

2 Corinthians 3:5  "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God..."

Nothing comes from me. My thinking must be the mind of Christ(1 Corinthians 2:16)-my strength must, then, come from God and the scripture says that my strength is in God's joy.(Nehemiah 8:10).

Having 'nothing to do' with these difficult people means I don't have dealings with them-that I make an effort to stay away from them. But having the heart of Christ means that I cannot ignore the love God still has for them(John 3:16).

While I was still one of them, Christ died for me(Romans 5:8).

To be obedient and have nothing to do with the rebellious folks and at the same time love my neighbor as I love myself(Matthew 22:37-40), the only conclusion is that I pray for their souls. It is not my job to judge-it is not my job to hate-it is my lot in Christ to love.

While I hear God say to me to not let the folks Paul tells Timothy to stay away from have any affect on me, I hear the Holy Spirit say I must continue to pray for their souls. I must hate their sin but love the part of them Jesus died for.

While I have no problem staying away from the haters, I have no divine license to return their hate-I cannot hate them-it is against the heart of God-the commands of God.

From their hate, walk away-for their souls, continue to pray.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is complete forgiveness and mercy. Your kingdom is freedom. Give me today's bread as I pray for the dividing wall of hostility to be destroyed in the hearts of the rebellious and forgive me for judging them. Lead me away from this wickedness.

God of endless mercy.

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen