He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
—Ezekiel 37:3
“Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be
made right? There is only one appropriate answer— “O Lord God, You know”
(Ezekiel 37:3). Never forge ahead with your religious common sense and say,
“Oh, yes, with just a little more Bible reading, devotional time, and prayer, I
see how it can be done.”[…] Do I really believe that God will do in me what I
cannot do? The degree of hopelessness I have for others comes from never
realizing that God has done anything for me. Is my own personal experience such
a wonderful realization of God’s power and might that I can never have a sense
of hopelessness for anyone else I see? […] When God wants to show you what human nature
is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit
of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God
(and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know
that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be
without His grace. […] “I know that in
me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Romans 7:18). God’s Spirit
continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His
grace.” CHAMBERS
Is there a person in your life that is a constant source of
irritation to you? Some may have more
than one person like that in their life.
It is like having a nemesis in a book or movie. They make you crazy! Maybe what you need to
do is to look at them in a different light. See them as God sees them .. see them like God
saw you … a sinner in need of a savior.
What we tend to do is consider others in light of how they treat
us. What they do or don’t do .. good or
bad. But you know that all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) so why are you surprised by what people
do? Instead of condemning them for the
way they are, perhaps what you should be doing is pray for them. Did that thought grate against your personal
desires. Wouldn’t you rather see them
judged? Does just the thought of that
give you a feeling of satisfaction? Did
you know that Jesus went to the cross for them too? That what they need is Jesus not
judgement? Oh judgement will surely come,
but why would you want to condemn someone to hell .. Oh .. because they have
treated you poorly . .they have sinned against you … Don’t depend upon your own
will to forgive them and pray for them … this is a spiritual act that depends
upon the Spirit in you. Your flesh
demands an eye for an eye … justice .. punishment .. retribution. But God’s heart is forgiveness, grace and
mercy. Those very things that you depend
upon from Him, God wants you to show others … even those really irritating
people in your life. It's the second greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:39) ELGIN
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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