Practicing The Second Greatest Commandment

My Utmost For His Highest

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)