Jesus did not commit Himself to them…, for He knew what was in man. —John 2:24-25
Many of the things in life that inflict the greatest injury, grief, or pain, stem from the fact that we suffer from illusions. … if we love someone, but do not love God, we demand total perfection and righteousness from that person … we are demanding of a human being something which he or she cannot possibly give. … Our Lord trusted no one, and never placed His faith in people, yet He was never suspicious or bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God, and in what God’s grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Has anyone ever disappointed you? How does that make you feel? Do
you lose hope for them? Have you lost hope for them? Have you given up on
them? It is really pretty easy to do. I think most people have a
category that they put others in called “They are never going to change.”
In a way, we are correct. They will never change on their own, like us, they need help.
Not our
help. God’s help. Perhaps not help from us, but from God through us. Just like He changed you and me … who were never
going to change either. Now the tricky part is that some think that if I
think differently about that person, I must accept, embrace the things they do
and the life they live. Not so! But, at the same time, when you cast them
off as “unchangeable” you have judged them and condemned them to Hell.
Because of what they have done to you or someone else, perhaps that is your
hope for them. I know people in my life that I have done this to.
(This is very convicting as I type these words.) Listen, God is in the
business of saving us from Hell and transforming us to the image of His Son
through faith. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant? (Matthew 18:21-35) Think about these verses in terms of the people in your life that you have
relegated to “They are never going to change”.
For God so loved the world - John 3:16
That is pretty inclusive .. doesn’t leave anyone out including the ones that we think will never change.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
God did not demand that we do something that we
were incapable of doing, and yet He did not, could not, would not embrace us
until we placed our faith in His Son.
The second greatest commandment is to love people (Matthew 22:39). So don’t give up on those “Never Changers”,
pray for them. Forgive them. You can’t you say? Of course you
can’t, you need God’s help to do that. What you are trying do in the
flesh you can only do in the Spirit. It is a supernatural act,
forgiveness is. We need to see others just like Jesus did. Even
while on the Cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive the very people that
rejected Him and killed Him. There is no way that we can love people like
that on our own.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. - 1 John 4:18-20
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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