By his faith are we not redeemed? By his grace are we not vindicated? By his love through his precious blood are we not saved? Those of us who have been compelled to walk along the edge of the dark treacherous path alone with Jesus. Those of us who are brought to the turbulent abyss, that choose to hold “His,” hand & trust him to carry us through. Should we be considered unworthy servants & disciples then because we separate from the body of Christ (the church) for whatever reason God wills it to be? Yes we have a choice in the manner however are not all things & everything for “Him,” & “His,” purpose; A purpose that none of us can come close to knowing. The truth be told it is not the church itself that causes people to leave. It is the selfish hearts & self righteous souls of men & women that cause them to flee.<\/p>\n
For the departed more than likely it is a terrible underlying conflict within they’re fighting. Traumatic experiences they\u00a0seek help for & yet they too often don’t really know where to find it because they fear the shame, humility & hopelessness of their situation. They would like to heal the pain but it doesn’t matter what they do they cannot escape the anguish. Day by day they lift up heavy hearts with a full mind of prayers. Night after night clothed with weeping & distress they dress their dwelling in a fountain of tears. Keep the faith & may the Lord bless his child to know their special purpose & place in the kingdom. That they might better understand their importance as members connected to or severed from the body.<\/p>\n
If we truly believe that God resides in us & we are connected to his body\u00a0will he then not be with us when we choose to brave the wilderness of the world. In his presence is not our testimony & faith suited to touch the righteous & reach the sinner? To whom then are we saving & making God known if we restrict our relationships exclusively to the members of the body who already know? If our souls cannot afford to get a little filthy then how do we expect to please God. In no way do I mean to compromise faith or blatantly transgress against the Father in heaven however if the lesser of evil will contribute to the greater good then should we not do so? If I were to distance myself from the body to seek my dear Lords precious face due to the burden of sensitive circumstances but I act all my ways about in love should I be called a hypocrite & as they will say “He has fallen away?” Matthew 18:10, 12-14 NIV<\/p>\n
\u201cSee that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. \u201cWhat do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?\u00a0 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.\u00a0 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.<\/p>\n
If I were to engage entering an intoxicating session in rotation with a couple of lost souls & the topic at hand is the glory & grace of Jesus should I be held in contempt? As it is written in Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in his name then there he is with them.\u00a0If I was to be inclined to escort a colleague to a strip club as a chaperon without the ill intent of lusting after women in my heart but with the compassion that Jesus had for people where most of them recognize “His light,” in me & realize that I’m a bit different should I then be condemned to the flames of hell & thought of a misfit? Luke 7:36-50 NIV<\/p>\n
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee\u2019s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee\u2019s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.\u00a0\u00a0 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, \u201cIf this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is\u2014that she is a sinner.\u201d Jesus answered him, \u201cSimon, I have something to tell you.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cTell me, teacher,\u201d he said. \u201cTwo people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?\u201d Simon replied, \u201cI suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou have judged correctly,\u201d Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, \u201cDo you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven\u2014as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.\u201d\u00a0 Then Jesus said to her, \u201cYour sins are forgiven.\u201d The other guests began to say among themselves, \u201cWho is this who even forgives sins?\u201d Jesus said to the woman, \u201cYour faith has saved you; go in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
We are quick to judge. We want a contrast or comparison for a suitable if not logical reasoning for things. We are but stumbling blocks to each other. Either in our own way falling constantly over our own selves or continually tripping over each other. I believe that perhaps we struggle so because we really don’t see ourselves or others in the perspective that Jesus ordained to be reflected & recognized in us. Meaning as he was here in all glory within the realm of flesh along side the people who even witnessed him perform miracles they doubted & didn’t believe he was the son of God so too do we look upon one another with the same disregard & disbelieve that we are genuine children of God.<\/p>\n
Matthew 9:10-13 NIV<\/p>\n
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew\u2019s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, \u201cWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\u201d On hearing this, Jesus said, \u201cIt is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.\u00a0 But go and learn what this means: \u2018I desire mercy, not sacrifice.\u2019\u00a0 For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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