The children pastor last night shared in Prayer meeting about some of the difficult kids that she had to work with. She had great wisdom. She already expect some kids would be trouble makers.
There were two kids who often get into fights. She spoke to each of them. Later the day, one of the kids went to the pastor afterward and told her that the other kid was fighting him. The pastor asked him what did he do. He told her he did nothing. Instead he told the teacher to tell the other kid to 'not fight him'.
The children pastor later saw the two kids playing together.
....
Is it because of all the pain and suffer that lead us to harden our hearts? To protect ourselves so we don't get hurt again? To build a wall (and towers, and a moat, with dragons and monsters guarding....)
Or is there a part of us, much deeper and darker that we enjoy secretly seeing the demise of others as our own enjoyment. Especially those who wrong us and 'rip' us off.
Quickly, it reminded me from a Tim Keller's sermon on forgiveness....
'this is how the world is like..you stand on your porch and they stand on theirs. They cut you up and so you slice up a piece of them.'
That's how the world works...
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:13-26
...
More thoughts.
It is so hard to ask people to forgive one another. Even Christians. Especially Christians. Perhaps we have lost sight that God forgive us first. We feel like we deserve our statues and our rights. He took away our debts. We might sing it on Sun. Read it in the Bible. Do a devotion on it.
To live it. When we encourage one another to do it, I find a lot of blank stares.
- Well, this case is different....
- Jesus didn't really mean....
- What about God's truth and love for justice...
- You can't do that. What if he did it again...
- We can't let this go...
- This is so unfair to us...
To dig deep and have the courage and faith to let things go. It's tough.
When I read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's quote on community....
I can no longer condemn or hate other Christians for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble they cause me..
...it is so encouraging.
A Christian community is like a family. He is my brother or she is my sister. We are all adopted. No matter how much they wrong us, they are still family. As Dietrich said, no matter how much trouble they cause me.
Even if they are not Christians, we are God's ambassadors to them.
..hehe I guess when Jesus says to love our enemies (Matthew 5), He really means it.
After all, Jesus did died for His enemies (Romans 5).
Hmm..I should remind myself..if I wrong someone I need to go and ask for forgiveness and I need to reconcile differences....
Even if they are not Christians, we are God's ambassadors to them.
..hehe I guess when Jesus says to love our enemies (Matthew 5), He really means it.
After all, Jesus did died for His enemies (Romans 5).
Hmm..I should remind myself..
...
VBS is going well in my church. 150 kids. I look forward on Sun when they will present to the parents and to the congregation. AMEN!
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