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| A Time For Mourning |
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2 Corinthians 12:21(NASB)
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.
I have been thinking a lot about this verse. So often in todays world we react in 2 ways when we know someone is in sin and not saved. Reaction one is to condemn the person and throw their sin in their face and try to guilt them into heaven. Reaction 2 is to basically ignore the sin topic or religion all together and then we walk away from that person and don't give it a second thought or maybe say a quick prayer. I believe both reactions are extremely dangerous. Number 1 pushes people farther away, and number 2 leaves the person (sinner) thinking their is nothing wrong.
I know that every situation is different and God uses us in different ways. I don't know the perfect solution but I do know the main ingredient is Jesus Christ and showing his love. Sometimes is hard love and other times its more gentle. But right now I want to focus on our Christian ressponse to the people we love who are not saved.
The greek word for mourn in the above verse is Pentheo. It means, mourning, to mourn over for, greive, upon the death of a friend. Also inner grief, that does not necessarily denote outwardly the inner grief.
I write this as a personal conviction of mine. I have gone to bed too many nights not thinking of the ones I love and their eternal lives. I have not greived over their death. They are alive but they are spiritually dead. A preacher once said "Hell should never be preached without a tear in your eye". The Bible is true, and we must live by it.
It is easy to ignore the condition of the people around us for the sake comfort. We are called as Christians to get out of our comfort zones and live for Christ. It may be hard, it may even be humiliating as Paul wrote, but isn't it worth it?
Again I ask..... Isn't it worth it? Isn't it worth it to get uncomfortable for the sake of the ones we love, and even the ones we do not know?
Isn't it worth it to secretly mourn for the lost and outwardly show them love and show them Christ? |
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Sara |
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January 20, 2008 at 12:16pm |
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| it is more worth it than we realize! i sometimes get frustrated with certain family members because they are not living for christ. i fulheartedly know that if they would give their life to Him all of their problems would go away (ya know, sort of). sometimes it is easier not to bother, or only do the bare minimum. however, we are all called to be the light in certain people's lives and if we chose not to, does that fall on us? i don't know about you, but i don't want someone to go to hell just because i didn't feel like making the extra effort. |
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_Erin_ |
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January 20, 2008 at 4:47pm |
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I hear ya!! It's a daily struggle not to get frustrated with unsaved family members. I have to remind myself that my job is to keep praying and keep being an exapmle of God's love with my actions and he will take care of the rest. Just because those family members aren't saved yet, it dosen't mean that God doesn't hear my prayers, he's just working on his timeline, not mine. Which can be hard to accept some times when you (uh, when *I*) like to be in control of things all of the time.
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Sara |
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January 20, 2008 at 8:17pm |
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| amen sister. wouldn't it be nice if we could just grab people by the shoulders and shake some Jesus into them?? but praise God He is in control of everything and not me! |
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2 Corinthians 12:21(NASB)
I am afraid that when I come again my GOD may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced.
No one wants to be humiliated. No one wants to obey GOD and then look foolish. What kind of testimony is that? So when we feel that prodding to speak Jesus "out of season" we are quiet. When GOD says go we hesitate. When we hesitate reason comes along and explains why we should not. GOD puts something in your heart but you can't do that. What would people think? You have your testimony to protect. Is it your testimony? Or your spiritual reputation?
GOD doesn't always make sense. When GOD told Annanias to go and pray for a Saul of Tarsus to be healed he hesitated. He had heard of this man who was persecuting the church. GOD said go that he was a chosen vessel. Annanias went and the man who wrote what we now call 2 Corinthians received his sight.
A big reason for hesitation is a misconception we have of bearing fruit. If it is unlikely to be any fruit we hesitate. But there is never any fruit unless seeds are planted.
The Lord gave unto me a sack of seeds to sow
The Lord said plant them everywhere and I will make them grow
So day and night I planted I planted everywhere
Some received His word with joy others did not care
When we obey the Holy Spirit we will not always see results. Actually, most of the time we will not. GOD doesn't need our results but our obedience. Often our greatest successes are disguised as failure.
An example:
I remember a time when I was deep in sin. I was loading an industrial catering truck when a guy came up and began talking to me about Jesus. Big mistake! I unloaded on him a string of profanity and ridicule. He walked away having failed miserably.
But unknown to him there was something about his quietness, his peace, his not getting angry or defensive that touched something within. A seed was planted. I have no idea what he said. It was more about how he acted than what he said.
Despise not small beginnings.
If any man come after Me let him...be self assured, enjoy the benefits, and follow his dream.
Well, that is not how Jesus put it in Matthew 16:24...deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Me.
Which more accurately describes how we live out discipleship?
Do we only go when we are ready...or when He is ready?
Is knowing someone more important than knowing what they need?
Do we "preach the benefits" or do we preach Jesus?
Do we only follow Jesus when we understand or do we follow Him when we see no purpose other than this is where He has led?
2 Corinthians 12:21(NASB)
I am afraid that when I come again my GOD may humilitate me before you, and I may mourn over many.....
There are so many needs, so many hurting people, so many living below their light, so many lonely, neglected people. How can I make a difference? If I get too involved I will be overwhelmed.
Yes, you will. Your heart will break. Your prayers will be mingled with tears. You will mourn for those who are dying or have been made invalid by life.
Surrounded by darkness protected by light
One solitary figure continues to fight
No one notices no one cares
Calm and quiet are his prayers
He fights for those who are lost and bound
His words like seeds fall to the ground
Watered by tears the truth does grow
Darkness retreats from the light's glow
One of the most endearing traits about brother Paul was how he measured his ministry. He did not look at the attendence and glory over how it had increased over the past five years. He looked at how many had quit or fallen away and mourned. His heart broke over those who did not make it.
When we look at the ninety nine and forget about one
How can we question what GOD has not done
Last Sunday the pastor remarked that if a part of the body wasn't there we would miss it. Now earlier he had made a quip about being bald and I thought how that if we were missing a hair we surely wouldn't miss it. But what would happen to the hair after it is separated from the body. It begins to die. We mourn for those who die.
Love the brethren. Grieve not the Spirit.
When we love someone we hold onto them, care about them, get involved with them. When we don't we grieve the Spirit.
Humiliation and mourning. Not exactly our goals in life. Interesting that these two traits are key in the Beatitudes. We have a long way to go.
.....peace..... |
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| i admire your insight, thank you for writing that. It was encouraging and challenging at the same time. Thanks again |
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I remember when pastor Josh was giving his opinion on apathy Hate and resentment. I feel exactly the same way, Jesus i believe hates the spirit of apathy worse then the spirit of resentment. At-least resentment is often driven by some form of passion when apathy is mostly driven by I don't care. Its hard for most Christians but in the end people remember the ones who cared enough to be honest with them. |
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I was thinking of the verse "Blessed are those who are persecuted for richeousness sake" today. I have avoided taking care of myself, taking responsibility for my own life for a very long time. I just wanted to run away, blame other people, not really deal with it. Last September, at my birthday, my two "worlds" were coming together, my church family and my family. I was terrified. I knew I was a hippocrite, and I was afraid. Afraid of being "outed" and humiliated. But man, God is GOOD. Six months later, and God's changed so much in me. The more He reveals my faults in His mercy and love, the more comfortable it becomes to admit it to others. First I can reveal it to those who love and accept me unconditionally, then I can share it more openly with everyone. The guilt and shame fade away, and eventually, it becomes as easy and natural as anything else. Then suffering persecution won't be such an ego bash, it will actually further His kindgom. It's what He's called me to do, and unfortunately for my ego, I have to do it to the very people I've had nothing but apathy and resentment for. I can't minister to people if I'm angry at them!! But God is good; and is, and always has been working for all of us and will never give up on us, so its my duty to do the same. |
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