Love them, it's worth it.

I write this not only in response to Chris and others, but I also write this as a reminder to myself. It was inspired both by Chris' recent post and the previous two posts by Bach. I believe our God is sovereign and will show compassion to those he wishes (Romans 9:15), but I also believe that God will not give us a stone when we ask for bread (Luke 11:11). It is written, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). The power is available to all, but how many of us actually seek it? The Lord God said, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). It's when we find God that we learn what His love is really about. Like Bach said, love is not only inoffensive. There's times when it is offensive to others. Our God is Love, but He is also Just. His chastisement may seem offensive, but in the end, it works out for the Highest Good -- to give God the greater glory! And when God is glorified, we all benefit. We who know God need to be very careful that we do as Bach suggests: ask, "Does this action bring glory to God?" "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations..." (Romans 1:21). It's so easy to do. I have to catch myself all the time when I respond to the various posts in this forum: What is the real reason why I'm writing this reply? I fear that I've slipped up on many occasions and "became vain" in my imaginations. This isn't of God (Gen 6:5, 8:21; Proverbs 6:16-18). I'm not glorifying God if I'm glorifying myself. Even if good comes of it, the Lord won't reward me for it. I've already received my reward (Matthew 6). We need to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). We need to think before we write. Think before we respond. Yes, there's ungodliness around us and we are often anxious to call it what it is. But how often did Jesus do that? Instead, didn't he embrace it? It's the LOVE OF JESUS that brings them to Him. Screaming and pointing fingers will not cause others to desire the Truth we have found. How often do people come to the Lord through hell-fire-and-brimstone preaching? Most of them are probably scared away, and the others... well, we don't want people to come to Jesus because they're afraid of what He might do if they don't believe in Him! We want people to come to Jesus because of the love He has for them, and the relationship He wants to have personally with them. The Lord is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Isn't that why He came first as The Lamb of God? "...for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God..." (Revelation 5:9). He came to reconcile us to God. Abraham was called out of Ur [flame] of the Chaldees [destruction] to the land of promise [Canaan, Israel]. God is calling us out of the same -- to deliver us out of the flame of destruction into the land of promise [eternal life by salvation through Jesus]. But Abraham himself stopped at the land of Haran [parched, desolate] until his father, Terah [meaning "delay"], died. Just because someone has come to a stopping point before reaching Jesus does not mean that he/she won't make the rest of the journey. Indeed, "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2), but how many of us were saved the very first day we heard the "good news" of Jesus Christ? We are also to be reminded that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 1) and that God has a plan for us all (Jeremiah 29:11-14). We need to be careful not to be so quick to turn others away. We need to be careful not to so easily turn our backs on others. It is the LOVE OF JESUS that will show them the way. How precious is a single soul? Love them, it's worth it. God is big enough to have that kind of love and we are "born again" as people who are big enough to understand it and share it with each other!!! That is, if we decide to believe this and then make up our minds to carry it out. We can, because the Bible is packed full of examples of people who did! We CAN and must, at any cost, become an example for the world! -- Chris