Friday Reflection - 4/6/12
I haven't been stabbed in the back as many times as some people. And further still, I haven't even noticed being stabbed in the back at times. I am a bit naive. It's helped, and hurt.
Christians get the Brutus treatment, too. They hate to hold a grudge, but struggle with forgiveness at times.
Grudges usually take root when people are hurt, and the avenue of healing is never opened. This happens when people either:
Most of us have been in one of these two situations, if not both, especially if we're human.
Final note: from a social perspective, there are some nasty characters out there. Most of us like to see these people get "theirs." Meanwhile, God doesn't want one of them to be lost (cf. 2 Pet. 2:9). Amazing!
All characters, great and small will stand before the throne of Christ's Judgment (John 5:28-29). Those who have lived in rebellion will be reduced to slobber and rubble before the Mighty King.
They will beg for mercy as they bow and acknowledge the glory of the Lamb. In life, ruthless and powerful; in death, kicking and whining like babies. What irony!
But, lest we acquire some sadistic pleasure from theirs, we ought to shudder that our fate might be the same, were it not for the grace of Christ, Whose misery brought the possibility of reconciliation (1 Pet. 2:24). The fact is, failure to obey the Christ will ensure the same eternal torment, even if our "social" sins were less noticeable.
I don't know about you, but that helps me see others in a different light, and helps me with grudges. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord" (Rom. 12:19).
I haven't been stabbed in the back as many times as some people. And further still, I haven't even noticed being stabbed in the back at times. I am a bit naive. It's helped, and hurt.Christians get the Brutus treatment, too. They hate to hold a grudge, but struggle with forgiveness at times.
Grudges usually take root when people are hurt, and the avenue of healing is never opened. This happens when people either:
1) will not be honest with the offenders about how they've been hurt; orThis creates grudges. Grudges destroy relationships of all kinds.
2) will not be honest with their accusers about what they've done.
Most of us have been in one of these two situations, if not both, especially if we're human.
Final note: from a social perspective, there are some nasty characters out there. Most of us like to see these people get "theirs." Meanwhile, God doesn't want one of them to be lost (cf. 2 Pet. 2:9). Amazing!
God has ever before Him the scene and permanence of judgment.
They will beg for mercy as they bow and acknowledge the glory of the Lamb. In life, ruthless and powerful; in death, kicking and whining like babies. What irony!
But, lest we acquire some sadistic pleasure from theirs, we ought to shudder that our fate might be the same, were it not for the grace of Christ, Whose misery brought the possibility of reconciliation (1 Pet. 2:24). The fact is, failure to obey the Christ will ensure the same eternal torment, even if our "social" sins were less noticeable.
I don't know about you, but that helps me see others in a different light, and helps me with grudges. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord" (Rom. 12:19).
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