All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
to love others
hi, my prayer recently has been, "Lord, please help me to love others."
i was sitting on the beach yesterday and a woman came walking past. she had a smile on her face and as usual, my automatic reaction was to lower my eyes and feel condemnation towards her because most likely, she was not a believer.
it dawned on me how terrible this reaction is, and how i've struggled with these feelings of closing off my heart to others for a while.
i then realized that i close my heart to others like this woman because the thought of them going to hell is just terrible and so in my backward thinking it was easier to condemn them in my heart and see them as sinners who deserve hell.
i struck me that to love people means to see them as precious creations of God who need to be loved and reached for the Kingdom.
i am ashamed to admit all this. can anyone relate to what i'm saying here?
am i on the right track, and if so, where from here?
thanks,
jenny
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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I think it's easier to see them condemned then to go up to them & share the gospel. When you look at them already doomed, why bother? Just my thoughts.......
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Permalink Reply by Xino on
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is that so....you prejudge them as condemned and you have assurance you will make it to heaven?
didn't Jesus say even tax collectors and prostitutes will make it to heaven and others who thought they believe in him won't?
we need to stop thinking that way, that just because we serve God we are going to make it to heaven, sure thing:/
we are not better and have to worry about ourselves and keep trying hard
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Xino,
There are two kinds of people. There are the godly (with God) and the ungodly (without God). It is an either or, not both. (Romans 8:1-11)
The Born again child of God is better (off). The reason we are better needs to be understood. We are better because we were dead in our sins and now we are alive (Ephesians 2:1-10). We did not have a relationship with Jesus and now we have a relationshop with the living God (Ephesians 2:11-22). We are better because we once were enemies of the cross (God) and now we are His children (Romans 8:12-17 and 1 John 3:1). What we have experienced and gained should motivate us to share with others what is available to them through and in Jesus. So, YES, the child of God is better (off) than those who are still in darkness and headed to hell if they do not repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior (Matthew 25:31-46).
The person who thinks that they are going to make it to heaven because they "serve God" has the wrong understanding and probably will not be there. Our salvation has nothing to do with our service, but rather the work of the Savior on our behalf. We are saved by grace through faith and not by "any work of man" (Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 10:9-13) Man cannot not earn salvation nor can he work hard enough to keep it. It is through and in Jesus that we are saved.
Lastly, I do not have to worry about where I am going. My hope is secure in the finished work of Christ. I live for Him because I love Him, not because I fear if I do not measure up I will not make it. If it depended on me the answer is I will not make it. Praise God that our hope is in Jesus, not man, not self (Ephesians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 1 John 5:13).
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Permalink Reply by Jenny on
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thanks for this LT,
can you please help me to understand how this can be grasped with Phil 2:3 in mind, ""Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than
yourselves."
I think my problems lies in here somewhere, between all the reasons you gave that "The Born again child of God is better (off)", and that we are to regard others as better than ourselves.How are we to regard the unsaved as better than ourselves?
I know I have sin in here and I appreciate any thoughts you can offer as to how to differentiate these.
Thanks,
Jenny
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It is a mindset. Jesus came the first time to serve. We are to take on the same attitude as Jesus (vv.6-13). To honor Christ we are to serve others. To serve others we have to have humility or it is being done for selfish ambition (what is in it for me). To serve is to have the interest of others in mind and to realize that they are valuable to God. The ungodly are without God and the godly are with God. The latter are better off, but God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
I tried to make this as concise as possible. If it is not clear, please ask further.
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all i can say is my assurance is in Jesus Christ alone and what He did. i know i am a terrible sinner and there's nothing in me that makes me deserving of salvation. i pray the Lord helps me through this sinfulness and teaches me how to truly love, and helps me to carry it out toward those around me
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