Post by Les Brewer on Mar 17, 2020 17:27:33 GMT
LOVE CONSTRAINS ME
When I think about the love of Christ and how that love has affected me over the years; I am astounded. It is a love which has been imputed to me through salvation and it is a love which is not without conflicts and challenges. It is a love that is misunderstood by the world and even many Christians. If that love is firmly rooted within us we will be able to withstand the abuse of the world and return kindness instead of retribution.
(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV
When Jesus talked about turning the cheek when slapped on the other cheek; he was speaking to a phrase which was well known at his time concerning insults. When someone insulted a person it was considered a slap in the face! In other words if someone insults you turn your other cheek showing them you are not affected by their insults and go the extra mile by being kind instead of returning an insult for an insult. Your response will have its affect as a witness of the love of Christ which dwells in you and strengthen your resolve in the face of persecution. In one sense when we turn our cheek we turn to Christ who died for them as well as us.
Love is the character of God; “for God so loved the world”. You and I were once the world! Love gives sacrifices “that he sent his only begotten son”. Love benefits others “that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life”.
Brethren the love of Christ in me is not just for my benefit of salvation; it is for the benefit of all whom I come into contact with whether they’re a sinner or a saint. The love of Christ sees potential and opportunity! If I only love those who love me; it is by and in large for my benefit! Why? Because those who love me favor me because of that love and I likewise favor those who love me; isn’t that the same thing that happens in the world. However; if I love those who hate me; I am showing that Christ’s love is truly in me and exemplified through me. I am more apt to pray for their salvation, and do good to them contrary to the way they persecute and despitefully me to their own wickedness. When we turn the other cheek we turn them over to Christ and the Holy Spirit to do the convicting in their hearts and minds.
I have been in the midst of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Atheist, Sinners, Political fanatics and bitter backslidden Christians and I’ve learned to show kindness and Christian love. Soul winning takes strategy for “he that wins souls is wise”. Slander may win an argument but it will not win souls; love wins hearts when it is genuinely felt by it object.
Brethren; we live in an age when Christ and Christianity is becoming obsolete in the social mentality of the world. Those in the world are looking for love, acceptance, and forgiveness even if it doesn’t appear on the surface or in their rhetoric. Christ looks upon the heart and sees the deep wounds and the despair and how it engenders resentment and rebellion and distrust.
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 KJV
Brethren; look at the wondrous love of Jesus who was wounded himself for our transgressions and who was bruised for our iniquities, who was chastised for our peace, and by whose stripes we are healed. Let us love like Jesus loves by becoming living sacrifices filled with love, mercy, and grace for others who are not saved! It may just be that the very worst enemy we have in our lives right now might be saved, healed, and delivered from the wages of sin. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
When I think about the love of Christ and how that love has affected me over the years; I am astounded. It is a love which has been imputed to me through salvation and it is a love which is not without conflicts and challenges. It is a love that is misunderstood by the world and even many Christians. If that love is firmly rooted within us we will be able to withstand the abuse of the world and return kindness instead of retribution.
(44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV
When Jesus talked about turning the cheek when slapped on the other cheek; he was speaking to a phrase which was well known at his time concerning insults. When someone insulted a person it was considered a slap in the face! In other words if someone insults you turn your other cheek showing them you are not affected by their insults and go the extra mile by being kind instead of returning an insult for an insult. Your response will have its affect as a witness of the love of Christ which dwells in you and strengthen your resolve in the face of persecution. In one sense when we turn our cheek we turn to Christ who died for them as well as us.
Love is the character of God; “for God so loved the world”. You and I were once the world! Love gives sacrifices “that he sent his only begotten son”. Love benefits others “that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life”.
Brethren the love of Christ in me is not just for my benefit of salvation; it is for the benefit of all whom I come into contact with whether they’re a sinner or a saint. The love of Christ sees potential and opportunity! If I only love those who love me; it is by and in large for my benefit! Why? Because those who love me favor me because of that love and I likewise favor those who love me; isn’t that the same thing that happens in the world. However; if I love those who hate me; I am showing that Christ’s love is truly in me and exemplified through me. I am more apt to pray for their salvation, and do good to them contrary to the way they persecute and despitefully me to their own wickedness. When we turn the other cheek we turn them over to Christ and the Holy Spirit to do the convicting in their hearts and minds.
I have been in the midst of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Atheist, Sinners, Political fanatics and bitter backslidden Christians and I’ve learned to show kindness and Christian love. Soul winning takes strategy for “he that wins souls is wise”. Slander may win an argument but it will not win souls; love wins hearts when it is genuinely felt by it object.
Brethren; we live in an age when Christ and Christianity is becoming obsolete in the social mentality of the world. Those in the world are looking for love, acceptance, and forgiveness even if it doesn’t appear on the surface or in their rhetoric. Christ looks upon the heart and sees the deep wounds and the despair and how it engenders resentment and rebellion and distrust.
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 KJV
Brethren; look at the wondrous love of Jesus who was wounded himself for our transgressions and who was bruised for our iniquities, who was chastised for our peace, and by whose stripes we are healed. Let us love like Jesus loves by becoming living sacrifices filled with love, mercy, and grace for others who are not saved! It may just be that the very worst enemy we have in our lives right now might be saved, healed, and delivered from the wages of sin. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
