Loving your enemies
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I think whenever Jesus spoke it was as good as Scripture...not attainable for me...even when I speak Scripture.
Scripture applied at the wrong moment in the wrong place can work like poison.
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Again Jason you cannot understand. I don't see you thinking or knowing or talking about love I only see you talking about being sinless and somehow trying to associate that with actual love. To Jesus love was never about how sinless they were, he did what he did because of the love he had for us wile we were sinners
A
atwhatcost
Guest
I came to the Lord in the beginning of 1972. I was 15.5 y.o. Everything that could go wrong in a teens life did go wrong, (parents divorcing, moving to a new place -- often -- being homeless -- as in living with my relatives because Mom was too sick and poor to care for us -- Mom dying of cancer, molested, and moving back with Dad) and in the upheaval, I went from knowing where to go for spiritual guidance to 1600 miles away so far in the sticks I'd have to walk 15 miles just to get to town to find spiritual guidance. I didn't. Two years later, I got into drugs. I was a royal mess, but I was still saved.
In other ways, I think Jason has had a shaky start in the Lord and got into the wrong crowd. I couldn't be useful in the Lord when I was messed up, so I don't expect that of Jason either. First step -- get him out of the mess.
Well, this is not really the topic of the thread, and it is pretty basic to a believer's life. But if you need to know, I would recommend this basic article to start.
Is there evidence that God answers prayer?
A
atwhatcost
Guest
Um, yes. Really, really this IS the topic of this post. You say you are sinless. So, how does sinless you deal with loving real enemies? And, I understand prayer. Prayer is connecting our will to God's will, so then we can do what he wants us to do. It is for action. So, really really how do you love your enemies perfectly? What happens after you align your will with God's will and then you have to face that enemy that caused such upheavel he/she is an enemy? We're commanded to love our enemy, you are supposedly perfected in God, so teach us. I really want to know what it looks like, because, despite praying, it ain't perfect for me yet.
You talk the talk, show me your walk!
Well, it was nothing serious as say doing drugs or hurting anybody. In 1992 I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and was on fire and telling everyone about Jesus and His Word. In time, I had backslidden into the ways of the world (desiring to be super wealthy when I did not realize that such a thing was wrong according to the New Testament).
What mess are we talking about? Have no idea what you mean. I renewed my faith back in the Lord in 2010. I started to study God's Word and started dedicating my life to Him in everything I did. Whereas before I was trying to serve myself and God. But Jesus says you cannot serve two masters. For you will hate the one and love the other.
Why? Cause I'm saying something true? For example: If you had a family member beat you until you were bloody and needed to be hospitalized, and they were arrested, would you love them still? I don't know if I could. Why? They committed s crime that was unforgivable. So, I say you don't have to love all your enemies.
it would take a looong time and LOTS OF BIBLE, AND THERAPY but yes. After that long time I believe I could grow to love them.
Never said I was sinless. I said I do not abide in unrepentant sin that leads unto death; And I do not believe I will be a slave to my sin the rest of my life. I believe true believers will overcome this world and it's lusts.
Well, I do not need to prove my walk to you or anyone to know that it is true. I know God has answered my prayers. I am not going to go into the details of all my answered prayers because that is between me and God and the ones who love me and care about me (And it is not for those who seek to attack me for what I have to say).
How does one love their enemies perfectly?
Steven sure did it.
He was like Jesus in the fact that he asked the Lord to not hold the crimes of those who were hurting him against their charge. It is in renewing your mind. Asking God to help you to be new. For be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. God is going to have to show you that personally in your life if you really want it. He did it for me; And he can surely do it for you. If you want me to talk to you by PM about this, I would be happy to help you. But not here where others here are trying to tear me apart.
see that is what I was talking about. The love that comes from the human heart would indeed make it that hard to love them after they did all that. To be more than willing to die for someone who did all that to be more than willing to suffer severely for such a person who did all that is not a kind of love that is natural to mankind because it doesn't come from mankind.
There is love but then there is love that comes from God
No. You still have to forgive and love them even despite that. For if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven by the Father (Matthew 6:15).
A
atwhatcost
Guest
You say it. Okay, and I say all weeds are made from chocolate, so we should eat weeds instead of removing them.
Just because I say that doesn't make it true.
Yes, really really, we are commanded to love enemies, even if they are family who abuse us deeply. Yes, this is what God says. Yes this is what God would have us do, and I'm married to someone who was abused in all four ways by people in his family, but he still loved them. Only possible by God.
[video=youtube;1RIjZlVHlyw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RIjZlVHlyw[/video]
Love --- Petra
Love is patient, love is kind
No eyes of envy, true love is blind
Love is humble, it knows no pride
No selfish motive hidden inside
Love is gentle, makes no demands
Despite all wrong, true love still stands
Love is holy, love is pure
It lasts forever, it will endure
(Chorus)
Love knows when to let go
Love knows when to say no
Love grows in the light of the Son
And love shows the world that the Son of Love has come
Love is loyal, believes the best
It loves the truth, love stands the test
Love is God sent in His Son
Love forgives all we have done
(Chorus)
In this world where hatred seems to grow
True love goes against the flow
And becomes so hard to show
In this world where push turns to shove
We have strength to rise above
Through the power of His love
Lord, we need to know the power of Your love
(Chorus)
Songwriters
Sweet, Matthew / Maher, Fred
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Read more: Petra - Love Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Love --- Petra
Love is patient, love is kind
No eyes of envy, true love is blind
Love is humble, it knows no pride
No selfish motive hidden inside
Love is gentle, makes no demands
Despite all wrong, true love still stands
Love is holy, love is pure
It lasts forever, it will endure
(Chorus)
Love knows when to let go
Love knows when to say no
Love grows in the light of the Son
And love shows the world that the Son of Love has come
Love is loyal, believes the best
It loves the truth, love stands the test
Love is God sent in His Son
Love forgives all we have done
(Chorus)
In this world where hatred seems to grow
True love goes against the flow
And becomes so hard to show
In this world where push turns to shove
We have strength to rise above
Through the power of His love
Lord, we need to know the power of Your love
(Chorus)
Songwriters
Sweet, Matthew / Maher, Fred
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Read more: Petra - Love Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Okay guys, it seems like my most recent comments are turning heads and saying that most of you would forgive them and love them after a long time.
A
atwhatcost
Guest
Alleluia! You answered concretely -- like Steven.
Works for me. Thank you.
And you aren't sinless? Whoa! Sorry about that. Then I've misread a whole bunch of your posts ever since I started on here, because I could honestly, as a witness in court, swear you said you don't sin. My mind must be wicked bad. (In a Bostonian way, not truly wicked, since I'm saved too.)
But, honestly, if someone asks you to tell how to love your enemies, and then you post a respond, then, yeah, really, you're supposed to tell how you love your enemies. Otherwise, why respond at all? You don't have to give intimate details, but it does help to know how, ultimately it worked out once and how God got you there.
And, considering Paul was stuck with that thorn in his side most, if not all, of his life, it doesn't have to be a perfect victory. God loves us if we fail miserably, kinda do alright, or triumph gloriously through his work in us. The only thing I think is wrong is to never try for God's will through a situation.
A
atwhatcost
Guest
God got Corrie Ten Boom to love her enemy -- the Nazi who killed her family in a concentration camp -- in the space of time between recognizing that German at the other end of the stage with her that night and the end of the presentation that got them both on that stage that night. She loved her enemy in the space of 1-3 hours, so God can be quicker. Just because some of us have a slow burn doesn't mean God can't change that to love quickly too.
Since we are talking about love and trying to understand what it is and what it means let me explain the love i am after and then you tell me whose heart and what kind of love it comes from.
Since the beginning of my faith I told God I did not seek an ordinary love and relationship with him that I did not seek an ordinary kind of faith, I said to him that if we are going to do this if we are going to walk down this path we either go all the way or not all. I knew that if I would receive the love I was after it very well could come at a great cost because it is a dangerous level of love.
God has poured his love into my heart, I am by no means even close to the level of love he has but through him and with him he and I are getting there. as of now I am willing to die for the sake of even the cruelist of person, my life is always on the table for God to take so that not even one person good or evil has to die. I will at any given chance take the place of a person who is being sent to hell for a time just so that they can possibly still be saved. I am by no means afraid of hell because I know this with all my heart that no matter how severe the pain no matter how hot the fire no matter how great the thirst that the love with God for God and for all others will be that much stronger.
Even hell itself cannot come close to the level and deepness of love that God and I will have even if I don't have it now this is the love I seek and I refuse to accept anything less. This is a prayer I am constantly praying, every day I offer my life to God for the sake of a person around the world I have never met that I don't know that I can't even see but I do this because as long as I am alive as long as there is something I can do i am going to do it I simply will not allow anyone to even have to see that horrible place if I have a say in the matter if god will allow me to take their place I am going to take it.
Since the beginning of my faith I told God I did not seek an ordinary love and relationship with him that I did not seek an ordinary kind of faith, I said to him that if we are going to do this if we are going to walk down this path we either go all the way or not all. I knew that if I would receive the love I was after it very well could come at a great cost because it is a dangerous level of love.
God has poured his love into my heart, I am by no means even close to the level of love he has but through him and with him he and I are getting there. as of now I am willing to die for the sake of even the cruelist of person, my life is always on the table for God to take so that not even one person good or evil has to die. I will at any given chance take the place of a person who is being sent to hell for a time just so that they can possibly still be saved. I am by no means afraid of hell because I know this with all my heart that no matter how severe the pain no matter how hot the fire no matter how great the thirst that the love with God for God and for all others will be that much stronger.
Even hell itself cannot come close to the level and deepness of love that God and I will have even if I don't have it now this is the love I seek and I refuse to accept anything less. This is a prayer I am constantly praying, every day I offer my life to God for the sake of a person around the world I have never met that I don't know that I can't even see but I do this because as long as I am alive as long as there is something I can do i am going to do it I simply will not allow anyone to even have to see that horrible place if I have a say in the matter if god will allow me to take their place I am going to take it.
A
atwhatcost
Guest
I wanted to stay on topic, so didn't address this before. You're not my enemy. You're my bro. You've been under some bad teaching (maybe) and you're being hunted by two on this site who really do think they are sinless to join their camp, but you aren't my enemy. If you were, I'd do what I've done to those who want you in their camp -- ignore you.
Just to be clear, I have four blood brothers. I love them, but that doesn't mean we don't argue, and maybe even get into a little cat and dogging fight. (Unfortunately, I'm the dog, so usually lose. lol) I may (and often do) completely disagree with them, but if they need help, I'm there. If needed, I'll even get into a physical fight to help any one of them (or my sister.) Considering that guarantees I'll be hurt unmercifully, (I'm 59, disabled, and a bit chunky, so I am many things but not a physical fighter lol), that's how much I'll stick up for a bro -- blood or spiritual. Just pick me up and dust me off, if I ever have to fight for you physically. lol