8th
July 10 The Lord is saying.
You are grasping new concepts build on them and they won't diminish
from your mind. If you are going forward you won't slip back.
2nd
July 10
The Lord is saying: I
am with you in all the new things you are starting. This is
the beginning of the old and the new coming together; the jigsaws
starting to fit in place. For many years you have wondered how
it could all come together; bits here, bits there, but I have
been in all your dreams and longings. Now you will see begin
to see how it will all fit in. Nothing has been wasted on this
walk with me and nothing you will do will stop what I have in
store for you, for I have placed my desires in your heart..
Are
your worst enemies your best friends!!!
A dozen reasons why they well could be!!
"What??? Rejoice!!!
...when I am persecuted???... You've got to be kidding!!!"
Well think again! That's what Jesus advocated, He and St Paul
and others in the New Testament found this element of Christian
life something to be extremely thankful for.
I know... It seems like you would
have to turn yourself inside out, back to front and upside down
to make yourself think like that. Well!!! I reckon when we start
to think like that, we will be heading towards being the right
way round and the right way up.!!!
So if you want your socks blessed
off... consider a dozen reasons why we should be grateful for
our enemies!!!
1. Great is your reward in heaven.
Blessed are you
when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted
the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5: 10,11.
2. The Power of
God will rest upon you
Its strange how when we can keep our cool when people are treating
us bad, how the power of God runs through us more powerfully.
Maybe this is something to do with humility.
And lest I should be exalted above
measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was
given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this
thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from
me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for
my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses
for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians
12: 7 - 10
Paul's thorn in the flesh was not
sickness. You will find that that the bible answers it own questions.
Numbers 3:55 clearly tells you that 'thorns in your side' are
people who are a 'pain in the butt'.
3. God is working
it all to good.
Joseph told his brothers after they
had thrown him in a pit to die, that although they had meant
it for evil, God had meant it for good. Through their actions,
Joseph's dreams and visions came to pass. Nobody can touch us
unless God allows it. Jesus's triumphant moment was when the
enemy nailed him to the cross.
Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews
12:2
Don't ask me why but there are some
people who have come at me like a bull in a china shop when
I knew in my heart that I had done nothing wrong but to love
them and the deception was on their part. Yet somehow by pouring
love upon them in the attack, I have been able (with the grace
of God) to win them round and glorify God. Sometimes people
may need to get something off of their chest and you have been
chosen as the 'soft place' to bring some healing.
And we
know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans
8:28
4. God saves us
from making an idol out of some people we are tempted to make
an idl out of, or become emotionally dependent on.
But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus. Phillipians 4:19
God blesses us through who He wants
to bless us through - not who we think should bless us. The
reason being is because He wants his children to be dependent
on Him alone and to look to him for everything. When we become
petulant because we are not getting from someone what we think
they should give us - we are not looking at who are source really
is.
5. A chance to
evaluate.
Our critics may be saying something
helpful. Its better to take the matter to God and ask His opinion,
maybe we are making some mistakes and it's us that are in the
wrong. Maybe God is trying to tell us something through people
before we get ourselves in trouble.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But
when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should
not be condemned with the world.
1 Corinthians 11: 31, 32
Another side to
this is that sometimes we are looking at people wondering why
they have certain traits and we have exactly the same failings.
I once heard that God puts us alongside people like ourselves
to show us what we are really like. The joke for today, nicely
depicts this.. So that's another reason to rejoice when someone
is rubbing us up the wrong way.
6. Future and eternal glory
For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are
seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.2
Corinthians 4:17, 18
Peter talks about
opportunities to
7. Be blessed
8. Be protected
9. Love life
10. See good days
11. Shame your enemies
12. Get your prayers answered
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be
sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with
blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit
a blessing. For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Who is going to harm you if you are eager
to do good?
But even if you should suffer
for what is right, you are blessed.
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared
to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect, keeping a clear conscience, so
that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior
in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if
it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3: 8-17
