Former location of "The Kingdom of the Heavens" blog, written by an incurable fool who is trying to become a holy fool!
We, together, are the salt of the earth. We season our world, making it taste good to God. And individually we are to have salt in ourselves–the salt of peace within and among ourselves. Salt is something we are, not something we do. And salt that has lost its flavor is sand in the saltshaker, It was never salt in the first place.
Adiós por ahora, mis amigos
Hay mucho que todavía yo no sé.
Habrá cosas que yo no puedo saber.
¿Si otra vez nos volveremos a ver?
De cierto, hay mucho que nunca sabré.
¿A dónde nuestras vidas nos llevarán?
¡Eso es el rompecabezas más grande!
Viendo mañana, nadie ahora rinde
Ni si al buen lugar nos traerán.
Pero sí, conozco a mi futuro
Entero a sí mismo él me traerá
Aunque él me da un camino duro.
Debo creer que completos nos hará
Que confían en su amor seguro
Y en su amor mis amigos guardará.
Una bendición para algunos queridos amigos que me han rechazado, y para mis compañeros de la Universidad este semestre.
I must live more righteously than the most religious people, the people who make a show of keeping all of the rules in their own strength. Jesus’ first example of this is that I must handle my anger better than the most religious people do, and better than the traditional interpretations of the Law of Moses prescribed. I am responsible not only for letting the Spirit control my anger, but for doing what I can, led by the Spirit, to avoid giving a brother or sister an occasion to develop a grudge against me. If I love my brother or sister, I will try to reconcile with them promptly when I know I have aroused their anger.
If I am truly living in the Kingdom of the Heavens, living under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, God will be fulfilling the purpose of the Law through me, the same way Jesus did during his earthly ministry. But If I use my freedom as an opportunity for my flesh, to mistreat or exploit my fellow believers, I am breaking the Law. If I bite and devour another believer, I have broken the whole Law–and I should fear being bitten and devoured myself. If I teach others that there are exceptions to the Law of Love, I am teaching others to “break” God’s commandments and am the least in the Kingdom. Whenever I let the Holy Spirit do his walking through my feet, his work through my hands and his speaking through my mouth, I am free from the Law, free to do whatever the Spirit directs. I won’t be doing what the flesh tells me to do, biting and devouring my fellows. The Spirit then fulfills the Law in me, and I am free.
Not the smallest piece of the Law has ever been abolished. But its summary, and its fulfillment, is its command to love my neighbor as myself. If I love myself as I should, and love others in the same way, I will fulfill the Law. But I must come to Jesus to be taught the way of love and to be given the power to love as he does. Then he will fulfill the whole Law through me, in the love he shows others through my life.
This is the report of a prayer time earlier this week in which the Holy Spirit interrogated me about how a passage in Colossians 1 that I was praying through applied to my life, as enlarged by some later meditation. God is able to take care of even of the people I worry about and other believers I’ve hurt, Reconciliation comes only from Him. Enough people have watched me tear myself apart this year with worry and self-condemnation that I knew I should make it public to reassure them that I’m still listening to God. It may also be helpful to other chronic codependent worriers who hear it.
Changed treatment of each other, choosing not to forgive, Forgive as we forgive, forgiveness and mercy, God is Love, God was never our enemy, God's Existence and Nature, God's purpose for us, God's sovereignty, Love each other, patience, Reconciliation, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of our Relationships, To live in unity, Victory, What is sin?
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus gives what appears to be a simple command, though one that is almost never obeyed: before I may offer worship to God before other people, I must see that any offenses which I am aware that others hold against me are being reconciled and have been reconciled at least to some degree. This post covers Jesus’ extreme example of this—the need to interrupt even a Temple sacrifice ritual to go and be reconciled.
My human nature, people around me and even the world’s “experts” tell me that I should insist on my “rights,” hold grudges forever, cut people off, deny all mercy and all forgiveness, particularly when I have been hurt badly. But God’s wisdom tells me to show his grace, mercy and forgiveness, and to set people free. Jesus promised—and warned—that I will receive back even more of what I give, good or bad. But becoming like Jesus is a learning process I am still far from completing.
choosing not to forgive, Discipline or Correction, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, To live in unity, What is sin?
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
When other believers reject me so completely that they order me not to pray for them, this doesn’t change what God tells me to do for them. I should continue doing good to them, as the opportunity presents itself. Galatians 6:7-10. This includes praying for them.