Hope In Him Alone: November 2011

The holidays are here, so a lot of us will be visiting people that may not be on the same page. It can be hard getting together as we think of past memories being difficult. During times like this, its important to focus on the good and to pray for Gods strength and love.

As I write this, I want you to know that I am still working on what God is showing me. But he does have a strategy. One of the ways I can tell that I am still struggling with obeying God is my feelings regarding what scripture says about dealing with difficult people. To me it seems like yucky medicine. None-the-less God’s word is spoken from love, compassion & experience because he has actually done these things for us. His challenge to us is for peace to abound. So we need to ask ourselves, are we up for the challenge of doing things His way?

1. Give as Christ Gives

Galatians 2:20 “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

So we are to make a conscious effort with a loving attitude to make some time for people who seem difficult (giving of our self), and live in harmony and community with them. We can’t control the way they act, only the way we act. When we give to others, it is actually Christ we give to. (Matthew 6:31-32)

2. Be Kind & Compassionate

Luke 6:31-32 “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!”

Luke 6:35-36 "Love your enemies! Do good to them….without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

Matthew 5:47 “If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”

I wouldn't call everyone who seems difficult an enemy, but their attacks need to be dealt with just like that of an enemy. And in reality, the enemy Satan is the one who is actually behind it all anyway. So God is telling us how to be victorious over Satan in these verses.

3. Be a Victor

Luke 6:27-28 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”

How do we show love when we are hurt? We choose to be the victor rather than the victim. To be the victor, we must remember that God is our Father and we are deeply loved. Also, we must think of how we want to show our kids or others what it means to be a Christ follow and love like Jesus. Our kids and others are listening to what we do, more then what we say to them.

Here are some great tips to remember;

Ecclesiastes 10:4b "A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes."

Deuteronomy 20:4 “For the LORD your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory!'

Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless."

Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

Lord, I pray you give us your power to love and a willingness to live out peace on earth with those you have placed beside us. May we keep living for your Glory.

Hope In Him Alone

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