tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post7636359683366586585..comments2023-10-21T04:32:31.262-05:00Comments on Following Judah's Lion: The Love of God and the CrossRick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-63197931355224020342013-11-16T11:31:46.305-05:002013-11-16T11:31:46.305-05:00James raises a good point. It seems we can so com...James raises a good point. It seems we can so completely give ourselves over to them that enemy "thinking and behavior" come to define who we ARE. Or so I understand scripture’s teaching that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7)<br /><br />As James points out, Jesus' rebuke of "hypocrites" must be taken as sovereignly definitive: God's Own judgement that some ARE hypocrites.<br /><br />And we all know experientially the difficulty of trying to "judge not" by our human view, but operate in the Spirit's discernment who ARE enemies…and love them in the Spirit. Which comes back to Rick’s point.<br /><br />In that difficulty no hope is greater than God's promise that by His grace and His power we are being changed into the image of Jesus. That God Himself guides our "thinking and behavior" in the ways that make us children pleasing to Him.<br /><br />Hallelujah !!<br />Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-36333735526686613912013-11-14T17:18:13.735-05:002013-11-14T17:18:13.735-05:00We musn't set our hearts on hating flesh and b...We musn't set our hearts on hating flesh and blood but we must remember that we mustn't be silent about those who currently are spreading blatant lies about Jesus. <br /><br />It is biblical to point out hypocrisy. Jesus did it and so too should His genuine followers. <br /><br />A loving person can criticise those who practise iniquity. When Jesus said someone was a hypocrite He was being critical of their thinking and behavior. His response to them honored God!<br /><br />Blessings<br /><br />JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-55976491478702905692013-11-14T13:21:26.109-05:002013-11-14T13:21:26.109-05:00Thanks for the post, Rick.
We can get very stiff ...Thanks for the post, Rick.<br /><br />We can get very stiff in our Christianity...and too many are controlled by the 'uppers' in the congregation (don't know how else to put that). It seems to be about a set-up system instead of 'being' like Christ. <br /><br />I agree with what Steve said too.Lorenanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-32331655417697952622013-11-14T11:12:39.063-05:002013-11-14T11:12:39.063-05:00We probably end up on the wrong track because we t...We probably end up on the wrong track because we take the wrong first step: recognizing who the enemies ARE.<br /><br />Scripture's clear that our enemies are NOT flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and we war NOT according to the flesh (II Corinthians 10:3ff).<br /><br />But we prefer to ignore scripture, and style ourselves "culture-warriors." Only then can we set our hearts on hating flesh-and blood: as Rosie O'Donnell, gays, Obama, Muslims, and "liberals" are.<br /><br />In Jesus, Steve<br /><br /><br />Stevenoreply@blogger.com