TWO JOLLY GREEN GIANTS; LOVE AND FORGIVENESS NO. 2

Anger is everywhere and far too often, but if we are to truly claim Christ as our Savior, we must recognize it for what it is and do all we can to rid ourselves and the world of it. 

 

Have you ever paid a visit to a home and even though the husband and wife were smiling and pleasant, you could feel an undertone of strife? 

Or visited a home where the ambience was definitely loving and cheerful, and you were keenly aware of it?

Visit some churches and you can feel an undertone

of strife. 

Visit others and you can feel an undertone of love.

Visit a church filled with pouting pettiness and you visit a church that is dying.

Visit a church where there are constant arguments - theological, political, whatever…and you can feel it and it is a church that is dying.

Visit a church where love abounds and you can feel it and that church is on the edge of a resurrection.

I’m not saying it is a piece of cake to achieve the kind of love and forgiveness I am talking about. 

If were easy, if it was second nature to us all, Jesus would not have had to give us that radical Commandment – love thy neighbor as thyself.

 Radical Love!

This learning to love people you don’t even particularly like. 

We all like some people more than others.  Call it chemistry.  But on the love/like chart, they come out at an 11. 

And then there are others who barely make it past 5.

 Which simply means that, by the grace of God, we have to work harder at liking that person who keeps giving us so many reasons not to.

Radical Forgiveness. 
The kind of forgiveness that looks at our human nature and gives it a good slap in the face when it isn’t paying proper attention to the kind of forgiveness Christ talked about in His sermon on the mount. 
Blessed forgiveness.  Forgiveness that goes the extra mile and then adds even more. 
The kind of forgiveness Paul is talking about in his letter to the Colossians.
 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians. 3:12-14 NIV
Pure and simple, as Christians we must clothe ourselves with compassion…not with the rags of what is considered normal human behavior.
Humility rather than arrogance, gentleness rather than aggression, patience rather than being an impatient bore.
And don’t just talk about the virtues of love…but put it on…like armor…armor that glows.
Why? because that is the road to unity and anything less is the road to discord. 

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To view an abundance of unusual stories and comments by Neil Wyrick go to Neil’s other blog ONE A DAY, YOUR SPIRITUAL VITAMINS

Click on the following URL

http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/

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Below is a quote from Thursday Jan 20th Wyrick’s writings blog entitled ANGER VS. PATIENCE
“After the old man had departed, God called out to Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I sent him on his way because he did not worship you.”
God answered “I have suffered him all his eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure for just one night?”

God suffers us, endures us! And forgives us and loves us and sets such a perfect example for us.”

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BELOW IS A QUOTE FROM THE SERIES  “A HEAVENLY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM” …quoted from Sunday Jan 2 2011
(1st in series) (on this Wyrick’s Writing blog)

It began Sunday Dec 26, 2010

“I have always been intrigued by a question God put to Adam, “Where are you?” Why did He ask that? What is the meaning behind this? It wasn’t a geographical question, for certainly God knew the answer to that one.

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BELOW IS A QUOTE FROM A NEW SERIES “Depression…the Alien Within”  on this Wyrick’s Writings …each Thursday

”Sometimes the best thing do, if depression descends on you, is for a little while to try to wipe clean the slate of your worried mind.  To give such thoughts some muted silence.  Seek an emotional whiteout.  Just let the soft breeze of nothingness blow for a while.  And then, read John 14:27 and hear Jesus saying, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

“Do you enjoy visiting friends? More than likely you’re thinking, Preacher, of course, I do.
Now let me ask the other side of the coin - Do you enjoy visiting enemies? No?
Well, I know you must enjoy visiting at least one enemy because, like myself, you probably visit this one quite often. Unfortunately, we all …visit this enemy…whose name is anger.

Some visit anger seldom . Some on a regular basis. And during those visits, some spew and others stew.”

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There are over 600 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

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