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Love Your Enemies?
Astrapho:
Wow... All you seniors are posting all these awesome life stories, and what do I have? Online game experience, which sounds like a really silly way to learn to "love your enemies" compared to the ones you guys got from real life.
I play a game called GunZ. Down here, players are extremely arrogant and after they lose, they hurl a lot of abuse and it gets quite upsetting sometimes. There is a very real hate between rival players, even through the internet. I've been there. I felt the anger before, and I even loved it. I used it to power my gameplay, and I hammered down all my enemies and taunted them heavily after I did, "You @$&#*(&, don't talk if you can't play" or "You mother %^$&@*$& nooblet go home ##&%@$(&# $&#*&!)@($## etc. etc.". They threw the same stuff right back at me, and when one of us had to leave, it is with very bitter feelings that stays with you long throughout the week if you didn't manage to "settle the score".
It's pride.
You can't love your enemies with pride in the way, you can't even begin to forgive them if you can't lower your pride and stay humble. Even now, in my Halo 3 stints, I can feel all the anger when I lose to a player who was more of a green hat than I was, and it's still a real struggle not to turn the mic on and start yelling at them. And in school, I thought I was so great in Math and I got a little arrogant during the paper. I made lots of careless mistakes and heck near failed, and there was this guy who used to do terribly at Math, and he got tops. When I heard the news I was like... "Oh gosh no way, that stupid fella?" and I could feel the jealousy. I managed to recover from that thankfully through some prayer later on, but I can still remember the hate. It was all my pride. My pride made me make enemies out of innocent people, people who did better than me, who went against me, who made me lose my pride. (I just noticed that it's all, me, me, me! :D Joining dots with "the Beast", anyone?)
I guess that's one of the reasons why we absolutely need to have a humble heart. ;D
Dave in Tenn:
Joe, you're living the Scripture in your response to this. Specks and beams, brother...specks and beams. Even when you CAN help, empathize, listen with love, it's 'discipleship' to remember that we are not Him and that His work in us continues.
It's been a meaningful exchange in this thread to me at this time. Thanks all.
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Astrapho on May 19, 2009, 09:23:32 AM ---
Wow... All you seniors are posting all these awesome life stories, and what do I have? Online game experience, which sounds like a really silly way to learn to "love your enemies" compared to the ones you guys got from real life.
--- End quote ---
Hi Astropho,
I can say with confidence that at your age, even though I do not know your age I really never lost much sleep over devising ways to make someone "pay" for crossing me.... It is relatively recent (the past few years) that I even thought about loving or even forgiving my enemies, real or imagined. I sense that you might see age 55 as ancient (I did even in my 40's) but it sneaks up on you very quickly. ;)
You are so far ahead of where I was since you are even thinking about these things!
--- Quote from: Dave in Tenn on May 19, 2009, 10:02:57 AM ---Joe, you're living the Scripture in your response to this. Specks and beams, brother...specks and beams. Even when you CAN help, empathize, listen with love, it's 'discipleship' to remember that we are not Him and that His work in us continues.
It's been a meaningful exchange in this thread to me at this time. Thanks all.
--- End quote ---
Hi Dave,
I see what you are saying, no matter what our (my) own weaknesses are we (I) can justify them as we (I) condemn others for their particular weaknesses.
We had no say in how we were created and can take no pride or glory in abstaining from things (temptations) we are not drawn to (but succumb to our own particular lusts/weaknesses) as we rail against others (inwardly or outwardly) who are only falling prey to the temptations they were created prone to desire.
In as far as the very worst (as we perceive) sinners, murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc. I can only thank God for delivering me from and not creating me prone to these types of temptations.
Like the old saying says;
"But by the grace of God, there go I."
A few more scriptures, there sure are many!
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
I believe the NASV translation of James 2:13 is a more precise and clearer rendering;
"For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
Mercy triumphs over judgment! Boy does that shoot a huge hole in old eternal torment teaching!
Peace,
Joe
Marlene:
Having Gods truths makes all the difference. Without, those truths we would not be able to forgive our enemies. This is why once God returns to judge all the earth will be at peace. We have been very blessed to know the truth. Its not because of anything we do, but what God does . If, any of us are the chosen it is all God's choice. Nothing is our own.
These are verses that, when I use to read them, I was not able to see them for what they meant because of my blind eyes.
Isaiah Chapter 26
verse 9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early; for when they judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the word will learn rightousness.
verse 10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
These verses help me to remember he died for all of us. He will judge fairly and show mercy. How, can we not forgive those who do not know what they do?
We have been given truth and now this enables us to do right. Only, because God is doing it in us.
Great Post
In His Love,
Marlene
Astrapho:
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on May 19, 2009, 04:01:18 PM ---
--- Quote from: Astrapho on May 19, 2009, 09:23:32 AM ---
Wow... All you seniors are posting all these awesome life stories, and what do I have? Online game experience, which sounds like a really silly way to learn to "love your enemies" compared to the ones you guys got from real life.
--- End quote ---
Hi Astropho,
I can say with confidence that at your age, even though I do not know your age I really never lost much sleep over devising ways to make someone "pay" for crossing me.... It is relatively recent (the past few years) that I even thought about loving or even forgiving my enemies, real or imagined. I sense that you might see age 55 as ancient (I did even in my 40's) but it sneaks up on you very quickly. ;)
--- End quote ---
I happen to be at that teenage rebellion angst revenge violence bla bla age range, and before God dragged me to his truths, I really was an angsty rebellious average teen, treading on the road to destruction, though thank God, before I had a chance to go into any of that...
Yep, great saying: But by the grace of God, there go I.
--- Quote ---55
--- End quote ---
AHH!! D: D:
Lemme put it this way...You're 40 years more ancient than me. :o
@Marlene: Completely agreed.
Great posts guys! ;D
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