The Real Victory
Many of us have lived for many years listening to some preach the impending judgment of God……the God of love. Some of us have determined to search out the truth concerning the fear based threats that hang over our heads from such preaching. In doing so and in expressing our hearts we sometimes encounter a great deal of rejection. It is often disheartening.
Mercy triumphs over judgment. If that is true then we all have great hope.
I have watched a sister at another site boldly, yet lovingly and patiently, take her stand on the side of grace and mercy over a certain amount of preaching that seeems to be more based in legalism and fear based judgment than in the grace and mercy of God. It is not easy to stand for what you believe against those who see God as angry and think it is there place to warn the world about it. So often these prophets of doom cannot stay at one place for long. They soon wear out the saints (and anyone else withing earshot) and in the process they wear themselves out also and must move on for the sanity of everyone. They too are victims of fear.
Yet we are supposed to be resting in Christ. Hmmmm.
We all have had our own struggles with legalism to one degree or the other. Maybe it is God’s way of bringing us to the end of ourselves.
To me the greatest sign of the true victory of the cross is to see the rest Christ brings to people. And the only thing worth working for is to bring rest to others and resist those who refuse to grant rest….and yet doing it in love even for those who resist us the most.
Pam, grace and peace to you…..and rest too.
“To me the greatest sign of the true victory of the cross is to see the rest Christ brings to people.”
That statement alone is what keeps me posting, preaching, and teaching about the good news that came to mankind so long ago at the cross.
I worked so hard for so many years before I finally woke up and realized this awesome rest I’ve always had but wasn’t usning. Thank-you Jesus.
Pam I was just thinking when you said love those who resist us the most I was thinking about Roms chapter 10 where Paul talked about love in how love is like burning coals upon a person.
The way I used to read that verse in legalistic way like it bring some kind of punishment but when a read in now under the eyes of grace I see that it is talking about a love that is greater then anything.Paul met up with that love on the road to Damcaus.and again when he went up to the third heaven.He truly had his heart and mind open to that true love.
I believe when you have your eyes open to His true love and grace you cannot resist it just overwelms that heart.
God’s love and mercy is following us all and there is no where we can truly hid it will always find us.
Praise God for all that He has done.
Love in Christ Dan
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36
I agree… Real Victory is Peace
Shalom
One thing I have learned about presenting this Gospel that Paul preached and it is this…. Peoples first reactions mean NOTHING! If we continue on in the message of Grace & Peace and are not turned back those who first heard this message from us will begin to see something in us that they for the most part have NEVER seen. And what is it they will see….. Peace in our lives and Grace in our lives and Acceptance of others in our lives. When others see this natural out flow it starts to become irresistible.
Peace
Geo
Thanks guys for the comments and as you say Jim, may we hear the Lords words of peace for us all and find rest.