Matthew 5:21-22, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
In a time of prayer, I heard the Voice of God speaking to me these words:
I believe that we are being reminded and called to once again go to the loved ones of God, and the Church, who’ve fallen and restore them.
As we plant seed hoping for a new harvest of souls it is important that we not forget those among us who are weaker. Just as we put up stakes in a tomato patch to strengthen the plant and keep it from falling, or breaking, we also must remember that what may appear to be a falling member is really a fellow planting of the Lord that we who are spiritual need to edify and reinforce.
The safest place in town should be with the saints of Jesus Christ, and the safest place is with the saints of Jesus Christ. His love compels us to not only fulfill the great commission, but to also make sure that everyone in the body of Christ makes the trip.
We don’t cutoff a leg because it is broken, or pluck out an eye because it has an irritant in it, and we don’t marginalize people who may be weak among us. In fact, it is in our weakness, the weakness of the body, that our strength is realized for “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1).
It is the will of God that we pursue and then bear the infirmities of the weak as we restore the fallen among us.
What rights have we to condemn, judge, or to cast aside the children of our Lord, when He came into the world, not to condemn His children in it, but to save them? He has provided Himself a ransom for many. He has shown us His mercy, and having believed we walk in grace being patiently taught how to live a sober and godly life. So, pass those lessons of love on to others who have fallen.
Who among us will strive to not only win a new soul to Jesus, but to also look for our missing brothers and sisters and speak words of love and restoration to them? They're missing, but not forgotten, and just as the father looked for the return of his beloved younger son, we elder brothers should go with the same fervency and intensity that we put into the work of the field to find and bring our missing home.
Determine today, with me, that you will pursue the beloved of the Lord.
Raca comes from an old Chaldean word meaning “O empty one, that is, thou worthless (as a term of utter vilification).”[1]
In a time of prayer, I heard the Voice of God speaking to me these words:
Raca. I said, “Don’t call that word on anyone’s life. My children are not Raca. My children are not cast away. My children are not forgotten just because they are not present. Pursue the absent as you sow for new.”
I believe that we are being reminded and called to once again go to the loved ones of God, and the Church, who’ve fallen and restore them.
As we plant seed hoping for a new harvest of souls it is important that we not forget those among us who are weaker. Just as we put up stakes in a tomato patch to strengthen the plant and keep it from falling, or breaking, we also must remember that what may appear to be a falling member is really a fellow planting of the Lord that we who are spiritual need to edify and reinforce.
The safest place in town should be with the saints of Jesus Christ, and the safest place is with the saints of Jesus Christ. His love compels us to not only fulfill the great commission, but to also make sure that everyone in the body of Christ makes the trip.
We don’t cutoff a leg because it is broken, or pluck out an eye because it has an irritant in it, and we don’t marginalize people who may be weak among us. In fact, it is in our weakness, the weakness of the body, that our strength is realized for “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1).
It is the will of God that we pursue and then bear the infirmities of the weak as we restore the fallen among us.
What rights have we to condemn, judge, or to cast aside the children of our Lord, when He came into the world, not to condemn His children in it, but to save them? He has provided Himself a ransom for many. He has shown us His mercy, and having believed we walk in grace being patiently taught how to live a sober and godly life. So, pass those lessons of love on to others who have fallen.
Who among us will strive to not only win a new soul to Jesus, but to also look for our missing brothers and sisters and speak words of love and restoration to them? They're missing, but not forgotten, and just as the father looked for the return of his beloved younger son, we elder brothers should go with the same fervency and intensity that we put into the work of the field to find and bring our missing home.
Determine today, with me, that you will pursue the beloved of the Lord.
[1] According to Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries (Entry # G4469)
tis true. We are to love what Jesus loves and hate what He hates.
ReplyDeleteHe sure proved His love to me.
Bro Ikerd
As I read this, I was reminded of the scripture in I Thess 5:14: Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].
ReplyDeleteSometimes we lack patience with the weak, and they get cast aside...I can't find the scripture, but isn't there one that speaks about they will know we are His disciples by the love we show to one another?
Great blog, son!