Romans 12:9-21
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in hobor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence,
fevent in spirit,
serving the lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
be of the same mind toward one another. do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
do not be wise in your own opinion.
repay no one evil for evil. have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
if it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, "vengeance is Mine, I will repay, " says the Lord
"Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him;
if he thirsts, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Do not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
**
wake up call to me as i literally stumbled upon this passage that i've not heard preached in any church for just about the longest time. wake up call coz i've been wilfully unloving and thus unlovable. wake up call because i've spitted fire on my own instead of heaping a nice pile of coal on said enemy.
humbled by mercy yet again. and back on my knees to ask God to strip away that irritating complaining proud spirit that has taken residence within me.
somehow or the other,i always end up after my own sojourning or pretending to me mighty and strong bawling like a baby at the throne of God. i cannot move on until i breathe the fresh breath of mercy and grace and know acceptance all over again inspite of me.
lately, the lord has been addressing my deep rooted fear of rejection. Apparently, as a defence mechanism and a counter offensive, since i so deeply believe in striking first before being struck, ive so flippantly dismissed people out of my life when there is the remotest hint that i might not have full favour. I was asking God why i'm so harsh on people and to give me grace to be more loving..to be a natural channel for His love towards them to shine through. I've had no answers until now...it wasn't that God wasn't giving. its simply because that inate defence mechanism was acting AGAINST the love of God. Out of sheer respect of my own free will until i learn to surrender it all and let Him have his way no matter what, He backed off gently until I relinquished that area to Him.
but my new found freedom via surrender to the Lord has given me a boldness to not be afraid to be just who i am. with just about anyone. and to not fear them rolling their eyes or shying away. because God will know how to draw the right people and repulse the wrong on my behalf. My shield and my sword. tadah!
I don't have to get offended when people are nasty and rude. I don't have to try to be more loving when i am living on the perpetual euphoria that results of a perfect acceptance before the only only One that matters. I don't have to justify any hurt with an assault.
rejoice with me as each shred of me slowly erodes away in complete surrender before Jesus. there will soon be none of me left as i live in the reality that i am truly 'crucified with Christ. and it is not I that live but Christ that lives in me'.As i give myself over to death for Jesus, He'll be my resurrection life.
my flesh will be ever present until I'm called to heaven but in the meantime, those who have no chance of avoiding me, (ie. bf and my ever faithful circle of girlfriends) can look forward to less tantrums.
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