Save the People. Save the World.

"He came because God so loved the world without any condemnation. Why then do we speak so much of it?

LAY DOWN your swords and pick up your staves. The sword of the Spirit is wielded against the enemy, not each other. Not people. The shield of faith is meant to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, the devil. Yeah, sometimes those are the words of people. But Jesus wants all men to be saved. He came because God so loved the world without any condemnation. Why then do we speak so much of it? No, we are not responsible for people’s reactions to the truth of God’s Word, but we can’t use that as an excuse to say whatever we want, whatever fits.

We’re not supposed to be defiant. We’re supposed to be confident.

We don’t rub their faces in the Scriptures. We display them in our words, in our actions, and they all look like love. When Jude said we pull some from the flames. That is TIME, some who sit at the edge of physical death are saved from hell’s damning. There are many stories of this kind. One who was saved moments before passing. It is also REVELATION. We give those unwilling to accept Christ the truths written. God sent His Son, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved BUT those who do not accept salvation are condemned already (John 3:17). But it’s not a banner we wave nor a fiery torch shoved in their faces. We don’t ENJOY it.

“‘In your anger do not sin’—do not let your anger or any strong emotion take control of your minds and determine your choices; don’t retain anger in your hearts.” (Ephesians 4:26, Remedy)

Jesus came to DESTROY the work of the devil. He came in the power of the Holy Spirit to HEAL all those oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). And a group hug doesn’t make our behavior right. Instead, we are God the Father with arms spread wide welcoming any who call upon Him, offering them our greatest blessing, the deepest parts of love and mercy and compassion because that is what He did for us. So we do for them to that same extent.

We are Jesus, just as willing to lay down our lives for our friends as He bid us to do in the gospels (John 15:13). Then, when the situation calls for it, when government needs our voice or the church or the structure of the family, what we say is anointed with the Spirit of God’s presence, it is anointed with His power and authority and holds far more strength than it will ever do on its own, fueled by anger and frustration. Anger and frustration spoken atop the Word of God isn’t anointed at all but swinging that condemnation axe in the face of those who most need Him. We need to remember this.

“Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:5, TLB)

“What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, TLB)

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay


----------
Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com