God is really testing me in this area at the moment with people.
I'm chatting to people with issues about others - offenses and the like - and whilst I know Gods plan is restoration and love I'm trying to understand the process people go through to get set free and restore the relationship.
I know you will all have views and scriptures to back up what you think but I just want to comment on two things: The ultimate desire of God and the timing of dealing with issues.
There is no doubt that God is love and this is the ultimate result. If you think you can keep bad attitudes and offenses then you welcome to your own opinion but you are wrong!
Someone once said you cannot genuinely love God if you don't love His people!
So Gods desire is always for love, for restoration, for unity. Where there is unity God commands the blessing - God cannot help himself but pour out His blessing when people come together in unity - when they sort out their stuff and love one another.
When should we address our differences. We used to have a joke at our church that you had to forgive someone in 30 seconds! Sounds bold but even that is not totally correct if you think "Why" do we get offended in the first place? Do we have the right to get offended at all?
I'm really being challenged by the timing of sorting things out. If I rush in and confront my offenses immediately often I am operating in the flesh and just make a hash of it!
Equally I've seen people wait around for too long and a bitter root grows in them. Then it is very hard to bring restoration.
If the true biblical way is (1) go to God with the offense and (2) only go to the person if God doesn't set it right and then (3) take an elder or someone in authority if 1 & 2 don't work then:
God will sort out most of the issues - as most of them are our "responses" rather than a genuine offense anyway! Allow the peace of God to work in your hearts (mine as well) as God is a lot better at sorting out our hearts than we are. I've seen personally God sort through many of my issues so that I don't have to go and make a fool of myself!
But there must be peace. If there is no peace it may be better to address it in love with the person. One friend of mine recently had a problem with someone and I told him to go to that person directly. I even said that the person might not even know there is an offense! I've found more than often our offenses are really "one person" offenses where we have had our feathers ruffled but the other person has no idea there is a problem! He went, he spoke, and yes the other person had no idea! They had a good laugh about it and freedom was released!
If I could close on something vital. The scripture says speak the truth in love! Somewhere in this scripture is a vital key. When the Motive is love, when the Manner is love, when the Model (Jesus) is love and when the Moment is dictated by love (not flesh or frustration) then restoration can take place.
Don't rush in the flesh and make a fool of yourself. Don't wait until a bitter root has grown.
Wait upon God and see if He fixes your heart first. Tell Him you want this sorted because you don't want a division between you and your brother.
Speak the truth in Love, to God first! And if He says so go build unity with your brother.
God is blessing unity and family and togetherness in the church as He pours out His power and glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment