Less is More and More is Less Psalm 37:16
Day: 25 April 2018
I’ll Not Turn Back
Whatever it may cost Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward–to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:13-14
Identifying Hurt People
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor.”
Welcome to Step Eight, which says “As part of the process of change, I will identify and record everyone I have harmed and through prayer become willing to make restitution to them.”
Now that we have worked on our relationship with God. Have taken time to get to know ourselves and have commenced the process of change it is time to start working on repairing our relationships with others. Part of that process is identifying the people hurt by our sinful habits and attitudes. I know many of us have been hurt by others and they need to go on our lists, but the purpose of this step is to identify those we have hurt. This is a preparation step for making amends and restitution. An important part of repairing broken relationships.
- Are you prepared to honestly make a list of people you have harmed and how you have hurt them?
Love Your Enemies
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best–the sun to warm and the rain to nourish–to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. Matthew 5:43-48
“Don’t seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. “Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face. When we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life!
Leviticus 19:18 ~ 1 Peter 1:15-16 ~ Psalms 13:2-4 ~ Romans 5:10
Show Consideration to Others
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir–not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Romans 15:1-7
Step 8 We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing
to make amends to them all
“If anyone sins by breaking any of the commandments of God which must not be broken, but without being aware of it at the time, the moment he does realize his guilt he is held responsible. God, has this to say to you: “‘Clean up your act–the way you live, the things you do–so I can make my home with you.” Change the way you’re living, change your behavior. Listen obediently to the Message of your God.
Leviticus 5:17 ~ Jeremiah 7:3 ~ Jeremiah 26:13
Our conscience moves us to repent You can’t whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. Proverbs 28:13
The Bible exposes the painful consequences of our sin Anyone who trusts in him [Jesus] is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:18
Because of God’s love for us, we are obligated to love others When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. Romans 13:8
Making amends is not an optional extra in the recovery process There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again–it leads straight to hell. Proverbs 14:12