Tuesday, August 12, 2008

~~God's Righteous Judgment~~


Have you ever come across "sand paper man" in your life? They will rub and press on both sides of you to such an extent that breathing in the same space with her/him can be something very taxing and tiring. Honestly speaking I do not know how to deal with this kind of person effectively. (Father, I pray for wisdom, understanding and discernment in this kind of situation) I find it very hard to draw a line between give in to avoid conflict or encourage that person to continue behave that way. One thing for sure is that continuous and long term of giving in will with of without our knowledge build up unspeakable anguish and anger in the heart. One single trigger will ignite the incubated feeling and temper will flare beyond our imagination. Like it or not, deep in our hearts we already give a death sentence to this particular irritant. No matter what he/she does, it is always wrong in our sight. Anger is as cunning as serpent. Without proper management, it will blind your perspective, distort your view, affect your ability to judge and eventually "eat" you up alive. Sooner or later, we will unknowingly promote ourselves as judges of every circumstance. (Father, I am sorry for being so judgmental based on my limited knowledge and restricted resource. I am sorry for always lean so much on my own understanding and feeling. I am sorry to think that I can handle the situation with my own strength. I am sorry that I fail to acknowlege your ability to take full control of every situation. I am sorry to limit your power with my limited thinking.)

Thank you for speak to me in Romans 2:1-4 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

What a truth of life indeed! Who are we there to judge when we ourselves are sinners? In other words, we are in no position to judge. Only Jesus Christ who died for us can judge the world righteously. Romans 15:3 - For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." It is so comforting and promising to learn that God is in full control of the situation. We only need to surrender to Him and acknowlege His just judgment. Romans 12:19 - Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord.

Father, help me to go and let God. Help me to focus on the situation and not on the person itself. Father, may you provide clear mind and constructive wordings in dealing with all kind of circumstances. Help me to appreciate your creation for everyone is your lovely daughter and son. You never give them up from the very beginning and You will never let them go. Infuse my heart with Your great love today, oh my Lord. Help me to welcome every repentance hearts with open arms. For love covers multitude of trangressions and remember sin no more. Thank you for reveal the story of prodigal son. Teach me how to have such an open and loving heart. I pray this in Your precious name. Amen

~~God searches the inner most of every heart. Every secret is lay bare in front of Him. Help me to hide my sins, my trangression, and my iniquity no more. Give me a pure and clean heart. Purify and sanctify me through and through. It is my desire to follow you daily. Yes, Lord, I am willing to take up my own cross. Send forth your refining fire, help me to file away all the impurities of life. I don't wish to be a Porcupine. In order to protect and defense my self, I have to put on the ugly spines. It not only hurts others but it hurts You the most. Fill me with Your glory and equip me the armor of God to lead a victorious life. In front of You, I can only bow down. I love You, my heavenly Father.~~

1 comment:

lifang said...

Hi Agnes,

thanks for sharing. I have been running into quite a few sand paper men/women in my past few years too... and often times, the struggle is really, as u said, with my own self. Because whenever we confront the wrongs of a person, God's Spirit will first make us take a look at ourselves first. A good Christian book I've come across is "The Struggle for Inner Peace" by Henry Brandt (available online: http://www.biblicalcounselinginsights.com/Inner-Peace/irritations.shtml)

Taken fr the book--"The moment I start hating a man, I become his slave. I can't enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body and I become fatigued after only a few hours of work. The work I formerly enjoyed is now drudgery. Even vacations cease to give me pleasure. It may be a luxurious car that I drive along a lake fringed with the autumnal beauty of maple, oak, and birch. As far as my experience of pleasure is concerned, I might as well be driving a wagon in mud and rain.

The man I hate hounds me wherever I go. I can't escape his tyrannical grasp on my mind. When the waiter serves me porterhouse steak with french fries, asparagus, crisp salad, and strawberry shortcake smothered with ice cream, it might as well be stale bread and water. My teeth chew the food and I swallow it, but the man I hate will not permit me to enjoy it …. The man I hate may be many miles from my bedroom; but more cruel than any slave driver, he whips my thoughts into such a frenzy that my innerspring mattress becomes a rack of torture. The lowliest of the serfs can sleep, but not I. I really must acknowledge the fact that I am a slave to every man on whom I pour the vials of my wrath (None of These Diseases, Revell, pp. 73-74)."


Indeed when we come face to face with each difficult personality in our life, it is a challenge for our faith in God and love for Him. When we truly love God, we don't have any other choice, but to keep loving those He loves, in His way, by His will. This is the only way we stay free in His Spirit of love and mercy. Because His love in us cannot be withheld, it will either overflow from us or dries up in us.

Yet we can rest on the fact that God's grace is ever-sufficient (2 Cor 9:8) for us to keep loving, n keep loving!

And know tt I can't help but love you, dear sister! :-) Jia you! I have faith in you :-D