Daily Bread 2-13-17
James 2:8
If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
ref. - Lv 19:18 - Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
When we open our Bibles do we actually see what is there? Or do we see what has been perverted and twisted for years? Many use the Old Testament to fight the New Testament and vice versa, and if the word of God is read without understanding it seems to be just that. Let us look at this scripture for instance. In the book of James it confirms what is written in the book of Leviticus. But we can say then why does it say an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth in the Old Testament and it says turn the other cheek in the New
Testament? Why does it give terrible punishments for stepping outside of the law in the Old Testament but offers forgiveness after repentance in the New Testament? If it is the same why does it say this in the Old Testament and who will perform the punishments? Well, one thing to say about that; Thank God we have been given the same instruction but a different way to get there in Jesus Christ. Yes, a sin is still a sin, yes, our neighbors do transgress against us and us against them at times. But in Jesus Christ we do not go around using carnal things to punish someone who commits sin, that is of man's law. Instead we inform them of their sin, and give them a chance to repent in Jesus Christ. You see, a good whipping, a slap on the hand, or even prison sentence, will only be felt for awhile, but when we are convicted in our souls, it will be remembered forever in our minds and hearts and souls. We will be forgiven if we ask, but we will never forget the torment that we went through. This is why Jesus was trying, and still is trying, to get his people to live in the Spirit and not of the flesh. Does this mean there is never a whipping? No, to some who are not spiritual it is the only thing they understand. But to our neighbors, each other who are serving God in Jesus Christ, what can be done done in the hearts and minds is far above what we can be suffered of our bodies on this earth. So, we now know, that love is not just a hug and a kiss, but it is something that is inside of us. Love is Spiritual, because God is love. So, we do not cast anyone into hell, or cut off anyone's hand, or even bind them to prison, but instead we love them by giving them the truth. We do not hang on to something in someone who has been forgiven but we forgive, as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us. Instead, we care for one another and find the same love that Christ still shows us on a daily basis. When someone repents, consider it as just that. Just as we would like others to listen to us when we repent. If there is no true Godly repentance, it will be shown in our voices and our actions quite soon after, so it is not for us to determine if anyone has come to a Godly repentance or not, it is for us to forgive and pray for those souls that have been put in this family we call the Body of Christ! So, today, from our hearts, let us forgive and ask God to release any bitterness or hatred that we have for any of our neighbors. He will help us through it as he is the author and maker of true forgiveness! He knows what he is doing, let him do it in you!!!!! Have a great day!!!