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The bottom line.

M

MISFIT

Guest
John 9:25 (The Message)

25He replied, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see."

That verse says a lot, you see we can debate all day long about the finner points of theology, creation vs. evolution, who Jesus is, who GOD is, whether he is real of if he is the only one etc etc. But what it really comes down to is this, what has GOD done in you life? I can tell you right now I'm a very different person than I was before I became a Christian. I'm much more patient (although I still need work there) I'm much more caring and loving. An example, the recent cyclone in Burma that has now killed over 20,000 people and the death toll is still rising, the old me would have simply shrugged it off and changed the channel I could have cared less if it did not concern me then why should I give a hoot? But thank GOD he has changed me, now I am very saddened by what happened and have been praying for all those affected, and I am scheduled to give blood for the relief effort tomorrow.

Lately I've been sick of debating the little things, and today I figured out why, because they pale in comparison to all the big things GOD has done in my life.

Revelation 22:21 (English Standard Version)

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
 
Nice bottom line, _______"Why am I such a misfit, I am not just a nitwit"( Hermie the elf )____peace; Dear dogma
 
MISFIT said:
But what it really comes down to is this, what has GOD done in you life?
Click to expand...
Dear friend, while I am glad that God has changed your life for the better, I would ask you to consider an "alternate" bottom line...

What it really comes down to is this:

What have you done for your neighbor with the God in your life?

Blessings,
S
 
Scot,

This IS a 'truth'. But IF we CANNOT recognize that the POWER of God in His ABILITY to alter the Flesh in a WAY that we can SEE, how do we TRULY KNOW that God EXISTS. i mean, ANYONE can simply ACCEPT what 'someone else' offers and FORCE themselves, even against logic, to believe it over sanity or reason itself. But HOW can one TRULY 'believe' WITHOUT the actual EViDENCE of the EXISTENCE of and EVIDENCE of their BELIEFS?

I would be wiling to BET that the changes refered to BY misfit ARE the DESIRE or ABILITY TO DO for his neighbor. For I understand what he offered in completion. And what God has done in MY life IS to OPEN UP my HEART and ALLOW me to LOVE my neighbor.

God has NOT altered my life and made me RICH in lucre. He has NOT brough a 'pain free' day to day existence in my life. He has NOT promised me and delivered that every moring would be greeted with a 'bowl of cherries' waiting on me.

What He HAS done is opened my eyes and my heart so that I am NOW able to SEE. Not ONLY the physical world around me, but that which pertains to Spirit. And THROUGH The Spirit, I have been led to an UNDERSTANDING of LOVE. And THROUGH this VERY understanding, i am NOW unable to function WITHOUT it being MANIFEST in my LIFE. That the ULTIMATE epression of 'God in my life' IS the ability to LOVE MY NEIGHBOR.

While I understand his dismay in what he percieves as 'mostly USELESS conversation', what he MUST not 'loose sight of' is that ALL have NOT come to 'this place' in their walk. I am NOT here to ONLY speak with those that have the SAME understanding as myself, (if that were the case I would FEEL the SAME way), but I RECOGNIZE that there are MANY that have NOT been as blessed as OTHERS and that it is the NEED of these that WE SHOULD be here to fulfill. That THROUGH our testimony we MAY well be ABLE to inspire OTHERS to see and OBTAIN this SAME understanding, and ONCE this understanding IS acheived, be ABLE to love their neighbors AS themselves and fulfill the commission that we have been given.

Being 'born again' is NOT just a figurative phrase. Being 'born again' is to LITERALLY be 'born AGAIN', but in Spirit RATHER than flesh. And as ANY 'new born', there is MUCH to learn and receive.

I KNOW that MOST when they first receive The Spirit, they begin to BELIEVE they are 'special'. That they are now DIFFERENT than everyone else. That what is revealed to THEM is beyond that which has EVER been revealed to anyone else. That is the residue of Pride that we have been TAUGHT to 'grow out of'. But children ALWAYS will struggle with those THINGS that pertain to 'STARTING'. For NOTHING is MATURE at it's MOMENT of birth.

What we CANNOT allow ourselves to DO is to be 'blinded' by this 'pride' to the point that we are UNABLE to SEE anything but what WE 'feel' or experience. We MUST allow ourselves to CONTINUE in Spirit so that we MATURE into that which it is ABLE to deliver. And THUS, become able to OFFER it as well as ACCEPT It.

Please do NOT consider this message 'rebuke' for it is NOT. Just offered in the hopes of offering a rememberance of that which we FIRST recieved. That it is NOT ONLY about US other than in the PURPOSE of being able to OFFER as well AS receive.

Blessings,

MEC
 
Imagican said:
This IS a 'truth'. But IF we CANNOT recognize that the POWER of God in His ABILITY to alter the Flesh in a WAY that we can SEE, how do we TRULY KNOW that God EXISTS. i mean, ANYONE can simply ACCEPT what 'someone else' offers and FORCE themselves, even against logic, to believe it over sanity or reason itself. But HOW can one TRULY 'believe' WITHOUT the actual EViDENCE of the EXISTENCE of and EVIDENCE of their BELIEFS?
Click to expand...
Dear friend, I'm just offering that while it is important to acknowledge when God blesses us... it is by NO MEANS the 'bottom line' of our walk with Christ (IMO). I know what you are getting at, but I think of all the people (like me) whose life has been filled with misery upon misery since coming to Christ... I just am afraid that if people DON'T see a profound change in their lives, they may actually DOUBT the existance of our merciful God. How many people do you know who have had hard times or a tragedy in their lives who as a result left the faith?

Our friend "misfit" OBVIOUSLY is filled with the love of Christ.... this is clear by his testimony and the loving desire to do good for his neighbor. I praise and admire his compassion for those in the recent natural disaster... and think it is great he is giving blood as well.
Please do NOT consider this message 'rebuke' for it is NOT. Just offered in the hopes of offering a rememberance of that which we FIRST recieved. That it is NOT ONLY about US other than in the PURPOSE of being able to OFFER as well AS receive.
Click to expand...
I think we're good enough friends that you can drop "commentary" like this.... :D I know it's not a rebuke... and my post was CERTAINLY not a rebuke of the wonderful misfit.... but again I want to reinforce my belief that I ask for NOTHING from God, expect nothing from God... and the only EVIDENCE that I seek to know that God exsists is in the love of others.

In Christ,
S
 
The reason I like to debate is one of Jesus' famous quotes:

"The Truth shall set you free".

The truth sets us free, and charitable debates can lead people to truth. Also, if truth sets you free, what does error do to you? Charitable debates can also correct error. As long as the debate is done is Christian friendship, I don't see why it would bother you. Of course, if it turns into insults, that's another story.
 
Scott1 said:
Catholic Crusader said:
The reason I like to debate is one of Jesus' famous quotes:
Click to expand...
What does this have to do with the thread?
Click to expand...
It has to do with the end of the first post, where he said:
Lately I've been sick of debating the little things....
Click to expand...
Therefore I said:
The reason I like to debate is one of Jesus' famous quotes:
"The Truth shall set you free".
The truth sets us free, and charitable debates can lead people to truth. Also, if truth sets you free, what does error do to you? Charitable debates can also correct error. As long as the debate is done is Christian friendship, I don't see why it would bother you. Of course, if it turns into insults, that's another story.
Click to expand...
 
That first post I made was from my personal blog.

Now Scott what have I done for my neighbor? Well a lot! I do all I can to do just as Jesus said take care of the poor, the widow and the orphan. Feed the hungry, cloth the nude, and so on. You completely misunderstood me, it's because GOD has changed me that I do these things, the old me would have said, "What's in it for me?" You get it?

Crusader, it's true the truth shall set you free! But, it's also true that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, you get what I mean? I do go out and preach truth, but in a loving way not a hell fire and brimstone way or a creation v evolution way or a my faith is right yours will lead you to hell kind of way.
 
MISFIT said:
Now Scott what have I done for my neighbor? Well a lot! I do all I can to do just as Jesus said take care of the poor, the widow and the orphan. Feed the hungry, cloth the nude, and so on. You completely misunderstood me, it's because GOD has changed me that I do these things, the old me would have said, "What's in it for me?" You get it?
Click to expand...
I guess you didn't read my explaination of my remarks to Imagician... I don't doubt your good works... I was only offering up my opinion as to what the "bottom line" should be.

Catholic Crusader said:
It has to do with the end of the first post, where he said:
Click to expand...
Now I get it!

Peace all,
S
 
And Scot,

I wasn't offering disagreement with your offering, just 'adding to it'. For the bottom line CANNOT BE defined in ONE simple statement as I am SURE you understand. It MAY well BE that to each there is a 'different' DEGREE of understanding in WHAT is most important.

But to quote Christ in WHAT the MOST important TWO commandments ARE: ''Love GOD with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as YOURSELF.'' Basically what EACH of us has tried to offer in 'different words'.

You ARE correct in that it's often NOT what we can SEE that God has DONE for us, but the alteration of our hearts that ALLOWS us to DO that which IS righteous and holy. And that WOULD BE to LOVE. NOT ONLY God, Our Father, or His Son, but EACH OTHER. And WHEN we are able to DO so without EXPECTING ANYTHING out of it other than the WELL BEING of our brothers and sisters, THEN we are able to TRULY SEE that Christ DOES indeed dwell within our hearts.

And CC, you ARE absolutely RIGHT. How ELSE can we BE the 'children of God' if we can't EVEN commnicate with each other in a LOVING manner?

BLessings,

MEC
 
Also I just went with that title because I couldn't think of anything else. :P
 
I think that God is doing wonderful things in your life Misfit.

Follow His voice and I believe that His will be done, on earth, just as it is in heaven.

And that's the bottom line 8-)
 
StoveBolts said:
I think that God is doing wonderful things in your life Misfit.

Follow His voice and I believe that His will be done, on earth, just as it is in heaven.

And that's the bottom line 8-)
Click to expand...

Amen, and thank you.
 
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