“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? D o not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect,” Matthew 5:44-48 NKJV.

If God rains on the just and the unjust as this says, then there isn’t always a reason of SIN behind every situation where a believer is sick, or going through a hard time.

Yet we tend to be analytical animals, trying to figure things out a lot of the time, rather than just praying, we try to figure what’s wrong with the person.

With one man born blind, Jesus said it was NOT because of his sin or the sins of his parents, but that it was so GOD could receive glory.

Now God Who is merciful often hides circumstances from us for a reason. He doesn’t uncover our nakedness all the time.

He doesn’t embarrass us in front of people unless we are willfully sinning, then He may take us into hand by humbling us publicly.

But for the most part God is merciful. And even in that case of the hardened one who gets exposed, it is His mercy working, because HE could just let him continue in delusion.

So MERCY is greater than judgment. MERCY and COMPASSION are what birth miracles.

Don’t assume because someone has a need that something is wrong in their life.

Don’t assume because they need to ask again and again for prayer, that something is wrong.

Maybe God is testing YOUR HEART to see if you will move in mercy or judgment!

You should think about that, because He says Mercy triumphs over judgment!

LOVE leads to repentance! So be less concerned about the sins of people and be more concerned with helping them, and God will be your friend.

He will give you understanding because He can trust you not to destroy others with your intellect, discernment or judgment, when you have HIS HEART instead of moving in your own heart.

Way too many people have been destroyed in the church by the LACK OF GRACE.

I have been hurt and have hurt others. WE ALL HAVE, if we are honest with ourselves.

Pride is a hard thing to stay away from, but not impossible.

One word of wisdom He once gave me is if you want to stay humble, than hang around the humble!

Remember the proverb that says, near a bitter man do not go, lest you learn his ways? Same is true with pride or other sins.

If you hang around those who think they are better than others it will rub off.

Hang with the humble. Don’t ASSUME anything. Hold on to Jesus and look to HIM for answers. If HE wants to tell you He will – IF He can trust you not to brandish that information against the person. If not, HE won’t.

He will not give you personal prophecies for others if you are into control, or judging others, or distrust, and suspicion [which by the way is a fruit of witchcraft control].

LOVE is the GREATEST.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the treatise on love, if we assume what scripture says, that GOD IS LOVE, then we can replace “love” with “GOD.” In which case it would read:

GOD suffers long and GOD is kind; GOD does not envy; GOD does not parade Himself, is not puffed up; GOD does not behave rudely, does not seek His own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; GOD does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; GOD bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, GOD endures all things. GOD never fails.

And if God is all these things, and He is and more, then should we not emulate the same?

Somehow I want to add to this list in Corinthians…

God never fails to love us!

God does not lecture when I need a hug.

God does not hold a grudge against me when I fail Him.

God has infinite patience with the slow to learn.

God even is patient with the stubborn who are hard to change.

God does not get irritated when I ask for prayer again about something.

God does not get irritated when others do.

God loves the jerk as much as the victim!

God doesn’t hold a grudge against his children, so why should I against my children or others?

God doesn’t withhold his love or provision when I blow it because jesus took the punishment.

God fights for me when I’m too weak to fight for myself.

God doesn’t get tired of telling me things over and over when I forget them!

God doesn’t belittle me to make himself look good.

God doesn’t compete with me for showing who is more knowledgeable, even though I know He knows everything, He doesn’t rub it in!

God isn’t up in heaven yelling at me “Why the heck can’t you get it together!”

He isn’t complaining because again I’ve failed and am asking Him for help!

God is gracious!

God is grace.

God is kindness.

God is love.

God is patience.

 

~ Priscilla Van Sutphin

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PRISCILLA VAN SUTPHIN is the founder of Upstream Ministries, California, online at www.upstreamca.org and blogtalkradio.com/ Upstream. Donate to Upstream: via secure Paypal by sending as gift to upstream.ca @me.com or send to: Upstream, PMB 545, 14311 Newport Blvd, Suite G, Tustin, CA 92780, USA.

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