Love.. always protects. And it’s the government’s top duty to protect its citizens. This government Admin where I live has failed horribly (elections have consequences) when you and I really want people safe! But am I all alone.. to protect myself?
This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (2:19)
If when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (2:20)
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless. (3:9)
If you suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. (3:14)
It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (3:17)
Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (4:13)
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed. (4:14)
If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (4:16)
Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (4:19)
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (See Luke 21:12–19)
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:16–22)
Jesus said to [Peter], “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38–39)
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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. (Matthew 5:44–45)
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11–12)
What do you think of Matthew 5:11–12? We Christians can get sick or be hurt, but we are indestructible until God is done with us here. We are freed by the Holy Spirit to rejoice during persecutions because our hearts have been so changed by Jesus Christ that we are more excited and satisfied in the hope of heaven than in any feeling of revenge or a hope of self-defense. This is the basis of turning the other cheek and of showing love to our enemies. The steadfast love of the Lord is literally better than life (Psalm 63:3).
Do I personally own some effective weapons for protecting my family? Yes indeed. For me hate can simultaneously be there where love dwells in my home. As a father I would quickly chop off the head of a diamond back rattler that got close to my child. If I really love my family, I will hate the evil in evil people that would move to destroying my family members. I can daily pray for and show love to evil people ..cuz I am not to hate them (I’m a sinner as well), but if they go to attacking my family members and friends I will have confidence and peace to quickly stop them. I pray I’ll decern well and go for it with quickness.. if or when the need is there.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
“Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” (Proverbs 8:13a)
“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of His godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10)
Jesus “said to them, ‘When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?’ They said, ‘No, nothing.’ And He said to them, ‘But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.” (Luke 22:35-36)
“Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” That’s an American patriotic song written by Frank Loesser. I like that.. pray believing and act wisely. Yes, I love the practical balance it represents. The song was a response to the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked United States involvement in World War II. It was high time for Americans to step in to stop the evil–to protect the Jews as well and other innocent people Hitler’s armies were slaughtering.
Christ was a practical man’s man, no passive girly-boy or wimp. What a good example when He was thinking of His disciples ahead of Himself and protecting them. When Jesus told the apostles to buy a sword, He was not telling them to become violent aggressors or go get vengeance, but was basically wanting them to be ready to protect the people He deeply loves.
God can protect you--I pray that He will. He wants me to be and act wisely and He can protect me. He can let me be martyred for His glory as well. Who even knows what the future holds? Jesus does. My aim in life is to worship God in Christ, to boldly witness, to edify believers, to do what I can to protect others and to consistently show that Christ is more precious than own life. I really want you protected so you can live and hear the Gospel. Yes, I especially want you protected from eternal destruction aka hell. Heaven is a better option!
God is our refuge and strength. (Psalm 46:1)
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. (Luke 21:17–18)
God indeed ordains the use of the sword by the state in upholding justice–I pray ours will protect much better with a new leader (1 Peter 2:13–17; Romans 13:1–4). But first!!! Worship. Pray in Jesus for sinners. The reason that we don't pray more for people is because we don't believe that God will answer those prayers. Somehow we buy that lie. But God knows best. He has not let you down. Not even one time and His timing is perfect, flawless, excellent! He is for you and with you there.. not against you, indifferent, or far away.
If we did believe that He answered our prayers no room on earth would be large enough to hold the people praying today. Believers would tactfully witness more and people who know they're messed up inside would decide n get right inside--saved!! Facebook.com/shareJesus
See 1 Corinthians 13 knowGod.org
Judges 16 - Part 3
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Judges 16
