REVELATION 16 v 1-9
Are we ever consumed by one end of the scale?
Do we sometimes become too judging and become judge for some people? Do we see God's love as just salvation and nice things Jesus said and not the other bits? I believe God is judge and father, loving and judging. The picture of God as father is one of the powerful in the bible because it encompasses all a father should be and all the characteristics of God fall under the role and title of father. A father loves but when he sees his children going to do something wrong he warns them and then tells them off, but he does not reject them - he forgives them. That is just one small aspect of God as father. Do we sometimes become too judgmental? Do we sometimes not discipline and correct people because we are so wrapped up in the nicety, nice love?
The reason I talk about this things is because the third angel talks about God's judgment being just in His judgments. God has challenged people all through the bible but He has also encouraged and built up many people. God judged many different cities and people and each time God had given second chances to the people. God doesn't call us to be judges but sometimes we automatically become one as we see someone different in the street or meet someone who clashes with us (not in fashion... but maybe). Matthew 7 v 1-2 - "1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." These two verses speak of the principle of not judging others. God is the one true judge. God doesn't just judge he truly loves His people.
Paul the loved the churches he was writing too and he challenged them because he loved them. He didn't just say "all you are doing is very nice" even if they were going tragically wrong. Galatians 4 v 8-11 - "8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you." Love is not letting people fall flat on their face and not get back up because we thought it wouldn't be loving to challenge or be accountable with them. Paul heart was still soft as God had melted it years previous, Paul loved the people and he didn't want them to stumble in the same issue again.
"We need to speak truth in love to people, not what people want to hear wrapped in cotton wool."
If we say God use me, are we ready for God to use us and for God to grow us? I believe God will grow us through - inspiration, encouragement and challenge. Joseph was inspired with his dreams that God gave him, then he had many years of challenge and was humbled greatly and he was finally encouraged by the dreams becoming reality.
God wants us to love others but sometimes we get wrapped up in what we think of others instead of how God sees them. Do you want to love people in a way which grows them?
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