Christian Chat

Hi @heartathome , @DownMoreThanUp , @Appleblossom , @ENKELI , @REDLINEZ750 ,

Luke 18

- Pray always and don't give up.

- Parable of the Persistent Widow - will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay helping them? Jesus tells us that He will swiftly grant them justice.

- Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?

- Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector - for those who trust in themselves that they are righteous and look down on others. At the Temple the Pharisee thanks God he is not like other people while a Tax Collector can't even look up to God and says, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Tax Collector justified (forgiven) before God.

- Everyone who exalts themself will be humbled, but the one who humbles themself will be exalted.

- Jesus blessing little children. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

- "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

- A Rich Ruler who has kept the ten commandments asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor and come follow Him. The Rich Ruler upset by this.

- How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

- The people reply, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."

- Anyone who has left a house or family because of the kingdom of God will receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.

- Jesus warns the disciples about what is about to happen in Jerusalem. His suffering, death and rising on the third day. The disciples can't understand it.

- Jesus heals a blind man as they approach Jericho.

I have questions about the beginning: "will not God grant justice to His elect who cry out to Him day and night?" I wonder what Jesus means by justice. What does justice on earth look like and is it even possible? Surely it has to be tied in with forgiveness and turning the other cheek.

Hi @Realness

"Then who can be saved?" Jesus, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Thank you, Jesus!

How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! I have always believed the reason I don't have a surplus of material wealth is because I would lose sight of God! He has given me everything I need!

The disciples can't understand it. I can relate. There's so much I don't understand but I'm happy to keep it simple! It's as much as my mind can manage.

The parable of the persistent widow I personally don't think we always get justice in this world. It might be in Heaven. I know God wants us to grow and His timing is not the same as ours. Our thoughts are not like His. Isaiah 55: 8 That's all I can come up with. That's just where my thoughts went. I have no answers. 😊💛

@DownMoreThanUp @Appleblossom @REDLINEZ750 @ENKELI  

Thank you @heartathome for your thoughtful reply. I love what you chose to comment on.

Here's another lament about injustice @Realness

INJUSTICE

Injustice is a fact of life

It happens every day

Our reaction is a choice

To forgive or make them pay

"Give hurt to God" people say

I have to wonder how

I struggle with two worlds within

I seek the justice now

A silent world to show the pain

I'll make you pay somehow

If that doesn't work, there's more to come

I'll pick until we row

You are wrong; I am right

I want it stamped and sealed

I want justice; it belongs to me

Retaliation; that's my shield

My own defences are cruel and low

I care but can't show how

I want that apology that you owe

I'll fight until you bow

It's not the way I want to be

But it happens every time

It's wrong; I know; I want to change

But who will pay the crime?

Holding onto hurt does what?

Does it cause them pain?

Does it help when both lose out?

What does it really gain?

satan, I'm sure sit's back and laughs

Pride is his special tool

he gets his way while conflict lasts

It's him, not God who rules

Seeking justice with the rage

Will never bring me gain

It's not God's way and never will

I need to feel the pain

It hurts I cry; it shouldn't be

This person has to pay

I wonder how Jesus must have felt

On the cross that day

Many times, He suffered unfairly

His life was so unjust

He taught us many things while here

Forgiveness seems a must

They spat on Him; they called Him names

They lied and cheated too

How did He make these people pay?

Just what did this man do?

He loved them while they wanted Him dead

He loved them while they lied

He loved them as they nailed His hands

He forgave them as He died

We love the Lord but not each other

No excuses now

Jesus tells us what to do

His life will show us how

He didn't say it would be easy

In fact, He knew we'd fall

That's why He stayed upon the cross

He waits for us to call

The longer we hold our hurts and pain

The more resentment grows

The tighter and closer we hold it now

Means the harder it'll be to let go

It's up to us, what we choose

God won't force His way

We choose to get what is due

Or love and forgive this day

Look at Jesus; go His way

I know it's for our best

Although it's hard, it's worth the effort

His life has promised rest.

December 1995 (30 years ago)

I just want to say that this is what God was saying to ME at the time. He may not be telling you the same thing! Let me tell you forgiveness is still an ongoing process! I forgive one person then another one pops up. I wonder how many people have to forgive me.

@DownMoreThanUp @Appleblossom @enkeli

@heartathome ,

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I love that you wrote a lament on injustice.

I think the thing with the teaching in the gospels is that Jesus' work of reconciliation isn't complete yet.

Like in your poem Jesus' death on the cross changes justice completely.

Its beautiful reading your poem from 30 years ago @heartathome Thank you

The parable of the persistent widow I personally don't think we always get justice in this world. It might be in Heaven. I know God wants us to grow and His timing is not the same as ours. Our thoughts are not like His. Isaiah 55: 8 That's all I can come up with. That's just where my thoughts went. I have no answers.

Love your response to

@Realness queries about injustice in the world.

I agree with you both.

No answers, but it doesnt seem to be here now...

We had a big afternoon talking about the state of the world and politics and then a Shakespeare reading. Henry IV pt 1.

@DownMoreThanUp

We all miss that support button...

Thank you @Appleblossom

There's so much I don't understand about God and the Bible (and most things) but am slowly relearning with a clearer mindset! Now I need to unlearn what I've been told in the cult.

My pastor and Bible study teacher (Christian psychologist) are going to support me as things come up. My psych is a Budhist so he's not much help to talk on topics of the risen Jesus! 😉 💛

@Realness @DownMoreThanUp

Hi @heartathome , @DownMoreThanUp , @Appleblossom , @ENKELI , @REDLINEZ750 ,

Luke 19

- Zaccheus, a rich tax collector who was too short to see over the crowds, climbs a tree to see Jesus. Jesus stops and invites Himself to Zaccheus' home. Zaccheus welcomes him gladly. But the people murmur - "He's a sinner!" Zaccheus then gives half of his wealth to the poor and promises to compensate anyone he's cheated fourfold. Jesus: Today salvation has come to Zaccheus house!

- For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.

- The Parable of the Ten Minas. "Take the mina away from him [who hid it] and give it to him who has ten minas. To everyone who has more will be given, from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (Second political theme not included in this summary.)

- Approaching Jerusalem Jesus enters on a donkey's colt which no man has ever yet sat - fulfills prophecy. The crowd rejoices and praises God: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord."

- Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.

- Jesus goes to the Temple. Throws out those selling. The Temple is meant to be a place of prayer!

- Jesus teaches each day in the Temple.

Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem. Almost time for His suffering.

Hi there @DownMoreThanUp ,

No pressure to contribute but I'm missing your voice. How have you been sleeping?

@Realness Thanks for asking. i have been well. Sleep is slowly improving between 5 and 6 1/2 hours at trhe monent over two sleeps. At times i snooze during the day. We had family up and my wife is home so i have been spending more family time. Which has been nice.

@heartathome i love your poem sis. i have been struggling with forgiveness all my life, especially myself, as well. i have learned to understand that to forgive someone when they do something wrong, especially when painfully so, and/or for long periods of time, we can only achieve in, and with, Jesus/The Truth of love.

Like you rightly point out, it is laying down our unforgiving life, where we find ourselves unable to forgive. Therefore when i see myself not forgiving myself or other, then i know me being unforgiven is not saved, but must be left behind.

As you point such can be an enormous struggle. As sinner no one likes being crucified. That is until as sinner, the love of God has set us free, for then we understand that, like Jesus, we can also lay down life in wrong for the joy of our or someone else's salvation.

i have learned in my struggles to forgive to understand that satan ALWAYS tries to focus on the sin, or wickedness committed, smiting the 'culprit' with it, rather than the life that needs to be saved from the hell such deed brought into being.To me this means that the wrong done to me is still speaking and not the love of Jesus yet. This tells me i have to focus on the wrong living in me not wanting to forgive rather than the person who did the wrong to me. For i know that when Jesus takes the wrong/hurt of the sin committed away, His love living within us will ALWAYS forgive. (When God healed me of my immense hurt being assaulted like that, i literally begged God on my knees that my attackers would not have to suffer the pain they caused in me (and my family,) when i realised God's revenge is all about harvesting the fruit of our deeds. (Rev 20:11-15))

The good thing is that forgiving someone their wrongs NEVER forgives the sins committed but only the person who did it (Has life in such sin). This is why the bible tells us that all sinful flesh has been crucified with Christ. It is for us believers to follow Him in His death, so we will also be raised His resurrection. (i have only just been through this process in my raging/atheist alter, and is hardest ever, but so very good when we do so with and in Christ, rather than try to do the right thing, like i always did in my religious alter, forgiving ourselves or others because our faith demands it rather than because we are O(o)ne with Jesus' awesome love for lost sinners.

@Appleblossom The more i get to know you through what you are sharing on this forum the more respect i have for your outlook and ability to go on despite the hardships. That Jesus lead you away from all that hinders you flourishing in your faith, love and hope as His Child.

@REDLINEZ750 @Cuppatea

God's Love Anoints.

God's Anointing within speaks forever Himself,
The Love of The Lord, we in His Spirit received,
God's indescribable Love, burning-up old self,
those unfaithful loves, satan's lies, conceived. 1 John 2:27

When His love, faith, and hope, births us anew,
Jesus, in His loving embrace, close to us drew.
Christ forever, in our hearts, Father's love to be,
truthfully adopted, into Heaven's eternal family. Rev 7:9-17

Christ's anointing, never ever, doubts God's love,
and always, hears The Truth, speak from Above.
Where all those who opposed us will bow down,
when Jesus present us with His Heavenly crown. 2 Tim 4:8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfkhqpl81NA&list=RDxfkhqpl81NA&start_radio=1