This is a really important and overall encouraging article. As I have mentioned in previous posts, a key to living a life of peace and usefulness to God is the ability to trust Jesus in all situations…but especially when you can’t see why God is doing something in your life. From Randy Alcorn and Eternal Perspectives Ministries…………….
https://www.epm.org/blog/2021/Apr/7/trust-jesus-dont-understand
In disagreement and discord, we also follow Christ’s example of seeking peace, of being slow to anger and quick to listen. Additionally, concepts such as acceptance and tolerance—religious or otherwise—find significant support in the teachings of Jesus. These are important topics in contemporary life. Toleration of others is part of what was lost in the rise of secular morality, which coincided with an increase in negative attitudes toward Christian virtue in the academy and government. The fact that Christians are regularly thought to be close-minded, dogmatic, and intolerant is certainly justified in some cases. Yet this attitude is also highly ironic since the very tradition of tolerance in the Western context is accentuated in the Christocentric worldview. Just a simple count of the tolerant societies in the world today gives some clue as to the power of the applied moral teachings of Christ and their benefit to the world. If self-professed Christians are being aggressively and consistently intolerant, they are certainly not emulating the example of Christ or the traditions and teachings of Christianity. Much trouble and confusion about these matters can often be attributed simply to mislabeling. “Christians” are often not Christlike. However, this lamentable fact should not impugn Jesus or his teaching on tolerance.
From The Divine Conspiracy Continued: Fulfilling God’s Kingdom on Earth. Copyright © 2014 by Dallas Willard amd Gary Black Jr. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Nice! From Learning From God’s Word………………………
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:1-2). Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. […]
Bless us, Lord, and make us a blessing to others. — Learning From God’s Word
This is a really thoughtful article from pastor and author Scott Sauls. While it admonishes believers to be gracious and encouraging in all of our interactions, it states that one of the reasons to be this way ( besides the exhortations and commands of Jesus! ), is because everyone is fighting inner battles and a sense of loneliness these days. From ScottSauls.com………………………..
Sometimes we just need a reminder of the awesomeness of having direct access to God at all times because of the death and resurrection of Jesus! From Counseling One Another………..
https://counselingoneanother.com/2022/05/04/in-christ-we-have-direct-access-to-god/
In this article by author and Bible scholar Ann Spangler, she provides some ancient insights into the name for God as “Bridegroom, Husband.” From AnnSpangler.com…………………..
Nymphios, Aner — Bridegroom, Husband
This is the wrap-up to this fine series of articles on the Beatitudes. “We are to remember what to expect, we are to remember how to respond and we are to remember our purpose and function in the world. So, be salty and shine!” From PlaceforTruth.org……………………….
https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/lets-study-the-beatitudes-part-10-our-response
Continuing this excellent series on the Beatitudes, this article focuses on those who are persecuted for Jesus’ name. While Christians in the West are not often truly persecuted in terms of financial standing or physical safety, we should remember that the majority of our brothers and sisters in other countries do actually face these issues as followers of Jesus! From PlaceforTruth.org……………………..
https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/lets-study-the-beatitudes-part-9-persecution
In this next article in the series, the focus is on the blessings to be had for those who are peacemakers. From PlaceforTruth.org……………………
https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/lets-study-the-beatitudes-part-8-blessed-peacemakers
Continuing on this excellent series of little articles on the Beatitudes, the emphasis in this portion is on the pure in heart. What does it mean to be pure in heart? Find out at PlaceforTruth.org…………….
https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/lets-study-the-beatitudes-part-7-the-pure-in-heart
paint-and-pen.com 