the second commandment, to love one another...
Paul tells us to make every effort to preserve unity...
at what point do we give up the fight? walk away from a brother/sister and refuse to fight for relationship with them? yes, you cannot control their reactions. should they choose to hate you, to accuse you of a myriad of things, demand that you conform to their twisted standards, does that justify you breaking fellowship?
in the film, to end all wars, one of the characters chooses to give his life for a fellow prisoner--a brother--who, even though they share the same situation (pow) they do not see eye-to-eye on how to relate to their captors, to the extent that they fought and the one sentenced to die rejected the friendship of the one who then gives his life. we can exclaim over the nobility of the sacrifice, but really the amazing part is that the humble brother had laid down his life every day up to the point when he actually died. and that is much more difficult.
am i right? yes, often. was Jesus right? always. and His response was humility. He, who had every, EVERY right to demand "fairness"; who was justified in any action He took, chose the way of death. can i choose death?
it may be, like in the movie, that those i forgive and continually extend forgiveness in dying to my rights may not receive or accept that forgiveness. it may be burning coals upon their head. or they may scoff at my offerings of love. they may even come to the point where they demand death of those they hate. but that is not my story. i cannot ever base my actions upon their decisions. my response must always be love, no matter what their response is.
and love preserves perfect unity. i will continue to work at the relationship, offering humbly to pray and seek areas in which i can still repent. i will continue to love and offer my love even if you choose to walk away. the love must show that i will never stop being open to walk in unity.
at what price, unity? at any price. at the price of the blood of the Lamb.
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ReplyDeleteOh, that we would live this way. That's the hallmark of Jesus' life, isn't it, and yet such a rarity in ours if we do not, with great intention, choose to make a lifestyle of it. And we have to choose again every day - is that a scriptural thought? I'm not sure. Good insights, Abigail, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHarold
thanks, Harold. it's a work-in-progress in my life as well. but i am encouraged and humbled that He has blessed me to begin to understand how important this is. that gives me hope that i may yet live it. those whom He loves He disciplines...
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