i attended a women's bible study last night regarding the topic of intimacy in marriage. it was kinda a question/answer format. one question that was asked was regarding how to respect a man who views pornography. the answer was given in such a wise tone. following is a blog i wrote (when i was pretty worked up, mind you) on the same sort of topic, but not regarding porn, rather addiction.
well, here we go.
sometimes it is so easy to find faults in others. it's kinda satisfying. it kinda makes us feel better to know that there are others that are "worse off" than we are. or maybe it helps us dislike them like we always wanted to. maybe there are those type of people that you just don't feel right about... there's always something that you think isn't right... and then you find out something that just confirms your suspicion. it's like an ah-ha! i was right. they are sinful. well, you know what? so are you. we all are.
what that person that you caught in sin needs isn't an "i told you so" or that sort of treatment. what that person needs isn't a lecture on how to correct their behavior. what that person needs isn't a cold shoulder or anything of that nature. love. that's what he needs.
we need to, above all other things, love each other. we are to show others the love of God. romans 12:9-10 says "don't just pretend that you love others. really love them. hate what is wrong. stand on the side of the good. love each other with genuine affection [brotherly love], and take delight in honoring each other." we can hate the wrong that people do... but what we need to, and should do, is LOVE ONE ANOTHER! we should never stop loving one another. romans 13:8 confirms, saying, "pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. you can never finish paying that! if you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law... (vs 10)Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements."
1 john chapter 4, starting in verse 7 and finishing off the chapter goes on and on about love and loving and being loved.
when you come across someone that you think is undeserving of your love, think again! you and me and they all are children of God. He sent his son to die for ALL OF US. not just the ones that behave the way you want or you think is right. He loves all of us and we ought to show the same mercy for not a single one of us is blameless and there isn't a sin that is worse or better than another sin.
Eph. 4:32, "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." we should be kind and loving because it is what God has done for us and commands of us.
well, here we go.
sometimes it is so easy to find faults in others. it's kinda satisfying. it kinda makes us feel better to know that there are others that are "worse off" than we are. or maybe it helps us dislike them like we always wanted to. maybe there are those type of people that you just don't feel right about... there's always something that you think isn't right... and then you find out something that just confirms your suspicion. it's like an ah-ha! i was right. they are sinful. well, you know what? so are you. we all are.
what that person that you caught in sin needs isn't an "i told you so" or that sort of treatment. what that person needs isn't a lecture on how to correct their behavior. what that person needs isn't a cold shoulder or anything of that nature. love. that's what he needs.
we need to, above all other things, love each other. we are to show others the love of God. romans 12:9-10 says "don't just pretend that you love others. really love them. hate what is wrong. stand on the side of the good. love each other with genuine affection [brotherly love], and take delight in honoring each other." we can hate the wrong that people do... but what we need to, and should do, is LOVE ONE ANOTHER! we should never stop loving one another. romans 13:8 confirms, saying, "pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. you can never finish paying that! if you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law... (vs 10)Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements."
1 john chapter 4, starting in verse 7 and finishing off the chapter goes on and on about love and loving and being loved.
when you come across someone that you think is undeserving of your love, think again! you and me and they all are children of God. He sent his son to die for ALL OF US. not just the ones that behave the way you want or you think is right. He loves all of us and we ought to show the same mercy for not a single one of us is blameless and there isn't a sin that is worse or better than another sin.
Eph. 4:32, "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." we should be kind and loving because it is what God has done for us and commands of us.
i love this post! my new favorite bible verse (as quoted above) romans 12:9-10 says "don't just pretend that you love others. really love them. hate what is wrong. stand on the side of the good. love each other with genuine affection [brotherly love], and take delight in honoring each other."
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