Patience!

 

I have talked, many times, about PEOPLE JUDGING PEOPLE. The popular saying of days gone by is,

"Don't JUDGE ME!"

And in fact that is partially true. I always battle talking with people that truly do not know the Lord. I want to just SHAKE THEM because I fear for them and the coming judgment. But, I also want to build a relationship with them so that I may EARN THE RIGHT to share the GOSPEL with them. I just about guarantee if you walk right up to someone and tell them "YOU'RE GOING TO HELL!" You are going to lose that opportunity. We walk a fine line between sharing the truth and loving people unconditionally. AND I would also say, this exact same thing happens within the walls of the CHURCH. 

I am extremely confident there are people in my church and people in most churches who are ATTENDERS but have not given their lives to JESUS. That is just a stated truth. So, we are not only dealing with non-believers OUTSIDE the CHURCH we are dealing with NON-BELIEVERS inside the church. Read this scripture:

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, NLT)

Those words are pretty harsh. But hear this message, at least the message Paul is sharing with the church at CORINTH. People who attend your church that are NON-BELIEVERS are not the ones to be expelled. The people we need to expel from our churches are those who BOLDLY PROFESS their faith but are NOT TRANSFORMED AND PUBLICLY living and PROMOTING a life of sin. More dangerous than living their life of sin is they are also teaching and guiding others to live that same life. THOSE are the people that should be expelled. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE we are to JUDGE and cast out. 

"Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good." (Psalm 36:1-3, NLT)

Those that are genuinely seeking the LORD and still struggling with sin, the church needs to embrace and help on the path of redemption. Let's love them like JESUS did. Let's be honest with them, speaking the truth, but also we need to be gentle, kind, loving, gracious helping them find the Lord. 

"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is a vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the oceans depths.You care for people and animals alike, O Lord." (Psalm 36:5-6, NLT)

We need to be like the LORD, loving all just like he loves us. 

Heavenly Father, we love you and need you to help us navigate the path of life as ambassadors to the sinful world. We often judge and drive people away from the Lord who are still seeking him. We lose patience and need you to provide us with patience in dealing with all people. Thank you Lord for your patience with us. Help us to show that same patience to others. Amen!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!