8/8/14 (Fri) CONFRONTING IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT John 3:16-21 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world... . John 3:17 Sometimes we have no choice but to confront. An employee shows up late for work again and again. A friend drives so fast that its downright dangerous. A teenager overspends the credit card again. A friends abusive language with her children is shattering their fragile little spirits. Life is full of people playing out of bounds. Its time to blow the whistle. Yet we hesitate. After all, Jesus says, Do not judge, or you too will be judged (Matthew 7:1). And as our text for today says, God himself is not in the condemnation business. So maybe we have no right to confront others. But then Jesus himself came down pretty hard on people sometimes. He denounced some religious leaders as blind fools, hypocrites, and a brood of vipers (Matthew 23:13, 17, 33). And he became downright violent with the money changers in the temple, overturning their tables and benches (Matthew 21:12). Isnt that condemning? No. Jesus loathed sin, but he loved sinners, even though they were blind to their sin. He loves us, just as we are. But he loves us too much to allow us to stay that way. Theres a world of difference between convicting others and condemning them. The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8), and sometimes so must we. And we do it because we dont want to see them condemned. Prayer Lord, if I must, give me the courage to confront in love, and use my words and actions to bring the person I love to a conviction of sin and repentance. In your name, Amen. chinesetodays.org/?d=8/8/2014
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 22:35:14 +0000