Posted on 01/25/2015 12:06:48 PM PST by Faith Presses On
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth...
(snip)
Jesus calls us to not only do what is required, but to go the extra mile. How can a Christian learn the joy of the selfless, Christ-filled life in such a selfish world? Christ calls us not to merely go one mile, but to go that extra mile ─ that miracle mile, the one that causes our lives to change. The Principle of the Miracle Mile When Christ said these words, Palestine had been occupied by Rome for about one hundred years. The Romans had learned from the Persians to subjugate the people in order to use them to their advantage. The Romans would often order Jewish civilians to carry their burdens. The civilian was legally required to carry the load for one mile. The Jews hated it, so every Jewish boy marked off one milepost from his house and would refuse to carry a burden one step further...
(snip)
When you begin to live out the commands of Christ in this passage, it will transform your life and give you joy and power. First, it will change your attitude. The first mile is the slave mile. You are required to go the first mile and you hate it every step of the way. But the second mile is the smile mile. You are doing it out of love...
(Excerpt) Read more at lwf.org ...
Heard this message on the radio the other day and found it very helpful and inspiring. Hope others do, too.
When Christ said these words, Palestine had been occupied by Rome for about one hundred yearsJudaea, the Romans called it at that time. Even they knew that it was once the kingdom of Judah.
Sometimes you just have to remember that you follow God’s word. Jesus has his followers that spend way too much time placing him before God, or equal to God. This is why the message of Christians is confusing and leaves many outside the circle of faithfulness to only Jesus by exclusion of God/God’s word. I do not ascribe to the drivel that Jesus is God is Jesus is....
Why, because you don't think such a thing is possible for the infinite God to do?
Look up infinity.
Dying to self.
Never easy but well worth it.
Take it up with Jesus who said......
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
John 14:7-11 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.
Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.
Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Philippians 2:5-7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Yes it is!
To me, the Bible makes it very clear that Jesus/God/Holy Spirit are all facets of God and inseparable - that "Emmanuel" does in fact mean "God with us" and it is ascribed to Jesus.
What do you ascribe to Jesus as far as who He was/is, and what His part in the whole scheme is? It may be interesting and foster some conversation on the matter.
Having grown up a Christian and as a young man studying all the worlds religions and philosophies, with the notable exception of the Koran, I considered the Western Mind superior based on its ordered sense of law and governance.
In my late forties, I had the opportunity to reside in Israel for two years, and it was there that I began to understand I did not fit in the follower of Christ mode, but rather into the worshiper of God mode. It is simply that easy for me.
I would rather live in a Judeo Christian or Jewish society than any of the Asian (11 years living in Asia), current European (5 years there) or what America is becoming in regards to governance. I am thankful for Christians as without them the Jews and other worshipers of their/our God would probably not exist today, or yet tomorrow.
God Bless
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.