John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
God is clear concerning the nature of all mankind and is graciously generous in His merciful redemption. We must not allow our view of others to be determined by anything other than the Word of God – our care and concern for others must emulate the care shown toward us, by our Lord upon the cross. It is human to be disillusioned by our fellowman – but we must not allow their failure to inspire judgement or cynicism. God had no illusions of purity or perfection in my life when He sent His Son to the cross because He was directing His promise at my problem not my person. Bitterness and hurt is the result of expecting behavior in others based upon my values – the non-believer bases all ambition upon self-preservation; it is the very root of man’s sin-nature. The problem cannot be willed away – it must be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. Our relationships with others must stem from our relationship with our Lord. We must not fall to the worldly premise that there is basic goodness in everyone waiting to be willed to the surface. Man is condemned to his sin-nature until he has accepted the sacrifice of Jesus and humbly submits to the Holy Spirit and Word. Until the heart of man is humbly submitted to the will of God it remains conflicted – it is living for the hope that lies before us that confirms our devotion to our Lord and returns His love to us.
Read through the Bible in one year – April 17/ Luke 14:1-24; 2 Samuel 1,2
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