Staying true with RESOLVE.

[Alive]

8 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

We are to judge matters among ourselves. Remembering the exhortation to examine ourselves, we should first determine if we are in the faith. None of us are perfect having faults, flaws, and weakness. Because of this we ought to judge mercifully and with love, remembering our own shortcomings unless we prove ourselves to be an unrighteous judge. 

A forum is not the place where the fruit of another may be fully measured. Indeed, this is a limited venue which relies only upon typed words. Is it possible to wash the feet of your brother on a forum? To look after the needs of another who is sick or infirm? Yes, we can pray but that is all we can accomplish here.  We cannot embrace our brother or sister when they are weeping and if we trespass another here, then what does anyone have beyond typed words?

If fellowship is based upon the agreement of opinion, and the service of another to the Lord predicated upon how typed words pleases the eye of the beholder, then what does this say about judgment? The apostle rebuked the Corinthians for embracing sexual immorality... for taking each other to court to be judged by unbelievers... and for not doing what is right by casting out the sexually immoral. They boasted about the immorality!

Not about perceived misconduct on internet forums. 

Fruit inspectors abound, those who believe they are immaculate judges of another's servant. In this case, the fruit inspector judges a servant of the Lord by typed words on an internet forum, revealing that they judge according to what pleases the eye. That is not righteous judgment, friends. It's the court of opinion. 

What did the Lord tell us? Forgive those who trespass against us, love our enemy, and return evil with good. It's impossible to agree with our brother or sister on a forum all of the time. There are precious brothers and sisters whom I love but we're not always in agreement on every matter discussed here. Here's my judgment on this matter:

So what? Is it the end of the world? Is anyone required to agree with me before I deem them my brother or sister? We love Christ and confess Him as Lord and God... is that not sufficient? I believe it is so I will refrain from judging others according to what pleases my eye. I've been mistaken many times, and I'm not so blind as to assume I'll never be mistaken about something again.    

A this same moment you were typing this, I was saying the same in another thread.

 

[Arrabon]

@Marathoner

The judgement God talks about, to me, is about love and concern for the person no matter where you are, and the perceived problem isn't to be discussed in public as an opinion of failure, especially on a forum.

For me, being aware of a persons state is to be recognized as a gift from God to handle with tender love, respect and kindness, not personal attacks and accusations as we see regularly here.

With all Godly Love and kindness

Arrabon

Edited May 19, 2021 by Arrabon

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Arrabon said:

@Marathoner

The judgement God talks about, to me, is about love and concern for the person no matter where you are, and the perceived problem isn't to be discussed in public as an opinion of failure, especially on a forum.

For me, being aware of a persons state it to be recognized as a gift from God to handle with tender love, respect and kindness, not personal attacks and accusations as we see regularly here.

With all Godly Love and kindness

Arrabon

I suggest that you refrain from finding fault with the forum and members of the forum. You have done enough of that already and made your point. For your own sake, I suggest that you try to find something uplifting to communicate.

Enough.

[Marathoner]

26 minutes ago, Arrabon said:

@Marathoner

The judgement God talks about, to me, is about love and concern for the person no matter where you are, and the perceived problem isn't to be discussed in public as an opinion of failure, especially on a forum.

For me, being aware of a persons state is to be recognized as a gift from God to handle with tender love, respect and kindness, not personal attacks and accusations as we see regularly here.

With all Godly Love and kindness

Arrabon

Let us recognize the truth that we're a many-membered Body. It pleases the Lord that each one has something to bring before the assembly and because it's impossible for us to cover everything in what we write here, others come forward to offer something which adds to what another shares. I view it this way:

A brother lays something precious at the feet of the Lord. Another comes forward and adds something precious to this offering... and so all are magnified by the offering of love. It's an image of what transpires in the gathering of the assembly when we join in singing a new song to the Ancient of days. Some have deeper voices, others hit the high notes, and many are somewhere in between. 

Each member who has posted in this topic contributed something meaningful and precious. When viewed as a whole and not according to disparate portions, we gaze upon the beauty of the many-membered Body! Each knowing only in part, living stones fitting together and precious to the Lord Most High. Our strength is Jesus Christ and we are one with Him... and we are also one with each other. 

I have faith that disagreements and hurt will be reconciled, @Arrabon, whether that happens now or in the age to come. I'll share a vision with you and the assembly, brother.

I have seen the day when I shall bear witness to the most glorious thing, greater than anything I've witnessed on this earth. I will bear witness to that crown of glory placed upon your brow by our Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the honor He has given to one so undeserving. I will embrace you and we shall join our voices as one to sing a new song to the Lord who is all in all. Praise the Lord!

Edited May 19, 2021 by Marathoner

[Marathoner]

53 minutes ago, Alive said:

A this same moment you were typing this, I was saying the same in another thread.

 

I looked and found it.  

As for myself, I write from the crucible of experience having been swift to speak, slow to listen, and quick to anger. I was proud, arrogant, self-assured, and harsh in the judgment I meted. I was a young man who had yet to see three decades, blind to the harm I inflicted upon the most precious gift the Lord gave to me on this earth: my brothers and sisters. 

It was a terrible thing. My family of this flesh disowned me and so Christ in His mercy, through my adoption as a son, gave me more mothers, brothers, and sisters than I could number, but I didn't see it at that time because I was blind. The Lord broke me over the course of many years and I emerged from the trial sober-minded and contrite. I wept at what I had done. 

We should take heed and handle the gifts of our Lord with care. There's nothing amiss with disagreements concerning scriptural discussions and the like, and I regard the TOS as a godly reminder that we ought to examine our own conduct first and foremost. If we find ourselves a bit hot under the collar, time to disengage and water the petunias.  

[Arrabon]

3 hours ago, Marathoner said:

I have seen the day when I shall bear witness to the most glorious thing, greater than anything I've witnessed on this earth. I will bear witness to that crown of glory placed upon your brow by our Lord Jesus Christ, and this is the honor He has given to one so undeserving. I will embrace you and we shall join our voices as one to sing a new song to the Lord who is all in all. Praise the Lord!

@Marathoner

If only any of us were worthy of a blessing like that vision you shared. Thanks be to Christ we are counted worthy through His mercy and Grace and shed blood..

Makes me think of 1st Peter 4:18 

" And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved,"

Thank you brother - God bless

Arrabon

Edited May 19, 2021 by Arrabon

[TheBlade]

 "RESOLVE" I think the fruits of the spirit "is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" is a good way. I guess one could read a post or few of them by someone and try to make some kind of judgement yet its still just text and a moment in time. 

In regards to someone being a believer.. really were doing this by again a few lines of text? See the good in who ever you look at read about. Do that first. Thinking right now.. I have never once in all the posts I read here . I have never had a thought "are they a Christian?"  Not what you do.. its what am I doing for Him. Today more then ever we need to come together in Christ. 

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Arrabon said:

@Marathoner

If only any of us were worthy of a blessing like that vision you shared. Thanks be to Christ we are counted worthy through His mercy and Grace and shed blood..

Makes me think of 1st Peter 4:18 

" And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved,"

Thank you brother - God bless

Arrabon

There was a time when I was content to sit upon the branch of an old tree and gaze over the wall of a glorious city. My seat afforded me a view of that which was too wonderful and fair for the likes of me. Who would let me pass through the gate so I might walk the streets below? I was grubby and my clothing wasn't fit for the occasion! Sleeping wild marked me as an outcast and wanderer. 

I fell asleep up there in the tree, content to remain because there was nothing on this earth quite like the wonder of the city. I could hear singing and laughter on the breeze, and it was a lullaby compared to those desolate places I had wandered. Yes, I was content with my view and it was more than enough for me, brother. 

A voice from below startled me from daydreams. He was none other than a messenger and bondservant of the King who dwelled in the city, bearing an invitation from the Lord of all the land addressed to me. Me? But no one knew my name, so how could the summons be addressed to me? I was just a vagabond perched in a tree!

I reached down and received the scroll bearing the seal of the King from the messenger. "Don't tarry, friend," the bondservant said with a smile. "The Lord and King is expecting you!"

Ah, I was so overwhelmed by it all that I promptly fell asleep in my perch, dreaming about those streets of gold and what it would be like to walk upon them at last. I wouldn't have to dream about it any longer! 

Alas, I tarried. I startled awake the next day, convinced that the events of the day before were the same substance as daydreams until the fingers of my hand touched the scroll tucked away in my shirt. Oh! It was real after all! I scrambled down the tree convinced that the Lord and King would be greatly displeased because I tarried. Even if I faced His wrath, I could at least be bold enough to present the summons to the watchman of the gate. 

The watchman grinned. "Ah, so the tree dweller stirs at last! You are expected so you may pass, friend." 

I was surely in trouble. The city was was more beautiful than anything I imagined, but I followed the avenue until I arrived at the mansions of the Lord. It wasn't visible from my vantage point in the tree... my breath was taken away.

A bondservant approached and so I surrendered the invitation to him. "Surely I am delinquent and my Lord shall not be pleased with me, so I present myself to be judged as He sees fit. I am neither worthy to walk these streets of gold, nor am I fit to stand before the King because I am dressed in filthy rags." 

Behold, the King Himself was the bondservant! He washed me clean, gave me fine linen to wear, and presented me to everyone assembled that day. "Witness now My son, a man who wandered far and wide, whom I love like no other. He has come home to Me, and now he joins you in his proper place." Stunned, I could not speak but the Lord knew my heart and so He answered,

"Of course I know your name. I have given it to you!"

Just felt like writing that.  

Edited May 19, 2021 by Marathoner

[Arrabon]

 

@Marathoner

WOW!!!

Are you a writer or poet?? 

You have a marvelous gift. Maybe you missed your calling or should at least pursue it as a side interest.

I like very much what you wrote. Very descriptive and yet elegant and imaginative, pure and enticing to follow to the end.

Thank you for sharing. VERY NICE

Arrabon

 

[David1701]

21 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

There was a time when I was content to sit upon the branch of an old tree and gaze over the wall of a glorious city. My seat afforded me a view of that which was too wonderful and fair for the likes of me. Who would let me pass through the gate so I might walk the streets below? I was grubby and my clothing wasn't fit for the occasion! Sleeping wild marked me as an outcast and wanderer. 

I fell asleep up there in the tree, content to remain because there was nothing on this earth quite like the wonder of the city. I could hear singing and laughter on the breeze, and it was a lullaby compared to those desolate places I had wandered. Yes, I was content with my view and it was more than enough for me, brother. 

A voice from below startled me from daydreams. He was none other than a messenger and bondservant of the King who dwelled in the city, bearing an invitation from the Lord of all the land addressed to me. Me? But no one knew my name, so how could the summons be addressed to me? I was just a vagabond perched in a tree!

I reached down and received the scroll bearing the seal of the King from the messenger. "Don't tarry, friend," the bondservant said with a smile. "The Lord and King is expecting you!"

Ah, I was so overwhelmed by it all that I promptly fell asleep in my perch, dreaming about those streets of gold and what it would be like to walk upon them at last. I wouldn't have to dream about it any longer! 

Alas, I tarried. I startled awake the next day, convinced that the events of the day before were the same substance as daydreams until the fingers of my hand touched the scroll tucked away in my shirt. Oh! It was real after all! I scrambled down the tree convinced that the Lord and King would be greatly displeased because I tarried. Even if I faced His wrath, I could at least be bold enough to present the summons to the watchman of the gate. 

The watchman grinned. "Ah, so the tree dweller stirs at last! You are expected so you may pass, friend." 

I was surely in trouble. The city was was more beautiful than anything I imagined, but I followed the avenue until I arrived at the mansions of the Lord. It wasn't visible from my vantage point in the tree... my breath was taken away.

A bondservant approached and so I surrendered the invitation to him. "Surely I am delinquent and my Lord shall not be pleased with me, so I present myself to be judged as He sees fit. I am neither worthy to walk these streets of gold, nor am I fit to stand before the King because I am dressed in filthy rags." 

Behold, the King Himself was the bondservant! He washed me clean, gave me fine linen to wear, and presented me to everyone assembled that day. "Witness now My son, a man who wandered far and wide, whom I love like no other. He has come home to Me, and now he joins you in his proper place." Stunned, I could not speak but the Lord knew my heart and so He answered,

"Of course I know your name. I have given it to you!"

Just felt like writing that.  

Have you read "Pilgrim's Progress", by John Bunyan?  If not, I highly recommend it.  It's written in a similar style, although the English is much more old-fashioned.