Part of what it means to love your enemies is to oppose them in all their evildoing, sternly warning them of the coming judgment of God.
It is not love to give sinners a false peace.
Sin destroys the sinner. If we love sinners, we will oppose them in their sin.
In loving memory of Charlie Kirk, a fearless patriot & man of unwavering faith who dedicated his life to America.
"It's bigger than you, I want you to remember that... It's bigger than me - you are here to make somebody else's life better, the pursuit of liberty & freedom."❤️
Chanted Psalm 2 followed by a metrical version of Psalm 94 with our people.
The church must return to singing and chanting the psalms.
What kind of people are produced by singing things like the below on a weekly basis? What kind of nation is produced by such saints?
“Ask of me and I will make nations your inheritance,
And your possession the ends of earth.
You will rule them with an iron scepter.
Like a vessel of clay will You smash them.”
Or
“They conspire against the righteous,
Sentence just ones to be killed.
But the Lord is still my stronghold;
God, my refuge, will repay.
He’ll for sin wipe out the wicked;
Them the Lord our God will slay.”
The ability to be frank *and* friendly is a great feminine virtue to cultivate. It can teach other ladies that truth and correction doesn’t have to lead to coldness, gossip, or getting out of fellowship. ☺️
Leaders need to be decisive. Leaders need to be charismatic and good communicators. Leaders can’t be anxious.
But love is the the heart of leadership. Jesus' is Good Shepherd’s because of His love for the sheep.
Jesus’ love takes a specific form: Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.
Love produces the qualities of leadership. Loves bears the fruit of courage, because perfect love casts out fear. Love is infectious. Love isn’t anxious. Love is patient, righteous, steady. Love isn’t arrogant or self-seeking.
Shepherds who love want the best for the sheep, regardless of the cost. Without love, all good leadership qualities are no more than a clanging gong.
Ezekiel 34 (along with Jer 23) is an extended diatribe against bad shepherds.
Shepherds should feed the flock; bad shepherds eat the flock (34:2-3). Shepherds should protect the flock; bad shepherds slaughter them (34:3).
Instead of strengthening, healing, and binding, they dominate the sheep (34:4).
Without shepherds, the sheep scatter and become food for predators(34:5).
Yahweh promises to shepherd Israel Himself (34:11-16) and send David as shepherd (34:23-24). In the parallel passage in Jeremiah 23, Yahweh promises to raise up shepherds (v. 4).
Thus: The promise of faithful leaders is inherent in the gospel of the Good Shepherd.
What do people do who have died and been incorporated into the life of Christ in God?
Renounce sexual immorality, evil desire, idolatrous greed, anger, abusive speech (Col 3:1-11).
Also: Sing (Col 3:16).
Christian, you serve a risen and conquering Lord, so live like it.
Jesus is risen, so your sins are forgiven.
Jesus is risen, so everything sad is going to come untrue.
Jesus is risen, so whatever you’re worried about is no big deal.
Jesus is risen, so everything is going to be ok - the story you’re in has a happy ending.
Jesus is risen, so all your suffering will be turned into glory.
Jesus is risen, so death has lost its sting.
Jesus is risen, which means the world, the flesh, and the devil have been defeated.
Jesus is risen, which means life has overcome death.
Aspire to be the kind of man with wells of joy cut down so deep under you that no enemy or opposition can rob you.
A man who can sing in a prison cell, whose delight is so rooted in the Lord that he can face death and smile.
Bitter men are not compelling.
Joy is compelling.