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Yes, it would be more Christ-like, but I have to admit I don't feel that way most of the time. Through facebook and other means, over the years I have come to find out some of the people who have left my old Hall, seemingly left the Org, and I am SO happy for them. But I am also happy when I find some who do have murderous spirits are still in there - because I want them to share in her plagues. They deserve it - they've had plenty of chances to have their eyes and hearts opened, but they did not want it. Only if they CHANGED, would I feel sorry for them.
I understand how hard it can be to forgive others - and ask mercy for them and love them - especially those who have wronged/hurt us tremendously, and wronged/hurt those we love so tremendously.
I may not have been hurt by anyone the way that you or others here have been hurt. I do not know. So I mean NO judgment at all in anything that I will share, but hope only that something in what I share may help YOU on this matter.
I cannot want someone else to share in any plague, or any punishment. I
cannot. I have hurt others - including loved ones - in ignorance, in lack of love, in selfishness/neglect. I know the remorse and shame that I have when I REALIZE what I have done, either when I see the consequential results or my Lord shows me. So how can I hope for mercy for myself, if I don't also hope for mercy for others?
I have found it incredibly humbling to see my own failings and sins, and consequences of them - and that doesn't leave much room to want others to share in 'her' sins or to be punished... OVER... waking up and coming to Christ, and/or being forgiven and shown mercy. This is what I receive and hope for myself and my loved ones. So I can't want anything else for others.
I
CAN want them to stop hurting others; I CAN speak against their lies; I CAN show them their sin... in the hopes that they TURN and repent and come to Christ. Just as Christ does by calling His people OUT of 'her' so they do not share in her fate, even though while in 'her', they perhaps caused harm to others as well, until they learned better.
Might I have a harder time if it was my CHILD that someone else hurt? Probably. But Christ can help us even then, and we can always ask for whatever fruit of the spirit that we need so as to be able to forgive and ask for mercy, as He has taught us.
So it is not that giving mercy and forgiveness or even asking for mercy and forgiveness of our enemies is EASY, as I know that you know. Easier for me NOW than it was a few years ago, because of coming to know my Lord more fully as He continues to teach me and all of us more about love, true love. But there have been times in the past where I have been unable to pray for someone, fearing that perhaps I should not, that this person is TOO 'bad' to ask forgiveness for, etc.
Well, that is not what Christ and God teach us - by word or by example. That is what MAN has taught us, and we have to shake those chains OFF.
Whereas we are free to love all people - friend and enemy. We are free to ask for mercy for all people - again friend and enemy. We are free to forgive all people - friend and enemy. And it is FREEING in and of itself to ask for mercy for others, to forgive others. If there is vengeance to be had then it belongs to God and God alone, and leaving that to Him, too, is freeing. He will NOT convict an innocent. We -man- has proven that we WILL, even if just out of ignorance.
I would like to share with you something that happened with me that helped me and perhaps this will also help you. A while ago, I did not know that I could forgive someone(s) for something. In fact, at the time I could not do this. I knew that was wrong, but I just couldn't do it. When I prayed I admitted as much (God knows what is in our heart, so there is no point in trying to hide it), but I asked HIM to forgive them even though I could not yet do it myself.
Well, as soon as I asked, a wave of peace washed over me... and I ALSO forgave this person/people. Maybe I could not ask of God what I was not willing to also do. Maybe upon asking forgiveness for my 'enemies', I was given whatever fruit of the spirit that I needed to be able to also forgive, when before I could not. Perhaps both.
But in asking forgiveness for my 'enemies' the burden and weight of anger and resentment was lifted from me, and I too forgave them.
I hope that something in the above may help, Ataloa. I know this is a hard one. But Christ does not ever lead us wrong. Ever.
Peace and love to you, as Christ gives these things,
your servant and sister, and fellow slave of Christ,
tammy