Brotherly Love? 10/18/2010
 
"Cain spoke to Abel his brother.  And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him " (Genesis 4:8). 

Hmmm?  Are you a Cain or are you an Abel?  How does God see you in your relationships with your . . . ?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Luke 15:18-20).

With my work, I normally deal with people who have been hurt a great deal in their life.  Unfortunately, as they go through their pain they tend to respond to it by purposefully or inadvertandly causing pain in others.  I haven't found too many people that aren't affected by others "negative" attacks.  

Recent attacks by others have caused me to pray for strength to withstand such assults.  As I prayed I was reminded about how people treat God.  We love Him one day and are mean to Him or His children the next day.  How painful is this for God to see.  How hurtful is it for Him to witness.

Remember, if you come to Him after running away He will show compassion.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (James. 5:19-20).

Baptism into Christ is necessary for salvation.  There is no doubt to this reality.  However, faith in Christ doesn't stop someone from leaving Christ for a worldly lifestyle or worldy passions. 

A lifestyle in Christ is just like it sounds - a lifestyle.  It takes determination, passion, and a lifelong committment.  Fortunately, God knows that all Christians still suffer from sinning (cf. 1 John 2:1-6).  Yet, others will wander completely from the truth.  Scripture doesn't teach that these people have to be baptized into Christ again but it does teach that they need to repent of the incorrect lifestyle that they are living and become truly committed to the teachings of Christ again.  [Note, Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8:9-25].  Simon was expected to repent and pray.  James teaches that someone needs to come back from their wanderings.

Are you baptized into Christ and committed to Him.  If not humble yourself before God and come back from your wanderings.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). 

King David was a man who made many, many mistakes in his life.  He sinned greatly before God - even commiting adultery and murder.  Yet, throughout his life he always turned toward God with genuine repentance.  It was not a repentance of "sorry I got caught/regret"; like, Judas Iscariot (cf. Matthew 27:3).  King David's repentance was a repentance of "I hurt You God and I am beside myself with deep, sorrowful grief".  David sought for purification.  He knew he could not clean himself - he needed God.  Interestingly, the Hebrew word for create is the same as in the beginning when God "created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).  You see, only God can create the universe.  In the same way, only God can create a clean heart.  David sought a "miracle" from the only being who could give it - God

David was humble before the Lord.  He sought a creation of a clean heart.  He sought a pure soul.

God does this "miracle" for all people who are His.  He creates in them a "clean heart".  If anyone seeks a miracle, it should be this one.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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