“TenderHearted”

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

ONLY “GOD IS LOVE” – NOT US (1 JOHN 4:8, 16). THE BIBLE NEVER SAID THAT GOD’S PEOPLE (US) ARE LOVE BUT ONLY THAT HE IS LOVE. AND SO WE, HIS CHILDREN, ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON GOD WHO “IS LOVE,” THROUGH AN ABIDING RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, TO RECEIVE HIS LOVE. HE WHO “IS LOVE” THEREBY SPREADS HIS LOVE ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST (ROMANS 5:5; 1 JOHN 4:7-8, 16-18).

We love with HIS love – the love of our God who first loved us!

“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 

Jesus Christ is “NOT Willing that ANY Should Perish” – Are You willing that some should perish? (2 Peter 3:9; Luke 15)

God will forgive “ALL sins” except 1:

“Verily I say unto you, ALL sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” Mark 3:28-29 

As we walk with Christ, we are learning to be “tenderhearted” as opposed to hard-hearted (Ephesians 4:32).

WHEN TRIALS ARISE by someone doing us wrong (even by someone who claims to be a Christian), we must be prayerful (full of prayer) and ask God for His wisdom in that situation, as He told us to do (James 1:5). It’s easy to simply react, isn’t it? But is that glorifying our LORD?

We at times come under attack by someone who is blatantly doing us wrong (sin) and yet, we must learn that God alone is their Judge. He’s also our Judge as we have all fallen short of His glory (Romans 3). Do we have the right to cast a stone? (John 8:1-11) This is a lesson I am learning alongside of each member of Christ’s body. Here are some passages that will minister our LORD’s wisdom to our hearts:

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21

Friend, are you angry with sinners, with someone, anyone, someone who hurt you? Notice how God promises that those who’ve done wrong, will be repaid – they will reap what they sowed. No one escapes the the law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7-8).

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19

DEAR SONS OF THUNDER OF WHICH I AM CHIEF (UGH)…. “I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD” …. Reaping what is sown is absolute. It WILL happen (Galatians 6:7-8). Not one escapes the divinely instituted law of sowing and reaping. Those who do evil are digging their own pit (Psalms 7, 9; 35, 37, 73, etc.). The LORD Almighty promised that HE IS GOING TO REPAY THE WICKED. He just doesn’t want us to try to do it, especially since we ourselves are in utter need of His mercy also (James 1:20).

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.” Romans 12:19

In their early days with our LORD, His twelve tended toward judgment instead of mercy. Memorize this:

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

“Harboring unforgiveness against someone else is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” unknown

When it begins to sink into our hearts how desperately in need of and dependent we ourselves are, on the mercy of God, we’ll begin to drop the stones and begin to stoop …. to stoop down and help those who have fallen (John 8:1-12). Isn’t that why Jesus came? Let us never forget what manner of wicked men we ourselves are outside of Christ (Romans 7:18, 24).

When sinful men rejected Christ, rejected His will, His disciples sought Him to bring down judgment upon them.

“And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:54-56 

Where would you and I be if God had not had mercy, patience with our own wicked souls?

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10

“If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Psalms 130:3

“who shall be able to stand?”

“For the great day of his wrath is come; and WHO shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17

Only those truly in Christ shall be left standing. They built the foundation of their lives in Him – by obeying Him. Now read Matthew 7:19-29.

May God bless us today to announce aloud our own great need for the Savior…. who came to pay the full price for the wicked sinners of this world of whom I am chief…. in utter need of the blessings, the profound benefits of our LORD Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice. He’s Wonderful and Beautiful.

Here’s why we are His, we have a relationship with the LORD, and why we are not in hell.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” Ephesians 2:1-4

The LORD has been mercifully with.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

Would this be a good moment to pause, to look up to Heaven, and to thank God for creating, finding you in your sin, and saving you from your sins into His glorious kingdom?

“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:7

WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY – GOD IS GONNA GET EM … IN THE MEANTIME, HE MAY CRUCIFY OUR DESIRE TO SEE EVIL COME UPON THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THEMSELVES OUR ENEMIES. WHILE DYING FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS, JESUS SAID: “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” (LUKE 23:34) CHECK THIS OUT SAINTS AND PLEASE SHARE FOR THE EDIFICATION AND LEARNING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST – VENGEANCE IS MINE! NOT YOURS!

Memorizing this verse has greatly blessed and helped this mercy-dependent soul: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19  (go for it!)

BEWARE OF THE EVIL TEMPTATION TO DO YOUR OWN BIDDING BY AVENGING YOURSELF. REMEMBER THAT NOT ONE SOUL WILL ESCAPE THE JUDGMENT OF OUR MAKER WHO ALONE IS THE JUDGE OF OUR ETERNAL SOULS. BE NOT DECEIVED INTO THINKING THAT THOSE WHO DO YOU WRONG WILL ESCAPE ONE IOTA OF JUDGMENT FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. READ PSALMS AND SEE WHAT DAVID ENDURED AND SAID ABOUT HIS ENEMIES. THAT’S AN EDUCATION!

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

BEWARE: THOSE WHO DRAG UP THE PAST, CONFESSED, ALREADY FORGIVEN SINS OF OTHERS ARE THE DEVIL’S CHILDREN AS MUCH AS ANYONE COULD BE. DON’T YOU DARE JOIN IN WITH THEM OR GOD WILL HOLD ALL OF YOUR PAST SINS AGAINST YOU.

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11-12

Do you think our heavenly Father can bring us to the place of Christ-likeness that we show mercy to those who wound and attack us?

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

God will not forgive the sins of those who refuse to forgive all others – from their heart (Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26, etc.). Unforgiveness is non-negotiably, irrefutably, soul damning sin.

Are we not incentivized here to show mercy and not judgment and condemnation? We all have spiritual boomerangs circling back upon us. Are they waves of mercy or condemnation? – depends on what we have released toward others in our attitudes and words and actions, right? Memorize James 2:13

Undiluted divine judgment comes upon the head of those who “shew(ed) no mercy.” So, conversely we know that mercy comes on those who show mercy to others. For myself, when I began to cease reacting in judgment to others who attack me, the LORD began to show His mercy to me when I stumbled. Try it!

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS AS GOD HAS SHOWN TO YOU, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WILL IMMEDIATELY BE MORE IN ORDER WITH THE LORD. LET HIM BE THE JUDGE AS HE ALONE IS QUALIFIED. YOU AND I AREN’T.

GOD is “not willing that ANY should perish” – WHAT about you? (2 Peter 3:9)

If we need His mercy – and we sure do – we are required of Him to show mercy on others.

“What is the justification that God will hold ‘all your past sins against you’? Did Christ die for my sins? If so, how can God bring them back up against me for any reason? Was God not satisfied with the life and death of His Son? If not, by what power was He raised from the dead?” Dallas Eaton

When the LORD truly gets a hold of our lives, perhaps we will begin saying with Jesus and Stephen (the first martyr for Christ) “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Stephen’s Example

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁶⁰ And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60

BY THIS LANGUAGE “HE FELL ASLEEP,” PERHAPS WE LEARN THAT GOD SPARED STEPHEN THE PAIN AND JUST TOOK HIM TO HEAVEN. PERHAPS THIS WAS DUE TO THE MERCY STEPHEN SHOWED HIS MURDERERS! SELAH!

If you still struggle with unrighteous anger, then there is a trigger point there that can perhaps be disarmed. Perhaps beginning with prayerfully and verbally speaking out that you “release the expectation of perfection from any and every other human being, knowing that we are fallen and at times, including ourselves, we don’t do what is right in God’s eyes.”

If we are grudging against even one of God’s children, are we ready to meet Christ?

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. ⁸ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. ⁹ Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:7-9

How Do You Remember Peter?

Here’s a case in point: Do you remember the apostle Peter for his denial of Christ or for his preaching and leading 3,000 then 5,000 souls to Christ after Pentecost? I would think that most of us remember the way God used this frail man to lead 8,000 souls to Christ just like that! Wow! That was only the beginning. But wait, Peter then assimilated with judaizers and Paul had to rebuke him right? (Galatians 2) Yes. Now have you personally walked perfectly with Christ – uninterrupted denial of self by taking up the cross daily – or have you been intermittent at times like Peter?

Do you see the point? In the minds of the righteous, Peter is remembered for what God used him to do and not for his failings. David, the man after God’s own heart, is primarily remembered for the righteousness he walked in with our LORD and how he sought the LORD relentlessly (Acts 13:22). So, in light of this, how should we view others? Should we black ball them for a sin they committed? Is that how you want people to remember your life? – for the sins you committed? What did Jesus teach us in the golden rule? (Matthew 7:12)

If God can use Peter, and Moses, and David AFTER they fell, who then can’t He use if they return to Him in repentance? Has the LORD changed? No! – “I am the LORD; I change not.” (Malachi 3:6)

NOW, GET YOUR HANDS AND HEART UP HIGH TO THE LORD FOR THE GREAT MERCY HE HAS SHOWN YOUR WRETCHED SOUL! THANK HIM, THANK HIM, THANK HIM!!!!

Why then are some among us so very merciful and understanding of their own failures and sins and so very merci-LESS in their attitudes and actions towards others when they stumble?

Do you personally have the ongoing need for God’s mercy? If so (and it’s obvious that you do), then it’s time to begin showing sheer mercy as God has shown you through Christ – that is, on His perfect merit! Mercy is something you and I do not deserve and yet, on the basis of the perfection of Christ, God grants it to those whom He saves and who abide/remain in intimate relationship with Him (Romans 4:4-8).

“Now to him that worketh (tries to earn his salvation) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. ⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, ⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. ⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:4-8

Maintaining Unity Among Christ’s Brethren

Now, especially concerning the body of Christ, I want you to write the following two Scripture verses on index cards with references (KJV) and begin to read and meditate upon and memorize them:

“Endeavouring (working hard) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

We should memorize Ephesians 4:32 and tell every Christian we know to do the same.

JESUS CONDEMNS HYPOCRITICAL JUDGMENT … NOT ALL JUDGMENT (JOHN 7:24) BUT RATHER HYPOCRITICAL JUDGING OF ANOTHER WHEN OUR OWN HEARTS ARE NOT REPENTANT, RIGHTLY JUDGED, CORRECTED, AND CLEANSED (MATTHEW 7:1-5).

Can and Will God Use You?

PASS THIS ON TO ANOTHER

Are you actively involved with helping others hear God’s Word which never returns to Him void? (Isaiah 55:11)

Check out and order your supply of soul winning Gospel tracts here | The Use of Gospel Tract by R.A. Torrey | The Persistence of One Child | Evangelism | Love Mercy [podcast]

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PEACE with GOD

FEEDBACK:

“Very good word. I needed to read this! Sometimes it is really hard to want good for those who have hurt us, we are commanded to love one another. Thanks for sharing.” Heidi D.

Read Psalms 37 and 73.

Persecution Audios

Aren’t You Glad God is the Judge and Not Man? [podcast]

“I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice”: What does this really Mean? [podcast]