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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • Love Your Enemies

    Love Your Enemies

    The pastor plans his sermons as far in advance as a year at our  local assembly. That makes the timing of yesterday’s text providential.

    The text? Jesus is speaking…

    “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tuniceither. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

    “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36 ESV

    A Federal election was announced this weekend here in Canada. South of us, the President is making massive changes, many impacting our country. The result? Panic, anger, hatred. The politicians demonize their opponents, and their followers drink the proverbial Kool-aid. It is happening on all sides of the political spectrum.

    People we have known for years are suddenly our enemies. Civil discourse is tossed out the window. Our social media pages are filled with horrific hate and fear-filled rants.

    I’ve had to snooze many people’s posts because of it. I read their posts and want to retaliate in a similar manner. I confess it is a struggle for me. I couldn’t hold back without the Holy Spirit working in me.

    I can easily forget that conspiracy theories aside, most of these people are well-intentioned and want the best for others. They often want a solution radically different from the one I see as correct. I can struggle to keep from throwing out relationships because of these differences.

    The text made a dialogue between myself and the Lord happen in my head. Perhaps you can relate to this to some degree.

    Love them? But Lord, do you know what they stand for?

    Bless them? But Lord…?

    Pray for them? Okay, Lord… smite them! No, Kevin! Pray for them to be drawn to me. Pray blessings, not curses. Remember, I love them, and they are created in my image.

    Pray for them? You mean so they think like I do? No, Kevin! Pray so that your heart is changed and I’m magnified.

    Lord, don’t you know how hard that is? Of course, I know. That’s why I have given you my Word and my Spirit.

    Lord, I don’t want to! Kevin, I didn’t ask if you wanted to. I commanded you to do so. You show your love for me by following my commands and loving. So you want us to “love your enemies.”

    Fine! If I have to. I guess. 

    So my friends, I will strive to trust in Him. I will do my best to love you and pray that you are blessed, even if (especially if) we disagree and somehow see each other as enemies.

    His ways are not my ways. His ways are always right. I’m going to need a lot of help from the Holy Spirit.

    I pray that you join with me in praying for those you find it difficult to love.

    Let us be known as people who love no matter what.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Are They/Them our real enemies
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living
  • Created and Being Shaped Into His Image

    Created and Being Shaped Into His Image

    Genni the wonder dog - a border collie basset hound cross

    My desk has a clear glass top. Under that, I keep various pictures of family and some of our pets over the years. Among them is this shot of Genni the Wonder Dog.

    Genni was a border collie, basset hound cross we got at eight weeks. It was an accidental breeding, and the owner was en route to the SPCA with them. Genni adopted me on the spot and lived with us for many years until she passed.

    They say (whoever the great “they” is) that dogs resemble their owners. I saw this image of Genni and realized that the saying has some truth. There is a lot of truth in that saying. She’s long in the body, short in the legs, and has big fat feet. We’re three for three there. Fortunately, I’m the taller of the two and walk on two legs so that people can tell us apart.

    The resemblances between us got me thinking about the fact that we’re created in the image of God.

    Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

    What does that mean? It doesn’t mean we look like Him, since we have physical bodies, we all look different and God doesn’t have a physical body. So it must refer to something else.

    We’re unlike all the other things or beings that God created. 

    We’re the only beings that Scripture describes as being created in His image (imago dei). We were made with a higher purpose, to rule over all the earth. Being created in His image is both an honor and a huge responsibility. When creation looks to people, it should see the image of God.

    What part of Him were we designed to reflect? His character and His personality. We were created to walk in holiness and righteousness. We were designed to walk in faithfulness and integrity. We were to have passion and compassion, loyalty and levity, love and light, and more. We were designed to be wise and selfless.

    Since the time of the Garden of Eden, we’ve been sinful people with sinful nature in a sin-filled world. We don’t reflect much of the image of God. Yet, for the believer, there are ways we can begin to resemble the one in whose image we were created.

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

    When we begin to exhibit the fruit of the spirit, we start in a small way to show the image of the Creator.

    That fruit comes with maturity (as indeed does all fruit). We mature in our walk through testing and trials, through worship, through giving, and through service. We mature when we spend time communing with Him in prayer, and in meditating on and studying the Word. The fruit doesn’t just happen; it must be nurtured.

    Until next time, rejoice in the fact that you were designed in His image and open your heart to being more like Him.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Created and Being Shaped Into His Image
    Reflections on the image of God
    God sees the big picture