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What do you think? What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?

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ORIGINAL: zamdad

As a result of my occupation I have come to understand that Christ had divine insight. Whenever He met someone as illustrated in scripture, He knew their heart. He knew the secrets they were harboring, the hurts they were hiding, the motives for what they do. For us to develop that kind of insight into others takes time and effort. Time is something our culture tries to rob us of and effort is something we, all too often, try to avoid. Coporately, as the church, we tend to develop ministries/programs to reach people with the message of Christ, then do very little to take the time and build a discipling relationship.

When Jesus looks at our sinful behavior, He knows the motives of our heart, the thoughts that come before action. As humans, we're all very quick to dismiss the thoughts and not categorize it as sin until we act. I tghink this is what Jesus was getting at when He said that when we lust after another, we have already committed adultery. All too often people will excuse their behavior with the comment, "I wasn't thinking." No action is done without some thought having gone into the act.

I think there are two things we need to consider. We have to be aware of our own thought lives and capture those thoughts and surrender them to Christ. And, we have to take the time to listen to and understand those we are discipling. To add to the second: we have to begin in our own homes first.

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson

What do you think? What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?

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What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?

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As a result of my occupation I have come to understand that Christ had divine insight. Whenever He met someone as illustrated in scripture, He knew their heart. He knew the secrets they were harboring, the hurts they were hiding, the motives for what they do. For us to develop that kind of insight into others takes time and effort.

I am not dismissing what you have said, zamdad, but I think it takes the indwelling Spirit and dying of self. This can take time and effort or it can happen quite quickly. But for most, I would say it is the time and effort route. Working out your salvation is the process whereby we get rid of 'me' and the result is that we can truly hear Him and know Him (and ourselves) AND know others. It is our self love, interest in me, me, me that is the biggest hindrance to God and to loving others.

Time is something our culture tries to rob us of and effort is something we, all too often, try to avoid.

(satan and self are involved BIGTIME here.)

Corporately, as the church, we tend to develop ministries/programs to reach people with the message of Christ, then do very little to take the time and build a discipling relationship.

Again I believe much of this (ministries and even evangelization) is more about ME than about Jesus and love of others.

When Jesus looks at our sinful behavior, He knows the motives of our heart, the thoughts that come before action. As humans, we're all very quick to dismiss the thoughts and not categorize it as sin until we act. I tghink this is what Jesus was getting at when He said that when we lust after another, we have already committed adultery. All too often people will excuse their behavior with the comment, "I wasn't thinking." No action is done without some thought having gone into the act.

I agree. And isn't this why we are to meditate, brood over and ponder ALL that God says. He wants us to be a thought full people. . . FULL of thoughts. And when we are thinking, we are much less likely to sin.

Amen. You've touched on some very important and distinct needs within the body of Christ, zamdad. I have not come by my knowledge of this through a career such as yours but simply through knowing Jesus.

I think there are two things we need to consider. We have to be aware of our own thought lives and capture those thoughts and surrender them to Christ. And, we have to take the time to listen to and understand those we are discipling. To add to the second: we have to begin in our own homes first.

We need to know Jesus and ourselves and be willing to DIE before we are really of any use to others.

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ORIGINAL: Cynpurr72

I would just like to say I am new
here and just got on this site. I am looking for CHRISTIAN friends. I have
about had it with my "gaming" friends as I call them. I am a shut in with health problems so I can't get out much. I have to make internet friends, I have NO choice. So I aprreciate what you said about your play and I feel so lost from the Lord having spent too much time with those who are not Christians. Having grown up in a Christian home, my mom and dad
always taught me that having Christian friends was VERY important and the fellowship we have with them helps us stay on the pathway to the Lord. I have now realized this the HARD way because out there people
play a lot of head games that have nothing whatsoever to do with the love they say they have for you. I feel far from Christ and am sure I am on the right path by coming here and talking to those who Christian as you understand what it feels like to be alone and when Jesus feels far away like He does to me now, I know I need to get into my Bible and hang with the Lord's people who have spiritual knowlege of "backsliding"
---which I am guilty of. Jesus knows this so why is all this friend stuff bothering me so much? Why do I care SO much what people think of me, even secular friends?
Sorry to get off topic, but this is what it brought up for me.
Happy to meet you all I hope I will find many who understand me and
can help me and I can help others, as I am a nurse who missses caring for the ill now I am in my patients' place, dealing with pain etc. I know all
this suffering is necessary for growth. I do know that. But Jesus feels so far away, even when I pray. Why do I feel this way????? How can I get
past it to know Him and His Will for me?
Anyways, thanks for your post. May God Bless You and everyone here.
Phil 4:13 Cyn

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ORIGINAL: Wild-Rose

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What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?

I am reminded of Gideon. He was scared to death and arguing with God " I am the weakest fellow in the weakest clan, don't send me! We will fail miserably".

But when the angel of the Lord talks to him, he calls Gideon " Oh Man of Valor!"

You can almost picture Gideon looking behind him to see who the angel is talking to.

God calls us and sees us as we can be, as we should be.

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ORIGINAL: hvt

Hello kisstheson,

Another very deep and beautiful narrative. Thank you for sharing. I always enjoy what you write. Would you mind sharing more of the script?

“The road had forked away from the light when she was just a child, a victim of the worse kind of abuse.”

IMHO this no stretch at all. In that day when all is revealed it will be known that “abuse” of some type or other opened the wider pathway away from righteousness. Father’s word is utterly clear that He has implanted the knowledge of right and wrong in each person. Ask anyone who has, as this lady you write about, fallen into a downward spiral of aggregated sin, and if they are totally honest will be able to pinpoint a juncture in their life where abuse upon them was initiated. Consequently, the cacophonous enticements of the enemy of our souls gaining foothold.

“somehow the woman broke free from her captors and ran toward him.”

Beautiful are the feet that run to Righteousness! Righteousness Himself had planned this event from since before the foundation of the world (all glory to Him) and poured forth abundant mercy to cover all defect! Oh, how well He knows each and every one. Oh, how wonderfully He arranges each event to meet the needs of His called out ones. Oh, the strength He gives to each one of us to run to Him.

“Abba she has forgotten who she is in You.”

I once was lost, but now am found. I once forgot, but now am reminded of the utter beauty of being created in the image of God. I once was buried in sin, but now am buried in the crimson flow that speeds me on to total recovery of all the canker worm has eaten.

“What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?”

The apple of God’s eye. Bruised and bloody, yes. Forsaken, never!

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I agree. And isn't this why we are to meditate, brood over and ponder ALL that God says.

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IMHO this no stretch at all. In that day when all is revealed it will be known that “abuse” of some type or other opened the wider pathway away from righteousness. Father’s word is utterly clear that He has implanted the knowledge of right and wrong in each person. Ask anyone who has, as this lady you write about, fallen into a downward spiral of aggregated sin, and if they are totally honest will be able to pinpoint a juncture in their life where abuse upon them was initiated. Consequently, the cacophonous enticements of the enemy of our souls gaining foothold.

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ORIGINAL: ta_mosquito

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IMHO this no stretch at all. In that day when all is revealed it will be known that “abuse” of some type or other opened the wider pathway away from righteousness. Father’s word is utterly clear that He has implanted the knowledge of right and wrong in each person. Ask anyone who has, as this lady you write about, fallen into a downward spiral of aggregated sin, and if they are totally honest will be able to pinpoint a juncture in their life where abuse upon them was initiated. Consequently, the cacophonous enticements of the enemy of our souls gaining foothold.

I hope you are not saying that people are not responsible for their sin, that "the devil (errr, abuse) made them do it"...

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What do you think? What does Jesus see when He looks at our sinful behavior?

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Kisstheson has been raked over the coals here, in the past, for taking such liberties in her writing or art. I just wanted to let her know that there would be none of that with me, rather encouragement to keep writing.