Friendly Fire
The Church of the body of Christ is the city of refuge; a safe home base in the midst of the spiritual battle against the darkness of this fallen world. Men of God are asylum seekers, fleeing from the persecution of the enemy and the powers of Darkness. The Lord is our refuge and strength, He is our fortress and our high tower. Our mission is to reach out to the asylum seekers of this world so that we together can stand strong in the power of his might… A mighty fortress is our God. A bulwark never failing.
Even within the apparent security of the Church, many Christians are victims of “friendly fire.” We must guard our hearts to love as Jesus loved us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Our challenge is to love others regardless of their response. This is the essence of the love of God… to love unconditionally. However men of God are not taught how to avoid becoming a victim of “friendly fire” in the Church. To love the world is really no chore. The real chore is to love the neighbor next door.
In John 2:23, At the Passover feast, many witnessed the miracles that Jesus did and they marveled. However, Jesus knew their hearts and that the heart of man is full of deception. Jeremiah 17:9 says “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” According to an article by Oswald Chambers, Disillusionment is to be free from the illusions of emotional deception. However when we turn from the illusions of emotion, we often end up at the other extreme and become coldly analytic. We become critics against our own emotions and against the emotional responses of the people of this world. We look for a different kind of response from those to whom we give our love and affection. This will result in disaster. Our Lord, knowing the heart of man, did not place his confidence in people. If we put our trust in human beings, we will be disappointed, for all we humans are fallible in the flesh. However, the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Worldly love is reciprocal… it requires love in return. However, there is only one kind of love that does not require a reciprocal response from the other party. This is the unconditional love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. Jesus knew their heart… that all men are liars… that they are incapable of keeping their commitments and their promises. He did not rush to conclusions from the illusion that men are inherently righteous and good. Any fool can claim his human rights, and any devil will make sure he gets them. Suspicion is the first thought of worldly men in a reciprocal relationship. Men always treat each other unfairly… they can’t help it because it’s hard wired into their fallen human nature. People will break your heart. However, the love of God gives unconditionally… it never burns bridges and is not sensitive about the reaction of others. Cruelty is to hurt others, whether intentionally or unknowingly, without any remorse. When someone leaves a personal relationship, we must realize that this is not a personal affront… it’s just part of our fallen sinful nature.
Only our Lord Jesus Christ can love unconditionally…. to love regardless of love given in return. Therefore, put on the mind of Christ. In Philippians 2, Jesus humbled himself, took upon himself the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even unto the death of the cross. How could Jesus have loved even though he was reviled, persecuted, tortured, and crucified? He, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and is seated on the right hand of God. What was the joy set before him? His joy was your redemption and mine.
Doubting Thomas said to Jesus, “unless I put my finger in the nail prints in his hands and thrust my hand into the wound in his side, I will not believe.” Jesus told Doubting Thomas, “blessed are those who have not seen the wounds in my hands and side, and yet believe.”
Men of this world say, “I just want my just desserts.” However, the Word says, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God loved the unlovable by giving us his only begotten son… He who knew no sin became the prefect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
The key to loving others is to not feel uncomfortable in their presence when you see them, even after a long period of separation. This truth will set you free. Judge not lest ye be not judged. The love of God is unconditional. Love gives without expecting anything in return. Loving and forgiveness go hand in hand… both require nothing in return. The love of God is to love the unlovable. The forgiveness of God is to forgive the unforgivable. Herein lies the secret to avoid killing and being killed by “friendly fire” within the body of Christ… I forgave and set the prisoner free, only to find that the prisoner was me.
Therefore, be ye kindly affection-ed one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael