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Mona Anderson

Blessings to You

Spiritual observations

Opinion

Becoming like Jesus

Friday, August 26, 2022

God wanted the Bible written as History for all to know “what happened”. It is all true (that it happened); but, what happened was not all God’s desire; most was simply human.

It reveals how from the beginning humans in charge were influenced by the ungodly around them and infiltrated false god practices into their daily lives, beliefs about God and worship.

Then Jesus showed up to show them what God is really like.

After Jesus ascended, many followers did not “fully” convert to the love, acceptance, and inclusivity of all races and sexes that Jesus had displayed. He had also shared God’s original design of the personal one-on-one relationship daily walking with God, void of the need for rules and religion adhered to in order to come before God.

Jesus said, “ Even if someone comes from heaven to explain it, many will still go back to doing a modified version of their own prejudices”.(Today’s vernacular).

The Bible before and after Jesus was true events of people’s viewpoints of what they thought God was like. Only Jesus showed us truly what God is like. It was all inspired by God to be written down. The truth of what happened, what they did. Proof they never fully understood nor fully obeyed him.

Jesus’ attitude often conflicts with Paul’s. Jesus had a penchant (strong desire and liking) for reaching out to sinners rather than shunning them. . . . Not all of Jesus’ followers took such a tender view, however. Paul often preached intolerance, shunning, judging, calling them by name and casting people out and turning them over to Satan to be rebuked.

Jesus and Paul are fundamentally at odds over a variety of ethical issues. On the one side is Jesus: peace-loving, enemy-forgiving, egalitarian, and inclusive. On the other side is Paul: war-loving, death penalty–supporting, patriarchal, and exclusionary with regard to sinners and sexes.

Whereas Jesus was all love and tolerance inviting repentance and forgiveness, Paul was about “wrath”, intolerance and handing sinful people in the church over to satan. Jesus desired love and forgiveness. Paul desired hell fire and brimstone before its time. Jesus wanted to win them with love and a daily personal relationship.

Paul wanted to set up churches, rules and pass judgment.

Notice there were times Paul said, “I, not the Lord” in giving his opinions. Yet, Jesus never had a separate opinion of his own, he only spoke what he heard from Father God.

There will be crosses in life that you have to face. A cancer diagnosis, a financial crisis, the death of a loved one, etc.

When Jesus knew the cross was up ahead he dreaded it, just like you do when you become aware of your cross up ahead. He went thru stages of sweating great drops as tho blood, crying and begging God, “Please, Father, if there be another way, please?” And then, “Okay... not my will, but yours.”

There are times, as you take, as he took, steps toward that cross that it is scary, inconvenient, uncomfortable, mentally, emotionally and physically painful, stressful, exhausting and draining. You will feel fear and dread, yet know there is for now, no other way.

As Jesus did, you just enter your Jerusalem knowing that your personal cross, the climax, will be waiting for you there. In the hardest moment, you may feel abandoned and all alone. But remember, there is a Divine reason for everything and your destiny and the fate of loved ones watching. On the other side of your cross is, as Jesus’ was, somehow worth it all, “On The Other Side of Your Cross.”

“The Test is Not Just Do You Love Jesus? But, Can You Still Love Judas, too?” Jesus called him a friend even when he betrayed him. Judas was a narcissist who wanted to manipulate Jesus to do his bidding. Do you have a loved one like that? If you do not do their bidding they will not only turn against you but turn others against you, too. A Judas always has a backup mob, no matter who gets sacrificed along the way.

Real Love never dies, but it is not always reciprocated.

Are you able to tell your Judas to go do what they have to do, even if it is killing you? Can you still love your Judas even if you are the one they crucify?

Jesus did not read the scrolls (Bible) “every day”. (Don’t feel bad if you do not read the Bible “every day”).

Jesus talked (prayed) to God in private one-on-one “every day”. (Stay in daily communication with God).

Jesus told stories (parables) to teach people what Heavenly Father, The Kingdom of God and Heaven are like, and how to be born again and adopted by God. To repent, be saved, change and prepare for eternal life with Father God and how Holy Spirit within makes it all possible. (Tell others about these things).

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