Forgiveness & Not Judging?

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Hey Everyone,

Happy Sabbath, to start out with. Today is yet another miracle to me. I can't believe how many Sabbaths lately were to be spent doing work, yet no matter how impossible it seemed to get out of it..all I had to do was pray and leave it up to God. Almost magically they all seem to work out. Hehe.

Annyway. I'm looking for some good reading matieral on the subject of Christian forgiveness and not judging others. Currently reading E.G.White's Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings, chapter "Not Judging, But Doing" (Can be found here: http://www.whiteestate.org/books/mb/mb6.html I'm on pages 123-129). These pages, coupled with a few experiences as of lately, have really sparked something in my to want to learn more about this subject matter. God opened my eyes to how absolutely deep the idea of forgiving and not judging can be and it's mind-blowing! I didn't even realize how much I judged others until now..and yet I still feel like I'm only scratching the surface. It's almost overwhelming! Or, it would be if I had to deal with it on my own. Thankfully the Lord is the one who will be changing my heart..not my own efforts.

Nonetheless..it's such an awesome subject. I'd totally reccomend people reading that book, and especially the couple pages I mentioned above. Very inspiring! Which is quite something coming from one who, only a few months ago, didn't want to touch anything E.G.White with a ten foot pole.

Man! My judgemental nature has actually stopped me from witnessing to so many people when He gave me the chance. I never saw it before..just came up with excuses, often that they wouldn't want to hear it. Just..wow. I'm having a major revelation today. *lol* Ever have one to the point you can't even express the power you're feelin from it?

Anyway..do you guys know of anything I could read on this subject? Preferably free online stuff, as it's hard for me to access books with no car or credit card (and not being allowed to give out my address. oy). But I'm not against a few book suggestions! I'll at least keep an eye out for them when I'm at stores.

Sermons would be good, too.

Pleeeasse share your thoughts on the subject, aswell! I'd love to hear them.

Blessings and Love,
Sarah

P.S. With the move and all (we officially own a house as of yesterday and moving in 2ish weeks!), if I'm slow replying I'm sorry. I will be reading it, though. Just not always with a chance to type up a reply.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Oh! Almost forgot. I don't know the current rules as to who can post in the main Trad forum (where this is), so if you can't post but want to suggest..please PM me or something. And if the mods think I shoulda put this in D&D, please move it. I really wasn't sure where to put it.

 

[DRL]

Read your Bible, especially the gospel of John, Galatians, and Hebrews.
God bless.
DRL

 

[AzA]

When you do get a change to head to a bookstore, or maybe your parents might be willing to pick it up for you:
Try _Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace_ by Miroslav Volf.
It's very thorough, but also written in clear language. The writer explains the characteristics of God's giving and forgiving, shows how that giving and forgiving affects us, and then explains how we can and should respond to His gifts and forgiveness. Each subsection is short -- like a page or two -- so you could read it devotionally if you wanted to...
I read it about 18mths ago, then lent it out and never got it back, but I just bought it again and am re-reading it. I think it would be valuable for you.

Reflecting on how Jesus lived and treated people, revealing the love of God, and then died but even in His death revealed the love of God -- that's a good reason to remember our status in Him. I think it's only when we forget who we are and what we've received that we can pretend we have authority to withhold forgiveness from others or to exercise judgment over them.

Take your time and grow in grace.

 

[tinkerbell]

This is an issue that I was recently looking at - especially the aspect of judging others. God has led me to do a study that may be beneficial to you as well. I am currently reading through all four gospels (one at a time). As I read I write down any key ideas that jump out at me about how Jesus treated those He came into contact with and what he told us about how to treat others. You could do a couple chapters a day for a while. I am discovering quite a lot I didn't realize before - especially looking at how Jesus interacted with others.

I'm eager to get through all of the gospels so that I can start putting some of the pieces together. Let me know what you find too!

God bless you as you seek to grow in Him.

 

[AndrewK788]

Hey Sarah, it's always so refreshing to read your posts. You always manage to uplift me with your own spiritual walk and your enthusiasm for God.

Anyway, as for the books, I've read a couple recently that I think are very good, although they may not be specifically on the topic you mentioned. The first is "Belonging" by Nancy and Ron Rockey. It's an SDA book, so you won't find it in a major bookstore. Used books on Amazon would be your best bet.

The second is "Why Sin Matters" by Mark McMinn.

Both of these books have really helped me out a lot.

 

[OntheDL]

Hi Sarah,

How are you? How's your mom? Is she getting better?

Perhaps the most telling statement from the bible is found in the parable of unforgiving servant in Matt 18. The reason we don't forgive is because we are not truly forgiven.

Ellen White wrote in depth on this subject of forgiveness. Do a search. It probably can be compile in volumes. Here is one http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/...ction00000.htm/book00256.htm/chapter00277.htm

My personal favorite from the book Steps to Christ. p11-12 [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, The Lord "hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18. This was His work. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house, for He had passed through them and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were revealed in every act of His life; His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man's nature, that He might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees and gaze into the pensive face, benignant with love.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Jesus did not suppress one word of truth, but He uttered it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He spoke the truth, but always in love. He denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity; but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, which refused to receive Him, the way, the truth, and the life. They had rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them with pitying tenderness. His life was one of self-denial and thoughtful care for others. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He ever bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with the tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Such is the character of Christ as revealed in His life. This is the character of God. It is from the Father's heart that the streams of divine compassion, manifest in Christ, flow out to the children of men. Jesus, the tender, pitying Saviour, was God "manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16."[/FONT]

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