Saturday 3 May 2014

THE HEART OF A STRANGER

Exodus 22:21
You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

If you were once maltreated in the house of your mistress God was training you not to repeat the same mistake when you become a mistress. If you were mishandled or you suffered from an abusive relationship God is trying to tell you don't abuse others when He gives you liberty. If you were walking in sexual sins in the past and God delivered you, the message He is conveying to you is don't point your finger at the one battling with that sin.

The people of Israel had been oppressed by the Egyptians for over 400 years. They cried out for years for deliverance. God gave them a deliverer in the person of Moses.
In their wilderness adventure God instructed them not to abuse strangers. He reminded them of their pain in Egypt. The people of Israel should have felt the heart of a servant then but God knew they had short memory so He reminded them again.

Like the people of Israel if not all some of us have been delivered from our "Egypt". Some of us have been delivered from that night club life. Some of us have been delivered from alcoholism. Some of us have been delivered from sexual sins but many of us are quick to forget we were once there. Many of God's people have forgotten they were once slaves to sins. They have taken the role of the devil accusing and despising those who are walking in sin.

Few years back during my rebellion I was accusing and despising fornicators because I thought I wasnt walking in it. God opened my eyes to the fact that I was committing fornication mentally. Do we have the heart of a "slave"? Do we feel the pain oothers. Why are many assuming the role of pharisees. Why are many not showing His people mercy. Why are many promoting their traditions but never teaching His people about His ways.

Matthew 23:23
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law—right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.

Many of God's people will be quick to preach repentance and holiness but do they know the heart of Jesus. Many in our time would have picked up stones to stone the adulterous woman but many are not confronting themselves with His truth. Does fiery preaching make one please Him. Does sound biblical teaching alone please Him.

Jesus told the pharisees they were preaching half truth. How many of us feel His heart? Why are many raising their own standard of holiness? These are called the tradition of the fathers. If His truth enters the heart it must bring liberty but why are many panicking instead of walking in liberty?

God delivers us from bad habits so that we will know how to deal with those walking in sin.

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