© 09 Colin Melbourne
Stealing from relatives
Q: My Aunt stole all my Grandmother’s money and left her destitute at the end of her life. It was quite a large sum, but my Grandmother was too embarrassed to report it.
The problem is that my Mother says that we need to include this relative in our family functions because Jesus tells us to love our enemies.
I am not certain what to do, because I honestly do not feel unforgiveness toward her, yet I don’t wish to share company with her. She is not the least bit repentant, and is very untrustworthy. I do believe that I am commanded to love my enemies (and that of my Grandmother), but does that mean that I have to entertain them in my home? Angela
A: Your Mother is correct, and wise.
How is your Aunt ever going to see the Light, or meet Christ, unless her enemies show her what He is really like? 2 Co. 3:18.
Is it so long ago that you have forgotten what it was to be foolish, wicked, unrepentant, and sinful to the core? Ro. 3:9-18.
I’ve not, and I’m still staggered by His Grace to come to me in love whilst I was arrogant, spiritually blind, and reeking of sin.
I didn’t want Him, or look for Him: He wanted and came looking for me.
We didn’t run after Him: He came to us with arms open wide. Ro. 10:20.
And when we spat in His face and pushed Him away; He didn’t sulk, write us off and quit, He came again, and again, and again, until we yielded to His unconditional, unfailing, invincible love.
He put an end to hating and killing sinners; then showed us the New Way to deal with them. The New Kind of Love:
It was His Love that brought us to repentance. Ro. 5:8.
Meditate on that Gospel fact long and hard until its truth is branded into your soul.
Yes, that’s Jesus, The Lord of Love, isn’t it?
But wait… He used flesh and blood people to wake us up to our need for salvation.
It was through the love, faith, and prayers of ordinary Christians that you and I were drawn to the Saviour. Isn’t that the truth? Lk. 6:27-29.
That is how He likes to work, it’s His Plan: The more excellent way. 1 Co. 13.
William Booth coined a wonderful expression:
Get after sinners, and go for the worst!
How did Christ win the heart of Jericho’s chief tax-man, the nasty little swindler Zacchaeus? Lk. 19.
Everyone in town knew he was corrupt and hated him.
Did Christ keep him at arm’s length, give him a wide berth?
No, Father’s sinner-radar homed in on Zack, spotted him up a tree without a hope, and called His Son on the Holy Spirit telegraph: It’s faster than light.
“Son, look up, just above you now, he’s called Zacchaeus, I want you to stay at his house.”
God in the Flesh did not hesitate to obey the Holy Spirit, and neither must we. The same Spirit who nudged you to ask what you should do.
You must open your home, your life, and above all your heart to your enemies. Until you do, you’ve not even begun to love them. Jn. 15:12-17, 14:15.
I know that this kind of love is irresistible. Please prayerfully read how the Lord used a Mother and her Daughters to love the unlovely and open my eyes.
Then you will be able to understand how to win that sinner woman to The Man who really loves her.
It may help you to also say this: Christ did not command us to like our enemies, did He?
You can like someone without loving them, and you can love someone without liking them.
To like somebody it to admire, and find them agreeable. We cannot admire or agree with sinners, but we certainly can love them as Christ does. It’s what you were made for.
This book is excellent, How you can be led by the Holy Spirit. Get it, and you won’t look back.
Recognizing God speaking to us
Q: I’ve been a Christian for quite a while, but could you help me to tell the difference between the Holy Spirit talking to me, and myself? Theresa
A: That’s a popular question fully answered here Theresa: How to find God’s will. and The key is the Power Baptism.
© 09 Colin Melbourne
