Re: Jesus Prays for His Disciples EDITED

It is encouraging for me to realize that people in general would appreciate a kinder, more gentle view of God. The world has always portrayed Him as a tyranical taskmaster who should be feared. Humanity has always found it easier and more comfortable to understand God in human terms as though He has human attributes/characteristics and feelings. The result is that as we read scripture, we impose shame, guilt, humiliation, and intimidation on ourselves and believe that we are encouraged/authorized to do the same with others as though we are the parents of a child who needs our discipline. We develop a very strong passive-aggressive anti-human bias, and relish the opportunity to make each other 'cringe', we are TAUGHT to be 'predators'.

In scripture, it is encouraged that unbelievers learn to fear not knowing The Lord, but when we come to know God, our love should be perfected (1 John 4:18, Isaiah 29:13) and we should become a "friend" of God"...

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=and+he+w...


Contrary to popular belief, Mark 12:30 is not a "command" to love God. It should be commonly understood that [true] love cannot be commanded or made a law (love cannot be legislated). God is telling us that we should use every fiber of our being to love Him (leaving no room for fear of Him). If and when He ever decides there is a NEED to reprove us (correct us for any intentional and serious wrongdoing), we should welcome His correction/reproof instead of fear learning the error of our way. If we simply violate man's codes of etiquette, dress codes, table manners and the like, God sees no reason for reproof of His beloved. There simply is no reason to fear Him, but humanity (human nature) has chosen to understand Him in human terms...

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=in+human...



Nothing in the bible was happenstance/random occurence. God constructed (and ensured that it would be recorded) every event so that it would be available to us for our education. The person at the well was of a certain 'mindset' that was more likely to easily recognize God's grace (love, Messiah), for it is not enough to simply eat of the bread of life, but drink of His spirit...

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=he+who+b...



http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=neither+...


Many have simply "come" to The Lord out of hunger, yet do not really thirst.


What The Lord did on the cross was completely sufficient that all humanity would have salvation available...

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=all+fles...

...but for those of reprobate mind, His true message of eternal life was constructed to be obscured by their own iniquity and reprobate mind...

http://cf.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=lest+the...

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Fret not about the sins against propriety,
but mourn with tears of sorrow the sufferings of the people
that piety may be a passion
and the heart not one of stone.
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THIS is the passion of Christ that we must share in our hearts and minds.







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