Laying Aside Personal Feelings

Laying Aside Personal Feelings 

By David Brenneman 

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it." Proverbs 3:27 NASB1995

"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.  Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit;  do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;  abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 NASB95. 

It's oh so heartbreaking and easy to place our feelings before our obedience in Christ Jesus.  

We seek healing before we seek to do what the Spirit teaches us to do.  We seek to feel before we seek to obey. 

We want what we want first. God says it doesn't work that way. 

The Good Samaritan didn't care about the touching of one who was as bad off as the person was that was helped.  The other two were put off by the condition of the individual.  Their emotions were of nausea and of how helping might make them uncomfortable or even how others might see them.  

Job's friends likewise, except one, had a wrong spiritual view of Job's circumstances.  

We are not to leave people behind!  It's something of the theme of the movie "Fireproof".  You don't leave people in a fire if it's within your power to do something about it. Wasn't referenced but that's Proverbs 3:27. 

We often want to justify our choices in leaving people behind and don't realize we violate the Word of God in doing so. So what if we're immersed in Biblical teaching and studying.  If we disobey God in one area we are guilty of all.  

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

Colossians 3:12‭-‬13 NASB1995

My Dear Reader, God accepts NO excuses in regards to why we didn't listen to Him in what we're told to be doing.  We aren't to be party to breaking up of what He says is a Covenant relationship.  A Covenant marriage is but one example.  It's better two people and God as their witness and the third part of that Covenant.  

There are Covenant relationships that aren't of marriage but for that season of life we are to do our best, as unto the Lord, to fulfill. 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25 NASB95.  At least in part the context of Colossians 3 is in regards to the marriage relationship. 

When you are not seeking the welfare of those whom the Lord Jesus Christ has put in your charge, you my Dear Reader, are sinning.  You are not seeking their welfare in Christ Jesus. If your go to in dealing with life isn't to come to the feet of Jesus your priorities are skewed.  If you aren't putting God first, spouse second and everything else after that, you ARE sinning.  No excuse holds water in the eyes of God. 

Many get hurt along the way when disobedience and a lack of priorities happens.  We are admonished to lay aside those feelings in light of what the Spirit says is the priority.  Colossians 3 specifically speaks to the Covenant relationship of marriage.  Specifically addressing Husbands, Wives and Children.  

Giving up isn't in God's vocabulary until a person is so dead set in their ways and will not come to Christ.  That is for unbelievers.  For those in Christ, Jesus WILL pursue, through the Spirit, the sanctification of His people, His children.  We either are a help or a hindrance to this.

We either help in whatever way the Spirit directs or we are an obstacles. 

But know this, my Dear Reader, God will not give up on the most distant of Prodigal's.  He will go to the ends of the Earth to seek and save the lost.  If we quit on those whom He has in our lives, He will find another to do that work and that person will receive the blessings of God and not us.

No one leaves this world alive. 

No one goes through life as a Believer and doesn't face harsh feelings and emotions. 

No one does but we aren't to cast aside people because of that pain.  Nobody was hurt more, betrayed deeper, more emotionally abused as Jesus...and He came out on top.  

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17.

Place your thoughts, feelings, emotions, at the foot of the cross and go do the relationship to the best of your ability in Christ Jesus.  

Do you really want to start a conversation with Jesus about why you didn't with "Jesus, I just couldn't! They were..."?

Paul admonishes us to lay aside the old self with its practices.  The old self puts self first.

We are to be the light of Jesus Christ in this fallen world.  It's going to take the power of Christ to make that light shine. 

If we retreat because of this or that, then we do not show the character of Christ Jesus to ourselves or others. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. Lockman Foundation