Sons of the Father

What we believe and think is our personal responsibility. Every man must be fully persuaded in his own mind. What we think is to be tested, in real time, as our Lord was tested. Make no mistakes, we are participants in a war of ideas. There will be collateral damage. Who is right? Whose ideas will be codified into wisdom, because they have withstood the storm, flood, and fire, and been found to be solid and true? As Paul said, rejoice and be exceedingly glad when you face trials, because when they are over, what will be left is only what is of most value, what works! All else will be burned, or washed away, the only thing left being the gold of the character of God. We are being molded into the image of Christ. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29.

What does this godly image look like, that we are to present to the world?

Luke 6:22-35

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

²² “How blessed you are whenever people hate you and ostracize you and insult you and denounce you as a criminal on account of the Son of Man.
  ²³ Be glad when that happens; yes, dance for joy! because in heaven your reward is great. For that is just how their fathers treated the prophets.

²⁴ “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already had all the comfort you will get!

²⁵ “Woe to you who are full now, for you will go hungry! “Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and cry!

²⁶ “Woe to you when people speak well of you, for that is just how their fathers treated the false prophets!

²⁷ Nevertheless, to you who are listening, what I say is this: “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you,

²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

²⁹ “If someone hits you on one cheek, offer the other too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well.

³⁰ “If someone asks you for something, give it to him; if someone takes what belongs to you, don’t demand it back.

³¹ “Treat other people as you would like them to treat you.
 ³² What credit is it to you if you love only those who love you? Why, even sinners love those who love them.
  ³³ What credit is it to you if you do good only to those who do good to you? Even sinners do that.
  ³⁴ What credit is it to you if you lend only to those who you expect will pay you back? Even sinners lend to each other, expecting to be repaid in full.
  ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing back! Your reward will be great, and you will be children of Ha‘Elyon; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

This is not the empty shell of self righteousness. It is not a rigid code of proper appearances. It is, instead, the burning passion flowing from the conviction of love!