Today’s Devotional – November 29th (Tip-for-Tat Christianity)

By admin On November 24th, 2013

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Today’s Devotional, NOVEMBER 29th

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TIP-FOR-TAT CHRISTIANITY

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:One-sided_argument_-_Flickr_-_Andrea_Westmoreland.jpg“Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing:

but contrariwise blessing;

knowing that ye are thereunto called”

1st Peter 3:9

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Birds in a One-sided argument – Flickr – Andrea Westmoreland – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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So when a cashier is rude, do you respond back with anger or rudeness?

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg

Do you get angry when you have to put out more effort than the others, on that job, on that committee, or at that potluck, or at that fund-raiser?

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Do you insist that everything always be equal?

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When your spouse acts selfishly, do you insist on responding in like-manner, instead of behaving like loving Jesus?

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When somebody yells at you, do you yell back, just to even-up the situation?

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Scale of justice by wikimedia & user-DTR public domain

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BEAST-LIKE BEHAVIOR

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svgWell, such behavior we’d expect from members of the animal kingdom, and even from the unsaved humans, but not from those who claim to be followers of loving Jesus!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mocking_Bird_Argument.jpg

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And so, if these kinds of retaliatory behaviors are your standard operating procedure, then you, dear soul, just might be what is known as a “Tip-For-Tat” Christian. And truth be told, a Tip-For-Tat Christian is not really a Christian at all! He (or she) just thinks he is!

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Yes, a Tip-for-Tat Christian doesn’t allow others to walk over them. Rather, their mantra is, “I’m not gonna be used like some Christian doormat by others!”

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Mocking Bird Argument cropped image – wikimedia share-alike license

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“FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS”

Matthew 6:12

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg

There is a parable about a king who forgave a very large debt owed by his servant. But that servant went out and found another fellow-servant who owed him just a small debt. And the servant who had been forgiven by the king, refused to forgive his fellow-servant for his small debt, but choked him and cast him into prison till he repaid that entire debt in full! 

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Now when the king heard about this great wrong, he said to the servant,

“Shouldn’t you also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant,

even as I had pity on thee? 

And his lord was wroth,

and delivered him to the tormentors,

till he should pay all that was due unto him.

(And Jesus says,) ‘So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you,

if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.'”

Matthew 18:33-35

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Now this parable has great significance for today’s devotional! After all, Christ has paid the ultimate price for our soul’s Salvation.

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But when we ourselves demand everything to be fair and equal from others, are we not behaving like that wicked servant, who refused to forgive a small debt from his fellow-servant? 

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“FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE!”

Matthew 10:8

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg

Now of course, when Jesus walked the earth, He not only spoke of these things, but His every deed and transaction was an example of how we likewise should behave, if we are truly His followers and disciples.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_What_Our_Lord_Saw_from_the_Cross_(Ce_que_voyait_Notre-Seigneur_sur_la_Croix)_-_James_Tissot.jpg.

Listen to Isaiah…

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,

yet He opened not His mouth:

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,

so He opened not His mouth.”

Isaiah 53:7

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Yes, Christ didn’t mind being used. He gladly endured such unequal treatment. For it was these kinds of godly qualities which set Him apart from the world.

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Oh yes, this is a “Tip-For-Tat” world! Why do you think there are so many wars? Why do you think there are so many murders, and divorces, and beatings? Yes, this is a, “You hit me, and I’ll hit you back” world, in which we live!

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Tissot – As seen from the cross – Wikipedia – US Public-Domain

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“STRANGERS & PILGRIMS”

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg

But Christ has come to call us out of the world. He has called us to come and follow Him. Listen to His admonition…

“But love ye your enemies,

and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;

and your reward shall be great,

and ye shall be the children of the Highest:

for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Luke 6;35.

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You see, this godly kind of behavior is foreign to the people of this, the Devil’s world. This kind of Christ-like response to persecution is how Christians show Christ’s love to this “I-demand-my-fair-share” world, in which we live.

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Listen again… “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:

but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek,

turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law,

and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile,

go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee,

and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

Matthew 5:39-42

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ABOVE STAR-CHART – Sign of the Son of Man – www.theheavensdeclare.net – Not for commercial uses

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ENTRY-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg

Now the concept presented today is not some advanced theorem, vaguely embedded in the Bible. This is basic, entry-level, Christianity 101. This is one of the http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Bible,_Notre-Dame_du_Taur,_septembre_2011.jpgmost elementary doctrines in the Bible! The four Gospels repeat this truth enough, and with such clarity, that nobody can accidentally overlook!

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And yet, there are very many, perhaps most, who have attended church for decades, and yet have never put this concept of “freely giving”, into practice! 

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But make no mistake! Just as the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant warns us, those who do not forgive the debts of others, will be dealt with by God! 

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La Bible, Notre-Dame wikimedia share-alike license

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-100506-M-2360J-038.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, I know that it does no good to tell others about Heaven, while I’m living and behaving like this “Tip-For-Tat” world. So cleanse me, please, of this worldly spirit, and let me behave like Jesus in every way, that I may be a true witness for Christ, to this “I’ll-hit-you-back-again” world…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svgREAD MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Parable of the Sheep & Goats: The Greatest Gift”,

or you can also read…July 1 (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 4: “Forgiving Others”)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

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The following is an excerpt from the Signs Of Heaven article… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

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THE MAN IN THE MOON (Turn the Other Cheek)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_moon_of_31.08.2012.jpg.

You will notice a big bruise on this “Man in the Moon”. His right cheek looks like it has a big bruise on it. That reminds us of the following verse…

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:

but whosoever shall smite thee on thy RIGHT CHEEK,

turn to him the other also.”

Matthew 5:39.

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And just as this verse says ” turn to him the other also”, so too, our nocturnal friend likewise is turning his other cheek. This is a big statement that God is making about how important is this Bible principle of “turning the other cheek”.

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Full moon (“blue moon”) as seen on 31.08.2012 as seen from Slobozia, Romania – by Cezar Popescu – Wikimedia – Public Domain – photo cropped and highlighted

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“FAITHFUL ARE THE WOUNDS OF A FRIEND”

Proverbs 27:6

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Notice that this “Man in the Moon” is turning his other cheek towards us? This faithful Watchman knows that https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_moon_of_31.08.2012.jpgunless he allows God to chasten him, that he too would likely be taken away in sin. And so, he offers his other cheek to his “Re-provers”…

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness:

and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil,

which shall not break my head:

for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.”

Psalm 141:5. (see also Proverbs 27:6 & 9:8 & Eccl. 7:5)

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In reality, it is God who is smiting the Watchman on the right cheek. In reality God is just using the people of the world to do His bidding. Both good people and bad people alike, God uses to test and chasten this Nocturnal Watchman to teach him patience, forgiveness, and love.

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Full moon (“blue moon”) as seen on 31.08.2012 as seen from Slobozia, Romania – by Cezar Popescu – Wikimedia – Public Domain – photo cropped and highlighted

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“HE GIVES HIS CHEEK TO HIM THAT SMITES HIM”

Lamentations 3:30, 31

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_moon_of_31.08.2012.jpgGod uses anyone and everyone as “helpers” in the purification process of His Watchmen. And the desire of every watchman of God is to become like Jesus. So as this Watchman beholds, in his mind’s eye, his Lord Jesus being mocked ridiculed and his face smitten, the Watchman too, knows he must likewise endure the same treatment from the world…

“…they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully;

they have gathered themselves together against me.

God has delivered me to the ungodly,

and turned me over into the hands of the wicked…

when He (God) has tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.”

Job 16:10, 11 & 23: 10.

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In these passages, Job is complaining about his suffering at the hands of the wicked. But Job knows that if he endures to the end, he will come forth as gold. In other words, Job knows deep down, that God is testing Job. Job knows that God will ultimately turn all Job’s tribulation into something beneficial, yea, even beautiful for Job. God uses tribulation in order to remove the “dross” from Job, and Job will eventually come forth as purified gold“when He (God) has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

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Full moon (“blue moon”) as seen on 31.08.2012 as seen from Slobozia, Romania – by Cezar Popescu – Wikimedia – Public Domain – photo cropped and highlighted

High and Mighty Trailer Screenshot – Cropped photo – 1954 – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 1st Face: The Night Watchman”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PaulT.jpgTOMORROW:

“November 30th (To die is gain!?!)”

Paul the Apostle – cropped & brightened photo – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #331 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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click here to listen…Harold Camping Jeremiah Series #331 – YouTube

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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