tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926207.post8266542997224356695..comments2024-03-04T00:50:02.182-08:00Comments on KeithGiles.com: CONCENTRIC CIRCLES OF LOVEKeith Gileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926207.post-1802023041937634442011-12-23T20:16:53.646-08:002011-12-23T20:16:53.646-08:00Hello, Keith! i'm really glad you posted this....Hello, Keith! i'm really glad you posted this. i noticed that you wrote that it's harder to be the one having their feet washed, the one that is receiving the love. That really hit home, because i thought i loved myself enough... but the people who are loving me are proving my idea otherwise. They make me realize how hard i am on myself. It's hard for me not to. i don't know what loving oneself looks like that much, i suppose.Rachel Virginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02200029835615342407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926207.post-87879076391538972252011-12-18T14:49:39.491-08:002011-12-18T14:49:39.491-08:00Thanks for responding, and I do agree with your co...Thanks for responding, and I do agree with your comments to love anyway, and I thank you for that exhortation. Yes, I do love them, but the distance felt is still very disconcerting because they once listened to God's Spirit, and walked in His ways. So, either they were deceived or they entered with their eyes opened. What I am saying is how can we love, if they are defining love subliminally as accepting their lifestyles, which the Lord has told us is not His way? I don't know how that looks on a relational basis, because that tension is still there. They feel I am judging them by not joining in, but I am just following a different path than them. It's like, I must obey God rather than man. My loyalty is to Him first.Pattihttp://thissamejesus.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926207.post-48121039048025617512011-12-18T09:07:51.047-08:002011-12-18T09:07:51.047-08:00Patti, I'm sorry to hear that you've had t...Patti, I'm sorry to hear that you've had to walk this path alone. And you're correct, the Scriptures do tell us that we may have to give up relationships here as we follow Jesus into the Kingdom.<br /><br />I think we are still called to love our family members with the love of Christ, however. His love isn't based on what they do or don't do. His love just 'is' because this is who Jesus is. <br /><br />In other words, Jesus loves us because he is loving, not because we are lovable.<br /><br />In the same way, we are called to partake in that painful process of loving our family members who refuse the love of Christ. This is part of bearing our cross. It's where we partake of Jesus' sufferings and by His Spirit in us we can say, 'Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.' as He did.<br /><br />We don't have to like or approve of the actions of our family members in order to love them. We can show kindness to them, in spite of their anger and abuse. We can serve them and bless them, in spite of their dismissive attitudes. We can pray for them and forgive them in spite of their unrepentant hearts.<br /><br />This isn't easy, you know. But Jesus did warn us that following Him would carry a price. This is part of that price.<br /><br />Peace to you, my dear sister.Keith Gileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328300571647154699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9926207.post-32782257896230844632011-12-18T06:34:49.261-08:002011-12-18T06:34:49.261-08:00Hi Keith-What if many of our family members are sm...Hi Keith-What if many of our family members are smooshing with the world, and that we've heard the Lord clearly to come out. We have different involvements, and not very much in common now. There are gaps there because of how we see God, frankly, and then how that makes our lives very different. It even seems like God's endtime sword (I come not to bring peace but a sword which divides families) is what is dividing us, and that it is even a "sanctioned" divide, if you will. Doesn't God sometimes then put others outside your extended family to love and serve in these cases? Today there are so many Christians by name only, that even in families, there is this great divide that love is not even allowed to enter, due to the receivers requiring that you embrace their compromise. In this way, they want to say you then love them. Jesus said that if you leave all to follow Him then you will then have 100's of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers. I am finding that because of the path He has led me on, that many who were once on this same path, are now gone, and so agape love cannot even reach here, because of the decision of the other person. I live in the reality of "though none go with me" and in that reality, God sends others who are open to His love to my life, but unfortunately many family members have gone by the wayside indulging in the world and it's trappings.Pattihttp://thissamejesus.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com