# 8~ LENTEN MEDITATION ~ 2023 ~ for the Preparation of the GREAT PASSOVER ~~~ As Much As Lieth in You

 Words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST:

Blessed are the peacemakers:

for they shall be called the children of GOD. 

^{Matthew 5:9}

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Words of the Apostle:

Follow peace with all men,

and holiness,

without which

no man shall see THE LORD+.

^{HEBREWS 12:14}  

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Words of the Apostle Paul:

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,

live peaceably with all men. ^{Romans 12:18} 

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As much as lieth in you . . .

How much “lieth” within us ?

How much “lieth” within our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who+  prayed, “ FATHER, forgive them, for they know not what they do. . .” 

“Following PEACE with all men” comes only one way: by turning the other cheek, by going the second mile. 

We give our cheek to them in the Name of JESUS . That kind of giving shows them our LORD. 

TO GIVE  our cheek is a choice put before us all

when we are put to the test.

But what about the times when we are FORCED to do what is demanded of us ? 

Then it is that our “giving” of the other cheek is jerked out of our hands and not seen as “giving”. 

It is received as the Stronger commandeering the Weaker, gloating that he has the power over us TO TAKE WHAT HE WANTS. 

And who wants to appear WEAK ?  Especially in the face of the arrogant and forceful man enforcing his hurtful will upon us ?

How can The LORD JESUS receive any GLORY from such an appearance of weakness ?

How can we Witness for JESUS when our “turning the other cheek” to pursue PEACE with all men  is roughly taken out of our hands ? Here is how:

WE TURN OUR HEARTS TO JESUS.

We start praying. And binding.

And calling upon The LORD.

That removes our focus from the one who is harming us and places our focus on the REAL ENEMY  of his soul and ours. . . 

satan’s wicked spirits.

 

In short, our Battle takes on a DIFFERENT dimension.

It is not against the one harming us, but rather we ignore him.

We focus ALL OUR ENERGY to fight against the wicked spirit(s) which incited our persecutor to harm one of the LORD’S followers.

In so doing, our hate for our persecutor will be turned into mercy for that lost, lost soul who will burn forever in Gehenna hell  . . . unless he comes to The LORD JESUS.

In all persecution --- from the neighbors to thugs to uniformed officials --- , satan tries to distract us BY OUR OWN PAIN AND HURT to keep us from praying for the Salvation of the ones hurting us. 

But, those  persecutors are the very ones SENT to us  by  the  Permission  of  The  LORD ^{(Rremember Job?)}  so  that  we  can  evangelize them . 

We DO this when we turn our focus towards The LORD JESUS.  That  FOCUS NEUTRALIZES their wicked spirit(s) of pride and anger that have them bound closely to satan.

This is called “Spiritual Warfare.”

It is the Spiritual WAR The LORD JESUS fought as HE+ voluntarily laid down His+ earthly Body to be nailed to the Cross.

Yes, many, many have laid down their lives to bear HIM+ witness when they have been persecuted.

Let us settle it now in our own hearts, how we will bear witness to HIM+.

Let us ACTIVELY practice right now  following PEACE with all men.