This brings up what I think is an important consideration to contemplate. I personally believe that Jesus calls us to walk in love by assuming the best of another person whenever it is plausible to do so. I believe that when we walk in love in that way there is some kind of reward/blessing for doing so; perhaps just the peace of mind that it brings, or perhaps greater blessings than that. Call it âcosmic justiceâ if you prefer. I also believe that when we fail to walk in love by first assuming evil about another person where there is no compelling reason to do so, that we also bring upon ourselves a certain âcurseâ; perhaps being only a negative frame of mind, or perhaps something much worse.
Agreed -- except that I know where we are going with this.
If that is my belief (which it is), would it not also be walking in love if I admonished a brother to âbe carefulâ about how he judges someone, to avoid harming himself? (Especially someone as beloved of God as Abraham?) AND would you, if you were walking in love, assume that I was cautioning you out of a loving concern for you? Or would you assume the worst of me, and accuse me of rebuking, giving reprisals, and that I was chastising you outside of Godâs will? AND, if I really loved you, would I risk being misunderstood to caution you anyway?
Izzy, you need to understand that "rebuke" is a word and work of DavidM choosing. He proudly proclaims this to be his work of service. Maybe you missed it, but I was charged with blasphemy by David. A little over the top and not my idea of loving conduct. Now, as concerns Abraham, Gen 20:11 tells me, from Abrahams own lips, what he was thinking. David wants to add more to the story in terms of what is possible but not stated -- I never study the biblical message from that perspective. If I did, I would be giving my opinion the force of inspiration.
I would really like some input from anyone interested in this topic. Is there blessing or cursing brought about by what we think/say of others? (I noticed it was one of the big principles of Kabbalah.)
I learned today, that Madonna is studying Kabbalah.
Izzy
