I approach God's commands this way.
Jesus commands Lazarus to come forth. Lazarus cannot come forth. Lazarus is dead. Yet, by the miracle of resusitation ... Lazarus arises and comes forth as God's strength is manifest in his weakness.
Jesus commands the cripple to walk. The cripple cannot walk. The cripple is crippled. Yet, by miracle ... the cripple arises and walks as God's strength is manifest in his weakness.
Jesus commands the other cripple to pick up his bed and walk. The cripple cannot pick up anything. The cripple is weak and stuff. Yet, by miracle ... the cripple arises, and takes his bed and walks as God's strength is manifest in his weakness.
Jesus commands the blind to see. The blind cannot see. The blind is without sight. Yet, by miracle ... the blind opens their eyes and sight is restored as God's strength is manifest in his weakness.
OK, here is the point ...
Dad commands me to love my enemies. I can't love my enemies. I would prefer that they love me. Yet, by miracle ... I find that Dad makes love possible as Dad's strength is manifest in my weakness.
This is what I mean when I say that EVERY command is a PROMISE of a miracle of what Jesus intends to do within me as I rely / abide upon Him to do it. (knowing full-well that I cannot do it on my own, any more then Lazarus could arise on his own.)
Okay... Since ANY forgiveness or enemy-love from one human to another IS a divine miracle and NOT possible apart from Him... then in those terms I can agree and say you described the process well.
IF it happens, that's how it happens.
But I have a question, Trent... :)
...is it more likely to happen, for me, now that I've read your post?????
-snarky brother bill ;)
Hey again. I appreciate the response. Maybe I misperceived your purpose for writing... to be honest, I thought this blog was kind of an extension of your previous web-presence on experts.com... but if you're telling me that it's just a personal journal that happens to be online, that's cool. So how come you usually address the reader so much? (S'cool, I'm just wondering.)
Personally, I wish the whole world would be affected by some of the things I've posted...
But in looking at this particular post of yours again, I do appreciate that it clearly speaks about your own perspective and experience... I just inferred that you were directing it to the audience in a teaching way... because some of your others seem that way. (Again, which is cool. I'm just saying...)
Yeah, I thought your point was to help people believe it was possible to obey-better. Are you telling me I misunderstood?
Anyway, even if that's not what you were doing, please note I wasn't saying you shouldn't... just challenging whether it was an effective way to accomplish [what I thought you were going for]. Just trying to spark a little conversation. :)
But hey... sorry if I misunderstood. Thanks again for the response.
I ask you to love those who have hurt you; and to love them is to forgive them as I have forgiven them and you. ~ Jesus [Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 6 - Understand Love, Know Forgiveness, Partake of the Whole Fruit of the Spirit and Make It Part of You]