Letting Go Of Our Troubles….

Common sense and discernment go hand in hand. Is it possible to have one and not the other? I’m not quite sure. Common sense without discernment can happen, but discernment without common sense isn’t possible. In today’s day, we need both, because we have to use discernment when hearing any news from any source. Common sense alerts us about an issue and discernment proves it’s legitimacy. People believe what they hear because they never take time to research the topic. And the reason they don’t research the topic is because they most likely are to wrapped up in their own little world. Being distracted only complicates things for the worse. Our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, and more people are not wanting to think deeply because it’s too much work. Without God, people will never be able to discern truth from falsehood. For it’s God Who grants wisdom. Common sense may no longer be common, but even if we possess it, it doesn’t guarantee we will be able to discern the lies that the world wants us to believe. Common sense only allows us to be closer to the truth, not guaranteeing us the proper use of it. God is our security, the Giver of discernment. Without Him, we are left in the dark to feel our way around, making the best sense of it we can. Part of the peace that the Bible talks about is the ability to live above fear, and the ability to sleep soundly at night. Our relationship with God grants us understanding and the trust that develops from that allows us to let go of our troubles, letting God take care of them. Common sense and discernment, don’t leave home without them.

21 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.Hang on to them,22 for they will refresh your soul.They are like jewels on a necklace.23 They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. 24 You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. 25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:21-26

Are You Absolutely Sure?

In modern times you hear more commonly that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Fortunately for believers, the Bible tells us there is. Truth is objective; meaning it applies to all people, all the time. Truth is not subjective; meaning it only applies to certain people and certain circumstances. Here in Genesis chapter 34 we read of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, being raped by Shechem. The very words “something that should never be done” (referring to rape) tells us that it’s an absolute (objective) truth. It means rape is wrong, all the time, never having a single reason to justify it. Imagine if America understand that there is absolute truth; abortion, same-sex marriage, transgenderism, euthanasia, legal drug use, and the list goes on and on, wouldn’t be legal because we all know it’s a sin. Truth matters. It matters regardless if we believe it’s objective or not. And the consequences are blind to prejudice, favoritism, or any thing else we can label it. The truth sets us free when we accept the fact that it’s objective and it’s God’s way of doing things. And by the way, when someone says, “there’s no such thing as absolute truth”, respond by asking, “are you absolutely sure”? 😉

1 One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. 2 But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her. 3 But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words. 4 He said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young girl. I want to marry her.”5 Soon Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter, Dinah. But since his sons were out in the fields herding his livestock, he said nothing until they returned. 6 Hamor, Shechem’s father, came to discuss the matter with Jacob. 7 Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the field as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious that their sister had been raped. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s family, something that should never be done. Genesis 34:1-7

Learn To Manage Our Selfishness…

Salvation, Christianity, and Faith all have one thing in common, our response/attitude to God’s calling matters. If we respond with humility and gratitude, we will receive it and flourish. If we reject it, we will not only suffer eternally, but live a meaningless life here on earth as well. We have to learn to manage our selfishness in order to serve Jesus. And that’s only possible when we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives empowers us to make that change. Without Him, it’s not possible to manage our selfish desires, for we see no need for it. Jim Elliot once said (in regards to this topic), “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose”. Are you worthy? Then take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Jesus.

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being Mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than Me, you are not worthy of being Mine.38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine.39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it. Matthew 10:37-39

If You Truly Love Someone….

If you truly love someone, you will correct them. You don’t let them continue to sin. Remember (as I’ve said before), Jesus dined with sinners, He didn’t sin with sinners. And He never left an encounter without painting a clear picture of how God designed us to live. If you really care for another human being’s soul, you will love them enough to show them the truth. Authentic relationships mutually look out for each other, always having each other’s best interest at heart, no matter what the consequences may be. God’s loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves. And He will do whatever it takes to show us. He just won’t do it with force (against our will). Anyone that has a loving father knows this. If you don’t know what a loving father is like, realize you have One waiting for you to respond, to start the relationship you need more than any other. Never leave an encounter with sinful behavior unaddressed.

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you.12 For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12

The Pit They Dig…

The one thing that evil people making trouble never realize is the pit they dig to trap others will become the pit in which they fall into themselves. Their schemes backfire and their violence falls on their own heads. No one gets through life unscathed. When people conceive evil, their belly grows with trouble, eventually bursting with lies. Evil may reign for a short time, but God will not allow it to prosper. God is angry at the wicked, and He will use their own scheme to bring them down. If revenge or retaliation ever crosses your mind, remember this truth, for it will be a picture of how you will fall if you actually carry it out.

9 End the evil of those who are wicked,and defend the righteous.For You look deep within the mind and heart,O righteous God. 10 God is my shield,saving those whose hearts are true and right.11 God is an honest judge.He is angry with the wicked every day. 12 If a person does not repent,God will sharpen His sword;He will bend and string His bow.13 He will prepare His deadly weaponsand shoot His flaming arrows. 14 The wicked conceive evil;they are pregnant with troubleand give birth to lies.15 They dig a deep pit to trap others,then fall into it themselves.16 The trouble they make for others backfires on them.The violence they plan falls on their own heads. 17 I will thank the Lord because He is just;I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalms 7:9-17

How Spiritual Sight Works….

For most of the people who witnessed Jesus’ miraculous healings of infirmities, it wasn’t until they saw with their eyes that they believed. What is it about actually seeing something right before our eyes that makes us believe? God works in a way that’s contrary to this type of believing. God wants us to believe in Him without having to physically witness a miraculous event. Didn’t Jesus tell Thomas that in John 20:29? God wants us to believe in Him simply because He is God. We don’t need miracles to believe. Understand this: to people, seeing is believing; to God, believing is seeing. It’s how spiritual sight works.

18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but You can bring her back to life again if You just come and lay Your hand on her.”19 So Jesus and His disciples got up and went with Him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind Him. She touched the fringe of His robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.”22 Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, He saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” He told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at Him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. Matthew 9:18-26

Where Hypocrisy Originates….

Hypocrisy runs deep within the human mind, so deep, it blinds us from seeing where hypocrisy originates (our own heart). No one gives hypocrisy away. One of the surest signs of hypocrisy is when someone asks a question directed at another person, at the same time they themselves are right there doing the exact same thing. The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ choice of company at a dinner party, in which they attended themselves. The fastest way to cure hypocrisy is to use the same standard you use to judge others, to be the standard you use to judge yourself. It’s called the righteousness of Christ. Jesus dined with sinners, He didn’t sin with sinners.

9 As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow Me and be My disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him.10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”12 When Jesus heard this, He said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do.” 13 Then He added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13