When You Get Over Yourself…

Relationships are funny. You can have good ones and bad ones. Relationships can make you feel great or drag you down. People are fickle, so relationships have a wide range of effects on people. You can never truly have a perfect relationship because humans are imperfect. The only possible way that a relationship can be genuine and real is if one or both of the parties have made Jesus their Lord. It’s only when you get over yourself (the requirement of repentance), that we can give of ourselves without restraint or caution. Until then, any relationship can only go so far, for it doesn’t have an eternal stamp in it. This includes family as well. Jesus spoke with authority and great wisdom. The people in His hometown marveled at His ability to speak and do miracles. However, they were offended by Him; even His own family. The underlying truth to this is: truth cannot set you free when you don’t accept it. So when people speak truth, it offends. Jesus’ family was offended by Him because He spoke truth. And it wasn’t accepted until after His death and resurrection. Then, His family accepted/embraced the truth, and some of them eventually died because of it. Becoming a Christian means embracing truth. Once we do that it opens us up to have real, authentic relationships; ones that turn from temporary to eternal. Is that the kind of relationships you want? It starts with Jesus. It starts with accepting truth.

53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, He left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, His hometown. When He taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does He get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, His mother, and His brothers–James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All His sisters live right here among us. Where did He learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so He did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58

Why Does God Allow Evil?

When people ask “why does God allow evil?”, I simply answer “because of His love for us”. He has given mankind freewill. And that allows man to reject Him. If man rejects God (it’s in his nature), then he lives in a manner contrary to God’s ways (evil). If God removed all evil from the earth then there would be no one left, for we are all sinners. If you don’t believe that, ask yourself when was the last time you lied, stolen, used God’s name in vain, looked with lust? If you did it just once (for it only takes one time), then you are a sinner. So what does God do? He allows the weeds (evil) to grow along side the wheat (forgiven sinners). As it states, pulling weeds “will uproot the wheat”, so they must grow together, eventually to be separated at harvest (judgement day). When people tell me God is evil or a dictator because He allows evil, they obviously don’t know the truth about Him, do they? The better question to ask is why does humanity choose evil over good, self over God?

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’28 “ ‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.“ ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.29 “ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’ ” Matthew 13:24-30

Why Some People “Get” The Bible…

I’ve always wondered why some people “get” the Bible, while others don’t. The answer all boils down to this one truth: those who are willing to listen to Jesus are given understanding versus those who do not listen have knowledge taken away. You either live by truth, or you live by something else. You either love the truth, or you love something else more. Where is your heart? Is it constantly pursuing God, seeking His will? Or is it caught up and occupied with “self” and the worries and distractions of this world?

11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see.They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. 14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say,you will not understand.When you see what I do,you will not comprehend.15 For the hearts of these people are hardened,and their ears cannot hear,and they have closed their eyes–so their eyes cannot see,and their ears cannot hear,and their hearts cannot understand,and they cannot turn to Meand let Me heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.17 I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. Matthew 13:11-17

37 Pilate said, “So You are a king?”Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” John 18:37

A Nation Divided….

These are the words of Jesus, not mine. If He is God, and He is truth, then America (and the World) needs to take His words seriously. The only hope America has is if we start listening to truth and stop suppressing it. A nation divided will not stand. Good versus evil, good must prevail. The Church must rise up, pray for this country, and unite in spreading the Gospel. As Princess Leia said in Star Wars, “it’s our only hope”.

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. Matthew 12:25

When “Me” Takes Up Most Of My Thought Processes…

Loving your neighbor isn’t New Testament theology. It’s been around since God existed (forever), for its Who He is, part of His character. When we don’t help those in need, or delay the help, it only shows us what’s in our heart. When “me” takes up most of my thought processes, withholding good from others becomes a habit that’s hard to break. This selfishness reveals which stage we are in, in the sanctification process (child stage). We haven’t learned that helping others is a sign of spiritual maturity. Ultimately, we are the ones who miss out on the true blessing (better to give than receive). Rotate your eyes 180 degrees forward, that way they will be facing outward, and you’ll be able to see others in need. Now go out and do the good God commands, and love your neighbor as yourself, while you still have the ability to help them.

27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.28 If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” 29 Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,for those who live nearby trust you.30 Don’t pick a fight without reason,when no one has done you harm. Proverbs 3:27-30

Peace In The Midst Of The Storm….

God will never abandon a heart that seeks after Him. He is a refuge in times of trouble; a shelter for the oppressed. He is a calm (peace) in the midst of a storm. A light in a dark tunnel. He is security in an insecure world. He is confidence in times of mistrust. He is hope in times of despair. He is the Anchor of the soul. God honors those that honor Him. Never lose sight of these truths.

7 But the Lord reigns forever,executing judgment from His throne.8 He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.10 Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You. Psalms 9:7-10

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