The greatest tactic of Satan since the Garden of Eden has been
speaking the word of God sarcastically, partially, or out of context to the
point that people without God are left hopeless and the people of God are left confused
or without motivation. With his guidance, people have learned to confuse God's
word to the point that it is useless in their lives and ineffective in the
lives of others. God's word becomes the unattainable, the impossible, the
ludicrous.
Some choose to ignore themselves and judge others; some choose to
ignore others and judge themselves. Either approach is damaging. God's word is a light to shine into darkness;
it is not a club to wound us. We were wounded by our transgressions, but Jesus
took the wound upon himself. We were bruised by our iniquities, but Jesus took
the bruise upon himself. We deserve to be punished, but he was punished from
the beginning so we could have peace. He
took all of our sin. To us it was a moment in history, to God it was a done
deal.
He is creator-redeemer. Isaiah, years before the birth of Jesus,
said he was bruised for our iniquities –past tense. In Genesis, God told Eve
she would have a child that would crush Satan's head. In the New Testament we
are told Jesus was crucified before the foundation of the world. He created us
anyway. If he went to that trouble, how can we assume he would not meet us or
that he would be the author of our confusion? If he would be willing to devise
salvation before he founded the Earth, how could he not be searching for our
souls every moment?
It is not wrong to read or listen to advice or explanations by
others, but we need most often, to get alone with God's word and let it explain
itself to our spirits. He is anxious to do that. He will do that. He will not
tell you something that denies the essential parts of his being. He will not
leave you in condemnation with out redemption.
But there are those who will say we must follow other people’s
understanding so we won’t become misled.
That puts a lot of credit on people who historically and
characteristically blow it! Pride comes in quickly when one becomes exalted to
spiritual leader status. Listen, learn,
but then spend time alone with God letting him apply it to your individual
heart.
If we seek him
totally and purely, we will find him. If we are searching the scriptures to
prove a point or to support our lifestyle, regardless of what that is, we will
succeed, but we will not find God. We don't have to complicate it. Get alone.
Get your Bible. Ask God to meet you there, and walk in. It will work. The word
of God will not ignore you, it will purify you. The word of God will not excuse
you, it will restore you. The word of
God will not condemn you, it will redeem you.
Perhaps that is why Jesus taught “The pure in heart will see God.” If you go wanting to get something other than
God's word, you will find what you are looking for – but you will miss the
truth. If you do not want to find the true
God, you will find confusion.
If you don't have
time to meet with him, be honest and come back when you do. He will respect
your honesty and he will honor your return when you're ready to receive his
truth. God is not flighty or impatient. That being said, he knows the truth of
who we are and what we seek. He understands the heart. He is already where we
are going.
That is how I
experience it; that is how I understand it; that is how I see it. I'm not the end of all wisdom, just a seeker. I hope it blesses you in some way.
A long time ago during freezing January night in Denver, I heard His voice. Since then, I have gone down one path after another. Sometimes scripture pointed the way back, sometimes thought intervened, and rarely a man/angel stepped in to point the way. But most often in this day of competing sages, my most reliable source has been that voice.
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