Prov 27:17-22
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.
Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.
NIV
Disregard for the things that do belong to God include what. sw
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
NIV
Ps 8:3-9
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic
NIV
Heb 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy ; without holiness no one will see the Lord. NIV
Was the salutation(s) of the Apostle Paul words of sincerity or was he only being politically correct in his timely address to everyone who would later read his words?
1 Cor 1:2-3
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy , together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV
It's one thing to try and see the Lord by way of treating Him as if He's a man, yet coming to Know His person requires what? Accepting Him for who He is?
When someone hears God say, "Your ways are not my ways" more often what gets heard? An echo that's relative to distance? People use the excuse that because they're NOT God, how can they be like Him?
How true is that if there were such a thing as a self fulfilling prophecy?
In terms of extremes, is the distance between God and man measured by the the sinfulness of men, the Holiness of God or an unhealthy combination of the two?
Have you ever truly examined AND accepted the TRUE Nature of God as if who He God is? Why is it so hard for some to embrace who God says He is?
The same God who says He is faithful? The God who says and has shown that He is merciful? The same God who says He will remember your sins "No More"? Could it be because those who suggest they represent God go to such great lengths as if looking to keep you from the Love of God?
How do they remind you AND are they truly doing what they do for your sake or for their own? Doing what ever it is they assume they're accomplishing by reminding "You" of your past as if somehow hiding the essence of what they still secretly struggle with?
People are always talking with near hatred towards being rejected or being found socially unacceptable, yet what about the Lord?
John 1:10-13
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him . Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
NIV
What is about a questions that seems to agitate people? Some will even go as far and argue, "I have no problem with transparency especially with those I trust" but what about those you may not totally trust?
In terms of trust exactly how long is that list of personalities you tell yourself you also trust with your inner most thoughts? To then truthfully consider why you may or may NOT find yourself being hurt by those same people?
People are ALWAYS talking about the obvious things they suggest they "Feel", but how lonely is the "Feeling" when in shows up as "Lack of trust"?
Do words like distance come to mind? Have you ever asked yourself does God have a soul? Did Jesus the Christ sent of God have a soul? The same type of soul where men wrestle with and rationalize through what they say they know to be true? The hard part of that question is do they have to go through such things alone?
Why isn't the more meaningful question, "Why don't you trust God more than others"? Why do you not get mad at God when you know He can do certain things yet you find he won't at times for some unknown reason?
Yet in that same light you're nearly willing to crucify those you suggest you love when they won't or you can't get them to do do what YOU want them to do?
How perfect is perfect and how sincere is the Love that exceeds all expectations?
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God ," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God , whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. NIV
A brother is a brother because he comes from the same womb, yet in heaven there is no gender.
Divide and conquer is the mandate, yet it only belongs to those who embrace its purposes.
Is it still any wonder why some don't want others to be closer to God than they are are within their own foolish and selfish reasoning?
To hopefully be continued
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I believe the first thing that has to be accepted about God, so that we may be like Him, is that His thoughts are not our thoughts and neither are our ways His ways. Many talk about using 'common sense' regarding learning from and doing what God calls us to do, yet doesn't 'common sense' come from the carnal mind? To 'become as a child' is the beginning of having our minds renewed in Christ Jesus in order to become like Him, and be able to start to 'love' as He loves us.
ReplyDeleteWell said and received Brenda, Thank You for your encouragement and participation in Godly thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDetermining who God IS and who God is NOT is all part of a God designed spiritual walk. It's just painful sometimes to watch how some reach their own conclusions despite being surrounded by others who may have already gone through some of the same trials.
I had one in my quiver once who told me she wanted to "Make her own mistakes in Life". I told her "Most assuredly you will, but the key is to make as few mistakes as possible. Because the mistakes you make by accident will prove to be enough to last you a life time without the need to "Invite" any more.
I went on to say even though I knew it would take years before the messages reached her particular set of ears.
I said, "Why keep breaking into a house when you have the keys"?
We have an obligation to speak in Love what is True, yet we also have an even greater restraint while remembering it is God who "Gives" the increase.
I agree with everything you have said. That is why I believe it is good to share our testimonies, and the consequences of the mistakes we have made in life. It can act as a signpost when we come to a crossroads in life and wonder which road to take.
DeleteWe will all make mistakes, but I would never desire to wilfully make them, just as I would not desire to drive onto a very busy road when I could be diverted to a quiet one that led me to the same destination.