Yesteray we wrote about speaking up, particularly when it may not be a popular thing. Recent events in the news have quickened my heart to listen – to what God is saying in this very critical hour. Later in the day I was reading a response to something that a televison evangelist had said concernig a critical situation facing our world. The negative responses that this evangelist ha received have revealed once again why we are suffering such a malaise in the church. When someone speaks out and even reports truth – the major critics are those in the church! The writer of the respone took a different slant – stating that this same television evangelist was one of the major suporters of the region in question. I couldn’t help but wonder if his critics could say the same.
I won’t talk about anyone else, I will talk about myself Bieing a person of strong opinions I have often held to my opinions as if they were fact, often being unaware of the facts! Over the years as the Holy Spirit has dwelt with me concerning some of my prejudices – I have seen that more often than I was comfortable in admitting, I have formed opinions based on my prejudices, and not seeing the whole picture – and certainly not seeing things as God sees them. It’s hard for us as mere men and women to grasp the concept that “God is not willing that any would perish, but that all would come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Having a strong sense of justice, particularly in this age of “social justice”, we often fail to understand that God will bring about justice – but with it – allow for repentance. We want the opportunity for US to repent, but sometiems we withhold our desire for OTHERS to have the same opportnity – based on whether or not we feel that they deserve it!
Psalm 19:165 says:
“Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.”
If we really allow the Holy Spirit to live in us He will with gentle hands sift away the hardness of our heart, and allow us to see and tolerate truth, and to trust Him for the outcome. We will be able to walk free of prejudices and offense. The by-product of tha kind of life is both a freedom of purpose and the ability to live out that purpose. Holding fast to pre-conceived notions based on faulty information are like chains that bind us and prevent us from living out that which God destined for us.
Today my prayer is:
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)
Selah,
Maria