Post by mommadee48 on Jul 26, 2022 16:35:54 GMT -5
REJECTING RATIONALIZATION: (MARK 7:8)
AN ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER ASKED a driver if she knew why he'd stopped her. "No idea!" she said in bewilderment. "Ma'am, you were texting while driving", the officer gently told her. "NO, no" she protested, holding up her cell phone as evidence. "It's an email".
Using a cell phone to send an email doesn't grant us a loophole from a law that prohibits texting; it's to prevent distracted driving.
Jesus accused the religious leaders of HIS day of creating far worse loopholes. "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of GOD", He said, quoting the command to "Honor your father and mother" as evidence (MARK7: 9-10). Under the hypocritical cloak of religious devotion, these wealthy leaders were neglecting their families. They simply declared their money as "devoted to GOD", and voila, no need to help Mom and Dad in their old age. Jesus quickly got to the heart of the problem. "You nullify the word of GOD by your tradition", He said (v.13). They weren't honoring GOD; they were dishonoring their parents.
Rationalization can be so subtle. With it we avoid responsibilities, explain away selfish behavior, and reject GOD's direct commands. If that describes our behavior, we're merely deceiving ourselves. Jesus offers us the opportunity to exchange our selfish tendencies for the guidance of the Spirit behind His Father's good instructions.
PRIDE AND DECEPTION: (OBADIAN I:3)
LOVING GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENTLE, NUGGING CORRECTION. With my shoulders slumped, I murmured those difficult words. I've been so arrogant, thinking I could do it all on my own. For months, I'd been enjoying successful work projects, and the accolades lulled me into trusting my capabilities and rejecting GOD's leading. It took a challenging project for me to realize I wasn't as smart as I thought. My proud heart had deceived me into believing I didn't need GOD's help.
The powerful Kingdom of Edom received discipline from GOD for its pride. Edom was located amid mountainous terrain, making her seemingly invulnerable to enemies (OBADIAH 1:3). Edom was also a wealthy nation, situated at the center of strategic trade routes and rich in copper, a highly valued commodity in the ancient world. It was full of good things yet also full of pride. Its citizens believed their Kingdom was invincible, even as they oppressed GOD's people (vv. 10-14). But GOD used the prophet Obadiah to tell them of HIS judgment. Nations would rise up against Edom, and the once-powerful Kingdom would be defenseless and humiliated (vv.1-2).
Pride deceives us into thinking we can live life on our terms, without GOD. It makes us feel invulnerable to authority, correction, and weakness. But GOD calls us to humble ourselves before HIM (1PETER 5: 6). As we turn from our pride and choose repentance, GOD will guide us toward total trust in HIM.
NEXT:
SANCTIFICATION: (JEREMIAH 29:11); by CHARLES STANLEY.
GOD's GRAND PLAN:
THE LORD HAS A GRAND PLAN for the life of every believer, and it can be summed up in the term we looked at yesterday: sanctification. This refers to the process by which something is made holy---in other words, separated from its former common usage and dedicated to GOD for HIS purpose.
Every person is born spiritually dead and an enemy of GOD (EPH. 2:1; ROMANS 5:10). But the moment we trust in JESUS CHRIST for salvation, our sins are wiped away, the HOLY SPIRIT comes to live within us, and we're adopted into GOD's family. From that moment on, we are set apart as GOD's children for HIS sacred purposes.
This means we are here on earth not to chase after pleasure and personal gain but to serve and obey the Lord. And in so doing, we bring HIM honor and glory. As members of GOD's family, we are called to reflect CHRIST's character. The Lord now calls us saints---a term that shares its root with sanctification--- not because we live sinlessly, but because that's our position in CHRIST and should be our practice as well. No longer are we to give ourselves to sin; instead, we should present ourselves to GOD as slaves of obedience.
AN ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER ASKED a driver if she knew why he'd stopped her. "No idea!" she said in bewilderment. "Ma'am, you were texting while driving", the officer gently told her. "NO, no" she protested, holding up her cell phone as evidence. "It's an email".
Using a cell phone to send an email doesn't grant us a loophole from a law that prohibits texting; it's to prevent distracted driving.
Jesus accused the religious leaders of HIS day of creating far worse loopholes. "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of GOD", He said, quoting the command to "Honor your father and mother" as evidence (MARK7: 9-10). Under the hypocritical cloak of religious devotion, these wealthy leaders were neglecting their families. They simply declared their money as "devoted to GOD", and voila, no need to help Mom and Dad in their old age. Jesus quickly got to the heart of the problem. "You nullify the word of GOD by your tradition", He said (v.13). They weren't honoring GOD; they were dishonoring their parents.
Rationalization can be so subtle. With it we avoid responsibilities, explain away selfish behavior, and reject GOD's direct commands. If that describes our behavior, we're merely deceiving ourselves. Jesus offers us the opportunity to exchange our selfish tendencies for the guidance of the Spirit behind His Father's good instructions.
PRIDE AND DECEPTION: (OBADIAN I:3)
LOVING GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENTLE, NUGGING CORRECTION. With my shoulders slumped, I murmured those difficult words. I've been so arrogant, thinking I could do it all on my own. For months, I'd been enjoying successful work projects, and the accolades lulled me into trusting my capabilities and rejecting GOD's leading. It took a challenging project for me to realize I wasn't as smart as I thought. My proud heart had deceived me into believing I didn't need GOD's help.
The powerful Kingdom of Edom received discipline from GOD for its pride. Edom was located amid mountainous terrain, making her seemingly invulnerable to enemies (OBADIAH 1:3). Edom was also a wealthy nation, situated at the center of strategic trade routes and rich in copper, a highly valued commodity in the ancient world. It was full of good things yet also full of pride. Its citizens believed their Kingdom was invincible, even as they oppressed GOD's people (vv. 10-14). But GOD used the prophet Obadiah to tell them of HIS judgment. Nations would rise up against Edom, and the once-powerful Kingdom would be defenseless and humiliated (vv.1-2).
Pride deceives us into thinking we can live life on our terms, without GOD. It makes us feel invulnerable to authority, correction, and weakness. But GOD calls us to humble ourselves before HIM (1PETER 5: 6). As we turn from our pride and choose repentance, GOD will guide us toward total trust in HIM.
NEXT:
SANCTIFICATION: (JEREMIAH 29:11); by CHARLES STANLEY.
GOD's GRAND PLAN:
THE LORD HAS A GRAND PLAN for the life of every believer, and it can be summed up in the term we looked at yesterday: sanctification. This refers to the process by which something is made holy---in other words, separated from its former common usage and dedicated to GOD for HIS purpose.
Every person is born spiritually dead and an enemy of GOD (EPH. 2:1; ROMANS 5:10). But the moment we trust in JESUS CHRIST for salvation, our sins are wiped away, the HOLY SPIRIT comes to live within us, and we're adopted into GOD's family. From that moment on, we are set apart as GOD's children for HIS sacred purposes.
This means we are here on earth not to chase after pleasure and personal gain but to serve and obey the Lord. And in so doing, we bring HIM honor and glory. As members of GOD's family, we are called to reflect CHRIST's character. The Lord now calls us saints---a term that shares its root with sanctification--- not because we live sinlessly, but because that's our position in CHRIST and should be our practice as well. No longer are we to give ourselves to sin; instead, we should present ourselves to GOD as slaves of obedience.