| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net I know this isn't you, but do you know someone who is angry all the time? I mean like operating at 211 degrees, and it only takes one little thing to tip them over? Ever have someone (I know, it isn't you) who seems to blow up for no good reason? So you say to yourself: "What in the world is wrong with them? That seems so out of character for them to blow like that. There must be something else wrong with them". In my folks day, they might observe: "Boy, you outside yourself" which is Okie for one being beside himself. My grandma used to say: "Oh let them alone, they're just havin a spell". Having a spell could refer to absolutely anything. Have you ever been agitated and didn't know why? Ever "snap" at your spouse or children and think - "Why did I do that?" Let's turn the Spiritual Switch: Psalm 119:165 says - "Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them". If you take that literally (which I always do), it means if I am loving God's law, I can't be offended by anything. Not rude behavior or negative circumstance can push my button, cause I love God's law. "Great preacher --- So when do I love God's law?". When I have no un-repented sin. We all sin, but as a Christian we should endeavor to keep a short sin account. 1st John 1:8 was written to Christians and says: "If anyone says he is without sin he is a liar, and the truth is not in him". So when do I not love God's law? When I am harboring un-confessed sin; when I am angry by choice at my brother - when I am contemplating (entertaining) sin, or even worse, rehearsing it in my mind. When I am in that state, the last place I want to be is in God's presence, or around Christians or anywhere near a Church. Then, I hate God's law. The result? Listen now, -- Everything offends me. Everyone offends me. My Christianity becomes a window to view everyone else's sin rather than a mirror to see my own. I am so busy trying to pluck the speck from my brother's eye, I can't recognize the railroad tie in my own. There is always an accompanying feeling of loneliness in this as we are distanced from God ----- "If I regard iniquity (choose sin) in my heart, God will not hear my prayers" - Psalm 66:18. This is a dangerous condition for us, our families, and our witness. But with every condemnation comes a cure, which is found in 1st John 1:9 = "But if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "Confess" means to agree with God about our sin which implies repentance. "Faithful" means He will, "Just" means He can, and I particularly love the word "all". Halleluiah, what a Savior. Do this. Bask in the fact that He throws your sin into the deepest place, and will "remember them no more" - Psalm 43:25. Then, rude people and unpleasant circumstance will run off you like water off a ducks back - or, "nothing shall offend them". God bless. |
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