Testing

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 NIV

As soon as I read this, two things, well rather three things, came to mind: fake clinics, forgiving abusers, and Oprah (we'll leave Oprah for another time; I'll address the other two). There was a bill introduced in our state's senate to allow taxpayer funding for pregnancy crisis centers who provide alternatives to abortion. My first thought is, my taxpayer money goes towards things I don't agree with and I'm not having a conniption fit over those things. My second thought is, why are they belittling alternatives to abortion? If I was a young girl, finding myself pregnant with no resources, wouldn't I want to know about all my choices, not just one? Oh wait - I have! And I was given choices. If you're trying to decide which house to buy, wouldn't you want choices and wouldn't you want to be able to have a place that provides all the options? Isn't that what all these websites are about, like Trivago, Zimbio, and others? Giving you all the options. Testing the spirits in this case would reveal that you're not being told everything and that abortion is the only alternative. And yes, I do know there are anti-abortion clinics out there who don't do it right either.

The other article I saw this morning was about how the forgiveness culture of evangelicals has allowed abusers to get off scott free and has hurt victims, calling it 'cheap grace'. Beware - this is definitely not of God. The author of the article is under the notion that if we forgive someone of their sins and offer them support that we are excusing their behavior. Pardon me, but I think not, and if Jesus was here he'd call them on their misguided attempts to pervert Christianity. We as Christians do not get to just go on our merry way because we're forgiven, and if someone is teaching you that then that is a spirit you need to test. True forgiveness comes with us owning up to what we did, making it right, and offering restitution (which may sometimes mean going to jail or losing a job).

Fake news is everywhere, even in churches and schools. We hear a lot of things. I see a news story and I test it to be sure it's somewhat accurate (most are not - shocking, I know). But with knowledge and wisdom I process the information to get the most clear understanding and not just a one-sided world view. This is testing the spirits. Not all devotionals speak truth. I may have unknowingly misguided you. None of us are exempt from providing pseudo information at times. Being truthful and honest about what you know and what you don't is what builds integrity with your words.

Test the spirits. Open your mind and let God's word be the ultimate news source.

Angry Birds

26 “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26‭-‬27 NIV

Never go to bed angry. Yeah right. Like that's easy, as in his on earth am I gonna sleep if I'm riled up about something. Or stressed or worried. Sleep doesn't come easy in those situations. Nighttime is when we are most tired. The exhaustion doesn't allow our brains to function properly and our emotions get out of whack.

Just last week after weeks of preparation we were 2 days away from hosting a party at our home
Not just ant party. Our daughters engagement party. I'd been running on fumes for a while but I was ok, until 2 days before. I hit a wall. I couldn't handle any more requests, any more things to do. I couldn't even answer simple questions. I was exhausted. Had I not realized it, a lot of damage could have been done. So I called it a night and went to bed.

In practicality I think that's what this verse is saying. Late at night is not the time to try to settle arguments or take on difficult tasks. That's when you might say or do something you regret, hence giving the devil that foothold. It would be best to leave it until the next day, allowing your mind to relax and recharge. And giving yourself time to pray about it too.

Treasure Island

2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— Psalm 119:2 NIV

Everyone is seeking something. There has probably been a time in your life where you were desperately searching for something. It consumed every minute of your day and every inch of your soul. Myths and legends are born of someone seeking treasure or knowledge or lost cities. Movies pull you in with stories of the hero seeking revenge or truth such that we root for them, even if their quest is in vain. Right now, the movie Congo is on. The deep seated intentions to seek diamonds led to disaster.

So why do we find it so hard to seek God with every ounce of our being? We should be looking at every opportunity as one where we can learn, seek God's guidance and show his love and truth to others. That's the real treasure. When we obey God that's when we hear him best,  we'll keep his commandments and that leads to deeper intimacy with him.

Let God be your Atlantis or King Solomon's mine. He holds the riches of the universe. Seek him to find all you need and more.

Commitment

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV

Commitment is, I fear, a thing of the past. In an age of instant everything, commitment takes too much time and effort. Even grits! They make instant grits. Done in 5 minutes. No no no. Grits are made to be cooked from natural corn. Not microwaved from a packet. But real grits take time, like an hour of time. You have to rinse them first then boil them for an hour. But they're so worth the time.

Oatmeal. Instant oatmeal is horrendous, but the real thing takes time, sometimes overnight.

Fast food. Frozen lunches and dinners microwaved in minutes. If you want quality food, you need to cook it yourself from scratch. But it takes time.

Good things take time. Good plans, good prayers, good works. It all takes time. Make the commitment and don't quit befire you realize victory. If you have a goal, commit it to God and let him take his time.

Compelled

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14‭-‬15 NIV

I won't lie: this verse leaves me scratching my head a bit. It gets wordy, which makes it difficult to understand. So I had to break it down piece by piece. The part I like best is the first sentence. Christ's love compels us.

If you're like me, a gym holds no interest for you. And no matter how many times you tell yourself, yure not taking that walk you said you were going to do. You're not going to use those weights or bands you bought to work out at home. It's all good. You know this about yourself so you do what you need to do: you take a group fitness class. Never in your life would you do 50 jumping jacks or pushups on your own. But when 30 other people are doing it, you are compelled to not look like a slacker. Before you know it, you're leading the class because you know you will work out if you teach. It compels you to keep going...for your students of course.

This is only a fraction of the level of Christ's love that pushes us to not live for ourselves but for him. It's what gets us out of bed. It's what makes us turn the other cheeck. It's what allows us to love the unloved. It's what gives us our moral compass. It compels us.

So the next time you don't feel like praying but you pray anyway, that's God working his way in you, compelling you to push through even when you think you can't.

Obtuse

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 NIV

One of the devotionals I read talked about how Jesus asked questions he ready knew the answers to. He didn't ask the questions for his benefit, but for ours. He did it to find out what they really wanted. We humans can be very obtuse, stubborn and obstinate. We like to think we know what we want, what we need, but we really dont.

I think that's why this verse is so important. We all think we should surround ourselves with people who are like minded, but let's be honest...Jesus didn't. He frequented places where non believers hung out. But what did he do when he needed to pray? He brought along his disciples,  usually at least 2 of them. He knew that he may need help asking for what he needed. With several other believers around you, they can help you be honest in your prayers.

There's strength in numbers. Pull together your friends in Christ and let them help you ask for what you need. God will hear and answer.

New Year New You

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 NIV

Today is the first day of 2018. A day of new beginnings. A brand new year. New hopes. New dreams. Everyone gets another chanve to make it the best yet. Like you I love the feeling you get when embarking on the new year right after the peace of Christmas. And like you I'd love for that feeling to last all year long. To wake every day with the feeling of hope for a brand new day or week or month.

Well, have I got news for you. It can! The promise in this verse lets us know that when we give our hearts to God, every day is a new dat. Every day is another chance to praise him. Every day is another chance to spread the good news. Every day God will renew your spirit so that you have that brand new feeling you get during new years. You don't have to wait for a whole other year to pass. That excitement, that refreshment in your spirit is available all the time.

Let God be your new year's resolution.