Romans
11:33-12:2 Oh,
the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the
mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given
to God, that God should repay
them?” For
from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory
forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s
mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.
Was
listening to a preacher the other day and reading some article on the moral
standards of the day and the need to align our hearts, minds, and wills with
God and guard our hearts as “today’s worldly morality is yesterday’s
immorality". It is epidemic in our culture today that so many, including many
Christians, take their cue not from the Word of God, but from what is acceptable
in the contemporary secular culture for their own behavior.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in
Israel; everyone did what was right in
his own eyes.
This is something that we need to
struggle against because we, as children of God and citizens of the kingdom of
heaven, are called to live, not by the flesh, but by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16
and 24-25) and under the authority of the Word of God ... His sacred Word. When
God created us in His own image, He gave us the gift of “the heart of words” to
commune in prayer, fellowship with others, hear and declare the life-giving
gospel, speaking the truth in love, train our children in the way they should
go, and proclaim the Lord’s praises. Not abuse the gift by using His name in
vain, gossiping and slander, ect., but aligning our thoughts, words, and
actions with the Word, Will and Way of our Heavenly Father by His Holy Word of
the Bible.
Matthew 4:4 But He (Jesus) answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Today, there are moral
issues where both sides looking at them are passionately sure that they are on the side of “right”. When both sides believe that they are “right”,
then one side or the other is surely “wrong”. But we must remember that what we
are sure is “right” may not be “right”. What God is sure is “right”, is “right”.
When asked if God was on the Confederate side or the Union side of the Civil
War (because there were Christians on both sides that were passionately sure
that they were on the side of “right” in the conflict), President Abraham
Lincoln replied: “I do not know if God is on our side or their side, but it is
my fervent prayer that we are on God’s side.” Is our position, His position?
What is your view on that which the Bible (the Word of God) says is “wrong”?
Why do you believe what you believe on biblical and social issues? How did you
arrive at that conclusion? What are the pivotal reasons that have led you to
believe as you do (one way or another)? As Lincoln brought to light, even if we
are certain that something is “right”, we may be “wrong” and committing sin
because our certainty of an ethical position is not the highest norm or judge
of what is “right”. We need to look to the Word of God for truth and live
there. Do we?
4 comments:
Hi Brian,
Good word! One day we all will stand if front of the Lord and we will see the definite line between good and evil and the moral standards that have fallen by the pull of society will be exposed for just what they are, a lie from the evil one.
We need Scripture to point us to the right way to live.
Blessings brother,
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Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God..."The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to His voice and keep all His commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him." (Deuteronomy 13:18)
It's so important in the world today to listen to His wisdom and follow His guidance rather than the opinion of others. It is unfortunate that so many religions have strayed from the true Word of God!
Great post my friend!
Blessings and love,
Denise
Child of God, Thank you for writing. Your point brings another Bible verse to mind immediately. 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." But your comment: "We need Scripture to point us to the right way to live" that we need to start with the solid foundation that "God is good" and that His "TRUTH" for our lives can be found in the Holy Scriptures, the very "WORD" of the living God.
We truly need to understand our lack of understanding and dependency on the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. do you know how hard it is to stop and ask for directions. We have a "Road Map" with GPS (God Positioning Scripture) in the Bible. Let's use it daily! Thanks for writing sister.
Great point Denise. "Equipped with the right tools" and those tools come from the Lord, our God. The God-rejecting world system that is blind to that which is spiritually discerned (John 3:3) cannot understand the concept of "equipped by God" (1 Corinthians 2:14), so gravitates to nature and that which is natural, as if it has a force and power outside of their Creator (Romans 1:18-22). That God-rejecting secular world system philosophy, which has crept into many churches, preaches and teaches to look to man's (corrupted by sin) wisdom, not God, for how to live. The world paints a facade that "self" is on the throne and the chief end of life". But we must reject this teaching of death and speck the truth of Christ's gospel in love, that God is on the throne and the chief reason and end of life, and that there are truly two types of people (though all sinners) on earth: Saved & Unsaved. All need to know the Truth that "sets us free" from the bondage of eternal damnation as a rebellious child of wrath unto glory in heaven as a child of God. Salvation comes before sanctification following Christ in righteousness by His blood. As the verse you gave say; "The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to His voice and keep all His commands that I am giving you today, doing what pleases him" (Deuteronomy 13:18). May the Light of Christ be shining bright in the darkness of this world for all to see. Glory be to God and our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you sister for writing.
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