Clearing Up Confusion

Clearing Up Confusion

John 16: ¹⁶ “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

¹⁷ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

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“What do YOU want from me?” I cried out. I wasn’t really asking the question, rather I was venting frustration over the situation. I was sick and tired about being sick and tired! Enough was enough. I felt. Yet I was a bit confused. “Why do I have to go through problems anyway?”

• There have been times when I have been confused about GOD.
• There have been times when HIS words do not seem clear.
• There have been times when GOD has taken me through a situation and I wondered if HE cared.

JESUS tried to explain the impossible. HE told HIS disciples that HE would die and rise again in a confusing way. This time HE said this statement in a parable rather than straight out. Even if HE said this directly, the statement would have been impossible to comprehend.

• GOD clears up my confusion by making HIS message simple.
• GOD clears up my confusion by telling me HE loves me and cares for me.
• GOD clears up my confusion by enabling me to tell others HE loves them and cares for them.

There are many messages humans say about GOD that cause confusion. BUT GOD makes HIS message clear. HE says “I love you so much that when MY SON volunteered to take your punishment, I agreed and allowed HIM to be blamed. I also raised HIM from the dead and gave HIM all power.”

JESUS wants my message to be simple. “Believe in JESUS and you will have everlasting life.” Unfortunately, this simple message gets clouded with, “must do’s” that wear people out. “You must attend church weekly, and you must serve, and you must give this amount and you must pray and wear yourself out. GOD wants my service to be “easy” and my burden to be “light.” I am glad HE carried “all” the load.

• Are you confused about GOD?
• Do you think you have to work harder to please HIM?
• Will you stop trying to make GOD do things and watch HIS mighty power work in your life?

Missing the Plot

Luke 24: ²⁵ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

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Entering the movie five minutes late, I raced to grab a seat. I sat there confused because I missed some very important words at the very beginning of the movie. I was lost for the duration of the show because I could not understand the plot of the movie.

• There have been times when I wondered what was happening.
• There have been times when I sat and thought “am I missing something?”
• There have been times when it seemed like life went on without me because I missed the plot.

JESUS explains what the scripture said about HIM to the two men HE traveled with after HIS resurrection. HE had said, very clearly, that HE would rise from the dead and HE did just that. “How foolish you are and how slow to believe” is what JESUS exclaimed because the lessons HE preached were not accepted.

• JESUS wants me to believe that HE loves me.
• JESUS wants me to know that my salvation came from HIM and HIM alone.
• JESUS wants me to accept my weakness and grab onto HIS strength.

All of the scriptures are about JEUS. I have tried to make them about me or “that” person, but this is wrong to do. Every word in the bible is about the love of CHRIST for me and every being HE created. HE is the main plot of the greatest true story ever told. JESUS is my refuge.

• Do you feel like you are missing the point of life?
• Do you wonder why you have to go through calamity?
• Will you focus more of your attention on GOD so HE can show you how you fit in HIS plans instead of trying to put GOD under your plans?

Just Make it Plain

Luke 18: ³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³² He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; ³³ they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’

³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

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Confused, I went to see a tutor for the Differential Equations class.  I sat there willing to understand, but when the person spoke it was still beyond my grasp at the time.

• There have been many things spoken to me plainly that I did not understand.
• There have been many things said to me that went over my head.
• There have been many lessons taught to me that I could not grasp until I experienced it.

JESUS tried to speak as plainly as HE could when HE spoke to HIS disciples. HE told them HE would be blamed, murdered and would rise from the dead. No one had ever made claims like these, especially rising from the dead. They had seen JESUS in action and HE seemed invincible. How was all this to take place?

• GOD says to me “MY ways are not your ways, MY thought are not your thoughts.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the one who has great plans for you.”
• GOD says to me “Life will have trouble for you, but no one can pluck you out of MY hand.”

It all makes sense now that JESUS has risen, just as HE said. But now the baffling statement of HIS return still lingers. I, like HIS disciples, just don’t understand exactly what is going to happen. Even though JESUS clearly states “I will return and rule with an iron fist and then destroy this cursed earth to provide a new heaven for MY believers to live eternally” I still don’t know what will happen.

All I can do is believe that someday, I will be with my GOD and HE will wipe away all my tears. HE will judge me for my sins and point to JESUS and ask me “Did you believe that HE took your blame?” and my answer will be “YES, Thank YOU LORD!” HE is my forgiver.

• Are you confused about GOD?
• Do you wrestle with HIS ways?
• Will you continue to seek HIM, asking HIM to provide you with clarity to HIS wonderful plan for you?
• Will you diminish your skepticism and start living your purpose today?

Missed Message

Matthew 17: ²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

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“We are going to leave you here while we do some business so you can play with the other children” my parents said to me. I was highly upset and began to cry. When I got older I had to go with them to do errands. “Will this ever end? I want to play with my friends” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I miss the initial message of good news.
• Sometimes I think everything is crumbling when it actually is bright and cheery.
• Sometimes the bad news is all I hear even when the good news is coupled with it.

JESUS was a miracle machine! HE was healing people left and right. Mobs gathered to wait for HIM to hear HIM speak. They just knew HE would someday be a king, but in an earthly sense. When they heard the news of HIS impending death they were “filled with grief.” BUT GOD had a much better plan.

• GOD’s plans for me are always better than I could ever imagine.
• GOD’s plans for me are higher than I could ever think of.
• GOD’s plans for me are to prosper me in HIS way and in HIS time.

JESUS had to be blamed and murdered in order to fulfill all prophecy spoken about HIM. HE remained sinless to be worthy enough to open the scroll of judgment on the earth. By HIS death and resurrection humanity could be saved. This is far better than a temporary king who would die off in a few years.

GOD wants me to hear HIS wonderful message even when bad news comes. HIS message to me is “I love you.”

• Have you recently received bad news?
• Do you replay bad news over and over in your head?
• Can you stop thinking about the negative thoughts for a moment to listen to GOD’s message of grace and love for you?

Do Well

Ecclesiastes 12: ¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

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Confused about life, I just sat at the edge of my bed wondering “what am I supposed to be doing?” I mean, I had desires but life was difficult for me at this particular time. Even the people I went to see for help were there only to talk “at” me, not “to” me. I wondered why I was, where I was. I could get no answers.

• There have been times where I felt lost.
• There have been times where I felt distressed.
• There have been times where I felt as if I had no hope.

Confusion is the curious word that I wondered about. Why was I confused? I found out that confusion is caused by unmet expectations coupled with strong desires. This leaves a huge gap that keeps me from going with the flow. BUT GOD has a plan.

• GOD said to me “I AM the author of peace, not confusion.”
• GOD said to me “I CAN guide you to rest and peace if you would follow MY ways.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL be with you always, even when other people fall away.”

I soon started following GOD again and soon realized that my confusion came from following the world. When I started helping people instead of helping myself my deeds changed into blessings for many, including myself. I started thriving again.

• Are you confused?
• Do you think you are worthless?
• Can you believe that GOD made you for a purpose?
• Will you stop looking at the circumstances and start looking at GOD who will give you strength?
• Will you add a tiny bit of belief to your day?