Situation Handled

Situation Handled

2 Peter 2: False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction. ² Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth. ³ In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!

 

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After being lied on, I felt worried that people would not be able to believe my side of the story. I laid awake trying to think of ways to make the truth known, I approached someone to ask for advice. “How do I fight this liar?” “You don’t.” was his tough to hear reply. But it was followed by “GOD sees what is going on and HE has the situation under control.”

 

• I wanted to expose the false statements.
• I wanted to be the one to expose the liar.
• I wanted “my” name cleared so I could keep doing what I was doing.

 

Peter begins with a warning to believers that false teachers will slip in amongst them and tell lies for money. Peter may have observed that these slick and polished speakers would be hard to get rid of because they spoke to desperate people who craved their lies. He, himself denied JESUS and witnessed Judas betray HIM. He repented and warned everyone.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s word is precious and pure and should be used to bring people to a saving relationship with HIS SON.
• There will be false teachers who preach for money, who could care less about making up stories to keep the crowd entertained.
• GOD wants me to know HE has the situation under control.

 

Noisy liars seem to get their way. I mean, we see examples of very wealthy people telling lies to keep their profits and maybe even oppress various groups of people. Meanwhile, those in need seem to be in trouble without a way. BUT GOD has “The WAY.”

 

JESUS said, “I AM the way and the truth and the life.” This is the true doctrine to follow. Humans want people to follow false doctrines to amass a great wealth. Unfortunately, people will fall for it. BUT GOD wants you and me to follow HIM. I gladly worship JESUS in Spirit and truth.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer brings up this warning?
• Have you ever been so desperate that you would listen to liars?
• Will you take a moment to see if you are listening to liars and turn to CHRIST who is the truth today?

From the Heart

 

From the Heart

1 Timothy 4: The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in later times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of demons. ² Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron. ³ Such people teach that it is wrong to marry and to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten, after a prayer of thanks, by those who are believers and have come to know the truth. ⁴ Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks, ⁵ because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God.

 

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Sitting at the dinner table, we all said “grace” before we ate. This was an effort to instill in us to say thank you for the food. But when the food came out, I was all but thankful. As the conversation went on, I sat, not eating. Then when everyone got up, I took the food off my plate and hid it under a seat cushion. “I’ll throw that away later” I said to myself. I forgot, and someone sat on it.

 

• I was not thankful.
• I wanted something else, but got what I needed.
• I went hungry instead of being filled.

 

Paul addressed a concern regarding false teaching. Some people had abandoned the faith and were susceptible to listening to lying demons. Marriage and eating certain types of food was being attacked and taught as a way of life. He explained that food was created by GOD and can be received with a heart of thanks, bot just words.

 

My Observations

• My thankfulness can be felt by GOD.
• Even the tiniest bit of thankfulness is pleasing and acceptable to GOD.
• Receiving things should prompt me to have a spirit of thankfulness.

 

Sometimes it’s heard to be thankful. I mean, when I want that thing over there, but get this thing right here, I may be disappointed. BUT GOD wants me to have a different perspective. HE wants my heart to be ful of thankfulness for HIS creation, namely the people who give to me, versus the gift itself.

 

HE wants me also to see food as acceptable because HE made it.. My heart has to be able to give GOD thanks and HE will be pleased. I thank GOD for all HE provides.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the writer means by “people will abandon the faith in later times?”
• Have you ever been worried about certain foods or marriage?
• Will you be thankful for what GOD has given you and see the many gifts HE has poured out on you throughout your life, so you can praise HIM today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please forgive us for not seeing the many gifts YOU have given us. Thank YOU for all foods YOU provide. YOU make us whole so we can serve you with our whole heart. Thank YOU for blessing this reader. Make him or her whole. amen

Mislabeled

Mislabeled

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁶ You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was tricky, and trapped you with lies. ¹⁷ How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? ¹⁸ I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other believer with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do not he and I act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?

 

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After working extremely hard I overheard someone say that I was not a “hard worker” as that guy over there. This statement was very confusing. I had done similar quantities of work with the same quality. This angered me so I spent my time trying to prove them wrong!

 

• I felt I was mislabeled.
• I wanted to get rid of the label because I was now insecure.
• I thought I had something to prove or needed to act different even though I was doing what I was supposed to do.

 

Paul addressed divisiveness. Some people saw the obvious servanthood he brought, while others labeled him a liar. This angered Paul and he had to address the murmurs of those who wanted to say he took advantage of the people.

 

My Observations

• GOD says to me “You will be hated by all for MY name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• GOD says to me “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

 

Following what GOD says is not easy. I mean, HIS message of true love is met with opposition at every turn. JESUS died for all humans. All we have to do is believe that we need a Savior. Sounds simple. But this simple message is twisted by people who want financial gain or power.

 

They steal the message in hopes to gain power or influence. Mentioning JESUS name is sacred and is to be used to invoke a display of a relationship of surrender. Those who choose to not believe in HIS power may mention HIS name in vain and maybe even use persecuting labels to get their way. I am grateful JESUS makes me secure and allows me to abide in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the hurt and disappointment from the writer?
• Have you ever been mislabeled, devalued or brushed off?
• If you are living for CHRIST, do you expect to be persecuted by those who are not living for HIM?
• Will you persevere through the mislabels and allow GOD to draw who HE pleases to HIM in HIS way and HIS timing? 

Shown to be Right

 

Shown to be Right

Romans 3: Do the Jews then have any advantage over the Gentiles? Or is there any value in being circumcised? ² Much, indeed, in every way! In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews. ³ But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful? ⁴ Certainly not! God must be true, even though all human beings are liars. As the scripture says,

 

“You must be shown to be right when you speak;
    you must win your case when you are being tried.”

 

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“Who broke this?” I was asked. “I don’t know” was my lying answer, knowing full well I broke it. “I promise I will never do that again” was my lying statement when I got caught speeding. “I believe GOD can do anything” was my lying statement when doubt filled me up so much that I took matters in my own hands.

 

• Many times I have lied out of convenience.
• Many times I have lied to protect myself.
• Many times I have lied for no reason at all.

 

Paul continues the explanation of GOD’s relationship with humanity. He speaks about GOD choosing the Jews to reveal HIS message to the world. Unfortunately, this all important message was not handled with the faith it deserved. Some were not faithful to the message and chose to lie, to keep a following versus pointing their lives to JESUS.

 

• GOD wants me to grow up enough to speak the truth about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to recognize that I need HIM to open my eyes to my lies.
• GOD wants me to confess my lies because they stain any righteous acts I may do.

 

One prophet, Isaiah, was called to be a speaker for GOD. He confessed to GOD that he was a liar. GOD healed him of lying by giving him courage to speak the truth about JESUS. He then wrote this about JESUS, “But HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon HIM, And by HIS stripes we are healed.”

 

GOD can take a liar like me, forgive those lies and fill me with confidence in HIM that HE will be faithful because HE cannot and will not ever lie to me. When HE says “You are forgiven for all your sins because you believe in MY SON” HE means it. I believe I am forgiven for my lies.

 

• Are you a liar, even to yourself?
• Do you hide things to protect your image?
• Will you change your speech and be “shown to be right” so others can hear what JESUS has done by HIS forgiveness today?

Protected From Liars

Psalm 120: ¹ I call on the Lord in my distress,
    and he answers me.
² Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips
    and from deceitful tongues.

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“That will be about $1500” the dentist said as I looked dismayed. “Would you like me to take care of that now?” she asked. Something didn’t feel right about what she was saying. In fact my whole being felt alarms go off. “No, not right now” was my reply. I took my, so called, cracked tooth to another dentist and they did not find any problem. The new dentist cleaned my teeth and any pain I felt went away. “Your insurance will cover that” he said.

• There are times where I have lied.
• There are times when I felt I had to protect myself at all costs.
• There are times in which I have not stated the truth in order to get my way.

“Lying lips” are something GOD does not like. HE cannot stand when I lie to someone, especially to get my way. Lying is the ultimate form of manipulation. Even lying to myself causes problems between me and GOD. HE can see through any delusion I put up about someone or some situation. HE drills down to the core when it comes to lying.

• GOD wants me to tell the truth to others and to myself so I can worship HIM in spirit and TRUTH.
• GOD wants me to believe HE will protect me from those who lie about me or slander me or try to get the best of me.
• GOD wants me to know HE will protect me from liars and HE does not want me to be included in the lying.

“Put off your childish ways” is what GOD says to me. When I was a child, I would tell my parents “I don’t know” when I fully knew what I did, yet got caught. BUT GOD wanted me to grow up and to face my mistakes. HE wants me to be able to confess my wrongs, knowing HIS grace is on the other side of admittance. GOD not only protects me from lies, HE pursues those who attack me. I do not want to be pursued by GOD for lying. GOD answers my prayers of protection.

• Are you being deceived?
• Are you deceiving someone?
• Can you ask GOD for forgiveness of your deceit, even the deceit you have about yourself?
• Will you ask GOD to protect you from liars and to heal you from lying?