Watched and Watched Over

 

Watched and Watched Over

Acts 23: ¹² The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ More than forty men were involved in this plot. ¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

 

¹⁶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

 

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When the driver cut me off, rage filled my mind. I thought of a great idea. I would speed up, get in front of the reckless driver and slam on brakes to scare him or her straight. Brilliant! As I put my plan in motion, I moved to the passing lane, hit a pot hole and blew out a tire.

 

• There were times when my plots to harm someone, were being watched.
• There were times when my plots to get back at someone were being seen.
• There were times when my plots to take justice in my own hands, failed miserably.

 

A small group of forty or more Jews decided to take matters in their own hands. They thought it would be better to go against the law they strictly followed to rid themselves of their problem. They decided to kill Paul and went to the church leaders to bring them into the conspiracy. BUT GOD placed Paul’s nephew close by.

 

• GOD watches over those whom I plot against.
• GOD watches over me when people plot against me.
• GOD watches over the just and the unjust so HE would prefer that I make a choice to watch over people rather than harm them.

 

“MY grace is sufficient” says the LORD. This statement is mind boggling. I mean, HE has grace for those who harm me and for me wanting to harm them back. HE places the HOLY SPIRIT in me as a guide to drop my “rage” and replace it with “right.”

 

When I am guided by the HOLY SPIRIT, I am led to peaceful places. My rage subsides and peace prevails. I am grateful for GOD’s protection.

 

• Are you harboring bitterness towards someone?
• Do you think you would feel better if that person were harmed?
• Will you release your rage and receive peace that only comes from the HOLY SPIRIT today?

Open to it

Open to it

John 13: ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ²⁷ Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. ²⁹ For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

³⁰ Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

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“There will be drinking and you may have sex” the party planner implied. While those exact words were not used, that was the gist of the party. I said “no” on many occasions, but this time was different. I was sulking over a dead end job, being dumped by someone I liked and being thrown out of school, all in the same week. I was open for some ”fun.”

• Many times I have been willing to sin.
• Many times I have made excuses for my sin.
• Many times I have been open to sin because I felt I had been “good” and look where that got me.

JESUS is the Bread of Life. HE used bread, in this passage, to show who was open to sin. HE gave the bread to Judas who, after eating the bread, Satan entered. JESUS then sent him on his way to get the murderous church leaders. In this case, the bread did not provide life but exposed sin.

• JESUS wants me to look at HIM when I am sulking and sad.
• JESUS wants me to seek HIM when I am lonely and forlorn.
• JESUS wants me to desire HIM when I am nervous and worried.

Empty vessels is what GOD made when HE created humans. Free will gives me a choice as to what I will fill myself up with. I “will” fill myself up with something, as all humans will do the same. The question is, will I fill myself up with Satan or GOD?

Fortunately for me, JESUS made it easy. HE chose me because I would not choose HIM. HE opened my eyes, ears and heart to HIM and filled me with the HOLY SPIRIT. I still sin, but because of JESUS, my sins have no hold on me.

• What are you open to?
• Are you looking at your life and are not satisfied with it?
• Are you open to sin?
• Will you ask GOD to use you today, even in the smallest way?