Smol tok nomo |
Smol tok nomo |
"Fighting," not entirely a new concept. In fact, it goes all the way back to the very first siblings (no surprise there, huh Moms?). It seems I have been seeing more of it lately than ever before in my lifetime, not that it hasn't been far worse in times past, times of war usually followed by times of famine, not the prettiest side of humanity. The thought occurred to me, it is usually birthed of a “righteous cause,” someone or rather two separate parties feel their cause is so “right” it's worth fighting for, killing for, and sometimes even dying for.
Original Sin It goes pretty far back, the whole “difference between good and evil thing.” When the serpent came to Eve in the garden he didn't say, “You want to hit Adam over the head with a frying pan and go win a million buck in vegas and spend it all on riotous living?” His approach was so much more tricky, “don't do what God says, instead eat this and YOU will know the difference between right and wrong.” Tricky right? Seems innocent enough but the temptation to be free from taking orders from God and knowing what's right and wrong ourselves is in fact, “the oldest trick in the book.” It sounds harmless and almost honorable because when WE figure out what's right we can fight for that righteous cause! The problem is we aren't God, we don't have the wisdom of the Ancient Of Days, so the most cunning and deceitful trick of Satan is to make us think we are actually working for God when we are actually grieving Him. Sadly, religious people are some of the most guilty. Before you get all defensive, I have two words for you “The Crusades.” It is undeniable that some of the most bloody wars waged was for some cause deemed righteous. We may not be burning down villages for our causes but are we casting stones at those we think of as guilty? I know I have been guilty, usually not thinking God was moving fast enough or at all so I’d take it upon myself to run ahead in MY righteousness and fight for Him - and grieve Him. The right cause the wrong way. Thankfully, I am not alone, Simeon Peter Jesus own disciple felt the impulse to fight for Christ. Before the soldiers hung Jesus on the cross, Peter in all of his righteous indignation drew a sword and cut off the ear of one who had come to carry Jesus away to that fate! Surely this was the correct course of action, who could be more innocent than the only sinless man who ever lived? One would feel justified in nearly any action defending the Saviour of the world! Yet Jesus rebuked Peter, and then showed him an example of what he(Jesus) deemed righteous, in an act of the utmost love and compassion he picked up the man’s ear and put it in place healing him instantly. How many of us are guilty of cutting off ears? Ok, maybe not literally, but are we fighting our righteous causes (for us, our loved ones, or even our Nation) without listening for that still small voice to lead us? Are we ignoring the principles of the Word of God? Are we being deceived by Satan into believing we are pleasing God as we defend what is right our own way? Here is the scary thing once we begin to defend what’s right in ourselves, we no longer are in tune with Christ and we may actually be working against His will and yes, grieving the one we long to please. How do we fight? Fighting for your nation? 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Fighting for yourself? Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Luke 6:28-35 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Fighting for your friend, loved one, church, yourself, or your nation??? Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 pretty much sums it up, whatever you are fighting, it is spiritual! There are demons who want to use your own mind, others, or even governments to do their bidding, but another great fighting scripture is, I John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”. Here is the thing; It is always spiritual, and we don't always know how ourselves or others are fighting, only God knows that and He is not telling ( a concept I borrowed from “The Tale of Three Kings” by Gene Edwards). it is possible to fight in the flesh and aggravate whatever you are fighting or fight in the spirit and aggravate the demons behind what you are fighting and it looks pretty much the same. In the end God will reveal all when he separates the tares from the wheat (the good and the bad) and I'm afraid there will be rogue soldiers finding themselves on the opposite side (Matt 7:22-23 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”). Our commander and Chief tells us the greatest commandment is to love Him and others, He is incredibly long suffering and kind, oh and one of His many names? Redeemer - as in His first priority is to fight to redeem others - not destroy them. There have been times when God has lead men into battles who were in tune with Him with very specific commands to follow, God always goes before these men. Then, sadly, there have been times men fought battles God never asked them to fight or fought the wrong way and these situations are all sad examples of those who reaped accordingly. In the latter situations, sometimes (just as in the story of Peter), God will heal and show compassion on those our own perceieved righteous causes lead us to attack in our own strength and timing. I believe he does this to show us His heart and His will by His own example. Restoration is always His first choice and if we move to battle without His leading we are not fighting for Him but against Him So how are you fighting? It is not for God or against God, It is with God or without God. The battle really is His, and if we desire to fight for righteousness we must also be His soldiers - fighting on His biblical terms and listening for His voice.
0 Comments
This is not a political blog post. There. Do I have your attention now? I can see how some may think it is, but I assure you what I am about to share pertains to spiritual matters, matters of the heart.
I am convinced it is not what we fear may come upon us, but our response when we fear that has the most power to destroy us. The things we fear may or may not happen. It may or may not have the effect we believe or fear it will have even if it does happen, but fear? Fear left to grow and mutate will always leave us in darkness on the verge of insanity. There are so many Christians at this very moment under the stress of doom and gloom that this could be the end. A world pandemic, riots, elections, civil unrest, I admit it all seems a bit much, but rather than sit under the intense shadowy cloud of fear, let's bring our fears straight into the light. If this is the end as some have suggested, what does the Bible tell us about that? I recall the scripture that says, when you see these things happen (signs of the time) then you should hide out in your house with a bag of chips in the dark…nope. You should spread fear across social media and follow one rabbit trail after another trying desperately to find a way to feel in control of all that's out of your control…again, nope! If I recall it says you should “lift up your head” Let’s stop there and appreciate all that that implies. Those in fear or guilt will not face you but will look away quickly to avert eye contact. Those with heavy hearts do not often walk around shoulders back and heads held high, you know who does? Those who are confident! What can we be confident in? The rest of that scripture says lift up your head because “your redemption draweth nigh.” The one who redeems is coming back for us, that means he is the redeemer who will right all the wrongs, that's not on your shoulders weary little one HE is the redeemer. When we look up we are not tired or weary in well-doing, we can look up because we are well rested as we rest in the fact He is faithful and just and will right all that is wrong (even the areas where *gasp* you and I may have some things wrong). So if it is not the end we fear but the hard things that might happen before the end, what does the scripture tell us about that? Take no thought for tomorrow, what you are going to eat or wear, or even for your life! He has your hairs numbered and knows everything about you, He cares for the sparrow and how much more for you! Have you gone hungry yet? Even in the hardest of times, it is Him we look to supply our need, not a world or a government system, but He alone. Has all that has happened brought into the light a lack of faith or trust in Him? It cannot be both, living in fear and fret about all the things happening around us while simultaneously growing in our faith and trust in God. So might I make a suggestion if this is you? Don't allow the enemies plan to come to fruition in your life and let fear distract you from the things that matter such as souls (your soul and other lost souls) or even create a hamster wheel for you to run on trying to convince those around you to come into your line of thinking putting your faith in what you think should/should not happen. Instead, get rid of the fear, and dare I say pride, and I imagine when these smokescreens the enemy has placed strategically to distract us all are put in their proper place, we may return to the one thing that we can do and that is prayer. So why the need to clarify that this is not a political post? Because God's Word tells us it is He who puts kings in place and takes down kings. Do your part and be vigilant, but do not place emphasis on your ways above God’s by succumbing to either fear or pride. For me personally, I have fought to silence both during this year of uncertainty. It has been in the hard days we all have faced that my own lack of trust and humility have been thrown into the light. Perhaps that is why it is hard to watch others spinning their wheels all the while knowing our heavenly Father has this very special place right under His wing that is beautifully peaceful and has authentic joy. In fact, it is so complete it can actually fill you so full of all that is opposite of fear and pride that you begin to speak with kindness, you begin to understand and correct your own flaws instead of your brothers, sisters, churches, or governments. You begin to steward wisely the things He has given you to control and you place all that is His back into His loving, capable hands. This is the fruit of the Christian life, it is our inheritance and it is not subject to the world, they cannot give it or take it away, but we can hand it right over to them if we aren't careful. Where is your treasure? Where is your affection? For me this is kind of like trying to find the words to tell that precious elder in the church that her slip is showing, instead I am saying, "your priorities are showing." The spiritual laws of fear and pride have not changed because of all that 2020 has offered us. Soberly I say this, not only did God say He was coming for all of those who love His appearing but He also said “Will I find any faith when I return?” Let’s do our part to be good citizens while here below, but let's not forget where and to whom we belong and the legal requirements for that citizenship require we abandon all fear and pride and place our faith in the flawless King. Every day and everything should make us more like Him if we are taking our rightful place as His children and abiding under His wing, otherwise, all the deception we think is happening to the other guy, cannot compare to the deception the enemy has planned for us. I feel I simply must end this on a positive note because I believe the entire message of Christ centers around hope. Here is the thing, if we find ourselves living in fear or pride it is not too late. Tomorrow is a new day let's try on humility and trust and see if the scales do not fall from our eyes and we see that we are suddenly overwhelmed with the joy and peace that are waiting under His wings! |
AuthorWife, Mother, Missionary, Teacher, Friend ... just a few of the many titles I gladly wear. Never dreamed this is the journey God would take me on. Archives
July 2022
Categories |