by David Brenneman
Was reading in John about the Samaritan woman. Have read it dozens of times and yet a little nugget showed itself only today.
This unnamed Samaritan woman was looking for the Messiah and had no idea that her seeking would bring Him to her.
Was writing yesterday in a blog site only post of the battlefield of the mind.
We really really fool ourselves in our thinking that there's things we keep from God. There's also the truth that God knows our every thought and intention.
Read the account for yourself of Jesus's interaction with this woman. He reveals her own life to her in summary.
Our thoughts shape our life. It's entirely why the Bible says to renew our minds in the Lord. Romans speaks to a transformed life.
We often get sucked into television shows on the type of people called hoarders. They've, for whatever their thoughts, have accumulated an excessive amount of stuff. Some extremely reluctantly ask for help and it's a really physical problem for them to watch their stuff be taken away.
Mentally we can be hoarders. Keeping thoughts that needed to go a long time ago. Holding onto a way of thinking that is contrary to what the Spirit is trying to teach us. Resisting the changes that He's making in us to bring out the character of Christ in us.
We resist or we see and become afraid.
Truth is when the Rapture takes place...all that we have held onto mentally and physically will be changed. Our thoughts will be altered. We will break away from all the thoughts that our sin nature tried to lure us into. Our attachments to physical things will break away.
We will start to finally see things through eyes of truth as God intended for us to see with.
You, my Dear Reader, my Friend, are an absolutely open book to the Lord Jesus Christ.
From your conception onward He's known your every thought from what was incoherent to this very second of your processing this reading. While your very cells were forming within your mother He knew you and knew all of your days before you even lived a single one. Psalm 139:13-14.
What I hadn't seen in Psalm 139:13-14 before today is the last part of 14. "And my soul knows it well".
We will quit possibly try to mount a defense for our deeds done in our bodies when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives. How ludicrous! He IS truth! He is God! He knows everything about everyone who's ever lived! He spends part of His time sifting the hearts of mankind. Did you know that? He is not restrained by anything or anyone. The only constraints of God are those He placed on Himself.
Your heart is very much an open book before Jesus. So why do we try to hide?
It is certainly foolishness.
We don't think He notices or cares when we leave Him behind? Be honest. Remember He is truth and knows you implicitly.
We don't think that our running after what excites the world matters to Him who said to love not the world nor the things of this world?
We don't consider Him when we are indeed being selfish rather than helping others? That He doesn't see this? That He doesn't know?
Our hearts are laid bear before Him whom we have to do. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB.
No thoughts we have are inconsequential.
All have something to do with our growth in Christ Jesus.
"in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." Romans 2:15-16 NASB
My Friend...consider it well, this battle is all about both you and all whom you may introduce to Jesus. Satan's battle plan is to counter the Great Commission. It's to include ways to get Believers to not love God and love people. It's to subtly introduce selfishness on various levels. It's to keep the Word of God from being known as a means to transform lives.
It's to the sear consciousness of as many as with a branding iron to keep them fixated on pains and hurts, on anger and frustration. For as long as you do, you're NOT doing the work of God.
Satan will never prevent your sanctification in Christ completely but he sure can slow it down, with your help!
If we're to do as the Berean Christians did, examining the Scriptures to see if the things taught by the Apostles was true, how much more ought we to be concerning what's taught today in Churches? How much more ought we to be examining ourselves to make sure we are indeed fighting the good fight? That we are keeping the faith?
We find a very sobering thing in that statement that God is not mocked. We clearly see in that there is no fooling Jesus with big words or with heavy explanations.
Jesus told this woman all that she's done. In a way He did for her what happened to Nathanael. There was something that they needed God to confirm about Himself that He revealed to them that changed their lives forever. It sealed the deal and firmly established their faith in Christ Jesus. She was looking for the Messiah. He confirmed that she had found Him. Nathanael apparently had secret personal prayers and secrets nobody but God knew and Jesus revealed that to him.
Your heart is laid open before Jesus.
Let that sink in today as you go about your day. Maybe it's time you let go if what's been entangling you. Maybe it's time to do something that you've been afraid of.
Read these yesterday too:
Daniel didn't pray for the lions to go away. Nor did the Lord do anything to them but quiet them. God showed up and everything was fine.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't pray to be taken out of the fire nor was the fire adjusted because of their being in it. God showed up and everything was fine.
Their hearts revealed that their trust was in their God. What does your heart say about you?
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