Our Reasoning isn't God's

Our Reasoning isn't God's
by David Brenneman

Last night I read the following from Experiencing God Day-by-Day for yesterday. 

"Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and
empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental
forces of the world, and not based on Christ."  Colossians 2:8.

There is a subtle temptation that encourages Christians to be "practical" and to "get results," believing "the ends justify the means."  Don't be led away by man's reasoning.  An examination of God's Word shows that the means are sometimes even more important than the results. The world tries to convince you that as long as you can accomplish something for the kingdom of God, that's all that matters.  For example, Ananias and Sapphira gave an offering to their church, which was a good thing. but they did it deceitfully. God judged them immediately, not for what they did, but for how they did It (Acts 5:1-11).

Satan tried to trap Jesus with this same temptation. Satan did not question the worthiness of Jesus' task, but simply offered "practical" solutions to accomplish Jesus' goal more quickly and at lesser cost. God's ways are not like man's ways. "Efficiency" from man's perspective is not prized by God.  It did not seem efficient to have the children of Israel march around Jericho
thirteen times and then blow their trumpets, but it brought the walls down (Joshua 6) It did not appear wise to select the youngest of Jesse's sons to become the next king, but God saw a man after His own heart (I Samuel 16:11). 

At first glance, it does not seem logical for Jesus to have picked the twelve disciples He did, yet through them God dramatically affected their world.

It is never wise to attempt to do God's work in man's way. It is an age-old temptation that seems to make sense on the surface but often is at variance with the purposes of God.
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My Dear Reader...we are speeding along this road of life, for certain heading for that day when, as the Scriptures say, the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  That day when the work of the Spirit of God towards those outside of Israel is complete and the pages turn once more in prophecy back to the latter part of Daniel and what John was writing about in Revelation.  As well as other places in Scripture for sure.

I can always tell when something significant is to be written by the spiritual battles prior to it being revealed what it is that I am to write.  Not that I count myself as anything greater than anyone else in the body of Christ, but, as things go..listening to your environment tells you much the direction of things.  You watch the horizon and get an idea on what weather is coming.  You watch those around you and can get a feel for how your day is going to be. 

This particular morning I am on the other side of a very rough night of sleeping.  However, the kernel of this message was planted and was never uprooted.

We must take great care in our walk with Jesus not to understand things only from a worldly point of view. 

God's ways are not our way nor are our thoughts remotely close to His thoughts.

We can have all the best intentions in the world regarding doing things we say are for Christ but with our twist to them.  We put our subtle conditions on them.  We will give a donation but sometimes put a hook in it.  We'll bless someone but put conditions on it.  We'll justify our terms rather than openly trusting God to handle the consequences.

A Life Principle of Dr. Charles Stanley is to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

Just do what you're told. 

I heard that more times than I can count growing up in my parents household.

It's a great lesson to adhere to in growing in Christ.

Do what the Spirit says, how He says, the way He says, and get out of His way after you do.

It's not for us to put conditions on what God tells us to do for others to obey.  God's methods are often unorthodox in our eyes but He always always always gets the results that He's after when we obey.

We may not be the recipient of knowing what the fruit of our investment is going to be by our unconditional obedience to God's Word.

Jesus pours out His grace and mercy on us every single day, possibly hundreds of times a day, and He never stops to put special conditions on our getting these things.

If Jesus, through His Spirit, lays something or someone on your heart to pray for, just do it.

If Jesus, through His Spirit, lays someone on your heart to bless, just do it.  Don't look at what you might have left and worry about your own state of existence.  If God already so blessed you, are you now doubtful that He wouldn't do it again because you obeyed?

You could be His tool to set someone free from a burden they've carried far too long...or you will be a contributor towards it going on longer than He desires it to be.  Because now He must look to someone else to bless those whom we withheld a blessing from because of our fears.

The Scriptures say to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6.

Be very leery of those who preach and teach that you're in a better place than God in what a person needs or doesn't need.

Our world is heading very quickly towards those days when most so-called houses of worship aren't worshipping Jesus Christ.  He's really not invited to those services.  People claiming to be preachers are false prophets and false teachers.  Biblically speaking they never were qualified to speak for Jesus from a pulpit.  The falling away from the message of truth is spreading across the world more and more each day. 

We are to hold fast to the truth of God.  Too many people are dependent upon digital copies of their Bible.  Be sure to have a paper copy.  Don't think that you're going to be ok when governments turn against the true Church. Digital anything online can be shut off at a keystroke.

Paul encourages Timothy to fight the good fight.  Stay with what he was taught.  The same goes for us.  What was taught as truth 2,000 plus years ago is still truth today from the Word of God. 

We're to be Christ to those in the world in which you and I live.  Not Christ with a twist.  Not God with our own interpretation on how obedience is to be or look like.

Don't lean on your own understanding nor take what others tell you without checking yourself in prayer and the Word of God.

God will use every obedient Believer.  He will do whatever is possible with those who twist what He said but will still achieve what's been His desire. 

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we get in His way rather than obey Him.  We quench the Spirit, pour water on the fire, when we choose to do our way over His way.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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