by David Brenneman
There's likely going to be times we're confused about people. I know! Where would someone get such an interesting idea!
Part of that thought comes from my journal, the rest is from the book of Job where my reading the Old Testament in a year has me.
Earlier this year I took time for a special study on the book of Job. It helped but was still left with questions. One of which is along the lines of: since these so-called friends of Job's weren't dispensers of good advice, why include this in the Scriptures? Then I look at conversations that have taken place and I realistically wonder why I was listening to whom I was. Or even those conversations in my mind that I am unsure of concerning saying them out loud.
Had someone in my life take my head off in a text because I didn't respond to a text that was sent asking a question the night before.
More baffling is that I had known that I hadn't done anything wrong but was prodded into both apologizing and asking for forgiveness. The person should have known better. What I wrote in my journal was "Why are you mad at me for something that God's obviously convicting you of?".
We are easily confused by the behavior of other's. This has been going on since Adam and Eve.
In my life today there's much confusion concerning other Believers in my life. It's an odd perspective possibly but at least the unbelieving in my life have a reason for their behavior.
"Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory." Proverbs 11:14.
This was often quoted to me by the one who tried to say what they did in anger in that text.
We often try to deflect the conviction of the Spirit of God in us towards other people or situations.
We also often put thoughts of what rewards we feel we deserve and won't budge on giving up ahead of the work of God we're here to be doing. I have both unfortunately seen this and have unfortunately done this.
We can also be susceptible to the words of the enemy of God and not recognize it as such because of where it comes from.
We could also allow past hurts to cause us to navigate life without seeking God but rather reacting based on that past incident instead.
There's many reasons why people confuse us. I am confused as to why more Believers aren't striving more for committed fellowship and study of God's Word than I see. They see meeting as optional. This was never a thought that crossed the minds of those in the early Church.
Where I try to go with my confusing thoughts on people is to Jesus. Praying for understanding. What I said here earlier concerning what was written in my journal I never said out loud to this person. That thought I wrote came to me after prayer. I was evidently hitting close to the mark of their choices in life that were in reality taking them away from the path of life that God originally intended for them. What they do now they're convinced that is their calling. Only God knows.
Confusing people are just a part of our lives. Jesus never was because of who He is. Always saw right through everyone. Still does in fact.
We would do well to look in the mirror an realize that He sees us as we are and not as we put on a show to be for ourselves and others.
God is not a God of confusion.
Life with that person has never been the same. While once they were one of the closest in my life, time and distance took their toll as well as this incident from my perspective.
Others in my life now confuse me and all that remains for me to do is pray for them because my convictions aren't going to budge of what the Spirit has taught me is right.
In the end we all must give an account of our lives before Him with whom we have to do. The truth of our lives will either bring glory to God or outright shame because the roots of our choices weren't God honoring no matter how we convinced ourselves they were.
I observe people n pray for people. I can't explain many people but I can do my best to point them to Jesus by my way of life, by my convictions in the Lord, by my words and actions.
This includes praying for those who persecute you. Those who rip into you when you've done nothing wrong. Bring them to Jesus in prayer.
Always bring people to Jesus in prayer. He always knows what to do concerning them. Trust Him with what He directs you to be doing, saying and thinking.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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