The Holy One calls to me this morning. We are living in a time of great division within our ranks as believers. Outside threats have created inside conflict. How we handled what we see and experience has made us feel like enemies to those who once were considered friends. Legalistic judgement came knocking at my door yesterday and I was quite surprised at who was standing there.
When judgement from the world comes, we understand it as the persecution we have been promised we will suffer. Jesus said, "A student is not above his teacher nor a servant above his master......If the head of the house has been called "Beelzebub" how much more the members of his household. Matt 10:25
Somehow we expect that the world will persecute us for a righteous stand but when judgement hits from our legalistic home team the shock is stunning. My mind reels from the shock of the judgement from those, who by every standard of the Word have betrayed the very righteousness they claim to defend.
Jesus warned His disciples in Matt 10:21. While they found themselves in hot water with the ruling authorities the final blow to their unit came from within. Judas was one of them.
The Holy One speaks to the recent attack and shares a comforting word and a warning:
"Within My Body grow tares along with the wheat. The enemy has infiltrated your ranks and sewn deception and error under the religious precept called "legalism". My sheep are confused and defeated by the ever-shifting standards of legalistic expectations. Beware the yeast of the Pharisees".
I see the truth of His message. As I look at the bigger Body of Christ, and having been steeped in legalistic bondage for many years, I understand personally that the judgements I held over others was to enable me to accept myself. I excused my own violations while pointing out those of others. Exalted-self became a white washed fence.
Jesus, our beloved Savior came to set us free from the law of sin and death and while we embrace that in theory, we set about imposing rules taught by men as the conditions for membership in the "club of the saved", otherwise known as the Church.
Isaiah was given a message from God, for the Nation of Israel that we might want to consider as a message for the Church today:
The Lord says, "these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."
Even in the context of that day and ritualistic observation of the law, God was dialing them up to understand the point that He sees and judges the heart.
Christianity for some is like a pop culture today. Join up, go to Church on Sunday, do some good things, put on a clean front and live like a child of hell during the week.
Hypocrisy abounds in the Church of the living God. Lifestyles of the rich and famous are the ones we covet while rejecting the humble, simple life that Jesus modeled in obedience to the Father's will even unto death.
We claim Jesus as Savior but reject him as Lord. We have been saved out of Sodom and Gomorrah but as Lot's wife, we look back mesmerized at the world and its offerings unto our utter destruction.
We live in the land of religious and faith freedom today with no expectation of martyrdom. Yet what am I doing with my freedom to impact the world for my Kingdom and my King?
I have to say and then judge myself: Hypocrisy abounds if my Christianity is only skin deep. Hypocrisy flourishes if I commit the same sin as the world I judge. Hypocrisy thrives if I lower the standard of Holiness rather than live up to its challenge.
The Word of God says, that without holiness no one will see God. Do I care that the world sees God through me? If I compromise the life of Holiness within in favor of my own definition of righteousness, the world will not be able to see God through my life, no matter how I whitewash the outside.
True to His role in our Sacred Romance, the Holy One helps me process the confusion and pain of unexpected things even in the form of legalistic judgements from others who are claiming to share the name Christian. His warnings cause me to look deep within my own heart for similar things. He invites me into His Presence and encourages me with His Word.
Lines are being drawn even in the Body of Christ. Matt 10, gives a prophetic expose of what we are to expect in these final days before the return of our King. Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword".
The sword of Christ will divide, and it is a great divide. The line between those who pay lip service and those whose hearts are true to the Lord will become more and more clear as life here ratchets up.
Knowing the line is being drawn helps me to choose on which side I will make my stand. I am thankful that the Holy One calls to me each morning, for in His Presence there is peace. Once again, I surrender my heart to the only one who can comfort it.
The Holy Spirit is calling. Can you hear him?
When judgement from the world comes, we understand it as the persecution we have been promised we will suffer. Jesus said, "A student is not above his teacher nor a servant above his master......If the head of the house has been called "Beelzebub" how much more the members of his household. Matt 10:25
Somehow we expect that the world will persecute us for a righteous stand but when judgement hits from our legalistic home team the shock is stunning. My mind reels from the shock of the judgement from those, who by every standard of the Word have betrayed the very righteousness they claim to defend.
Jesus warned His disciples in Matt 10:21. While they found themselves in hot water with the ruling authorities the final blow to their unit came from within. Judas was one of them.
The Holy One speaks to the recent attack and shares a comforting word and a warning:
"Within My Body grow tares along with the wheat. The enemy has infiltrated your ranks and sewn deception and error under the religious precept called "legalism". My sheep are confused and defeated by the ever-shifting standards of legalistic expectations. Beware the yeast of the Pharisees".
I see the truth of His message. As I look at the bigger Body of Christ, and having been steeped in legalistic bondage for many years, I understand personally that the judgements I held over others was to enable me to accept myself. I excused my own violations while pointing out those of others. Exalted-self became a white washed fence.
Jesus, our beloved Savior came to set us free from the law of sin and death and while we embrace that in theory, we set about imposing rules taught by men as the conditions for membership in the "club of the saved", otherwise known as the Church.
Isaiah was given a message from God, for the Nation of Israel that we might want to consider as a message for the Church today:
The Lord says, "these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."
Even in the context of that day and ritualistic observation of the law, God was dialing them up to understand the point that He sees and judges the heart.
Christianity for some is like a pop culture today. Join up, go to Church on Sunday, do some good things, put on a clean front and live like a child of hell during the week.
Hypocrisy abounds in the Church of the living God. Lifestyles of the rich and famous are the ones we covet while rejecting the humble, simple life that Jesus modeled in obedience to the Father's will even unto death.
We claim Jesus as Savior but reject him as Lord. We have been saved out of Sodom and Gomorrah but as Lot's wife, we look back mesmerized at the world and its offerings unto our utter destruction.
We live in the land of religious and faith freedom today with no expectation of martyrdom. Yet what am I doing with my freedom to impact the world for my Kingdom and my King?
I have to say and then judge myself: Hypocrisy abounds if my Christianity is only skin deep. Hypocrisy flourishes if I commit the same sin as the world I judge. Hypocrisy thrives if I lower the standard of Holiness rather than live up to its challenge.
The Word of God says, that without holiness no one will see God. Do I care that the world sees God through me? If I compromise the life of Holiness within in favor of my own definition of righteousness, the world will not be able to see God through my life, no matter how I whitewash the outside.
True to His role in our Sacred Romance, the Holy One helps me process the confusion and pain of unexpected things even in the form of legalistic judgements from others who are claiming to share the name Christian. His warnings cause me to look deep within my own heart for similar things. He invites me into His Presence and encourages me with His Word.
Lines are being drawn even in the Body of Christ. Matt 10, gives a prophetic expose of what we are to expect in these final days before the return of our King. Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword".
The sword of Christ will divide, and it is a great divide. The line between those who pay lip service and those whose hearts are true to the Lord will become more and more clear as life here ratchets up.
Knowing the line is being drawn helps me to choose on which side I will make my stand. I am thankful that the Holy One calls to me each morning, for in His Presence there is peace. Once again, I surrender my heart to the only one who can comfort it.
The Holy Spirit is calling. Can you hear him?
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