Part 10 (1/2)

The best policy is to check with your spirit and see if you have peace rather than checking with your mind to see if what G.o.d is asking is reasonable.

CHAPTER 41.

Hear and Do James 1:22 tells us, ”But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”

As a Christian, for a long time I didn't understand that believers could know what G.o.d wanted them to do then deliberately say ”no.” I'm not talking about those who turn their backs on Jesus and want nothing to do with His salvation. I'm talking about those who disobey in the seemingly little things and don't seem to be troubled by doing so. I was one of them for many years and did not even realize the terrible impact of walking in my own will.

In verses 23 and 24, James goes on to say if we only listen to the Word, but don't obey it, it's like looking at our reflection in a mirror then going away and forgetting what we saw. But a doer of the Word, he says, is like one ”who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)” (v. 25). We are not blessed just because we hear the Word; we must take the next step and obey it.

Whenever Christians are faced with G.o.d's Word, and it calls them to action but they refuse to obey, their own human reasoning is often the cause. They have deceived themselves into believing something other than the truth. It's as if they think they are smarter than G.o.d. It is amazing how quickly we can talk ourselves out of doing something when deep down inside we really don't want to do it.

I've met people who seem to think G.o.d always wants them to feel good, and if something happens to make them feel bad, they don't think it could possibly be G.o.d. Or they dismiss what G.o.d is telling them simply because ”it doesn't make sense.”

One woman, referring to Paul's instruction to ”be unceasing in prayer” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), said that verse kept coming to her every time she prayed. ”What do you think that means?” I asked her.

”Oh, I think it means that day in and day out, we are to pray when we feel a need or when we want something.”

Her words shocked me. ”What about fellows.h.i.+p with the Lord?” I asked. ”Isn't that a good reason? Or maybe G.o.d just wants you to spend time reading His Word and praying about what you read.”

”I have too many things to do,” she said. ”That's fine for people who like to sit and read and pray for hours every day, but that's not the way for me.”

In our brief conversation, I learned that her decisions about obeying G.o.d's Word depended on whether or not it was convenient for her lifestyle. When she read things in the Bible that didn't fit with the way she lived, she explained it to herself in such a way that she convinced herself G.o.d didn't expect her to do that.

By contrast, I remember a very dignified woman who had been a member of a traditional church most of her life. She often spoke of the noise and confusion in charismatic churches (although she had not been to one). Then she visited one of the services where I spoke and was transformed. ”I couldn't believe that G.o.d would ask me to do something like clap my hands or sing loudly or even shout. But when I saw the joy on the faces of those in the congregation and heard you quote the Bible verse that says, ”Oh clap your hands all you people, shout unto G.o.d with a voice of triumph” [see Psalm 47:1] what else could I do?

She said, ”I had to believe G.o.d over and above what I thought or felt.” She had exactly the right att.i.tude. She didn't try to reason it out or wonder why G.o.d commanded her to take that kind of action. She believed His Word and simply obeyed.

When the Bible speaks about obeying the Lord, it is not a suggestion. His Word doesn't ask, ”Would you like to obey?” G.o.d commands us to take action by being a doer of His Word, and when we are obedient, He promises we will be blessed.

When the Bible speaks about obeying the Lord, it is not a suggestion.

CHAPTER 42.

Will You Be Critical or Helpful?

Have you ever met someone who had ”the gift of suspicion”? They are everywhere-even in church. Recently I heard a man commenting about such a woman in his church. He said she always seemed to think the worst of everyone. If someone did something generous, she would say, ”What does he expect to get out of that? He probably just wants everyone's grat.i.tude.”

On one occasion, an acquaintance commented about what a friendly, happy person an usher was. ”That's his public face,” the woman said. ”He's always smiling, but I'll bet when he gets home and away from everyone else, he doesn't smile like that.” He went on to ask if someone had chided her for her critical att.i.tude; the woman only responded by saying, ”I just call things as I see them. You're always trying to make things look better than they are.”

The man finally realized it wasn't good for him to be around her, and he began to distance himself from her as much as possible. I believe this man made a good decision, but it was also important what he decided to do after that. Would he pray for her or begin to gossip and be critical just as she was?

I have discovered during my years in ministry that when someone with a critical spirit comes into a group or a meeting, it doesn't take much for others to become infected with it. It reminds me of the saying about one bad apple spoiling the whole bushel.

Over the years, I've met people who were very much like this lady. They're often tormented by their judgmental att.i.tudes, critical spirits, and suspicious minds. They also destroy many relations.h.i.+ps by their words.

Matthew 7:1820 says these ”bad fruits” tell us a lot about the ”tree,” but we still need to be careful we don't fall into Satan's trap by being critical of someone who is critical. Instead of judging we should pray and perhaps encourage the person who is critical to be more positive and believe the best. We must remember no one is perfect-each of us is a work in progress. Part of being a loving, caring Christian is to realize people may not see things in this life exactly as we do. We are not all at the same level of Christian maturity, but we can be sure G.o.d knows everything about each one of us. We must leave any judging to the only righteous judge-Jesus Christ. We may have times in life when it would be wise to distance ourselves from someone who consistently brings forth bad fruit, but we don't want to fall into the trap of being critical and judgmental ourselves. Prayer is always the best response to everything!

Instead of judging we should pray and perhaps encourage the person who is critical to be more positive and believe the best.