1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God shall save you and those who hear you. (NLT)
Miss Zora and I were talking one evening and she said, “Do you know, Mama used to spank our chickens! They would get in her garden and she would hold one between her legs and spank the tar out of them and throw them back over the fence!”
It made me laugh! I could just picture her mama doing that! I thought ‘That’s so goofy, Lord!’
People do goofy things like: make doctrines out of anything they want in the Bible, create different denominations, different ways to worship, call themselves by different names, you can get married, you can’t get married, don’t eat this, wear this…the list goes on. We do this then proceed to argue that OUR way is right buddy. Whatever happened to love and grace? Whatever happened to unity in the Body?
1 Timothy 1:4 Don’t let people waste time in endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigrees. For these things only cause arguments; they don’t help people live a life of faith in God. (NLT)
Colossians 2:8 Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. (NLT)
False doctrines confuse people and steer them away from the truth, Him. I’ve lived that roller coaster life. I’ve been taught you have to do this for Him to love you, or just ask Him to come down, don’t sin or He will kick you to the curb… I lived in fear and condemnation for a long time.
Then, I heard His still, small voice…”I love you, you are mine. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hold your head up, you are not condemned for I have redeemed you. You are in Me and I am in you. We are One. Rest in Me. Draw your strength from Me. I am your Peace and you are complete in Me. You are always Mine.”
We take what is simple and make it complicated. We have chased many away from Him in this manner rather than teaching that He loves them, always and forever. We need not be afraid of Him when we mess up, but rather run to Him!
2 Timothy 2:23-26 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will believe the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. (NLT)
He wants us to be knit together in love, in Him, one Body expressing Him.
Colossians 2:2-4 My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ Himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments. (NLT)
Jesus said when He goes away He would send us the Spirit and He would guide us into all truth! Count on Him! Ask Him to show you truth! (John 16:5-15)
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (NLT)
