I AM CONSTANTLY REMINDED that I have blind spots. These are areas I cannot see well and I need another to point them out for me. I have times I miss the mark and times I fail. I’ve had times I deceived myself into believing God was OK with what I was doing, even though others told me differently. If I know anything about humanity, it’s that we humans are very easily deceived and are very good at deceiving ourselves. Self-deception- “the action or practice of allowing oneself to believe that a false or unvalidated feeling, idea, or situation is true.” I don’t want to believe my own lies and get caught in the self-deception trap.
People say things like, “I’m good. God is using me.” Or “I’m good, God is speaking to me.” But refuse to look to Scripture. God used and spoke to Samson, all the while he was rebellious and disobedient up until the time the Spirit left him.
“And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” Judges 16:20
God used and spoke to Saul, all the while he was rebellious and disobedient up until the time the Spirit left him. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.” I Samuel 16:14
God used and spoke to Judas, all the while he was greedy, covetous and a thief up until he betrayed the Lord. “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” John 12:4-6
We all know what happened to Judas. Here’s what you need to be aware of, God is a merciful God and He continues to reach out to the rebellious and disobedient, wanting them to repent. But God’s mercy is not His approval. God’s mercy does not mean He is pleased with you. God speaking to you and even using you does not mean you are in a good place.
I could name person after person that are in wickedness and they think they are in right standing with God. It is alarming to me that 70 years after Christ’s ascension, He does an inventory of His churches, it’s called “Revelation”. Five out of the seven churches receive stern rebukes. He was still using them and He most definitely spoke to them. And lest you forget, God spoke and gave dreams to Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and every wicked king in Israel’s history. Don’t fool yourself. Check your fruit. Scripture is our plumb line, it is the mirror that we judge ourselves by. Does your life line up with Scripture?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26
Read also the previous verses in this same chapter that speak of the works of the flesh. Study these. Read 1 Cor 13. where Paul tells us that love is patient, not impatient and rude. Love is kind, not mean spirited. If you are rude, God is not pleased. If you are a boaster, God is not pleased. If you are prideful and self centered, God is not pleased. If you are envious, jealous, or greedy; God is not pleased.
If you are unforgiving and cut others off because of your perceived offense, God is not pleased. When you lie, gossip and slander; God is not pleased. Don’t deceive yourself into believing God is pleased with you because He is a merciful God. He is longsuffering and patient with us. He does not immediately punish, but His Spirit pursues for repentance. If your heart is holding the wickedness of offense and is full of bitterness and unforgiveness, and your words and actions do not line up with Scripture; then God is not pleased.
“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder (he who hates his brother in Christ is a murderer), commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?”
Jeremiah 7:8-10
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