It's All About Him

"Because God loves people."

THE PROBLEM with writing God’s Word is people don’t recognize themselves. It isn’t our job to make them, not really. (“Our” meaning writers like myself.) That is the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart and the mind of men. I write what He gives me. I rewrite what He gives me sometimes when some of it seems tough. I make no justification here for my content, as some will do. I mount no defense, if you feel one is needed. I am actually not fond of excuses. Most often, they are simply a good lie. You will get no rationalization such as, “But if somebody doesn’t say it, then …” from me. Because that circles back around to people usually assume your instructions are for others.

I’m all about making a change, aware that they can be uncomfortable. However, I’d rather grow up than fall down, or tear down, as the case may be. Because God loves people. His love is why Jesus’ died and rose again. The Spirit is our Teacher, as evidence of God’s love. He speaks to us, to guide us into truth. We must see it to know it, though, and with Him in our ear, guard our words so they speak loudly without any of it coming from our own thinking.

The mind is a terrible thing to waste, so goes the old saying. What we believe comes from the heart, but it speaks through the mind. Jesus described this as food. What you eat, He said, speaking of the Law, comes out in the draught, but what you speak comes from what you’ve meditated on (Mark 7:19,23).

“All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:23)

I guess I’m asking you to examine yourself continually. To take these words that the Spirit speaks and ask Him if they talk about you. Because I’m not building castles to stand in and admire the view; I am handing you the tools to fit the bricks together properly. Will we pull up the thorns which choke the Word or wrap ourselves in them? There will always be error in the church as we are all human. God must speak or write correction through somebody. That said, doom-and-gloom prophecies need to cease. They simply bring fear. Ask yourself if that word uplifts and encourages, and if not, then don’t say it. Faith as a system needs to be removed from our preaching. I’ve mentioned this but it is more of an emotion, the extreme ardor and longing of our hearts, trusting in Jesus, WHO MUST BE THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

Futility is at the heart of all defeat. Men give up because the solution seems futile, believing in God isn’t working, and “they are what they are.” Futile thinking justifies itself, even to go so far as to deny truth in order to find some sort of peace. But peace which comes from a lie isn’t God’s shalom, and futile thinking is not from God at all. His end is always well-being, the meaning of shalom, which encompasses all areas of life. Stop rationalizing the lie and refuse to accept hopelessness. You will never find me penning hopelessness or futility in anything.

If I write it, Jesus is all in it. If I speak it, it’s about Him. I simply do not understand sermons about Bible topics where He isn’t mentioned. Nor lectures condemning people’s tastes in clothing, hairstyles, music, pulpits, or church attendance. None of that matters. All that matters is our love for each other, our care for the hurting, and our constant reaching for more of our King. Not as a social ladder, nor a seat at the front table in people’s full view. Jesus said to start at the back and move forward. I figure I’m on the row just next in front, most times, given the talk spinning around me that sounds like many things my precious heavenly Papa told me men need to stop doing.

I put no list of them here. Instead, I have the Word of God that He’s anointed and the WORD OF GOD that He anointed. Both are precious to me, but the latter, I imagine in my mind’s eye, is simply magnificent.

“… and among the lampstands was one who appeared to be human, just like a Son of Man. He was wearing a robe flowing down to his feet and had a golden breastplate on his chest; his hair was brilliant white, like snow, and his eyes shone brightly like a fire. His feet glowed like metal in a furnace, and his voice resounded with energy like a roaring river.” (Revelation 1:13-15, Remedy)

PICTURES:
Black couple Image by Solie Jordan from Pixabay
Jewish man Image by No Way from Pixabay
Asian woman Image by Jingying Cui from Pixabay
Egyptian man Image by Rokaia Ahmed from Pixabay
Young American girl Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
British crowd Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Father with infant Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com