1 John 4:6 "We are from God, and whoever is from God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
Sweet and forgiving Lord, I know from past experience that the truth of God is foolishness to those who are not true believers because Your truth is spiritually discerned. No Spirit=no understanding. Without Your Spirit, we can only guess at the truth and if we do not understand it, in our arrogance, we mock it and make up our own "truth".
We are seeing it right now in all areas of the media. Tim Teebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, makes no secret of his deep faith in You and Your work in his life. Because of his own story, he stands against abortion. He does not "showboat", but when he receives a blessing from You on the football field, he bows the knee on the sideline and gives thanks to You. The secular society does not quite know what to do with him. He walks in integrity and lovingkindness, and is a great quarterback, so they can't find much to degrade him about. People either bless or mock him. Christians rejoice at his testimony, the world does not. He is a modern day Daniel.
There are others whose lives have become public and therefore subject to public ridicule, just like You were. Some, like the late Dr Jerry Falwell, Chuck Colson, and Dr James Dobson to name just a few, are involved in not only benevolent ministries but also speak out against the sin of the culture like the prophets of old, and have become fodder for the world's hunger for mockery. The world cannot understand them so they ridicule.
Even within the "church" there are those who teach a perverted gospel. They preach the social or prosperity gospel that has just enough truth sprinkled in (Satan's best deception) to make it look like it is from You. They pervert Your word to make their case and keep their hearers ignorant enough of Your word that they don't see the deception. It is very very sad, because those preachers are the most deceived. They are still of their father, the devil, and do not realize it.
Lord, Your truth is so beautiful! It is not always easy to accept even as believers. You tell us that the world will hate us, persecute us, and may even kill us because we stand with You. The human part of us wants to shrink away, but then You give the statement to not be concerned with what man can do to the body, but to guard our souls. You promise us grace and mercy in those times, like You gave to Steven when he was facing stoning, and only by true faith can we accept that as truth.
Lord help me to always remember that if I am following You and obeying Your commands there will be those who do not understand and will reject and mock me. Help me to remember what Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins said in the Left Behind series: "The cross is an offense. If I offend (when I speak of it), I am doing my job , if it is not an offense, the Spirit is doing His job." Keep me very close to You so I can discern truth from falsehood, and help me to lovingly guide others into Your truth.
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