bradicalbthechange

[bradicalbthechange]

Am I a Pharisee?

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/jhn.3.16.nlt

When John says 'the world', he also meant the Pharisees. Yes, Jesus loved them too and He would accept them if they would repent of their sins and choose to follow Him faithfully. But they didn't. So Jesus chose to be straightforward with them.

Who are the Pharisees today?

They are the ones who read the word, but don't understand it; ones who know the word, but their lives aren't attuned to it. They are Christians who claim to have a profound knowledge of the word and yet they lack wisdom. They brag about their deeds yet are spiritually empty vessels. They live a life built on the foundation of their own lives. They deliberately use provocative language and look down upon others.

-They mislead the others.

““Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:6, 12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/mat.16.6,12.nlt

-They are vicious.

"But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!”...."

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/mat.3.7.nlt

How do we deal with them?

With love. Love means nothing without actions. And our action of live towards them can be to pray for them. The Holy Spirit will give us the discernment to recognise such people. He will put the right words into our mouths when we need to be straightforward. He will give us the wisdom to understand when we need to be silent and the strength to do the same. Humility is the key.

“He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/psa.25.9.nlt

But being humble doesn't require you to be a door mat. Jesus was the perfect example of serving in humility. He sat with the sinners and He washed the feet of His disciples. He asked God to forgive those who chose to crucify Him. Yet, throughout the Gospels, you'll find Him being straightforward with the Pharisees.

We don't need to ask God to punish such people who hurt us. We need to pray to God to forgive them. We need to forgive them and let them go. Finally, we are not accountable for the lives they live. We are accountable for the way we live. We need to prepare ourselves for the greater day in such a way, that we will be able to answer our Father for our doings. We need to reflect upon our own actions and avoid being a Pharisee.

[bradicalbthechange]

VOICE OF TRUTH

As I look ahead, all I can see is darkness

My soul isn't at rest

The ones whom I call my own

Look down on me as I fail to give my best.

I decide to be still.

I know that it is only the Voice of Truth that can calm my soul

The voice that calmed the storm,

The voice thay called Lazarus out of the grave!

I know that my soul can be rest assured in Him and His promises.

I stand there and continue to look ahead

All I can see is darkness yet

But now....

...I can also see a path in the wilderness

My soul is peaceful-

Flooded with peace that passeth all understanding!

I now know there is a way,

I know the One who leads me,

I trust my GOOD SHEPHERD!

"I can hear the voice of Truth; and I will choose to listen and believe it."