The world's media is on a mission with a bent toward the sick, scary, twisted, scandalous, salacious, wrong and disturbing - because it gets eager viewers and advertising dollars.
As followers of Christ, we're continually being bombarded - intentionally acclimated on a continuing basis to information and things that run counter to the word of the God who created us. Some of it's served subtly at first, because if it were presented outright, we'd rebel against it. On the other hand, if it's subtle enough and we're subjected to it long enough without drawing our conscious attention, we probably won't really take notice ... and sooner or later, it'll just seem commonplace to us - Then comes the potential for resigned acceptance...
... But it's only our connection to the truth that allows us to exist in untainted true reality. In other words, if we allow the truth of God, given to us beforehand as the perfect road map for living successfully with Him, to become distorted... we're in for some real peril. So it's no surprise that as followers of Christ in a failing world, that we may find ourselves shoveling through a lot of the world's garbage, sifting through all of that noise, trying to make sense of what we're coming into contact with in order to discern the truth. So much of the news is distressing,depressing and negative - and according to what we hear in print, on radio and through TV news, the world could collapse into total chaos and pestilence at any time. The word of the world is so negative and heart corrosive. And if you've been sucking all of that negativity in, cringing with fear inside, - addicted and just waiting for the next salvo to your inner peace, if you've been buying into the fear element that the world's been giving away in the space of every precious second ... I have some more potentially distressing news for you to add ...
... OUR GOD'S NOT NEGATIVE! ... but the enemy is.
If you're sucking up any of the world's negative narrative, you're sucking on slow poison for your own soul and making yourself sick. We were never intended to rely heavily to any degree on the imperfect wisdom of men in this day or in the distractions the enemy invites us to. We were created to live in this present time and in this time we have available not only the inspired and completely accurate word of God, but the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit as well. They both came before those of us living today and if our predecessors were accurate in their obedience to the Lord, we're familiar with both - having been raised with them. But if they weren't and we weren't, we still have no excuse for ignoring them now. Our future and the future generation(s), if the Lord tarries, are dependent in part on our obedience to embrace them both now.
Whatever we find, taken in context and unmolested in our bibles can be relied on as the absolute truth and is intended to be the foundation of our understanding of the truth and our engagement into relationship with the very God who created us. It's intended to be the truth that we can fall back on with certainty, continually and against every occasion and ripple of life that might seem to come against us. And in those pages, we're continually confronted with the words...
... DON'T BE AFRAID.
“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." Luke 12:6-7 (NLT)
The God who created and birthed us into this place for a time hasn't forgotten any of us and He hasn't abdicated any of His authority over everything that exists either. Having accepted Jesus as Savior and truly dedicating ourselves to serving Him, we're grafted in - adopted into His family. So, as His children, we have His word as our security ...
“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? Isaiah 46:3-5 (NLT)
We came from Him, we're saved by Him, and we'll be delivered safely to His bosom regardless of what happens in the world here. In the meantime, we have a wealth of promises to rely on with absolute certainty as the truth when we truly commit ourselves to Him in relationship...
"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence,“The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” "
Hebrews 13:1-6 (NLT)
Stay connected to the truth and hold it as such - the foundation of what you know you can hold on to come what may. If you're not familiar with it, get in the bible and find the Good News. The world's news can never usurp the truth that God's given us in sovereign authority and with the all knowing, unlimited power to back it up. Whatever the "news" is, whether pestilence, war, unrest, violence, or some other concern, ... it'll never be as good as God's truth. We will likely have trouble in this world, Jesus told us that, but our help is closer than our own skin.
If you've let the news of the world, or maybe just the world, overshadow the truth of our God in your heart and mind and send you down a wrong path, remember a sample of His tender heart for you...
That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:12-13 (NLT)
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
As followers of Christ, we're continually being bombarded - intentionally acclimated on a continuing basis to information and things that run counter to the word of the God who created us. Some of it's served subtly at first, because if it were presented outright, we'd rebel against it. On the other hand, if it's subtle enough and we're subjected to it long enough without drawing our conscious attention, we probably won't really take notice ... and sooner or later, it'll just seem commonplace to us - Then comes the potential for resigned acceptance...
... But it's only our connection to the truth that allows us to exist in untainted true reality. In other words, if we allow the truth of God, given to us beforehand as the perfect road map for living successfully with Him, to become distorted... we're in for some real peril. So it's no surprise that as followers of Christ in a failing world, that we may find ourselves shoveling through a lot of the world's garbage, sifting through all of that noise, trying to make sense of what we're coming into contact with in order to discern the truth. So much of the news is distressing,depressing and negative - and according to what we hear in print, on radio and through TV news, the world could collapse into total chaos and pestilence at any time. The word of the world is so negative and heart corrosive. And if you've been sucking all of that negativity in, cringing with fear inside, - addicted and just waiting for the next salvo to your inner peace, if you've been buying into the fear element that the world's been giving away in the space of every precious second ... I have some more potentially distressing news for you to add ...
... OUR GOD'S NOT NEGATIVE! ... but the enemy is.
If you're sucking up any of the world's negative narrative, you're sucking on slow poison for your own soul and making yourself sick. We were never intended to rely heavily to any degree on the imperfect wisdom of men in this day or in the distractions the enemy invites us to. We were created to live in this present time and in this time we have available not only the inspired and completely accurate word of God, but the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit as well. They both came before those of us living today and if our predecessors were accurate in their obedience to the Lord, we're familiar with both - having been raised with them. But if they weren't and we weren't, we still have no excuse for ignoring them now. Our future and the future generation(s), if the Lord tarries, are dependent in part on our obedience to embrace them both now.
Whatever we find, taken in context and unmolested in our bibles can be relied on as the absolute truth and is intended to be the foundation of our understanding of the truth and our engagement into relationship with the very God who created us. It's intended to be the truth that we can fall back on with certainty, continually and against every occasion and ripple of life that might seem to come against us. And in those pages, we're continually confronted with the words...
... DON'T BE AFRAID.
“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." Luke 12:6-7 (NLT)
The God who created and birthed us into this place for a time hasn't forgotten any of us and He hasn't abdicated any of His authority over everything that exists either. Having accepted Jesus as Savior and truly dedicating ourselves to serving Him, we're grafted in - adopted into His family. So, as His children, we have His word as our security ...
“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? Isaiah 46:3-5 (NLT)
We came from Him, we're saved by Him, and we'll be delivered safely to His bosom regardless of what happens in the world here. In the meantime, we have a wealth of promises to rely on with absolute certainty as the truth when we truly commit ourselves to Him in relationship...
"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence,“The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” "
Hebrews 13:1-6 (NLT)
Stay connected to the truth and hold it as such - the foundation of what you know you can hold on to come what may. If you're not familiar with it, get in the bible and find the Good News. The world's news can never usurp the truth that God's given us in sovereign authority and with the all knowing, unlimited power to back it up. Whatever the "news" is, whether pestilence, war, unrest, violence, or some other concern, ... it'll never be as good as God's truth. We will likely have trouble in this world, Jesus told us that, but our help is closer than our own skin.
If you've let the news of the world, or maybe just the world, overshadow the truth of our God in your heart and mind and send you down a wrong path, remember a sample of His tender heart for you...
That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:12-13 (NLT)
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
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