"He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven." - George Herbert, British Poet 1593 - 1633
The above is a true statement and one could give credit to George Herbert for his wisdom in that saying, but the truth and wisdom found in those words did not originate with him. They originated with The Author of truth and wisdom - The Judge of the universe...
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJ)
...Christ Jesus.
With deception being a tool of the enemy and being spread widely with the help of mankind these days, it's a struggle for some to recognize what the truth really is. It's good for us who follow Christ to remember that whatever we might think or reason with ourselves to be true, our opinion counts for nothing and doesn't matter at all unless it lines up completely with what God has already said. We know that beyond our existence in this world stands an absolute and unchanging standard of truth in a far greater, eternal existence. That standard is the absolute, ultimate authority and is both authored and anchored by the equally unchanging Sovereign God who set the standard for everything that He's created.
“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?" Isaiah 45:9 (NKJ)
It would be so far better for us if we were to respectfully and obediently give first priority in our daily lives to everything that God has said and lived by it completely, moment by moment, rather than being led by any temptation of this world or by the wants, desires, and even needs of our flesh.
"I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded." Isaiah 45:12 (NKJ)
When we would seek truth and wisdom from God it's good for us to do so, but also good for us to remember that He's given so much foundational wisdom and truth in what He's already made available to us in what He's said. It's fruit ripe for our consumption and solid foundation to the core of our existence. It was given to us to form the basis from which to sort truth from lie and wisdom from foolishness - a Godly sieve useful for sifting everything else in our lives through. If we travel through this place of deception and foolishness without it, we travel at our own chosen peril.
"God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God." Psalm 53:2 (NKJ)
It's our responsibility to seek out and use what God's already given to us to find our way safely through this place. If we choose not to, who will we blame for our misfortune and the folly of our choices?
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJ)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJ)
Comments
Post a Comment