Tag: opinion

21.h. “As for the one who is weak in faith”

 

 

 

Romans 14:1  As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Herein lies the problem; “to distinguish between essentials and non-essentials” of Faith.  Do you ever wonder how much baggage we add to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  How many times do we allow our opinions and thoughts to give ourselves the freedom to live as the world does? How many times have churches split and friendships lost because there was no way found to reconcile between essentials and non-essentials?  There are those who establish their walk by faith in ways that do not make sense to us.  They refrain from certain things we do not.  Paul is saying do not look down on them.  In the essentials they are solid.  In the non-essentials, they have differing opinions and thoughts.  This brings us to points about how we live and grow in faith – “eating solid food and not just milk”, “Unity”, “allowing ourselves to be wronged”, “Keeping your eyes on Jesus”, “honoring and glorifying Jesus”, “letting no unwholesome talk come from your mouth”, “not causing other to stumble”, etc…. It is in our ability to distinguish between essentials and non-essentials where divisions, arguments, disagreements, and separations occur. Society will try to invade this space as well. It is very good at making arguments (by twisting selected scripture) to allow certain acts or actions into the essential space.  We should be able to distinguish these and call them out.  Abortion, LGBTQ, Pornography, Sex Trafficking, Rioting, Drunkenness, All paths lead to heaven, There is more than one God, etc…. are all creeping their way into being allowed into the Christian walk.  This should never be and it should be called out as neither good for the soul or God-honoring.  

Being able to discern and allow distinguish non-essential acts takes wisdom and understanding given to us by God.  As we grow in our faith we come to the understanding and knowledge that all things are acceptable to mankind (in their own eyes), but not all things are acceptable in the eyes of God.  He has given His written Word to us so that we might know Him and grow in our faith, understanding, and knowledge of what it means to humbly honor, glorify, follow, trust, and obey Him.  If you are not growing in this ability to distinguish between essentials and non-essentials they will forever become a cloudy fog in your mind.  James said that you will become like a ship tossed this way and that way by stormy waters.  Think about how much you have grown in your wisdom and understanding by the working of the Holy Spirit in your life since you first believed.  (If there is not much difference – there should be) Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little you have grown in understanding and knowledge and being able to more clearly see what it means to follow God.  Essentials become rock solid, non-essentials become malleable clay, and though they are recognized they do not cause your faith to turn or your mind to judge others but rather keep you thankful for how God has given you understanding, growth, and has put light to His plans and purposes for your life.  We are not all alike, nor are we all at the same level of faith in our walk with God.  Some are old, some are young, and many in between.  Tolerate the non-essentials that do not dishonor God but be ever intolerant of those which are and those who wish to apply them to the things of God.

Being Ready

“And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Psalms 90:12  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 39:4     “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Deuteronomy 32:29     If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Ecclesiastes 9:10    Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Luke 12:35     “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

John 9:4     We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Ephesians 5:16     making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Proverbs 2:2     making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 4:5     Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 7:1     My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;  keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;  bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

Proverbs 8:32     “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,  but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 16:16     How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 22:17     Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

Proverbs 23:12     Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 18:1     Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.  A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Jude 1:19     It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Being ready at all times is much different than thinking about being ready.  Being ready and living ready is putting the Word of God into action in our lives.  Thinking about being ready is just that, stuff moving through our head and no action to follow it up.  God’s will must be a desired and sought after presence in our lives. This desire and seeking keep us actionable for His purpose and plans.  Reread these verses and as is says in Proverbs 22:17     Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,