Dr H Reflections

Secondhand sin ∙∙

Secondhand sin ∙∙

When

Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. – Romans 5:12

Romans 5:15-16

15 But there is a significant difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam brought death to many. But even more remarkable is God’s extraordinary grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

Have you ever wondered how many people on planet Earth smoke? Despite declines in smoking in some developed nations, there are still over a billion smokers worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. It is well-documented that tobacco use is a significant public health concern. The World Health Organization estimates that over 8 million deaths are the result each year.

Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is the smoke that comes from both the burning end of a cigarette (sidestream smoke) and the smoke exhaled by smokers (mainstream smoke).

The harmful effects of secondhand smoke have long been known. Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer.

How many people die from secondhand smoke every year? The number is staggering. According to the WHO, it’s estimated that nearly 1,000,000 people around the world die each year from inhaling the smoke floating around them. Dr. Jagat Narula, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai, Morningside, in New York City, researches the health impact of smoking. “I call it a form of murder” (https://whdh.com).

It takes only 52 smokers to kill a person via secondhand tobacco smoke, according to a new global analysis. This is the first research to determine “how many smokers are needed to kill one innocent non-smoker,” says Nurula.

Nurula and his team looked at the number of active smokers and secondhand smoke victims around the world from 1990 to 2016. They found that in 1990, it took 31 lifetime smokers to produce enough secondhand smoke to kill one non-smoker. By 2016, that number had increased to 52, thanks to the spread of smoking bans in restaurants, bars, and offices. “There’s a sense of secondhand smoke being benign, or not as damaging as actual smoking is,” Nurula tells CNN.com. “But it’s truly deadly” (The Week, April 03, 2020).

There is also thirdhand smoke. A new study out of Yale University says thirdhand smoke – the tobacco contaminants that adhere to walls, bedding, carpet, and other surfaces until a room smells like an ashtray – can actually cling to a smoker’s body and clothes as well.

Those potentially toxic chemicals, including nicotine, can then be released into environments where smoking has never occurred, like a movie theater, according to the study.

Even more disturbing, The study found those chemical exposure levels could be the equivalent of between one and 10 cigarettes by the end of the movie (https://whdh.com/news/its-not-just-secondhand-smoke-that-is-dangerous-thirdhand-smoke-can-be-too/).

It is exceedingly difficult for people who are smokers to quit. But many do. Perhaps for years, they still long for, even dream about the pleasure they derived from smoking. But they no longer produce secondhand smoke. They will never contribute to the death of anyone. It is a simple fact that when you are no longer a smoker, you are indeed no longer a smoker.

But sin is something else entirely. Sins, in plural with an “s,” are acts or attitudes we have or perform. But sin, in its singular form, is a state of being what we are, a sinner. Once a sinner, always a sinner. We can work to limit our sins, but we can do nothing to stop being a sinner. We are doomed to pass on secondhand sin to our children. And they, too, become sinners. It is a relentless, vicious, and deadly cycle.

Where did sin come from? The Scriptures provide a clear answer: Adam and Eve.

Every child descended from Adam and Eve is afflicted with the consequences of secondhand sin. The children did not choose to become sinners. They are afflicted with sin because of the original choice of Adam and Eve. This inherited sin passed down from generation to generation, is akin to a genetic defect embedded in our DNA. This is referred to as original sin.

Romans 5:12-17

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.

REFLECT & PRAY

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Father thank You for those who quit smoking, by Your grace. But none of us can quit sinning. Thank You for providing an option, a cure through the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may be forgiven and enter into a right relationship with You.

INSIGHT

The Father had devised a strategy to address the sin of the human race, whether it be firsthand or secondhand sin. He planned to send the Lord Jesus Christ to planet Earth, Not born of the union of man and woman. He was sinless because of the miraculous virgin birth performed supernaturally by the Holy Spirit. Since He was sinless, His sinless nature qualified Him to live, die, and subsequently be resurrected. As a result of His death for sin, forgiveness is now available to all of the descendants of Adam and Eve. Forgiveness is the free gift the Father offers everyone who has “caught” the sin virus from Adam and Eve.

Romans 5:15-19

17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

As descendants of Adam, our link to him is purely physical. We have inherited the sin he passed down, having no say in whether we would be born into sinfulness. Just as we couldn’t choose our parents, we had no control over being born sinful. However, connecting with the Lord Jesus Christ is entirely up to us. We are free to accept or reject the Father’s solution for our sins.

We all share an equal opportunity to have forgiveness for our transgressions. Unfortunately, we cannot cease to sin, but the good news is that we can be forgiven.

It is disheartening to understand that our inherited sin, akin to a genetic disorder, is passed on to our offspring. But the Father has made provision for a kind of spiritual surgery to mitigate the impact of anyone’s sin disorder.

If you haven’t yet embraced forgiveness and established a righteous relationship with the Father, what’s stopping you?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-22-1

How to plan your day ∙∙

How to plan your day ∙∙

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly. – Psalms 63:1

Psalms 5:3 Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalms 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act on your behalf.

Born into the harsh realities of slavery amidst the turmoil of the Civil War in Diamond, Missouri, in the 1860s, George Washington Carver faced difficult challenges from the start. Institutional barriers due to racial prejudices prevented him from attending most schools. Nevertheless, his parents educated him at home and fostered an unquenchable desire for knowledge.

At fourteen, he left his home to pursue education, eventually gaining admission into Simpson College and Iowa State. Despite all odds, Carver emerged as one of his era’s leading inventors and agricultural scientists. He pioneered the concept of crop rotation to combat soil exhaustion and invented over 100 products derived from peanuts, including dyes, plastics, and even gasoline. His remarkable contributions earned him the title “Black Leonardo” by Time magazine in 1941.

Carver’s life took a spiritual turn when a Christian couple befriended him. The Bible became his constant companion and trusted guide until his final days.

So, what was the secret behind Carver’s extraordinary achievements despite seemingly insurmountable challenges?

Carver would be the first to tell you it was because of the Lord. “I have made it a rule to go out and sit . . . at four o’clock every morning and ask the good Lord what I am to do that day. Then I go ahead and do it.” (Scientists of Faith, books, google.com).

Undeniably, Carver possessed a wealth of natural talent, intelligence, discernment, curiosity, and insight. But what truly set him apart was something much more significant: his daily communion with the Father, the living God. This spiritual practice was the cornerstone of his success and made all the difference in his life.

REFLECT & PRAY

Children of the King who walk closely with the Father prioritize their lives differently. Spending time with the Father early in the morning frequently takes precedence.

Father thank You for wanting to spend time with me. I welcome the encounter. Encourage me to be wise in setting my priorities and making time with You my highest priority.

INSIGHT

What is an encounter with God? “An encounter with God takes place when He confronts us. Through these divine encounters, the Lord comforts us, challenges us, heals and forgives us. He changes us.” (Stanley). When it comes to encountering the Father, He is in complete control. We can do nothing to manipulate Him or “call the shots.” Any illusion of control must be relinquished.

If we cannot manipulate or control the Father, what can we do to encourage such encounters? We can make ourselves available to Him. We learn to listen. We learn to hear and recognize His voice. We actively seek His direction, guidance, and instruction. “When we make ourselves willing and available, the Father will encounter us” (Stanley).

Learn from George Washington Carver. Carver made it a daily practice to set aside time to meet and commune with the Father. Every morning, he would spend time with the Father and seek His plan for the day ahead. He experienced a life of great fulfillment. He serves as an example of life worth emulating.

This brings us to a simple question: When is the best time to seek the Father’s guidance for the day? Logically, it would seem to be as early as possible. Carver, for instance, began his day at 4 AM, earnestly the Father’s face. Psalms 63 beautifully captures this sentiment.

Psalms 63:1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly [early] search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you, as in a dry and weary land without water.

The Hebrew word shahar translates earnestly or early. The verb shaharinitially meant to “look for dawn.” It is derived from the noun shahar,which means dawn. Thus, it meant seeking early and putting first things first. It came to mean seeking God early, prioritizing Him above all else, and pursuing Him with eagerness and diligence.

As soon as David arose in the morning, he became aware of his intense need for the Father, just as he needed water shortly after waking up (Constable). David made it a point to seek the Father early in the morning when his mind was uncluttered, focused, sharp, and clear.

When psalmists speak of their intense longing to be with the Father, they often describe their yearning as thirst.

Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.

David characterizes his need to spend time with the Father as thirst. As he had been parched in the wilderness and thirsted for water, his soul was parched and pants for the Father. Just thinking about the Father created a longing, soul thirst for David.

David had learned to depend upon the Father every day. He probably could not imagine beginning a day without Him. His need was intense. During the best years of his life, David depended on the Father daily.

Each of us has daily routines that we follow upon waking. Wouldn’t it be wise to include an encounter with the Father in our daily routine?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-14-1

Spies and deceivers ∙∙

Spies and deceivers ∙∙

So that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). – 2 Corinthians 2:11

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end, they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

From 1976 to February 2001, Robert Hanssen led a double life as an FBI agent and a spy. Outward appearances can be deceiving. What was his disguise? He pretended to be just like everybody else and blend in. On the surface, Hanssen appeared to be a dedicated and faithful FBI agent. Nothing could be further from the truth. But behind this facade, he betrayed his country by handing over countless classified documents. On top of that, he revealed the names of KGB agents who were double agents secretly spying for the United States. When he compromised their identities, it undoubtedly resulted in their deaths.

There were some early red flags. In 1990, a recommendation was made to investigate Hanssen for possible espionage, but it fell on deaf ears, and nothing was done. He continued his shadowy activities, spying for both Soviet and Russian intelligence against the U.S. for a quarter of a century. The Department of Justice described Hanssen’s espionage as “possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history.”

How was he finally exposed? The FBI had suspicions about a mole in their midst. Of course, the KGB knew who their spies were. Almost everything can be bought for the right price. The FBI made a deal. The FBI paid a KGB agent $7 million for a file on the elusive mole, leading them to identify Hanssen.

Deceivers are difficult to spot because they are masters of disguise. They hide under the guise of being loyal and steadfast, pretending to be heroes. They claim to be teachers and apostles of truth and righteousness, while they are black hats, agents of evil and unrighteousness. As J.N. Darby said, “Satan is never more satanic than when he carries a Bible” (J. N. Darby). The same applies to his minions.

Regrettably, we often overlook the need for due diligence. We lack the discernment to identify the fakes. We fail to examine the Scriptures and investigate thoroughly what we are taught. We don’t take the time to verify the credibility of those we learn from. Most children of the King do not perform Internet searches or do background checks. However, if something does not seem right, it likely isn’t.

Satan and his followers are experts at masquerading under false pretenses and wearing clever disguises (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). The Greek word translated as disguise is metaschematizo. Metaschematizo comes from meta – to change and schema – shape, outward form. Metaschematizo means to transform, change the outward form or appearance of something, or disguise oneself to deceive.

Inconsistencies can often be subtle, making them hard to detect. Many times, the real motives behind actions remain concealed. Frequently, even blatant wrongdoing isn’t always identified and adequately addressed. When sin is not dealt with immediately, people think they can escape it indefinitely. It is part of our fallen DNA.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

REFLECT & PRAY

What a frightening and sobering reality to recognize that the kingdom of God will often have weeds growing among the beneficial crops. We must be on the alert.

Father help us discern and alert to those who wear disguises and masquerade as something they are not. Protect us from evil.

INSIGHT

The enemy of our souls, Satan, disguises himself as an angel of light. Angels of light, shining angels, are dazzling, vibrant, appealing, and thrilling.

His minions also are bedazzling, disguising themselves as servants of righteousness and apostles of Christ. Think about it. The Father’s servants are often plain, dull, drab, unremarkable, average, bland, even nondescript. What an anomaly!

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

The enemy’s strategy is cunning and ingenious. The enemy is shrewd, subtle, and elusive. He plans to infiltrate, delude, mislead, and distract the children of the King. The enemy’s cronies do not have to battle their way in. The unknowing and misguided children of the King often invite them in. How tragic.

Galatians 2:4 Some so-called Christians there – false ones, really – who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us.

The Lord Jesus Christ provided a perfect illustration.

Matthew 13:24-30

24 Here is another story Jesus told: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

25 But that night, as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 The farmer’s workers went to him and said, “Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?”

28 “An enemy has done this!” the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?” they asked.

29 “No,” he replied, “you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.”

Children of the King are caught in a quandary. We are encouraged to be hospitable.

Hebrews 13:2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

It would be prudent to be hospitable yet also extremely cautious. Perhaps we may be entertaining dark angels, messengers of Satan, masquerading as angels of light.

We have been commanded to love as we have been loved. We are not to act unbecomingly; we are not to be provoked; we do not take into account a wrong suffered; we are never to give up or lose faith; we are always to be hopeful and endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:5-8).

Yet we are to be shrewd as serpents (Matthew 10:16), guard against those who vigorously oppose the authentic, and embrace the error of unprincipled men (2 Timothy 4:15, 2 Peter 3:17).

Only the Father’s wisdom and leading can take us safely through.

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not reprimand you for asking.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 9-04-1

Why do right? ∙∙

Why do right? ∙∙

So, for him, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is a sin. – James 4:17

Luke 12:47-48

47 And a servant who knows what the master wants but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions will be severely punished.

48 But someone who does not know and then does something wrong will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return, and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

New Brighton, Minn., June 30, 2014 (UPI). The headline reads: Good Samaritan saves Minnesota man’s life by bending locked car door with bare hands. A 52-year-old Minnesota man bent a locked car door in half with his bare hands and pulled a man to safety after his car caught on fire on Sunday evening in New Brighton.

Robert Renning was on Interstate 35W around 6:30 PM when he noticed a burning car that he had just passed.

The driver of the car, Michael Johannes, could not unlock the electronic locks or open the power windows of his car. In response, Renning somehow managed to wedge his fingers into the vehicle’s door frame and proceeded to bend the locked door from the top down. Once he created an opening, Renning pulled Johannes to safety before he could incur serious injuries.

“He did an extraordinary deed, bending a locked car door in half of a burning car to extricate a trapped person,” Minnesota State Trooper Zachary Hill told WCCO. “I feel this man deserves any and all commendation for his extraordinary life-saving measure that kept another from burning alive.”

Renning humbly down-played his Renning modestly dismissed his heroic “Superman” moment. “Somebody was in trouble he said. ‘You’re supposed to help each out other.’”

The burnt-out car (Credit: Minnesota State Patrol/Facebook)

In most situations, the right thing to do is often intuitively obvious. Of course, sometimes we never really know what is right or best. However, putting that aside, focus on those times we know what is right to do. Do we take a risk and do it? Are you aware of the Father’s stance on doing right when you know what it is?

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him, it is a sin.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father will never ask us to do something we cannot accomplish with His enablement.

Father I recognize my extreme limitations in many areas of my life. But I also acknowledge that You have entrusted me with precious spiritual treasures and responsibilities. Enable me to act wisely in Your service and complete my assignments.

INSIGHT

Not taking action when you are aware of the right thing to do can lead to significant consequences. The Father is always equitable and just in His judgments. The Lord Jesus Christ narrates a parable to illustrate this. A master had two servants to whom he assigned tasks before departing on a trip. Neither of them knew when he would be back.

Luke 12:47-48

47 A servant who knows what the master wants but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions will be severely punished.

48 But someone who does not know and then does something wrong will be punished only lightly.

Luke 12:43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

There is a built-in assumption here: whenever the master assigns a task, he also provides the wherewithal to succeed in carrying it out. The Father will never ask us to do something we cannot do with His enablement. “The servant who knows what to do and does not do it is more culpable than the one who does not do it because of ignorance” (Stein).

But there’s more. The more ability one has, the greater their responsibility becomes.

Luke 12:48 When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

“Knowledge and privilege always bring responsibility. Sin is doubly sinful to those who knew better; failure is doubly blameworthy in those who had every chance to do well” (Barclay).

No one but the Father knows the day or the hour when any of any children of the King will meet Him in eternity.

Living in the 21st century, we’re constantly swept along by a rapid pace of life, juggling numerous challenges and responsibilities. Too often, our obligations are half done, put off, incomplete, or not even attempted. What are we, as children of the King, to do? The Lord Jesus Christ provides a perfect model. He came into the world with an itinerary planned in eternity past. He finished all His earthly assignments, and at the end, he said simply, “It is finished.”

How did He manage to do this? He was in perfect communication with the Father, praying daily for guidance and directions.

John 6:38 I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

John 17:4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Each of us also has an itinerary planned in eternity past. As we seek guidance from the Father, He will joyfully provide guidance, a daily “To-Do List.” Be prudent and reach out to Him every morning. He will lead and strengthen us as we walk with Him through life.

Colossians 1:9 We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-16-1

Arguing with God ∙∙

Arguing with God ∙∙

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you know so much. – Job 38:4

Job 40:1-5

1 Then the LORD said to Job,

2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the LORD,

4 “I am nothing – how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.”

5 “I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be” (Thomas Jefferson).

“People used to say, ‘Ignorance is no excuse.’ Today, ignorance is no problem. After all, you have ‘a right to your own opinion’ – and self-esteem to boot” (Thomas Sowell).

Job argued with God (Job 38-42). Job honestly thought of himself as being qualified to do so. But he soon discovered how misguided he was. It is almost as though the Father interrupted Job while he was still thinking about what to say, and He spoke to him and said, “Hold that thought!” Then the Lord gets serious, very serious. He asked,

Job 38:1-4

1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

The Father said to him, “Who do you think you are? Of all that there is to know, how much do you think you know? Before we go any further, I require that you answer some questions for Me. First of all, where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you know so much” (Job 38:4).

When it comes to the creation of planets, stars, and the entire cosmos, which exists in perfect harmony and balance, or maintaining and controlling the powerful forces of planet Earth such as the wind, the waters, night and day, hot and cold, or the trembling of the earth how are you doing? And then there is that matter, the existence of all matter, energy, and life itself; what part did you play? And from there, the Father begins a rather stern interrogation. He asks a series of questions that Job could not possibly know the answer to. He is doing this to make it abundantly clear to even the most casual observer that Job does not have a clue regarding the Father’s knowledge, authority, or creative power.

We might say today, “That’s above my pay grade.”

The Father’s response to Job’s questioning could be summarized as follows.

In essence, you speak in ignorance, not from knowledge. You think yourself righteous, but you are arrogant and proud. Compared to Me, you know practically nothing and are almost powerless. I am all-knowing and all-powerful. I have an eternal plan. I created everything to achieve My eternal purposes. Everything is working exactly as I planned.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Instead of weeping when a tragedy occurs in a songbird’s life, it sings away its grief. I believe we could well follow the pattern of our feathered friends” (Shakespeare).

Father I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. So often, I have spoken confidently about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. I take back everything foolish I ever said. I repent!

INSIGHT

“Job was sure that his speeches had been filled with wisdom and knowledge, but God’s first question put an end to that delusion: ‘Who is this that darkens My counsel with words without knowledge?’ (Job 38:2, NIV) The Living Bible paraphrases it, ‘Why are you using your ignorance to deny My providence?’ (TLB)”

“God didn’t question Job’s integrity or sincerity; He only questioned Job’s ability to explain the ways of God in the world. Job had spoken the truth about God (Job 42:7), but his speeches had lacked humility. Job thought he knew about God but didn’t realize how much he didn’t know about God. Knowledge of our own ignorance is the first step toward true wisdom” (Wiersbe).

Job gets the message loud and clear.

Job 40:1-5

1 Then the LORD said to Job,

2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the LORD,

4 “I am nothing – how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.”

5 “I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

Job repents and submits to the Father’s authority and wisdom.

Job 42:1-6

1 Then Job replied to the LORD:

2 “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I, and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.

4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’

5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6 I take back everything I said and sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

We are living in challenging times. Our minds and emotions are heated up, and every now and then, they boil over. Rather than arguing and challenging the Father out of ignorance and limited understanding, we need to recognize the error of our ways, repent, and entrust ourselves to Him.

1 Timothy 1:5-11

5 The aim of our instruction is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.

8 We know that the law is good when used correctly.

9 For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.

10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

Perhaps that time has now come!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-19-1

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