November 8 2017 – Click here to listen
I’ve been trying to get my head and heart straight over the evil that is taking place in our midst. Hurricanes, floods, mass shootings, sexual perversion, political hatred and so on is enough to dishearten practically anyone.
I couldn’t even read the news this morning as I normally do. I just gave up.
I’m often asked by new Christians how I recommend that they read the Bible.
I generally recommend that they begin in the New Testament by reading the book of Romans. When finished I suggest that they go to Matthew and read the entire New
Testament straight through. When that is accomplished I recommend that they go to Genesis and read the Old Testament and keep reading all of the way through to Revelation.
Suggestions for reading are not to read it like a novel, but instead to take your time and listen to the Spirit of God along your journey. God will emphasize some things and others He seems to reserve for a later reading. So, I might stop and read something and ponder its meaning for quite some time and other parts I read and keep moving.
Recently I decided to reread the Bible (for the umpteenth time.) So this morning I was reading the 12th chapter of Romans and taking my own advice and taking my time and listening to God. I came to verse 21 and it instructed me “not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.”
That is a strange command to flesh. My innate desire is to fight, conquer, and destroy my enemies. Being good to them is contrary to my nature. Earlier in this chapter we are told that we should feed our enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink. This will amount to heaping coals of fire on his head.
Hmmm . . . My flesh would opt for actually physically heaping the coals of fire on their heads. So how can I overcome this fleshly evil? Through the Spirit of God that lives within me. I cannot show goodness like that myself, but the Holy Spirit inside me can. Yesterday I did indeed pray for those lost souls who called those of us who believe in prayer “dumb hicks” and used profanity not fit to print anywhere in so doing.
How did I do that when my flesh was urging me to challenge them to a duel? I submitted to the Holy Spirit. It is through faith we are saved. I would never do such a thing on my own; however, it is not lost on me that God does not make mistakes – I do.
So, am I better off listening to me, or God?
Silly question. In order to listen to God, we must read and study the Bible. I hope you will join me in studying it daily, and take care to study the things that make for peace and do them; if it be possible. As these latter evil days unfold, Christians will find themselves faced with more and more evil that is so vile that we cannot even fathom how it can possibly take place. Don’t believe it?
- Massacre of an entire church including a 17-month old baby while they worship
- Child rape, torture, and murder for money
- Terrorists running over innocent cyclists with trucks
I won’t continue because I don’t want to discourage you. The Apostle Paul wrote a large portion of the New Testament. He described himself in Romans as “Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen to be a missionary, and sent out to preach God’s Good News.”
He was viciously flogged 3 times, caned 4 times, bitten by a poisonous snake, shipwrecked twice, imprisoned, beaten, despised by his former friends, brutally martyred just to name a few things he endured on behalf of Jesus to bring God’s Good News to the world.
Chances are a copy of that Good News is sitting in your home. I pray that you will open your Bible and read it. Study it night and day. Everyone will need every word we can devour in the coming days. The bible assures us that evil will not prevail, so as our Lord proclaimed, be of good cheer, Jesus Christ has overcome the world and all the evil that resides on it. Look to Him for your Good News, Hope, and how to cope.
Below is how He instructs us to deal with our enemies
(I still don’t understand it, but I’m trying Lord – I’m trying . . . )
Matt. 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . .