Fools rush in...
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Memory Scripture: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6-7
Last weekend I took my children and my niece and nephew out to dinner. We sat outside of a burger joint and celebrated the end of their school year.
I have said a million times before, being an aunt is my favorite thing on Earth besides motherhood. These kids are like mine, and I soak up every single second with them.
During our conversation, my nephew, the one in college, casually said, "You seem to have become more political lately, Aunt Jill."
Just a casual observation and comment, but it struck the nerve of my heart.
He was right.
I thought about what I had been ingesting over the last few months.
News, news, news.
I had even started listening to talk radio in the car. (WHO AM I??)
Goodness gracious.
I had devoured op-ed's on websites. Searching, searching, searching for answers in all of this craziness of the pandemic.
I had done exhaustive internet searches of data, research, information.
Of course, every time I watch the news the information is swayed and partisan. The news is not the "news" anymore. It is mostly a battlefield of politics and opinions.
I thought about some long walks that I had recently had with my son. Time we usually share our hearts and talk about what God is doing in our lives.
Those walks had become more about me wanting to discuss my opinions and thoughts on things I had read or seen on the news.
He was always quiet and just kind of nodded his head as I talked.
I had wasted an opportunity with him in order to basically spew my opinions on something none of us really know much about if we are honest.
Here is what I do know: God is Truth. God is Wisdom. God has all the answers.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Proverbs 30:5
We will never be satisfied with the world's answers. It will always leave us empty and needing more.
I logged off of Facebook years ago, but several friends have told me that it has turned into a battlefield of opinions.
Hatred spewing on threads and comments.
What have we become?
I keep asking myself..."Jill, what do you want to be remembered for?"
Certainly, I do not want to be remembered for being a fool. Venting my anger to whoever will listen. Fool, fool, fool.
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28
The enemy wants to use this pandemic to divide us.
Community has for the most part been taken away. If we do not seek wisdom from God, the enemy will use this as an opportunity to separate us even more.
Yesterday, I went to lunch with my parents. The conversation with the waitress swirled around politics.
Here we go again.
I see a pattern here.
Listen, I am not saying that we should not be aware of what is happening in the world. However, when we are ingesting more of the world than the Word...we will begin to become what we ingest.
Remember the saying, "You are what you eat?"
It is the same with our spirits. What are we feeding it?
People are watching us.
People are taking in every word we say.
What will they take away from our words?
Do we point the conversation back to Christ?
Or, do we point it to our thoughts and opinions.
Do we represent the Love and Mercy of Christ in our interactions?
Or, are we throwing stones at those who see and do things differently than us.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2-3
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15
I have lived long enough to witness....God leads us in different ways.
A mother may be called to homeschool while another is called to send her children to public school.
A mother may treat her children with conventional medicine, while another mother will treat hers with holistic medicine.
We must get off of our high horses of judgement and spread the Gospel of Jesus more than we spread our opinions.
...Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
God made us all differently with different purposes and callings.
When we begin to belittle others, we become like the pharisees.
We become fools.
God gives us passions for different things. Passion is a good things.
However, those passions must not override our passion for LOVING others and sharing the Gospel.
Subscribe to SHINE emails: Go here.
Memory Scripture: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6-7
Last weekend I took my children and my niece and nephew out to dinner. We sat outside of a burger joint and celebrated the end of their school year.
I have said a million times before, being an aunt is my favorite thing on Earth besides motherhood. These kids are like mine, and I soak up every single second with them.
 |
| Celebration dinner (heart emoji) |
During our conversation, my nephew, the one in college, casually said, "You seem to have become more political lately, Aunt Jill."
Just a casual observation and comment, but it struck the nerve of my heart.
He was right.
I thought about what I had been ingesting over the last few months.
News, news, news.
I had even started listening to talk radio in the car. (WHO AM I??)
Goodness gracious.
I had devoured op-ed's on websites. Searching, searching, searching for answers in all of this craziness of the pandemic.
I had done exhaustive internet searches of data, research, information.
Of course, every time I watch the news the information is swayed and partisan. The news is not the "news" anymore. It is mostly a battlefield of politics and opinions.
I thought about some long walks that I had recently had with my son. Time we usually share our hearts and talk about what God is doing in our lives.
Those walks had become more about me wanting to discuss my opinions and thoughts on things I had read or seen on the news.
He was always quiet and just kind of nodded his head as I talked.
I had wasted an opportunity with him in order to basically spew my opinions on something none of us really know much about if we are honest.
Here is what I do know: God is Truth. God is Wisdom. God has all the answers.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Proverbs 30:5
We will never be satisfied with the world's answers. It will always leave us empty and needing more.
I logged off of Facebook years ago, but several friends have told me that it has turned into a battlefield of opinions.
Hatred spewing on threads and comments.
What have we become?
I keep asking myself..."Jill, what do you want to be remembered for?"
Certainly, I do not want to be remembered for being a fool. Venting my anger to whoever will listen. Fool, fool, fool.
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28
The enemy wants to use this pandemic to divide us.
Community has for the most part been taken away. If we do not seek wisdom from God, the enemy will use this as an opportunity to separate us even more.
Yesterday, I went to lunch with my parents. The conversation with the waitress swirled around politics.
Here we go again.
I see a pattern here.
Listen, I am not saying that we should not be aware of what is happening in the world. However, when we are ingesting more of the world than the Word...we will begin to become what we ingest.
Remember the saying, "You are what you eat?"
It is the same with our spirits. What are we feeding it?
People are watching us.
People are taking in every word we say.
What will they take away from our words?
Do we point the conversation back to Christ?
Or, do we point it to our thoughts and opinions.
Do we represent the Love and Mercy of Christ in our interactions?
Or, are we throwing stones at those who see and do things differently than us.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2-3
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15
I have lived long enough to witness....God leads us in different ways.
A mother may be called to homeschool while another is called to send her children to public school.
A mother may treat her children with conventional medicine, while another mother will treat hers with holistic medicine.
We must get off of our high horses of judgement and spread the Gospel of Jesus more than we spread our opinions.
...Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
God made us all differently with different purposes and callings.
When we begin to belittle others, we become like the pharisees.
We become fools.
God gives us passions for different things. Passion is a good things.
However, those passions must not override our passion for LOVING others and sharing the Gospel.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
It is no accident that we are reading the book of Job in our reading plan.
His foolish friends are airing their thoughts and opinions regarding Job's troubles.
They thought they were so wise and righteous.
They were so wrong and foolish.
They had no idea what God was doing in Job's life, yet they loved standing on their soap boxes judging and condemning him.
Lord, let us not be these kind of people.
Friends, let's seek God's Word more than we seek the world's words.
Let's seek wisdom over opinions.
God will give us wisdom if we would only ask.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
We have this opportunity to represent Christ when HOPE is so desperately needed.
Let's point the way to Him. Not through our opinions, but through Truth. The Truth of His Word.
digesting Truth,
jill
