Some Things Never Change (Part 2)

Scripture:  “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-                                    fearing, and does His will, He hears him.”  John 9:31 (NASB)

There is no shortage of people today, who by their mere mention of the name ‘God,’ believe they know Him, while in habitual acts, they deny Him. (Titus 1:16) Talk about ensnared thinking!  Those religious elite (aka Pharisees) actually scolded the man who had been healed by the Great Physician, saying ‘Give God the glory! (John 9:24)  This of course only magnified their own deep spiritual blindness of who God is!  God in the flesh was right in their midst, performing true miracles, expositorily teaching and preaching as no one had ever done before! And yet, we must admit, some things never change.

We who say we know Him must beware of unwittingly displaying snares such as pride, unbelief, envy, laziness in studying God’s word, embarrassment of the life-giving gospel, and a host of other evils that stymie spiritual growth—our own and that of others!  We MUST remain fervent about having a walk that exemplifies Christ, lest we aid in perpetuating the heart-blindness of those who observe us and prevent them from recognizing their own need to ” judge with righteous judgment,” rather than from mere appearances. ( John 7:24).  We must daily, starting with ourselves, resolve to pursue the only Christian walk that God Almighty approves.  (Matthew 25:23)

Prayer:  Dear Abba, thank You for alerting us in Your word to the profound spiritual harm done by Pharisseeism, and for loving us so intensely that we are continually humbled by the preciousness of Your grace and mercy. Glorify Yourself in and through us!  Amen!

(By Denise Diggs)