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Monday, December
10, 2007
What’s The Occasion?
Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge
one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (KJV)
Did you know that one of the biggest
stumbling blocks you can put in someone’s path is our own judgments toward
them, or even yourself? When were you appointed to God’s Supreme Court? And
when did God ask you to decide what is best for the brethren? The fact that
God created man and has been dealing with mankind long before we ever
showed up on this planet, would it not be fair to say that He is more than
capable of handling the situation?
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold
for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (7) But
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye
are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV)
You don’t even know how many hairs are on
your head right now, and yet you know how to judge other people. If God has
knowledge of the outward, do you not think it is fitting that He also can
handle the inward, and knows what we have need of before we ask? Don’t you have enough to
handle in your own walk without taking on someone else’s?
John 7:24 Judge not according to the
appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (KJV)
Many make decisions and decide what is of
God based on the outward appearance, and not what the inward man is
dictating to them. Satan transforms himself and appears to be a minister of
righteousness and leads many astray because they choose to walk by sight
and not by faith; while promising liberty they themselves are actually
servants of corruption, whose end will be according to their works. Lots of
marriages are based on the outward as well. There is a big difference
between what God joins together and what man chooses as his/her perfect
mate. Ever read or hear the verse ‘the last shall be first and the first
last’? The last person you thought about marrying may end up to be the
first one God had for you, and the first person you thought was best for
you may be the last one God had in mind for you. This holds true as well
with many other situations you may encounter; what employment you may be
seeking, which fellowship God may be leading you to, and most importantly
where your place is in the body of Christ and what your calling may be. Many
judge themselves and put themselves in places God has not asked them to be
because it was appealing to the outward rather than the inward. Some choose
to be in a place of leadership in a church, when in reality they can’t even
manage their own home, but think they should be telling others how to
manage theirs.
Luke 14:8-11 When thou art bidden of any
man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable
man than thou be bidden of him; (9) And he that bade thee and him come and
say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the
lowest room. (10) But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest
room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go
up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at
meat with thee. (11) For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (KJV)
How about some humility people? How many
times have we thought ourselves to be something, when in reality we are
nothing? In other words, how many times have we exalted ourselves in
positions God hasn’t put us in, and then wonder why we fall on our face?
How many times have we put our own judgments on other people and tried to
lower them to some other standard, only to find out that God had put them
there for a reason and knew exactly what He was doing. If you don’t learn
to be faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in larger ones
either.
1 Corinthians 12:18-20 But now hath God
set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (19)
And if they were all one member, where were the body? (20) But now are they
many members, yet but one body. (KJV)
God has set His table, and put things and
people in the order that is pleasing to Him. So what gives you the right to
question His judgment, or the people He saw fit to place there? If you don’t have peace in your life,
maybe you need to ask yourself if you are in the place God has asked you to
be, or are you playing musical chairs and dancing to the beat of a
different drummer.
James 2:1-4 My brethren, have not the
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
(2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly
apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (3) And ye have
respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou
here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here
under my footstool: (4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are
become judges of evil thoughts? (KJV)
Man judges success and blessings based on
the outward appearance and ends up overlooking and downplaying some of the
most vital and important members of the body. So instead of utilizing them
and putting them at the head of the table, they end up sticking them at the
lower end and ignoring them.
1 Corinthians 12:21-23 And the eye cannot
say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet,
I have no need of you. (22) Nay, much more those members of the body, which
seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (23) And those members of the body,
which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (KJV)
Again we see how backwards things get
when we decide to take judgments into our own hands and not rely on who and
what the Lord knows is best for His body. Try going a day with one hand
tied behind your back, or blindfold yourself and see how far you would get
in a day. The blind leading the blind; they have covered their eyes and
rather than having those overseeing the congregation that God has chosen,
they have put people in this position that are willing to look the other
way rather than look out for the welfare of the body. Ever hear the term
being put in your place? I pray it is a good place you end up in, but only
if you let the Lord do the placing and leave the judging department to Him
as well. He has done just fine and doesn’t need our input.
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