Thought for Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Luke 7: 33-35

For John, the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,

and you say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by all her children.

 

We are not to be isolated but insulated, moving in the midst of evil but untouched by it. Separation is contact without contamination. Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26), yet He was “a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”                                                                              Vance Havner.

How hard it is to be living in this world at this time. If we did not have Christ ‘isolating’ us from the sin filled world around us, we would be totally without protection.

So many people have succumbed to the temptations, after being faithful to Jesus for many years. What are their ears hearing that ours have missed? It doesn’t matter because our ears are protected by the hands of our Lord. Praise God for all His help in the face of all the false speaking voices we hear daily.

Even hearing a quote from the bible, I find myself checking that it really is scriptural. I am sure I am not the only one who does this.

We are all aware of those who keep saying that God did not mean this or that verse to be understood that way. What they really mean is the verse does condone their way of living, so they will just change it to suit their circumstances.

How many more will be persuaded to follow these misguided souls before their opportunities are lost forever?

We can only lift our voices to our Father in prayer for all the victims who are being fooled into following these false prophets, looking for appeasement in their fall from grace.

Prayer

Merciful Father, please be with us as we try to speak of Jesus especially with those who have rejected Him after being followers. However, we know that others need to be told too. So that they may also find their way out of the darkness they find themselves in. We have read in Your word that the time will come that hearts will be hardened to such a degree that any hope will be lost. May all those who hear listen before it is too late for them and may the truth of Your word always guide us. In Jesus’ name, amen.