Pastor John,
I wanted to share the thoughts that the Lord has given me today. I felt LIFE and a quickening in my soul when these thoughts came, so I knew where they were coming from. I wanted to pass them on, the best that I could convey them.
All of men’s deeds can be done in righteousness – or sin. The deed itself does not make the determination.
A man eats healthy everyday, staying mindful to avoid those foods that promote poor health, denying his fleshly desire to feast on the good tasting fats and sugars that are so plentiful, and perhaps even exercising everyday. All of this because he knows that his body is the temple of the Lord, and he honors it God’s possession and God’s tool, above his own desire for things that taste good.
Another man eats healthy everyday as well. And he is mindful to avoid those same fats and sugars, while he too exercises every day. All of this because he glories in his own appearance and strength, above the desire of his flesh to consume those same good-tasting treats.
Both lifestyles yield the same results, in appearance. And the world cannot tell the two men’s actions apart. But one is the act of an upright heart and a love for God. While the other is vanity, pride and a love for one’s self.
A man asks another man for help, to complete his work, because in humility toward the Lord, he has put away his pride and humbled himself to confess his weakness and his inability to do all things for himself.
Another man also asks for help with his work, but it is because he is lazy and doesn’t want to do those things that are his responsibility. So, selfishly and without fear of the Lord, or regard for the hearts of those around him, he burdens those thoughtful souls with the load that he is supposed to carry.
The world cannot distinguish between the actions of these two men. But the first man is doing well, following the example that Jesus and Peter set when the Lord caused Peter to humble himself to get his feet washed by another. While the second man is possibly kindling the anger of the Lord.
The heart of a man determines whether a deed is righteousness or sin; there is nothing unclean of itself.
And because that is true, God has no limitations as to where He can carry you in righteousness. There are no lines drawn (by men) that Jesus cannot cross.
Jerry
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Thanks, Jerry.
Here is an excerpt from chapter 6 of the Father and Son book* that you may remember:
“Even when the Israelites were giving close heed to the law and the prophets, it was impossible for them always to know if a particular deed was good or evil because no deed is either always good or always evil. Sometimes, prayer is good (Prov. 15:8), but prayer can also be evil (Prov. 28:9). Sometimes, killing is evil (Ex. 20:13), but killing can also be good (1Sam. 15:32–33). Mercy is good, but one of Israel’s kings sinned by showing mercy at the wrong time (1Kgs. 20:30–43), just as Israel’s foolish king Saul also had done (1Sam. 15:2–3, 8). Then again, Joab, King David’s general, sinned by not showing mercy when he should have (2Sam. 3:27–28; 20:9–10). Worshipping God can be good, but sometimes, the worship men offer disgusts Him (Amos 5:21–24; Isa. 1:11–17). Cruelty is usually evil, but God Himself can be cruel (Isa. 13:9; Jer. 30:14). So, who knows when praying or showing mercy is evil? And who knows when killing and cruelty are good? We must have God’s kind of life as an internal gauge to let us know what is good and what is evil in any given situation.”
May God keep our hearts!
Pastor John
* Follow the link below to read Pastor John’s book, God Had a Son before Mary Did:
http://www.goingtojesus.com/text/books/fatherandson.pdf