Who determines the standard of right and wrong, good and evil, true and false? Man or God?

NOTE: There is NO third choice.

When people refuse to let God be the judge of good and evil, when they inject their own standards to oppose His, these people who are “usurping” assume a sovereignty or power that belongs only to God.

They choose to undermine God’s order – “in order” to demand their own, and in doing this they hope to avoid the pinpricks of their conscience. After all, “if it’s legal” then it must be right! Right?” No. God’s law is not so easily escaped or to be irritably fanned away like an old dusty list of metaphors.

Conceit and pride are the greatest enemies to spiritual growth!

Newly “acquired knowledge” often leads to pride rather than wisdom. This is very true with the novice. There is a no more absolutely certain way to fall into sin than to allow pride to lead us into putting confidence in ourselves rather than God. This kind of pride always leads to destruction, because it robs us of God’s power to stand against temptation.

What we accomplish as members of the Kingdom of God is done by the power of God. The novice begins thinking that what he/ she accomplishes is his/ her own doing. The people in Corinth had been developed in every way as well, with the knowledge of God, but pride in what “they” knew, lead to their destruction!

Knowledge can be mistaken for maturity.

True knowledge is designed to bring us TO maturity. When we parade our so called freedom before others in an effort to reveal how much we know, we reveal our immaturity and are treading on dangerous ground! Knowledge put on PUBLIC display leads to heartbreak and a divisive scattering of relationships.

So, what exactly is a seared conscious?

A seared conscience is when someone has become insensitive to the conviction of God’s order/law for humankind written on the heart, and becomes uncaring about standing before a fair and holy God. It becomes “selectively passive” to the threats, warnings, and judgments for violating that Divine Order.

A person with such a conscience has lost the ability to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, true and false. Because of fallen man’s natural bent to resist the things of God, a seared conscience will happily and vocally approve what God forbids, and will forbid what God approves.

This lack of torment, guilt, or even remorse when confronted with God’s word is the result of a refusal to acknowledge and bow the soul (mind, will and emotions) to the authority of God as the Lawgiver and actually, THE ULTIMATE “safe setter of boundaries” for a wandering mankind!

This is why God speaks a terrifying “Woe!” on all who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light, and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).

True knowledge brings the restful discipline of self-control. Paul’s knowledge of God led him to lead a disciplined and humble life for the benefit of himself and others.

Humbling ourselves is the only way to get the roof off toward God, and the walls down toward our fellow man.

Once offences have been committed, whether intentional or unintentional, they must be dealt with! “I was wrong. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” are healing words that only a humble soul would use. Whenever you find a man or woman willing to humble themselves before God and man, you have found a person who will be exalted, because “humility comes before honor.”

Remember that some men’s sins are obvious, and are equally obviously bringing them into serious judgment.

“The sins of other men might not be apparent, but are dogging them, nevertheless, under the surface. Similarly some virtues are plain to see, while others, though not at all conspicuous, will eventually make themselves felt,” 1 Timothy 5:24-25.

“Don’t reprimand or publicly talk down to a senior leader in your church, honoring him as a father by first showing respect and humility. Treat the young men kindly as brothers, and the older women as nurturing mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters, and nothing more,” 1 Timothy 5:1-2.

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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