Do You Really Want to Hear?

After a week of rest and time with my family, it's time to jump back in. Hope everyone is doing well. Are you ready? Let's go!

(Word of Warning: Too much time to think leads to a serious unloading of TRUTH!)

Do we really want to hear TRUTH? Think about it before you answer. The knowledge of truth can set us free but Jesus never said that it would be easy to hear. In fact, the Word of God describes itself as Living, Powerful, and Sharper than any two-edged sword. However, if we want to be all that God wants us to be then we must allow the TRUTH of His Word to penetrate our lives and change us.

There was a time when I used to be bothered by the fact that unbelievers didn't want to hear the TRUTH. What I'm discovering now is that believers don't want to hear it! I cannot tell you the times that I have sat down with someone who was in need of direction/counseling - offered TRUTH to their situation - only to have them look at me like I was an alien. The attitude that is expressed is one of: "You don't really expect me to live that out do you?"

What has happened to the average believer today? Do we really expect God to be so forgiving and so understanding of our weaknesses that we don't have to live up to His standards? I'm not perfect here (I'm striving)...I'm just alarmed at how we handle/mis-handle TRUTH.

A couple is in trouble - TRUTH can set them free but it doesn't seem as appealing as being happy.
A person is struggling - TRUTH will allow them to break free but it isn't as attractive as following after their lusts.
A family is hurting - TRUTH can make all the difference to their situation but the time frame of applying it doesn't allow them to follow after all the other things in their lives.

When will we understand that TRUTH (God's TRUTH) is the only standard we should be concerned about? When will we stop seeking a life of personal fulfillment and start following the path of Spiritual Awakening?

Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you..." As Oswald Chambers* says, "Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says that if it hinders you in following His precepts, then 'cut it off.'" Chambers goes on to say that: "There has never yet been a saint who has not lived a maimed life initially. Yet it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God's sight than to appear lovely to man's eyes but lame to God's."

Think about Jesus' teaching:
If your right hand causes you to sin - CUT IT OFF!
If your right eye causes you to sin - PLUCK IT OUT!
Jesus could have went on but the point of His teaching is that even our "best qualities" are nothing if they keep us from being who God wants us to be. Ask yourself if there are things in your life that God wants you to REMOVE.

This amputation process my be painful but it is necessary. You may have people in your life who give advice that sounds good, attractive, and pleasing to your ears; but if their advice leads you down the wrong path then I suggest either cutting off your ears or cutting off some relationship ties. The desires of you heart may seem good and right but if they are pulling you away from God's best then I suggest removing your heart and replacing it with one that seeks after God's.

The best thing that we can remember is that "WE ARE NOT OUR OWN - WE HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE!" God's standard hasn't changed and will not change. We must never water down God's Word just to apply it to where we are in life. We must always be willing to face the undiluted sternness of what God says and deal with it as children of God.

May we be found walking in TRUTH.