CONSPIRACIES & POLITICS

 

CONSPIRACIES & POLITICS For thus the LORD spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!' in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. Then He shall become a sanctuary. Isaiah 8:11-14 In 750 BC, the prophet Isaiah was being bombarded with conspiracy theories, same as we are now. And the reason was the same, too: people were afraid of the political climate in their country. God gave this advice to the prophet: don't pay attention to the conspiracy theories. Fear God instead, and you'll be safe. This is a comforting promise. People who are caught up in conspiracy concerns and politics are NOT positive people. Their conversations are almost entirely about negatives, and they put their hope in promises that will likely never happen. God wants his people to be a breath of fresh air, a positive influence - encouraging to those around them; because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful! The message of salvation in Jesus is the best news this world ever heard of. Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.  Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. Proverbs 17:4-5 You shall not hate your fellow countryman; you may certainly rebuke your neighbor, but do not sin by harboring hatred in your heart. Leviticus 19:17 For the time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine or wholesome teaching. Instead,  having itching ears, they will look for teachers who say the things they want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  James 3:17   We should no longer be immature like children, blown here and there by every hint of gossip or conspiracy, nor tricked into believing lies that sound like the truth. Instead, we should mature in Christ so we can encourage one another in love. Ephesians 4:14-16

 

The Great Physician

 

The Great Physician If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you. — Exodus 15:26 Sometimes, we fail in faith because we don’t fully trust the Physician. The first requirement of healing (whether physical, emotional or spiritual) is that you trust Him completely, acting as though you’ve already received the healing He promised. No one expects to be healed by an earthly doctor the moment they follow his directions, but they trust the process. In the same way, you must do what the Great Physician tells you if you want to be made whole. You can’t expect healing while living in sin, any more than you could expect physical recovery while living in a toxic environment. You must rise into the pure air of trust and obedience before Christ can heal you. Trust Him, follow His directions, and you will find that there is indeed balm in Gilead, and the Great Physician is there. From Days of Heaven by A.B. Simpson