truth – Page 3 – I AM for You!

Satan’s work exposed

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV84

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I suffer from lack of confidence sometimes, especially in new situations. Satan knows this and regularly attacks me there. Satan’s fiery darts, those destructive thoughts and feelings, are hitting me most recently in my new job. I am praying that Jesus will take care of my thought life and me personally and my company and their customers. I am praying that Jesus will expose the lies of satan (that I believe) to the light of God’s truth. The truth will disarm the lies and make them powerless against me. How does this work?

When satan tells me a lie it is usually aimed at a shame and insecurity I feel. He threatens to expose my weakness and I fear telling anyone because I feel ashamed. And the lie grows hidden in the dark. But if I have the courage and insight to realize what the lie is and expose it, or I talk to someone who helps me to do this, I can compare satan’s lie to the truth found in the Bible. Then I realize that Jesus loves me just as I am, that He has already paid for whatever I’m ashamed of, that I am complete in Him, and that satan cannot harm me.

Writing about this is easier than dealing with it and so though I know what’s going on I still have to fight the battle. Praying and reading the Bible, talking with Christian friends who understand, and even writing a blog post about it, helps expose and destroy satan’s work in my life.

Thanks for reading this and feel free to comment about anything you would like.

There is room for you at the "top".

Someone has said that Jesus’ kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Our Lord and Master, our God, is also the servant of all. Our greatness is not measured in how many people are working for us, but in the works of love we do for others.

This attitude does not come naturally. It comes super-naturally. Jesus said we must be “converted”. Jesus said that He reveals His truth to “babes”. Jesus said that if we hear His message and receive it [do it] we receive Him and God the Father who sent Him.

(My son has given me permission to share the following). I am continually impressed with my 18 year old son and how he grasps who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and their ways. When faced with a problem, many times he is the first to say, “Dad, let’s pray. Let’s ask Jesus for help”. My son is brilliant socially and is one of the leaders in his classroom. He also reads and writes at a second grade level.

Though some in this world would overlook him, I admire him. He’s like the child that Jesus held in His arms and gave as an example for His disciples to be like.

I’ve explained to my son that he is smart, frequently pointing out to him when he demonstrates that quality. But I have also told him that he is wise, also pointing out that quality when he demonstrates it. And, I’ve explained the difference. My son loves God the Father and Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. My son reverences God and values God. My son is teachable about God and His ways. And so my son is wiser than some with multiple times his IQ.

Some value intellect. Some value athleticism. Some value popularity. God values love. Love for Him and love for others. And true love for God always expresses itself as obedience to God. Not that we are perfect. But when we do sin we repent (turn around), ask God and anyone involved for forgiveness, learn from our mistake, and press on.

So my goal is to humble myself and be like my son, like the little child Jesus gave as an example to be like. And the nice thing about Jesus’ upside-down kingdom is that there is always room at the top, or rather bottom. All of us can serve others and be like Jesus.

¹⁶He who hears you [Jesus’ disciples] hears Me [Jesus], he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16, NKJV)

²¹In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.” (Luke 10:21, NKJV)

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” (Matthew 18:1-5, NKJV)

“Perception is Reality.” – Lee Atwater – “Is Mr. Atwater’s statement a Perception or Reality?” – Jim McNaughton

According to perception, Jesus was a failure. He was tortured, mocked, beaten, and spat upon. His followers ran. One of His friends had turned Him over to His enemies. His only defense was to validate the charge against Him. One of those closest to Him, denied that he ever knew Him, in order not to experience His fate. The thousands that had heard Him preach and experienced His miracles didn’t show up.

He was buried and His own disciples didn’t expect Him to rise from the dead as He had claimed He would. Guards posted at His tomb said His disciples stole His body. No reputable government official ever saw Him after that. It was over. It was finished. It was done.

Yet the reality is that Jesus won the ultimate victory for all time! He conquered death when He was raised from the dead. His followers stopped running and, once filled with His Spirit, risked their lives boldly proclaiming that He was alive, that only He was King, and forgiveness of sins is found only in Him.

His message of God’s unconditional love for everyone has never stopped growing. Though many have tried to stop Jesus and His love, they have all met with or will meet with, ultimate failure.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”.

And so, in the end, Jesus words, the words of the Bible, are the only Reality.

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