Acts 17:11 “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
The Bereans were open-minded to Paul’s teaching. More importantly, they were diligent in searching the Scriptures to verify what Paul taught. They were not willing to believe false teaching. Oh, but if there were more Bereans today. So many of my children, so many who profess to believe in me, are willing to believe any teaching that pleases them. They listen with their ears and not their hearts. They do not search my Word to see if what is being told them is from me. And so, much false teaching has turned the hearts and minds of my children to false doctrine. They believe a teacher, not me. They believe in words that make them feel good about themselves, not about me. They wish to be told what will puff them up. They wish to be told what will make them feel better about themselves. It has never been about you. It’s always been about me, about the Father, about the Spirit. Do I love my children? Yes. Do I wish what is best for my children? Yes. But, is love all that I have to offer? No. Just as a truly caring parent will discipline their children, just as a loving parent will sacrifice for their children, just as a truly caring parent will speak truth to their children, so it is with me. You do not always understand, or like, what I command. You do not always feel comfortable with what I reveal to you, especially about yourselves. So, instead of believing my whole Word, you find those who would teach the parts that make you feel good. “God is love.” Yes, I am. But I am also truth and righteousness and perfection and blamelessness and sacrifice and purity. Do not confuse allowing you to do whatever you wish with love. You would not allow your child to do things that are dangerous or harmful. You would put boundaries up, you would discipline where necessary. How much more so do I need to do that? I know where this behavior leads. I know the cost to your eternal soul. If I were to allow you to do whatever your imperfect heart wished, you would perish. Adam and Eve were as close to perfection as any that I created. Yet, they did the one thing – ONE THING – that I told them not to. Why did I tell them not to eat of that one tree? Out of all the plants and trees I had given them, why that one? Because I knew that it would turn their hearts away from me. So it is with you. Those things that I have told you are not to be done – it is not to stop you from enjoying life. It is not to stop you from becoming the “best you”. It is because I know these are the root causes of your heart growing cold towards me. It is because I know the devices used by your enemy to put distance between you and me. You do not see. You cannot. You, no matter how hard you try, are not capable of what I am. You are not even close to equal to me. Yet, you elevate a human “teacher” into my position. You elevate a pleasing “doctrine” to be equal to my Word. Wake up. Open your eyes. Be willing to be instructed and, if necessary, corrected. Time is short. Your enemy openly prowls and devours. Ask me to open your eyes. But, if you are not willing, stop blaming me for the misery and sin and violence and destruction and evil in your world. You are inviting it in. You are allowing it to rule your hearts. You are not standing up to it. Many, many of you are openly worshipping it. (2021)
Amanuensis 