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Looks Good to Me
A look at life and ministry.
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Looks Good to Me

  02/03/12 15:56, by , Categories: Church Life, Living Life, My Life, Theology Lived

Luke 23:34 "But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves."

Proverbs 14:12  "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

These verses apply to all of us.  Most people are trying to do right, at least their view of it.   Sometimes our view of right can get pretty warped by what we feel is right for us.  Even when we are trying to do the right thing over all, our execution can really stink at times.  We end up with bad results, bad habits, hurt feelings, damaged relationships, poor outcomes, all because we were just trying to do the right thing or do right by us.

I don't know how many times I have been told by someone that they didn't mean for something to happen that had happened.  Of course not.  Few in their right mind ever set in motion a chain of events that they know will lead to hurt or disappointment.  Couples don't enter into marriage expecting a painful, bitter divorce.   No one takes a job planning to get fired and have trouble finding a new job.  No one joins a church planing to be a part of an ugly split that turns people off from God.  I could give more examples.  The point is that these things happen not because we planned on them, but because we do things our way, the way that seems right to us, and that way, apart from God, is death.

I used the phrase, 'no one in their right mind.'  There are people who do make bad choices on purpose and we question their mental health.  Hitler, Stalin, and lesser known murderers and criminals.  They do wrong on purpose.  Maybe not crazy in the technical sense, but not thinking straight.

The problem is, while we are not technically mentally ill, the Bible says that we are all spiritually ill.     Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?       Romans 7:18-19 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. (19) For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

So, Father, forgive us, we don't know what we're doing.  And when others hurt us, we need to remember that phrase.  We are called to forgive as God forgives us, which means that when people hurt us, we need to forgive them.  We're all a mess without God.

As for our actions, it is good to make sure that we are living according to Scripture, not according to what feels good or seems good to us.  My pleasure seems fun to live for, but that way doesn't end well.

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A look at life and ministry.

About the Author

After growing up in Maine, Ira graduated from Bible College and wandered into Western Maine and has never found his way back out. He has a deep love for the rural churches of Maine and the people who make up this great state. He loves Truth over Tradition, Christ over Culture, and People over Process. He love to equip, teach, and disciple and longs to see the Maine church grow healthy and make disciples.


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