Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Devotional -Snapshot 32 - Exposing Sin

"The calling of a New Testament worker is to expose sin and to reveal Jesus Christ as Savior. Consequently he cannot always be charming and friendly, but must be willing to be stern to accomplish major surgery. My Utmost For His Highest Oswald Chambers

"And as He (Jesus) said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him." Luke 11:53, 54 NKJV

Look at how Jesus speaks to the crowd. "...This is an evil generation."- vs 29 "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it," -vs 32 "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones!" -vs 39 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" vs44

Where is the compassion and tenderness as He preaches? He calls them dirty, unjust, liars, and murderers. Judgment will come He warns.

Jesus, You were so unafraid of man. You did not try to please them. You did not sandwich Your criticism between two compliments. You did not try to leave people happy and without offense. You spoke the truth. You spoke it clearly! You did not apologize or try to soften Your words. And look at the reaction; they opposed You fiercely!

Did the disciples walk out of the Pharisee's home saying: "Lord, that was a little too direct. You could have said the same thing a different way."-- "We are to treat these men with respect. We have offended them."-- "We need to apologize, not for what You said, but the way You said it." --"Yes, yes, You spoke truth, but we're not suppose to hurt feelings. How will You influence them if You have made them angry?"

I praise You, Lord, for Your example of truth and courage. I am in awe of You. You are Sovereign and Mighty. You show me how to love God more than man. You stood in the crowd alone.

Help me, Spirit of God, to be like Jesus. Forgive me for being more worried about my outside which people see than my inside which You see; for following rules without the heart; for loving men's praise too much; for hindering others from following Christ by padding the consequences of sin.

"If you think you are helping lost people with your sympathy and understanding, you are a traitor to Jesus Christ." My Utmost For His Highest Oswald Chambers Dec. 20

Do you have a situation that feels difficult to confront? Do you fear it will make them angry or hurt their feelings if you speak up? Ask God to give you wisdom to speak His truth in love and the courage to do it.

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