I wondered how the Jewish religious leaders (during the time of JESUS and then the early church) could excuse themselves for doing some of the extremely terrible, dishonest things they did. This morning the light came on as I read in Acts.
“But the Jews which BELIEVED NOT, moved with ENVY, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people” (Acts 17:5).
Truth- the Word of GOD filters our thoughts and can convict us. When we turn away from one of those pricks of conscious knowing we turn from the light to darkness and we cannot see things clearly. Therefore, we are more open to temptation.
In the case of the Jewish religious leaders of that day they were tempted and became envious. James 3:14-16 tells us that envy is demonic and brings confusion. In the darkness of turning from the conviction of the truth, they couldn’t see what they did was wrong.
When plowing and an ox turned the wrong way the master would prick it with the end of the goad he carried. JESUS related that prick to conviction of the Holy SPIRIT when HE said to Paul on the road to Damascus: “And the Lord said, I am JESUS whom you are persecuting: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks’ Acts 9:5).
But let’s apply this truth to you and me. As we read the Word of GOD or hear it spoken and are pricked knowing it is talking to us, let’s not turn away, ignore, or say it doesn’t apply to my situation. Doing that will only lead to blindness.
I clearly remember reading a phrase, “don’t be like the mule.” I knew it concerned stubbornness but I said to myself, I am NOT stubborn, but this other one is. GOD must want me to pray for him to recognize and stop being stubborn.
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever you art that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.
Yes, what I saw in that other was also true of me. But because I refused the light I was given it was years until I really saw the truth of my own stubbornness and GOD could set me free.
It was a hard lesson but taught me much more than to yield instead of demanding I was right. It taught me the importance of listening to that still small voice or prick in my heart that alerts me to the truth.
So, don’t be like the mule.
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 