Friday, January 31, 2020
“Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house” (Micah 7:5,6 KJV).
In religious circles, it is frequently bemoaned, “Doctrine divides! Doctrine divides! We should throw away ‘doctrine’ and just assemble around ‘love!’” Today’s Scripture and its context expose that dictum for the utter foolhardiness that it really is….
Dearly beloved, just look at the world around us. Have you ever attempted to fathom this mess we the human race are truly in? If you have, does it not boggle your mind? To say the least, all around the globe, society’s problems are monumental! There is something terribly wrong, and all are aware of it to some extent. However, most cannot pinpoint the problem—let alone solve it. While we usually have an inflated opinion of ourselves, bragging about being the “pinnacle of evolutionary theory via natural selection,” our thoughts and behavior indicate mankind is declining! Although enjoying improved technology, it is wishful thinking to say we ourselves are becoming more sophisticated internally.
Let us face the blunt reality of the matter, friends. Human civilization—even its “best”—will continue to prove itself to be totally inept as touching reformation. Try as hard as we might, we can never—and will never—achieve paradise. However, we refuse to learn this lesson. Deceived by sin, we just struggle more and more in an attempt to “do better.” Doing the same thing over and over, we expect different results. Alas, we continue to aggravate the problem! Insanity and futility still reign!
The most noticeable aspect of the human condition is man simply cannot love his fellow man. Yes, people can get along with others… but only temporarily. The disagreement was merely delayed. Emotions escalating, war suddenly breaks out. And, there it is: the closest ally is now the bitterest enemy! Unfortunately, the family unit is no exception to this rending. Whether a nation’s history or an individual’s life, the ancient world or the modern age, the global problem is that the deepest divisions involve blood relatives….
333 Words of Grace 