Month: March 2026

Zealously Affected #13

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Emotions are mindless, mere responders to situations and circumstances: as conditions fluctuate, so emotions react. A simple experiment demonstrates this. Watch a comedy video, and notice your amusement and laughter. Switch to a drama or thriller/action film, and you will find yourself feeling tense or excited. Romance and tragedy motion-pictures evoke crying and sniffling from you. Having viewed clips of these assorted genres in one sitting, you rode an emotional roller coaster (up, down, up, down—elation, depression, euphoria, misery). The events depicted in those videos were not real, but your emotions (e-motions) generated your physical motions/responses as though what you saw was genuine!

Consider this now. An everyday misfortune transpires when kind (albeit emotional) citizens pity those appearing sick or destitute and such “disadvantaged” individuals are ultimately revealed to be pretenders. Executing elaborate scams, those who need no help at all are emotionally manipulating and exploiting their victims. The “feeble” homeless man you “felt sorry for” and invited to spend the night in your house, turns out to be your family’s strong-arm robber in disguise. Or, the attractive “stranded” woman with her disabled vehicle on the side of the road that you assist, serves as bait so concealed thugs can assault or murder you. Maybe it is best to call the police to aid them. Of course, we should assist people as much as we are able, but we cannot afford to give to everyone or help everyone. See, we should use our brains before we use our hearts.

Sin has corrupted our spiritual makeup, including our heart (emotional seat). “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). We simply cannot trust our heart or its emotions, though our emotions seek to—and, often do—dominate us….

Zealously Affected #12

Monday, March 2, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9). “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression” (Proverbs 29:22). “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated” (Proverbs 14:17). “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly” (Proverbs 14:29). “A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both” (Proverbs 27:3).

In legal terms, “crimes of passion” are violent acts lacking premeditation. They are committed impulsively, in a fit of intense emotion (rage, jealousy, despair, and so on). No real thought goes into the deed, so it is considered “senseless.” For example, if someone is assaulted or murdered because of a simple misunderstanding, petty disagreement, or small sum of money, the wrongdoing is illogical because (non-thinking) emotions took precedence. Such irrational behavior is rampant now, particularly in a society of immature people who do not get their way. It was true in Bible days, too.

A fit of wrath or extreme anger led to works-religion Cain killing believing brother Abel in Genesis 4:5-8. Greatly frustrated Moses smote the rock, thus disrespecting the LORD before Israel, which resulted in Moses being prohibited from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-13). Jonah felt no pity for tens of thousands of lost, Hell-bound but repentant sinners in Nineveh who were spared Divine judgment, yet he threw a temper tantrum when “his” shade-tree died (Jonah 4:1-11)! The citizens of Nazareth, so convicted of sin and under the influence of deceitful emotions, nearly stoned Jesus Christ in Luke 4:16-30! At Ephesus (western Turkey), the fanatical worshippers of the mother-goddess Diana screamed mindless chants because their vain religious system was on the verge of collapse, generating citywide riots that had to ultimately be suppressed before the Emperor heard of that civil unrest and meted out punishment (Acts 19:23-41).

It is better to think and act BEFORE feeling and acting….

Zealously Affected #11

Sunday, March 1, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Acts chapter 15 concludes with a rather dreadful exchange: “[35] Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. [36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; [40] And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. [41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

Doubtless, the Bible tells the truth, even about its heroes. Paul and Barnabas entered into a severe argument about whether to take John Mark along with them on a second apostolic journey. Barnabas was in favor, but Paul was not. From Paul’s perspective, John Mark was a liability to the ministry for abandoning them a few years earlier on their first apostolic journey (Acts 13:13); the reason for his withdrawal is unclear, but seems to be trivial. Barnabas, however, apparently had an emotional attachment clouding his judgment about the matter. John Mark (also known as Marcus) was “sister’s son” (nephew) to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), thus explaining why Barnabas would be inclined to defend John Mark and overlook his past negligence. It was here, one of the saddest and “hottest” passages of the whole Bible, that Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways. Barnabas commenced a voyage with John Mark, whereas Paul took a trip with Silas.

Emotions can create illusions and delusions, so it is again advisable not to let them run our lives….