Not Turning to the World
by David Cross
These words of the Lord to Jeremiah are surely every bit as relevant today, if not more so, as they were in the time of the prophet. The church has little prospect of influencing the world with the precious message of Jesus while it appears so willing to be influenced by the humanistic message of the world. We need to reflect on the words received by Jeremiah that he could only be a valid spokesman for God if he refrained from worthless rhetoric and stood firm in not being seduced into the opinions of his day.
Jesus also spoke these strong words (Matthew 10:34), “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” He is not declaring hostility against human beings, but against the spirit of the age, which needed then, and still needs today, to be exposed and challenged in the lives of people. His love for humanity remains unbounded, but His opposition to the destructive life-style choices, that are driven by the god of this world, is as strong today as when He spoke these words to His first disciples.
The apostle Paul constantly found that his words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, brought division among the hearers, as the rebellious spirit working in many lives rose up in conflict with the message of true salvation. We can expect nothing less today.
Prayer: Father God, the authentic message of Jesus inevitably brings division in the spiritual realms, which is evidenced in the frequently aggressive opposition that it attracts. Give us courage to speak truth with much grace, and to resist acquiescing to the deceptive ideologies of our time. Amen.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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