WAYS PEOPLE MISJUDGE JESUS
I don't know about you, but one of my major pet peeves or grievances is when someone misjudges me before they really "know" me. It grieves me when someone rejects me without first getting to know me and what I am all about. It troubles me when someone passes judgment on me without spending time with me to get to know my ways and my thoughts. Does that bother you too?
Maybe they go by hearsay, of what someone else has said about me, who probably doesn't know me either. I don't know about you, but in my world, not too many people really "know" me. They may claim to know me but don't. I know that because I know who I spend time with and I know with whom I haven't. You cannot know someone unless you spend time with them.
Many people claim to "know" God! I wonder how many actually do?
There are so many "mega" churches and all of these people claim to "know" God. I wonder how many have actually been "born again" by God's Holy Spirit? It is more than just saying you believe in God. The Word of God says in James 2:17-23 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou has faith, and I have works; show me thy faith 'without (apart from) thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the 'devils (demons) also believe, and 'tremble (shudder). 20. But will thou know, O 'vain (foolish) man, that faith 'without (apart from) works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. See thou how faith 'wrought (operated) with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was 'imputed (counted) unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."
Some people think that is all there is to it, is going to church. If you ask them if they know God they say, "Yea, I go to church on Sundays." That doesn't necessarily mean someone knows God. The Word of God says Abraham believed in God. How did Abraham prove to God he really believed in God? When God told Abraham to offer up his son Isaac on the altar, Abraham was going to with no questions asked. Isaac was his "promised" child from God! God gave Isaac to Abraham and Sarah at an old age. God promised Abraham that his seed would be like the stars in heaven too numerous to number. Abraham had a son, "Ishmael" but he wasn't the one God promised him. Now, here God is telling him to go to Mo-ri-ah and offer "Isaac" on the altar of sacrifice. Abraham obeyed and did exactly as God had said. Here they go up the mountain, Abraham with the fire and the wood and a knife and his son Isaac who he loved with all his heart. Isaac wasn't a little baby he was older in age by now to know what it meant to offer a burnt offering to God. So Isaac said, "Uh! Dad, I see the wood, the fire, and the knife but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Look what Abraham tells him, Genesis 22:8 "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide a lamb for a burnt offering; so they went both of them together. 9. And they came to the place which God had told him of, and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham; and he said, Here am I. 12. And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son, thy only so from me." In the next verse, Abraham looks and sees a ram caught in a thicket by the horns for the burnt offering! verse 14 says, Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh to this day, meaning The Lord will see or provide. In verses 15-18 the angel of the Lord calls a second time and tells Abraham because he hath done this thing and not withheld his only son he was blessing him and multiplying his seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand of the sea and his seed shall possess the gate of his enemies and in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because he obeyed the voice of the Lord. God knew how much Abraham loved Isaac! He wasn't going to let him go through with it! God knew already that he had Abraham's heart!
That is what God wants, our hearts! He doesn't want us going through any religious routine. Don't get me wrong it is good to go to church. He tells us to not forsake the fellowshipping of ourselves together. However, he also sees how many who go to churches every week ignore him throughout the week. They are closing their ears to God and don't want to hear about obedience to God. God wants our obedience like Abraham! He loved God more than anyone or anything! He obeyed God no matter what he told him to do. He feared God! Many people who claim to know God don't fear him. Many do not even consider talking to him during the week. He sees those who just go to church and don't take any time for God during the week! He sees those who just go to church to "network" for their business. It's a place to meet people, they say. Some think the church is a place for singles to meet. God sees the idolatry!
#1. One way God sees people misjudge him is by not taking him seriously! They do not take his word to heart! They misjudge God by thinking he really doesn't mean what he says! Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Just like I said, people misjudged me in the past because of hearsay, someone else "claiming' to know me but didn't. Satan came to Adam and Eve claiming to know God's character just because he quoted God's Word to them. They misjudged God by misjudging Satan's evil self. Satan whispered, "Aw, come on God doesn't mean what he said. Genesis 3: 5 "He just don't want your eyes opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. Well, they ate the fruit of the tree and yes, their eyes were opened they realized they were naked and hid from the presence of the Lord God. Then they were cursed and were put out of the Garden of Eden!
#2. Another way people misjudge God is: by thinking God isn't going to do anything to me because I am "tight" with him.
They take him for granted and start to be disrespectful toward him. This is a dangerous place to be with your relationship with God. Abraham was called, "The Friend of God", because he had a healthy fear of God. What I mean by healthy fear is he wanted to please God! He willingly obeyed him because he loved him more than anyone or anything. Abraham knew the importance of obeying God. When you disobey the Word of God and don't take him seriously, it is like you are saying to God you aren't important to me and you make yourself God's enemy and not his friend. Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together except they are agreed?" That is why Abraham guarded against a familiar spirit from taking control. He loved God! He knew God was in control and he was okay with that! Look at what happened to Judas. He was a disciple of Jesus. Chosen by Father God but his heart was not with Jesus, even though he walked with him and talked to him. He betrayed Jesus to the Pharisees for thirty-two pieces of silver. He didn't care about his relationship with Jesus. Father God knew Judas' heart to start with and that is why he chose him because God had a plan for Jesus to go to the cross for our sins anyway.
It is so important we guard against a familiar spirit that would deceive us into getting too comfortable with Jesus that we let our guard down and disobey him. See, God will be our friend but don't think he is just some "buddy" that we can tell what to do. He is God! Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Our very breath is in his hands! Ephesians 5:6 says, "Let no man deceive you with 'vain (empty) words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of 'disobedience (unbelief)." Read 5:1-6 also. Sin has consequences. Don't be deceived thinking sin is not going to have any consequences for you because you have a relationship with Jesus. Sin leads to death if not repented of. Many people are in Hell today because of 'disobedience (unbelief) and are crying out for Just one more chance!
"JUST ONE MORE CHANCE!"
There are so many people,
already in Hell.
Wanting so bad for just one more chance,
to come back and tell!
Just one more chance to warn their loved ones,
before they take their last breath,
and their life on earth is done.
Just one more chance before their death.
To tell them to repent and trust Jesus.
Screaming don't let Hell be your fate!
Oh! What they would give
for just one more chance, to tell others
to trust you, Jesus, before it is too late!
Oh! They're screaming and screaming,
from the corridors of Hell.
Just one more chance, just one more chance,
to come back and tell.
Please, let me go tell others,
whatever you do, don't come here!
Let me tell them to reach out to you, Jesus
for you are always near!
Let me go and tell them
you're just as close as the mention of your name.
Oh! Let me tell them Heaven and Hell are real,
It is not a game!
There is evil, darkness, and torment.
It's a horrible, horrible place!
There's many crying, just one more chance!
I'll take the time Lord Jesus to seek your face.
Just give me one more chance to receive you,
and accept your marvelous grace.
I won't take you, Jesus, for granted,
I repent of my sin.
Just please, please one more chance,
get me out of this Hell I am in!
When Jesus started his ministry his own hometown and relatives did not receive him as the Son of God. They said, "Aren't you the son of Mary? You're the carpenter!" That is why Jesus said, Mark 6:3, 4 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were 'offended (repelled) at him. 4. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own 'kin, (relatives) and in his own 'house (home)." They say, "Familiarity Breeds Contempt". Holy Spirit led me to an awesome article concerning this subject. I will leave a link at the end. Click on the link and be blessed.
#3. Another way people misjudge Jesus is: They won't even give him a chance! People reject him right off without "knowing" him. Have you ever heard that saying, "Don't knock it until you've tried it?" Well, I say, "Don't knock him until you've tried him!" Don't judge Jesus until you personally get to "know" him. Don't go by what others say about Jesus. Or if someone you know misrepresents him against "your' liking, don't take it out on Jesus! He loves you!
Don't misjudge his goodness! The Bible says, Psalms 34:8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him." Get to know Jesus. Give him a chance to show you what he can do with your life! You have to invite him in. Ask him to forgive you for your sins, and give him your life.
How many of you when you have met someone and you fall in love, have no problem surrendering your all to that one, without really knowing them, sometimes only for them to disappoint you? Jesus will not disappoint you like people will. Never! It is not his character. It is just not in him to disappoint you! You can trust him! Get to know him for yourself, personally. Thank him for his grace and mercy and for forgiving you for misjudging his goodness!
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