In order to be entirely honest with ourselves, we must be willing to ask God if there is anything in our lives causing us to detract from our Christian walk and even worse detract from the walk of others.
We have heard it said that "no man is an island”, this is true, we are responsible for the messages we send to others around us through our lifestyles.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
Obedience to God is important not only because God’s ways are the best for us and He knows all things that we cannot know or see, but it is also important the messages we send to others through how we live, we are examples to others.
It has been said that only 7% of communication is words, that means that the 93% of communication is observed attitudes in the way we walk, the things we do and facial expressions, even grunting sounds as approval or disapproval.
A person can pretend to act friendly on the outside but the real attitude will be seen no matter how much we try to hide it, in those micro-expressions and body language. A friend once told me he could see the attitude of a man walking down the street without even knowing the man. I believe this because I have seen it for myself.
We cannot treat people based on what we think we see, because we are not perfect but we can be cautious and prayerful before trusting someone who is sending concerning vibes.
There are those who are especially discerning when it comes to being able to perceive someone’s attitude. Often we notice something is “off” but cannot put our finger on what the problem might be. It is good to pay attention to these gut feelings but pray to make sure we are not feeling something based on our own personal encounters.
There is such a thing as “micro-expressions” that most people cannot see while looking at us but they notice something they cannot explain. I am convinced this is what dogs are noticing when they like or dislike someone.
It seems that the senses of a dog are far more astute than human beings. Their hearing is 100 times stronger than our hearing which is why they can hear a siren several miles away before we can hear it. We had German Shepherds who would begin howling before we heard the ambulance or police sirens, we would wait a minute or two and then we would hear it.
Now we have two Poms who bark into the darkness when we cannot see anything, I believe our dogs. They can see much better in the dark than we can. They have better motion vision than humans do, so when they bark, I believe they are seeing and hearing things I cannot.
Have you heard about the dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac, he laid awake all night wondering if there was a dog? Just a little humor!!!
Dogs can smell far better than we can, this is why they are so effective in being able to sniff a man’s clothing and follow his scent in the woods even when he has never met the man. I don’t know of any humans who even notice scents coming from people let alone able to tell where the person has been on a path in the woods.
I am convinced God gave us things in nature to teach us lessons. The dogs show us that there are many things we cannot know that God knows. Those who are so convinced that they know everything and need not consult God are living blind and deaf.
Revelation 3:16-17 “……16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
God is describing in this passage in Revelation the attitude of those who are proud of how good they think they are, while being blind to their own faults and frailties. They lack good sense, and all the fruit of the Spirit but are convinced they are doing great. Everything they assess as good is based on their wealthy and pleasurable lifestyle. Nothing they are considering is about their spiritual life, so they remain unteachable and ignorant until they can evaluate their own hearts asking God to change them.
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
When we know we can't even know what dogs can know how silly for us to believe we are all-knowing without the need of spiritual and emotional instruction.
Have you ever met someone who refused to hear anything you had to say because of their prejudice against you? It is a frustrating experience, so much so that you avoid this person because of their lack of respect for you.
God will not be present in the lives of those who think they don't need Him. He will not counsel those who do not regard Him highly.
Isaiah 1:14-16 "…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
So many Christians in our time refuse to hear anything that does not enhance the traditions that they love more than they love to seek God.
How could we ever be so comfortable that we tell God what we think while ignoring His Word and His principles, shameful!!!!
If we want to be growing in wisdom we must expunge the pride from our hearts through prayer and begin to seek God for EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.
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