No one is forgiven and on their way to heaven unless they have confessed their need for the Savior and want to be cleansed of their sin.
This is the model for relationship reconciliation that Christ gave for all of us.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
"IF"......."IF"......"IF" That should make it clear!
Then there's that; "IF YOUR BROTHER SINS, REBUKE HIM and IF HE REPENTS, FORGIVE HIM."
Luke 17:3-4
"…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” "
So here's the thing in a nutshell, if the brother sins rebuke him, IF he repents, forgive him.
Seems simple to me, but sadly many people have been brain washed by the psychology industry devised by satan to allow sin to grow.
When we have no accountability in our culture because everyone is just wanting to feel good about themselves, there is no room for compassion for the one who must learn not to do evil.
This is the same mentality that says we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else, its a lie from the psychology industry that has managed to intimidate people into believing they must feel good about themselves by forgiving evil when evil remains evil and loves getting away with it.
If this were true that we must forgive without repentance then God is a liar when He was the One Who told us to forgive when they come to us to desire our forgiveness.
Now we have an entire culture that coddles the wicked and beats up on the victim to forgive when there is no show of sorrow over the offense.
Sorry folks, those who believe we must forgive without repentance are buying into the lie and allowing evil to continue to grow unchallenged. Please go and pray and study this, God's way is best.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Here we are today in America! The Bible is truly timeless!
( No shame at all over wickedness)
Jeremiah 8:12 11
"They dress the wounds of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all, not even enough to blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.
13 I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them."
(Intensely selfish to the very core of their being)
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Refusal to tolerate sound doctrine from God's Word!
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
This is the state of our country on steroids today!
In a discussion with "Christian" young ladies I chastised them for wearing bikini bathing suits that were barely enough material to cover them. The girls were climbing on top of the boys in pyramid fashion on the beach. My admonition was that they were practically naked as they were engaging this sport of creating a tower out of young men and women.
A "Christian" youth leader jumped into the argument to rebuke me for chastising the girls. She didn't want me to discourage them against God by making them feel bad about modesty.
Of all the utterly ridiculous arguments I have ever heard!!!!!
So lets see how this plays out, the youth leader who is suppose to be training the girls in righteousness doesn't want the girls to feel bad about dressing like prostitutes on the beach while frolicking with men.
My guess is that this youth leader doesn't want to be rejected by the girls by teaching modesty and righteousness. Perhaps this teacher is also dressed in this fashion or she would not be so angry about a correction for the girls. Does anyone else see the folly and foolishness of this sort of thinking?
We are either for God or against Him. We either teach for Him or against Him.
Matthew 12:30-31 ". 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.…"
To say you are a Christian while promoting sin is to lie.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Those who are leaders of young people will be held to a higher standard because they are influencing others for or against Christ by their laziness or desire to be accepted.
One person told me that its alright to wear those immoral clothes on the beach because it was the beach, but not right to wear it into a store. I will tell you that if something is immoral to wear one place it is immoral to wear anywhere.
I was told I don't know the heart of the girls wearing these bikinis', my answer was, "yes I do", no one can wear something like that without there being immorality in their heart. There is a modesty that comes naturally to women that must be overcome by sin in the heart to be expressed in the flesh. A woman who dresses lewdly in pubic is an exhibitionist in her heart. She is also interested in enticing the men.
I know what goes on in the heart of a woman who would dress this way, before I was born again I wore those 70's halter tops. When I became born again I began to feel dirty in them and got rid of them. The Holy Spirit does not allow us to be comfortable in immoral clothing. If a woman is angry that she was told it was improper then I question whether or not she has the Holy Spirit. A born again believer is ashamed when told she is wearing revealing clothes, she does not fight to defend it, she prays and makes changes.
Immorality is in the heart before it ever becomes an action.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 — Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
The reason I know about many of these things is because I lived them before I was born again. The reason I know of the change in the heart and the conviction by the Holy Spirit is because everything changed in the way I think when I became born again. I began to think the opposite of what I thought before. The things I liked I no longer liked after I was born again. I never hated God, but I also didn't seek Him to know right from wrong.
When we become born again we do not fight to defend sin, we are ashamed and seek to be cleansed. Those who fight to defend their sin, even rejecting the messenger cannot possibly have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. There never was a born again experience. Rebellion cannot reside in the same body with the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 13:11
"11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
As we grow in the Lord we become convicted over sin so that God can cleanse it out of us.
When you see someone correcting a new believer, don't kill the messenger, support the message and together everyone can lovingly bring a baby into maturity.
Hebrews 3:13 "13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
2 Timothy 4:2 "proclaim the word; be urgent in season and out of season, convict, rebuke, encourage, with all longsuffering and doctrine."
There is a sadly destructive doctrine today that discourages teachers from speaking straight talk to the younger people. Babies do not grow without instruction and training. This traiing does not have to be harsh but it does have to be honest and open. Christ and the apostles never danced around truth out of fear of offending. The reaction of a person toward the truth tells all about them not about the messenger.
Jeremiah 8:12 11
"They dress the wounds of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all, not even enough to blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD.
13 I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them."
(Intensely selfish to the very core of their being)
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Refusal to tolerate sound doctrine from God's Word!
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
This is the state of our country on steroids today!
In a discussion with "Christian" young ladies I chastised them for wearing bikini bathing suits that were barely enough material to cover them. The girls were climbing on top of the boys in pyramid fashion on the beach. My admonition was that they were practically naked as they were engaging this sport of creating a tower out of young men and women.
A "Christian" youth leader jumped into the argument to rebuke me for chastising the girls. She didn't want me to discourage them against God by making them feel bad about modesty.
Of all the utterly ridiculous arguments I have ever heard!!!!!
So lets see how this plays out, the youth leader who is suppose to be training the girls in righteousness doesn't want the girls to feel bad about dressing like prostitutes on the beach while frolicking with men.
My guess is that this youth leader doesn't want to be rejected by the girls by teaching modesty and righteousness. Perhaps this teacher is also dressed in this fashion or she would not be so angry about a correction for the girls. Does anyone else see the folly and foolishness of this sort of thinking?
We are either for God or against Him. We either teach for Him or against Him.
Matthew 12:30-31 ". 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.…"
To say you are a Christian while promoting sin is to lie.
John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Those who are leaders of young people will be held to a higher standard because they are influencing others for or against Christ by their laziness or desire to be accepted.
One person told me that its alright to wear those immoral clothes on the beach because it was the beach, but not right to wear it into a store. I will tell you that if something is immoral to wear one place it is immoral to wear anywhere.
I was told I don't know the heart of the girls wearing these bikinis', my answer was, "yes I do", no one can wear something like that without there being immorality in their heart. There is a modesty that comes naturally to women that must be overcome by sin in the heart to be expressed in the flesh. A woman who dresses lewdly in pubic is an exhibitionist in her heart. She is also interested in enticing the men.
I know what goes on in the heart of a woman who would dress this way, before I was born again I wore those 70's halter tops. When I became born again I began to feel dirty in them and got rid of them. The Holy Spirit does not allow us to be comfortable in immoral clothing. If a woman is angry that she was told it was improper then I question whether or not she has the Holy Spirit. A born again believer is ashamed when told she is wearing revealing clothes, she does not fight to defend it, she prays and makes changes.
Immorality is in the heart before it ever becomes an action.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 — Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
The reason I know about many of these things is because I lived them before I was born again. The reason I know of the change in the heart and the conviction by the Holy Spirit is because everything changed in the way I think when I became born again. I began to think the opposite of what I thought before. The things I liked I no longer liked after I was born again. I never hated God, but I also didn't seek Him to know right from wrong.
When we become born again we do not fight to defend sin, we are ashamed and seek to be cleansed. Those who fight to defend their sin, even rejecting the messenger cannot possibly have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. There never was a born again experience. Rebellion cannot reside in the same body with the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 13:11
"11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
As we grow in the Lord we become convicted over sin so that God can cleanse it out of us.
When you see someone correcting a new believer, don't kill the messenger, support the message and together everyone can lovingly bring a baby into maturity.
Hebrews 3:13 "13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
2 Timothy 4:2 "proclaim the word; be urgent in season and out of season, convict, rebuke, encourage, with all longsuffering and doctrine."
There is a sadly destructive doctrine today that discourages teachers from speaking straight talk to the younger people. Babies do not grow without instruction and training. This traiing does not have to be harsh but it does have to be honest and open. Christ and the apostles never danced around truth out of fear of offending. The reaction of a person toward the truth tells all about them not about the messenger.
Covenant Marriage a Picture of Christ and the Church
Covenant marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. When we have become born again we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise as a guarantee of our inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13-15 "…13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,…"
When we marry we become one with our spouse just as we became one with Christ when we became born again.
To negate marriage as unimportant is to miss the blessing of knowing our permanency with Christ Who lives in us.
Ephesians 1:13-15 "…13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,…"
When we marry we become one with our spouse just as we became one with Christ when we became born again.
To negate marriage as unimportant is to miss the blessing of knowing our permanency with Christ Who lives in us.
The Devil's Favorite Trick
This is typical of narcissists! The Democrats of this country are working to destroy any good our president attempts to accomplish simply because they don't like him.
Trump was promoting humanitarian aide to go to the border for detained families.
These narcissistic Democrats want any humanitarian effort to fail because it is Trump's idea.
I have seen this many times in my life. Narcissists who do not like someone will work to foil any attempt on their target to succeed. They will deny any successes and thwart any attempts on the part of their target to be seen as good.
We see this in families too and every other liberal organization today. Those who are rebellious and refuse to listen to reason will always try to stop progress of the target of their contempt.
When the target of the narcissist does succeed the narcissist will either criticize it as foolish or pretend it never happened.
King David faced all of this but was not moved against the Lord. those who attempt to destroy the people of God will always attempt to discourage us from continuing with God, but they cannot! Never allow the foolish naysayers to deter you from what God has called you to do.
Psalm 35:4
Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
Psalm 35:26
May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
Psalm 54:3
For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude
Psalm 63:9
But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.
Psalm 70:2
May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
Psalm 71:13
Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
Psalm 119:95
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Trump was promoting humanitarian aide to go to the border for detained families.
These narcissistic Democrats want any humanitarian effort to fail because it is Trump's idea.
I have seen this many times in my life. Narcissists who do not like someone will work to foil any attempt on their target to succeed. They will deny any successes and thwart any attempts on the part of their target to be seen as good.
We see this in families too and every other liberal organization today. Those who are rebellious and refuse to listen to reason will always try to stop progress of the target of their contempt.
When the target of the narcissist does succeed the narcissist will either criticize it as foolish or pretend it never happened.
King David faced all of this but was not moved against the Lord. those who attempt to destroy the people of God will always attempt to discourage us from continuing with God, but they cannot! Never allow the foolish naysayers to deter you from what God has called you to do.
Psalm 35:4
Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
Psalm 35:26
May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
Psalm 54:3
For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude
Psalm 63:9
But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.
Psalm 70:2
May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
Psalm 71:13
Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
Psalm 119:95
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Narcissists Accuse in Generalities
Narcissists accuse others in generalities. We see this in politics all the time.
The narcissist will say, "he/she is mean spirited", "he/she is a liar", "he/she is manipulative, boring or self righteous", without any specifics that prove these things to be true.
When a narcissist tells us something general about a person it might be good to ask exactly what they did or do that proves this point. Generally when a narcissist is asked to prove their point with specifics they become angry, even raging at the person who challenged them for proof.
Perhaps the challenge was a mild questioning as to why they think the way they do, is seen as a personal attack. A narcissist expects to be believed whether or not there is evidence of what they are asserting.
When we see accusations against others or ourselves in generalities we are wise to dismiss them entirely as one person's opinion. And, we can expect that someone who speaks in generalities often is lying. Those who have evidence and believe what they are saying will be glad to share why they think the way they do.
There are many lies flying around in families today based on nothing more than one person's "feelings" when they are around this person.
The Pharisees had bad feelings when they were around Christ because they didn't like the conviction that came over them in His presence.
To the narcissist feelings are on the same level with facts in their mind. If they feel bad around you, then something is wrong with you. The narcissist must find a reason you are bad, but all they have is generalities based on how they feel, not on what you did or said.
Truth tellers will always be a target for their assertiveness and resolve to resolve things. Narcissists hate resolution and they hate being wrong. They will hold fast to their belief even when it is proven wrong. Once again blaming the truth teller for speaking truth, while coddling the wicked one whom they wish to believe is a good person.
This is what happens often in families where a scapegoat has been abused emotionally or sexually for years and finally decides to tell the truth. Often the disordered families believe the wicked persons' denial and reject the victim.
Because most people are dedicated more to their own good feelings than they are to truth and love for the victims, they end up punishing the victim and supporting the wicked person.
Isaian 26:10-11 "Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
In other words one cannot reason with a wicked man, they are unreasonable liars.
Proverbs 29:26-27 "…26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD. 27 An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked."
If you have told the truth in your effort to walk with Christ then the lies of the narcissist are on them, it has nothing to do with you. Shake off the dust from your feet and carry on with others who love the Lord.
The narcissist will say, "he/she is mean spirited", "he/she is a liar", "he/she is manipulative, boring or self righteous", without any specifics that prove these things to be true.
When a narcissist tells us something general about a person it might be good to ask exactly what they did or do that proves this point. Generally when a narcissist is asked to prove their point with specifics they become angry, even raging at the person who challenged them for proof.
Perhaps the challenge was a mild questioning as to why they think the way they do, is seen as a personal attack. A narcissist expects to be believed whether or not there is evidence of what they are asserting.
When we see accusations against others or ourselves in generalities we are wise to dismiss them entirely as one person's opinion. And, we can expect that someone who speaks in generalities often is lying. Those who have evidence and believe what they are saying will be glad to share why they think the way they do.
There are many lies flying around in families today based on nothing more than one person's "feelings" when they are around this person.
The Pharisees had bad feelings when they were around Christ because they didn't like the conviction that came over them in His presence.
To the narcissist feelings are on the same level with facts in their mind. If they feel bad around you, then something is wrong with you. The narcissist must find a reason you are bad, but all they have is generalities based on how they feel, not on what you did or said.
Truth tellers will always be a target for their assertiveness and resolve to resolve things. Narcissists hate resolution and they hate being wrong. They will hold fast to their belief even when it is proven wrong. Once again blaming the truth teller for speaking truth, while coddling the wicked one whom they wish to believe is a good person.
This is what happens often in families where a scapegoat has been abused emotionally or sexually for years and finally decides to tell the truth. Often the disordered families believe the wicked persons' denial and reject the victim.
Because most people are dedicated more to their own good feelings than they are to truth and love for the victims, they end up punishing the victim and supporting the wicked person.
Isaian 26:10-11 "Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
In other words one cannot reason with a wicked man, they are unreasonable liars.
Proverbs 29:26-27 "…26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD. 27 An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked."
If you have told the truth in your effort to walk with Christ then the lies of the narcissist are on them, it has nothing to do with you. Shake off the dust from your feet and carry on with others who love the Lord.
A Born Again Believer Never Leaves God, They Cannot
Abuse does not make a born again believer leave God. Those who walk away were never born again.
1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
Abuse for the believer only makes them draw closer to God not run from Him. Often hardship reveals character as well as shape it. Our response to difficulties says who we have been all along.
1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
Abuse for the believer only makes them draw closer to God not run from Him. Often hardship reveals character as well as shape it. Our response to difficulties says who we have been all along.
Grand Gestures that only Soothe Self
Grand gestures to make someone feel like the relationship is improving does very little to resolve bad relationships. The most effective healing for any relationship is a growing and continual change in the way a toxic person relates to others.
If anyone does not understand this it would be a good idea to go to God and ask to understand. Relationship cannot be resolved or grow in goodness until respect and honor is given as a normal course.
If there are wonderful flowers one day after a terrible incident, it will do nothing if the toxic person continues to act in terrible ways as a normal course off and on.
When we see a change in the way someone treats us then we have no need for flowers, the change is what is desired.
There is a saying, "your actions speak so loud I can't hear a word you are saying." The same might be true that the flowers when given are in place of decent respect on a regular basis. Another way to say this might be "your continual actions outweigh this one time expression to impress me or others.
Whenever "things" replace attitudes toward someone we know the gesture is not authentic. Gifts only mean something when respect and honor has been shown all along.
If we feel badly how we have treated someone over a number of years it is better to change our behavior permanently than to bring flowers every time we want to pretend there is respect. Only God can change a heart permanently. All attempts to change ourselves will eventually disappear as the flesh is weak to keep up the hard work of pretending. When God changes a heart it is real, permanent and seen by all.
God desires our love which leads to obedience. In human relationships people desire respect and honor far more than gifts given to impress or manipulate others.
1 Samuel 15:32 "22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams."
1 Samuel 15:23
"23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
When we bring a gift to someone we have treated shamefully continually over a lifetime, the gift is a sort of stench in our nostrils because there has been no regret over the treatment. The gifts are manipulation and worth nothing.
1 Samuel 15:24
"24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice."
Hosea 6:6
"6 “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me."
John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.…"
Matthew 6:1–34
"6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
If anyone does not understand this it would be a good idea to go to God and ask to understand. Relationship cannot be resolved or grow in goodness until respect and honor is given as a normal course.
If there are wonderful flowers one day after a terrible incident, it will do nothing if the toxic person continues to act in terrible ways as a normal course off and on.
When we see a change in the way someone treats us then we have no need for flowers, the change is what is desired.
There is a saying, "your actions speak so loud I can't hear a word you are saying." The same might be true that the flowers when given are in place of decent respect on a regular basis. Another way to say this might be "your continual actions outweigh this one time expression to impress me or others.
Whenever "things" replace attitudes toward someone we know the gesture is not authentic. Gifts only mean something when respect and honor has been shown all along.
If we feel badly how we have treated someone over a number of years it is better to change our behavior permanently than to bring flowers every time we want to pretend there is respect. Only God can change a heart permanently. All attempts to change ourselves will eventually disappear as the flesh is weak to keep up the hard work of pretending. When God changes a heart it is real, permanent and seen by all.
God desires our love which leads to obedience. In human relationships people desire respect and honor far more than gifts given to impress or manipulate others.
1 Samuel 15:32 "22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams."
1 Samuel 15:23
"23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
When we bring a gift to someone we have treated shamefully continually over a lifetime, the gift is a sort of stench in our nostrils because there has been no regret over the treatment. The gifts are manipulation and worth nothing.
1 Samuel 15:24
"24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice."
Hosea 6:6
"6 “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me."
John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.…"
Matthew 6:1–34
"6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
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