Divine Consistency
by Lance Ponder(95)http://fkiprofessor.xanga.com
Acts 10:9-16 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
God's ways are not our ways. Sometimes He does things we at first think of as inconsistent.
1 Thess 5:20-22 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
The Lord is always consistent. His consistency is how we measure words written or spoken by men or actions taken by men to see if they are inspired by God, or flesh. We are instructed not to hate prophesy, but to test everything. As a result of such tests we are to determine what is good, keep it, and not partake in what is evil.
This last part, these instructions we are given, are very personal and direct. Sometimes, however, different people see the same thing from different perspectives and gain a very different understanding. To illustrate this, consider Peter's vision from the passage in Acts, above. Unclean animals were forbidden to eat. God declared to Peter that He was making them clean so Peter could eat. Peter didn't understand and was reluctant. Peter's inconsistent behavior later got him in hot water with Paul.
Mt 7:1-5 Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Is there an area of your life that is inconsistent? If so, consider this before condemning another for what you perceive to be inconsistency.
Final Thoughts...
I have been convicted to say these things for several reasons. For one, my own inconsistencies, apart from revealing my humanity, make me out as the hypocrite for reviling another of their inconsistencies. So, I admit to having a lumber yard in my own eyes. Next, the enemy wanders about seeking who he may devour. Lions are generally considered noble, but in truth they pick off the young and the weak. Our enemy, the devil, is compared to a lion in scripture. We become weak when we become divided. Pride gets between people quickly, just as it did between Peter and Paul. Pride was Job's sin. I have pride, too. In the end, I will face the eternal judge for my many sins and either receive grace... or not. I cannot tell you what to believe, even were I to try. Whatever light I'm given I believe it my responsibility to share with others - to receive or cast aside as they see fit, according to how the Spirit works within them. Finally, these verses are from God's word, not mine. These words should unite us all against our common enemy, not rip us apart. I pray now, in Jesus' precious name, against the evil that would divide us over the very things which God gave us to unite us.
Article submitted Sunday, July 25, 2010 & read 44 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Teresa Ortiz (45 days 16 hours ago.)
Hi Lance, great thoughts, I hear your heart. It is true, we are all at different places and levels of understanding in our walk with God. We are to encourage one another and give grace, not kick our brother or sister in Christ when they are down. We should be quick to kneel to the ground and be that extra strength they need to get up.Again, great thoughts, thanks for the reminder.And some would interpret that passage in Acts to refer to the Jews and the Gentiles, since he was being sent to preach to Cornelius. But I think they both apply because we are told in many other passages that whatever we eat and receive with thanksgiving is acceptable in our Lords sight.Respond to this comment
0-0-0-0-1-ADSO