Repainting the lines.

Thought for the day

The following news story came out of Tel Aviv on June 23:

"Tel Aviv - An Israeli woman who was caught by a police officer crossing a straight white line on a road in northern Israel, found a creative way to avoid a fine and plead innocent at a future court hearing, the Yediot Ahronot daily reported on Thursday.

"Two hours after she was caught on Wednesday morning, the 45-year-old woman sent a friend to the spot, who began painting black gaps in the line on the middle of the road.

"Unfortunately for the woman and her friend, the officer was still on undercover duty at the same location and arrested the suspect."

There is the temptation when we are discovered with sin in our lives to try to "re-write" the scriptures so as to be found innocent. That's why some people say that "the Bible doesn't teach that homosexuality is a sin" or "God could never condemn us. He's a God of love and mercy."

I actually knew someone who believed that baptism had nothing to do with salvation because he had taken a pair of scissors and cut out the passages which stated that!

But just as repainting lines doesn't change the offense, turning the dial on a set of scales doesn't change our weight problem, and breaking a mirror doesn't remove any dirt that may be on our faces, so removing (or ignoring) scriptures doesn't change what God thinks on a matter.

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

Verses

Hebrews 10:38

But the righteous one shall live as a result of faith; and if he shall shrink back, my soul takes no pleasure in him.

Colossians 2:10

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Romans 12:2

Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God's good, acceptable to him and perfect.

James 1:4

And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be absolutely perfect and not deficient in any respect.

Prayer

Father, as we examine the emotional pain of our lives, when it seems as though You’ve forgotten about us, we often start out with the question of “Why?” But in hindsight we realize that those struggles taught us practical truths that we could not learn overnight but over time, and that there truly was purpose in our pain and in Your timing. Help us to model integrity and steadfastness in the midst of the severe struggles and sweeping storms of life. Your eternal purpose is greater than our temporal pain. Remind us that it may not just be for our own instruction but for others looking on who may learn from our difficult experiences. Amen.