DIStOrTIoN

 

How much does life experience effect understanding and interpretation of words and events?

Someone abused from birth often sees things differently than one lovingly nurtured. A person who has nearly starved all their life likely interprets hardship stories differently. By our very nature, we default to self-centered explanations of cause and purpose in all that we see, read or hear. The Bible addresses this common problem of distortion in 2Peter 1:19-21. We are told to pay close attention to the light that is shining into our dark place because until His Holy Spirit reigns in our understanding we are given to “private interpretation”, egocentric analysis, self-centered distortions of what God has given for the benefit of many.

In life as in scripture, we often jump to personal application without even attempting to understand the truth that the situation is communicating. When we bypass the effort true understanding demands, the black hole of our own bias distorts our interpretation and leads us to jump to conclusions and reactions that are full of passion but lack compassion and concern. God intends his children to act in the love, grace and truth of God-centered, undistorted understanding.

DIVIDING LINES

Too many things divide us.

Living in this New Testament Age of Grace, humans, not God draw most of the dividing lines. Let us trust the Word of God given by Jesus and the Apostles. For example, where lines had been drawn dividing ethnically and racially, Jesus taught we are to be neighborly by crossing the dividing lines like the Good Samaritan helping the injured Jew [Luke 10.] Dr. Luke also tells the story of Philip crossing the lines reaching out to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian in need of Jesus [Acts 8.]

In each case great joy resulted when God’s people genuinely and lovingly crossed those humanly drawn lines to share the practical love and benefits of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Our prayer must be, “Holy Spirit guide me today that I might share your love and benefits without regard for societies dividing lines.”
 

Dealing with Mocking

Most of us have had to deal with some level of mocking and derision in our lives. We know that it can be hard to bear without lashing out in anger or crawling into a shell of some kind. However, as children of God we are expected to continue to walk right and with a good attitude. How can we do that and still be joyful?

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,” 2Pet 3:3

First, we should be expecting it in a world driven by the Devil and his values. I believe that knowing their motivation, arguments and attitudes can help us to remember that those very things (lusts, willing ignorance, and coming judgment) were our problems too before Christ. Moreover, those mockers are often the actual mission God has given to us. Our greatest weapon and support is to “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Vs 18

We cannot let this difficulty derail our testimony and mission.