The calling of prophets is very interesting to me. I often think of Ellen White’s calling, and those ahead of her who were called, but refused to cooperate with God’s plans for them. How about some of the other prophets? Isn’t it interesting that they were primarily called to minister to God’s people? Jonah was an exception, but the majority of the prophets’ work and messages, as recorded in scripture, were for the church – meaning me … and you!
How often I’ve read the Bible, believing that the things I read were calls out of darkness for others, rather than for myself; for people outside of the SDA church, because “we have the truth”. We have been blessed with a lot of truth, but when we only take part of it and leave the rest don’t we have a distortion that is deceitful to ourselves and others? Perhaps un-applied truth is our greatest danger…
I love the book of Ezekiel. There are so many amazing promises, given in messages and visions, and I find that the love of God is so prevalent throughout it. God calls His people back to Him, when they believe they are in line with Him already. Sounds like our day, doesn’t it? We can see it in others, but can we see it in ourselves? … or don’t we go there …?
Pride is a dangerous thing, and spiritual pride is particularly dangerous. Believing that the instructions/commands of God are for everyone else is a deception of perception, and very prideful. Perhaps we are only able to see a speck in someone else’s eye when there is a beam in our own … if all we had was a speck, we would see nothing in anyone else’s. It is easy to see this in respect to circumstances/differences between others, but what about where our heart is closed to someone? The principle still applies, and can’t be done away with.
How different our churches/homes/lives become when we ditch the spiritual pride, humble ourselves, and confess and surrender our own sins, and receive the healing God is eagerly holding out to us. Each of us has darkness that needs light shining into it; darkness we may not even be aware of. Asking God to show us the worst of our case is always a real eye-opener, if we will receive it.
There is a great deal of work to be done amongst ourselves; a lot of crucifying self, mending relationships, allowing love to pour into (and out of) our hearts; a lot of encouraging, strengthening, empowering of each other.
We are put here for the betterment of each one, but first, we must receive from God the removal of the beams and healing of our hearts/connection with Him so we can’t see the speck in each other’s eye.
May this be a blissful month of receiving from Him and not noticing the faults of others, for you and for me.
I’m praying for you!
By Erna McCann
- The Gift - December 23, 2021
- The Perspective of God’s Will - September 29, 2021
- The Narrow Path - May 9, 2021
