Believing based on truth

We live in a world where the truth is well... relative. Not like a cousin or an aunt "relative" but more like "if I choose to agree it's truth" relative.

Now I know there's some "relatives" we all have we'd like to believe are not "true" but that's another story. ;)

This morning I was talking to a friend and while she loves Jesus, she struggled over a certain situation she'd observed most of her life. A sin issue. Well, what the Bible calls sin.

"I just don't judge," she said.

While hearing her heart to love those who feel left out by the "church" I also heard a disagreement with God.

"Who am I to speak?"

She's the very person who should speak up. Because her heart is about love and compassion. Because she is not judging their eternal soul, only their actions.

We've watered down the Faith by judging God's Word according to our own circumstances and experiences.

Then we say God tells us not to judge. But He does tell us to judge according to His Word.

Zechariah 8:16 ". . . speak the truth to one another, judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates."

Look, I can want stealing to be a righteous act. I may have a solid reason for stealing - I lost my job and my kids are hungry - but it doesn't change God's Word. It's a sin.

I can have a sound basis to lie. If I tell the truth, people will be disappointed, or get hurt. More likely, I won't get what I want. So, I lie. What's a little, teensy lie?

God calls is sin. My circumstance, my experience doesn't change God's Word. I have to adjust my thinking, my value system to align with His.

I had a dream once where I plugged my curling iron in a kitchen socket and my blender into the bathroom.

They both functioned, but not efficiently and not well. The bathroom is not the place to blend food. In the midst of this, God spoke to me in the dream.

"You can't plug faith into your experience, or truth into your circumstances."

If you don't know about something, dialog with God. He's listening. He's waiting for you to come to Him. I ask Him a lot of questions starting out with, "God, I don't understand this. I see in Your Word this, but how does that line up with the testimony of others who disagree?"

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Seek Him, His righteousness, the rest will come.

Blessings!