"You'd better behave, or else!"
A firm direction, a command, a warning ...however one can look at it, it could be said that when one finger is pointing at another, four times as many are pointing at you. Well, actually three, as the thumb is neutral ...so it's three fingers pointing back
Often quoted is: "Judge not, lest ye shall be judged ...", or some version of that verse.
And that verse can be an eye-opener, but it is usually a mouth-opener.
How about an open mind??
What is meant by that also varies greatly, and can be an accusation without commitment to any actual mature discussion.
I believe an open mind should coincide also with an open Bible.
That is not pointing at any one individual, but it covers all people ...and the only pointing is pointing to the Bible.
If pointing to the Bible offends someone ...then it means, I think, that they are not ready to accept the Bible. It is meant to be more open to truth, then to offend ...yet, some are offended.
Why is that??
If we begin with gratefulness as we look to God, that would mean we are thankful. We would be perhaps excited with our thankfulness towards any gift we are given. Our attention would be with interest towards the giver of the gift.
Wouldn't we be interested in what God says, as the most significant influence upon our lives??
Also wanting to adjust or change our ways to be reflective of those attitudes ...may involve or require what some people think is an unpopular term ...repent. Repent does simply mean to change our attitude, and in time, our ways.
We may ask how we can please God ...but, first we also have to challenge ourselves with to what degree of commitment that may require.
God only requires that we accept His Son, Jesus ...and since we are all sinners, we should understand it is not required that we not sin.
The question is ...Why would we want to??
We all struggle, yet at times we struggle to oppose that which we should support ...and we favor that which we should oppose. So, how do we then reconcile all that ...saying we still accept Jesus, but not what He represents.
Jesus did not just represent one thing ...so we can focus on a particular calling, but that is not akin to picking and choosing as if we are at a large banquet, and going to a table to select something someone else has prepared.
At one time certain meat was prohibited ...and after Jesus rose to be again with the Father, it was shown authority to Peter that things that were before prohibited were now deemed okay. But, that does not account for all things as acceptable ...and it does not make sin no longer sin.
Often quoted is: "Judge not, lest ye shall be judged ...", or some version of that verse.
And that verse can be an eye-opener, but it is usually a mouth-opener.
How about an open mind??
What is meant by that also varies greatly, and can be an accusation without commitment to any actual mature discussion.
I believe an open mind should coincide also with an open Bible.
That is not pointing at any one individual, but it covers all people ...and the only pointing is pointing to the Bible.
If pointing to the Bible offends someone ...then it means, I think, that they are not ready to accept the Bible. It is meant to be more open to truth, then to offend ...yet, some are offended.
Why is that??
If we begin with gratefulness as we look to God, that would mean we are thankful. We would be perhaps excited with our thankfulness towards any gift we are given. Our attention would be with interest towards the giver of the gift.
Wouldn't we be interested in what God says, as the most significant influence upon our lives??
Also wanting to adjust or change our ways to be reflective of those attitudes ...may involve or require what some people think is an unpopular term ...repent. Repent does simply mean to change our attitude, and in time, our ways.
We may ask how we can please God ...but, first we also have to challenge ourselves with to what degree of commitment that may require.
God only requires that we accept His Son, Jesus ...and since we are all sinners, we should understand it is not required that we not sin.
The question is ...Why would we want to??
We all struggle, yet at times we struggle to oppose that which we should support ...and we favor that which we should oppose. So, how do we then reconcile all that ...saying we still accept Jesus, but not what He represents.
Jesus did not just represent one thing ...so we can focus on a particular calling, but that is not akin to picking and choosing as if we are at a large banquet, and going to a table to select something someone else has prepared.
At one time certain meat was prohibited ...and after Jesus rose to be again with the Father, it was shown authority to Peter that things that were before prohibited were now deemed okay. But, that does not account for all things as acceptable ...and it does not make sin no longer sin.
