Daily Journal: 4 November

Hold On to What is Precious

Not everyone shares the same value in things. You may have heard of the old saying that says, “one person's trash is another person's treasure”.

The bible says:

Matthew 7:6 (NCV)

“Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls before pigs. Pigs will only trample on them, and dogs will turn to attack you.

We are cautioned not to return like for like, or an eye for an eye, but to pray for those who hurt us.

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Not everyone wants what we know to be true. Not everyone believes in the unsurpassable love of Jesus Christ. Many are resistant to Him, to His message, and to His followers. While we are called to bless and not to curse, to pray for those who misuse us, we are also cautioned to live with boundaries to those who are resistant to the pearls we are given. We are to hold on to what is precious and not throw away our pearls when we know they will be trampled on. Unless God has specifically told us to, we should not go into an environment that we know is not good for us, or may be openly hostile; to think we should give away what is sacred to God for it to be mishandled and for us to be abused.

We need to judge wisely and be able to discern open hearts from resistant hearts.

Being a blessing is only a blessing when it can be received.

Matthew 10:13 (ASV)

And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

It is not for us to convict people of their sin. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is His power that calls people to receive His truth when they are ready.

The Holy Spirit has different names that describe His attributes, as we see in this verse where Jesus had finished His work on earth and was about to ascend to heaven in front of His disciples.

John 16:7-9 (NCV)

But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper [Counselor, Comforter, Advocate] to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come. When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. He will prove to them that sin is not believing in me.

Here is a challenging question for us. Do you have worries? Do you trust in Jesus? Do you believe that He has sent the Holy Spirit to help you in all things? Do you trust Him enough to give Him the space to work things out in your life in the way He chooses?

Lord, although we say we love, so many times our actions speak louder than our words. We say we love you, but we don't put our trust in you. Help us to truly believe in you, to truly place our faith in you. Help us to hold on to you like a life line, in all things, and to trust in your path and your outcomes for every situation in our lives.