Let it go

1st Peter 2:1-3

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Peter is really saying some great stuff here. In chapter one he's talking about what Jesus did, and how we're supposed to be holy, for He is holy. The only way to do that is by reading God's word and applying it to our lives. We're all different, and we're all going to act and react differently to do different circumstances. To expect other Christians, or other ministers of God's word, to all be exactly the same is to expect every snowflake to be the same. There are going to be obvious similarities: They are all cold and wet. Well, ministers of the gospel are going to lift up Jesus as Lord and preach that there's only salvation in Him. Other than that, the methodology may be different. But as long as the ultimate outcome is Jesus being glorified, it's all good. Now if someone is preaching a different gospel, or lifting themselves up, then there's a problem. We are told to "test the spirits" to make sure that one who says he represents God, really does. Do we make mistakes? Of course. But when we do, we must correct them. If you've been following a wrong doctrine or wrong belief system, stop it. The only way to prove or disprove a doctrine, or belief system, is to test it with the word of God. If folks are pulling verses out of context to get you to give them money or to follow them in their error, don't do it. Let's let go of envy and use what God has given us. We all have talents that the Lord has given us. If we compare ourselves with others, we will either allow pride to enter, or we will be disillusioned because we aren't like so and so.

Anyway, read your bibles, and apply what you read to your lives. If the enemy tries to trick you, your main defense is knowing God's word. When satan came to test Jesus, He didn't command him away. No, He used the word of God to answer every temptation. That's what we need to do. Have a great weekend and God bless. :-) PJ