PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS
Pastor Sherrye Fuentes, author
We speak a lot about not judging others and forgiving others so we do not get into strife or offense. These are truly important things to remember. I would like to remind everyone that we should also avoid preconceived notions that take root and taint our opinions of others.
For instance in Job 8, Bildad has just finished listening to Job rant and rave about his situation and that of the world in general for 2 chapters and what does he say to Job?
Job 8:6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
He is saying the very ideas he went there with a week prior, before he even talked to Job or heard any of his lamentations. He is basically saying to him, "You have sinned, and if you had not sinned, God would have continued to bless you and your house." Bildad does not know the heart of GOD, but in making this statement he has assumed to be speaking God's will over the life of a man he does not even understand. He made two very wrong moves. He came to Job with a preconceived notion as to why all the tragedy happened in the first place and then presumes to speak for God.
The book of Job is full of this type of hypocrisy. Those supposed friends of Job spoke for several chapters about the will of God and Job's sins. Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, and Job made so many wrong statements, especially in reference to the Lord, that God had to defend Himself! Just read through there and you will see what I mean.
Do not think that this is the only place in the Bible where people sin by having preconceived notions. Peter had a few of his own that the Lord had to work on him about. Remember in Acts 10 where Peter had the vision up on the roof where he saw a vessel full of different animals?
Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is comon or unclean.
Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou comon.
Acts 10:16 This was done thrice:
Peter had judged those animals as being unfit to eat, even though God had instructed him to partake. It took God three times to get through Peter's preconceived notions about what is clean and unclean. That vision had two facets (just as do most illustrations in the Bible) the physical and the spiritual. God was not just saying to Peter that it was OK to eat a pig that had been blessed, he was also saying it was also OK to associate with Gentiles who were his spiritual brothers in Christ. That was a big wall that had to come down in Peter's life, an Mattitude that definitely needed changing, a preconceived notion that needed to be destroyed.
We need to listen to God before we just decide arbitrarily what is right or wrong, good or bad, sin or not. Sure, you can look at something someone has done and on the surface see what you think it is, but you do not know the heart of the people involved. Let God direct you so you react properly, and do not turn away someone who just might need you to love and forgive them right there. Remember, you are Jesus to those who can not yet feel Him directly. God can open your spiritual eyes and show you things that you could not possibly know. There are so many hurting people in the world who need us to be Jesus for them. Do what Jesus did...love them and do not judge them by the preconceived notions that spring up when you see them. Those are vain imaginings, and you know what you are supposed to do with those:
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We need to cast them down imediately and send them back to hell from whence they came. If you do not, you become like the foolish friends of Job who thought they were wise in their council to him.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Be wise and listen to God, not the devil. Let me tell you right here and now that the devil will try to infiltrate your every thought and he will imitate the voice of God Himself. Do not let him get a toe in the door of your thoughts, or he will work his whole foot, leg, and entire body into your mind and set up housekeeping.
Be strong, and do not forget the Armor of God - that Helmet of Salvation is your protection from the world and its master. Jesus is your salvation and he will stand with you and keep you in all your ways as you meet the everyday people who need you to be HIM for them. Do not judge them by their appearance, speech pMatterns, car, house, or any other superficial thing.
Part of the definition of superficial is: apparent rather than actual or substantial, trivial; insignificant; shallow. We need to seek out the deeper things of God, and find them in the people we meet and deal with on a day to day basis.
See what Jesus sees in others, a child of God who needs direction and someone more mature to look out for them and teach them. You might be 18 years old but still be more mature in the ways of God than someone who has spent 40 years in a church that does not teach the Word. Do not think that just because someone is older that they are wiser. That would be so wonderful, and it was probably God's plan for it to be that way, but there are some seasoned citizens out there who do not know Christ. Do not let the preconceived notion that "they are older, so they must be right" blur the truth for you. It might be hard for a young person to teach an old person without causing some strife, so PRAY for them and let God guide you.
That is the bottom line...Let God guide you. He will if you just let Him. In order to let Him lead you, you must be listening to what he is telling you. You can't listen if you are talking. Talk to God, but always give him a chance to talk to you....hey it is just the polite thing to do in a conversation. Let your prayers be a two way conversation with your Father.
God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.
If you read Malachi 3:10-12 and then Mark 4:12-18 you will see where the tithe can and will increase your knowledge of the word and of God. The tithe is more than just giving 10% to a church, it is a way for God to have authority in your life over all that matters, your income, your growth, even relationships. Out of about 30 people I have known for the past 10+ years only 5 tithed. The 5 of the 20 that tithed have increased in every area of their life. Where the other 15 have increased some, they are still light years behind the 5 who tithed in all areas. It is your choice, but do not tithe until you understand the tithe and what it does for you and do it from the heart and not the head.
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