Spiritual Insight from Dr. Arthur Maricle: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. {Jeremiah 17:5-6} It is a dangerous thing to replace the Lord with a mere mortal, such as a spouse, lover, best friend, wealthy relative, employer, lender, celebrity, social leader, political party, spiritual elder, or religious organization. That has happened when you instinctively look to that person (or those people) as your first recourse for comfort and reassurance, and your first source of guidance and provision. The truth is that he, she, or they (the creature with whom you have replaced your Creator) are struggling with properly handling the myriad details of life as much as you are. They must ultimately fail you; in fact, if they are not submitted to the Holy Spirit, they themselves will fail in the end. You are in trouble when human influences move you to make carnal decisions that are contrary to divine decree. With Christ in you, the hope of glory, you have immediate access to the only One who lived life perfectly, loves you absolutely, cares for you thoroughly, and guides you flawlessly. While He usually provides you with human companionship, and often uses human instruments as conduits of His blessings, do not confuse the gifts with the Giver, nor replace the Benefactor with the people He has sent to benefit you. He must at all times receive your sincerest praise, your utmost loyalty, your purest devotion, your surest obedience. Here is a simple test of your spirituality. When youre walking with Jesus, you will typically feel refreshed, relaxed, and resilient, though there will be occasional moments of affliction, distraction, and perhaps even depression. If you are walking in the flesh, following human guides, you will typically feel parched, perplexed, and pessimistic, though there will be fleeting moments of happiness, fun, and excitement. Putting yourself to the test, are you following your Saviour like you should, or following a substitute where you should not?
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 06:03:21 +0000
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