(WISDOM)CAFE SOZO

NOTE: We have some very smart readers. One of you informed me that the origin of the phrase “God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” comes from a well know hymn by William Cowper, 1774.

Thanks!

“Therefore it is no great thing if his (Satan’s) ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:15)

COMMENT: As you probably know, before you take a rental car back to the dealer one must bring it back with the same amount of gasoline you received when you picked it up. Well, when I picked up my vehicle the gas tank was full so, in order to avoid being penalized, I got a “fill up” before heading back to the rental office. I casually glanced down at the gas gauge and to my astonishment it read half full!!! I knew that I had just put more than $30.00 worth of petrol in the tank and now the gauge was reading half full???? I was confused, frustrated and didn’t know what to do. Then it hit me! The gauges in the rental were in a different position than those in my personal auto. I had been looking at the Oil Level! The frustration and confusion I experienced because I was looking at the wrong gauge in that rental can be compared to the frustration and confusion a Christian can experience when he or she listens to a religious leader who preaches a false doctrine. Over 20 years ago I attended one of America’s mainline churches. My family needed some Christian counseling so we asked the pastor to visit our home. I was appalled to hear him say that the devil doesn’t really exists and that there is just evil in the world. I knew what the Word of God says about the enemy of our souls. Shortly after that episode, my best friend, Ken Walker, led me to the Lord over a long-distance phone call. Since I had not even heard a single word about salvation while attending my pastor’s church, I knew that it was time to make a change. A few years later my suspicions were confirmed. I read that this same pastor was heading a counseling organization that recommended abortions to women. No matter who is ministering the Word of God to you -yours truly included – it is good advice to imitate the Bereans in Acts 17 when Paul and Silas preached to them: “These (Bereans) were more fair-minded that those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Acts 17:10-15

WISE SAYING: WHEN YOU HEAR A SERMON, DON’T JUST GIVE IT A NOD; CHECK IT OUT WITH THE WORD OF GOD! (gene mcguire)