Learning so much....

Now as touching things offered to idols, we all have knowledge. But knowledge puffeth up but chrity edifiteh. And if any man thinketh he know anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. - 1 Corinthian 8:1-3

How true is this?!! Man how true this is. I will tell you, there is something about this Christian walk that both puffs up and edifies. It is the people that usually puff up and it is the God in us the has the ability to edify. I don't know about you but it seems we all reach a point in our walk when we think we have a handle on the things of God. We become caught up with church doctrine and sometimes forget that it is the Word of God that is the final authority but we put so much emphasis on what the church believes. Now don't get me wrong, it is a good thing to have a set of beliefs by which to govern yourself by so long as they are rooted in the Word but even then, some of the the doctrine that arises is based on what we think the Word is saying. Most of the interpretations that we have about the Word of God comes from some of the traditional things that we have been taught down the line and we become denominational converts instead of born again believers.

So what am I learning...I am learning that loving God and being loved by Him is really all that matters. And if we claim to love God we WILL love our brothers and sisters. For all of the law is fulfilled in one word and that is to love thy neighbor as thyself. I am not saying that it is okay to be in doctrinal error (learning that there is a lot of that too) and that we should accept anything but what I am saying is doctrine puffs up but love builds up. Doctrine at times confuses but love just makes sense. When we love each other we will not become offended so easily because we know we have each other's best interest as heart. But in the end it is ALL about Christ. Love says I love you enough to make sure that in everything you do you are honoring our Lord.

Not only that but I am learning A LOT and I mean A LOT about how the devil works with his backwards behind. I am becoming more and more aware of the methods he uses to keep us as far as we can possibly get from God. And this is the thing, he doesn't even care about you devoting your life and actions to him but so long as he can keep you in a place that you will never experience true freedom in Christ, if he can get you to hang out in the middle (lukewarm) he is good. But the farther away he can entice you the better. That is why we have to be careful of the small things that capture our affections because God is a jealous God (yes Oprah! He is jealous for us and not of us). And most of all HE LOVES US..OH HOW HE LOVES US like she says below:



And I love you too!

Peace and Blessings

TikaStar*