"The Matter!"

 "A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;" (Ecclesiastes 3:5 KJV)

  "But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Resue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 17-23 NLT)

 Having been walking with the Lord, sometimes closely, sometimes at a distance, I have discovered the crowds are gathered more in the back, then they are in the front. This really isn't that unusual, because there are more people who want to feel normal and comfortable, then there are those that want to feel different and challenged to be bold.

 The first thing I thought of by reading this verse this morning was strongholds, which are the things that capture our passions and our desires, holding us back from being that vessel to be poured out for God. It really doesn't take much, as my mom would say, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." She actually would say this anytime I was disrespectful towards her; as if my disrespecting her a little bit, would cause me to disrespect her a whole lot more. 

 Isn't that interestingly familiar? A little sin, we might otherwise think doesn't do much at all, might be all it takes to make another sin feel less important; causing us to grow into a big ball of sin, which rolls around tearing down walls, roads, safe places; anything else we had to stop ourselves from sinning, we have torn down, all because of one little sin. That might seem a little drastic and over the top; but it is almost exactly what happens when we do not repent and ask for forgiveness, for even the tiny sins! 

 Have you ever had a kidney stone? That little stone, although it might be no larger than a grain of rice, it causes us to lose sleep, to be uncomfortable, and to be very irritable, to say the least. It is the same with sin! God knows every sin we do, there is nothing hidden from His sight. So, what is worse, the sin, or pretending God doesn't know? Can you see why all the stops have been removed? 

 Maybe a good thing might be to start building alters; not literally, but something to remind yourself not to go back, which is basically what Jude cautions us about! We must hate the sins that cause us to fall! We must place a mark in that direction, which shows the result, knowing that it will only destroy, never will it build up! 

 God knows! Please remember that is the case, in every situation; whether you are going to sin, or if you want to flee from sin, He knows the intention of your hearts...  

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen." (1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT)