"Perception Matters!"

 "The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him." (John 12:29 KJV) 

  ""Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him? No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, 'You have done wrong.' Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise. Everyone has seen these things, though only from a distance."" (Job 36:22-25 NLT)

 There are many times in our lives when we might feel as though we are being crushed by God; some of these times it seems as though we are being judged, and others just feel as though we are being made pure. Either way, judgement or cleansing, if you are one of God's children, it is all being done for good! 

 Now then, what is the definition of good? Top of the list, is, 'High Quality,' which begs to differ if we feel as though we are being brought low and dragged through the dirt. Another, that is towards the top of the list, is, 'Pleasing,' which doesn't really mirror the suffering felt when going through some tragedy or major heartbreak. 

 Suddenly, and almost immediately, we must put our mind God, not on whatever we might be feeling from the suffering in our lives! Take the focus off of ourselves, making God the focus of what is going on, even if it hurts! That might sound like it is difficult or impossible to do, but it is the only way you will have the right perspective in your situation or circumstance: guaranteed! 

 If there is one thing that I learned, (and still need to learn more about,) judgement and cleaning are what is happening, and it is part of every situation. I know that it is said, "God doesn't judge us anymore, because we have been forgiven of our sins." But believe it or not, we still sin! And, whether you know it or not, God's holiness and justice trumps our liberty to sin! 

 Technically, judgement and cleaning are the perfect correction that we need, always! God knows exactly what is required, because He has good judgement of our character and heart; because He knows exactly what is required, He can be absolutely good at cleansing us of the stuff that stands between our close relationship with Him! 

 Oddly enough, this might not seem like it compares with where we are today, but it is exactly what we need in order to the know when He is speaking, and what it is, He is trying say! The biggest problem with the perception of those that heard the 'thunder,' was not the actual thunder or voice, but their real perception of God's Son! 

 If they had known and understood who Jesus was and why He came, then the words God spoke would have been loud and clear...

"In view of all of this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their sins." (2 Peter 1:5-9 NLT)