Itching Ears

Today was quite the day. In fact, as I sit here and replay it in my mind, it was more like 4 different days rather than just one. Looking back, though, the theme of sin, accountability, grace & truth permeated all of it. In just this one day I have experienced all of those things, and seen them rejected as well.

Tonight at our ladies Bible study we were discussing obedience and disobedience. Obedience to God and His word brings freedom, blessing, grace, love, opportunity, warning, health and many other things. Those are the good things God wants to give us and lavishly bestows when we obey His commands. Yet still we disobey so often. We think we have a better plan, or maybe just want to compromise with God. Sometimes, like a little child we stomp our foot and demand our own way. And sometimes we just don't want to. It's too hard, requires too much, or asks us to give up what we hold on to so tightly, even if that very thing is sucking the life out of us.

Part of our responsibility as Christians is to hold each other accountable to obedience, to help each other out when we fall, and to restore relationships with God and other people. Yet, in our disobedience, even those of us who are supposed to know better reject this gift of help and grace & truth from the people around us.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 says, "In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

This is talking about people who have heard and believed sound doctrine, but are no longer willing to listen to or obey it as truth. They surround themselves with people who will support and reinforce what they WANT to be truth rather than what actually IS truth. And lest we think we are immune from this temptation, remember: Paul had to tell Timothy, "BUT YOU, keep your head in all situations..."

The only way to recognize the false is to study and know the truth. Even the government and banks know this. They don't train employees to recognize counterfeit bills by showing them counterfeit bills. They make them study real money so much that they can spot a counterfeit a mile away. Protect yourself. Study God's Word. Surround yourself with people who love Him, love you, and will help steer you back on track when you wander off.

Tonight we talked about two cycles. The cycle of disobedience is this: we disobey, our hearts begin to harden, and we no longer want to obey. The cycle of obedience is the opposite: We obey, we reap the blessing of being closer to God & knowing Him better, we love Him more, and then we want to obey. Examine your life honestly. Which cycle are you rolling around in, and is that really where you want to be?