from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church http://bit.ly/2ALUKcs
via IFTTT Reasoning for selfishesness. This scripture exemplifies one of the core problems America suffers from today. We as a people have lost the desire to know truth. When debates and arguments ensue in person or on social media, the goal is usually not truth, but winning. Selfish ambition. Sin. The church leaders that Jesus questioned here faced a delima within their own minds, but they couldn't even see the real problem. Look at their reasonings and you see it is not even about truth, not about principle or scripture. They only considered the consequences of each possible answer. Selfishness! They cared more about themselves than the truth they claimed to possess. This is why Jesus called them "open faced tombs" a symbolism that fits perfectly ! How often do we do this today? How often do our thoughts drift to "what will happen if I say this or that". NO! Put that selfishness aside! Why do you care? Do you now possess the right or authority to pick and choose based on what happens to you, the lowly messenger? Does life spring from you speaking , or from the words you speak? The arrogance of manipulating the truth based on personal consequences is staggering! Truth is truth. Words bring truth. We are never told to measure our words by the personal benefits or consequences they may bring. We are told to spread the Gospel, speak truth, perservere, die to self, life only for Christ. We are not even in charge of results! We do not make things happen! We only do the work. We are the laborers, not the master. How dare we consider the outcome of speaking truth and think "we" can control that outcome. The only control we have I over our own choices; speak truth, speak lies, or remain silent. Jesus calls us to choose truth, and speak it in love. Do not worry about outcome, it is not in your hands. This is faith. Trust. Know that the God who authored truth will bring the fruit when you do the labor. Be strong, bold, but only for truth in love. The church leaders could not answer Jesus that day, because they did not live in truth. They did not possess truth. They did not know truth. They did not even consider the actual question Jesus asked ! They never contemplated scripture. They never sought truth, they just considered the personal consequences of the answer Beware of people like this. Beware of yourself if you see yourself in this scripture. Beware of taking stands not on principle. Beware of words based on consequence, not truth . In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Speak the Word.
