What I love about God’s Holy Word is how it exposes my corrupted self that needs God to change me so that I am less another human copycat of destruction under the guise of self-servitude trying to bend the world to my conditioned bias.
In the beginning of my Walk with Jesus I was so confused, so messed up, and killing myself, emotionally, psychologically, and even attempted physical five times. This condition is seen throughout history, still today, where our internal dialogue manifests in our lives somewhere, somehow. Like so many others, I too turned to my childhood coping mechanisms of avoidance so others wouldn’t see how “bad” I was. Although, my patterns of learned behaviour were obvious, I wasn’t ready for Jesus to tear me open for Him to heal my hurt.
God had to teach me that my avoidance was linked to shame. Once God got me understanding b that shame wasn’t my identity He got me curious to find out what was. As I let go of shame, realizing that Jesus came for sinners like me, God empowered me to bring my wounds to Him to heal. My control of my healing process followed next. I had to learn trust in God. As I saw doing a small thing God’s Way actually work I wanted more of God as I began to understand love.
The more I let God’s Holy Word confront me, change me, and grow me, the more I fall in love with Jesus and the impossible made possible by Him- attaining Holiness. I am by no means Holy, but I am certainly more than I was 19 years ago, when God touched my life undeniably. I no longer need to avoid because God, THEE CREATOR loves me. I am more than happy to be molded by my DAD.
FORTUNATELY, GOD HAS SEEN MY TYPE OF HURTS, AND YOURS, A GAZILLION TIMES THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, AND KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO TURN OUR CORRUPTED SELF THAT FEELS TRUE, AND GROW US INTO THE REAL TRUTH OF OURSELVES AS GOD’S CHILDREN OF LIGHT.
‘Psychology Today’, has some profound truths about avoidance which tie a piece of Holy Scripture in 2 Chronicles 24 neatly with a reflective ribbon. Matthew S. Boone, LCSW, Jennifer A. Gregg, Ph.D., and Lisa W. Coyne, Ph.D. write about avoidance, “Avoidance is really about control? As humans, we love control. When you avoid things, you get to exert a measure of control over all of that uncomfortable stuff by staying away from the situations that might evoke it. But controlling, especially controlling through avoiding, doesn’t really work as well as we think it does.” – https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/stop-avoiding-stuff/202110/understanding-your-avoidance%3famp
Historically, after a good innings of doing things God’s Way, an evil woman Athalia reigns over Israel. She is seeking revenge for a lost son, and turns Israel away from God. After her a seven year old is made King. Fortunately, he is guided by a Godly priest- Jehoaida- who turns Israel back to God away from the sick pagan worship of invented gods.
Sadly, Joash, after Jehoiada dies, allows himself to be corrupted by the contemptuousness of those who seek self-fulfillment.
With the stage set, let’s tie this blog together.
It is important to notice a massive lesson featured in contrast between 2 Chronicles 24 vs 17-18 versus 2 Chronicles 24 vs 20-21.
* vs 17-18- Joash listened to man. Considering that research shows humans are biased, why would Joash turn away from God’s Goodness?
* vs 20-21- God empowers Zechariah giving him His Wisdom which Joash neglected under influence of self-serving others.
To grasp this lesson, ‘Enduring Word’, points out three key commentaries that fill in the blanks.
To quote:
i. “In most fawning and flattering manner did these court parasites present themselves before him…persuading him that during the days of Jehoiada he had been a king without a kingdom, a lord without a dominion, a subject to his subjects.” (Trapp)
[appealing to ego and control]
ii. “Do you not see those gentlemen coming, bowing and scraping a hundred times before they get up to him? They ‘made obeisance to the king.’ Jehoiada had not often made much obeisance to him; he had treated him with due respect as his king, but he had also spoken to him honestly and faithfully.” (Spurgeon)
[appealing to self-importance]
iii. “That they might not be confined to unnecessary and troublesome journeys in coming to Jerusalem to worship, but might have the liberty which their forefathers enjoyed of worshipping God in the high places; which liberty, when once they had obtained, they knew they could then worship idols without observation or disturbance, which was the thing at which they aimed.” (Poole)
[appealing to humanism logic with a self-interest agenda]
2 Chronicles Chapter 24
We hold God, The Holy Bible, and His Way with contempt which makes us corruptible because we bend truth to suite our conditioned perspectives
Here is the question 2 Chronicles 24 begs us to answer, “What in me am I avoiding that worshipping THE ONLY LIVING GOD exposes that I con myself, and others, and create a fictious god so that I can comfortably avoid the truth of myself?”
Messiah King Jesus gives us a fantastic golden clue in Matthew 15 vs 17-19.
Notice the opening statement of this blog: ‘What I love about God’s Holy Word is how it exposes my corrupted self that needs God to change me so that I am less another human copycat of destruction under the guise of self-servitude trying to bend the world to my conditioned bias.’
GOD’S HOLY WORD CONFRONTS OUR CORRUPTED HUMANISM, CHALLENGES OUR COMTEMPT, AND BY DEFAULT WE EITHER ACCEPT GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, OR WE STAY AVOIDANT, SOAKING IN OUR TOXIC STEW OF BIASED SELF.
Pray this:
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit forgive me my contempt that is an avoidant coping mechanism. Please tear me open. Give me courage and willingness to be confronted by Your Word so that healing may begin. Please remove all bad company from me that feed my itching ears and ego with what I want to hear. Forgive me my ignorance and controlling nature. Please be my Lord and Saviour, turning me away from what You call evil. Transform me with Your Holy Spirit, as my guide to get me too, and remain on the narrow path of salvation. Forgive me my self-protective agendas when You, Lord, are the Mightiest of All. Fill me afresh with Your Truth, Wisdom, Holiness, and Purity.
In Your Holy Name King Jesus
AMEN
JESUS LOVES US.
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