Casting Pearls- Have you been arguing with an ass?

If we look in Numbers 22:20-36 we will see Balaam a wise seer who speaks the word of God as it comes to him. He hears the Lord speak and tells you God’s words. He had been sent for by Balak and those with him to put a curse on Isreal so they wouldn’t take over the land he was in and destroy his little kingdom. Balaam told Balak repeatedly, God will not curse them. Balak would not listen though. He thought maybe if I had Balaam right here in front of me,  he would have to go ahead and curse them. Balak then sent some of his men to have Balaam come to him.

When we get to the passage starting in verse 20, God speaks to Balaam and tells him if the men come and ask you to go with them to Balak, go with them. The men had already asked him to go, and as Balaam was willing to go with them and had permission from God, he went. God was angry with Balaam for going and Balak for asking him to come, but Balaam went anyway. God sent an angel to stand in the way of the Donkey, and it gave the angel a wide berth. It even left the road and went into a field to get away from the angel. Then the angel stood in a place where the road was walled on both sides and the donkey crushed Balaam’s foot trying to give the angel as much room as possible. Each time the donkey tried to get away from the angel, Balaam got angry because he couldn’t see the angel and he beat the donkey for disobeying. 

Finally, the angel stood in a spot in the road that was too narrow for the donkey to get around him, and the donkey just stopped and would go no farther. Balaam was very angry and began to beat the donkey with a stick. God then began talking through the donkey. The donkey[or ass] says to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you,Why have you beat me these three times?’. The ass continued, ‘ Am I not your ass, that you have ridden for a long time? Have I ever acted this way with you?, No.’ Balaam then spoke back to the ass saying, “ If I had a sword or a spear in my hand I would kill you.” Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he was suddenly able to see the angel, who had a sword drawn in his right hand, and he heard the angel speak, “ I was to block your way and kill you if you tried to pass, but these three times, the donkey saw me and shied away. If she had not turned away, I would have Killed you.” 

If we ever find ourselves arguing with someone that will not see the our opinion of the truth, no matter what we say, we should just stop. God may have placed them in our way to help us see ourselves and the real truth. Or they could be teaching us something we need to learn, about being humble and forgiveness. Not that they need to be forgiven because they are wrong, but we might need to be forgiven for the pride of thinking we are not wrong. We should see them as being a teaching tool that God is using to teach us the right way to act. 

CASTING PEARLS- Hospital for Sinners?

                       Many people refuse to come to church because the supposed saints who come to church are not being a good example of someone being lead by Christ in their daily lives. They refer to Christians as hypocrites, and are right to do so. We are not automatically perfect in all we do when we become saved. Mostly, it depends on how deeply we are willing to let Jesus into our lives. I'm afaid that many 'professing' Christians will receive the same response when they get to Heaven, "away from me for I knew you not".  Church is best described as a Hospital for sinners, where we can meet together and make plans for reaching out to our communities and receive help in strengthening our own faith.
                       We are exhorted in the Bible to study and learn as much as possible about Jesus. It says in John 1:1 that 'In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.' If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and one third of the Trinity of God, then we also believe that Jesus is the Word that is God. In Matthew 22:29 We find Jesus revealing the truth to the Sadducees saying that they do not understand because they do not really know the scriptures or the power of God. The greek word used for power was 'dunamis' the word from which comes our word dynamite. It also states in the scriptures that 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness' in Romans 4:3 We can also find righteousness by showing faith in the promises contained in God's Word.
                      Most of all we can find approval in God's eyes by continually studying the word of God, as with most people we have a relationship with, we wish to spend as much time as possible with them, The way we can spend time with God, is to regularly and diligently study the Word. It was stated from Paul to Timothy in Paul's letter, 2nd Timothy 3:16 that 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.' Study and implementation of God's Word is the only way we can reach any hope of being Righteous in God's eyes. It is only through God's Word, and Jesus' blood, that we can even be clean enough for God to look upon us. If we think of ourselves as anything more than filthy rags in God's eyes, we are not even close. Every word in the Bible was given to the writers by God, and ordered by God, and used by God for our teaching, correction, and to instruct us how to live a Godly life.
                       That is why a church is not just a society of saints, but a Hospital for sinners. and the best prescription for each of us is the Word. God's Holy Bible. It will teach us how to live a righteous life, and will also warn us what to look out for in others. Will we still be fooled by others? Why yes of course, we will not be able to use the Word of God to protect us in life. However the Word can help us in how to react to others acting like heathens, and ignoring the teachings of God.