I am called to be an identifier, a tester of whether something is Jesus or not, not whether it’s good or bad. This is my place of safety. I don’t get to decide what is good or evil, this is knowledge that is way above my pay grade. It’s not my job either. The temptation infused deep within that kind of judging is to play God. To live deciding through human reasonings and opinionated judgments is to live searching for answers through the Tree of Knowledge. This has always been a big no-no for man. I am intended to eat from the Tree of Life, which is Christ, the solid root and heavenly stock.
He is the deciding variable of ALL of life, not my logic. I am to live as a witness of whether things are Christ, my Beloved, or not. Here’s what I’m not to do: go figuring out whether situations, people, and circumstances are good or bad. The question simply is, “Is this Christ?” That is my only question. Do I hear the voice of my Shepherd or do I hear another’s voice?
It’s Not Good or Bad, It’s Jesus or Not?
Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; I am like a little child.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.
Psalm 131 HCSB
Knowing the answer to this question comes from relationship. If I have no relationship with Jesus Christ, I will have no discernment, only vain human reasonings. I become acquainted with His Voice, His smell, His heartbeat as I remain dependent on Him and through time spent with Him. It is through relationship that I know Him. Spending time – Jesus and me – with Him as my Shepherd.
It’s Not About Intellect, It’s About Jesus or Not
So does not knowing apart from Jesus mean that I am stupid? This doesn’t have anything to do with intellect. It isn’t about knowledge. It’s about Source. And it is about power. If I assume the power to define my world, I will dwell in the mind not the spirit. My spirit listens for Christ’s leading. I am to live in the simple wonder of a child, not as a judge. This is freedom and liberty, not ignorance and limitation. The Lord doesn’t burden me with the task of figuring out whether something is good or bad; He frees me to enter into relationship with Him and to know HIM. It is our union that makes me aware of the world around me, not my logic.
The Purpose of Life
If you know the purpose of all of life, you understand how wondrous this is. My life is designed for increasing my knowledge of Christ; it’s not happenstance. It is for relationship and union with Jesus, not situations. If I leave that goal and purpose, I leave Christ. If I occupy myself with the Tree of Good and Evil, then I am in a dialog with the devil. And the only reason I would do this is for power. In the Garden it was a struggle for power, and that remains true today. Power of knowledge to decide good and bad rather than listening to my Father God. Here is the truth: my only real power in this life is the power of relationship with Jesus. All other power is illegitimate and divergent from the design of Life.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139:5, 6 ESV
Yes, just as you have been saying that the purpose of praying and of reading the Word are for relationship with Jesus, so is life! This is how He calls us to Him! May the Holy Spirit be my sweet reminder to look for Christ in all things and to respond more and more! And may all our Christmases have the purpose of knowing Him! Not only as our Savior, but also as our Lord! I thank God for you and Shulamite and I look forward to what He will do in 2019! Warm and loving hugs from afar to… Read more »
It is truly a powerful revelations, isn’t it?! And perfectly obvious in light of the price He paid. From birth to death, His Life was about hearing the Father and living in obedience.
You are so dear to us! Bless you Sandy. May all you said be heaped back upon you, your life, and you family. Bless you and love you!
Oh John, for years I thought as a believer I was supposed to determine good and evil using my Bible . . . Like I could. ?. This is a revelation of such importance and love. I agree with Tammy – “Print!” ❤️
For me this is Life and death. I love you and pray your Christmas is beautiful and bright!
Hi, John, that’s really challenging, because the whole bible till the end is about good and evil: for example: deliver us from the evil one; overcoming evil with good, the kingdom of darkness against the kingdom of light, all of Paul’s lettters are full of admonitions to do good, literally everything has underlying the contrast between good and evil. Jesus speaks about enemies, about sins and how to overcome them, about heaven and hell, about life and death, about discernment, judging the signs of the time and on and on. I have heard all kinds of explanations around the non-… Read more »
I do understand what you are saying. I actually don’t know what is being preached out there about this “non-dualistic thinking” if that is how it’s being labeled. All I can share is what the Father has spoken and shows me. For me, He is asking for my commitment to NOT live in my opinions, which is easy to do, and to live Life by the Voice. To be perfectly honest with you Ulrike, many of the things I would have considered to be good or bad in my life, didn’t hold to my label at all. Understand, I am… Read more »
Thank you John, for this very precious testimony: living by the voice. I want to live always in His presence, and oftentimes I’m so sad, that I’m failing all the time. But He comforts me, telling me: don’t try to be a hero, rather remain a little helpless child, and know this: My joy is so great every time, you come in to Me again, I look at the longing of your heart, not at the perfection, you would like to attain. Again, I do not want to discuss our opinions, you are so right! It is wasted time, instead… Read more »
This is Jesus.
(And another one to print.)
❤️
Love you big Tammy! You are awesome! Back again in the New Year, please enjoy Him to the fullest throughout these Holidays. And thanks for standing!