Sharing in Understanding

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2015 1:32 pm Post subject: Sharing in Understanding

Sharing in Understanding

Scripture:

And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, taking away of the spirit that was in Moses, and giving to the seventy men. And when the spirit had rested on them they prophesied, nor did they cease afterwards.

Now there remained in the camp two of the men, of whom one was called Eldad, and the other Medad, upon whom the spirit rested; for they also had been enrolled, but were not gone forth to the tabernacle. And when they prophesied in the camp, there ran a young man, and told Moses, saying: Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp. Forthwith Josue the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, and chosen out of many, said: My lord Moses forbid them. But he said: Why have you emulation for me? O that all the people might prophesy, and that the Lord would give them his spirit! (Numbers 11:25-29)

Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted: and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days. Behold the hire of the laborers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, cries: and the cry of them has entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts. You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the Just One, and he resisted you not. (James 5:1-6)

But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that does a miracle in my name, and can soon speak ill of me. For he that is not against you, is for you. For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ: amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if your hand scandalize you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if your foot scandalize you, cut it off. It is better for you to enter lame into life everlasting, than having two feet, to be cast into the hell of unquenchable fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not extinguished. And if your eye scandalize you, pluck it out. It is better for you with one eye to enter into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not extinguished. ( Mark 9:38-48 )

Reflection:

Our challenge in comprehending the world and the expanse of our faith is our ability to observe and see. As individuals, we all do not see the same information, we do not observe the same evidence, nor do we have trust in all we hear or read, for too often what is presented to us contains flaws in interpretation and understanding, or sometimes, fabrications. It is right for us to question, but we must also seek to communicate so we may seek common understanding.

We assume that others see as we see and can evaluate from what we evaluate, but because we do not, we struggle with reaching consensus. Some people believe as we do, think as we do, see as we do; but so many do not. We become frustrated in convincing those who see differently; and they with us, for we do not see as them. It is because of this, rather than engaging politely, we seek to pummel one another with words, legalities and perceptions of proof. This is the realm of the evil one, to sow confusion in understanding so that we become divided from one another and from Him.

Our conflicts spring not only from our perceptions, but also from our arrogance and selfishness. The evil one delights as we seek to impose upon one another rather than to care for one another. The evil one salts our wounds of understanding through temptations of arrogance and conceit. We make proofs from our emotions rather than careful study and prayer. We are seduced to exaggeration and deception as tools to convince when we need only remain with the truth. We are seduced to jump to conclusions without observing all the facts and evidence before us.

If we are at odds with one another, we must pray for understanding which will enable our unity. We must ask that all hearts may be opened to His truth and that we may be protected from the seductions of the one of mischief. We must avoid conflicts over issues of little consequence so we do not distract from the great commandments He tries to teach us (Matthew 22:36-40). To guide us, He has sent His angels and His prophets, but the heart which is closed cannot see.

If we should be blessed to hear and see His truth, we should not become angry if others are not blessed as well, rather, we should be patient as He is patient. We should encourage as He encourages. We should peaceably offer of our understanding, but if it is refused, we must understand it is not ours to force a choice which is not ours to make; for when a choice of faith is forced, it no longer has meaning; it is simply an acquiescence without faith.

There are many means the evil one uses to blind us to His Word. Some are blinded by what they have of the world and their struggle to keep wealth and position. They decide what they must do for themselves before considering what is fair in their dealings with others. They do not see that the wealth which is kept for their own comfort serves such a limited time and purpose, for they do not perceive what will be theirs for eternity when they reach out in charity and love.

We often rationalize what we do, but we also delude ourselves within our rationalizations. We are quick to look upon the sins of others, but remain blind to our own faults. To justify our sins, we may also encourage others to do the same as we, failing to see that we only magnify our failings when we pull others into the pit. In prayer, we must ask that we are able to see, so that we avoid the path of sin, not only for ourselves, but all who travel the journey with us.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier