Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:12ff
Me:
Good morning Father!
ABBA:
Good morning Jon!
Me:
[My wife] asked my opinion about several things this morning that relate to someone accurately judging the state of his relationship with You, and whether any other can know or even be comforted by that knowledge when mortal life comes to an end. We have the same difficulty in assessing our own relationship with You, from a purely rational perspective. This question is voiced in the Psalm above. Who can discern his errors? Elsewhere, the scripture says that every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the end thereof is death. (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25) Doing what ‘seems’ right is obviously perilous. In our society, voices are raised in an ever increasing din, proclaiming this thing that was previously held as sinful is the new virtue, or that thing which was thought to be blameless is now evil. Some of the loudest claim that the things that seem to be plainly stated in Your Word are the basis of “hate” and an affront to “diversity”. The various denominations argue endlessly about why Your Word doesn’t/can’t mean what it plainly says. The members of those denominations and of political systems struggle to gain dominance for their particular opinion; either about what You say, or – for those who claim You don’t even exist – what they say. Yet, You call us to a life of faith. How can the path be so hard to find?
ABBA:
Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they refuse to act with justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names,
Who acts with insolent pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he is craving,
While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29 A wicked man displays a bold face,
But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But victory belongs to the Lord.
I AM not the author of confusion. My Word if full of instructions like these that are intended to aid you in walking in the right way, and not merely in the way that seems right to the deceived. I AM the Lord, and I weigh the thoughts and intentions of the heart. My Word is intended as a source of meditation that over your years we may have opportunity to discuss My heart and My plan for you and for you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind by the power of My Spirit so that your plan lines up with My plan, and this of your own choosing. You should not expect My Word to be limited to your understanding; indeed, I AM not. You see, then, that your natural mind is actually incapable of encompassing all that I have already communicated. Despair not. You were made in My image. I AM Spirit. You are not limited by your natural mind. Those you refer to that argue endlessly have not attained that understanding. They are deceived. They do not yet know Me. It is hard to teach one who is convinced he already knows the answers.
As for the question of judging whether others have come to know Me, a better question is, “How much of Me have they come to know?”
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12 KJV) [KJV explicitly includes ‘own’ which is in the original.]
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:1-6
Me:
What does the warning about dogs and swine mean? Who are dogs and swine? How can I know dogs and swine without judging?
ABBA:
Dogs and swine are those driven solely by their physical appetites. You can recognize them because by My Spirit, I will help you see in them the spirit that previously bound you and from which you have been set free. I intend that you help and encourage one another. Share what you learn out of love alone. You cannot, by any of your works, add to the completeness of salvation purchased for you by Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on your behalf. Nor can you increase your standing with Me by your works. My love for you is a limitless love. Instead, know that you are My witness. (Acts 1:8) Witness from your own joy. The responsibility for how each one responds lies with himself.
Me:
Thank You for being so patient with me and for spending this time with me today. I am immeasurably blessed. I love You!
ABBA:
I love You, more than you can conceive! I love to spend time with you. When you are open to new understanding and are willing to concede that previous understandings may be too limiting or even wrong, you have a better chance of learning.
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Missionary Sojourn 