Holy Boldness

a vulnerable thing. Though Jesus urged caution against unrighteous judgment, He follows up with a strong caution against sharing sensitive subjects with just anyone. “ Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6) Jesus taught a type of discernment- not judgment- that protected what was precious. Disciples were to be uncritical but they were not to be undiscerning of their communications of God’s truth. Pearls are precious commodities and Jesus used it as a metaphor for spiritual trea sure received from God. Not everyone can appreciate the treasure. Swine is also a metaphor for people who cannot delineate between precious and worthless. Many spiritual experiences have been treated with contempt by those who cannot appreciate them or are still immature in their faith. Many simply do not have the spiritual experience or maturity to discern the value of another’s experience. Holding certain truths or experiences “close to the vest” is not pride. It’s just wisdom and it’s actually an act of love not to try to force people to embrace what they cannot honestly appreciate. As people draw closer to God, spiritual encounters increase but so do confrontations. Truth creates crisis in people’s lives but many do not have any desire for it. Jesus warned His disciples against trying to explain deep spiritual truths to people who have no context or desire to discern. The deeper one goes into the eternal truths of God, the more foreign one’s encounters will be for those who have no experience with the God. Truth both unties and alienates.

Deeper Still!

Nevertheless, Jesus still challenged His followers to keep pressing on in the pursuit of revelation, the pursuit of truth and the pursuit of Him.

Ask, Seek, Knock

“Ask and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 6:7, 8) This powerful exhortation from the Lord begs all who are hungry

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