The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 36:2,
"In their own eyes they [the wicked] flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin."
David expresses this observation about the wicked - they simply have no understanding about their sinful condition. He says this observation comes from the Lord himself.
The wicked include all those who have failed to place their faith and trust in the Lord and as such are unregenerated without the facility to grasp both their condition and the plight they face of God's looming judgment of them. John says they walk about in a spiritual darkness, unable to see what it is they stumble over, 1 John 2:10-11. Particularly verse 11, "They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
In our minds we may find this contemptible of them, but I have shared in that reality myself (we all have). David certainly places them in such a light. Keeping that in mind, I think it instructive as we share our faith with others. The lost do not know what we know. They do not "see" what we see. They do not understand what we understand.
Our approach to those who need the gospel message need to be approached with that in mind. We should expect to encounter possible confusion on their part, maybe defensiveness, hostility, excuses, conceit, condescension. Most lost folks don't know what it is they don't know. Because of this many feel they have "woke" to other truths, other understandings, other answers to life's questions.
These things being the case, I love the approach taught by "Way of the Master" ministries over the years. Use God's word to help them see their sinfulness. Share what God has to say about personal sin and stay on that track. The employment of God's word to shed light on another's sinful condition is dicey but absolutely necessary. No one looks to be saved if they don't recognize their need for it.
Expect pushback. However, there are some who, when confronted directly and meaningfully in a sincere and courteous manner will acknowledge their need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
"In their own eyes they [the wicked] flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin."
David expresses this observation about the wicked - they simply have no understanding about their sinful condition. He says this observation comes from the Lord himself.
The wicked include all those who have failed to place their faith and trust in the Lord and as such are unregenerated without the facility to grasp both their condition and the plight they face of God's looming judgment of them. John says they walk about in a spiritual darkness, unable to see what it is they stumble over, 1 John 2:10-11. Particularly verse 11, "They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."
In our minds we may find this contemptible of them, but I have shared in that reality myself (we all have). David certainly places them in such a light. Keeping that in mind, I think it instructive as we share our faith with others. The lost do not know what we know. They do not "see" what we see. They do not understand what we understand.
Our approach to those who need the gospel message need to be approached with that in mind. We should expect to encounter possible confusion on their part, maybe defensiveness, hostility, excuses, conceit, condescension. Most lost folks don't know what it is they don't know. Because of this many feel they have "woke" to other truths, other understandings, other answers to life's questions.
These things being the case, I love the approach taught by "Way of the Master" ministries over the years. Use God's word to help them see their sinfulness. Share what God has to say about personal sin and stay on that track. The employment of God's word to shed light on another's sinful condition is dicey but absolutely necessary. No one looks to be saved if they don't recognize their need for it.
Expect pushback. However, there are some who, when confronted directly and meaningfully in a sincere and courteous manner will acknowledge their need for forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
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