Quote from Forum Archives on December 8, 2010, 2:14 pm

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 2940 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!
There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!
Classic from 2002

12.08.10

Blindness to the Truth

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by
God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but
which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the Natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.

If you ever go to Greece, please do not do any "plane spotting," and under
no circumstances let anyone see you writing down the airplane numbers. Eight
tourists from the United Kingdom found that out the hard way. After these
English tourists were caught spotting planes, and writing down numbers, they
were arrested (In 2002). Not only were they arrested, but they also have
been sentenced to three years in prison. Very strange isn't it, but the
authorities in Greece will not believe that someone could innocently write
down airplane numbers. The Greek officials will not budge from their belief
that anyone who writes down airplane numbers has to be a spy. The officials
refuse to see the truth of the tourists' innocent activity.

If you have ever tried to witness to a lost person, you may know what it is
like to talk to someone who refuses to see the truth. To those of us who are
Christians, we easily accept the truth of the Word of God through faith. The
Spirit of God within us reveals this truth. However, those who are not
Christians do not have the Holy Spirit living within them. Because of this,
they will misinterpret the Scriptures, and non-believers will warp the
meaning of the Scriptures if they are involved in a discussion. The natural
man, the non-believer, cannot understand the things of God.

So if the non-believer refuses to see the truth, how can they ever come to
know God? God is working in their lives to draw them, the non-believers to
Him. Jesus says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him (John 6:44)." It is God's will that all would be able to know,
understand, and receive the Truth. Jesus says, "And this is the will of Him
who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have
everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40)."

What should be our response to the refusal of the non-believer to see the
truth? Our response should be one of love and understanding of the spiritual
situation. We should pray that God will continue to move, and work in the
person's life, and if possible let the non-believer know that we are praying
for them on a daily basis. At the same time we must live out our faith
before them demonstrating the love of God. Pray that God will remove their
spiritual blindness, so that they will come to know, love, and serve the One
True God.

Copyright © 2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals
in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was
primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities
throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).

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Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
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