Bible in One Year:
Friday, October 9, 2009
(Lk 14 - Lk 17)

Memorise: "Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" (Jas 2:4)

Read: Galatians 1:23-24
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me. 

According to 1 Samuel 24:8-17, God can use your past mistakes for His glory. What caused David agony in 1 Samuel 24:1-7 eventually turned out to be a testimony. Romans 8:28 says all things - good and bad can be employed by Heaven to work for you. The mistakes of your past can play a part in God's plan for your life if you let Him handle them. Some of us are good Christians today because of certain errors we made in times past. The reason I cling to God tenaciously is because I know there is no real alternative to Him: There is nothing on the other side. In Galatians 1:23-24, Paul said that when the church heard that their greatest persecutor was now propagating the Gospel he once destroyed, they were agog with joy. Nobody is excited by weak testimonies. If they hear that you were once a super witch like Mary Magdalene, everyone will glorify God. So God can use your past mistakes to glorify His Holy Name. 

"And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold David seeketh thy hurt?" (1 Sam 24:9). When David had opportunity of killing king Saul, he did not. He cut a part of his robe and later asked Him, 'Why do you believe every information people give to you about me?' Do not be gullible to the extent of believing just any information people give to you. Many leaders have erred by listening to one side of a story. A brother and a sister had a misunderstanding. Their pastor friend heard the sister's account and believed her. By the time he saw the brother, he said if not that it would be unfair to judge based on one side, he would not have bothered to listen to him. Anyway, by the time he heard his account, he was confused and felt like dealing with the sister. Anyone who tells you a story will most likely tell you the side that is favourable to him. Insist on hearing both sides of the story, cross examine them before taking your decision. Do not trust what people say because if they are praising you, they are only setting a net for your feet (Prov 29:5). When they criticize you, don't just dismiss it with the snap of a finger. Examine their criticism, compare it with God's Word: you may learn something from it. Never let men's praise and approval get into your head. And never be distracted from your goal because of criticism. Remain focused. 

ACTION POINT:
It is a fool who judges based on one side of a story. Always insist on the other side before making comments.