Christians, recently God was reminding me of a saying I have often quoted, “you are right until you are wrong.” This quote was birthed from a place of revelation where God showed me that in life, there are many situations where people are right to a point, then they cross the line into the wrong. God also began to show me that this has been a pattern of behavior since the beginning.
Eve was in the Garden, she was essentially set up by the snake (Satan). The devil convinced her that she should eat the fruit. She was right with God, up until the point she bit the fruit, then she was wrong. Adam was next, set up by Eve. He was right until he was wrong. Then God showed up and what started? The blame game. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the snake, and we all got cursed. So why the history lesson? Because we are presented with so many opportunities these days where people set us up to be wrong, then when we cross the line: we begin to play the blame game. I propose we become aware of the line, and then refuse to cross it, no matter what the temptation.
How does this apply to real life? You need to look at any situation where people are in the wrong, you are in the right, but they are inviting you to cross the line. Maybe it is coworkers at work, all talking bad about the boss or company. You are right, until you are wrong. Then if you are caught, you will probably try to blame your other co-workers. But what if you didn’t cross the line, what if you showed respect, restraint. How about family members? Maybe you have that “frustrating” relative that always provokes you into coming down to their level. What if you refuse to, what if you remain strong, you remain right. What about your children? For me, I know I have been there before. The kids are acting up, they are out of control, I yell, I lose my temper. I was right until I was wrong, and I can try to blame the kids, or I could remain calm and remain right from the start.
Why is RIGHT, so important? To me, right represents: right standing with God. Blameless. Righteous. Having not sinned. The enemy will use people, especially people close to you, people you love, to try and bring you down from your right standing with God. The closer they are, the easier it is to be brought down by them. Look at Adam and Eve, husband and wife, she didn’t spend weeks convincing him to try the fruit too, she handed it to him and he ate it.
Just because other people choose to sin, choose to step off the path, does not mean we need to follow them, despite how great the temptation. We simply need to press into God, then begin to live out of His spirit, with the fruit on full display: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience…You may be facing adultery, you may be facing lying, you may be facing gossip, betrayal, disobedience, but you do not have to stoop down to their level.
We only have ONE perfect example of this, and it is really hard to imagine. Jesus, dying on the cross, for the very people that put Him there. All of these people who were crucifying Him were in the wrong, and He was right, righteous with God, through it all. To utter the words “forgive them Father, they do not know what they are doing?” That is Love on display. These are people that beat, spit, whipped, and nailed Him to the cross? Yet we are tripped up by people’s poor driving, cutting in line ahead of us, or posting something “offensive” on Facebook. You’re right until you are wrong.
BUT, there is hope, there is grace, because of what Jesus did endure on the cross, we can repent, of WHATEVER we have done to make us wrong, and guess what, then we are right with God again. It may take an apology, and if you openly were WRONG, you should openly APOLOGIZE (that’s right, if God convicts you about a Facebook post, go POST your apology as well, don’t direct message them). Nothing gets us closer to God than humility and repentance. And when you’re right with God, there is no better feeling in the world. I pray for strength and endurance to stand strong when others stumble. I pray for wisdom and revelation, when temptation is near, I pray for a quickening in our spirits, as we strive to live Holy and Acceptable to Christ, in Jesus name, Amen.
The man said, “The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:12-14 (NIV)
And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them. Luke 23:34 (AMP)
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:7-8 (NLT)
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 (AMP)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2017
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