Believing Things that Are NOT True

We don’t necessarily ACT on what is true, but what we BELIEVE to be true. Joseph’s brothers hated Joseph so much they sold him to some Midianite traders, who took him to Egypt. But how could they explain his disappearance to their father? They took Joseph’s multi-colored coat and dipped it in goat’s blood, then showed it to their father. They deceived their father by trying to give him “proof” that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob said, “Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” (Gen. 37:33-34). He took the bait and ACTED on what he BELIEVED to be true, even though it wasn’t, and mourned for his son for the next 13 years.

Some people believe things that aren’t true about God. They’re angry at Him because they think He’s to blame for all tragedies. They are ACTING on what they BELIEVE to be true—even though it isn’t. If they had believed what was actually true, they wouldn’t blame God.

Some people believe things that aren’t true about themselves. They’re depressed and think there’s no reason to live. Others are confused about their identity and think they need to change their gender.  They are ACTING on what they BELIEVE to be true, but it’s a lie. As long as you’re alive, God has a plan for your life and a purpose to fulfill. God made you to be who you are, and He didn’t make you to be someone else.

Many people believe things that aren’t true about others. King Saul believed that David wanted to overthrow him as king and seize his throne, which was not true. David had no intention of doing that, but Saul ACTED on what he BELIEVED to be true and spent his entire life trying to kill David.

Why do people believe things that aren’t true? Jesus said Satan is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). Revelation 12:9 says Satan “deceives the whole world.” The devil has the ability to drop thoughts into our minds, like dropping a baited hook into the water to catch a fish. When a person “takes the bait,” he or she swallows the lie—and starts believing things that aren’t true.

Don't be so quick to believe everything that you’re told. Ask God to show you if you’re believing things that aren’t true. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32).  www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

VIDEO TEACHING OF THE WEEK  Each week I will post a new video teaching of a Bible teacher that I respect. This week archaeologist Joel Kramer explores The Walls of Jericho and shows how it verifies Judges 6. (Click to watch) 

She Fell Overboard but Couldn't Swim

 In 2002, a crew member on a Norway cruise ship fell overboard into the Atlantic Ocean one evening. She didn’t know how to swim. The crew knew she was missing four hours later when she failed to show up for a roll call.

The ship’s captain had a tough decision to make. With over 1,000 passengers who paid to go to St. Martin Island in the Caribbean, should he take them to their destination, or should he go back and search for her body?

 He decided to turn the ship around and search for her body. Angry passengers protested after it was announced the ship would not dock at St. Martin due to time lost because of the search. Since she couldn’t swim, they argued, there was no need to look for her.

 The captain calculated the currents would have caused her body to drift 4 miles off the original path. After back-tracking their path for over 4 hours, passengers gathered on the deck to look for a floating body.

 It's extremely difficult to spot someone in the water due to the sea’s waves and white caps, but against all odds, a passenger spotted her head above the water—and she was still alive! She had taught herself to dog-paddle for 10 hours, even though she didn’t know if the ship would return looking for her.

 Now, let’s change perspectives and see it through this woman's eyes. Imagine how frightened she felt after plunging into the water without a life preserver, and watching the lights of the ship disappear into the night. She’s in total darkness, hundreds of miles from shore. She frantically splashes around, trying to teach herself how to dog-paddle. Think how terrified she was, realizing she will probably drown due to exhaustion or eaten by a shark in the pitch dark. Her ONLY hope is to pray for a miracle—that the ship will return and somehow find her.

Imagine her excitement when the sun comes up and she sees a ship coming to rescue her! But, what would have happened to her if the captain had caved in to the angry passengers’ protests and taken them to St. Martin instead?

This incredible rescue is an illustration of being saved by God's grace. Spiritually, we’ve fallen overboard and we’re treading water in a sea of sin. If we go under, we will descend into hell forever. We can't save ourselves any more than that woman lost at sea could save herself. But then, Jesus comes searching for you. He said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 All we can do is cry out in desperation, “Jesus, please save me!” He will rescue your soul for all eternity.  "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Rom. 10:13) www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

VIDEO TEACHING OF THE WEEK  Each week I will post a new video teaching of a Bible teacher that I respect. This week is Pastor Josh Howerton teaching on “Is Hell Eternal?” (Click to watch)

The Lion and the Monkey

An unusual zoo exhibit had a monkey and a lion together inside the same cage. A visitor noticed the zookeeper standing nearby and said, “This is a great exhibit. How do the lion and monkey get along?”

The zookeeper replied, “Pretty well. But whenever they have a disagreement, we have a get a new monkey.”  (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 50).

Are you the lion? Or are you the monkey? The lion says, “I like to argue. I find it stimulating. That monkey gets on my nerves!” There’s a lesson here about dysfunctional relationships. The lion is going to win every time, so the monkey doesn’t need to “try to get along” with the lion. It just needs to stay out of the lion’s cage. 

But there’s another lesson here about avoiding unnecessary arguments. Paul said, “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all [and] patient when wronged.” (2 Tim. 2:23-24).

When people start arguing and fighting, Satan joins in the disagreement and adds fuel to the fire, which makes the conflict even worse. We need to understand that our struggle isn’t actually with the other person, but with demonic spirits (Eph. 6:12). Understanding our spiritual warfare can keep us from falling into Satan’s quarreling trap. King Solomon gave this wise advice: “Avoiding strife is an HONOR for a man, but any fool will quarrel” (Prov. 20:3). 

So the next time someone tries to start an argument with you, remember the zoo exhibit. You don’t want to end up like the monkey. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

My book FINDING GOD’S WILL is now an Amazon audiobook for $4.50. To listen to chapter one, click on this link and play the “Virtual voice sample” just below the picture of the cover.

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God Sold the Cattle

Not long after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost had to shut down. The creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a certain day and the leaders of the school were desperate.

President Lewis Chafer met with his faculty in the office, praying fervently that God would provide. One of the men, Dr. Harry Ironside, prayed, “Lord, You said in Psalm 50:10 ‘Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.’ Please sell some of the cattle and send us the money.”

 In the meantime, a Texas businessman stepped into the seminary’s business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Fort Worth and I feel compelled to give the money to the seminary. Here’s the check.”

The surprised secretary took the check and knocked on the door of the prayer meeting. Dr. Chafer took it out of her hand and discovered it was for the exact amount of the debt. He turned to Dr. Ironside and said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!” (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 126).

What are the odds of that happening? Without God, one in a billion. But with God, the odds change to one in one. The Lord knew the needs of Dallas Seminary before the faculty asked and prearranged for the businessman to sell his cattle and bring in the money. 

Just because you’ve prayed for something for a long time and it hasn’t been answered doesn’t mean that it’s never going to happen. Sometimes God comes through at the last minute. The widow at Zarephath was down to her last meal before God provided for her (1 Kings 17:9-16). When Abraham was about to offer Isaac, the ram was caught in the thicket by his horns at the last second. Dallas Seminary was down to its last hour.

God knows about your situation because Jesus said, “Your Father knows what need BEFORE you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8). The Lord says to you, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you” (Isa. 41:10)

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The Comparison Trap

Before heavyweight boxer George Foreman became famous, a friend told him, “George, one day you’re going to have it all. You’ll have money, a mansion, fleets of cars …”  George replied, “Wow, I’m going to feel good when that happens.” After George became the heavyweight champion of the world, it seemed as though his friend’s prophecy came true. He had everything he wanted, but still didn’t feel good.

One day his childhood hero, NFL football sensation Jim Brown, came to his ranch to do a television interview. George said, “I always wanted to be just like Jim Brown.” Now the person he had idolized since his youth was coming to see him.

George toured him around his estate, showing him his beautiful home, his collection of cars, and the manicured lawn. Jim Brown was impressed. He said, “George, you’ve got it made! I just hope one day I can get it together like you.” George thought, Get it together like me? I’m trying to get it together like him! (MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 331). Even though they were arguably the best athletes in their sports, neither of them were satisfied with their lives because they were measuring themselves with each other.

The Comparison Trap is when we measure our self-worth by comparing ourselves with others. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” When we compare with others, we will either feel superior or inferior, and neither attitude is from God.

Comparing ourselves with others is like ants comparing themselves. Imagine the ants in an ant pile arguing which of them was the greatest. One claims to be the smartest ant; another the most beautiful ant, and another the most athletic ant. Then a giant foot smashes the ant pile to remind them they weren’t so great after all.

The fact is, we are all ants living on this giant ant pile called Earth. It’s time to stop comparing yourself with others. There comes a time when each one of us must pray, “God I accept the way I look. I accept the intelligence that You gave me. I accept the abilities You gave me. I accept the personality that You gave me. And I won’t blame You or myself for not having what You didn’t give me. Amen.” www.makinglifecount.net

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Trapped in a Cage of Tigers

A circus act with Bengal tigers was performed before a live television audience one evening. The tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do the usual performance. The audience watched in suspense as the trainer took the tigers through their routine.

In the middle of the performance, something happened they hadn’t planned for. The power went out! In total darkness, the trainer was locked in with the tigers. Bengal tigers have nocturnal vision, which means they could see him, but he could not see them. A whip and a small kitchen chair offered little protection under those circumstances. Thirty seconds later, the lights came on and he calmly finished the performance.

In an interview afterward, the trainer was asked if he was afraid knowing the tigers could see him when he couldn’t see them. He admitted to being afraid, but then realized the tigers didn’t know that he couldn’t see them. He said, “I just kept cracking my whip and talking to them until the lights came on. They never knew that I couldn’t see them.” (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 6)

When Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den he knew the lions could see him, and he didn’t have a chair and a whip to protect him. Even so, he wasn’t afraid because he knew God was with him and trusted Him to protect him. He said, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me” (Dan. 6:22).

What is it that you fear the most? Is it danger? The future? The fear of change? All throughout Scripture we see that knowing God is with us makes fear leave. God told Joshua, “Do not tremble of be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). David said, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4). Moses told Israel, “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Dt. 31:8). Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid.”

How many times do we need to read this before it finally sinks in? You can get rid of your fear by saying out loud, “Lord, I believe that you are with me, so I will NOT be afraid.” Repeat it as many times you need to, but get it in your heart. Oswald Chambers said, “When you fear God, you fear nothing else. If you don’t fear God, you fear everything else.” That includes being in den of lions, or whatever threat you are facing.  www.makinglifecount.net

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The Million Dollar Mattress

 An Israeli woman mistakenly threw away a mattress that had almost $1 million inside, setting off a frantic search through tons of garbage at a number of landfill sites. The woman threw out her elderly mother’s old mattress because she bought her a new mattress as a surprise. Her “surprise” quickly turned into a nightmare.

The next day, her elderly mother remembered she had hidden her life savings inside the old mattress. “I woke up in the morning screaming when it hit me what happened.” She went to look for the mattress, but it had already been hauled away by garbage collectors. The money was in U.S. dollars and Israeli shekels and “it was all my money in the world.”

Searches at three different landfill sites turned up nothing. Yitzhak Borba, the dump manager, said the mattress would be nearly impossible to find among the 2,500 tons of garbage that arrives at the site every day. The woman stashed the money in a mattress because of her “traumatic experiences with banks.” (Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals, Day 42).

During the Great Depression, many people stuffed money in their mattresses because they didn’t trust banks. Don’t put your trust in riches, whether it’s in banks, stocks, gold, or mattresses. “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God” (1 Tim. 6:17). 

Although IT IS wise to save money for the future, we should never put our trust in it because it can instantly disappear due to unforeseen circumstances. Stock markets crash. Banks fail. Thieves steal. You might even forget where you hid your money, like inside a mattress. Psalm 52:7-8 says, “Behold the man who did not depend on God for safety but trusted in the abundance of his riches…but as for me…I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.”  The Lord is the only security that you can trust.  www.makinglifecount.net

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