What Makes Us Acceptable to God?

When I was a teenager, the body building champion Charles Atlas was a prime example of what was purported to be a “real man”. So many teenage boys and young men bought his book, which gave directions on how to achieve that awesome goal. For many young men, that goal still exists.

Being strong and healthy and one who will put his life on the line to rescue someone in trouble has always captured the imagination of others. Saul, the first king of Israel, fit the outward description of a real man. He was tall and strong, handsome and intelligent, and a brave warrior.

However, God rejected him and withdrew his blessing and protection because Saul’s behaviors and decisions were in conflict with God. A real man loves God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. His desire is to live for God and serve him to the best of his ability.

God honors such a man and will bless him all the days of his life.  

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Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

~John 8:31-32 Contemporary English Version

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What Is the Purpose of Placating Others?

Stress has the potentiality of becoming toxic to the human spirit and relationships. Some people believe the only way to manage stress is by placating, which means giving in rather than being confrontive where conflict is a possibility. The goal of placating is to please others so conflict can be avoided.

It’s not whether conflict or stress exists, but how they are managed. Most people placate others at times to reduce normal stress. However, there is an essential difference between pleasing others out of love and affection and pleasing to avoid conflict. Placating just to avoid conflict chips away at your integrity and self-respect.

Jesus rarely placated others who sought out conflict with him, nor did he attack those looking for conflict. Rather, Jesus met conflict in an intelligible manner by discussing issues, pointing out the truth from God’s word, and providing answers to tough questions. You can incorporate Jesus’ example into your life.

     

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[Jesus answered the Jewish authorities,] I am not looking for human praise ... You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me?”

~John 5:41,44 Good News Bible

 

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, ... You have the words that give eternal life." 

~John 6:68 Good News Bible

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The Possibility of a New Beginning

Each phase of adult development holds within it the potential for change and growth or for stagnation and unhappiness. Motivation for a new beginning may hinge on unhappiness caused by stagnation or just the challenge to change one’s circumstances. So the desire for a new beginning can derive from either a positive or negative mindset.

Dissatisfaction equals unhappiness, which makes the potential for new beginnings more attractive. This was especially true for the Hebrew people in Egypt, whose presence there had changed from being honored guests to enduring unbearable slavery. In this position they persistently pleaded with God for deliverance.

God enlisted Moses, who was hiding in the desert of Median as a fugitive from Egyptian justice. However, he was still a prisoner of his own fear that stifled his gifts and talents. God promised the Hebrew people and Moses: “I will rescue you and set you free.” You can be freed today from sin or from whatever has imprisoned you by accepting God’s gift of salvation. 

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Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

~John 8:31-32 New Living Translation 

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Playing Hide and Seek with Truth

Most children learn to play the game of hide and seek. When this game is carried over into adult life, it produces conflict with others as well as internal conflict. We hide what we're ashamed of, what we fear would be detrimental to the status quo we’ve established.

The truth we hide from others, we attempt to hide from ourselves, which then creates guilt and shame. Eric Hoffer’s, book, Passionate State of Mind, warns, "The weakness of the soul is in proportion to what we’ve hidden in our soul." How do you hide the truth from yourself? By denial, which is a defense mechanism that damages your self-esteem and integrity.

Jesus came into the world to reveal the truth. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now and most assuredly when it seems highly unsuitable to the actual circumstances." Whatever truth you need to reveal to Christ Jesus and others, God will give you the courage to confess it now, today. Trust him to do so.  

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So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you live in accordance with what I teach, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

~John 8:31-32 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

Insight: God's Light for Values - Part 1

One task of a counselor is to help clients gain insight for effective change. One of my psychology professors described insight simply as enlightenment. You now understand what was beyond comprehension. Insight is understanding, fused to wisdom, so that what you believe and the way you behave can be altered.

True, healthy insight is transforming because as it merges with your heart and soul, it changes how you live. Insight discovers at every age and stage of life new clues that identify who you are and what you can do. The pathway to ethical decisions and wiser choices comes from insight, as facts and truth are discovered about yourself and others.

Jesus said the true pathway to freedom is knowing the truth, accepting it and then finding ways of applying this knowledge to everyday life. Jesus promised to send the Counselor, whose role is to make known to every believer the truths of everything he taught. Isn't that exciting? Open your heart and mind and receive this promise.