O Lord of hosts, you test the just, who probe mind and heart
Have you ever paddled a canoe?
It is more complicated than it looks. It takes effort but to be productive you have to conserver your energy and paddle in a straight line. You can’t go NNE and then NNW and get to your destination which is North of where you are in a short amount of time. If tracked by GPS the path would be zig zagged and not efficient use of you energy.
Our first reading today is from the Prophet Jeremiah, In their failure they will be put to otter shame, to lasting , unforgettable confusion. O Lord of Host, you test the just, who probe mind and heart. The people of Jeremiah’s time are confused and take a zig zagged path.
I hear the whispering of many: Terror on every side! Jesus is also being persecuted.
What is “The Spirit of Confusion”?
Let me explain what I mean. Have you ever known someone who as a habit goes in all the wrong directions. Myself, I have relatives and friends who look at facts and go all over the board as far as a conclusion. They are always befuddled by life. Nothing they do seems to make them happy.
Do they do the works the Christ wants them to do?
Jesus goes on to say , If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father”
Most people look for results, even if they don’t understand the process initially. In James 2:26 Just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead”. We look for results.
John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.”
How do we prevent Confusion in our lives? What signs do we perform?
I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?….If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me, believe the works so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father…..John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.
So when we are confused today. Look for the fruits or the works of a leader or person. If a person says one thing but does another. Don’t believe them. Don’t follow them. Rest assured there is no confusion in Christ Jesus. One thing can be said. Jesus was faithful to His word, even unto death.
We can’t forget ourselves if we say one thing on Sunday and do another on Monday through Saturday. Then we have no authenticity. Our faith is meaningless.
What are our fruits?
Jesus has authenticity. If we are not authentic and have works to follow our words, then we then are part of the confusion. Our children or our spouses or our community have no reason to believe us.
Reality check! I am quilty of confusion myself. I know I am not perfect. Every day we have a choice. Every day we have a choice. We can do the works and prevent the confusion or not. Every day we can conqueror confusion and perform the deeds that Christ wants us to do.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
