WHO TOLD YOU?

This is another revealing question. Who told you? What is the source of your information?

You see, we are constantly processing information and it's important especially in the times that we live in to have precise, accurate, relavant and up to date information.

We typically make decisions and take action based on the quality of information that we receive.

Ed Louis Cole said " Unbelief is the basis of sin, Deception is the character of sin and Pride is the strength of sin"

Actions are always based on belief and God help us if we have believed a lie. Worse still if we are too proud to acknowledge, challenge and review the assumptions we have previously had about God and life.

The book of Romans says "let every man be a lier and God be true"

Blessed is the man that walketh not after the counsel of the ungodly. There is indeed ungodly counsel. Imagine the wisdom and counsel of Ahithophel?

Ungodly counsel has certain characteristics evident in the conversation between Satan and Eve.

1. He questioned the validity of His Word(Did God really say)

Contrary information questions the authorship and credibility of God's word. Did God really say? The aim is to raise doubt, cause fear and betray trust. It questions the accuracy and true source of the instruction you presume to be basing your life and way on. If you recall, Jesus Christ dealt with this by constantly saying "it is written"....Psalm 119.9 says thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you. You sin when you believe a lie. Righteousness is a product of faith which only comes by hearing. The quality of information determines the quality of life. Jesus Christ said, the words I speak is a spiritual substance that imparts life. When our life is governed by 'thus sayeth" our life's outcome is a lot more certain.

2. Challenges the authority of His word. (you will not surely die)

Here satan questioned the power behind the word. He challenged the certainty of God's pronouncements. Here he deceives people into believing there are no rewards for obedience and no consequences for disobedience. The Lord said, heaven and earth will pass away but not the least stroke of my word would go unfulfilled.

3. Questioned the sincerity of God's intentions. (He knows that if you eat....you will become like him)

What he was saying is God is being dishonest. He doesn't wish you well. All these instructions are not for your good. You know, God's plan for us are plans of good and not of evil to give us a future and a hope. His will for us is good, acceptable and perfect. We need to know that God is good and all he does for us is good. So Jesus Christ said which of you though evil will give our children a serpent or a stone. Then how much more will God give us good gifts. We need to learn to trust God's intentions.

Finally,

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Only a surrendered heart can have the mind of Christ.

Surrender your will to His and totally trust God even when it is difficult to understand. Like I once heard a Christian say, I still would have believed even if I was told that "Jonah swallowed the whale".

Be like Abraham:

Trust the Lord, trust His Word and trust His Way.