Real Men of Genius
“I am an absolute genius! Wow, it feels good to finally admit that! I must be one of the smartest and most insightful men on the entire planet. God sure did great things when He fearfully and wonderfully made me.” Apparently, my thought processes work like this from time to time. At times I think I am so smart I don’t even need God’s help, direction, and wisdom. I do my best to handle things in my own strength and figure things out with my great genius only to discover that I am standing in the quicksand of doubt, confusion, and fear.
Back to the resurrection ---
“When (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others…But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24:9, 11).
The word “nonsense” jumped off of the page to me. The elite Eleven (the remaining apostles after Judas hanged himself) were so smart they realized it was absurd to think that Jesus had risen from the dead and that all of these supernatural events had taken place at the tomb. They could not even begin to believe until Jesus appeared to them personally and said:
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:38-39).
Satan is the author of doubt, confusion, and fear. If he can just be tricky enough to get us to rely on our own “genius” then our focus is taken off of the risen Christ and truth becomes nonsense to us. The disciples had a practical encounter with Jesus over a piece of broiled fish (v. 42) that brought things back into perspective. Take a step back from the struggle in your life today. Admit (just like I have to admit) that you are not quite genius status yet. Make time to get away with Jesus. Have a practical encounter with Him perhaps over a meal or down by the lake. Hear Him speak to you and allow Him to silence the nonsense of the enemy.
Blessings!
Pastor Gary
Back to the resurrection ---
“When (the women) came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others…But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24:9, 11).
The word “nonsense” jumped off of the page to me. The elite Eleven (the remaining apostles after Judas hanged himself) were so smart they realized it was absurd to think that Jesus had risen from the dead and that all of these supernatural events had taken place at the tomb. They could not even begin to believe until Jesus appeared to them personally and said:
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:38-39).
Satan is the author of doubt, confusion, and fear. If he can just be tricky enough to get us to rely on our own “genius” then our focus is taken off of the risen Christ and truth becomes nonsense to us. The disciples had a practical encounter with Jesus over a piece of broiled fish (v. 42) that brought things back into perspective. Take a step back from the struggle in your life today. Admit (just like I have to admit) that you are not quite genius status yet. Make time to get away with Jesus. Have a practical encounter with Him perhaps over a meal or down by the lake. Hear Him speak to you and allow Him to silence the nonsense of the enemy.
Blessings!
Pastor Gary
David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; He's right by my side. I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the Land of Hope. I know You'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death. You've got my feet on the life-path, with Your face shining sun-joy all around.
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