Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 80
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
This
is a particularly interesting day’s writing from Michael Wells…simple, yet
profound. Not so much theology, but
plenty of practicality that takes our theology and shows it to be REAL. There isn’t much reality to anyone’s theology
where there is a lack of being convinced in what one believes. Read carefully what Michael has to say, and
then ask yourself: Am I convinced in my own mind of that which I believe? Of course, we are assuming I am starting with
biblical truth to believe…
Day 21
Be Convinced in Your
Own Mind
One man regards one day above another, another regards
every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.
--Romans 14:5
Whatever you are doing and whatever you believe, be
convinced in your own mind that it is right. There are many beliefs that I hold
because fact and faith have met at a point called truth; I am convinced of such beliefs
and will not budge from them. I do not make any of them a test of fellowship
except for those that center directly in Jesus. He was the Word that
became flesh, it was the Father working through Him, and He did take my sin and
my old self to the cross, thereby conquering sin, Satan, the world, death,
captivity, and hell; and He ascended to the Father, where He remains alive today.
There are many more things surrounding Him of which I am convinced. The important thing for a believer
is that he be convinced in his own mind. This is precisely why I will not make decisions for
people but rather stand beside them as they make the choices, some of which are
very difficult. Once, because I said nothing against an abused woman
seeking a divorce (in reality, she never ended the marriage; he did through
years of abuse), I was accused of promoting divorce. First, I have given much
of my life to the hope that God would work through my words as I advised
couples in order to prevent divorce, but it is true that I did not tell the
woman to get a divorce or not to get one. Am I the one that will stand before
God for her actions? Do I know all of the issues? Do I presume to understand
all the workings of God in a life? Though God said to stone the adulteresses,
He had His man, Hosea, marry one! Believers need to hear God and be convinced in their own minds. I want them still to be
convinced in their own minds five years from now. If God has spoken to them,
who am I to tell them that they cannot hear His voice? “But you, why do
you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with
contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. So then each
one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans
14:10, 12). On another occasion I was asked why I did not work harder to
stop a divorce. I just looked at the person and said, “I am not for divorce.
However, neither am I for child abuse, drugs in the home, verbal abuse, causing
little ones to stumble, thievery, lying, or adultery. In this situation, how
did you come to the conclusion that out of all the variety of sins the husband
was bringing into the family, the primary consideration was that the woman was
guilty of divorce?” I
suppose that we pick out one sin, the one failure that we have not had, label
it as being the most important, and camp there in order to lay claim to
self-righteousness. I am not favorable toward any failure; however, a
true cross-section of the Church proves that these things occur. One man
actually had the hide to tell me this: “If my wife really believes what you are
telling her--that she can wait on God to see how He uses this present situation
in her life--then she should not mind if I move my girlfriend into our basement
apartment. I will sleep three nights a week with my wife and four with my
girlfriend until I decide which one I want to be with.” I nearly went off beam
at his using the wonder of God’s “causing all things for good” as an excuse to
sin! I gave him an earful, but later, when she said she was divorcing, I kept
silent. I only asked that she be convinced in her own mind.
Whatever you do, be convinced in your own mind that you
have heard Him and are moving with Him. He is the issue. If you listen to
others you will only be confused. “Brother, you are
disregarding the Scriptures!” Well, may that never be! It is just that I put
them in a different order when looking at them. I first go to the Scriptures that deal with cause and then
consider consequence. Divorce is a consequence of a cause. If the man
were not drunk and beating his family, would the suggestion of divorce ever
come up? You who hate divorce, are you willing to commit to ceasing your
condemnation of the one who sees that as the only way out and to taking time to
disciple the man, taking responsibility for his actions? I did not think so;
you are just comfortable judging an easy target. On the other hand, I have witnessed God do
wonderful things in those prepared by Him to have humble and broken hearts.
Those, no matter how bad marriage got, never were convinced in their own minds
to leave, and that conviction bore a different fruit. I am just happy that it
is not my place to pretend to sort things out; I leave that to God.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
One of the first things Michael points out: Christianity is
individuality…each one of us is responsible for OUR salvation. No one ever is a Christian just because
someone else is. And no one can blame
anyone else for making, or not making, choices for them. I must make my own choices. I must be convinced in my mind what I believe
and make choices based on my beliefs. I
am responsible.
James tells us to not be double-minded (actually the Greek says
double-souled…which brings up another discussion for another time). Truthfully we are double-minded, but James is
talking about “making up which mind we are going to function with…make up that
mind.” And Michael gives some beautiful
advice that Barbara and I have operated with for many years now: don’t make
decisions for people, but stand beside them as they make their choices.
Two other things are very important for us to glean from Michael…(1) “If
God has spoken to them, who am I to tell them that they cannot hear His
voice?” Absolutely! Goodness, Jesus Himself told us every sheep
(Christian) HEARS His voice. Why do so
many Preachers and Christian counselors negate our GOOD SHEPHERD
speaking to each sheep by trying to tell the sheep what they should be
thinking, instead of telling them: go spend time with your Shepherd until you
hear His voice and are convinced in your mind of His truth. (2) “I have witnessed God do wonderful things
in those prepared by Him to have humble and broken hearts.” Wow!
How could we ignore, or negate, someone “PREPARED BY HIM
TO HAVE a HUMBLE AND BROKEN HEART”?!? Michael
is so right…God is in the “preparing” business.
This should be the message, if anything other than “go spend time with
your Shepherd,” that anyone tells a Christian: James says in 4:6, “God resists
the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Deal with your pride, and get humble…then go spend time with your
Shepherd. Well, amen.
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NOTICE: a new blog on
Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. You can access by logging onto
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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
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