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2 P&P Weekly Blog for week of 2 - 8 November 2024
We were driving by one of our local ski areas in late Autumn when we saw what looked like a huge area of fog. As we got closer, I realized that they were making snow. How amazing that man can duplicate something of God’s creation. Or is it? If you ask skiers, they’ll tell you they can tell you that there are differences in texture, glide (or lack thereof), and the weight of the snow itself.
I find this phenomenon true in life as well. For instance, when taking photographs, sometimes it seems your camera can capture the beauty of a sunrise/sunset, etc., and at others, it pales in comparison to the actual majesty that your eye absorbs. Or if you are reading God’s Word—and rushing through it, instead of meditating and asking God’s Spirit to teach you and help you understand it—you’ll miss the nuances, the patterns, or the different ways in which the Lord wanted to reach you. Or take Satan—he has powers, but they are nothing in comparison with the Lord’s—holiness, righteousness, and justice.
There will always be things/people/examples in life that imitate God or His creation or His ways. It takes discernment to tell the difference. It requires asking for His wisdom and guidance each day. And it means seeking the Father in prayer—as our Counselor—to direct our steps and keep us in the center of His Will.
Here are a few Scriptures to keep us on the right path.
3 John 1:11 NASB: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 GNT: “You must follow my example in this, as I am following Christ’s."
Hebrews 13:7 NASB: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
1 Peter 2:21 AMP: "For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.”
2 Peter 3:17 AMP: “Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith].”
2 Peter 2:1 TEB: "But there arose false-prophets also among the people, as, among you also, there shall be, false-teachers, - men who will stealthily bring in destructive parties, even the Master that bought them, denying, bringing upon themselves speedy destruction.”
John 16:13 NIV: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
John 14:26 ESV: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
Imitation snow may look lovely, even the same, from afar. But up close, it’s easy to distinguish the difference. This is true of teachers of God’s Word. It’s true of our faith and walk with the Lord. May we be found to be the “real deal”—forgiven, made righteous, white as snow, cleansed—and living in light of eternity. Because if we are imitating anyone/anything other than Christ, we’re following a poor substitution!
Dear Lord, help me to see if there is any area where I am substituting an earthly thing/person/goal in place of wholly imitating Your life, footsteps, Word, Will, or way. Amen.
2 Pause and Praise Creations ©
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