Have you ever put a puzzle together, if you have then you know that examining the picture on the face of the box has an enormous value. Our lives are like puzzles, they are going together one piece at a time by things which happen and our response to them in our daily life.

Without the picture on the front of the box it would be very hard to put this puzzle/life together. But God has given us the picture on the front of the box to examine.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren

Jesus’ life in the flesh is that picture for us to examine. That is why the Word tells us that the spirit of the antichrist is that spirit which denies Jesus was in the flesh. For without Jesus being in the flesh there would be no picture for us to examine.

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus’ life is the example by which we are to use for our life!

Pro_29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish…

Not long ago I was talking to a family member (Bob) that lives in another state. As we talked, stories of the past started coming up. One of those stories was of a hunting trip I had several years ago. Several of my family members that live close and me went duck hunting, and as we were walking next to a lake a duck flew up, and I shot it. One of my family members that went hunting with me (Ron) had told Bob the relative that lived out of state the story.

As Bob and I were talking about the hunting trip, Bob repeats how the story was told to him. While we was discussing the hunting trip Bob reminds about the duck I had shot, then he says the one I shot on the lake. I quickly tell him it flew up when I shot it, but he once again replied he was told I shot it on the lake.

The story was close to the truth but off just a little. That little it was off was saying I broke the law. It is illegal to shoot a duck sitting on the water; they have to be in flight.

After I got off the phone with Bob I quickly called Ron, to find out why he told the story wrong. Ron says he didn’t tell it that way, he simply said I shot a duck up on the lake by our house. Ron meant the area it was, stating it was on a certain lake at which we hunted, but how Bob heard the story it meant something totally wrong.

the story was close, but off just enough to make it illegal.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

The enemy comes as a friend, not as an enemy or who would allow him in.

I thought the duck hunting trip was a great way of showing how it can be real close, but off just a little and the end result can be dramatic. 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The next part of this is why did Bob hear it wrong?

Over the years Bob and I were very competitive when it came to hunting. When he heard the story he being still competitive, didn’t want to hear of my success, so he heard it the way it would fit into his thoughts.

Remember the enemy is invited in by us because two cannot walk together unless they walk in agreement.

Pro_26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

The Taliban beheaded 17 people, including two women, for attending a mixed-gender party where there was music and dancing, Afghan officials reported today.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/taliban-behead-17-singing-dancing/story?id=17084797

Pro_11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Pro_26:2 … the curse causeless shall not come.

Pro_13:21 Evil pursueth sinners…

Psa_34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked…

Pro_12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just…

Rom_8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God… 

Pro_19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD … thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Psa_121:7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil…

In the book of Judges we read how God told Israel not to make peace with any of their enemies in the land he was going to give them. Yet Israel soon allowed several of their enemies to stay in the land, and used them as slave labor.

God had told Israel He would drive out all their enemies little by little as they could fill the land. But once Israel had troubles overcoming an enemy instead of turning to God and waiting upon Him with patience for their victory, they compromised allowing their enemy to stay in the land.

Jdg 2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

Exo 23:29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Jas_1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

How many of us have made peace with our enemies? Death sickness poverty etc. is all under the curse, they are all our enemies. We through faith abide in Christ, setting at the right hand of the Father until our victory over our enemies. Just like Israel was warned, we too must accept they are our enemies and not make peace with them. If we disassociate death sickness poverty and etc. with the curse, then we are making them a friend.

The weight of guilt for an action we do seems lighter if we can convince enough to partake in it.

Have you ever wondered why in Gen 3:9 God asked where Adam and Eve were at? Was their ability to hide that good, or perhaps their guilt separated their minds from God not allowing him that closeness?

Blame the other and you will never have to repent. There is no salvation without first repentance.

Mar_6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luk_13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

When God asked Adam and Eve if they had been disobedient, did they repent? No, on the contrary they blamed some one else for their disobedience.

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

We know what happed next; they were removed from the Garden of Eden and God’s presence.

Is self justification worth it?

Children seek the approval of their parents. When their parents idolize actor’s singers and or athletes they are creating role models in their children’s lives.

“If we live each day ridding ourselves of the small faults in our life, when age of life is well upon us, we will discover that there was never a big fault to overcome. The huge oak starts from one small acorn”.