Unconsciously contrary

“I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” – Acts 26:9

            Hypothetically, if you could poll every drunkard, wife abuser, slander, anyone and everyone that is living in sin among us; if you could poll all of them with this question: “Do you think you are doing many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth?”  What do you think their answer would be?  Take a moment and think back, those of us who have been called out of sin and into the fellowship of Jesus Christ; think back to when you were lost……Did you feel you were doing many things contrary to Christ?  I myself confess I did not feel that way, and then, all of the sudden, I most certainly knew that I did.

Perhaps for many of us, when we were lost in sin, did not go out each day thinking “I am going to do many things contrary to Christ today.”  We just went out and lived how we wanted to live; according to our own lusts and desires.  Then, by and by, we began to leave a pattern of “bad deeds.”  You can fill in the blank, we each one know our sins against God.  The sum of them is this, we didn’t love God and we didn’t love our neighbor; we loved ourselves.  Allow me to digress a moment, in our land and country today the home is under attack by the devil.  He is working hard to destroy the sanctity of marriage and by default Godliness in the home.  He is doing this not only in the deception that homosexuality is “ok”; because it’s not; it’s a sin like any other.  The homosexual needs to be saved, just like the drunkard; and Jesus has all power, he can save to the uttermost!  Both might say “well I was born this way”; true enough, you were “born in sin and shape in iniquity” like we all, and God can CHANGE your nature.  He can drive out every propensity to do contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  Furthermore, the devil is working hard to belittle the covenant; to the point that we have some earthquakes that last longer than marriages these days.  Beyond this, those that do “stay together for the kids” create an environment for their children that often produce only more of the same; all the while the institution of the home, a pillar of humanity is being eroded.  Godliness in the home is slowly becoming a lost ideal, and yet, few believe that they are doing “many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”  Our lives are too busy to think about things like this right?  Why concern yourself with trivial things like your soul?  We need to GO, GO, GO!  There is not a moment to lose!  The realization that one is doing many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth is masked by the gluttony of worldliness.  Yet even now many things are being done. 

Saul before he was Apostle Paul made distinct and calculated steps to suppress the ministry of Jesus Christ.  He thought about it, and made conscious steps toward resisting it.  There may be one reading just now who is committing the converse error.  One who is taking distinct and calculated steps to suppress the ministry of Jesus Christ, but doing it unconsciously.  If that is your testimony; good news!  There is hope for you; just as there was for Saul!  If the Holy Ghost is pricking your heart and speaking to you saying: “you are doing many things contrary to my name and you can deny it no more.”  If that is occurring in your being, even now; resist no longer!  Stop reading and fall on your knees this very instance and repent.  Care not for the words to say or phraseology to use; only pour out your heart to God!  He will save you, and he will help you.  Jesus Christ will forgive and make you anew.  Whether you are consciously or unconsciously doing things “contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” continue down this path no longer; “repent and believe the Gospel.”  For one thing is certain “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”(Acts 9:5)