#248 – Feeding the Well-Fed

Truth and Wisdom are of God. Truth announces what “is” according to God’s design and Wisdom instructs us in applying it in life.

They are ever present, and impact us whether they are accepted or not, but following them is the only path to living well in both the natural and spiritual realms.

Truth and Wisdom are prophetic. The Spirit bears uncomfortable witness to the consequences of rejecting the realities they declare, even as the Mt. 13:14-15 eyes and ears of the well-fed in the church choose to do so.

SPEAKERS
Political correctness was not Jesus’ forte. I doubt that the eight woes of Mt. 23:13-38 were given in a jovial tone with a twinkle in His eye. While He never spoke out of fleshly anger, He did express righteous anger and I’d be sure His demeanor, words, and tone of voice conveyed it. He often spoke truth that implied judgment of the attitudes and actions of men, and which was certainly taken as being “harsh.”

However, Jesus had the distinct advantage of being absolutely certain of the purity of His words, and His motives in saying them. I envy His confidence in John 5:30-32 and pray to grow in such a relationship with the Father.

Meanwhile, I/we always communicate out of a blend of strength and weakness, Spirit and flesh. All are wounded, and those with a prophetic voice must carefully avoid justifying a wounded voice by labeling it prophetic even as those who hear it must be careful to receive its elements of Truth and Wisdom. That is the Body of Christ in action.

Nearly everything I say could be said better. Rarely do I just write and send a strong message. I contemplate, write, pray, and eventually “send,” but often, only moments later I wish I had said it differently.

HEARERS
Many Christians are satisfied in their faith, being confident of seeing Jesus when they die and feeling little need for more of Him now.

These already well-fed believers are likely to reject a whole pot full of nutritious stew because of pieces of bone at the bottom, while hungry folks will overlook the bones, or check to see if there’s anything good on them – or even scoop them up and suck the marrow out.

Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
June 18, 2022

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