Will They Listen?

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
Will They Listen
2 Tim 2:14
14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
NIV
The basic thing is the basis thing and all these man made rules and regulations which divide the body of Christ into multiple denominations is nothing more than quarreling about words. I refuse to get involved in this quarrel. Jesus has told me that in order for me to enter the Kingdom of God I must be born again. That is it and that has always been it. He came and died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin, he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and he sent the Holy Spirit to convict me of my need to repent and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Once done he now leads me into all truth. How can that get so confused and all messed up with rules and regulations, added minutia and all sorts of other ideas about being saved. It is no wonder those who are not born again think we all are a bunch of crazies. We can’t agree on anything, everyone thinks they are in the right church, with the right understanding of the scripture, with the only right understanding, and in fact actually put down the others as having it wrong. Some even add to Jesus. Some take away some of the gifts. It is crazy, and I think I once engaged in this craziness, but now I will refrain. I will speak out against it. I will remind all my brothers and sisters in the Lord that it has no value to quarrel over separate doctrines and dogmas of different churches. Are we not all children of God? Do we not all know Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Do we not all desire to live a life pleasing to God? Do we not all love each other as Christ loved us? For some time now I refuse to be associated with any camp, either Calvin or Wesley. That is all about words. No, it is about the scriptures, the Gospel, the plain and simple truth of God. I think man just has to get involved in planning his own belief system, God’s is not good enough. I will not accept mans, I am sticking with Gods. Do I believe some of the same things Wesley and Calvin did? Sure, but not because they believed it, but because God revealed it to me through the Holy Spirit. Does my pastor have good teaching for my life? Sure, and I learn many things which I can apply in my journey with God, but still it is the Holy Spirit who speaks to my heart. When I think about grace, the divine influence on my heart, not man’s influence, I know who to listen to. Do to listen to men? Yes, but I think only with the filter of the Spirit, does he bear witness to what I am hearing and if so I will pay attention, if not, I will dismiss what I hear. Should I warn the other? I am trying to. Will they listen?