When I get to work in the morning, one of the first things I do is make myself a cup of coffee. We don't have a coffee pot or any of those fancy one serving machines in my office. So instead of running to Starbucks or Caribou, I use a little French press my dad got me about a year ago. I just fill up the container with scalding hot water and dump in a scoop of my favorite coffee grounds. It sits for about five minutes to brew and when it's done I press down the screen to filter out the course coffee grounds. It is so good!
Today it occurred to me that occasionally some of the grounds make it through or around the screen and end up in my coffee cup. I knew that happened, but today God was taking that moment to point something out to me.
My French press uses a very fine screen instead of a paper filter like a coffee machine does. Its nice because all I have to do when I'm done is rinse it off. But either way, in order to make coffee we need to filter out the grounds.
Every day we use many different filters don't we? My French press isn't the first, or only one, I use. Maybe it's the oil filter in my car as I start it up to drive to work. Maybe it's the tuner on my radio that filters out all of the other stations so I can hear just the station I want. For you it might be the ear plugs you use to filter out the loud noise of machinery, or a lens on your camera or sunglasses to filter out certain types and colors of light. Maybe it's the tuner in your television or satellite receiver to filter out other TV stations. Maybe it is a mask you wear to filter something out of the air you breathe. These are only a fraction of the filters we each use every day.
The purpose of a filter is simple - to remove or eliminate unwanted contaminants.
In the spiritual realm, the devil works hard to bombard us with lies and confusion. Most of the time we probably aren't even aware of it. His goal is to throw so much of his propaganda at us that it hides the truth. It makes the water muddy, and often times because everything is so murky, we end up believing the lies instead of the truth. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a spiritual filter?
But don't you know that we do?! We already have the best filter in the world - the Holy Bible! When the waters of life are murky and we become confused, we can turn to the Bible to show us the truth and to filter out the lies!
For example, many people debate whether it is ok to be homosexual or not. Even some Christian churches have very different views. So what if we moved past the influence of religion and man and look straight to the source; to God's word. What does it say? Check out Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 or 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. If we use the Bible as a filter in this debate, the answer is clear. Our Father considers it an abomination. I don't think that there is any way to confuse how He sees it. If we don't read or know the Word, we don’t have the filter to keep out the contaminating lies.
Not all Christian churches adhere strictly to the Bible. Some interpret it to meet their agenda. Some exclude or explain away verses or books that don't fit into their picture of God.
So what happens when you only use half a filter to brew your coffee? Won't your cup of coffee be contaminated with coffee grounds? Likewise, if you only use part of the Bible to filter out the devil's lies, you allow his demonic influence to contaminate your life. What if you used a smelly old sock to filter your coffee? You may not get as many grounds, but a lot of other junk might seep through.
In order to have the best spiritual filter possible, we have to accept the entire Holy Bible. It is the right tool for us to use. A rock may be a substitute for a hammer and a wire clothes hanger may make for a substitute antenna, but neither is the right tool for the job.
If you are struggling with knowing what God says about something, go straight to the source. Don't use a different tool or someone else's interpretation that you don't trust. Be cautious of what you believe for the devil is an expert at deception and lies. If your church is more religious than it is biblical, maybe it's time to find a solid Bible believing church.
As you go out into the world today and as you are bombarded with the devil's never ending lies, keep your filter of truth - your Holy Bible, close at hand and at heart. Use it just like Jesus did when the devil lied to and tempted Him (Matthew 4:1-11).
Filters are very useful and good. We are all familiar with how they work and therefore your practical application today is to do something you are already good at and familiar with. Use the Bible to screen out the lies. It works and you can do it!
Thank you Father for giving us the best and most perfect filter of all. Guide us by the Holy Spirit to use it and to find Your truth in every area if life today.
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