BE DISCERNING

You ever notice how some people will come to you with a complaint, criticism, and/or accusation about someone or something and present their side of the story as being egregiously wronged and victimized? But then unbeknownst to you, it’s not the whole story, they left out some critical mitigating details, (I’ll be nice here) there were some misrepresentations on their part, and they conveniently omitted the part they played in the situation that actually indicts them and not the other person and/or the situation.

Here lately, life has violently enrolled me in the sobering curriculum of remembering that there is always another side (at least one, sometimes multiples, 路‍♂️) to the story, and to BE DISCERNING in what I hear, believe and accept. When someone tells you horrific things about a person and/or situation, inwardly pause, take a deep breath, and objectively begin to ask some questions. Here are a few to start with; what is the character of the messenger? What is the character of the person they’re complaining about, criticising, and scandalizing? what is the nature of the situation they’re doing this too? Some of us have entertained scandalous conversations about organizations, settings, environments and people groups, not realizing there was an untruthful narrative about it, slanted for an agenda. What do I know of this person or this situation? Is what I know inconsistent with what I’m being told? If it is, in the least it’s cause for concern, and at most a red flag. When people are wrong  they will go to God-awful lengths to destroy what, AND WHO, is right in order to escape accountability for what they did.

This verse gives us a profound key. BE VERY DISCERNING in what you’re being told, not only when these kinds of things happen, but with life in general. Ask questions, listen attentively, and reserve evaluations, conclusions, determinations, and judgments until you are sure you know all sides. Sometimes (not all the time) the source is jaded, slanted and corrupted. And some people are manipulative masters at making things appear in their favor, UNTIL THE OTHER SIDE COMES OUT.

The ultimate person to go to is GOD! He sees and knows ALL. Pray and ask him, “What’s going on?”. If you need to know, He will tell you, and give you the wisdom of how to conduct yourself accordingly. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of an issue and now you’re sucked in to a mess and damaged unnecessarily.

Now, unlike never before, is the time to….BE DISCERNING.

Humbly, but Solemnly,
Darren E Butler Sr

Mary’s Heart vs. Martha’s Hands…

“Some of us are doing ministry using “Martha’s” hands without having “Mary’s” HEART. Then we wonder why we burn out and have spiritual implosions.” – Darren E Butler Sr
Luke 10:38-42

Jesus came to see His friends (there’s a time to go to church, and then there’s a time to let Jesus bring church to us – another revelation for another time…). In the name of “ministry”, Martha missed her hour of visitation, while Mary CAUGHT it. Martha became so preoccupied with “ministry” church work, HER HANDS, that she missed the clear call to STOP WORKING, and be WORKED ON by Jesus, by sitting at HIS FEET, giving Him her HEART. Her insensitivity to personal devotion coupled with hyper-church working caused her to have a meltdown and of all things, REBUKE JESUS. 👀🥴 But our LORD, quickly, but gently and firmly got her together, pointing out to her what is the priority. Let us not be like Martha, putting the idolatrous worship of church work above the real worship of spending quality personal time in His presence, like Mary did. Too much Martha and not enough Mary will lead to burn out and a spiritual implosion. Jesus is too soon to come for that.
– Darren E Butler Sr