Books
Don’t Curse the Deaf or Put a Stumblingblock Before the Blind
By Linda Sedrick Pearson
I was reading through some of the Levitical laws today and found and interesting verse I had not noticed before. The verse is Leviticus 19:14. It reads:
“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shall fear thy God: I am the LORD.”
Thinking about what this verse says, I wondered about these things. Take for instance the part that says, “Thou shalt not curse the deaf.” Now, if a person is deaf, she would not be able to hear any curses said against her. What does it matter if you curse that person? It matters because this is one of God’s creations. It makes no difference whether the person hears you speak matters against him or not. God hears it. It’s not about doing things against someone that cannot hear you. It is about the speaker and God. The one speaking the cursing is really uttering cursing upon herself. God hears it and is displeased. This makes me think that this part of this verse could go along with the verse about backbiting (2 Corinthians 12:20).
When you are backbiting you are uttering things against a person that cannot hear you. You are talking to others about a person and behind the subject’s back. Is that any different than cursing someone who is deaf? No, it is the same thing. You are hurting your own soul when you backbite or curse the deaf (Romans 1:28-32).
Now, back to Leviticus 19:14. It also says we are not supposed to put a stumblingblock before the blind. Imagine that you cannot see. Think about your daily living conditions, how everything is arranged in your home. Close your eyes and walk through a room where you know the exact placement of all the objects in that room. Next, you are going to do this a second time only this time someone is going to place an object in your path. It will cause you to stumble over it. You may even fall down to the floor. You are blessed because you have a choice to open your eyes and see or keep your eyes closed and stumble.
We can associate “nor put a stumblingblock before the blind” with a spiritual blindness. People that are spiritually blind are those who have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We are not to put a stumblingblock in front of those who are spiritually blind either. These types of stumblingblocks are lying, gossiping, backbiting, cheating, or anything else that is against God. Sometimes as Christians we stretch our freedoms too far by thinking we don’t have to obey speed limit laws, or maybe we think we can cheat on our taxes. These are not showing a Christlike nature to those who are spiritually blind. These things become stumblingblocks to the unsaved people.
When the unsaved see Christians committing un-Godlike behavior, they wonder why they should accept Jesus Christ as Savior because we Christians are doing the same things they are doing. Where is the difference? Can people see a difference in you? How are your ethics and integrity? Double check yourself to see if there is anything that can be a stumblingblock to the blind (spiritually or physically).
Fight the Accuser
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
There is an accuser who points his bony fingers at the children of God. Day and night he stalks the earth (Job 1:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), tempting and tormenting those who are not prepared for battle. He is our enemy. The accuser is Satan and he hates God’s children. He wants to destroy us.
He lies about us and tells us lies to get us to turn our backs on God. It is up to us to be prepared for these tactics of the devil. He hinders us with deceit (1 Thessalonians 2:18) and causes division and contrary beliefs. These beliefs are contrary to God and God’s words.
He weakens our nations through the sin of pride – prideful men stand and proclaim “I will do things my way!” Our widows and orphans go without help while others get lost in addictions. These are people searching for a better way who have never found Jesus Christ.
Take heart, children of God. We do have defenses against these tactics of the devil. Against the accusing and stalking tormentor we only need to be aware that he is seeking us out to destroy us. If we are aware of these tactics, then we can prepare before he catches us. Close any doors of weakness. If you have played around with occult objects or read books on witchcraft out of curiousity or maybe with an intent to try them out, ask God’s forgiveness. Burn any objects you have in your possession that promotes these things. Don’t pass them on to others. Burn them, destroy them. This is the only way to close these doors of weakness. Slam the doors in the face of Satan.
Another way to defend yourself against the accuser is to stand up to him in the authority and power of Jesus Christ. If you are a child of God, meaning you have accepted Jesus Christ as payment for all of your sin, you do have the authority and power of Jesus Christ and can stand up to the accuser. Cast out any demonic or bad spirit that may have attached to you through touching things that are not Godly. Rebuke Satan in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask God to show you the truth. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes so you can see the real truth that is lurking in the darkness.
Resist the devil with your faith in God. Stand strong in your faith. Pray for our government officials and for the healing of our nation. Realize that Satan has no real power unless we give it to him. We give him power when we dabble in things that are not Godly. The truth is one of the biggest defenses against the devil and his lies.
Stand strong, Christian. Stand up and fight the accuser. Do not back down and do not give in. Whatever you do, do not run away. Stand up in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh. Stand and fight!
Lost Soul – Importance of Discipleship
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
There is a battle for lost souls and nothing shows that better than the parable of the sower in Mark 4. In this study we will take a journey as a lost soul who comes to salvation through the stages of the sower’s parable. Through this journey, hopefully you will see the importance of discipleship.
Stage 1 – Mark 4:3-4
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow seed. While he was scattering the seed, some of it fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed.”
This is before salvation and before the soul is ready to listen to the word of God. The seeds are the Words of God. The sower is anyone who is a Christian that witnesses to others. Before a person is ready and willing to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the seeds (Words of God) fall by the wayside (an unaccepting soul). The fowls of the air that devour the seeds are pieces of everyday living – things of life that get in the way of the seed taking hold within the lost soul. This is that stage that everyone is at one time or another. These are people (lost souls) that have never accepted and do not want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
Stage 2 – Mark 4:5-6
“Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was not enough dirt. It grew quickly there because the soil was not deep. But then the sun rose and the plants were burned. They died because they did not have deep roots.”
In this stage the Word of God falls on rocky ground (a hardened heart) but it does grow a little. The lost soul has realized there has to be more than worldly things. The soul has started to search and found some words that comforted her. The soil (background of Christian learning) is not deep. There is nothing for the lost soul to draw from to nourish the Word that started to grow. The seeds die within her because she has nothing to help the seeds grow. She does not know how. She doesn’t know enough to keep it from dying within herself.
Stage 3 – Mark 4:7
“Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and stopped the good plants from growing. So they did not make grain. “
Here the lost soul tries hard to hold onto the Word of God, but the thorny weeds (family and friends living a lost life and cares of this world) do not support her. Instead, they grab hold of the seeds that have started to grow and pull it up by the root. Since there is not enough knowledge to keep this from happening, the lost soul fails again. At this point, the devil has realized he is losing ground with this lost soul and may soon lose her if he doesn’t join in this battle. He plants his evil thoughts in her mind and since she does not know how to defend herself, she loses the battle. She flounders until every good Word that was planted within her is choked out. She begins to lose hope that she can ever be saved. After all, she is unworthy (a lie of Satan).
Stage 4 – Mark 4:8
“But some of the seed fell on good ground. There it began to grow, and it made grain. Some plants made 30 times more grain, some 60 times more, and some 100 times more.”
The lost soul comes to the final stage of this journey. She has gathered up enough strength and hope to try one more time. This time the Word of God takes root, a foundation is laid, and fruit begins to appear. She is determined to not give up this time. She jumps in and starts reading her Bible. She attends church and Bible studies. She grabs onto a mature Christian who takes her under her wing and she nourishes her and teaches her. She disciples her like Paul did with Timothy and many others. The lost soul is no longer lost! She is the found sheep. She learns and grows and produces fruit (begins to witness and lead others to Jesus).
This parable shows us how important it is that we disciple others. Maybe if someone had discipled her at the first stage, she would not have gone through so much to finally get to salvation. Reach out, mentor someone. Help them learn. Spend time with others who are new to the Christian life. Teach them, lead them, and guide them. It is rewarding to do this. Try it and see for yourself. As you lead and teach others, you end up also teaching yourself and growing more in your faith and love for Jesus.
Don’t Blame God
If you got yourself into a relationship and that relationship turned bad – don’t blame God. People are free to make choices. God made us that way. It was 1) your choice to get into that relationship or situation and 2) the other person’s choice to get into that relationship or situation. Whatever went bad with that is on the two of you – not on God.
If you became a drug addict, alcoholic, or abuser of others – that was your choice. Stop blaming God for your mistakes and errors of life.
God is standing by waiting to heal you, love you, comfort you, lead and teach you. It is your fault if you continue to turn your back on God. Don’t blame God.
Whenever you die (or if Jesus comes back for us before that time), if you have not accepted and received that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, came in the flesh, died on the cross to pay for all the sins of everyone, and now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven – if you do not accept these facts and receive Jesus into your heart and life, don’t blame me and don’t blame God. I am free from being blamed because I have told you the truth. I just gave you the answer to your problems.
God sent me through this writing to tell you that His Son Jesus Christ is an option for you. You can escape eternal hell and torment. God is free from blame if you reject and refuse to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is your choice! If you get left out of heaven and the peace, mercy, and love of God – don’t blame God. Choose now!
A Closer Look God’s Way
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Ezekiel 36:6-11 “So say these things about the land of Israel. Speak to the mountains and to the hills, to the streams, and to the valleys. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will let my strong feelings and anger speak for me, because you had to suffer the insults from those nations.’” So this is what the Lord GOD says: “I am the one making this promise! I swear that the nations around you will have to suffer for those insults. “But mountains of Israel, you will grow new trees and produce fruit for my people Israel. My people will soon come back. I am with you, and I will help you. People will till your soil and plant seeds in you. There will be many people living on you. The whole family of Israel–all of them–will live there. The cities will have people living in them. The destroyed places will be rebuilt. I will give you many people and animals, and they will grow and have many children. I will bring people to live on you as in the past. I will make it better for you than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (Easy Reader Version)
Did you realize that God spoke to the mountains? He cares even about the land, the mountains! If he cares for mountains and makes them promises, he cares for us even more. He promises us also that he will take care of us. In these verses in Ezekiel we see that God is angry for what the people did to the mountains and land. We make think it is just land – just pieces of the earth. It is not insignificant to God.
God cares for the big things and for the small things. If he takes this much care and concern over pieces of earth, he will give as much, if not more, care and concern of those who he created in his own image. How wonderful is that. Sometimes we need to stop and look closely at the small things of God’s creations. These can give us a lot of insight into the nature and character of God. He took great care and I am sure he put much thought into each one of his creations.
Another way to look at these Ezekiel verses is that this is describing a restoration to the land. It can also represent a restoration to each of us through salvation. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, God begins to work within us to restore us to the place where he intended us to be from the beginning. As we are healed and learn how to apply God’s gifts to our lives, we start growing new fruit and our destroyed places become rebuilt. God told the mountains, “I will make it better for you than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” He tells us the same thing. He says, “Accept my Son Jesus as payment for everyone of your sins and I will make it better for you than before when you were living as a sinner. Then you will know that I am the LORD!” Are you ready to receive the promises and blessings God has for you and desires to give you?
Wait Quietly for the Lord to Save You
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Lamentations 3:22-26 We are still alive because the LORD’S faithful love never ends. Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal! I say to myself, “The LORD is my God, and I trust him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him. It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to save them.
Did you ever think about how you were still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends? He shows you his love in a new way every morning. Each morning is different in how God loves you. He comes at you with his love in a different angle every morning. How awesome and wonderful is that!
I can say that I do trust God. He is my God and I trust him with everything I am or ever will be. I wait patiently for God to decide I have finished my race. Some day he will call me home. I hope he will say to me, “Welcome home, my daughter, my good and faithful servant.” There are no other words that will sound as sweet as that.
I am at peace in my spirit, soul, and mind for the first time in my life. I thank God for that. I am ready, Lord, for whatever you have in store for me. I am ready to stand up as your servant and confess that you are my God. I know that some will close their ears and refuse to hear. Others will turn and walk away. I will not be discouraged and I will not stop writing or speaking the words you give me. Lord, I am your’s so do with me what you will. I wait quietly for you to save me out of this world.
How about you? Are you quietly waiting for the Lord to save you? Have you ever accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not take the new way of love God is showing you today and accept him right now?
Be Careful – the Stones May Tell Your Secrets
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Joshua 24:27 Then Joshua said to all the people, “This stone will help you remember what we said today. This stone was here when the LORD was speaking to us today. So this stone will be something that helps you remember what happened today. The stone will be a witness against you. It will stop you from turning against your God.”
Did you ever hear people say, “If only these walls could talk…?” Well, according to Joshua in 24:27 they can. At least the stone that was present when the LORD spoke to the people. Joshua said the stone would “be a witness against you.” What does that mean and how significant is that statement to you?
It is important for us to know these things because maybe this simple statement made by Joshua will help us to stop and think about the things we say, things we do, our actions and reactions. Whether we are in public or in privacy of our own homes, we should always guard ourselves because even the very stones (or walls) may be a witness against us. God can use anything – after all, he created it all. Since God created it all, why couldn’t the stones be able to be a witness against us (or maybe even for us).
Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Jesus had just rode into Jerusalem on the donkey and the crowd of his disciples cried out praising God and calling him King. The Pharisees asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples for what they were saying. Luke 19:40 was his response.
God will be praised whether we do it or whether the stones have to cry out praises. Apparently, stones can talk. So, be careful of what you speak or do at all times. Maybe the stones will be there and hear and witness to God and for God.
Are you afraid to testify and be God’s witness? Don’t be afraid. If even the stones can cry out praises to God, why don’t you beat them to it! Worship God. Praise him in a loud voice. Don’t be ashamed or afraid. Speak the truth and the love of God.
Rebellious Child
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Do you have rebellious children? Or maybe it is just one child that gives you problems. It seems like no matter how nice, no matter how many times you threaten, the child will not listen. There were times when you tried talking, begging, and pleading with this child to stop the bad behavior. That did not work.
Next, you tried some minor discipline. That could range from a light spanking to the child being confined to her room. The child showed no change afterward. As a matter of fact, you think that the more you discipline, the worse the child gets. That is really not the case. It just appears to be so. What is really happening is that, as the child gets older, she is given more freedom to make choices on her own.
You want a peaceful and loving relationship with your child. It would bless you if your child would take time every day to talk with you about her day, share her hopes and dreams, tell you about her friends, other family members, and loves. You would even like for her to tell you about her hurts and pains, rejections by others, and concerns. It has never happened, but you have not lost hope that the child will make the conscious choice to do these things.
You know that if the child would choose to have this kind of relationship with you, you both will be blessed. You never stop trying until finally the child is an adult with a family of her own. You keep trying to have a close relationship – maybe harder than ever – because now it is not only your child involved. You now have a son-in-law (or daughter-in-law) and grandchildren. You want a relationship – a loving relationship – with them too. You keep trying. You give of yourself, your love, your finances until you are broke physically, emotionally, and financially.
The child, now that you have nothing left to give without the child giving back informs you that she wants nothing to do with you. She informs you that she is tired of you “butting” into her life and just wants to be left alone.
You tell your adult child that because you love her, you will not push yourself on her. You also warn her to please not wait too long to decide to have a relationship with you. You will always love her, but you will not push a relationship on her that she does not want.
Did you know this is how God deals with each of us – his children? He desires a loving relationship with each of us. He waits for you to talk to him daily. He wants to teach you through his word and through a relationship with you. He wants you to tell him your hurts, hopes,dreams, and about your relationships with others. He disciplines you at times, hoping you will straighten up and realize how much he loves you. He keeps trying until eventually you tell him that you don’t want a relationship with him.
You tell God that you are tired of him “butting” into your life. You are tired of him “bothering” you. You don’t acknowledge any of the blessings and love he has given you throughout the years. You want God to step back and leave you alone.
It breaks God’s heart, but he grants your request. He will never force himself on anyone – on any of his children. He asks you to not wait too long because one of two things can happen:
1. You may die without ever accepting the relationship God desires to have with you.
2. You continue to reject God until he turns his back on you.
Stop rejecting God. Run to his open arms right now!
Scriptures for Study
Romans 1:28-32 reprobate mind
Romans 8:5-9 carnal mind is enmity against God
1 Timothy 6:3-5 men of corrupt minds
James 1:2-8 a double-minded man
Beautiful Feet of Evangelism
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Evangelism is the “active calling of people to respond to the message of grace and commit to God through Jesus Christ.” Now, isn’t that simple?
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
I never really thought about my feet being beautiful, but God’s Word says they are when I am doing his work. I need to look at the rest of this verse to see if I am doing the things listed before I can consider my feet beautiful. Do I bring good tidings? Yes, I do every time I post one of these writings or write a Christian book. You see, the message of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died in the flesh for all of our sins and is now resurrected and seated on the right hand of the father are good tidings. What better greeting can you give someone than the message of salvation? So, point one – check.
The next point is to publish peace. Hmmmm…I needed to think about that one a minute. Do I publish peace? Yes because what better peace can a person have than when he receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Are all of life’s troubles over? No, but we can have peace knowing that we have accepted and received Jesus. We have peace in our spirits, if we have turmoil in the world. When we accept and receive Jesus Christ, we are no longer worldly, but spiritual. We still have to live in the world, but we are no longer of the world. We are disciples (learners) of God. He gives us an inner peace by providing us with his own Holy Spirit. He comes and lives in us to guide us and give us peace. So, the second point of publishing peace – check.
The third point is to bring good tidings of good. Now, this may sound like the first point and it is to a certain extent. However, the first good tidings is the plan of salvation to those who are lost. The second good tidings adds of good to the phrase. Not only do I bring good tidings, but also good tidings of good. The good news is that we are no longer under the condemnation of the commandment laws. The laws were given to make us aware of sin and our sinful state before we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Now that we have accepted, we are no longer under that condemnation. The good tidings of good that I bring is that you do not have to try to live up to those laws. For me, that brings me peace as well as good tidings of good. No man or woman can live up to all of the laws of Moses. If that were possible, Jesus Christ would not have had to come in the flesh and suffer the torment he went through before and during his time on earth and hanging on the cross. He did all that so we do not have to continue failing to live up to the laws. Now, that is good tidings of good. We are free from the curse of sin. Thank God! Point three – check.
Oh my favorite point – publish salvation. Time and time again I write about salvation. Not only do I write it, but I speak it. You see, publishing it doesn’t just mean in written form. When we speak it out loud that is publishing it also. It puts the word out into the air and the breeze carries it to whomsoever will listen and hear. There is no greater thing I can do or say than to tell you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God – my Savior. Let’s see, publishes salvation – check!
The last point is to say unto Zion, “Thy God reigns!” Before I can check this one off I need to know who is Zion. 2 Samuel 2:7 calls Zion the “city of David.” So does 1 Kings 8:1. Psalm 48:2 calls it the city of the great King. To me, this means Jerusalem. So, I need to say to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Thy God reigns!” I do that often. I love Israel and my heart goes out to them as the world tries to take away from them the land God gave them. But, Israel (especially Jerusalem), I am here to tell you, “Your God reigns! He has not forsaken you and will not leave you without the Comforter and Protector. Grab onto Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah. He is waiting to save you and bring you into his plan of salvation. God bless you and keep you.” The last point has been done over and over – so check and double check!
Now, do you see how beautiful my feet are? They are gorgeous. How beautiful are your feet?
What Do We Need to Do?
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Jesus was talking to a crowd of people. It was the same crowd that had feasted on the bread and fish when Jesus fed the multitude. Just before these verses, Jesus told them, “You are not looking for me because you want to know me. Instead, you are looking for me because I fed you the bread.” (John 6:26-27). It was after he said that the people asked him what it was they need to do so they could be doing God’s work.
Jesus’ answer was so simple. Believe on Jesus Christ who God the Father sent. How much more simpler could it be? Apparently that was too simple an answer for the people as they continued to question him and wondered what miracles could he perform for them. (Read the rest of John 6 for the complete story.)
Are you questioning and trying to find out what it is you need to be doing for God? Jesus gave you the answer in these verses. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, died for our sins, was resurrected, and now sits on the right hand of Father God in heaven. God sent him and he came of his own free will. He laid down his life for you. What else do you need to know? There is nothing else you can do. If you do that, then you are working the work of God. Believe to the point that you receive Jesus. This means you accept everything about who he is, what he has done for you, and that he lives today.
What do we need to do so we can work the works of God? Believe Jesus – accept and receive him!
