Written on the Hearts of All

Christians. Sisters. Best Friends.

To look at all God created and not to see that indeed it had to have been created by a higher power, but instead created by happenstance is such a leap of faith. It takes more faith to be an atheist than the see what has been created and recognize there has to be a creator. God did create the earth and everything in it, including all of us. Do you notice how people who do not believe in God and are not saved still seem to have a set of morals and rules that they follow? We call this a conscience. Where did this conscience come from? God wrote these set of rules on all the hearts of his creation, all of his creation. Whether someone believes or not that person was created by God and has these laws within them. Some people make choices to the point where their heart is hardened. Some people are influenced by evil. We all have the conscience, but we still have conflicting thoughts or excuses to let ourselves believe that what we are doing is okay, even with a Holy Spirit. This is why it's so easy for unbelievers to do things against this law, they need that Holy Spirit and the guidance of God. Speaking as a person with the Holy Spirt, sin is still a battle. We will fight against our flesh and the spiritual world, but none of us are without the laws.

Romans 1:18-25

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen."

Romans 2: 12-16

"For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."

Christians in The Gritty

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Transcript

Christians In The Gritty (00:24)
Like I was just telling you, I feel like finally the sickness is leaving
our houses. Because I'm ready to go back to church, I miss church. And I was not being too good about watching it yet. I mean it was in my Bible though every day and I that's most important.

It's hard when you're home dealing with things to tune in, especially when you have young kids. Yes. It is hard for me to do it virtually sometimes. Yeah, because it's like you have to put it on and it's not like you're actually at church sometimes when the little kids are running around, right? Yeah, instead of sending them off to children's church. Maybe I should send them to grandma's. yeah.

And then do it. But yeah. I know. And you

always have good intentions, like you as in people. When you

plan, like you're like, OK, I'm going to watch church then. And then it's like, but you're at home. So you notice, this needs done, that needs done. Or, OK, I'll do it later because I think it will be better time. Yeah, that's the one. Yeah, I've watched like part way through and started taking notes. And I'm like, I have

to stop for a minute. And that's it. I'm doing this other thing so I'm not gonna be able to take notes. I want to really focus on it so I didn't actually do it but I was in my Bible so it wasn't being a total... what do call it?

I don't know. Bad girl. I did get into my Bible pretty regularly and spent some time because of what we talked about last time.

I know. I've actually stopped skipping pages in my notes from church when we do nursery and stuff like that because I'm like...

Why does it matter? Like to me it was like what date was that? I know that's how I used to be too and I stopped doing that. Because I can't hold myself or I can't leave it in there just to taunt me like you Yeah like you missed that one. Yeah like what do people do before there was virtual? Yeah exactly. They missed it.

missed it. Yeah. It is important to go I guess it does give us a little bit more of a feeling like I don't have to go because I can just do it virtually. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah during COVID I absolutely hated the virtual.

Yeah, because it I felt so disconnected. Mm-hmm,

Yeah. I was a little more reluctant because I was pregnant. And it was a time when we like if it was just your body. it was a time when we didn't know exactly what COVID was and neither did the doctors and that was the important part. They didn't know how to handle it and I could go in about that because I kind of hate the whole COVID.

like when you have a kid that when you're pregnant when you have a kid who had cancer during that the whole covid thing and the way it was handled i could get into a whole thing yeah i would have been the same way yeah

You're tuned in to Christians in the Gritty. I'm Christina. And this is Melissia.

for the first at least

weeks I was insane I was like scrubbing everything down disinfectant wipes like cleaning constantly doorknobs if we got something in the mail that came from somewhere like China or whatever I was spraying it with disinfectant like cuz we didn't know were getting those bracelets for a laser yes right we were spraying those I forgot about that yeah but it's true because you don't know you don't know what

what is happening and and

what it is. Yeah. But yeah. It starts to be though when you're living in this fear and I think we started recognizing that in our house and we didn't, we wouldn't wear masks places unless they really forced us. Yeah at the hospitals I did. Yeah. Yeah because I also feel like they should have

and maybe everyone won't agree with this, but just like with other sicknesses, I feel like it became more of a pandemic because we didn't let the course of it kind of go. And obviously when you're sick, don't go around people. But I know nobody knew a lot about it at the time, so that's too easy to say. Well, I mean...

And it was serious. was serious. die. And people did die. I mean, I lost a baby. My next baby was because I had gotten COVID. I think it was my next one. Because my husband was sick and he was like, it's not COVID. Yeah. But he handled it better. That's the thing is people didn't realize how well they were handling it. He handled it better. And I'm like...

and know, you get those feelings of guilt.

It left some PTSD because now every time he's sick or has a stuffy nose, like, I'm not kissing you. And I'm tired of being sick all the time because after I lost all those babies and stuff, I got sick easy.

So now I'm like the Heisman. I saw you sniffling earlier.

And I gotta get over that. But at the same time, I don't have to get over that. I don't have to be sick all the time. Right? Right? I

don't know in my opinion. yeah.

But I think it just shows us like we need to trust God

that you know he's gonna keep us safe and not to rely on ourselves so much for knowing what to do next but also praying and

staying connected to him. Yeah.

That reminds me of something from my recent studies. In Hebrews 11, starting at, well I guess it's just verse six.

Maybe I should read it from the Bible actually. Because I don't know if that's right word. Yeah, maybe it's supposed to be and or some.

Yeah, it could be, oh, that must be where I was at when I fell asleep. Okay.

Yeah, Hebrews 11 and 12 are great. Yeah. Meeting together. Yes. Maybe I should do that one instead.

Yeah, let's do that. Okay, see? This is I had to look at the microphone. Anyways, okay. So I have been talking to someone recently, and I know I might have mentioned it before in the podcast, about how we...

don't always meet together and how it feels it's so important to be together. And some people think I don't have to do that. It's fine because if I'm reading my Bible, kind of like what I was just saying, but I know how important it is to be in fellowship with other believers. the Hebrews 10, starting at verse...

Let's just start at verse 23 because I don't know where it's at and I don't want to delay. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

this part is a good like.

bridge between what we're talking about and what we're feeling in our lives and what I've been studying because you know...

you can hear chickens. I didn't think you'd be able to hear chickens. But you guys, you hear my hand going nuts over here. That's funny because that's old school Christians in the Gritty fans. The chickens when we were recording in the barn. That's funny.

She's going nuts, I don't know if you can hear her. yeah, it's just a good bridge between what I was talking about, or what we were talking about, what we're feeling in our lives, and what I had been studying recently because...

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering but also Not neglecting to meet others But if for if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins But a fearful expectation of judgment Mm-hmm, and that's like God doesn't expect us to be perfect because we never can be yeah But if we're not even trying to become more Christ like

Trying to better ourselves for him the thing deliberately. Yeah, that's the key word deliberately Then what did Jesus

die for? Yeah, I know me too actually all over And that's it and I think one of the reasons why it gives me goosebumps because there's a time of my life where I deliberately sinned Yeah, and and hearing scripture like this makes me think like even though

You know, it's that fear of judgment, like it says. Like, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.

And I know my relationship with God is there, and it's better, and I have a connection to him now. And not that I didn't before, but there was a gap in between where I was hurting and I let go. And I went deliberately sinning. But then I had remorse, and I turned and I straightened my path. See, that's the part we gotta remember,

I

stuff like this, think, it says, no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. I'm like, did you not forgive me? You know I mean? Because I deliberately did it. I knew I shouldn't be doing it and I did it anyways.

Which there wouldn't have been forgiveness at that time because we're going on doing it but we're not repenting. So if we don't repent, we aren't forgiven for that. You know what I'm saying? Like yes, he did die once and for all to forgive our sins.

we're not sorry, how can we be forgiven? Yeah, I think I was sorry all the time though. yeah, but you know what think about it, I mean yes and no. Yeah, I do know what you mean, but we gotta be careful too when we say that because there's so many places in the Bible where it talks about us being sealed. Right. Like once we have forgiveness of sins, we are sealed.

But we still have to account for the things that we say and do when we go to heaven. Yeah. And we go to the judgment.

So it's not... But he also will spit out lukewarm people. if we're truly had a change of heart and we're saved, we're sealed. That's what I think. Yeah, yeah. I agree with that. then if you don't fall down and fall away from God and lose faith, then...

It's not that you're no longer saved, but we still have to account for everything we do and say. And so if we was to die in that...

I feel like there will be some accountability. yeah, definitely. But yeah, I don't know. I feel like you must have something to say because I had a whole thing and then I can't remember it. I do. Well, it was just reminding me of a conversation that I had with Carolyn at church someday, I think. And we were just talking and I just think it's so amazing that she has this young adult group because I always tell her I wish I had something because that's the moment in my life from

from being a graduating senior in high school to turning my life to partying and doing all kinds of things that God kept. And I

knew it, because I was saved. And every time I did those things that I shouldn't have been doing, I was like, I know God doesn't want me to do this. Yes!

You know? That's what I'm talking about. I did it anyway. I would be in the bar drinking.

this girl or somebody would be saying something or using God's name in vain or saying there was and I would be like sitting there preaching to her like very bad testimony like I'm being bad and one time your brother-in-law actually said to me like man you're so much more fun now like we used to just go around I'd say I'm still that same person you just don't see me that way because I'm doing these things with you I'm worse I'm worse than you because you don't you don't know any better

Yeah, which we're gonna read a little bit. He should that's our conscience. That's there, you know, but But he's he he doesn't I know better I know there's a God and here I am sinning with you I was a bad witness to him too and so many other people because that's what I would do because me alcohol gave me courage, right so

And it's not a good thing. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but that's why I drink because I had anxiety I worried about what other people thought so if I drank I felt comfortable say whatever I wanted but here which is not good no And sometimes the stuff was okay like good things. I was saying sometimes it was horrible so Yeah, I would be like, but why don't you believe in God like this that whatever yeah, and It wasn't a good message

And then here he's probably thinking, here you are drunk doing all the same things as me. You know? It is a horrible testimony. But I think it did help that we admitted we weren't doing what we're supposed to be doing. Like, I mean, because I did to him. And to other people. I didn't. I didn't admit that, I don't think. I did. And I said, you know, and I wasn't showing how to look to God.

But I mean, now they could see how bad off I was and the fact that now I'm going through even more things in my family and my life because that was after I lost my son. He was stillborn.

I really fell off the deep end about his anniversary of his death. Well, his delivering. But yeah, that time frame. And I hadn't found a home church. That's why this is so important. And I didn't even think about that when I brought it up. I hadn't had people like, I also often would say gobble me up. I didn't have people that, I actually had influences

of people just like we're talking about that they were going to church you know

Serving in the nursery, but not actually following God and I thought maybe it's okay Maybe you know that voice kept talking to my ear. I think it's probably okay She does that she does that you know and the more we get away from going to church and being with those who fellowship is You let the enemy talk to you too much. yeah, and then you start falling away falling away

And I mean, when I first moved back and I hadn't found a church that felt like that, that was home, or was where I was supposed to be.

I was doing a church at home with my kids, like doing like a Sunday school or a children's church with them.

And you know, that's okay. It gives you reasons. That's okay, because I was doing this, you know. But we really need people because we need that accountability. And we need people to be there for us when we're going through that even more than our family, because I know what thoughts you probably are having. I am having thoughts and I

think I'm going to say it because I love you, mom and dad.

that you love God,

But when I was at that stage, it was kind of a critical time. This is what I was talking about. And

Carolyn was talking about the same types of things. my parents weren't living a Christian life then either. And I didn't have somebody telling me,

hey, this isn't what God wants for you. To try and help take me on a better path.

And I know that they weren't happy with my decisions and they were not condoning them. Right, but they were the same place that we were. Yeah. And you think about that. I want to say this real quick just because I know and I love them and I know they watch. But they were the same place that we were. So we're not saying that in judgment, but that's why it's so important. Because when my children were little...

That's when I was doing that. I did have kids when I was doing those things. And so they weren't being raised in the same way. In fact, Shealyn was quite old when she was saved because...

It's like I had to get going again. All the things I learned weren't laid right in her mind. Yeah. But yeah, so we're not saying that in judgment. Right, right, right. And I think they know that. Yeah,

it's important for us to be a support system for other people.

And for all ages really to be there and be that person for someone.

Especially if you know they don't have a support system, a Christian support system.

But always, because what does it hurt to have more people supporting you in your faith and helping you make good decisions?

And when it's a loved one, often when you're not doing the church stuff, but when you're feeling...

Like you feel really bad because you really love this person for example and so you kind of let them fall because they've been through a lot and sometimes we gotta remember that you know that's why it's important to have like church family too because it's like a different kind of accountability. Yeah. I feel like so if you're only going to church with just your family

you know it's kind of different. It feels different. It's different.

There's places in the bible and I don't know if you know this or not But God does write the laws on the hearts of even people that are not believers think about it. That's like a conscience because He still made them and he still put that there and we've talked about it before where

where you feel like you need to seek for something and it's God and sometimes we seek for things we shouldn't be seeking because we're actually supposed to be looking for God but there's like a blinder there for us in a way

in Romans 1 this is where Paul is talking about God's wrath and unrighteousness is what the title is in mine but for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness

suppress the truth. So we're kind of talking about that how once I was not living in that, I stopped being able to hear the truth. yeah. So for what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them.

For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse. It's like we can see that something divine, it's when people say, can you not believe? Look at all what's made, this couldn't have been an accident. That's what the people are talking about.

Have you ever seen like your lung, like one of the caretakers was mentioning this because I was talking about what we were talking about last week with the roots and stuff. Yeah, don't you see how the root, like your lungs look like the roots of a tree? Yeah. And stuff like that because she's in more of the medical field standpoint. And she said something like that, like how the root, like it's everywhere. And you can actually look in cells and see things that

It just couldn't have been by accident.

and everything works together. God created male and female. Our bodies work together to make more creation, right? And I mean, everything's like that. If you think of anything science, you know,

how do trees grow? Well, God has provided rain, know, the way the leaves work to get water.

Everything. The sun, know, the light, the way everything works, all works together. And how could that be just from something, an explosion or whatever where all these atoms were then formed and it doesn't make sense. And the fact that we're thinking that man could have the answer to something in their eyes happened millions of years ago.

I

don't believe that because that doesn't line up to the Bible. Like how can we think that man could have that figured out? We can't even figure out how to cure cancer correctly without causing another cancer or you know what I'm saying? Like we can't figure those things out. How could we figure out how the beginning of the earth was created to me? But the things that they do say with the Big Bang,

Even the evidence that was revealed to them it lines up when you think about it because what is the big bang? I'm not gonna go look it up and like promote that but at the same time it's like there was something that happened and Bang, so it was God's voice saying let there be that light like you know what I mean? yeah, and God said let there be light boom. Yeah

It all lines up, how would these people, speaking about people that don't know things, how would these people from, you know, thousands of years ago know that? They weren't studying the soil and looking under microscopes and doing the things that...

that we do now to claim that we know because we know now better than what these people did. But Moses didn't do that. Moses is one that wrote this divinely because he wasn't even there and he wrote this because it was told to him by God, you know, to write these things. And so then he saw that it was good.

And then they expanse, you know, and then the waters. And like this follows along kind of with what a little bit about what they think happened. Like what would have to happen in order for the earth to be made scientifically by the by the science that God laid in place and let's go automatically in a way without divine intervention. You know, the things that he set in place to happen, like the leaves will turn on their own, like these things is what I mean. Like I feel like he

put in a programming system in a way if we think of it in our minds for things to kind of run on their own a little bit and so if we're looking at that and we're looking back here so I think that's how they kind of figured out what how it would have had to happen but these things kind of line up to that so I don't see how people couldn't believe

I don't see how people couldn't believe in how would have Moses known that's how the earth would have had to been created. That's my whole point. didn't have all the technology to Yeah. And not saying that the Big Bang is even right. Even the steps are correctly. But if you look it up and kind of study that, you'll see a little bit of how...

how what they think should have happened is actually what Moses wrote

and how would he know that is my point but I digress anyhow I get riled up about that but yeah we have to like trust and have the faith but yeah so but

If we read on down to verse 24 then in Romans 1 Therefore God gave them up to the lust of their impurity and to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and Worship and serve the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen Because that's what we're doing. That's what we're doing. We were we were serving our flesh. Yeah

And God will let us do it, because...

because we choose it and even though we know better. And he sat there and would, that's why we felt bad. I shouldn't be doing this. That's a guy going, you shouldn't be doing this. Right. Yeah. And the truth is, yeah, I might have cared, but I didn't truly care. Cause I was being selfish, which is funny. Cause we kind of- That's something that came to her. that's been on my mind a lot lately. It was like,

God wants you to do these things, but you just don't want to do it, so you're not going to, even though you know he's telling you. And that's how it was, you know? God's like, no, I don't think you should go to the bar today. I'm like, yeah, but I'm gonna. I think it's really fun. I really just need to have fun. deserve that. I'm a single mom.

And I really hurt and so I deserved to have fun. Yeah, but then it really thinking back

None of it was really fun. No, it was a lot more pain and a lot more trauma And a lot more things that I didn't need to experience like we were talking about last time Mm-hmm and God is trying to protect us from that. That is a lot of his rules Even the rules that he gave like the Jews in the beginning. So like the cleanliness and stuff Was protecting them from sickness if you think about it like those are things that they couldn't know. Yeah on their own

Unless they just trial and error. I don't wash up and so I always get sick Maybe I should wash but like those were kind of like the cleaning rituals and how to take care of even your bedding after having marital things and a lot of that You know is still in the Jewish community as rituals instead of just recognizing that's got protection Yeah, like we need to do that and also, you know in that would have been obedience at the time. Yes

But now Jesus has fulfilled the law, right? So some of those things that have become more ritualistic instead of an act of obedience for some people.

they're still doing it and they don't need to. I mean, yeah, but you're right. Like that's a good point is like they didn't know, you know, at the time what would need to be done to protect them. Yeah. And that's just another thing to show you. Like God's real, you know,

also in Romans 1 verse 32, though they know God's decree, righteous decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. That's like saying the same thing that we were talking about is

But if that's their truth, I don't want to live by our truths. I want to live by God's truth. And so we go on to chapter 2 verse 1.

Because you the judge practice the very same things. So that's what we're doing Yeah, exactly. So our testimony was basically null and void because we're saying God wants this but then we're doing that at the same time Yeah, we know that the right the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things Yeah, and this over here really explains a lot of what you're studying

has been. Yeah, exactly. So in then Romans 2, starting at verse 13, for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For the Gentiles who do not have the law, so they were not the Jews, they weren't given the law that the Jews were given, like those rituals and those practices and even like the Ten Commandments that were given to them. They weren't

They weren't given that like the Jews were but it says in verse 14, for the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires. They are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. So like they're not gonna go murdering all these people because they know it's wrong. Like that's written on our hearts. That's our conscience, you know? so then continuing verse 15.

they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when according to my gospel God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

So do you think that's kind of talking about right here where it says, and they're conflicting thoughts, accuse or even excuse them. So we think, I was a good person. Do you think that's what that, I I feel like that's what it's saying is like how we're saying, oh, but like, yeah, it's okay that I'm doing this because I did this for God or because I do, I love God or like I believe in him. Whatever they're doing, they're making an excuse.

for it. Let's see what the commentary says in my Bible. For Gentiles, God's law is written on their hearts. Their conscience, their consciences show that what is right or wrong in their behavior. Paul does not imply that the human conscience is always perfect moral guide, but

is existence is enough to make people accountable to God. Which God gave us that conscience. So whether you're saved or not you have it. But this verse that you didn't read here verse 12

I feel like, so it's Romans 2 12, for all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. And all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. that's what we were talking about earlier. It proves what you, like the whole basis of our topic today is that, and the conscience is God has placed that on our minds and we might not have him in our hearts and have a heart for him.

But we still know what the law is So we have no excuse, but I also think this is a little bit talking about how I said When you are a believer in your sealed and but but this part right here for answering What I would my question was earlier for all have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, right? But and all who have sinned under the law so those who believe right? will be judged. So it's not that we're gonna

to to hell, but we're still going to be judged. Right.

it is worse for us who know and believe and know the law, it is worse for us to sin.

You know what I'm saying? a way, yeah. In a way, because we know and we believe. So like our sins, we should have known better. Right. And yes, they should know better by their conscience, but I also, here's what it was, is that God does make us blind to certain things. And I think that's why sometimes until God reveals things to people who are not yet saved, that maybe they're having trouble understanding, you know,

I've had people say to me even recently that they just don't understand like they want to believe but they don't understand how everything could be created by God.

But then you gotta look at that, that gives more faith to be an atheist. How can you believe that, how can you see everything in this world, not the evil, not the pain, I'm talking about the world, the nature, how can you see that and not believe that it couldn't have been created by chance? So it takes more faith to believe that this was all an accident than to believe that we were created for a purpose.

I mean if you're a non-believer really set there and study on it and I talked about this too on our TikTok platform we had

Why had something come up on the feed and I commented on it because I just felt like people need to hear truth, too I wasn't really trying to argue but the created one of the Muslim people had really started interacting and asking me questions and so I'm like well I don't know exactly how to prove to you this but basically was getting at so I feel like everything I say it's like why don't you I'm praying to God for the word

to say to you because I feel like he's not gonna believe anything. knows of the Bible and things. So he's like, I won't get into that topic a little more later, but he's like, how this and that, and I'm trying to explain it to him. was like, you know what? I've been praying for God to reveal what to say to you. Why don't you stop and just pray? Because he believes in the God, but don't believe in Jesus. For you to have the truth revealed to you.

take your blinders off and reveal the truth. And he kept arguing with me. was like, are you so afraid to pray for the truth? Because if your truth is true...

then you'll still believe it. And he was so afraid to pray for the truth. And I don't understand that. Because if you're a non-believer, or if you're a believer but don't believe in Jesus, or you're just trying to seek what is out there, stop and pray. Pray for the truth to be revealed to you and it will be. And if you're right, which you're not, but if you're right, then no truth will be, you know? Like, if you're ready and God's revealing himself to you,

and you ask for the blinders to be taken off, you're gonna know. Like God will, you'll see. You'll see, just ask, just be willing. Because if we put up those blinders and we say, okay, reveal the truth, and we still leave the blinders on, you have You're not trying to receive it. You have to be willing, yeah.

If we go on there from there even in verse 17, but if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent because you are instructed from the law and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in the darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children having in the law the

embodiment of knowledge and truth you then who teach others do You not teach yourself Will you preach against stealing? wow. wow while you preach against stealing do you steal and That's kind of what we were doing right there and it is talking about how people are blind to what you were saying But yeah, like and it goes on will you commit adultery while you're preaching about not to commit adultry?

And I actually like this too because I know we've talked about that.

Like when I was first really getting back into following God like truly and I was teaching in the nursery. It's like I was learning things. So right here where it says, then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? Yes. Because you are believing or becoming to believe what you are saying too. That's why what goes in your mind is important because a lot of

that's what comes out of your mouth or that's what's in your heart. Yeah, that says that over and over in the Bible. What's in your heart is what will come out. you put in comes out. Yeah, so it's really important to know and I still learn every day like teaching even older kids now. When I am studying to teach them, I am learning and you know what I've learned to do is I don't

dumb things down for the kids because they're not dumb. So, but these are junior high kids, I'll say that. So like, if they don't understand something, then I can explain it in a more age appropriate way. But I've learned that when you teach them what you are learning, how you are learning it, often they understand it and it helps their relationship with God to where they're like, okay, like I understand what you're saying.

And then I think you adapt from there. making sure that whoever you're teaching no matter what age that they're understanding what you're saying and then adapting from there but not assuming someone's not going to understand the whole truth of God's Word. But if you are still learning and like you said like you used to do you used to Learn as you're teaching like a nursery and stuff is a good place to start I mean if you're good with kids and making sure you're only saying what you

No, yes exactly and it's okay to say I don't know that mm-hmm It's okay in any sense any walk of life. So say you're a new Christian and you're feeling that fire Like I've done it before where you're telling people about this change you've had in your life That's why it's so important your testimony is what you talk about because it's like I don't know the answer to that yet But what I do know is that I was this way and now I'm not right and I know the love

I feel in my heart and I know that's true and it's okay to be like when Whenever I find that out or you can pray about it or let me get you in contact with someone that would know that yeah, that's okay That's okay to not know all the answers just because you believe it. Yeah, you know This too is sometimes what I say to people is I don't understand that and I'm never going to Understand that on this side of heaven. Yeah, like until I get there. I'm only gonna understand what God reveals to me

And even when I'm there, let's face it, a lot of things I'm not gonna care about anymore. I'm just gonna be focused on worshiping God, like, hey, I'm with God, I'm with Jesus, and that's all that matters. But some things that will be revealed to us and we'll understand better. Well, his ways are above our ways and his thoughts are above our thoughts. And they always will be, always.

Even when we get to heaven like you're saying we're might not care about that because it's not gonna be important Mm-hmm in the same way just like what we were talking about how when we get to heaven and we're talking about the loved ones that don't choose and and how if there's no more pain I feel like we're not gonna remember them because we had talked about that Bruce to that but You were kind of running short on time today, so I can't get into that but yes, there's verses that say

So like it's you don't want that for them, right? Knowing them now you don't want that from them You want everyone you don't you you got to think about it when you're telling people about God like it is important you do that because You know what will happen to them? Like we just talked about even without the law they will perish Yeah, and I mean, I don't know this obviously but I do feel like

God is the one that holds all that pain for us when we go to heaven.

Where does that go? Like I feel like he because we're made in his image, right? So like the characteristics that we have God has given us and they come from him So I feel like you know, he might have some pain there still because his children are lost. Yeah, know Yeah, but I feel like if he's capable of forgetting our sin. Yeah, he's capable. I'm not forgetting them but just

almost maybe shutting that off. Like we're given that in trauma too. You just sparked this thought. Cause we're given that ability when a traumatic thing happens to us, our brains will automatically once in a while like shut it off. But our bodies still remember the trauma. Cause that's a lot of PTSD. Like they don't remember what happened, but yet they have these issues because our body, God is amazing. The things he does for our bodies, like to be able to help us

Just get through he put that in place where our brains will make it so we don't remember because it's too hard and and so our when we go into like say it's a medical thing when you walk up to the Room of that your body feels anxiety because they know it's he still left the warnings in place Like if you're going next to the person that hurt you you're still gonna freak out But you might not remember the thing that happened, you know exactly because God still left those warns

Yeah, but if you think about it, yeah, it's kind of what that is. Yeah, and I know there's made in his image Yeah, and I know there's things now that I have started having come up in my life there from past Situations that I'm just now dealing with because I'm like I forgot all about that. I didn't realize how much pain that cause Yes, yeah, it's like God has given it back to you to deal with and let you grow from it But you weren't ready then right? Yeah

That's why a lot of times when you know people are in abuse situations and Then they go do a similar thing that should be good Mm-hmm, and it comes back up. Yeah, it's because like you have to deal with this thing or this isn't gonna work out You know, feel yeah, and maybe that's since we're made in this image. Maybe that's kind of sort of like the

the way he worked, like he can shut that off in a way. Yeah, maybe. Maybe, I don't know, he's not. He's not us. Like you said, his ways are higher than ours, his thoughts are higher than ours. And we're not gonna have to worry about it. And we're not gonna know the answer. But it's just a thought because we're though. just like Jesus dying on the cross, he took all of that pain and suffering for us and I don't think we should discount it in that

That's where my mind's going with God is like he yeah all that is being done for us So we should be serious about it I never thought about that for that Christina that Jesus took on all that pain Yes, God is going to do the same thing. I mean he's made in the exact nature I mean is already taken some of that pain just by sending his son to die right, you know Maybe that is how some of it and he doesn't want

one to perish.

And it seems like sometimes in the Bible he would because he knows their hardened heart, but he's protecting his children from them. Because he knows that they're not changing. Yeah, they're not gonna change their ways. He can see what they're gonna do. He's God and he knows, no, I have to take you out of this position. I have to eliminate your ability to do this or that or...

Or to discourage my people or bring them away from me. So I need to shut you down because you're going to do too much harm. And that's his protection. A lot of times we see the things he does, the wrath he does on a whole city. Like destroy a whole city. And he says if you can find 10 people in there that are worthy of saving, I will save the entire city. Because I will not punish my people. But at the same time, they couldn't. Sodom and Gomorrah, he destroyed

the whole city because they were just going to influence people. it is laid on our hearts and we do...

And it is mentioned more than once in the Bible, but we're running short on time, so we're gonna leave it at that. I really do think that that's where our conscience comes from. He makes us. you know, the people that know not to murder other people. And if they do, are murderers, a lot of times that's because they're being influenced by evil. And Or they are the evil, honestly. Well, yes and no, because

Because I feel like sometimes they're persuaded in that way.

And it's not like, maybe they were more susceptible, so that's why, you know, like serial killers or something like that. But, like their hearts have been hardened, and so that's why they're that way. Not that God wouldn't forgive them if they were actually sorry. Right. Like, cause sometimes that could be like a demonic thing, but God knows those, your heart. even though we're given those, um...

or given that law on our heart and have the conscience doesn't mean that you're saved. And so just reach out to someone. Pray for that truth to be revealed to you. If you don't quite believe, pray for God to reveal himself to you, because he will. If you're accepting it.

 you want to pray or should I pray? I think it's you again today. You don't think so? No, that's fine. I really do. We just kind of go that way. Whatever we feel like.

God, thank you so much for always providing a way for us to do things. We know that last week our podcast didn't get out when it was supposed to, but your ways are above ours and your knowledge is above ours. And we're just praying that you just continue to guide us and to know what our next steps are and to guide us in the things that we have to do to make your word and your knowledge and your truth to be known to others and just continue to guide us and be with us and protect

us in our lives so we can continue to have that protection from evil and to leave us on the path that we need to be on Lord. I pray that all the time for my family, my household, now Christina's household and her family to just be able to continue to

know the truth and to be where we need to be in order to do your work Lord and I'm praying for our pastors and our leaders and especially our pastor Rob and his family as he is struggling right now with just the

the duties and the burden that it is to be a ministry lord because the enemy does want to attack and I'm asking you to be there with them and just protect him. Put that protection over him while he needs to regroup and I see the family getting attacked in medical ways and I just ask you to lift all that from them and give them a way to just

be able to seek you in ways that they need to and guidance in the ways that they need to and for all the leaders and teachers out there and the people that are listening be with them and show them you I'm asking you to do that to reveal yourself to them even if they are not asking Lord and for them to have a softened heart because we can only plant the seed and I know that you are the only one that can soften their heart for for

of your word because you are the truth and you're the one we do not save only you save and only Jesus died for their sins and be with us throughout the week and help this to just go smoothly like it in the downloading that we need and I know that's a weird request for others people but I just need that to happen for my life today and be with us and walk with us and we love you in Jesus

Jesus' name, amen.

We are so happy that you joined us today and I'm Melissia. And I'm Christina. And we're Christians in the Gritty.