Redefining things seems to be the thing to do these days. And I’m talking about more that just ‘rebranding’ something as newer, bigger and better. There is the mindset that we can arbitrarily change the definition of things to suit our own desires. It has reached the extreme that someone could say, “I don’t care if everyone else calls that color blue. I have decided it is going to be red from now on,” and there would be people who would support him in that belief. It doesn’t matter that there is already a color called red. The will insist that you accept and support their decision to call blue “red.”

You see it happening. Even though God created only two genders, male and female, and instituted marriage as the union of one man and one woman, our society decided to “redefine” marriage. More recently, we have been told that we cannot force our definition of gender on anyone. People can identify themselves any way they wish. Where are those voices that always shout, “follow the science” in this discussion?

Sometimes we joke about it. Like those who say that with the President’s Student Loan forgiveness, their mortgage has redefined itself as a Student Loan. We joke at the absurdity that is being tolerated and accepted as normal.

But I find myself doing more than just joking about such things. My first response is usually to get angry. And I try to tell myself it is righteous anger. Maybe I should get a whip and start turning over tables!

John 2:15 So [Jesus] made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

But then that “pesky” Holy Spirit starts whispering in my ear again, asking me if I’m looking at them the way Jesus would. Does their sin break my heart and want to help them, or am I just disgusted and want to punish them? I say “pesky” because my sinful, fallen human nature does not want to listen. But He is insistent. And I am reminded that There is only one instance in Scripture where Jesus acted in anger. The rest of His interactions were kind and gentle, and all were motivated by His love. That is what we need to do as well. Speak God’s truth lovingly into all situations.

Ephesians 4:14–18 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

One of the things I have come to realize is that this trend of “redefining” things is as old as the Fall into sin. It is men wanting to be God. He is the one that created all things and gave definition to this world. But the serpent tempted the woman to “redefine” what God had said. Adam went along with her, and sin became our reality. With it came our condemnation and deserved punishment. But God promised a solution that only He could accomplish. He would send a Savior to buy us back from sin and restore us. As His plan unfolds in Scripture, He chose to send this Savior through the line of Abram.

Romans 4:17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

God calls things that are not as though they were. The Creator is the one who can rightfully redefine things.That is why he can call you and me “righteous” because of our faith in Jesus. We know we are not righteous. God knows we are not righteous. But He applies the righteousness of Jesus to all who believe that He died to pay for sin and rose again to open heaven for us. That is the redefining we all need and that we should continue to share with the world around us.

Father, remind me daily of your love that reached out to me to rescue me from death and destruction. Fill me with that love so that I will share this message with the world around me, letting them know they can be redefined as righteous and forgiven as well. Thank you for sending Jesus to do this for me and everyone else. In His name I pray. Amen.

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Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow:  “Walk in the Footsteps of Paul.”

Links to the registration and brochure, along with previous devotions, can be found at revmattil.org.  If you want more information, email mike@revmattil.org.