A mind like a steel trap

Some people have a mind like a steel trap. Their only problem is that it snapped shut too long ago.

Does this describe our mind? Have we snapped it shut and in essence said, “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is already  made up”

Are we willing to listen to others? Do we try to see things from another’s perspective? Things are not always as they appear and we often jump to conclusions that are wrong A good example is when the two and a half tribes “built a great altar to see to” on the east side of the Jordan river The other tribes immediately misunderstood their intentions and gathered an army together to attack Fortunately they first sent a delegation across to question the eastern tribes Phinehas asked, “What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel?”

As it turned out, Israel had completely misunderstood what they had done The two and a half tribes replied, “God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt offerings” When Phinehas and the others heard their explanation, we are told it “pleased them” and a great slaughter was averted.

So often we can think like Israel and prepare an army to go against our brethren on the other side of the river When we sit down and reason together we may find that things were not as we had supposed Remember their explanation pleased Phinehas the priest His mind had not snapped shut and he was willing to listen to their point of view.

Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” We need to be a peacemaker like Phinehas and sit down and reason together before we close our mind like a steel trap and think the worst of each other.

When Jesus healed the sick, there were two reactions from the crowd around him There were those who rejoiced and there were those who were filled with indignation that Jesus would do such a thing on the sabbath day.

“The Lord then answered and said, Hypocrite Does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound [think of it] for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sab­bath? And when he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.”

It was obvious these self righteous Pharisees considered watering their ox or donkey was an acceptable exception to the law of the sabbath, but to heal the sick was not No wonder they were put to shame when Jesus pointed out their inconsistency.

We had better be careful how we treat one another Remember, to be called a child of God means to be a peacemaker Some in Isaiah’s day were totally sincere as they cast out their own brethren and they even said, “Let the Lord be glorified” as they did it Let us hear the conclusion of the matter from the Lord’s viewpoint (Isa 66 5 KJV) “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word, your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.”

Let us examine our minds to be sure that our steel trap has not snapped shut May we not be ashamed but rejoice for all the glorious things being done Let us be peacemakers as Phinehas was and tremble at our Lord’s word so that he shall appear to our joy and we shall be called the children of God.