Do you carefully consider the sources of what you hear? Do you feel obligated to accept anything from Christian sources and to reject anything from non-Christians? Don’t you know any Christians whose teachings you would hesitate to accept? Being a believer is not a guarantee of perfect knowledge. What about the other side of the coin? Could those you regard as outside the fold know something that you don’t? Your first consideration should not be the source but the truth of the assertion itself. You regard some more highly than others but no one should get a free pass and bypass examination. I promised to lead you into all truth by my Holy Spirit.

Do you know my will? It would be presumptuous to say that you do, but I’m willing to reveal it to those who are interested. You hold it as a basic doctrine that I am sovereign, but you should not use this as a basis for thinking my will is inscrutable, and passively accepting whatever happens as fated. Even though I am sovereign my will is never arbitrary or capricious. I always act according to my purpose of redemption. Have you ever seen me act any other way? If you want to know my will in any situation you can ponder the question of what my redemptive purpose is and see what comes forth.

Does it bother you when people get your name wrong? Do you feel the need to correct them or do you graciously respond to things obviously directed at you even if the person speaking gets your name wrong? It doesn’t take much discernment to know when it is an honest error or done with malicious intent. Do you know that people get my name wrong too? I still have other sheep who are not of this fold. They may be seeking me even if they get my name wrong. If you can be gracious and loving enough to accept people rather than rejecting them when they do this to you should you be surprised that I can do the same thing?

Have you heard it said that everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it? Is there anything for which the situation is reversed, that everyone is engaged in and no one talks about? You acknowledge your appetites for food and drink as hunger and thirst. Are you equally aware of your desire for meaning and purpose? How many people discuss this openly? Yet you can endure a life of pain easier than you can a life without meaning. Once you understand this you can see it in the actions of people that are difficult to explain any other way. How do you manifest your hunger for meaning in your own life?