Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
View Content By Specific Category
¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
The Role Of Common Sense In Following God's Guidance
Many people find it difficult, sometimes very difficult, to learn how to be a profitable servant of God. There are many reasons for this, but one problem that is common among numerous Christians who desire God's guidance is the mistake of waiting on God to tell them to do the simplest things for which they really need not wait if they would use common sense.
God created man with an amazing brain that has a very high level of reasoning power which incorporates common sense. The Lord expects his people to use their brains. Believers must realize that God won't do for someone what that individual can do for himself.
God instructed Noah to go into the ark with his family to escape the great deluge. However, where does the Bible say that he told Noah how to know when to exit? Scripture reveals that Noah used the common sense God gave him to figure out when it was safe for him and his family to leave the ark. Genesis 8:6–13 describes how Noah figured out how to know when to make his exit. The Bible says that he released a raven and a dove, at different times, to see if the waters had receded. The dove came back once with an olive leaf in her beak. This told Noah that the waters had subsided greatly, but that it still was not safe to exit, so he and his family remained in the safety of the ark. Seven days after the dove had returned with the olive leaf, he released her again. When she didn't return, he knew there was dry land and that it was okay to leave the ark. Noah didn't wait on God's guidance for what his common sense could tell him.
Noah used his God-given common sense and reasoning power to know when to leave the ark. He didn't sit and wait for God to miraculously speak to him, telling him to leave. The lives of God's faithful servants in the Bible are to serve as examples to Christians today to know what to do and what not to do (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Instruction for Christians to use their common sense may, at first, appear contrary to scripture which warns man not to rely on his own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); however, the Christian must not confuse this with the importance of common sense. If he truly accepted Christ as his Lord, he has already accepted a new doctrine for conducting his life—the doctrine and law of Christ which established for him what is good and what is evil. This is his righteousness and his way of life (Philippians 3:9; Ephesians 4:16; 2 John 9; Romans 7:25).
What about those times when man's common sense conflicts with God's plan? There are many biblical examples telling us what mindset we should have so that we don't have to worry about overstepping God's guidance in using our common sense.
The first chapter of the New Testament book of Matthew explains how it came time for the virgin Mary to carry the Son of God in her womb before her marriage to Joseph had taken place. However, since she was already espoused to him, he made the decision to privately put her away, to annul the upcoming marriage. Joseph acted on the knowledge of God's word he already had and on his common sense. Having no other explanation for what appeared to be Mary's infidelity, he proceeded with what made perfectly good sense and with what appeared to be in compliance with the knowledge of God in Israel.
God saw Joseph's reasoning and willingness to obey his commands and he even saw his kindness towards Mary in his plan to privately divorce her instead of making a public spectacle of her. Scripture says that, "...the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 1:20). We see that the use of common sense did not interfere with receiving God's guidance.
One cannot effectively walk with God without trusting him. That trust includes knowing that he is merciful and gracious to warn and correct his servants in their use of the common sense he gave them so that they do not sin against him.
© 2007
Edited by Ruth Zetek
Image Credit:
Wikimedia Commons
Mihael Simonic
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
Copyright notice: This website and its content is copyright of © Heavenly Manna (HeavenlyManna.net) 2002-2016.
Comments/Comentarios:
Send Comments or a Private Message about One of Our Services / Envíe Comentarios o un Mensaje Privado acerca de nuestros servicios
Once comments reach 10, they close. IF YOU USE PROFANITY, WE WILL REJECT YOUR COMMENT AUTOMATICALLY.
We're a small team, please be patient as we review comments.
©2003 - 2013 Heavenly Manna Ministries
Images: courtesy of Free Digital Photos, openstockphotography.org, FreeFoto.com, Wikimedia Commons. Multiple crosses image - Wikimedia Commons - C.G.P Grey - Animation by Heavenly Manna