Well Crafted Arguments

Colossians 2

1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

I love reading His word and letting just a word or two fall on me. In Louie Giglio's book "I am not, but I know I AM" He does a 'one word at a time ' study of a verse. Pulling it apart studying each word. And though I don't do that exactly, I do use his theory behind it, that we miss out on so much of what God wants to say to us when we don't meditate on the word. When we hurry to read just so we can say we read. When I read the word I ask God for 'a word',along with granting me His wisdom, His insight, and usually He will point out two or three words and I let them sink in.

Over the last couple of days I've heard some Christians using the words "your being deceived" and then they add their well crafted arguments. First I know that I am grounded in Christ Jesus and in His saving knowledge, His unconditional love, His gift of Grace and His unmerited Mercy. I am confident in Him.

Should I listen to anyone's "well crafted arguments"

IF we are in HIS word and His word is in US, (thank you Dr. Haber for preaching that on Sunday, it's the second time I've stole it). it shouldn't take long to be able to apply truth to any argument. It's when we don't know truth, His truth that we can be deceived.
We need to be arming ourselves, the word is called "the sword of the spirit" for a good reason. It takes a double edged sword to pierce our hardened, have to be right, bad attitude hearts. And I know, I've been there. I've had me a hard cold heart and an attitude that scared the best away. It took Jesus poring Himself out in the shape of ' the word' to cut through my well crafted arguments. Like Paul in the book of Romans I could give you good reason why I should be able to have my hard heart. My pedigree of hurt, humiliation and brokenness is much longer then most.

BUT GOD... oh amen, but God.

When we apply God to any of our well crafted arguments, we will find they are nothing in light of the cross.
Oh yes we will still have conflict, and those conflicts need to be aired right away. Not letting them fester and become something they were never meant to be. Apply Christ and His love and His mercy and oh what a difference we will see. And all those well crafted arguments will fall away.