Stop Looking For Loopholes

162 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 6:3,4 “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,” (1 Tim 6:3,4) I want to give you a classic example of one of the methods of false teachers who are obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, because it can be a ploy used in the church today for those who would deny the doctrine of Christ, or those who would have us ignore the wholesome (healthy) words of Christ. These false teachers become obsessed with putting a stamp of approval on sin and make a mockery of what the Bible says as they seek to create scenarios that would seem to fly in the face of what is taught by Jesus in Scripture. Their mantra is “but what about this case, or what about that case” and unfortunately many of us grab at the scenario and use it to justify our sin. Friends, circumstances don't change the Word of God! It is what it is and we can either obey it and enjoy spiritual health or live in the loopholes where faith withers and runs the risk of dying.The classic example of loophole chasing is found in Mt 22:23-33, as the Sadducee's tried to justify their denial of a bodily resurrection: “The same day the Sadducee's, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 "Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 "Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 "Last of all the woman died also. 28 "Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." Note our Lord's response, Jesus flat out told these loophole seekers that they didn't know (they weren't intimate) with the Scriptures. Rather than seeking loopholes, we are better suited to become intimate with Jesus and His Word and instead of nit-picking, believe with all our hearts, “Thus saith the Lord!