1 Corinthians 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

I can remember a time when men lost themselves in the pursuit of wealth. Having attained a level of success they found that inner peace had eluded them. Some cashed it all in, some just walked away. “I need to find myself.” That was the term most heard by these men.

We live our lives in pursuit of love, respect, security and identity. These men achieved a high level of love, respect and security within their pursuit and cast it all aside to find identity. We do not hear as much about that pursuit these days. Life seems to be more of a struggle for survival.

Times have changed. What we see before us as perceived needs dictate more effort to make it one more day. We struggle to weave our way through a minefield of dangers. Tornados, floods, terror attacks, unemployment rates, interest rates, falling stock prices, bailouts, wars and threats of war, theft and murder, this is all we see placed before our lives. What happened to hope and charity?

It is alive in a few who have found their identity in Christ Jesus. What once was a strong beacon of hope called the United States of America seems to now glow as dying embers in the ash that only glow when the Holy Spirit breaths upon them.

Ezra 9:8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

We hope to escape, but being taken is not for us say, it is only known by God the Father. Thy will be done.

Ezra 9:14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?

This is what it feels like to see main stream churches who have no identity in Christ Jesus. Hold fast the Word of Truth yea sons of God, the begotten of the Beloved.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

What is leaning? Is it dependency? Is it trust? Is it indecision? Is it being unbalanced? If you look at the act of leaning on a table, against a wall, a crutch, or a person, isn’t the act itself intentional imbalance?

We lean for various reasons. We might be tired. We might be giving relief to an ache or pain. We might even do it to look cool. For whatever reason, it is a designed imbalance. There is a reason associated with those leans.

What about the leaning of the mind? Understanding comes from a process of the mind. A leaning of the mind implies an imbalance of reasoning, that one has not given opposing thoughts reasonable consideration. We dismiss ideas quickly if those thoughts do not align with our personal leanings. It causes us to dismiss and cut off others who think another way.

We need not fear error. We have the Spirit of truth to lead us. Consider this; how can we lead others out of darkness if we do not show light upon the error upon which they stand? When we dismiss error without cause, those who believe error will remain where they are, ignorant of the truth.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (NASB)

Faith isn’t meant for leaning.