RIVERS

Dag Heward-Mills

READ: Luke 11: 50-53

As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.

Luke 11:53, NLT

There are seven unseen rivers that govern almost everything that happens on this earth. These are the rivers of human nature that determine the outcome of many things. Instead of common sense determining the outcome of things, it is these rivers that determine the outcome of almost anything that happens on earth. They are the rivers of greed, selfishness, jealousy, lust, racism, wickedness and the misuse of power.

For instance, oil may be discovered in a country. The existence of this oil should make everyone in that nation prosperous. But when the powerful rivers of greed and selfishness appear, only a few people get rich and the masses are left in abject poverty.
You must not be provoked, misdirected or misled by any of these human rivers.

You must not be easily provoked because that is how to walk in love. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5; NASB).

You must not be easily provoked because provocation is a trap that has been set for you.

Credit: Dag Heward-Mills