Christian, Christians and Jews

What Is a False Premise?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 10/4/26

I have to confess, when Job popped up in my Bible Reading Plan again the other day, my first thought was, Oh no! Not Job again! So, after seeking God’s forgiveness, I dug right in.

There is so much to learn from the book of Job! In fact in January of this year, I wrote a series of articles called Treasures From Job.

But you know what? Like He always does, God is teaching me some new things, things that apply to my life right now!

To briefly review, Job was a man who suffered terrible loss. He was a righteous man who lost everything: his wealth, his health, and his children. His suffering was great and his friends came to visit him.

Job’s friends are famous for being terrible comforters. They accused Job of being a wicked man. On and on they chastised him. Through these chapters, we learn how NOT to comfort people!

This is the new thing I learned (new to me, that is): Job’s friends based their beliefs about why Job was suffering on a false premise.

They believed that when bad things happen in someone’s life, it means God is punishing them. Therefore, Job must be wicked and needs to repent. But this was not true, because the premise was not true.

In the same way, someone can interpret Scripture incorrectly based on a false premise. If you can’t understand how someone could believe a certain thing, perhaps they are basing it on a false premise. You may not know what that false premise is. If you did, you would understand how they came to their false interpretation of Scripture.

I have a friend I disagree with on a certain Scripture. I keep thinking, How can you believe that? After reading through Job, I realized that there may be a false premise at play. But what is it?

That isn’t the only reason someone might misinterpret Scripture, but it is one possibility to consider. Please share your thoughts.

“Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Christian

Working in the Dark

Cindy Dawson

A Message from Patty at He Said What?!

A couple months ago I looked out our kitchen window above our sink.  And there, to my dismay, was a tunnel web built by a hard-working spider.  The web was between our window and the screen.

Now spiders and I don’t get along too well.  Yet, despite my instinct to get rid of that spider and his web, I had a degree of respect for his hard work and so I let him stay. 

He was very industrious.  He built his web larger and longer as time went by.  One recent day, as Gary worked outside, he decided to use his blower to get rid of the web and hopefully the spider.  Good-bye spider.  Time to go!

But the next morning I went to the window and there was a fresh new web.  That spider had worked during the dark night to rebuild his web and start over.  Impressive, I must say.

I thought of this as I remembered a devotional I had read not long ago from Streams in the Desert.  The author talked about how the children of Israel came to the Red Sea after God led them out of Egypt.  Their situation seemed hopeless at that point.

But God sent a strong east wind all that night and caused the sea to part.  He gave a cloud that provided light and led the Israelites through the sea on dry land.

All seemed lost, but God worked in the night.  The dark didn’t stop Him.

Our dark times don’t stop God, either.  We may not see what He is doing but He has not quit working His best in our lives during the dark times.

In fact, it’s during those times when I can’t see Him working that my trust in Him has grown. 

I don’t have to see His work to trust that He IS working. 

If my trust depends on my sight, then I’m not trusting Him.  I’m trusting what I can see. 

In the morning, I saw how hard our spider worked during the night.

Likewise, someday I’ll see how hard God has worked in my dark times.

“For You light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.”   (Psalm 18:28)

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I liked this post so much, I had to repost it! Thanks, Patty!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Trusting God’s Will

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Friday, 10/2/26

“There will be times when God’s will is not what we would naturally choose.
There will be times when obedience costs us something.
There will be times when we do not understand why God has permitted the road before us to take the direction it has.

Gethsemane reminds us that submission to God does not require pretending that the cup is easy.
Nor does trusting God require us to understand why the cup has been permitted.

It means trusting the Father enough to say:


“Yet not my will, but Yours be done.”

Bruce Cooper, from Yet Not My Will; But Your Will Be Done

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Love Your Enemies

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 10/1/26

Sometimes, people change God’s Word just a little to make it say what they want it to say.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Matthew 5:43-46

This correction came as a result of the Jews changing Leviticus 19:18 from

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” to “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

Because they had suffered so much oppression from their enemies, they decided it was God’s will to love Jews but hate everybody else!

But God said what He meant and meant what He said. God’s Word is true. You can put complete trust in His Word.

“May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
    your salvation, according to your promise;
 then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.” Psalm 119:41-42

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

All Scriptures from the NIV. Emphasis mine.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Seek God With Diligence

Cindy Dawson

Wednesday’s Wisdom for 9/30/26

“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.” Proverbs 8:17 NASB

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. ” Charles Spurgeon

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Worshae on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

What Does It Mean to Forsake Your First Love?

Cindy Dawson

Bible Study for Tuesday, 9/29/26

The exact meaning of a Scripture is not always crystal clear. In fact, the Bible says,

“For now we see through a glass, darkly;” 1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

Sometimes Scripture requires more than a quick overview. Sometimes it requires study and prayer. The book of Revelation is no exception. Chapters two and three are letters to the seven churches from Jesus Christ, delivered by the Apostle John. We can and must learn from these letters still today.

The first letter is written to the church at Ephesus. Jesus said, “Repent and do the things you did at first.“

I have studied this letter often, and the question that hounds me is this: What did they do at first that they stopped doing?

Jesus said,

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Revelation 2:2-6 NIV (emphasis mine)

So what were they doing at first that they were no longer doing? The text doesn’t explain exactly what those actions were. We only know they had forsaken the love they had at first. The word translated as love is agape. Was He referring to their emotional response to Him? Maybe not. And here’s why.

1 Corinthians 13 provides a detailed definition of agape love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 8 Love never fails.”

Agape love is not a feeling. It is action. Perhaps these are the things they no longer did. Is it possible to work hard, persevere, and have no tolerance for false teachers or wicked people, and yet forsake the agape love they once showed one another?

Had they become impatient with one another and easily angered? Perhaps they had become unkind and looked out only for themselves instead of others. Perhaps they had become envious and boastful. Perhaps they had forgotten how to love one another like they once did. The NLT says it like this,

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Revelation 2:4 NLT

The connection between love for Jesus and obedience to His commands is a recurring theme in the Apostle John’s writings. Jesus said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 NASB

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV

Loving God is not merely a feeling; it is an active, ongoing relationship of following and obeying Jesus.

What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “You have forsaken the love you had at first?” I could be wrong, but it’s something to think about.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Esther Vexler on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Finding the Narrow Gate

Cindy Dawson

Meditation for Monday, 9/28/26

Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP

These words of Jesus are from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew, chapters 5-7. Read the entire sermon for insight into these two verses.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Featured image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Proverbs

How to Stir Up Anger

Cindy Dawson

A Proverb for Sunday, 9/27/26

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Not always easy, but always smart!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by David Knox on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

“Is It Right or ALMOST Right?

Cindy Dawson

 Does it matter? Well, the Apostle Paul thought it did.

In the following verse, Paul is scolding the Corinthian church, saying that the false apostles they are listening to are NOT leading people to our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are leading them to someone entirely different. He says this is NOT the same Jesus they accepted. And it’s not okay.

“For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well!” 2 Corinthians 11:4 NASB

Some believers think that any ministry that preaches about “Jesus” is leading people to Christ. However, there are false religions (cults) that talk about Jesus, but it isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. For example, even Muslims consider Jesus a very wise man and a prophet. BUT they do not believe he is the Son of God, and they do not believe He was crucified on a cross for our sins!

Just because a preacher teaches about someone called “Jesus” doesn’t mean he’s teaching the Jesus of the Bible.

When Jesus is described in an unbiblical way, people are misled into following what Paul calls “a different Jesus.” This kind of false teaching is dangerous.

We know God through His Word (the Bible).

We must know God as He really is, not how we think He is or want him to be.

A famous theologian once said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” 

To be discerning we must know what the Bible says by studying it for ourselves.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Ninthgrid on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

What’s in an Eagle’s Egg?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Friday, 9/25/26

“I would like to introduce the eagle’s egg. Is whatever that is inside that egg a clump of cells? It can’t be an eagle can it? You may know that destroying an eagle’s egg is against the law in the U.S. Why is that? As it turns out, eagles are an endangered species. So, as unbelievable as it seems, if one were to destroy an eagle’s egg, he would be destroying an eagle. Stunning reality, isn’t it? Why can’t people understand that “clump of cells” in a woman’s womb is a baby? It is astounding that people use that as a reason to kill innocent children. Dark times.”

You can read Jim Thomson’s excellent article here: Killing Babies, Sexual Identity, And The Truth by Jim Thomson

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

FACT: An estimated 1,126,000 babies were murdered by US clinicians in 2025.

What can we do? I support Pregnancy Help Centers, such as Preborn!, that show expectant mothers an ultrasound of their baby. PreBorn! exists to meet abortion-vulnerable women before it’s too late with life-saving ultrasounds, compassionate care, practical support, and the hope of the gospel.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo from Unsplash+

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