People Don’t Hate Us Because….

The true test of a believer is how we stand when persecution comes. Will we bow to the gods of the day, or stand for the God of the Bible? We will win our souls by standing firm for Jesus. When we stand up to Satan’s lies, to society’s agenda, and all opposition to truth, it will prove not only to the people opposing us, but it will prove to ourselves that what we believe has the power to protect. People don’t hate us because of who we are, they hate us because of the One that made us who we are. God will honor those that honor Him.

12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are My followers.13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me.14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!16 Even those closest to you–your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends–will betray you. They will even kill some of you.17 And everyone will hate you because you are My followers.18 But not a hair of your head will perish!19 By standing firm, you will win your souls. Luke 21:12-19

Seeing Spiritually….

Satan will always try to deceive. People who reject God serve Satan, even if they know it or not. People who hate God, that includes all who live for themselves, pretend to be honest, when they really are not. It’s God’s wisdom, called discernment, that helps a Christian navigator through our interactions with people that help protect us and others along the way. Seeing spiritually (discerning) helps spot imposters before they can do any damage in your life. If you’re not in the Word daily, and you’re not asking God for wisdom, you might just fall prey to these deceitful, pretending to be honest, hucksters.

20 Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. 21 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Now tell us–is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”23 He saw through their trickery and said, 24 “Show Me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied.25 “Well then,” He said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”26 So they failed to trap Him by what He said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by His answer, and they became silent. Luke 20:20-26

If Only People Could See…

If only people could see the heart of God, they wouldn’t fight so hard to preserve their sinful nature, and understand the only way to true peace.

41 But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.” Luke 19:41-44

Let God Know What’s Going On…

There are times when we fail to see God’s hand working in a situation. He is sovereign. He is in control. He knows what He’s doing. And it’s for our good. When we lose sight of this, it’s easy to allow the “woe is me” feelings to dictate our actions, which lead to further lowering of a positive, encouraging outlook. When we allow ourselves to get to this point, take a knee, bow your head, and let God know what’s going on. Ask for an infusion of hope. He will grant it, and you will be restored. God is always watching.

3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

A Permanent Resident….

Unlike in the OT, the Holy Spirit is a permanent resident when He is sent to us as believers. In the OT the Spirit of God was temporary, He would come and go. Many examples of this are documented throughout the OT. King Saul and Samson are two examples. David expressed this truth in this famous Psalm. He’s confessed his wrong doing, adultery and murder. He pleads with God to restore his joy, and to not take away The Holy Spirit. Isn’t it a secure feeling knowing that once we receive God’s Spirit, He will never leave us? Now that’s real security.

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Oh, give me back my joy again;You have broken me–now let me rejoice.9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.Remove the stain of my guilt.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from Your presence,and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalms 51:7-11

Giving Thanks Is A Sacrifice….

Have you ever thought about the sacrificial system the Israelites had instituted and practiced for years and years? It wasn’t the slaying of animals that God wanted, even though it was the blood of these animals that allowed their sins to be temporarily forgiven (meaning their actual death). It was their obedience to God in doing these acts that really mattered. Since the sacrificial system was halted by the Jews when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, and permanently by Jesus on the cross, our obedience to God is revealed in different means. What May those be, you ask? Giving Thanks. It says it right here in Psalm 50. Giving thanks is a sacrifice. How is that? I’m not fully sure, but if you think about it, being thankful takes work. We don’t always “feel” grateful, do we? We allow our emotions to take over, giving into them, and we start down the “woe is me” path. We usually want to take the credit for what happens to us, right? Gratitude doesn’t exist on that journey. So we have to sacrifice our feelings and do what we know is right, what is true. That might just be the sacrifice this Psalm is talking about. We have to die to our selfishness, and do the right thing. That’s what real obedience looks like. Gratitude is hard work. Thankfulness is a sacrifice to God, that honors Him. Are you making a sacrifice to honor God today? If not, what’s holding you back?

23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalms 50:23

Of The 10 Lepers Healed, Only One…

We live in a messed up world. This is not how God designed it to work. We as humans have corrupted it with our sinful desires. So how do we deal with it, what kind of attitude should we have? I’ll be the first to admit, I get down when I see the headlines that run across the feeds on my phone. I don’t have subscriptions to any mainstream media outlets. Even the conservative feeds contribute to the gloom and doom. This is why I always say, “feelings are legit, but often overrated. We have to go with what we know to be true”. This story of the ten lepers is exactly the type of story we need to hear in times like these. Of the 10 lepers healed, only one comes back to thank Jesus. Only one. We need to be like this one grateful, healed leper. Isn’t that what Christianity really is, a life response to what Jesus did for us on the cross? God’s acceptance of us on behalf of what Jesus did? We need to be thankful that Jesus not only chose us, but also walks with us. When times are bad, when our outlook on life slips below the “life is good” season, we have to go back to Jesus and thank Him for choosing us. We have to focus our attention on what is good. Jesus said, “only God is good”. If that’s the case, then we need to focus on God. Having an attitude of gratitude is always a good thing, especially when the feelings raging inside of us are screaming “life sucks right now”.

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” Luke 17:11-19