Be An Encourager Today….

Be an encourager today. Speak truth in love to those who need a boost. Edify them in their time of need. That means not building using fluff. Solid truth is the foundation that will help people stand in the storms of life. Fluff is like chaff, a strong wind blows it away in its temporary life.

25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25

Swift Consequences….

The reason there are consequences for crimes is to deter evil behavior, and immediately eliminate it from the culture. When someone commits a crime and is found guilty, swiftly sentenced, and punished for it, others see the consequences and are made to evaluate if that crime is worth the consequences. This has always been an effective discipline process. The problem comes in when society fails to carry out this type of system. Having few or no consequences for bad behavior only spurs on bad behavior. Our sinful nature has acute short term memory only. If nothing happens after we behave badly, then we tend to repeat the behavior. Look around, there’s evidence of this truth everywhere. One effective method to deter crime is the death penalty. It doesn’t completely eliminate all crime, but it does have a great impact on reducing the violent actions of others. Wouldn’t it be great to make a law that imposed the consequences false accusers want on others they falsely accuse? We wouldn’t have these frivolous lawsuits, would we? The problem with our sin nature is without swift consequences, we get the impression that responsibility is no longer required. And that means we think bad behavior is not punishable, or we are the exception to the rule. The problem with that type of thinking is God is just. You won’t get away with it. We are all responsible to God. No one is exempt. Knowing this helps us stay away from self-inflicted wounds, and keeps our relationships with others intact.

14 “When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone’s land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.15 “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.16 “If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, 17 then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, 19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you. 20 Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing. 21 You must show no pity for the guilty! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Deuteronomy 19:14-21

Why Should Christians Read Their Bibles Daily?

Why should Christians read their Bibles daily? Why is it important to be in God’s word 7 days a week? To prevent oneself from becoming proud and acting as if you are above others. To teach one to fear God, or continuing to fear God. It’s a daily dose of spiritual food. If we starve ourselves spiritually, we can only pretend to play the religion game for so long. Spiritual malnutrition will deplete us to the point of death. Reading God’s word daily keeps us alive. It helps our focus. It continues to shape our worldview. It’s necessary to the human spirit. It’s like working out. If you only train your biceps, you’ll create a muscle imbalance and any injury will take place. Neglecting God’s word creates a spiritual void in our lives. That emptiness must be filled. In God’s absence we try to fill it with anything we can, only later to find nothing else fits. This passage is specifically talking about a king, but it applies to us all. Read your Bible. You won’t regret the time you spend in God’s word.

18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

His Justice Will Always Prevail….

When a court case doesn’t turn out the way you might think it should have, remember God is in charge, for His justice supersedes man’s attempt at providing justice. We have corrupt judges, people who take bribes. We have people who show partiality. We have judges who make corrupt decisions because they have compromised their integrity. We have blind people sitting in positions of power. But God knows 100% of the case from every angle and aspect. His justice will always prevail, even if it doesn’t seem like justice was served. It will be served with God. That’s a guarantee.

18 “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. 19 You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. 20 Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:18-20

If God Blesses Us….

One of the most destructive problems with our society today is it’s selfishness and ingratitude. If God blessed us, why aren’t we grateful to Him? If God blesses us, why aren’t we sharing the excess wealth with those who need it? The world has everything it needs already right here; it’s just a matter of redistributing it. I’m not talking in a socialistic manner, I’m talking about a voluntary, “loving your neighbor”, Christ-like manner. Imagine where we would be if more believers adopted this type of attitude?

13 “When you release a male servant, do not send him away empty-handed. 14 Give him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you! That is why I am giving you this command. Deuteronomy 15:13-15

The Death Penalty….

This is why the death penalty is an effective deterrent to crime. It makes people evaluate their life. Take it away and violence and crime increase. Carry it out, and watch illegal activity plummet. The death penalty is necessary in a self-governing society.

8 But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them. 9 You must put them to death! Strike the first blow yourself, and then all the people must join in. 10 Stone the guilty ones to death because they have tried to draw you away from the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery. 11 Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid, and no one will act so wickedly again. Deuteronomy 13:8-11

We Are Told To Love Our Enemies….

We are told to love our enemy, but what are we to do when our enemy promotes things that lead others away from God? We live in a society where anything goes. I mean anything goes. Why are these evil practices allowed? Maybe one reason is to test us. To prove to ourselves where our true loyalties lie. If we were living in OT times, we would’ve been instructed to put to death these people, these false prophets. Why? To purge the evil from among them. How do we respond to them today? Speak truth, expose their evil ways, and somehow use it to present the Gospel. If someone is blatantly opposing God, and trying to promote it to others, all the while attempting to punish those that oppose them, then that only leaves us with one option, fight back, or walk away leaving the truth intact. Defend the faith, but do it under the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we try to do it our way, we will crash and burn. Love people, but oppose evil... if those people get offended by the truth, so be it, offering them sloppy grace is not the answer. The truth either convicts or condemns, and that’s God’s doing, not ours.

1 “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’–gods you have not known before–3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him. 5 The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the Lord your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you. Deuteronomy 13:1-5