But Not Through Me….

Reading Jethro’s advice to Moses, I can’t help but think this is how our government got started. I’m sure our founding fathers selected representatives who were capable, honest, God-fearing men, who hated bribes. Back then all men of power knew how to conduct their lives. The key was that they feared God, they knew they were ultimately responsible to God (or at least knew He is the Ultimate Judge). Fast forward to today. The lack of integrity, the love of bribes, and the absence of God, all play a vital role in the corruption of our government. To think this type of system was set up by Moses’ father-in-law almost 3500 years ago and is still effective when you place the right people in those positions proves that God’s ways never go out of style. It’s people’s fault that God’s ways go out of fashion. The way America makes a come back is when men and women of integrity, God-fearing people are placed into government offices. That way, evil will not prosper, destroying the fabric of our Republic. As a famous author once said, “You can resolve to live your life with integrity. Let your credo be this: Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” That’s the attitude of a true servant of the Most High God. These are the people we need to elect as our representatives. Integrity has no holiday. If an elected official is supposed to represent the people, selfishness has no place doing business with him/her.

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”15 Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them His instructions.”17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out–and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to Him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them His instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land. Exodus 18:13-27

It May Not Taste The Best…

No one ever talks about this outside of church, but the truth should be shouted by all believers. God rewards those that honor Him. Those with integrity, receive integrity. Those with faith are rewarded with more faith. And those who rebel are brought low. Whenever you are confronted and have to chose between pride and humility, choose a slice of humble pie. It may not taste the best at the time, but it will strengthen you for future trials.

25 To the faithful You show Yourself faithful;to those with integrity You show integrity.26 To the pure You show Yourself pure,but to the wicked You show Yourself hostile.27 You rescue the humble,but You humiliate the proud. Psalms 18:25-27

Should We Even See This As Unfair?

Reading the parable of the vineyard workers seems a little strange and can be misconstrued very easily. The point is simple. God’s grace is given to anyone who repents of their sin and receives God’s salvation. It doesn’t matter if you’ve followed God for 90 years or 5 minutes. God grants the greatest gift, His love and forgiveness to every genuine believer. Everyone wins the million dollar jackpot (so to speak). People will say that doesn’t seem fair or right. It is fair and it is right. God’s standards are not our standards. God is not in a competition. He graciously rewards all of us the same. Is it not His prerogative to do? Can He not do with His authority what He wants to do with it? The problem doesn’t lay with God, rather it lies with us (when we try to play God). It’s our competitive, comparing nature that misinterprets this truth, revealing our fallible, selfish being. Man’s sinful nature is always trying to rationalize, compare, and promote himself above others. Our works-based mentality, tries to convince us that we have to earn salvation, which is impossible. We know that’s the exact opposite of what God’s Spirit promotes. We see The vineyard owner’s business plan as unfair to pay someone a full day’s wage that only worked 1 hour. And from a worldly view, that would be accurate. But God sees humanity differently. It’s His vineyard, His goal to bring in the harvest, so who are we to tell Him He’s wrong? He gives all of us a lot of time to “see the light”. Some see it sooner than others and reap the benefit of living within His boundaries, walking with Him, and not being affected by sin and suffering more than those who take longer to “get it” (a reward within itself). That doesn’t disqualify the others who take longer, from receiving the same ultimate gift of salvation. God owns it all. And He sees to it that everyone (who believes) receives the prize of salvation, regardless of how long it takes them to get there. It’s only after we receive this gracious gift (salvation) that we realize the scope of His grace and it no longer becomes an issue. God’s grace, His unmerited favor, equalizes humanity. It levels the playing field, humbling us, moving us past the point of unfair comparison. If we don’t deserve anything, than receiving something should be enough, correct? If we deserve condemnation, and yet receive salvation, should we even see this as “unfair”? If you still don’t understand this parable, think how is it possible for “the first to be last and last be first”? If we all start a race at different distances, going through life at different paces, there will be times when some people will be in front while others will be behind. In God’s race, we may not all start together, but we all finish at the exact same place, even, at God’s finish line. And we all stand on the same level platform to receive our gold medal for first place. That’s why Jesus is so special. He eliminates the competition. There is not one winner, but all winners (those who make Him Lord). When we get to Heaven there will be different rewards, but regardless who has more, we will lay them all at the feet of Jesus in gratitude for His ultimate gift. You see Jesus makes us all equal. God’s ways are not our ways and His thought are above our thoughts. When the Holy Spirit resides in us, our competitive, comparison nature, steps aside and welcomes in all those who didn’t start with us. What matters more, where we start, or where we finish? God makes it crystal clear what matters to Him. And He rewards us all the same for finishing.

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first.9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner,12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16

It’s Foolish To Pretend…

God sees everything we do. There’s nothing we think or do that God doesn’t know about. Therefore it’s foolish to pretend He doesn’t know what we are doing. Sin has a way of deceiving us into believing we can get away with our sinful behavior. What a lie. It’s His omniscience that’s shows His grace. He knows sinful behavior entangles and controls us, and yet His patience extends far beyond our capacities to understand. It’s that patience that allows us to see His concern as His invisible hand moves through our adversity, leading us to repentance. For those that still refuse His grace, their willful foolishness will only lead them to permanent lostness. We can’t fool ourselves forever. There comes a day when sin will reveal itself for what it is, rebellion against God, and we will have a choice to make: repent or condemn ourselves by continuing to remain hypocritically blind.

21 For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,examining every path he takes.22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins;they are ropes that catch and hold him.23 He will die for lack of self-control;he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Proverbs 5:21-23

When We Seek God’s Presence….

When we accept God as our Lord, our purpose, and our refuge, He provides for us, our children, and our children’s children. When pursuing God is our ultimate reward, the world’s offerings lose their appeal. When we seek God’s presence, we find satisfaction. God is the ultimate source of completeness we could ever possess. Never lose sight of this truth. David knew it; he wrote about it here.

 Show me Your unfailing love in wonderful ways.By Your mighty power You rescuethose who seek refuge from their enemies.8 Guard me as You would guard Your own eyes.Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.9 Protect me from wicked people who attack me,from murderous enemies who surround me.10 They are without pity.Listen to their boasting!11 They track me down and surround me,watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.12 They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart–like young lions hiding in ambush. 13 Arise, O Lord!Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword!14 By the power of Your hand, O Lord,destroy those who look to this world for their reward.But satisfy the hunger of Your treasured ones.May their children have plenty,leaving an inheritance for their descendants.15 Because I am righteous, I will see You.When I awake, I will see You face to face and be satisfied. Psalms 17:7-15

A Close Connection….

We may never fully understand God, but full knowledge isn’t necessary in order to have a close connection with Him. Just when we think we got God “figured out”, we learn more about/from Him. Take for example the Exodus. Why didn’t God just destroy the Egyptians, like He did to Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did He produce 10 plagues on them knowing that 9 of them wouldn’t change Pharaoh’s mind to let them go? Why did He concede and use both Aaron and Moses to do the job that Moses should’ve done by himself? The answers are all part of His plan. And that always has to do with showing people His glory and power. God gives us an answer to the first question in today’s passage. He didn’t immediately destroy Egypt because He was using them for His purpose of displaying His power and spreading His fame throughout the earth. God allowed the wickedness and harsh treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptians to show the world Who is in control (it wasn’t Pharaoh). He used the 10 plagues (9 of them) to show the Egyptians that the 9 gods they worshipped didn’t stand up to El Shaddai (God Himself). He used both Aaron and Moses to be His priest and prophet to carry out His plan. We may never know everything about God, but that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing the Reason for our existence. The more we learn about God, the closer we become to Him. And that means the closer we come to fully being who we are meant to become, sanctified, like Jesus.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so they can worship Me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 By now I could have lifted My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 But I have spared you for a purpose–to show you My power and to spread My fame throughout the earth. Exodus 9:13-16

Show Me The Way Of Life….

The problem with the modern, “Americanized” version of Christianity is its members have forgotten the most important thing about Jesus, His presence. The AVoC focuses on what God can give us, what He can do for us, or what He can prevent from happening to us. We are so focused on ourselves that we miss the greatest part of our faith, God’s presence. If God is with us, that’s enough; that’s the point. The greatest thing Jesus’ atonement on the cross was restoring that severed relationship with God. It’s God’s presence that we should long for and pursue. David understood this, and wrote about it all the time. Do you long for God’s presence in your life? If not, why not?

I will bless the Lord who guides me;even at night my heart instructs me.8 I know the Lord is always with me.I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. 9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.My body rests in safety.10 For You will not leave my soul among the deador allow Your holy one to rot in the grave.11 You will show me the way of life,granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalms 16:7-11a