Judge People Fairly….

Judge people fairly. Do not twist justice. Do not favor one over another or be partial. Do not slander or gossip. Do not stand by and do nothing when your neighbor needs help. Do not nurse hatred in your heart. Confront people directly about their sin. Do not seek revenge. Do not bear a grudge. Love your neighbor as yourself. If I asked you where these come from, you’d be correct in answering the Bible. But if I asked you where, you might be surprised. Most would say, Jesus said these. Yes, He did, but these commands come from Leviticus. God doesn’t change. His standard is the standard. His character remains the same. His values and commands serve His character. Do you see these qualities in your life? Even though we don’t see these practiced much today in America, it doesn’t mean we can’t put them on display for all to see. When people see these being displayed in us, it will give them a glimpse of their Creator. God is Holy, set apart. When we act on His character it shows the world there is another way to live.

1 The Lord also said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.3 “Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe My Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God.4 “Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.5 “When you sacrifice a peace offering to the Lord, offer it properly so you will be accepted by God. 6 The sacrifice must be eaten on the same day you offer it or on the next day. Whatever is left over until the third day must be completely burned up. 7 If any of the sacrifice is eaten on the third day, it will be contaminated, and I will not accept it. 8 Anyone who eats it on the third day will be punished for defiling what is holy to the Lord and will be cut off from the community.9 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10 It is the same with your grape crop–do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.11 “Do not steal.“Do not deceive or cheat one another.12 “Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.13 “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.14 “Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.15 “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.16 “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.17 “Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:1-18

Hands That Shed Innocent Blood…

In the OT it states that blood is the life-force inside of all living creatures. When an animal is killed it served a purpose, to be consumed as food, or as a sacrifice offering to God as an atonement for sin (which was only temporary). If an animal was killed for any other reason the life-blood was wasted. Blood represents the essence of life. Therefore shedding innocent blood was a sin that angered God. It served no purpose. Any time someone wants to justify Abortion, it’s a sin. It serves no purpose, even though people will try to argue that it does. It’s not for nutritional consumption. It’s not for a sacrificial atonement. Therefore, it’s like sacrificing to other gods, specifically the god of SELF (exactly what Satan wants). GOD HATES HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD.

10 “And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, 11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. 12 That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood–neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’13 “And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you goes hunting and kills an animal or bird that is approved for eating, he must drain its blood and cover it with earth. 14 The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood.’ So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community. Leviticus 17:10-14

What I Should Know About Myself…

When it comes to Who I choose to listen to, I choose the One that the wind and waves obey. What Jesus says, He means. It wouldn’t be recorded if it wasn’t of the utmost importance. Every single time I come across words of Christ, I listen intently. Why? Because He is the Author of life. He knows my story from beginning to end. He knows how my story turns out. And He reveals to me what I should know about myself. If you want to truly know yourself, know your Maker. Jesus is Lord.

35 As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?”39 When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41

Having A Receptive Heart….

Having a receptive heart is key in maintaining healthy relationships. This is especially true with our walk with the Lord. How many times have you been so busy that you missed a cry (a need) coming from another person? They mention some sort of disappointment or distress, and you missed it? What about when you were fully locked into the conversation, and you connected with that person? You heard the cry, recognized it, and responded appropriately? That’s what it means to have a receptive heart. Not allowing tiredness, time, busyness, or distractions to tune out others. God designed us to be receptive, and to listen to our conscience. When we take this for granted, we miss out. We fall short of experiencing what God designed for us to live out. A receptive heart is gold. It isn’t controlled by time or circumstances. The only thing that taints a receptive heart is selfishness. Do you struggle with this? Take heed. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us. He is our companion. He walks along side of us, and help us “manage our selfishness”. And the key is to be under His control. This is so foreign to us because control is seen as a bad thing. Think about it this way. If you are on vacation and you’re exploring an unknown place, or doing some activity you’ve never done before, why do you pay experts or guides to help you? The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to lead us into all Truth. He does exactly what Jesus did. His intent is for our best. If people pay guides and experts to help educate and enjoy the environment they are in, why don’t we have the same receptivity to the Holy Spirit? Having a receptive heart is key to living life to the fullest. It helps relationships thrive. It helps us escape the trap selfishness brings with it. And it’s the only way to fully experience our Creator.

21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”24 Then He added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:21-25

No matter How Much You Feed It….

When you speak truth, you never have to worry about what you said. When you speak lies, you’re always subjected to keeping them fed. Falsehood has an insatiable appetite, it can’t be satisfied no matter how much you feed it. Eventually, the stakes are raised to a level that the human spirit cannot bear, and it all comes tumbling down, crushing you to pieces. A lie will only keep your attention until the cost surpasses your ability to pay it. In God’s economy, integrity has no holiday. Walking in integrity paves a safe and protected path.

9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall. Proverbs 10:9

When God Calls Something A Detestable Sin….

No matter what anyone tries to tell you about homosexuality, and all it’s forms, God says it’s a detestable sin. Practicing such acts are perverse and defiling. When it comes to God’s word versus man’s rationalization of his sin, there isn’t really a choice, is there? When you allow detestable sins to be openly practiced, and even promoted to the youngest of children, God is angered. He will not stand for it. Maybe America’s consequences is our current (2021) leadership. The most evil set of people ever assembled. Their policies will continue to erode what’s left of the moral threads that fashioned our republic. God’s word doesn’t need a translator. When He calls something a sin, it’s wrong. When God calls something a detestable sin, there’s no room for rationalization.

22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.23 “A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.24 “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. 25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out. 26 You must obey all My decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.27 “All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled. 28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now. 29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel. 30 So obey My instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 18:22-30

Forgiveness Granted, Not Gained….

Christianity is different from all other religions. Authenticity is measured by what comes out of the heart. Christianity is only real to those who’s hearts are receptive to God’s calling. It’s not an intellectual faith, even though there are religious sects that exist based on that premise. It’s a relational faith. One that substitutes forgiveness granted, not gained. It’s a faith and understanding that only grows from being “born again”. If you are not worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, you will not see, you will not learn, you will not understand, and thus you will not be forgiven. Spiritual sight comes from God alone. If your heart isn’t right with God, you’ll never be able to grow spiritually. If Jesus isn’t part of your daily life, you’re only pretending to be “Christian”. There is no room in Heaven for pretenders. You either give God the right to rule in your heart, or you don’t. It’s an all or nothing transaction. It doesn’t cost money, just your life. Which soil are you planting your seeds in?

1 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around Him, so He got into a boat. Then He sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”9 Then He said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked Him what the parables meant.11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do,they will learn nothing.When they hear what I say,they will not understand.Otherwise, they will turn to Meand be forgiven.’” 13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word,19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Mark 4:1-20