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

Never Have To Worry…

When you speak the truth, you never have to worry about what you said. And good sleep won’t evade you.

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble. Proverbs 12:13

There Will Never Be A Time…

For the faithful follower of Jesus, there will never be a time in which the Lord doesn’t meet our needs. He will never leave us or forsake us. We will never be disgraced in the eyes of those that matter. God’s love for us will always be the overriding factor. It’s enough to last us all of eternity. Tattoo this truth on your heart as a reminder when your feelings tell you otherwise.

19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. Psalms 37:19

Choose Him Or Reject Him…

God gives every single person on earth a choice. Choose Him or reject Him. If we choose Him, and follow Him faithfully, we will experience His blessing. That can come in many forms, but the key is that we will experience Him. That means being able to see them (blessings), and know it’s from Him. For those that reject Him, they may still receive blessings but they won’t recognize them, nor will they know they are even receiving them. An example would be rain. A farmer values the rain because his crop depends on it, but someone who works outside may not have work that day if it rains. Saying “yes” to God allows us to see spiritually. And that means we get to experience God while still living in this sin-filled world. That is truly a blessing. What will you choose today, a blessing or a curse?

26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from Him and worship gods you have not known before. Deuteronomy 11:26-28

For Your (Our) Own Good….

If I told you you had to do something a certain way, or it would not work, would you listen? Or would you try to do it your way? God created the Heavens and the earth. He has written the rules. He has established its boundaries. Why is it that we feel we can do it “our way”? If God wrote the rules, and as it states here, are “for your (our) own good”, why do we fight them so much? The answer is because it’s in our nature. And the only way of managing that nature is through Him, why wouldn’t we listen?

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Relevancy Of God’s Word…

God’s word is relevant. It’s applicable yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever. When God gave Moses the 10 commandments, Moses smashed them to pieces because of his anger at his people’s rebellion. Then God gave him another set. Notice God didn’t change any of the commands. He could’ve added things that would’ve addressed specific things due to the Israelites idolatry. Maybe an extra command for doing stupid things. Or maybe one emphasizing if they made another golden calf, but He didn’t. That means His commands, His words, are relevant for all time, no matter if people change. They apply to all people, all the time, in all situations. God’s words are to lead us to Jesus, the Savior of the world. His plan is for everyone to hear the Good News and respond accordingly. This is just one example of the everlasting relevancy of God’s word. Don’t take them lightly, for they hold to power to save lost souls. Never forget this.

1 “At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. Also make a wooden Ark–a sacred chest to store them in. Come up to Me on the mountain, 2 and I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the ones you smashed. Then place the tablets in the Ark.’3 “So I made an Ark of acacia wood and cut two stone tablets like the first two. Then I went up the mountain with the tablets in my hand. 4 Once again the Lord wrote the Ten Commandments on the tablets and gave them to me. They were the same words the Lord had spoken to you from the heart of the fire on the day you were assembled at the foot of the mountain. 5 Then I turned and came down the mountain and placed the tablets in the Ark of the Covenant, which I had made, just as the Lord commanded me. And the tablets are still there in the Ark.” Deuteronomy 10:1-5