Complacent With Our Own Sin….

You might think when you see or read about people who commit heinous crimes that they are the worst people on earth in God’s eyes. You might even think, “I’m so glad I’m not like that”. If you do, you might find yourself slowly creeping closer to the actual worst place anyone could ever be. And that is complacent with your unrepentant sin. The most wicked people and the most godly people God sees and deals with as normal. It’s the people who either used to worship Him, or still are half-heartedly worshipping Him, that hurts Him the most. Thinking God will do nothing to you, good or bad, and believing your current sinful behavior isn’t as bad as others, so you get complacent about it, places you in the worst situation a human being can be in. It’s like when Jesus said, “you are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm, so I will spit you out of my mouth” (my paraphrase). The worst place any human being can ever be is not committing violent or unspeakable crimes; it’s being complacent with our own sin. Never allow yourself to go there.

12 “I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad. Zephaniah 1:12

Do You Have This Kind Of Faith?

Like Job, Meshach, Shadrach, Abendigo, Daniel, and Abraham, Habakkuk knew God intimately, to a level of trust that he could wholeheartedly welcome adversity with a confidence that God would rescue him. Do you have this kind of faith? Before you answer, I’m not trying to compare the amount of your faith you have or not have. I’m asking do you see God as fully trustworthy with your life? Do you trust God no matter what it might cost you? It’s not the amount of faith we have that matters most, it’s the worthiness of the recipient in which we place our faith that is most important. How we see God, determines our faith. And in the end (as Jesus told Peter), we should pray that our faith never fails us. How can it fail when we place it in God alone?

I trembled inside when I heard this;my lips quivered with fear.My legs gave way beneath me,and I shook in terror.I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails,and the fields lie empty and barren;even though the flocks die in the fields,and the cattle barns are empty,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:16-19a

What We Put Our Confidence In….

Confidence is a good thing. It’s not the actual confidence that can lead us down the wrong road, rather it’s what we put our confidence in that truly matters. It’s okay to place some confidence in ourselves. We have to, to exist and move. It’s only when we place more confidence than we need to that it becomes our god. Confidence comes from God, so the majority we should have should be placed in Him (it’s source). Pride, arrogance, and self-sufficiency all come from when we place too much confidence in ourselves, when we look to ourselves alone for the answers. It eventually turns what God meant for good, into something that competes for His affection, which leads to separation. Division from God by choice is what the Bible (OT) calls spiritual prostitution. We all know where that leads us, right? When God is no longer the center of our life, our unfaithfulness leads us to replace Him with something else. And this is not possible, God is irreplaceable. Make sure you place your confidence in the only place it can survive and thrive; a little in ourselves (necessary to function), and the majority in God. When you do, confidence becomes Godfidence, the fuel that makes faith go.

11 They sweep past like the wind and are gone.But they are deeply guilty,for their own strength is their god.” Habakkuk 1:11

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk 2:4a

Afraid To Die….

Maybe one reason people fear death so much is because they live their lives disproportionally. Yes, God placed in us a will to live, but that desire goes beyond this life. Only when we have the right perspective of God, Who He is, and the right standing with Him, can we appropriately value our lives without being too self-centered. It’s only when we truly know God, His love puts everything in the right perspective.

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Revelation 12:11

For Anyone Who Only Sees God As An Enemy….

In the matter of 4 verses Nahum covers a wide description of God’s character. God is slow to anger (meaning it takes a lot to rouse His anger). God is just. He never allows sin to go unpunished. Regardless of what anyone thinks, sinful behavior has consequences that cannot be wished away, forced away, or legislated away. God is good. He is a safe haven for those who trust in Him. His presence is the greatest answered prayer. With Him near our side life’s troubles aren’t so troublesome. Even though Nahum’s job was to declare God’s judgement on Nineveh, he also revealed God’s true nature and love for humanity. For any one who only sees God as an enemy, they’re not being totally honest with themselves. The evidence is quite clear.

The Lord is slow to get angry, but His power is great,and He never lets the guilty go unpunished.He displays His power in the whirlwind and the storm.The billowing clouds are the dust beneath His feet.4 At His command the oceans dry up,and the rivers disappear.The lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade,and the green forests of Lebanon wither.5 In His presence the mountains quake,and the hills melt away;the earth trembles,and its people are destroyed.6 Who can stand before His fierce anger?Who can survive His burning fury?His rage blazes forth like fire,and the mountains crumble to dust in His presence. 7 The Lord is good,a strong refuge when trouble comes.He is close to those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:3-7

The Problem With Selfishness….

The problem with selfishness is that it always needs to be fed; it wants more and more and is never satisfied.

The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” Proverbs 30:15a

What Does God Want From Us?

What does God want from us? It’s a question that’s been asked millions of times by millions of people. Is it possible to know the answer? Is it possible once we know to actually achieve it? The answer is clear, God has plainly told us through out scripture. Here is one example. What does God want from us? To do what is right, to love mercy (especially His mercy), and to walk humbly with Him throughout our lives. More simply put, to be like Him, to be like Jesus. The only way that is possible, is we have to know Him. In order to be like Jesus, we have to know Him first. If we aren’t pursuing Jesus, it’s impossible to please God, it’s impossible to do what’s right, it’s impossible to love mercy, and of course it’s impossible to walk along side someone you do not know. Knowing what God wants from us is a matter of “wanting to know”. Then actually doing something about it when we find out what it is. It’s not hard to find the answer. What’s hard is doing something about it once we do. If God matters to us, we will make righteousness, mercy, peace, and love at the core of our existence, and thus show the world, God, and ourselves what really matters most in life.

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,and this is what He requires of you:to do what is right, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8