Barking Up The Wrong Tree….

We live in strange times. People want equality, they demand justice, and they protest just about everything. The reason most protesters and equality seekers seem angry and violent is because they are barking up the wrong tree. They seek these things from the wrong place/source. Equality and true justice come from God. Without Him, there is no justice, equality, hope, or peace.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord. Proverbs 29:26

A Sinful, Loveless Lifestyle…

The reason politics and economics remain the same, corrupt and untrustworthy, is because they are controlled by people whose lives are dictated by their sinful nature. Godless people have no effective way of dealing with their sin. They also have no access to true love. A life lived without God is characterized by living for self. How can we expect human beings striving for power, making laws that they themselves aren’t accountable to, and making deals that violate every aspect of integrity, to be trustworthy? A sinful, loveless lifestyle can only generate sinful and loveless behavior. How can we expect any different when God is shunned by people that make hopeful promises, but lack the Resource to make them a reality? We can’t. Jesus is the only One worthy of our faith. Do you trust Him with every aspect of your life? Even with the deepest, darkest corners of your heart? If not, how can you expect to be any different?

How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!11 You trample the poor,stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses,you will never live in them.Though you plant lush vineyards,you will never drink wine from them.12 For I know the vast number of your sins-and the depth of your rebellions.You oppress good people by taking bribes-and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.13 So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. 14 Do what is good and run from evil-so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.15 Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of His people. Amos 5:10-15a

21 “I hate all your show and pretense–the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. Amos 5:21-24

Pride Is A God Killer….

If you haven’t noticed by now, Pride is a God killer. I don't mean it actually kills God, rather it prevents us from experiencing God and all of His blessings. It’s ultimate destination is humiliation, the very thing it tries to preserve and protect (one’s dignity). It opposes the very thing God wants from us, humility. When we honor God, He honors us. The only thing standing in our way of glorifying our Heavenly Father is our pride. The longer we give into it, the more humiliation we will experience. Pride is what Satan feeds off. It’s the only thing he can use that responds to his temptation. If we refuse to be prideful, and stop feeding the one who tempts us and keeps us from God’s presence, our true treasure, we will experience the honor that God sets aside for those who follow Him.

23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. Proverbs 29:23

The Exclusivity Of Salvation…

The last two chapters of Hosea are full of judgement and destruction, but also full of wisdom and hope. One of the truths that stands out is the exclusivity of salvation. You hear people say that Christianity is an exclusive religion. It is, but it’s exclusively open to everyone, yet because of our pride it’s only those that repent and trust in Jesus that get to experience and receive salvation. There are no others gods, but Yahweh. What you think may be gods are really demons, trying to keep us from God. God’s ways are best, when we walk in them we flourish and thrive, but when we try to live through our own selfish ways, we stumble and fall. When it’s all said and done, salvation comes down to each individual finding and serving God. Christianity is exclusive, because there is only one God, one way to Him. It’s exclusive to all, but only to those who receive God’s grace. The exclusivity that the world complains about has to do with one’s pride. Heaven excludes those whose pride refuses to accept and honor God in the way He has designed it to be. Scripture makes this clear.

4 “I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but Me, for there is no other savior. 5 I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. 6 But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot Me. Hosea 13:4-6

3 Assyria cannot save us,nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in You alone do the orphans find mercy.” Hosea 14:3

9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. Hosea 14:9

Follow Their Own Natural Instincts….

The reason people aren’t consistent in doing what’s right, or are consistent in doing what’s wrong is because they don’t have the Spirit of God in them (or at least don’t listen to Him). They have no answer for their sin, their guilt. They have no source to draw true love from. The only thing they can do is follow their own natural instincts. And we all know where that leads, selfish decisions lead to division.

19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. Jude 1:19

Is It Okay To Hate?

A while back a friend of mine asked me this question, “is it okay to hate?” I thought about it, and gave the “Christianized” answer, “no”. But something inside me didn’t like that answer. Later that day it hit me, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the real answer. Yes, we are to hate. We are to hate what God hates; sin, Satan, and worldly ways (selfishness). We are to oppose it and fight it by exposing it with truth. Why? Because it deceives, hurts people, and destroys their lives. But most importantly sin, Satan, and selfishness, steer us away from God. He is the only Thing that truly matters, so if others are suffering from the fallout of sin, keeping them away from the only solution to their pain, why wouldn’t we hate that? We are to hate what God hates, but also, we are to love what God loves. Perfect love drives out fear, and ultimately conquers evil. Never confuse the two. In order to perfectly love, we have to hate what holds love from conquering it. So “yes” there is a place for hate in the Christian life, but only through guidance of the Holy Spirit are we able to use it in the right manner as motivation to bind the power of sin.

21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate You? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose You? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for Your enemies are my enemies. Psalms 139:21-22

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Jude 1:22-23a

Are You An Honest Person?

Are you an honest person? I mean honest with God? Honest with others? Honest with yourself? Here’s a test, repeat this passage out loud to God, and mean it. Watch what happens. Your reaction to what follows will clearly reveal the truth about being honest.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24