The Proper Response to the Gospel...

Zaccheus knew his status as a sinner. After meeting Jesus (his Savior), he made right what he had wronged. Isn’t this exactly the proper response to the Gospel? Regardless what others think.

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:1-10

Someone Is Always Watching...

In the movie GREATER, the main character is working out after the facility is closed. His college coach finds him working out in the dark. They strike up a conversation to which the coach says, “integrity is what you do when no one is watching”. Brandon responds with, “...Someone is always watching”. Never forget, God is always watching. If that scares you, maybe some changes need to be made. If that brings you comfort, no one can ever take that away.

3 The Lord is watching everywhere,keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

A Gentle Answer...

There are many instances in my life where the wrong words came out of my mouth in anger. It never resulted in mending the relationship, or making the situation better. Yes, it may have felt good at the moment, but when I decided to be honest with myself, I realized I could’ve handled it in a better way. The times in which I restrained myself from getting angry (especially when I was totally in the “right”), the situation was diffused and it didn’t escalate to the point of regret. I mean in a fight who keeps punching when the other stops fighting back? There’s no reason to. I’ve never been ashamed of myself when I’ve refrained from responding in anger. This verse in the Bible tells me why that is true.

A gentle answer deflects anger,but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1

Having the Right Spirit....

The one thing God desires from us more than anything else is our loyalty to Him. Our willingness to sacrifice our desires at the altar of His Will. Our hearts connected and in agreement with Him should be our goal. Even when we don’t agree, we need to be willing to accept His decision on the matter, setting our attitude aside. When we are willing, that’s when you know your heart is in the right place (“having the right spirit”).

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.You do not want a burnt offering.17 The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit.You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then You will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit–with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.Then bulls will again be sacrificed on Your altar. Psalms 51:16-19

Legalism Always Involves Manipulation....

Legalism always involves manipulation, usually at the expense of someone else. Here in Judges chapter 21 we find the Israelites figuring out a way to provide wives for the remaining tribe of Benjamin (who they just destroyed in battle) because they felt sorry for them. It was their legalistic way of getting around the vow they took, as to never allow their own daughters to marry a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Who got the wrong end of the stick in this one? The women coming out to dance at the annual festival held at Shiloh. It’s as if to say, “you can’t have our daughters with our permission, but you can kidnap them and take them as your wives.” This will allow the marriage to take place without having the fathers of these woman break the vow of never giving consent for them to be married to a member of the tribe of Benjamin. Legalism at its finest.

15 The people felt sorry for Benjamin because the Lord had made this gap among the tribes of Israel. 16 So the elders of the assembly asked, “How can we find wives for the few who remain, since the women of the tribe of Benjamin are dead? 17 There must be heirs for the survivors so that an entire tribe of Israel is not wiped out. 18 But we cannot give them our own daughters in marriage because we have sworn with a solemn oath that anyone who does this will fall under God’s curse.”19 Then they thought of the annual festival of the Lord held in Shiloh, south of Lebonah and north of Bethel, along the east side of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem. 20 They told the men of Benjamin who still needed wives, “Go and hide in the vineyards. 21 When you see the young women of Shiloh come out for their dances, rush out from the vineyards, and each of you can take one of them home to the land of Benjamin to be your wife! 22 And when their fathers and brothers come to us in protest, we will tell them, ‘Please be sympathetic. Let them have your daughters, for we didn’t find wives for all of them when we destroyed Jabesh-gilead. And you are not guilty of breaking the vow since you did not actually give your daughters to them in marriage.’ ”23 So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. Each man caught one of the women as she danced in the celebration and carried her off to be his wife. They returned to their own land, and they rebuilt their towns and lived in them.24 Then the people of Israel departed by tribes and families, and they returned to their own homes.25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:15-25

Persistence Opens Doors....

Persistence opens doors. When we are persistent in prayer, it changes us. We might not get exactly what we want, but we will get exactly what we need. Be persistent in your prayer life, and watch what happens all around you. You’ll be amazed, especially when you see what it does to your own spiritual sight.

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him.But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 When Jesus heard him, He stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?”“Lord,” he said, “I want to see!”42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. Luke 18:35-43

For Our Own Good...

Sometimes God purposely keeps understanding from us to protect us from ourselves. Just another example of God knowing us better than we know ourselves.

34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of His words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what He was talking about. Luke 18:34

What Makes a Nation Great...

You’ve heard the phrase, “Make America great again”; it’s been promised by politicians running for office. People believe the candidate has the power to change America, so they vote for them. When they get into office, the political wars and games begin. Nothing changes because man cannot make a country great, only God can do that. When will we realize the only way to bring our country up from the depths of degradation, is to get on our knees and ask God to re-establish His throne. And that begins in our hearts. Collectively, it’s the only way to make our nation great again; one heart at a time.

34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34

Valuing God’s Presence...

Think about what it takes to say these words of David here in Psalm 51? It’s Humility in the highest regard. David’s realization of his sin, how it affected him, lead him to experience the effects of a severed relationship with God. It robbed him of joy, leaving him alone to fend for himself. This feeling of abandonment wasn’t worth the continuing of denying his sin. Without the Holy Spirit, he realized his purpose and being was stripped away. This discontentment with life is exactly what happens to us when we choose sinful behavior over proper behavior (obedience) with God. David was so distraught of the thought of being abandoned by God that he was willing to submit fully to God, that he asked God to make him willing to obey. Now that’s true HUMILITY. Do you value God’s presence like that?

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Oh, give me back my joy again;You have broken me–now let me rejoice.9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.Remove the stain of my guilt.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from Your presence,and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,and make me willing to obey You. Psalms 51:7-12

The Sadness in Being Rich....

Why did the rich young ruler become sad when Jesus answered his question about how to inherit eternal life? Because his money was his god. And his god couldn’t grant eternal life.

18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”22 When Jesus heard his answer, He said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. Luke 18:18-23

More Than a Prophet....

Jesus was more than a prophet and good teacher. He is God. And what He says matters. If you don’t believe what He says, you won’t inherit eternal life (with Him).

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17

Honesty Involves Humility...

In the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector we see two very different attitudes. We see a person who wants to be first in life. He is proud and strives for earthly esteem. The other person seems more honest, at least with himself, and wishes for God to forgive him. He strives to be made right with God, for He knows his lifestyle violates the character of God. So here we have a clear picture of human behavior. We have pride on display, a human being placing himself above all others. And we have humility on display, being honest enough to admit we are not “all that and a bag of chips”. Which attitude do you think God honors? Obviously, it’s the one that requires honesty. Pride involves deception or false esteem, which leads a person down a road of false reality; requiring more and more work to keep the deception going. Humility, on the other hand, requires honesty, accountability, and the realization of the consequences for our behavior. The only difference between lying and being a liar is consistency. You’ll either be consistent in puffing yourself up, continually finding new ways to make yourself look good. Or you’ll be terribly inconsistent, because truly dealing with your bad habits will cause you to repent and make it right. For once I’d love to see a liar’s pants catch on fire. 😜

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank You, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!12 I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

Persistent in Prayer...

People wonder why God seems distant in their life. They don’t realize one possible reason could be because they are not persistent in prayer. Here Jesus clearly presents a parable that reveals God’s character. God answers persistent prayer. He doesn’t stand by and watch us earnestly pray and do nothing. If a dishonest judge, who doesn’t fear God, or care about people, can grant a persistent widow justice, certainly God will grant us forgiveness, salvation, and the ability to get through a trial. It’s Who He is, and what He does. If Jesus were to visit you today, would He find you to be faithful? Persistent in prayer?

1 One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” He said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ”6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?8 I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?” Luke 18:1-8

One Way of Honoring God...

How we view the poor (and what we do about it) reveals more than the condition of our heart. It’s one way of honoring God. When I’m out doing a job, I always carry a cooler with water and snacks. I never know how long a job might take. When I pull up to a stop light and see a homeless person asking for help, I give them a bottle of water and offer a snack. I can go an extra hour or more with an empty stomach, because I know I have food and water at home. A person on the street doesn’t have a home, so I can be a home to them for that brief moment in time. People, no matter what they believe, can get a glimpse of God, through you, when you extend the hand of compassion to them in time of need. God honors that kind of behavior.

31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors Him. Proverbs 14:31

A “Hold Nothing Back” Prayer...

An honest, bold, and “hold nothing back” prayer. When we sin, regardless of what it is, we sin first against God. Why? Because sin is a command from God. It violates His character. The first and most important step we must take in making it right is repentance. That starts with asking God to forgive you first, then whatever action follows with the offendee. It’s not until we are brutally honest with ourselves and admit our wrongdoing to God first, that they road to restoration is possible. If God is not part of your life, it’s impossible to experience true forgiveness. And that lack of peace, people experience that drives them to all kinds of vices, is the very thing that eventually destroys them. Today, come clean with yourself; be honest about what you’ve done. Only then will you be able to come clean with God, and truly experience what it’s like to be truly forgiven. As the Bible clearly states (expressed by the Pharisees of all people), only God can forgive sin.

 Have mercy on me, O God,because of Your unfailing love.Because of Your great compassion,blot out the stain of my sins.2 Wash me clean from my guilt.Purify me from my sin.3 For I recognize my rebellion;it haunts me day and night.4 Against You, and You alone, have I sinned;I have done what is evil in Your sight.You will be proved right in what You say,and Your judgment against me is just.5 For I was born a sinner–yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.6 But You desire honesty from the womb,teaching me wisdom even there. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Oh, give me back my joy again;You have broken me–now let me rejoice.9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.Remove the stain of my guilt.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.Renew a loyal spirit within me.11 Do not banish me from Your presence,and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,and make me willing to obey You.13 Then I will teach Your ways to rebels,and they will return to You.14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness.15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,that my mouth may praise You. 16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.You do not want a burnt offering.17 The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit.You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.19 Then You will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit–with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.Then bulls will again be sacrificed on Your altar. Psalms 51

Samson’s Real Weakness...

Samson had his weaknesses. If you read the text, it’s easy to assume that his hair was his greatest weakness. He was told by his parents (who were told by God) to never cut his hair. When he did have his hair cut, he lost his freedom, as well as his dignity, but it wasn’t his hair that cost him his life. Samson’s greatest weakness was his lack of ability to keep his eyes focused on God. Which eventually (and ironically) cost him his eyes (physical vision). We continually see his behavior acted out with revenge, with lies, and lack of discernment; especially when it came to women. Samson’s strength came from God not his hair. When he placed Delilah above God, and broke a vow that he was supposed to keep, he not only lost his strength and his hair; God’s Spirit also left him. This one act of disobedience revealed the state of his heart. He served Israel for 20 years as judge, but his lack of discernment, selfish pride, and weakness towards women, eventually cost him his freedom and his life. When we put our worldly desires above God’s commands, we lose the ability to see spiritually. For Samson, his inability to see spiritually cost him his physical sight as well, along with his very life.

But Samson replied, “I only did to them what they did to me.” Judges 15:11c

15 Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!” 16 She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.17 Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. 19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. Judges 16:15-21

28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. Judges 16:28-30

Clinging Too Tight....

When we cling to this life, holding on too tight, living without eternity in mind, we slowly lose the ability to cope with it. We prioritize the wrong things, we place higher value on unimportant things, and we see life through the lens of “me first”. No wonder people are so obnoxious these days. Their drug of choice to escape reality (wish it away) is discontentment.

33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. Luke 17:33

In Your Grasp....

If God is so controlling and tyrannical, then why does He offer forgiveness and salvation to all? “Already among you” can be translated “is in your grasp”. Knowing this, does it change the way you view God?

20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” Luke 17:20-21

You Can’t Give What You Don’t Possess...

We don’t do a good job of expressing the intrinsic benefits of following God to the outside world. Maybe it’s because we don’t put it into practice as much as we should. Maybe it’s because we don’t experience it enough ourselves to share it with others. You can give what you don’t possess. Ask God today, to open your eyes and heart fully to Him. Ask Him for the peace you long for. Then when you receive the peace that surpasses all understanding, others will see that you are genuine in your life, and want that which leads to a healthy life. Experiencing God has more benefits than most people will ever see. Allow people to see them in you today. It starts with being genuine with God.

30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30

“Missing Out”....

When people ask what’s the point of living the Christian life? All of the things you sacrifice? All the things you don’t do? Aren’t you missing out? Here in the psalms we get an answer to this very question. Living a “thankful” life is a sacrifice that honors God. And in return, He honors you. So when people ask you these types of questions about “missing out”, ask them, “what am I missing out of”? Living a Godly life may involve refraining from doing certain things that the world deems important, but living out your faith in Jesus, fulfills the destiny of your soul. How can anyone say, “you’re missing out” when it makes us complete? How can refraining from a lifestyle that brings with it shame, guilt, regret, and temporary perceived happiness be “missing out”? Who can say that going to bed every night with a conscience at peace is a bad thing? Who can say that knowing you are in God’s will is the most fulfilling, peace generating, love enveloping, contentment bringing thing we can ever do, is “missing out”? What exactly do they mean when they say “missing out”? Who is really the one missing out? When you honor God with your life, the way you live, you do the very thing that we all were meant to do. And the rewards are fulfilling. If this is what the world deems as “missing out”, then I’m for it. Because in the end, I will be fulfilled knowing that a life lived honoring God, brings the most fulfilling rewards to me as well as with others. If I’m “missing out” on not experiencing a life that God doesn’t honor, is “self-focused”, and really doesn’t benefit others, I’m okay with that.

23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me.If you keep to My path,I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalms 50:23

The Samson Way of Life...

Samson was a case to study. His parents tried to raise him in a Godly manner. His father asked God for wisdom in raising him. Samson, however, was a strong but very independent young man, who did his own thing. One example of this was his determination to get a wife from the Philistines. They were the enemy of Israel (where Goliath came from). Samson‘s desire for this Philistine woman violated God’s command through Moses to marry within the tribes of Israel. Taking a wife of the land of their enemy was forbidden. Samson’s choice was all based on looks. Just goes to show you that his discerning skills were a little lax. Even though Samson’s behavior was in direct opposition of what God wanted from him, God was still with Samson. Just imagine how much better Samson’s life would’ve been if He had listened to God? Are you living a “Samson” life?

1 One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. 2 When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.”3 His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?”But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” 4 His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. Judges 14:1-4

One Out of Ten....

One out of ten, 10%; that’s the number of genuine gratefulness. Out of the 10 lepers who were healed, only one came back to thank Jesus. Today, be the 10% that takes the time to thank God for what He has done for you. You won’t regret it. It’s living the “Matthew 5:16” life.

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” Luke 17:11-19

Humble Service....

Serving God and serving self cannot co-exist peacefully. Yes, they do co-exist, as long as we live in this tent of flesh (as Paul described), but it certainly isn’t peaceful. Our attitudes should be one of a servant. We don’t deserve any special recognition for doing our duty. And our duty is obeying God; doing what He tells us to do. We shouldn’t applaud ourselves when we do good, or expect cheers from those we fulfill obligations to. We are only contributing to the problem when we expect things in return for doing our job as Christians. Our reward comes later. Serving God is not the same as serving yourself. There’s a huge difference. The main one being our attitude. Particularly, Who/who our focus is on.

7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’?8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not.10 In the same way, when you obey Me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’ ” Luke 17:7-10

God Owns It All....

 God owns it all. He is the One Who created everything. He has made us stewards of His creation. So what should be our response? Gratitude. If we live from that kind of perspective, worry, stress, anxiety, depression won’t exist. The reason we have all of these emotions is the fact that we tend to focus on ourselves and not God. Every day we have a choice: we can live self-centered or God-centered. If we live the way God intends, we live the best life possible. Think about that today, and let it come out in your actions. You’ll be surprised at the results.

7 “O My people, listen as I speak.Here are My charges against you, O Israel:I am God, your God!8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.10 For all the animals of the forest are Mine,and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.11 I know every bird on the mountains,and all the animals of the field are Mine.12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,for all the world is Mine and everything in it.13 Do I eat the meat of bulls?Do I drink the blood of goats?14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,and keep the vows you made to the Most High.15 Then call on Me when you are in trouble,and I will rescue you,and you will give Me glory.” Psalms 50:7-15

Vows and Promises...

The story of Jephthah’s vow is certainly a strange one. I don’t understand it very well, if at all. But I do see a major point worth mentioning. God holds us to our word. If we vow to do something, it’s taken seriously by God. Don’t say or promise something that you are not willing to do. Your word is your reputation to those living on earth. And even more important is the fact that God sees your promises or vows as binding. Will God forgive you for failing to fulfill a vow? Of course, but there are consequences. His ideal for us is to not make vows, especially if we can’t keep them. Your word is the most important thing we have as human beings. We must treat it as such. Choose wisely.

29 At that time the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he went throughout the land of Gilead and Manasseh, including Mizpah in Gilead, and from there he led an army against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, “If You give me victory over the Ammonites, 31 I will give to the Lord whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”32 So Jephthah led his army against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave him victory. 33 He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites.34 When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. “Oh, my daughter!” he cried out. “You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”36 And she said, “Father, if you have made a vow to the Lord, you must do to me what you have vowed, for the Lord has given you a great victory over your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But first let me do this one thing: Let me go up and roam in the hills and weep with my friends for two months, because I will die a virgin.”38 “You may go,” Jephthah said. And he sent her away for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never have children. 39 When she returned home, her father kept the vow he had made, and she died a virgin.So it has become a custom in Israel 40 for young Israelite women to go away for four days each year to lament the fate of Jephthah’s daughter. Judges 11:29-40

A Place of No Escape....

This is the most vivid story about Hell in the Bible. Hell is real. It wasn’t designed for man, but man chooses it when he denies God. Once there, there is no escape. Faith is the only thing that can rescue a man from this destination. Faith in Jesus. This warning about Hell is real. It’s supposed to warn you by painting a vivid picture of reality. If it doesn’t scare you, some thing is seriously wrong in your view of it. Yes, some won’t go there, because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. But many will. Jesus, Himself, said narrow is the way to life, but broad is the road to destruction (my paraphrase). Which path are you on, the rich man’s , or Lazarus’? The Bible is very clear on what one has to do to inherit eternal life. You will live forever. The question is, where will that be?

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31

How We Use Our Resources...

In the parable of the shrewd manager, we learn about how we are to view money and possessions. We are to use our money and possession to win people to the Lord. We can’t buy them, but we can show them that they are more important to us than our money or possessions. That will make an eternal impact on everyone. When a person sees what you value most in life, they get a glimpse of God. You help paint a picture of God, close up style, when we give of ourselves and use our possessions to benefit others. People often think, “if I only can get rich I’ll be happy and secure”. In reality, as it says here in the Bible, money is used by God to help others, and more importantly, as a measuring stick to gage our honesty, responsibility, and devotion to Him. If you want to make an impact on the world, first ask God to use you. Then learn to use the resources God gives you to help benefit others. That way, people will see were your heart really is, because it’s what you treasure that reveals it.

9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:9-13

Living Responsibly...

We are all responsible to God. We are all accountable to Him. When you live your life with God as the center, every decision, choice, and action you make helps develop you into the person you were meant to be. Your witness will help save lives. Your accountability to God will make you secure. And your life will be filled with a life-giving fountain when you fear the Lord. God should be the center focus of our lives. When He isn’t, “you get what you get”, and that means you strive for the unattainable.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,but a false witness is a traitor. 26 Those who fear the Lord are secure;He will be a refuge for their children. 27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;it offers escape from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:25-27

Serving Others gODS.....

When a group of people totally abandon God, they have to live with the consequences. Those consequences usually involve pain, suffering, humiliation, oppression, unjust treatment, and other kinds of evil. When the rebels realize what they have done and cry out to God, sometimes it’s too late. Sometimes God replies as He did here. He tells the people that He won’t rescue them from their enemies. Instead, He tells them to cry out to the gods they had chosen to serve. This is the fate of those who abandon the real God for tiny false gods (money, fame, pleasure, or any other thing we make up and substitute for God Himself). They won’t save you in the end (they can’t, for they don’t have the ability). All the reason more to only serve the real God, and not rebel and be deceived.

11 The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to Me for help, and I rescued you. 13 Yet you have abandoned Me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!” Judges 10:11-14

Acting in “Good Faith”...

When you act in “good faith” (as it’s called here in this passage) towards God, it results in joy. If what you do is not in “good faith”, then fire will come and devour you. Fire here represents the punishment you deserve. Here in Judges chapter 9, we read about Abimelech. He is one of the seventy sons of Gideon. Once Gideon had died, Abimelech wanted to rule the land. He went to Shechem and made a proposal to become their king. The citizens agreed and paid him money to be their king. Abimelech then went and killed all but one of the 70 sons of Gideon. God was angry, so He spoke a curse through the only remaining son of Gideon (Jotham). It pronounced judgement (fire) on Abimelech and the citizens that made him their king. If they had acted in ”good faith”, none of this would’ve happen. And Abimelech wouldn’t have had to beg to be killed by his armour bearer, when a women dropped a millstone on his head. He wouldn’t have died in embarrassment, in a humiliating, non-warfare manner. Acting in “good faith” is what Paul calls a clear-conscience. God gave us a conscience. We should listen to it more often. Don’t you think?

19 “If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants today, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you. 20 But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leading citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!” Judges 9:19-20

52 Abimelech followed them to attack the tower. But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, 53 a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.54 He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died. 55 When Abimelech’s men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.56 In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled. Judges 9:52-57