A Clean Home To Reside In….

God is the Source of our success. We can’t take the credit for what He orchestrates. It’s His prerogative to bless people. Our only rightful response is obedience. And after that, telling others about what He did for us. Now that’s true worship. This helps humility have a clean home to reside in, and having a God-fearing, morally clean home, makes it very difficult for “pride” to rise up and fill it.

The people are strong and tall–descendants of the famous Anakite giants. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Who can stand up to the Anakites?’ 3 But recognize today that the Lord your God is the One who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.4 “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that He is pushing them out of your way. 5 It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath He swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not–you are a stubborn people. Deuteronomy 9:2-6

The Taker Away of Disgrace….

No matter what people ever say about God, I know one thing that is true: He is the “taker away of disgrace”. He redeems more than He condemns. He rescues more than He allows those to perish. He champions more than He defeats. He loves more than He allows those to go astray. He is the One Who provides a way when all hope is lost. He is the Possible in the impossible. He is the Source of life. Anyone truly living life, must have a connection with Him, for He is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Never forget this.

23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Luke 1:23-25

Respect for Life….

You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat their pets. This isn’t a 100% guarantee, accurate evaluation, but it certainly does show their disposition. Godly people have a respect for life, because they respect the One Who gives it.

10 The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. Proverbs 12:10

Uncontrolled Anger…..

We all need to to learn that uncontrolled anger will always lead to harm. When we lose our temper, it will hurt others. And in the grand scheme of things, we will suffer the most from it. I know, I’ve been there. Righteous indignation, what they called Jesus’ anger, is solely reserved for God. It’s His prerogative. The only time it’s okay for us to be angry is when someone or something is violating God’s law at the expense of another, and calling it good. Anger then should be controlled and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That way it’s still “righteous indignation”, because it’s coming from God Himself.

8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage!Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm. Psalms 37:8

Don’t Focus On The Good Or Bad You’ve Done….

If there’s one thing I know about Christianity, it’s this: suffering brings us closer to God. And the opposite can be said as well, prosperity draws us away from God. It’s up to us to learn how to be independently dependent on God. There’s no secret. Paul said it many times throughout his epistles, don’t focus on the good or bad that you’ve done. If you do, you’ll become proud and forget God, having a superior attitude. Or you’ll focus on your failures and think you’re not good enough for God. Both are detrimental to your walk. What we are to do is keep the right perspective, remembering all that God has done for us, and what He’s said in His Word. No matter how much we change or waver in our emotions, we must remember God doesn’t change. We must remember His love for us. We must act on what we know to be true. If we don’t, what comes our way will only be our own fault. God has laid out the plan. We know what it is. If we follow it, blessings flow. If we don’t, the hardships that come will be destructive, self-inflicted, morale deflating, and selfish misery. The key is remembering. Remembering what God has done. Celebrating what He has done. Memorializing it on a regular basis, lest we forget. Prosperity can lead to being too comfortable. Don’t allow it to happen. Train yourself to be content with God. His presence is our best.

11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! 14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that He led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the Lord your God. He is the One who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant He confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the Lord has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 8:11-20

What More Could We Want….

Have you ever thought about your walk as a believer? All the ups and downs, ins and outs, celebrations and sorrows. You questioned God so many times, sometimes not getting answers until much later on, or never getting a clear answer at all. You trusted Him, doubted Him, and every where in between. Yet through all of this, your faith continued to help you through it all. If you’re really honest with yourself (this includes me too), you will have to admit that God has been there, walking right beside you, making sure you were provided all the necessities you needed to make it through. I can honestly say God has been with me through all my triumphs and struggles. He has provided when I desperately needed, and has helped me “gut it out” when what I thought was necessary really wasn’t. He has blessed me as well as disciplined me. But most importantly, He hasn’t let go. He won’t. It’s not what He does. Once you’ve made a commitment to Him, He won’t let you quit. He won’t let you walk away. Why? Because He knows what’s best for you. When you commit your whole heart to Him, He won’t allow anything stop from fulfilling your heart’s desire to serve and honor Him. If you fall, He will be there to pick you up, dust you off, and get you back on the path you’re destined to be on. The greatest thing about committing your heart to God is knowing you may fail Him, but He will never fail you. He loves you too much to leave you lost. Sometimes failure may seem like the end, but it’s God’s way of shaping us into a more likeness of Jesus. What more could you want in a relationship? In God, we have a loving Father, Who won’t allow us to suffer a fractured relationship. His love holds us up. His commitment to us will always sustain us. No that’s a solid foundation to stand on. And that is Good News.

2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey His commands. 3 Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good. Deuteronomy 8:2-5

Coveting Wealth…..

Riches will always be a temptation for people. The believer knows that things the world values, such as gold, will be used as pavement to walk on in Heaven. This shows us its true value (pavement). We should never allow the lure of wealth to control our thoughts and actions. I know it’s hard, but the consequences are what’s really costly. Having means (wealth) gives us the ability to say “NO” to God. That’s definitely something God does not want, and neither should we. Money is necessary for life, and nice to have (as long as it’s seen in the right perspective), but it shouldn’t be the sole focus in life, as many will tell you. God tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 7 that they are not to covet the silver or gold belonging to the people they conquer in the Promised Land, for it will be a trap to them, and is detestable to Him. We should read this and take it to heart. Coveting wealth, especially that which belongs to others, will never deliver what we think it will. Instead of freeing us, it will be a trap that will draw us away from what’s most important in our lives. The most important reason is being away from our closeness to the Lord. Wealth has its place, but it’s not a substitute for what matters most in life. Money just reveals where our heart really is.

25 “You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. 26 Do not bring any detestable objects into your home, for then you will be destroyed, just like them. You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction. Deuteronomy 7:25-26

God’s Point of View….

I wish it was easy to continually see God’s point of view of the world. It would ease the burden of concern for the well-being of others. When evil happens, it doesn’t last; it won’t succeed. Everything has its time and place. Just like flowers and grass, people who take advantage of us, commit crimes, and want to rid the world of God and His ways, they will fade away in due time. They will be a distant memory, if that, and never harm another person again. But those who trust in God, they will prosper. They will live contently doing right in God’s sight. They will delight in God’s ways, and be a light in the lives of others. Trust Him today, and He will help you. Draw near to God, and He will remind you of this truth.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.2 For like grass, they soon fade away.Like spring flowers, they soon wither. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalms 37:1-5

It’s Really Easy to Forget What’s Important….

In the 1980s movie “Mr Mom”, the lead character loses his job. In response to the crisis, his wife goes to work, leaving him to be the “mom” of the house. He is transformed by this change in roles, as is his wife. Toward the end of the movie, the wife is working long hours, and she has seemed to have lost her way, her joy is gone and is exhausted mentally and emotionally. The scene has her standing on the front porch waiting for the limo to pick her up and take her to the airport for another business trip. Her husband, realizing he must do something about it, stops her and says, “it’s really easy to forget what’s important, so don’t”. A very simple, yet very profound statement. It stops her in her tracks. God says the same thing to the Israelites right before they enter into the “promised land”. Why do you think it’s so easy to forget God? Forget what’s important? What is it that distracts us just enough to pull us away from Him? I don’t really have a solid answer to this question, but I do know that when it happens, the results are miserable. My only encouragement to you today would be to realize how easy it is to drift away from God. Once you realize this, do everything in your power to stop it from happening. Figure out what’s important in your life, and build everything around that. You find that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

12 be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 6:12

25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’ Deuteronomy 6:25

Obedience and Our Disposition….

Reading Deuteronomy chapter 5 I come across a heart felt statement from God that applies to all of us. God knows how fickle the human heart is. He is pleased when, out of obedience, it devotes itself fully to respecting and honoring Him. He knows we are not consistent in our obedience. But the thing we miss, I mean we are oblivious to, is that it’s our obedience that pleases God. When we are inconsistent in this process, our Iives get filled with the consequences of our disobedience; fear, worry, anxiety, stress, dissension, disunity, and chaos. When will we ever learn that our attitudes matter to God? Our obedience is directly related to our disposition. When we are “in tune” with God’s will, we walk in prosperity. I’m not talking about wealth, I’m talking about things going well for us. Take Jacob for example, he prospered when he served Laban. Even though he was deceived by Laban into marrying both of his daughters, and had to serve him for 14 years, he prospered during that time (and so did Laban because of Jacob). It was his obedience to God that granted him favor. So it is with us. Our obedience is directly related to a consistent, self-rewarding attitude, that comes from God in response to it. God said, “(if) they would always have hearts like this”, meaning hearts fully devoting to serving God. If God longs for our hearts to be fully in-tune with His (in obedience), what’s holding you back? What’s more important than this? Don’t you want to succeed in His will? Don’t you want to be in God’s favor? What can possibly surpass the reward of knowing you are pleasing God by being obedient in His will?

28 “The Lord heard the request you made to me. And He said, ‘I have heard what the people said to you, and they are right. 29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear Me and obey all My commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever. Deuteronomy 5:28-29

32 So Moses told the people, “You must be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, following His instructions in every detail. 33 Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Deuteronomy 5:32-33

When We Step Into His Role As Judge….

Reading in Luke chapter one I came across a verse that backs the support of choosing life. We all can argue that a baby isn’t a person until it’s born until we are blue in the face. We can debate if it’s murder to abort, all we want. We can join the pro-choice movement any time we choose. Those that don’t respect or follow God have no ground to base their stance on that will be acceptable to the believer (pro-lifer). And the believer (pro-lifer) is just a fairytale follower to those who stand on the side of “its my body” motto. So what do we do? Here’s a concept both sides need to understand: just because you believe it’s not right, doesn’t make it not right. And just because you believe it’s right, doesn’t make it right. You don’t have to believe in God to make Him real. Just as you don’t make Him unreal if you don’t believe. God is real, regardless of what you believe. God creates life; He does it for a reason. He has a purpose. When we step into His role as Judge, determining who deserves to live and die, we tread on very shaky ground. It’s not our place to say, “you live, and you don’t”. We don’t have that capacity. Here in Luke chapter one we read of John the Baptist’s father being visited by an angel. Zachariah (John’s Father) is told that his barren and old wife, Elizabeth would have a child by this time next year. The angel goes on to tell him that this child will be special. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. Did you catch that? “Before his birth”. What does that say? That God recognizes his personhood, his humanity, his worth, before he is even born. He will serve the purpose of ushering in (proclaiming) Jesus’ arrival on to the scene. Here’s the point I want to make: we as human beings don’t have the ability to predict the future; we don’t have the ability to judge someone’s soul. Yet we do it every day. That creates chaos and disunity among people. The Bible never tells us to not make judgements. It tells us when we do, we need to use an objective standard that is fair and just (Jesus’ words not mine). When we decide to abort a baby (regardless of the reason), we are in essence stepping into the role of God, which we are unqualified to do. If God doesn’t want that baby on earth, then He will make sure it doesn’t happen. When we take the life of a child through abortion, we are judging without the proper objective standard. We are “playing God”, something we were never meant to do. Just think of how many babies have died through the act of abortion? Think of how many of them would’ve brought joy and love to this world. Maybe one of them would’ve found a cure for cancer? One, might have changed the outcome of a bad situation? Saved lives? I know some of you are probably thinking, yes, maybe some would’ve been mass murders, or tyrannical dictators inflicting pain and suffering among many people. I won’t argue with that, because it’s probably true, but that is not up to us to decide, especially out of the excuse “it’s my body, no one has the right to tell me who I can and can’t have sex with”. I agree with you. The only part most of these people are missing is the reality of consequences of real life. No one is telling you who you can or can’t have sex with. Pregnancy is a reality of having sex. Just because you don’t want to accept that reality, doesn’t give you the right to end a life of another out of the convenience of your own. If God values life, even the life on the unborn (as in John’s case here), shouldn’t we at least re-evaluate our own stance on the issue. There’s only one God, and when you one day stand before Him, you’ll realize, He’s not you. Life is precious. I just wish every one would see it this way. We don’t have the volitional power to create life, so we shouldn’t have the same to take it away. You change history every time you “play God”, and no is more effected than the one who thinks he’s in control of the situation when he really isn’t.

13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” Luke 1:13-17

66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way. Luke 1:66

He Had One Purpose…

When Luke (not an Apostle, but a physician) decided to write an account of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth, he had one purpose. That purpose was to help others be certain that Jesus was Who He said He was, and that He is the only answer to our sin problem. Shouldn’t our goal in life be the same? Shouldn’t we as believers have the purpose of proclaiming this same truth? Shouldn’t our lives match up with our beliefs? I was driving the other day and I was in slowing traffic. As I made my way to the destination, at one of the slow downs I noticed a cross on the side of the road, the ones placed there when someone has died. It was surrounded by newly sprouted bluebonnets. I thought about all of those who decorate the sites in which they lost loved ones. This one however was decorated by God Himself. Then the thought occurred to me, “what’s the most important part of my life”? Isn’t that what I should center my life around? Yet do I do it? Or do I get caught up in the every day humdrum and neglect what’s most important to me? Luke’s purpose in writing his account of Jesus’ life should be the answer to the question I asked myself that day. What is the most important thing in my life? My answer is living a life in gratitude for what God has done for me. That means being consistent in my attitude. That means striving to extend mercy and grace to others. That means loving my family and friends to the utmost. And most importantly, pursuing God, growing in His Grace, and sharing that with all people. If I base my entire life on what’s most important, I will be writing another gospel, just not on paper, but in acting out in real life what it means to be saved. Others will see and they will know the truth of Scripture by seeing it lived out in my life. Now that’s real purpose. Do you center your life around what’s most important to you?

1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. Luke 1:1-4

Drink Deeply….

God is the source of life, drink deeply. Get into His word daily. Allow Him to work through you to accomplish His will. When you do, He will sustain you through tough times, and you will be refreshed daily.

9 For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Psalms 36:9

Only One God….

There is only one God. Regardless of what we read, think, or formulate in our brains. So keep this truth firmly in the front of your mind. It’s the most important concept/truth you’ll ever know. Then seek out His wisdom and apply it to your life. Life will go well for you. You will live a long and joy-filled life. It may not be the life the world describes as “happy”, but it will have purpose and meaning, and be rewarding in ways people or Satan can’t touch.

39 “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. 40 If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:39-40

Disguised To Those Who Don’t Recognize Them…..

When people say, “God is a tyrant “, share this scripture with them. Point out that His mercies are given every single day. They are just disguised to those who don’t recognize them.

31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant He made with your ancestors. Deuteronomy 4:31

The Sincerity Of Your Heart….

God knows the sincerity of your heart. He knows what’s inside you. When you have a true, genuine longing to know Him, He shows up. It’s how He works. He doesn’t waste His time chasing after people. He rewards those with true, sincere hearts for Him with wisdom, power, and people surrounding them that are encouraging and helpful. If you search out the Truth, He will find you. If this weren’t true, Jesus wouldn’t have repeated these very words throughout the 4 Gospels.

29 But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him. Deuteronomy 4:29

Truth Matters, Proclaim It….

Truth matters. It can be spoken by believers and non-believers alike. When God wants His truth proclaimed, He will use anyone to proclaim it, even if that person doesn’t realize he/she is speaking it. Here’s an example in Mark chapter 15. The Roman soldier, who probably hated Jews, witnesses the experience of Jesus’ crucifixion, and proclaims Him to be the son of God. This just goes to show all of us, if we don’t proclaim God’s truth, then someone else will. And if they don’t then inanimate objects will, like rocks. Get to know God. Allow Him to shape your thoughts. Proclaim His truth. Ask Him to empower you with His Spirit. Be the mouthpiece of His truth in the lives of others, by living for Him. It just might save a soul today.

39 When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39

Where Your True Treasure Lies…..

Human nature, who can fully grasp its depth? One minute you see the triumphs of selflessness, then a minute later you see it’s vile, selfishness on display. Jesus talked a lot about the heart; how it reveals the true person inside. Here we see how fickle people really are. Jesus is hanging on the cross, and the people are ridiculing Him. The Bible makes it clear throughout scripture that “true believers” never revel in the suffering of others. Yet we see this “reveling” here. Earlier in the week we saw large numbers of people celebrating Jesus’ entry in to Jerusalem. Now we see some of those same people either taunting Jesus to perform a miracle and save Himself, or shrinking back in silence, hiding out in fear of being persecuted. What does that reveal about their hearts? What does that say about the condition it’s in? What’s the condition of your heart? Is it where it needs to be? Is it humble? Is it trusting God? Really trusting God? Does it know it’s place in the larger scheme of things? Is it willing to follow Jesus, regardless of what others think? Get right with God today. When you do, you’ll discover where your true treasure lies.

29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at You now!” they yelled at Him. “You said You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save Yourself and come down from the cross!”31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed Him. Mark 15:29-32

Don't Buy Into The World's Philosophy….

How can you expect to live a stable, consistent life, while practicing evil behaviors? It’s just not possible. Evil is so unpredictable. It breeds dissension and disunity. It breeds jealousy, and revenge, which are all self-centered attitudes. Most of all, it doesn’t bring satisfaction. Why? Because when you go against God (doing what is right), you can never “feel” good about yourself, your conscience won’t allow it. You can never have peace and stability when wickedness rules in your heart. This is a truth we must never forget, because the world wants us to believe this lie. Any time you focus solely on yourself (meaning to please yourself) at the cost of others, turmoil follows, not peace. Don’t buy into the world’s philosophy; it will only leave you standing on shaky ground.

3 Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots. Proverbs 12:3

The Effect of Carrying Jesus’ Cross….

Use your imagination for a minute. Think about the effect of carrying Jesus’ cross had on Simon of Cyrene. He raised two boys, who later became figures in the growth of the Church (according to some bible scholars). What affect does the cross you bear have on you?

21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) Mark 15:21

Those Who Mocked Jesus….

The irony in the behavior of those who mocked Jesus is captivating. To think the truth in their behavior only reinforces the future promise of God. Every knee will bow, and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The sad part is there will be those who do it unwillingly, but at least they will have practiced beforehand.

16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed Him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head. 18 Then they saluted Him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck Him on the head with a reed stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified. Mark 15:16-20

Envy Deceives….

You’ve heard the slogan, “Milk, it does a body good”. Well, the opposite can be said of Envy: “Envy does everybody harm”. Envy deceives. Envy always compares, and we all know what comparison does to us. It blinds the eyes of its practitioner. It brings guilt upon every soul who allows it into their life. It will eventually condemn you for following it down its destructive path. Take heed, stay away from envy, you’ll be better off following its enemy, humility.

9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”13 They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has He committed?”But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify Him!”15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. Mark 15:9-15

It’s Stupid To Hate Correction….

I know I mention pride a lot. The reason I do is because it is the #1 cause of 99.9% of our problems. We bring trouble upon ourselves more than we think. When you see someone trying to correct you, and you react defensively, it just proves negative effects pride has on those who nurture it. When someone corrects you, we need to focus on the truth in their words. If it’s true, take it in, analyze it, and apply it to your life. What’s not true, let it go. Act as if it were never said. As I’ve always told myself, “discipline yourself, so no one else has to”. “It’s stupid to hate correction”, words straight from the mouth of one of the wisest men to ever live.

1 To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. Proverbs 12:1

A Thorn In The Flesh….

Have you ever had a thorn in your flesh? I once ate the fruit from a cactus. It was really good. The only issue was no one told me about the teeny-tiny thorns that are on them. They are so small that you can’t see them. You touch them with your uncovered hands and they stick in your flesh. They are so small you can’t see them in your hand either. But, boy, do you feel them! They irritate the skin with ever slight movement. And they are almost impossible to remove. It’s so frustrating. You feel the irritation and discomfort, yet you can’t see the cause. And it takes someone else with tweezers and a magnifying glass to remove them. In order to taste the fruit, you have to take extreme precaution in gathering and preparing this succulent delight. If you don’t, you’ll be regretting it for hours and hours on end later. This was the plight of Israel’s disobedience to God’s commands to drive out the people who lived in the Promise Land. The consequences and conflict still haunt them today. They are like thorns in the flesh. Just think this could’ve been eliminated simply by following God’s command. And people today think they are wrong for still having this kind of attitude. A thorn in the flesh isn’t worth being disobedient to God. It will constantly inflict pain with every movement. And it will take a lot of time and work to relieve its effects on the body. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Learn from them this lesson of not fully following God’s instructions. You’ll save yourself some pain.

55 But if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will harass you in the land where you live. 56 And I will do to you what I had planned to do to them.” Numbers 33:55-56

Take A Lesson From This…

I’ve said this before but I can’t help but to write about it every time an example pops up in scripture that emphasizes this point: God knows us better than we know ourselves. When we try to find ourselves by looking within, what we will come to realize (if we are honest with ourselves) is there’s nothing good there. We will see someone who lies, cheats, steals, thinks awful thoughts about others, and is prideful, which goes against God’s desire for humility. We will find a person who says one thing, yet does the exact opposite. One who cares more for him/herself than others, maybe to a lesser degree than others but it’s still there. You will find someone who thinks more selfishly than he ought to. One that talks big, trying to bring attention into himself rather than exalting Jesus. You won’t find much “good” inside yourself. Jesus knew this when Peter swore he wouldn’t abandon Him in the His greatest time of need. Peter was selfishly thinking, so Jesus let Peter know what would happen; he would deny Him 3 times, before morning came. Take a lesson from this: God knows us better than we know ourselves. It’s only when we look to Him, that we truly come to understand who we are, why we are here, and where we are destined to end up.

 27 On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert Me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd,and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”29 Peter said to Him, “Even if everyone else deserts You, I never will.”30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter–this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know Me.”31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And all the others vowed the same. Mark 14:27-31

Independently Dependent on God….

Right living has its benefits. When you eat right, get enough physical activity, and maintain your emotional state of mind, your body responds with good health. It’s the same way with your spiritual state. You walk with God, pursuing Him daily, and He will watch over you. In times of trouble, He will rescue you. When you are broken-hearted, He will redeem your crushed spirit. He will protect you, redeeming those that serve Him, never having to fear condemnation. We can have confidence in God, for all things, when we walk closely with Him. Working out our salvation means showing the world, externally, what God has done for us internally. We can learn to be content, when we walk in His will. Spiritual health flourishes when we learn to be independently dependent on God.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;His ears are open to their cries for help.16 But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil;He will erase their memory from the earth.17 The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles.18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 19 The righteous person faces many troubles,but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;not one of them is broken! 21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,and those who hate the righteous will be punished.22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve Him.No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned. Psalms 34:15-22

Taste and See….

Here’s advice given by a man after God’s own heart (King David): keep yourself from lying, from speaking evil, turn away from evil, do good, search for peace and work to maintain it. If you apply it, only by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will lack no good thing. Fearing God is where it starts. True Joy comes from taking refuge in Him. A life without God, is no life at all, at least a life missing out on what’s meant for us to experience. Taste and see for yourself.

  8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!9 Fear the Lord, you His godly people,for those who fear Him will have all they need.10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, and listen to me,and I will teach you to fear the Lord.12 Does anyone want to live a lifethat is long and prosperous?13 Then keep your tongue from speaking eviland your lips from telling lies!14 Turn away from evil and do good.Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Psalms 34:8-14

Out Work, Out Smart, Or Out Plan…..

Here’s a very interesting observation: in the 40 years in the wilderness, the number of fighting men replenished itself to within 5,000 from the census taken at the beginning of the journey. Just goes to show you how God works out His plan to the minutest detail. You can’t out work, out smart, or out plan God’s sovereignty. What He says, He does. Why try to fight it?

63 So these are the results of the registration of the people of Israel as conducted by Moses and Eleazar the priest on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho. 64 Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had said of them, “They will all die in the wilderness.” Not one of them survived except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. Numbers 26:63-65

The Golden Rule….

Long before Jesus ever spoke the words, “love your neighbor as yourself”. The golden rule, treat others as you want to be treated, has been taught throughout history. It’s a principle God wants from us. It’s expected. And the reward when we put it into practice is refreshing. Put it to the test, it will change your heart.

25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

God Knows Us Better….

There’s a common theme throughout scripture: God knows us better than we know ourselves. Why then do we not trust Him? Listen to Him? Run to Him in times of need? Share our joys with Him? The answer is simply, our sinful nature always wants to run from God. It tells us we don’t need Him. It prompts us to “do it our way, not His way”. If God made our hearts, then He knows how they work. He understands everything our hearts do. If we use common sense, we need to stop going with how we feel, stop listening to that little voice that tells us to trust ourselves, and start going with what we know to be true. God knows our hearts, therefore we need to trust Him. There’s no other path in life that will determine our attitude, than knowing and adhering to this truth.

15 He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do. Psalms 33:15

Speaking Our Mind Without Restraint…..

The entire story of Balaam is fascinating. There is so much there; a talking donkey takes the prize for the show-stopper. The point I want to emphasize here is this: we are powerless to do anything against the will of God. We are all accountable to God. But in America today, we do and say as we please. We act as though God doesn’t exist. We speak our mind whenever we “feel” like it. We hold back nothing in our speech. How contrary is this thinking to God’s word? Balaam says Himself, “but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth”. If only we all could have this mentality? It took a talking donkey to get Balaam’s full attention. What do you think it will take to get your attention? We can’t successfully oppose God. So why try? It’s as if we try because our eyes are blinded to the truth. We don’t see the Death angel standing down our path waiting to put an end to us. We need a talking donkey to warn us about our poor, blind, and rebellious attitude. Ask God for humility today. For only then will we see the accountability we have with God. And may it help us to refrain from “speaking our mind” without restraint.

18 But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God. Numbers 22:18

21 So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, 23 Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.24 Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. 27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.29 “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”30 “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”“No,” Balaam admitted.31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.32 “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. 33 Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”34 Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”35 But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials. 36 When King Balak heard that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon River at the farthest border of his land.37 “Didn’t I send you an urgent invitation? Why didn’t you come right away?” Balak asked Balaam. “Didn’t you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?”38 Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth.” 39 Then Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth, 40 where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. He sent portions of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him. Numbers 22:21-41