Pick Up, Hold Up, And Build Up….

In the current state of our country, in the tumultuous times we live, we have the power to bless or curse. In a world that fluctuates and thrives on anxiety and worry, we have the words that bring life back into dead spirits. Never forget the words you use have power. They can bring life or death to people. It’s not because these words contain power. It’s because of Who stands behind these words. I’m not referring to flattery or fluff, that puffs a person up. I’m talking about truth, the kind that builds people back up when they realize their responsibility in a situation. Our role as Christians is to first serve other Christians, then the rest of the world. Our role is to bring God’s kingdom to this earth. How do we do that? By doing His will. What is His will? To bring peace in the midst of chaos. When we help pick people up, then help hold them up, to eventually build them up, then we bring God’s kingdom down to earth. We make God’s presence known to people. We fulfill the law, to love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s what Image Bearers do. In a world full of worry that treads down souls, our words can encourage and infuse living energy (by the Holy Spirit) back into a person, edifying their spirit. Chose your words wisely, it just may be the difference someone needs to hear today.

25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25

How We Respond….

It is amazing that our military implements this principle from the Bible about war. During WWII the US forces dropped notices to Japan telling them about the atomic bomb. They warned Japan about its devastation, and gave them the opportunity to surrender, to settle peacefully. They didn’t, and many people lost their lives because of it. God is just. He always warns us before the circumstances come about. Why we don’t listen, is a whole other story. It’s up to us when it comes to sin. We can deal with it peacefully, God’s way (even though there will be unpleasant consequences), or we can resist and suffer greatly (without peace). We are always given warning. How we respond determines our future health and wellness.

10 “As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace. 11 If they accept your terms and open the gates to you, then all the people inside will serve you in forced labor. 12 But if they refuse to make peace and prepare to fight, you must attack the town. 13 When the Lord your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town. 14 But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the plunder from your enemies that the Lord your God has given you. Deuteronomy 20:10-14

This Type Of Restitution….

If our court system developed this type of restitution, I don’t think we would have the backlog there is today. If you are willing to take the punishment you’re trying to get for your opposition, then justice will be served. And if you’re not willing, then your case will be dropped due to its illegitimacy. There are still simple fixes to our system, it’s just a matter of implementing them. God’s way works. It always has, and always will.

16 “If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, 17 then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, 19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you. 20 Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing. 21 You must show no pity for the guilty! Your rule should be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Deuteronomy 19:16-21

Our Duty To Do So…..

When I read today’s passage I can’t help but think how it’s relevance plays such a huge role in our society. The guilt of murdering innocent people plagues our country. Who gives the right to take a life, much less an innocent one? Who thinks he/she has the power to do as they please? Who thinks he/she can step into the role of God? It should anger you to think this goes on every single day in America. People are dying unjustly at the hands of selfish people. And the worst part is, some die every day due to the fear of inconvenience. That’s right, inconvenience. How many abortions performed daily have justifiable reasons? None, zero, nada... God hates hands that shed innocent blood. What could be more innocent than a baby not even born yet? It just goes to show you laws cannot fix the sinful nature of man. Laws only tell us how far we can go before we have to face consequences. And some laws are wrong to begin with. Laws only work when people abide by them. So in essence, laws do not work for the lawless. The guilt and shame that drives our country today is in direct correlation with the legalization of killing innocent babies. Some get it, but most don’t. Just because a law allows a practice doesn’t make it right. Our responsibility is to God first, then man. We treat man right because of God. Our freedoms come with that responsibility. It seems long forgotten in this country. God protects the innocent, but He also gives us the responsibility to do the right thing. These murdered babies will go directly to Him when they are aborted. And that’s a great thing. Whether or not we allow them to experience life on earth isn’t a choice we are to determine. It is His prerogative. For He is the Giver, Taker, and Sustainer of life. If He can instruct the Israelites to establish cities of refuge for innocent people who accidentally kill to flee to for safety, why can’t we do the same for the unborn? It’s not our right to protect the innocent, it’s our duty to do so.

1 “When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land He is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes. 2 Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 3 Survey the territory, and divide the land the Lord your God is giving you into three districts, with one of these cities in each district. Then anyone who has killed someone can flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety.4 “If someone kills another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, the slayer may flee to any of these cities to live in safety. 5 For example, suppose someone goes into the forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax to chop down a tree, and the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the slayer may flee to one of the cities of refuge to live in safety.6 “If the distance to the nearest city of refuge is too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill the person who caused the death. Then the slayer would die unfairly, since he had never shown hostility toward the person who died. 7 That is why I am commanding you to set aside three cities of refuge.8 “And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land He promised them, 9 you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you–if you always love the Lord your God and walk in His ways.) 10 That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.11 “But suppose someone is hostile toward a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders him and then flees to one of the cities of refuge. 12 In that case, the elders of the murderer’s hometown must send agents to the city of refuge to bring him back and hand him over to the dead person’s avenger to be put to death. 13 Do not feel sorry for that murderer! Purge from Israel the guilt of murdering innocent people; then all will go well with you. Deuteronomy 19:1-13

A Slice Of Humble Pie….

What’s so bad about pride? To be brutally honest, pride breeds selfishness, which is the opposite of love. Pride wants to preserve self over anything else. It’s what God hates. Pride is the motivating factor of all sins. Murder, lying, slander, gossip, criticism, and the list goes on. In order for pride to continue on, it must put to death what opposes it. Here in Luke chapter 4 we get a clear example of this. Jesus is teaching in His hometown synagogue. He reads scripture out of the book of Isaiah. He tells the people that the only person healed out of many was a gentile, Naaman. He then tells the people the only widow that was helped was a gentile as well, the woman from Zaraphath. The pride of the Israelites swelled up and they wanted to kill Jesus by pushing Him off a cliff. How someone goes from praising Jesus to wanting to kill Him is exactly how pride works in the human spirit. It’s only when you know your place, Who you are responsible to, that you learn how to deal with pride. And it’s the Holy Spirit that helps keep pride in check. Humility is one of the fruits of the Spirit. And it’s the antidote for pride. Ask God today to set you straight, even if it means eating a slice of humble pie. You’ll save yourself a lot of future pain if you learn and practice this principle. Pride opposes Love, the very thing God says He is.

14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.16 When He came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor.He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released,that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free,19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at Him intently. 21 Then He began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”22 Everyone spoke well of Him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from His lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”23 Then He said, “You will undoubtedly quote Me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’–meaning, ‘Do miracles here in Your hometown like those You did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in His own hometown.25 “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land.26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner–a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon.27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed Him and forced Him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push Him over the cliff, 30 but He passed right through the crowd and went on His way. Luke 4:14-30

Not Obsess Over The Gifts….

During Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the desert, Jesus’ refusal to give in to the temptation proves one thing: nothing on earth, nothing we can achieve, gain power, wealth, or significance, will compare to the blessing of Heaven. We were not meant to have the temptation’s benefits that Satan offered. Yet so many people succumb to their appeal. As C.S. Lewis once said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” We were made for God. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the things of this world offers; we can. We just need to remember to enjoy them, and treat them as blessings from our Maker. We honor the Giver of the gifts because of Who He is, and not obsess over the gifts themselves. Or as St. Augustine said, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”

1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.3 Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”5 Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to You if You will worship me.”8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your Godand serve only Him.’” 9 Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you.11 And they will hold you up with their handsso you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left Him until the next opportunity came. Luke 4:1-13

Exactly What We Were Made For…..

Even though these guidelines are given to a future Israelite king, they are 100% beneficial to us as well. The reasons are given right in the text. We are to read God’s word daily. Why? To learn a proper reverence (healthy fear) for God by learning how to obey and love Him. It will prevent us from becoming proud, acting as if we are above others. It also prevents us from turning away from God even in the smallest way. And finally, it helps us to know God, so we can pass on the importance of knowing Him and His truth to our children and others. I call all of these “knowing our place”. Daily reading and interaction with God sets the thermostat of our being, and we see things and events through His eyes, under His control. It helps us live full lives, not in spite of the circumstances, rather because of them. Get into the Word, and the Word will get into you. It’s exactly what we were made for.

18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Your “Coming Out Party”…..

The purpose of baptism isn’t a requirement to get “saved”, for you already are “saved” if you know you need to do it. The purpose of baptism is to show the world that you have repented of your sins and turned to God to be forgiven. It’s your “coming out party” as a new believer. That’s it. It’s not some magical process that makes you a better Christian. It’s your way of showing society (and yourself) that you’ve been resurrected from being spiritually dead, and made alive in Christ. It’s your way of saying you’ve died to yourself (the flesh) and are now serving Jesus as Lord. It’s proof to yourself that you really do believe God, enough to humble yourself in performing this action. The baptisms done in churches to infants and babies are not the same thing. These baptisms are for the parents, than the children. Yes, it may be a declaration of the parents’ duty (promise) to raise the child under the fear and admonition of the Lord, that will certainly help in the future salvation of the child, but it is not what the Bible calls baptism. How can a baby declare volitionally that he is serving God? He can’t. Baptism is the “coming out party” for believers. It’s a personal, public announcement of one’s allegiance to Jesus. No one can make that decision for you. This is a one-time occurrence, but it’s not a one time action. You live the rest of your life showing how you’ve been transformed by the renewing of your mind every day. Baptism doesn’t save you; it is proof you are saved.

3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Luke 3:3

Truth Stands The Test Of Time….

I’ve said this many times, but it never hurts to hear it again: when you speak the truth, you never have to worry about what you said. God honors those that are not afraid to speak truth. In a society that doesn’t honor truth, stand out by living your life in honor of it. It may not always be received warmly, but you will never have a better defense when you’re accused of an offense. The truth stands the test of time, why not stand with it?

19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. Proverbs 12:19

22 The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth. Proverbs 12:22

Deep Thoughts And A Piercing Sword….

I bet that you’ve read the four Gospels many times, but never remembered or contemplated this passage. These words of Simeon penetrate the soul. What he stated over 2,000 years ago still rings true to this day. How we handle Jesus determines everything. We will stand or fall. We will oppose or align with. Our deepest thoughts in our hearts are revealed in how we approach Jesus. He is the Author and Giver of life. How we see Jesus determines everything. He pierces every soul, but it’s our reaction to that confrontation that determines the destiny and attitude of our life. Is Jesus Lord of your life? If not, do you think it’s the cause of your current state of mind?

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but He will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Luke 2:33-35

Confronted With Their Lies….

Here’s a thought that might disturb some, be misinterpreted by some, and even rejected by some new in their faith. We live in a world of “speak your mind until it offends some one”. It’s okay to keep speaking the offensive language only if it is worldly. If it’s anything that is restrictive, religious, or morally guided, “shut up”. For those who are indifferent to God and oppose His ways, we are to tolerate them, love them, and try to show them “the Way”. But for those who teach and preach a false gospel, lead many away from the truth of the Bible, and encourage rebellion against God, they are to be taken seriously. In the OT, God tells Moses to put them to death. That’s right, put them to death. Anyone who volitionally leads people away from God, Jesus, and the Truth of scripture, should be taken seriously. They should be confronted with their lies, deception, and rebellion. Yes, we need to be respectful, but we must also stand our ground. These people must not be allowed for any reason to purposely deceive and lead others astray. In a world of “political correctness”, we must be proactive, respectful, but brutally truthful with the message of salvation. It’s Gods plan to rescue every willing soul from himself. If someone wants to tell people it’s not true, or “sugar coat” it, or twist it around to lead people away from God, it is our responsibilities to combat their efforts. “Turning the other cheek” has its place in the Christian life, but not when it comes to people who purposely lead others astray. Jesus opposed these types of people the most, and so should we. I’m not saying go out and look for a fight. I’m saying when some deceptive souls present untruth, it’s our duty to set the record straight by presenting the truth and pointing the deceived back to Jesus. It’s a cause worth fighting for. The reason most people don’t do it, is because they don’t know their Bibles well enough, and thus their relationship with God is just an acquaintance. So the next time you’re confronted with this type of situation, maybe it’s God testing you, to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. Get real, be honest with yourself, get into the word, and start standing up for the truth. As Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”. Free from what? All the deceptive, “politically correct” and worldly views out there.

1 “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’–gods you have not known before–3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love Him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him. 5 The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the Lord your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you. Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Diligence….

The difference between truly successful people and those who seem successful is one character trait that was learned at a young age: hard work. There is no substitute for diligence. It’s what characterizes those that put it into practice from those who only dream about success.

11 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. Proverbs 12:11

The Ultimate Outcome Of Selfishness…..

If only people could see the ultimate outcome of selfishness. Evil motives always end with the destruction of the practitioner. All that’s gained through selfish, evil desires will be shattered. Being godly is what our souls were designed for. It’s that simple. Do you see this kind of behavior in our society today? Take heart, God will see that justice is served and protect those who are faithful to His word.

12 The wicked plot against the godly;they snarl at them in defiance.13 But the Lord just laughs,for He sees their day of judgment coming. 14 The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. Psalms 37:12-17

It Will Rejuvenate Your Soul….

If there was one section, one passage of scripture that would reveal the heart of God along with our duty, it would be this scripture reading. There couldn’t be more precise wording, simple to read commands, outlining this truth. Read it today. Allow God to speak to you directly. Take it in like food, nourishing your spirit. Memorize it, for it will rejuvenate your soul time and time again.

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.14 “Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God. 15 Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of His love. And He chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. 16 Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. 18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. 19 So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You must fear the Lord your God and worship Him and cling to Him. Your oaths must be in His name alone. 21 He alone is your God, the only One who is worthy of your praise, the One who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes. 22 When your ancestors went down into Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky! Deuteronomy 10:12-22

We Can’t Take Credit For Something We Didn’t Do….

One difference between a true believer and one who merely claims to follow God is his ability to humble himself when pride creeps in. We are all fickle. If we don’t see this in ourselves, then calling ourselves believers is just a formal way of trying to justify through pretending. How does the true believer do this? Simply by remembering what God has said. God reminds us over and over that we are not special in our own right. We are not righteous on our own. We are special because He chose us. It’s His love for us that sets us apart. It’s Jesus’ righteousness that makes us right with God. Knowing our place and acting it out is what helps us remain humble. Knowing how God views us without Christ keeps us humble. We can’t take credit for something we didn’t do, can we? It’s just one of the character qualities a true believer has that makes a huge difference in his life; one that sets him apart from the masses.

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 9:4-6

Comfortable Being Uncomfortable….

Here’s one thing all people, especially believers, need to never allow themselves to get: too comfortable. Human beings are fickle. We don’t know how to handle every situation. Sometimes we respond correctly, and sometimes we react inappropriately. But it’s a guarantee that success won’t be handled correctly over time. It just goes to show us we are not in control. God is the source of life. That means our successes and failures are in His power. We can’t take credit for our successes, but we can own our failures. It is God’s prerogative to bless people. So where does that leave us? Right where we are. Our comfort zone naturally caters to our pride and selfishness. The more comfortable we are the more we focus on ourselves. The more comfortable we are the bigger fight we put up to keep it. It’s almost like comfort over a period of time makes us focus solely on ourselves. When we do that we forget God is the source of everything. When adversity strikes we don’t know how to handle it. The best advice I have is to get connected with God, and work daily to keep that connection. It’s one relationship that sets the proper attitude for each day. It’s one that says “I’m not entitled to anything”. It’s like the thermostat on your ac unit at home. You set it and it serves its function throughout the day. That’s what spending time with the Lord does. It humbles you, prepares you to handle what ever happens during the day, and keeps you humble. It’s the remedy for “too comfortable”. It’s God’s way of telling us we need to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s easy to forget when times are going good, so don’t. Learn to work hard, and rest when you need to. Six days a week we toil, and one day we totally rest. That’s God’s plan. It works, especially when you trust the One Who made the rules. Understand, being comfortable serves a purpose. Rest, serves a purpose. But having the right attitude about both, serves a greater purpose. And only God can grant us this ability. Never allow yourself to get too comfortable. You’ll save yourself a lot of unnecessary pain in the end. Comfort is easy, humility is not. Do the hard thing and you reap the benefits. Never forget Who’s in control and in charge.

10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.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. Deuteronomy 8:10-18

Obey God Or Follow Oneself…

The conundrum of life: obey God, or follow oneself. If you commit to one, you find yourself swaying back and forth from both. God made a promise to the Israelites, to honor those that honor Him. He is a God of His Word. If it’s a guarantee, why do we stray? Why do we forget this? The answer is simple: we are fickle. Once we learn this about ourselves, that we can’t be trusted, it’s easier to surrender to His lordship. Once our pride takes on truth, it’s easier to trust God, Who won’t fail us, than believe in ourselves, knowing we will fail. If God can promise to prosper us (I’m not talking about the prosperity gospel), then our pride isn’t worth protecting, is it? In order for faith to be real, there are two requirements: it has to be placed in something outside of ourselves, and it must be placed in something that doesn’t move. We must stop trying to place our faith in ourselves, it doesn’t even meet the requirements. We must stop pretending that it does. God will supply for our every need, it’s just a matter of believing His word is trustworthy. Is God trustworthy?

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

Defend The Life Of The Unborn….

If you’re looking for evidence in the Bible to defend the life of the unborn, here’s a passage that will reinforce this truth. God tells Zechariah that he will have a son in his old age. Not only will his son be great, but God tells Him that his son will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is birthed, still in the womb. Think about that. If A baby was only a lump of flesh, as the pro-choice people out there promote, why would God put His Spirit in a lump of flesh? Why would John the Baptist leap with joy in the womb when a pregnant Mary visits his mother Elizabeth? Because the baby Mary is carrying is the Savior of the world. John the Baptist started serving his purpose of preparing the way for Jesus even in the womb. What does that say about how God sees the unborn? The voiceless have a voice, it’s you. Now go out there and open the eyes of those deceived with this truth. Stand up to the lies. Speak truth. It’s what brings life back to those who are spiritually dead. If God sees the value in the life of the unborn, what more evidence do you need?

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 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 1:11-17

39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.” Luke 1:39-45

Short Term Memory Only….

The problem the Israelites had, and the same issue that humanity deals with today, is the fact that we have a short memory only. God told the Israelites to always remember the things He did for them. They didn’t. He told them to teach these things to their children’s about Him, they didn’t. How is a society supposed to obey the commands God gave them, when they don’t remember Who it was Who gave them, why they were given, or what it was for them to do? How can you expect the next generation to respect God, when the ones supposed to teach them aren’t obeying Him? When we fail to reverence God, it’s because we choose to worship something else. We put our time and effort into something other than God. It’s called idolatry. It’s the number one, biggest, most repeated sin in the history of the world. Idolatry substitutes God for something else. It can be religion, as the Jews do, adding laws and rituals to their practices, forgetting the One Who gave them the law. It can be the pursuit of fame, riches, power, or material possessions. Regardless of what it is, if we forget what God has done for us, look out. It’s impossible to pass on what we don’t possess. It’s why God emphasizes, “never forget”. If you apply this principle to modern times, it’s easy to see why we are where we are as a nation. We are divided, with little unity. And our youth have no concept of Who God is. Does this make sense? What’s the solution? It’s what it always has been: repentance. It starts with you, one heart at a time. It’s how God works. He’s not on a time table. His priority is one heart at a time. It starts with you. Start spreading the Good News today. And ask Him to help you to never forget.

9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10 Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where He told me, ‘Summon the people before Me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear Me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear Me also.’ Deuteronomy 4:9-10

If You’re Not “Getting It”…..

The irony in the Bible is so intriguing. I mean God is the Author of life, right. It is His story to write, correct? Think about the difference between people who have been granted the blessing of seeing spiritually, having the ability to decipher truth from amid the lies. These people, who have surrendered to Jesus’ lordship, they see life from a totally different perspective. It’s like Elijah seeing the angels surrounding the enemy, who surrounded him. And his servant only being able to see the surrounding enemy. It wasn’t until God opened his eyes, allowing him to see the angels, that he trusted Elijah. Isn’t it the same here. Jesus is on the cross. People are mocking Him about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in 3 days. They also tell Him to save Himself. What they wanted from Him, in order to believe, was the very thing He was doing. It was just a matter of seeing it. Their unbelief didn’t allow them to see what was really going on. Yet Jesus’ followers were trusting Him, even though they weren’t seeing everything clearly, they still trusted His words to them. Isn’t it strange how an event can take place, witnessed by many, but have it interpreted in a totally different manner? The irony in the Bible is fascinating. Truth always needs discernment. And God is the only giver of spiritual insight. If you’re not “getting it” (truth), ask God to open your eyes; make your heart right with Him. Then you will see what others think they see, and it will bring deeper understanding of yourself and a closer relationship with your Maker.

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 15:29c-32

Ill-Gotten Gain….

Anyone who thinks people who gain fame, popularity, riches, and power through evil, wicked means, is truly happy, think again. Their joy is fleeting; only lasting a short while. Living a lie takes work, and takes its toll eventually. There is no stability in gain by inappropriate means. Eventually when the sun comes out (and it will come out), their gain will wither in the sunshine due to shallow roots. Ill-gotten gain is temporary, and it’s not something people should envy.

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

Murder Pollutes The Land….

In Numbers chapter 35 we read of refuge cities. These cities were given by the 11 tribes of Israel to the Levites. God did not give the Levites their own land as their possession when they arrived in the Promised Land, for God was their possession. However, they did need places to live, so God instructed the Israelites to provide 48 established towns to the Levites to live. It included areas of pastureland for their livestock. These towns also served as refuge cities for people who caused accidental deaths. The chapter clearly defines what murder is, and how it differs from accidental deaths. The person who caused the accidental death could flee to one of these cities to be safe from the family of the deceased. The chapter gets into detail about how long they have to live there, when they can leave, trials of these people, and so on. The point that stands out in this chapter is that murder pollutes the land. Murderers must be executed. It was the only accepted way to purify the land. That meant if the people didn’t execute the convicted murderer then God would not live among them, due to the defiled and polluted land. The death penalty is biblical. It’s justified. It clearly spells out the process of how to go about proving the murderer’s guilt. It’s what the U.S. Justice System is based on. Murder pollutes our land. Our jails are full of murderers. But there are many more not even in the courtrooms. And there’s even a push to legalize murder (actually it’s already legal). You think, “how’s that possible?” It’s disguised under the rights of a woman, deserved “health care”, “my body, my rights”. It’s called abortion. If you think it’s not murder, read this chapter. In fact, read the entire Bible. It clearly states God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). What could be more innocent than an unborn baby? It’s a selfish decision that people carry out. People say hate is the opposite of love, but hate is only a symptom. Selfishness is the opposite of love, and murder is a selfish act. It doesn’t take the other party into consideration. If America wants to purify our land and allow God to live among us, it has to rid the land of legalized murder. It’s why many people fight for the rights of the unborn. It’s a God-given right to stand up and speak for those who are never given a chance to speak. If you think slavery is wrong, apply your principles of that theory to the unborn. It applies to the unborn even more so than to a “would be” slave. See murder for what it is, and ask God to help you fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Be the refuge city for those who have made this mistake and help heal our land of the one sin we can put to an end.

9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel.“When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 designate cities of refuge to which people can flee if they have killed someone accidentally. 12 These cities will be places of protection from a dead person’s relatives who want to avenge the death. The slayer must not be put to death before being tried by the community. 13 Designate six cities of refuge for yourselves, 14 three on the east side of the Jordan River and three on the west in the land of Canaan. 15 These cities are for the protection of Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone who accidentally kills someone may flee there for safety.16 “But if someone strikes and kills another person with a piece of iron, it is murder, and the murderer must be executed. 17 Or if someone with a stone in his hand strikes and kills another person, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death. 18 Or if someone strikes and kills another person with a wooden object, it is murder, and the murderer must be put to death. 19 The victim’s nearest relative is responsible for putting the murderer to death. When they meet, the avenger must put the murderer to death. 20 So if someone hates another person and pushes him or throws a dangerous object at him and he dies, it is murder. 21 Or if someone hates another person and hits him with a fist and he dies, it is murder. In such cases, the avenger must put the murderer to death when they meet.22 “But suppose someone pushes another person without having shown previous hostility, or throws something that unintentionally hits another person, 23 or accidentally drops a huge stone on someone, though they were not enemies, and the person dies. 24 If this should happen, the community must follow these regulations in making a judgment between the slayer and the avenger, the victim’s nearest relative: 25 The community must protect the slayer from the avenger and must escort the slayer back to live in the city of refuge to which he fled. There he must remain until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the sacred oil.26 “But if the slayer ever leaves the limits of the city of refuge, 27 and the avenger finds him outside the city and kills him, it will not be considered murder. 28 The slayer should have stayed inside the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to his own property. 29 These are legal requirements for you to observe from generation to generation, wherever you may live.30 “All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 31 Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. 32 And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. 33 This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. 34 You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.” Numbers 35:9-34

Before We Get “Gung-Ho”….

Before we get “gung-ho” about something, it might be a good idea to bring it before God in prayer. Why do I say this? Because God knows us better than we know ourselves. Asking Him sheds light on our request, exposing things we might not have thought of. It also reveals our dependence upon God. He is in control, not us. And He knows us better than we know ourselves. Peter jumped the gun, pledging his allegiance to Jesus without examining the cost. The other disciples did the same, but God decided to use a Peter as the example to emphasize this truth. Doesn’t it make sense then, if we want to know ourselves better, our focus should be on the relationship that will reveal more about us? Just a thought worth considering in a world that drives us to look within to find ourselves. The truth is, we have to look to God for the answer to our sin problem.

 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

What’s A Modern Day Person’s Excuse?

The Psalmist knew that God will never condemn a person whose heart is right with Him. Think about that for a minute, David wrote this about 1,000 years before Jesus came. How did he know this? How could he know that through Jesus, all people who put their faith in Him will not be condemned? The only explanation I can think of is he knew God, intimately. He knew God’s character, His promises, and His loyalty to His word. If David could know this before God’s plan was even revealed, what’s a modern day person’s excuse for not believing 2,000 years after God’s plan of salvation has been fulfilled? The key to it is pursuing God daily. When you come to know the Creator of the Universe on a personal level, you get to share in its benefits just as David did. Time is irrelevant to God, for He is not held captive by its boundaries as we are. But when we pursue God with a strong conviction of truth, we get glimpses of what life will be like outside its boundaries. We can share in its bounties that span more than 3,000 years since David. Now that’s something to get excited about: God will never condemn those that take refuge in Him.

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

Justice, Equality, And Fairness….

With all these movements of fighting for equality, people tend to step on others in order to get their way. Sometimes it gets nasty. Why don’t these people with causes just ask God for what they want? Isn’t He just? Isn’t He fair? Doesn’t He promise to take care of our needs? Maybe the reason these people have to fight for their requests for equality is because they don’t ask God first? Maybe they don’t ask God because they already know the cause they are fighting for goes against His character. The only way we will ever be equal is under Christ’s yoke, at the foot of the cross. Anywhere else, you’ll find yourself fighting for your cause; most of the time it will be in vain. Here in Numbers chapter 27, we find 5 daughters of a deceased Israelite man requesting they be given land their father was in line for. God grants them their request. Why? Because God is fair and just. They asked, He granted. It’s how it works. Justice, equality, and fairness are all part of God’s economy. It’s Who He is.

1 One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad–Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph. 2 These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 3 “Our father died in the wilderness,” they said. “He was not among Korah’s followers, who rebelled against the Lord; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord replied to Moses, 7 “The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father’s relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father.8 “And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters. 9 And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.” Numbers 27:1-11

Do What The Dollar Tells Us….

The Bible tells us a lot about money. How it can corrupt men. How it has corrupted men. It’s all about how we view money that matters; where it is placed in our value system. Many people substitute it for God. We think if we have enough (which is impossible) we become invincible. Sure money allows us to do more things, but it can’t save us in the end. If I were to tell you to do exactly what the American dollar tells us to do, what would you say? Spend it? Buy up all that you want? Use it for pleasure? Help the needy? Give to your church? Save it? What if I told you that if you did exactly what the American dollar tells us to do, we would be all right. Do you know what it tells us to do? TRUST IN GOD. If our founding fathers knew enough to include this on our currency, we should probably listen, right? It’s what the Bible tells us too, correct? Yet how many people daily read their Bible? If only people did what the American dollar tells us to do, probably 75% or more of all the mental disorders wouldn’t be a problem in this country. If only people treated God like they do their money. Trusting God takes faith. Trusting in yourself takes greater faith; and this type of faith (in ourselves) isn’t a suitable container. Do what the dollar tells us. You won’t regret it.

28 Trust in your money and down you go!But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Proverbs 11:28

Having Rights..And Being Right…

We live in a world that screams “ME”. Here in America, I don’t think we can go one day without hearing “My Rights” in some form. The Bible makes it clear that there is a difference between having rights, using rights, and being right. Having rights and being right can be two totally different things. Just because we have rights, doesn’t mean we are right by exercising them. Paul talks about that here in his first letter to the Corinthian church. What he is saying is giving up our rights (freedom) to help another person see God is what believers should practice daily. Part of “making Jesus known” is carried out in our behavior, not just in our words. When we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, people take notice. The message it sends contradicts the normal message the world always tries to send (“look at me”). When people see a rare, contradicting “normal” behavior, it stands out. It sparks their curiosity. When it profoundly impacts their conscience, they seek an explanation. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our example. The more we imitate Jesus, the more the world will inquire the reason behind our behavior. Think about it, is the world very forgiving? Is the world angry? Is the world out to serve itself? What attributes did Jesus display? Forgiveness, giving up our right to get even. Grace, withholding deserved action in favor of mercy. Patience, seeing others as important. Humility, not thinking we are better than others. And most importantly, Jesus set aside His divinity, His power, His authority, to serve people. Sometimes giving up our rights is the right thing to do. It’s choosing liberty over legalism. It's what gets people's attention. It’s what makes us right in God’s eyes.

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:23c-33

How Many Times God Has Protected Us….

Just imagine how many times God has protected us from evil/harm? Probably more times than we think. Now, apply that to times when things didn’t go as we planned: do you think maybe it was God protecting you instead of you not getting your way? How about all the times you’ve driven places? Done questionable things? Messed up? Gone to dangerous places? Gotten sick? Injured? Could this have been God’s protection? Just something to think about. Thank Him today for these times. It may be the beginning of Him opening your eyes to the unseen world around us. His invisible hand works tirelessly to surround and defend all who revere Him. It’s just a matter of seeing it through the eyes of faith.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me.He freed me from all my fears.5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy;no shadow of shame will darken their faces.6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;He saved me from all my troubles.7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;he surrounds and defends all who fear Him. Psalms 34:4-7

When You’re Confronted With The Truth…

There comes a point in time when you’re confronted with the truth. What will you do? Will you accept it and respond accordingly, regardless of the consequences it may bring you? Or will you bow down to pride, ignoring the ever-so powerful pull it has on you, and give a “politically correct” answer, preserving your pride? It’s a choice every soul on earth will face. What will you do? Be prepared, it’s coming sooner than you think.

27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to Him. 28 They demanded, “By what authority are You doing all these things? Who gave You the right to do them?”29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer Me!”31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, He will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” Mark 11:27-33

If Someone Could Promise You….

If someone could promise you the best pathway for you life, would you take it? If they guaranteed your survival, bending without breaking, would you accept their offer? If someone promised protection from trouble, to provide a hiding place in adversity, surround you with songs of victory, would you jump at the chance? If you could be guaranteed to be surrounded by unfailing love, would you take it? These are just a few things God promises those who are faithful to Him. Life won’t be pretty all the time, but knowing He’s got our back sure is comforting. And knowing He promises our best life when we pursue and follow Him is the best news of all. Knowing that no matter what happens to us, we are loved and promised of a new, perfect home in Heaven, surely helps remind us that there’s more to this life. We are not home yet, but knowing God is for us, certainly helps get us through this uncertain, tumultuous thing called life. He gives us the proper attitude that allows true joy to be had, regardless of our circumstances. No that’s something to be grateful for, right?

 6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to You while there is still time,that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.7 For You are my hiding place;You protect me from trouble.You surround me with songs of victory.Interlude 8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.I will advise you and watch over you.9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mulethat needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey Him!Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! Psalms 32:6-11