The Main Difference…..

The main difference between a genuine believer (follower of Jesus) and one that pretends to follow Him is this: a real follower does good deeds because he is already saved, it’s proof of his salvation. While a pretender does good deeds in order to get saved (earn his salvation). There’s a huge difference between the two. And that difference matters. Ask yourself why you do what you do? The answer just might change your life.

19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God–and prove they have changed by the good things they do. Acts 26:19-20

Under The Control Of Satan…

Here’s a thought: those who do not know God, or refuse to follow Him, are under the control of Satan. There’s nothing in between. You are either for God, or you are against Him. You are either a slave to sin, or you’ve been set free. You are either under control, or freed to choose. People don’t like to be controlled or manipulated, so why would they be okay under Satan’s control? That includes all who sit on the fence. You have either had your eyes opened by God to the truth, or you’re blinded and deceived by Satan, still under his power. It’s that simple. Pray for all the people you know that are being deceived by the ways of this world. If it includes you, ask God to open your eyes to see spiritually. That way you may provide the light of the truth to others, giving them the same opportunity you’ve had to see God and be granted His mercy and grace.

15 “ ‘Who are You, lord?’ I asked.“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future.17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:15-18

Bulldoze Them Out Of Our Way….

Reading a prayer from Nehemiah in regards to his enemies, those opposing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, I can’t help but compare it to what the NT prayers were for their enemies. Nehemiah’s prayer isn’t very “love thy neighbor as myself” is it? I think modern Christians have taken the NT love to a different level. It’s more of a passive, “live and let live” mentality. If we have a job to do, and we are being harassed to the point of preventing us from completing it, then we should pray a prayer like Nehemiah. Disrespecting God publicly has consequences. Nehemiah was asking God to take care of these rascals. He wasn’t taking matters into his own hands. He was asking God to intervene. Yes, his prayer may seem a little harsh, but it was all dependent upon God. It’s exactly what He wants from us. Asking God to fix a problem is all we can do when things seem insurmountable. If it involves asking the opposition to be stopped by the natural consequences that follow rebellion, then so be it. God’s work must continue. It must continue to be done by those He has chosen to do it. Obstacles in our path need removal, or we need to be provided an alternate way around them. Sometimes we need to pray for God to bulldoze them out of our way in order to finish the job. It doesn’t mean we aren’t loving our enemies. It just means God is taking up His issue with them, while we continue to serve Him.

4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked You to anger here in front of the builders.”6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. Nehemiah 4:4-6

The Source Of These Things….

If you pursue a life of righteousness and unfailing love, you will find God. For He is the Source of these things.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing lovewill find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21

Travel Mercies…

If you ever wonder where people got praying for travel mercies from, look no further than the book of Ezra. Ezra could’ve asked the king for soldiers to protect them on their journey back to Jerusalem, but to Ezra it seemed like a contradiction to his faith. They were carrying a lot of valuable items, easily making them a target for robbers. However, Ezra prayed along with all of the other exiles returning to Israel, and God answered their prayers. So the next time you go on a long journey, ask God for His protection while you travel. You’ll be displaying your dependence upon God, growing your faith, and giving Him exactly what He wants from us.

21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that He would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship Him, but His fierce anger rages against those who abandon Him.” 23 So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23

Two Things Government Should Do…

King Artaxerxes’ letter to Ezra clearly laid out principles government should follow living in a God-fearing society. The king didn’t believe in the God of Israel, but he had reverence for Him and His people. This shows us two things that government should do. First, it should have reverence for our God. This doesn’t mean promote one denomination over another. It just means do the right thing out of respect for those that follow His ways. Secondly, believers in government should seek to appoint other believers in government. This helps build the best foundation for all people because the God of the Bible loves us all. And love covers a multitude of sins, doing it the right way. It’s amazing to see this kind of wisdom coming out of an OT book of the Bible. And to be even more intriguing, it’s coming from a pagan king. How’s that for the Bible being irrelevant for our modern times?

11 King Artaxerxes had given a copy of the following letter to Ezra, the priest and scribe who studied and taught the commands and decrees of the Lord to Israel: 12 “From Artaxerxes, the king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the teacher of the law of the God of heaven. Greetings.13 “I decree that any of the people of Israel in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may volunteer to return to Jerusalem with you. 14 I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to conduct an inquiry into the situation in Judah and Jerusalem, based on your God’s law, which is in your hand. 15 We also commission you to take with you silver and gold, which we are freely presenting as an offering to the God of Israel who lives in Jerusalem.16 “Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. 17 These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams and male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. 18 Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God.19 “But as for the cups we are entrusting to you for the service of the Temple of your God, deliver them all to the God of Jerusalem. 20 If you need anything else for your God’s Temple or for any similar needs, you may take it from the royal treasury.21 “I, Artaxerxes the king, hereby send this decree to all the treasurers in the province west of the Euphrates River: ‘You are to give Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law of the God of heaven, whatever he requests of you. 22 You are to give him up to 7 ,500 pounds of silver, 500  bushels of wheat, 550  gallons of wine, 550  gallons of olive oil, and an unlimited supply of salt. 23 Be careful to provide whatever the God of heaven demands for His Temple, for why should we risk bringing God’s anger against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 I also decree that no priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, Temple servant, or other worker in this Temple of God will be required to pay tribute, customs, or tolls of any kind.’25 “And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. 26 Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” Ezra 7:11-26

Your Enemies Will Be At Peace With You….

Reading through Ezra you can help but see Proverbs 16:7 lived out. This truly shows us that God is in control. He is sovereign over all things. The Jews were now back in Jerusalem from being exiled in Babylon for over 70 years. They wanted to rebuild the Temple that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed. They got permission from the kings that exiled them, but ran into tons of opposition from the pagans that had moved into Jerusalem in their absence. These pagans didn’t want them to rebuild the temple, so they made up a story that deceived the last two Babylonian kings into thinking it was a “bad idea”. After a 14 year halt in the rebuild process, they began again under the new Persian rulers. Again they received opposition, but this time their opposers were not only told to stay out of their business, but also they were told to finance the rebuilding of the Temple. When you do the will of God, even your enemies will be at peace with you. They may not like it, but they will not create trouble for you. The sovereignty of God is beyond our full comprehension. But if we use the stories of the Bible, and the experiences we and others have had when God clearly showed us His control, we can live full lives, enjoying the journey of living life.

7 When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. Proverbs 16:7

3 But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” 4 They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple. 5 But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision. Tattenai’s Letter to King Darius 6 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor, Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials of the province west of the Euphrates River sent to King Darius: 7 “To King Darius. Greetings.8 “The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success.9 “We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’ 10 And we demanded their names so that we could tell you who the leaders were.11 “This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel. 12 But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, He abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who destroyed this Temple and exiled the people to Babylonia. 13 However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt. 14 King Cyrus returned the gold and silver cups that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple of God in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of Babylon. These cups were taken from that temple and presented to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus appointed as governor of Judah. 15 The king instructed him to return the cups to their place in Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple of God there on its original site. 16 So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the Temple of God in Jerusalem. The people have been working on it ever since, though it is not yet completed.’17 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, we request that a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to discover whether King Cyrus ever issued a decree to rebuild God’s Temple in Jerusalem. And then let the king send us his decision in this matter.” Ezra 5:3-17

1 So King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, which were stored in the treasury. 2 But it was at the fortress at Ecbatana in the province of Media that a scroll was found. This is what it said: “Memorandum:3 “In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem.“Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. 4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.” 6 So King Darius sent this message: “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River–stay away from there! 7 Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.8 “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.9 “Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. 10 Then they will be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the welfare of the king and his sons.11 “Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be tied to it and flogged, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble. 12 May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor His name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.“I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.” 13 Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues complied at once with the command of King Darius. 14 So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia. 15 The Temple was completed on March 12 , during the sixth year of King Darius’s reign. Ezra 6:1-15

HE Chose You….

If you are reading this, I can tell you God chose you. He chose you to know His will. He chose you to be able to see Jesus in our spiritually blind world. He chose you to hear the words of our Creator. He chose you to be His witness, telling everyone about what He has done for you. He chose you to present the Gospel to the world, giving them the opportunity to be saved. He chose you because He knows you are willing and able to do all these things. Now go out there and point others to God. You know how. You know what to do. You are loved by the Creator of the universe. You are chosen. Stop wondering what it is you’re supposed to do, just go out and do it.

14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and hear Him speak. 15 For you are to be His witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:14-16

Common Sense Is No Longer “Common”…

Common sense has always been something I look for in people. It’s like a requirement for civility. When a person lacks this simple character trait it shows how far they are from acknowledging God as Creator of the universe. Think about this simple truth: when you accept the truth about creation, you have a reason behind things that you can’t fully explain. For those that believe anything else, they have to make up explanations that seem “right” to them that helps justify their behavior. Knowing truth, or common sense, is the determining factor in which a person can develop into a responsible, relatable human being. It’s one characteristic that is necessary in life. Ask God today to help you channel your common sense, and help others realize the importance of having it. It’s really sad these days that common sense is no longer “common”. Without it, your path will lead you to a life of confusion and instability, and worse yet, incurable insecurity. The not knowing only guarantees a despairing death.

16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead. Proverbs 21:16

Keep It Simple Stupid….

If you ever get confused as to what God wants from you, or if you ever find yourself straying from the truth, read these words in Acts chapter 20. Paul’s words clearly point out our duty and responsibility. It’s easy to forget how simple the Gospel is. We want to add to it, or make it out to be more complicated so it’s seems more appealing to others. But the bottom line is that it holds its own power. It convicts or condemns according to the condition of the hearer’s heart. We are to never allow ourselves to think, believe, or convince others that it’s anything other than what it actually is. Paul makes it clear how we are to present it. As the popular books from the 1990s are titled, “keep it simple stupid”. That’s Good advice for the Gospel as well. Repentance, turning to God, having faith in Jesus alone, are the only important topics we need to be consistent in with our witness. Anything else brings the chance of leaving the hearer confused. That’s the last thing we want to do with such a simple message. Consistency and simplicity makes for an effective message. Never forget this.

18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike–the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock–His church, purchased with His own blood–over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you–my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship. Acts 20:18-38

Evil Has An Expiration Date….

Evil has an expiration date. Never forget this truth. We can only run and hide for so long. Justice will be served, regardless of how we feel, or what we think about it.

12 The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; He will bring disaster on them. Proverbs 21:12

You Can Breath A Lot Easier…..

When the Bible talks about doing evil in the Lord’s sight, it does it for a reason. Sin is sin regardless of what level you place it on. God tells us what’s not acceptable behavior. It’s not up to us to determine if He’s right or wrong. Sorcery, divination, witchcraft, and consulting mediums and psychics are all wrong. Sacrificing children, or any human beings for that matter, is wrong. How does this translate into modern day society? People don’t do that kind of stuff these days, do they? How about reading horoscopes? What’s your sign? Abortion on demand? I could go on, but isn’t that the same thing? When the Bible clearly tells us what’s wrong, why do we try to justify our actions, when they clearly fall into same category it states is evil? Ask God to help “clean up your act” if some of these practices are common activities for you. When you do, you’ll find life is a little more joyful and less weighty. When you get sinful behavior lifted off of your chest, you can breath a lot easier.

6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing His anger. 2 Chronicles 33:6

When God Seems Distant….

Sometimes when God seems distant it’s our own doing. Other times God seems distant might be because God chooses to withdraw in order to test our hearts. It’s a time to see what we are really made of. A time to see if we are truly applying what we’ve learned about ourselves and aligning it with the way we should be living it out. The most important part of God distancing Himself from us (if you really want to call it that), is not for God to see what we are made of, rather it’s for us to see what we are made of. God already knows our hearts, and so He does this “social distancing” in order for us to realize where we are on this “sanctification journey”. When you humble yourself and accept this truth, you’ll realize that we need God more and more every day for survival to flourishing. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. So that means we need Him in the good times as well as the bad. Make sense? Never allow yourself to think you don’t need God. You’ll only be lying to yourself. And that’s the worst kind of lie you can ever tell.

31 However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:31

When Your Heart Is After His….

Christianity has always been about the heart. The state of one’s heart matters more to God than any amount of effort done to please Him, for anything done not motivated by the heart is not obedience. If you’ve never thought of God as a real, living Being, start now. He makes the rules (for whatever reason), but He also fulfills them on His own for He doesn’t need our help to accomplish this. When your heart is after His heart, you can trust Him to take care of you and fulfill your needs. That’s a fact. Read today’s passage and ingrain it in your head that God cares for us, and He recognizes when our hearts are for Him. He pardons our inadequacies and shows us mercy. He is the greatest Thing we will ever pursue, and He will reward us for a wholehearted commitment to Him. Deepen your walk with Him today. Serve the God Who is.

17 Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. 18 Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves. But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the Law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon those 19 who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony.” 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people. 2 Chronicles 30:17-20

Power Comes With Obedience…

Power comes with obedience. I’m not talking about brute strength or monetary power. I’m talking about living right. Sleeping well, having peace, wisdom, and being an influence in your community. The kind of power I’m talking about can’t be earned, so it doesn’t corrupt. It’s a kind of power the world knows little about. It’s the opposite of what you hear about others. This kind of power only comes from God, and it only comes to those who serve Him wholeheartedly. Obedience is always better than sacrifice.

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6

Inconsistency With God….

King Uzziah is another example of inconsistency with God. As long as he sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success. But as he became more powerful, he became proud. This lead to his downfall. Isn’t it ironic that when we become strong we think we don’t need God? Strength makes us believe we don’t need God. Strength and pride go hand in hand. The best way to bridle pride is to never allow yourself to drift from God, for He is the source of power. Ask Him daily to keep you humble (the regulator of life). As King David always said, (my paraphrase) “let me fall into the hands of the Living God, rather than the hands of men”. I trust God with my life. He will give me exactly what I deserve. I will not leave that up to others, including myself. How about you?

1 All the people of Judah had crowned Amaziah’s sixteen-year-old son, Uzziah, as king in place of his father. 2 After his father’s death, Uzziah rebuilt the town of Elath and restored it to Judah.3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. 5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.6 Uzziah declared war on the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built new towns in the Ashdod area and in other parts of Philistia. 7 God helped him in his wars against the Philistines, his battles with the Arabs of Gur, and his wars with the Meunites. 8 The Meunites paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.9 Uzziah built fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the angle in the wall. 10 He also constructed forts in the wilderness and dug many water cisterns, because he kept great herds of livestock in the foothills of Judah and on the plains. He was also a man who loved the soil. He had many workers who cared for his farms and vineyards, both on the hillsides and in the fertile valleys.11 Uzziah had an army of well-trained warriors, ready to march into battle, unit by unit. This army had been mustered and organized by Jeiel, the secretary of the army, and his assistant, Maaseiah. They were under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officials. 12 These regiments of mighty warriors were commanded by 2 ,600 clan leaders. 13 The army consisted of 307 ,500 men, all elite troops. They were prepared to assist the king against any enemy.14 Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and sling stones. 15 And he built structures on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to protect those who shot arrows and hurled large stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment 16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar. 17 Azariah the high priest went in after him with eighty other priests of the Lord, all brave men. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is the work of the priests alone, the descendants of Aaron who are set apart for this work. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have sinned. The Lord God will not honor you for this!”19 Uzziah, who was holding an incense burner, became furious. But as he was standing there raging at the priests before the incense altar in the Lord’s Temple, leprosy suddenly broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the high priest and all the other priests saw the leprosy, they rushed him out. And the king himself was eager to get out because the Lord had struck him. 21 So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Temple of the Lord. His son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.22 The rest of the events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 When Uzziah died, he was buried with his ancestors; his grave was in a nearby burial field belonging to the kings, for the people said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became the next king. 2 Chronicles 26:1-23

Amaziah, He Did Not Do It Wholeheartedly….

In reading through Amaziah’s reign as king of Judah, the Bible tells us that “he did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight”. However, he did not do it “wholeheartedly”. He listened to godly counsel at the beginning of his reign, but later on totally abandoned any kind of godly counsel. Amaziah followed good counsel by not murdering the children of the assassins that killed his father. He also listened and did not go ahead with his plan to hire 100,000 Israeli troops, for God had abandoned the northern tribe due to their idolatry. Amaziah knew this truth; God has the power to help us or overthrow us when we rebel against Him. Unfortunately, Amaziah listened to ungodly counsel in his later years and thus paid the ultimate price with his life. He too was assassinated like his father. God has the power to help us or trip us up. Amaziah’s turning to the gods of Edom, brought about his demise. God does what He says He will do. Amaziah is a perfect example of what inconsistency in our walk with the Lord will do. Don’t fall away, for God wants to help us. He loves us enough to not force our devotion. But He is also just. If we abandon God, His help and protection goes right along with it. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest. The fullest means with purpose and intention. Without God, there is no legitimate purpose, even though many will try to tell you otherwise.

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem. 2 Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not wholeheartedly.3 When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father. 4 However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”5 Then Amaziah organized the army, assigning generals and captains for all Judah and Benjamin. He took a census and found that he had an army of 300 ,000 select troops, twenty years old and older, all trained in the use of spear and shield. 6 He also paid about 7 ,500 pounds of silver to hire 100 ,000 experienced fighting men from Israel.7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the Lord is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim! 8 If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for He has the power to help you or to trip you up.”9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this!” 10 So Amaziah discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Ephraim. This made them very angry with Judah, and they returned home in a great rage.11 Then Amaziah summoned his courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where they killed 10 ,000 Edomite troops from Seir. 12 They captured another 10 ,000 and took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off, dashing them to pieces on the rocks below.13 Meanwhile, the hired troops that Amaziah had sent home raided several of the towns of Judah between Samaria and Beth-horon. They killed 3 ,000 people and carried off great quantities of plunder.14 When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them! 15 This made the Lord very angry, and He sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”16 But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!”So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.”17 After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me in battle!”18 But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story: “Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree: ‘Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!19 “You are saying, ‘I have defeated Edom,’ and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”20 But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom. 21 So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth-shemesh in Judah. 22 Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home. 23 King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600  feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. 24 He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.25 King Amaziah of Judah lived on for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash of Israel. 26 The rest of the events in Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.27 After Amaziah turned away from the Lord, there was a conspiracy against his life in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But his enemies sent assassins after him, and they killed him there. 28 They brought his body back on a horse, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. 2 Chronicles 25:1-28a

Embrace The Aging Process….

Throughout life we go through phases. When we are young we focus on our vanity. Our physical strength is everything. As we age and lose some of that strength, we realize what’s really important: relationships, love, and our walk with the Lord. Our priorities change. As we realize the physical side of life slowly deteriorates, we begin to value our greatest resource, time. We become more patient, better listeners, and more concerned for the welfare of others. That’s the wisdom of making the most of our experiences. Our gray hair should be cherished. It has lots of stories to tell. It should also tell others we have much more to offer. Society doesn’t view the elderly in a positive, valuable light. And it’s a shame because our senior citizens are our greatest resource, humanly speaking. Embrace the aging process, don’t fight it. When you do, you’ll come forth as gold to those willing to listen. And please God in the process. Experience has tremendous value, even if some people never see it.

29 The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29

We Are All Saved The Same Way….

In no other arena is the playing field more level, than at the foot of the cross of Calvary. People all over the world throughout history (including the present) have longed for, fought for, and sought equality and fairness. Revolutions and wars were fought for this opportunity. Christianity offers this status. We are all saved the same way. There’s no way to add to it, or take away from it. We are all saved by the undeserved grace of God. This makes us all equal. If only people could see this. Maybe the struggle wouldn’t be so diverse. Maybe it wouldn’t be so dividing. Maybe it wouldn’t be so violent. Maybe it wouldn’t cause animosity among its people. Do your duty today as a believer, share the Good News with another. Let God take care of His business, one person at a time.

11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:11-12

Strength Isn’t Always A Good Thing….

Strength isn’t always a good thing. The NT clearly gives us examples of being weak, and it being good. I guess it’s not necessarily strength that’s the culprit. It’s our attitude about strength that is the deciding factor. Being strong gives us more options. Strength gives us the false security of trusting in ourselves more. Strength gives us the ability to say “No” to God. So where do we find the balance, the safe zone of being confident but not allowing it to go to our head? Simply pursue God. Allow Him to reign sovereignly in your life. You’ll find even in your weakness, He is strong. His strength will become your strength. True Christianity is dying to self. The reason we die to self, is to make room for God to increase in us. The more room we make for God in our lives, the more strength He gives us. So in reality, for the Christian, strength is found in our surrender. It’s found in trusting God. It’s found in letting go. True strength, the kind that endures and gets us through life, comes from God. And in order to get strong in Him, you have to give up more of self. The opposite of true strength would be focusing on self, learning to be self-sufficient, thinking we can do it by ourselves. Rehoboam turned away from God when he firmly established and fortified the cities of Judah. He thought his strength was enough, so he abandoned the law of the Lord. The saddest part of it was all of Israel followed in his footsteps. True strength comes from God, and it’s not the kind of strength the world wants everyone to pursue. Be careful how you view strength, it will make or break you.

1 But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin. 2 Chronicles 12:1

It’s Not About Faith (with An Athiest)….

You’ve heard the saying, “it takes more faith to be an atheist”. I don’t believe it. I get what it’s trying to be said, but it doesn’t address the problem of stubborn pride, willful rejection. Atheists refuse to believe God, regardless of the evidence. It’s not about faith. It’s about rebelling against what the evidence points toward. In my book, an atheist flat out refuses to examine the evidence. If they did, they would realize they are without excuse. It may not change them, but at least the conversation could move forward away from the arguing if God is real. Nature is proof we have a Creator, for a creature needs a creator to exist, right? It’s just a matter of examining the evidence and being honest enough to accept the facts. Faith plays no role in an atheist’s life, at least not the way it’s supposed to, because when you deny something’s existence, you have nothing to place your faith in. Don’t even go there when you strike up a conversation with a God-denier. Stick to the gospel, and let God take it from there.

15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings–just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past He permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but He never left them without evidence of Himself and His goodness. For instance, He sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them. Acts 14:15-18

Of Good Counsel….

With all that’s going on in America today (As of July 7, 2020), the rioting, looting, the violent protests, the destruction of statues, etc... only time will tell if these plans were made with good counsel. If they were, then it should make a positive change. If they weren’t, the ill-gotten gain these vigilantes think they’ve accomplished, will be to their own demise. History tells us which plans were made with wise counsel and which were not. Making plans without God, or not doing things His way, will never be considered in the “good counsel” realm. As another proverb states, “man may make his plans, but it’s God Who determines the outcome” (my paraphrase). When you see a cause on the news, you must always ask yourself, “what’s the motive, what’s driving this movement”? If it’s going to divide by means of violence and destruction, it probably isn’t of good counsel. If it’s selfish and steps on the toes of peaceful, law-abiding citizens, it probably isn’t of good counsel. If it isn’t driven by truth spoken in love, it definitely isn’t of good counsel. Before you begin a task or good to war, you must always weigh the cost. If it’s not of good counsel, it isn’t worth doing!

18 Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice. Proverbs 20:18

When We Witness To Others…

When we witness to others, we can’t allow ourselves to get caught up in the arguments for or against Jesus being the Son of God. We just need to stick to the Gospel. Our influence will either condemn people or contribute to the salvation process. I call witnessing to seemingly, unresponsive souls “planting a tree that’s shade we may never sit under”. We never know the eternal destiny of a human soul. With that same concept, people will either be saved or die unsaved. Not knowing is a blessing. You ask, how? Not knowing someone’s eternal destiny keeps us hopeful. It keeps us willing to share the Good News with everyone. It keeps us looking at people with hope. If we knew the eternal destiny of a soul, we would stop sharing the good news, lose hope for that person, and probably get depressed. Charles Spurgeon the Great English preacher once said, “If God put a white stripe on every believer’s back, I’d be chasing people down and pulling up their shirts to see who needed to hear the Gospel” (my paraphrase). Could you imagine doing that? God knows what He’s doing. We have to trust Him. When we do, we are filled with hope even when things seem a little disheartening. Keep on drawing near to God. And keep sharing the Good News of the Gospel with others, one soul at a time.

44 The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. 45 But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47 For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made You a light to the Gentiles,to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’” 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. Acts 13:44-49

Salvation Is A Two-Way Street, But….

Here’s a humbling truth: salvation is a two way street, but it’s initiated and completed only by One of its participants. There is always two participants, the inviter and the invitee. Both must participate for salvation to occur. However, God is always the initiator of the plan. It’s His desire for us that always initiates this exchange. As this Psalmist clearly states, God shines His face upon us first, extending the Heavenly invite. There’s no credit taking in our salvation, it’s God Who initiates, and completes the transaction. Yet while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). It’s His Prevenient grace. Once you accept this truth, it’s clear what our responsibilities are for the rest of our days. It just takes some folks longer to “get this truth”, that the Psalmist writes about in today’s scripture passage.

3 Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. Psalms 80:3

When You Remove Restraint….

If you look at America today, and wonder why we are in the current state we are in, look no further than the consequences of abandoning God. This country was founded on biblical principles that everyone respected. Now that respect is no longer there. When you take God out of every public square and school, and governmental agency, how can you expect to reap His blessing? When you abandon God, expect every kind of disaster, division, violent act, and immoral behavior there is to happen. When you remove restraint from sinful man, it only guarantees chaos. Look around, is that not what’s happening? Is the senseless acts of people actually benefiting anyone? The only way a just society can fully operate successfully, is under the willing dependence of God. That doesn’t mean installing a Theocratic government. It just means asking Jesus to be Lord of your life. Peace only comes one way, and that is through Jesus. There’s no other way that will last, because man’s nature is selfish and destructive. Man’s heart, when left to itself, cannot build a civil and lasting society (no such utopia this side of Heaven). His heart won’t allow it.

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy–a place where My name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart.17 “As for you, if you faithfully follow Me as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, 18 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’19 “But if you or your descendants abandon Me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor My name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’22 “And the answer will be, ‘Because His people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why He has brought all these disasters on them.’ ” 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

God Is Full Of Grace….

God is full of grace. If He wasn’t, we would never be given the opportunity to enter Heaven. We, as human beings, are fickle. We rave God, then get caught up in our selfishness, fall away, some rebel, then realize the error of our ways, repent, and ask God to forgive. The cycle repeats. God knows this. He knows the condition of our hearts. He knows our emotional levels sometimes dictate our actions. Why do you think He provided the one and only way of salvation to us? If salvation was left up to us, to decide how we would achieve our place in Heaven, there would be very few people, if any, there. In Solomon’s prayer (when he dedicated the temple), this truth is made crystal clear. When people wronged others, famine came, drought covered the land, wars were lost, or even entire populations were exiled into captivity, if these people prayed whole-heartedly towards the temple (not required today), then God would hear their prayer, and forgive them of their sin. How true this still is today. God hears all prayers, and answers all of them. He may not answer in the way you expect, but His grace is abundant and sufficient. And that is enough for us all. Today, take time to thank God for His grace. His ability to look past an offense, providing a way that is still just, is such an amazing gift. God’s grace is amazing, for without it, we would be on a one-way path to self-destruction; that’s not my idea of a life-long goal. Thank God for knowing us better than we know ourselves, and still liking us.

12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel, and he lifted his hands in prayer. 13 Now Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 ½ feet long, 7 ½ feet wide, and 4 ½ feet high and had placed it at the center of the Temple’s outer courtyard. He stood on the platform, and then he knelt in front of the entire community of Israel and lifted his hands toward heaven. 14 He prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in all of heaven and earth. You keep Your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before You in wholehearted devotion. 15 You have kept Your promise to Your servant David, my father. You made that promise with Your own mouth, and with Your own hands You have fulfilled it today.16 “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise You made to Your servant David, my father. For You said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow My Law as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 17 Now, O Lord, God of Israel, fulfill this promise to Your servant David.18 “But will God really live on earth among people? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain You. How much less this Temple I have built! 19 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is making to You. 20 May You watch over this Temple day and night, this place where You have said You would put Your name. May You always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May You hear the humble and earnest requests from me and Your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where You live, and when You hear, forgive.22 “If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of Your altar at this Temple, 23 then hear from heaven and judge between Your servants–the accuser and the accused. Pay back the guilty as they deserve. Acquit the innocent because of their innocence.24 “If Your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against You, and if they turn back and acknowledge Your name and pray to You here in this Temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel and return them to this land You gave to them and to their ancestors.26 “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge Your name and turn from their sins because You have punished them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of Your servants, Your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on Your land that You have given to Your people as their special possession.28 “If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if Your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns–whatever disaster or disease there is–29 and if Your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, 30 then hear from heaven where You live, and forgive. Give Your people what their actions deserve, for You alone know each human heart. 31 Then they will fear You and walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land You gave to our ancestors.32 “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to Your people Israel will hear of You. They will come from distant lands when they hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, 33 then hear from heaven where You live, and grant what they ask of You. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear You, just as Your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors Your name.34 “If Your people go out where You send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to You by turning toward this city You have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name, 35 then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.36 “If they sin against You–and who has never sinned?–You might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near. 37 But in that land of exile, they might turn to You in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 38 If they turn to You with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land You gave to their ancestors–toward this city You have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name–39 then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where You live, and uphold their cause. Forgive Your people who have sinned against You.40 “O my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to all the prayers made to You in this place. 2 Chronicles 6:12-40

Humility Will No Longer Be An Enemy….

The problem people have with fame isn’t with fame itself, it’s allowing it to go to one’s head. Think about it. Once we think we are more important than others because of what we’ve done or do, we tend to take things for granted. We begin to think our poop doesn’t stink. We are better than others. We are “in charge”. Our decision making becomes clouded by our selfish thoughts and eventually we step into the role of God, or so we think. The minute we accept the kind of praise only God deserves, watch out. God will not share His glory with anyone. His praise is only meant for Him. He will allow believers to celebrate with Him, but never accept glory that only He deserves. Once you get this as a believer, humility will no longer be an enemy, but it will become your friend. Our heads are only meant to grow to a certain size. Anything larger robs the growth of our spiritual development. God will not share His glory with anyone, so save yourself some pain and stop trying.

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died. Acts 12:20-23

It Is His Gift….

If you read these daily writings and they resonate with you, giving you understanding and insight into your life, then give thanks to God. It is His gift of sight and hearing that allows us to “get it”. He gives us the gift of discernment. It’s much needed in today’s world. There’s so much noise out there, that it’s hard to decipher what’s necessary from what isn’t. Praise Him today for these wonderful, but often taken for granted, gifts. God is good. Remind yourself of this truth today, and share it with someone.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see–both are gifts from the Lord. Proverbs 20:12