It’s Instinct That Draws Us….

Whenever I hear someone say “it’s instinct”, whether referring to animals or human beings, the first thing that comes to my mind is “GOD”. He put it there. When He designed the earth and all that is in it, He gave instructions to everything, individually. The turtles lay their eggs at their place of birth, regardless of how far away they are when that time comes. The salmon do the same, swimming thousands of miles to do so. The eagle can see from miles above the smallest rodent for his next meal. The bear returns to its den to hibernate through the cold of winter giving birth in this hypnotic state. And it’s cubs know where to find milk from day one. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. Most of all, human beings have been given a conscience, knowing right from wrong. This stems from their knowledge of the existence of God (or a Higher Being for prideful ones). That knowledge of His existence gives us zero excuses for not pursuing Him. It’s instinct that draws us toward Him. The Truth has a way of capturing our spiritual nature, like two magnets. But that instinct has to fight pride along the way. Just like two magnets, it matters which side is facing the other, we have two sides. One that repels God, and ignores our conscience. And the other side that wants to cling to God, to be good, to be filled with truth, and to do the right thing. God has given us the way to know Him, it’s just a matter of us following our instinct.

36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Job 38:36

Isn’t About “Figuring Him Out”….

The pursuit of God isn’t about “figuring Him out”, rather it’s about learning to trust Him when you can’t figure it out. When things don’t make sense, or when we “feel” a certain way, that’s when trusting in the One Who created us is the most necessary. Do we do it? The Bible tells us that God does everything for His Glory. That also means everything is done for our good. If it’s for our good, but it hurts, and we don’t understand, does it change it’s purpose? Does it change God? Just because we are confused and don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, does it mean we are to abandon that trust in Him? Things happen for reasons, and sometimes we may never know those reasons. This is when we especially need to cling to the hope that only God can give. It’s accomplished through trust. Life is full of uncertainties. We may never know “why” certain things happen. But the one thing we do know, or at least were taught to believe, is “all things happen for the good of those that love God (believe) and are called according to His purpose” (ROM 8:28). Do you trust Him? Really trust Him? Where do you go when things don’t make sense? Instead of looking for answers, put your trust in Him, and watch what happens. Your comfort will come in the uncertainty of knowing the “why” through your trust in what you know to be true.

13 He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show His unfailing love. Job 37:13

Talk Is Cheap….

What does God’s power look like in our life? Do we see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our life? Or are these just words we commonly use? Jesus said, “you will know a tree by the fruit it bears”. Instead of using eloquent words to make ourselves look better than we really are, put them into practice. Why try to live a “Facebook Life”? It won’t ever be acceptable to God, for it’s a virtual (made up) life. It isn’t reality. Isn’t He the One we should care the most about what He thinks of us? With God’s help anything is possible, lived out, rather than just talked about. Talk is cheap, and in the end, we all know, we get exactly what we pay for. God’s power produces fruit. Let your fruit do the talking for you. It’s precise. It’s effective. And it’s authentic.

But I will come–and soon–if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 1 Corinthians 4:19-21

What Matters Is What God Thinks…

The right attitude of a Christian, hangs on one important thing: God’s sovereignty. It doesn’t matter what others think about us. It doesn’t even matter what we think about ourselves. What matters is what God thinks. When we align our mentality to this principle, along side of God’s heart, we can say, like Daniel, Job, Paul, Peter, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abindego (and many others), “we are responsible to God; serving Him is our utmost duty, we must die to self”. Can you say this?

2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord Himself who will examine me and decide. 1 Corinthians 4:2-4

His Best Only Made Things Worse….

Elihu did his best to speak to Job. Unfortunately, his best only made things worse. There was a lot of truth in what he said, but it didn’t apply to Job here. Trying to explain God is not fully possible. Trying to do it to someone suffering is a very bad idea. The best thing we can do in times like that is to live out God’s word, by being the hands and feet of the Almighty. Compassion, humility, and love would’ve been more appropriate in this situation, rather than trying to explain God to someone who knew Him better than Elihu did. True compassion seeks to understand before the need to be understood. If Elihu knew this, the book of Job would be a lot shorter. Trying to explain God to a hurting soul isn’t possible or often necessary. We are better off imitating His character, and meeting the needs of a suffering soul.

21 Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil. Job 36:21

26 “Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. Job 36:26

Someone Is Always Watching…..

Integrity matters. What you use to build your life on matters. How you make decisions, determines your path. Lie to make yourself look good? Deceive others to gain a few extra bucks? Do your job half-heartedly for a paycheck? Sound familiar? Do you see this every where these days? What matters is not what you see out there, it’s what you do here. You are responsible for yourself first. Once you decide to use fire-proof materials to build your life, then you can help others see the need to use the same materials to build theirs. Integrity has no holidays. Be consistent in the way you live your life. Others will see it. And for those who want to honor God, it will inspire them to do likewise. Someone is always watching.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials–gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Who Makes Growth Happen?

Never forget you may water or plant, but it’s God Who makes growth happen. He is the Source. He is the First Great Cause in life. He is the Provider and Sustainer of the universe. He is the reason we live, breath, and exist. If we ever forget this, we are only being “religious”, traveling down the wrong path, seeking lasting peace that will never come.

5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

The Mind Of Christ….

When I read headlines in the news I can’t believe some of the things people do. Then I think “they don’t have the mind of Christ”, and it all makes sense. How can someone, who calls themselves Christian support abortion? Homosexuality? Obviously they aren’t pursuing God. If they were, they’d see the spiritual, Godly side to it and change their views. The important act of seeing spiritually is a characteristic True believers have. If you don’t pursue the mind of Christ, how can you expect to do the will of God?

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?Who knows enough to teach Him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16

The Same Air In Your Lungs….

Remember this the next time you see a person rebelling against God by doing or promoting evil behavior: the same air in your lungs exists in theirs. The very life that God’s Spirit gives exists in their bodies as well as ours. Even though they don’t acknowledge it, we do (making all the difference in the world). So we try to reason with them to get them to see it, to share the power that brings real peace and significance. The reward will be great if they repent. And if they don’t, we fulfilled our duty even when we walk away saddened knowing their final destination. Remember we are not fighting against flesh and bone, we are opposing the unseen spirits in this world, Satan and his demons. Never allow evil behavior to ruin your day, see it as an opportunity to do good, to place God on display for all the world to see. Everything fails in comparison when placed next to Him. Leading people to the Truth isn’t easy, we face opposition at every turn, but knowing we all share the same life-giving breath in our lungs that only God gives, allows us to roll up our sleeves of connection and continue to point others to Him. Never forget this.

14 If God were to take back His spirit and withdraw His breath,15 all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust. Job 34:14-15

Keeps Disappointment Permanently On Vacation…

I can’t completely paint a full image of this, but I can say you are only hurting yourself and others when you envy someone who appears to be succeeding by doing it the wrong way. We are not to envy sinners. It creates dissension in our lives, specifically in our own head. It’s Satan’s ploy to get our minds off of God, so he specializes in ways that accomplish this. One of the best ways is to turn our focus on ourselves. That’s exactly what envy does. Too much attention on ourselves eventually leads to depression. Why? When we “feel” like we don’t measure up, we get down. When we stay down, we don’t think about God. Comparing is one of the worst things we can ever do. Remember how the NT tells us about how each body part serves a purpose? And the eye doesn’t say to the hand “I don’t need you” (1 Cor 12). Each serves a purpose. Envy and comparing go hand in hand. They focus our attention on ourselves, turning it away from the Almighty. When we place our Hope in God, Who doesn’t change, it anchors our soul. The rewards that come from knowing where our attention should be, and then doing our best to keep it there, will be the sustaining power that gets us through tough times. And the best part is that by focusing our attention on God, keeps disappointment permanently on vacation.

17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. Proverbs 23:17-18

A Covenant With My Eyes…

Nowadays anything goes, especially when it comes to sexual behavior. What people don’t understand is that God designed the human body for sex. He made it pleasurable, but also purposeful. Because God made the human body it should be treated as sacred. Doesn’t the Bible tell us it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit? Here in the book of Job, we read of Job stating his innocence. His three friends have grilled him about confessing his sin. Job declares that he hasn’t done the things his friends are accusing him of doing. Job covers quite a bit of behaviors, but I want to address this one, lust. You can lust after many things, money, fame, power, etc..., but here he’s talking about sex. When it comes to lust and sex there’s no faster way to destroy your body and mind than by giving into lustful desires. Today in America this is seen as healthy, a basic human right, and if you don’t see it this way, you are a bigot or hater. Just because God gives us the freedom of choice, doesn’t mean we have to abuse that choice. Look at it this way, the anatomy of the human body was “designed” for sex to be a certain way, yet people have taken it far beyond that “design”, to the point of destroying the body. Some parts of the body were never meant to be used that way. Cancers, viruses, and diseases happen strictly from abuse of that particular body part. Eventually it stops working normally. Look at it this way: if an alcoholic abuses his liver to the point of it failing, do people cheer him on, telling him to continue to do it? Or maybe a smoker, do we encourage him to continue to light up? Or a drug addict, do we throw him a parade celebrating his destructive behavior? Then why do we celebrate lustful sexual acts? Why do we support sexual behavior that is not only detrimental to the person himself, but also to the other participant? Not to mention the promotion of it to our children in schools and society as a whole. Would you promote alcoholism because it temporarily relieves anguish in a person and makes them “feel good”? Lust is like fire, it will eventually destroy everything in its path. It will wipe out everything dear to you. Job knew this. He stated it at the beginning of this chapter. He knew God. He knew sexual behavior was sacred. He knew lust was like fire. He acted upon what he knew to be true, and not on what “feels” good. God created sex, and said it was good. We need to start treating like it is sacred, participate and enjoy its pleasures while staying within its design. When we live within the parameters of God’s creation, we never have to worry about fire getting out of control, and all the mental gymnastics that go along with trying to put it out.

1 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. Job 31:1

11 For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. Job 31:11-12

Through Human Wisdom….

Regardless of what we think, God has stated this truth throughout scripture: it is impossible to know God through human wisdom. You will never find God in academia. You will never find Him in politics. You will never find Him in a bank vault. You will find Him any where you humble yourself, and seek Him whole heartedly. There’s the world’s way, and God’s way. These oppose each other. Never forget this. The message of the Cross is foolishness to those headed for destruction. This is so helpful to know when your witness is being bashed or ignored. Don’t take it personally. Press on. Find a receptive hearer.

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 1 Corinthians 1:18-23

One Guarantee About Evil….

There’s almost always one guarantee about evil: it will throw off all restraint to taunt and take advantage of the faithful when they are down. Look at the current times, do people take advantage of others when they are down? Do politicians take advantage of tumultuously times to blame the other side? Do looters and violence take center stage for a “perceived” just cause? Look at how many businesses have taken advantage of this pandemic? Insurance agencies playing on people’s fear? The guy who purchased $20,000 of hand sanitizers, collecting all the local stores had, all to make a buck? Politicians using funerals to make political statements? Understand? Evil takes no mercy on the weak and downtrodden. It’s one more reason we should hate evil. Today, overcome evil with good. Give someone a reason to hope. Point them to Jesus, the author of that hope.

9 “And now they mock me with vulgar songs!They taunt me!10 They despise me and won’t come near me,except to spit in my face.11 For God has cut my bowstring.He has humbled me,so they have thrown off all restraint.12 These outcasts oppose me to my face.They send me sprawlingand lay traps in my path.13 They block my roadand do everything they can to destroy me.They know I have no one to help me.14 They come at me from all directions.They jump on me when I am down. Job 30:9-14

The Core Of This Country’s Character….

Thinking about the tumultuous election season of 2020, I can’t help but share these verses from Romans chapter 16. It’s a warning from Paul to all fellow believers. According to one of our presidential candidates, that election was a “war for the soul of America”. Well, the soul of America takes into account the interests of others. What divides a country (a political party’s agenda) isn’t concerned about the souls of anyone. Its focus is on what’s popular, and what gets votes. If you believe dividing America is a good thing, you’re on the wrong side of this war. Unity, compassion properly placed (not misdirected), and real love are what has always driven this country to greatness. Doing what’s right has always been at the core of this country’s character. Remember this truth every time you go to vote.

17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:17-18

They Won’t Die If You Spank Them…

Spanking is necessary for rearing children. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be listed in the Bible. If Solomon was deemed by God as one of the wisest men to ever live, then I wouldn’t listen to his words. Don’t listen to the world, it doesn’t care about your children’s souls, it just wants their attention. Taken from one who received his share of spankings, I’m still alive to talk about it.

Don’t fail to discipline your children.They won’t die if you spank them.14 Physical discipline may well save them from death. Proverbs 23:13-14a

It’s What Sustains Us….

One question I’ve always wondered about non-believers (agnostics, atheists, etc...) is where do they go when they have trouble? A bottle? A pill? A bad relationship? Psychics or mediums? Destructive or detrimental behavior thinking it will help? Where do they go for hope? How do they deal with life’s adversity? For the believer their hope comes from God. They take delight in Him. Their prayers align themselves with His will, adjusting their attitudes by getting the focus off of “me”. Hope is the anchor to the soul. That anchor helps endure the raging, tumultuous waves of life that want to take us out into deeper uncharted waters. That anchor keeps us from sinking into the darkness of depressing thoughts. It’s what sustains us when the weather is so bad we can’t see straight ahead. Hope anchors our soul; it’s what fuels our resolve. Where do you go when trouble comes? Where do you try to find peace when life’s storms hit? Who do you go to when advice is desperately needed?

8 For what hope do the godless have when God cuts them off and takes away their life?9 Will God listen to their cry when trouble comes upon them?10 Can they take delight in the Almighty? Can they call to God at any time? Job 27:8-10

23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;He knows where it can be found,24 for He looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.25 He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall.26 He made the laws for the rain-and laid out a path for the lightning.27 Then He saw wisdom and evaluated it.He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.28 And this is what He says to all humanity:‘ The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’ ” Job 28:23-28

Doing A Speaker Check….

Part of being humble is constantly doing a speaker check. No, I’m not talking about your iPhone speaker Bluetooth or stereo speakers, I’m talking about who is speaking through you. There are only 3 possibilities. You, God, or Satan. Unless the Holy Spirit has a good grip on you, you will either be speaking for yourself or Satan. Where is that going to get you? Who is that going to benefit? How can that help anyone? Unless you are in tune with God and speaking truth appropriately applied, by walking closely with Him daily, chances are your advice has limited value. Do a speaker-check today, and see where the origin of your words are coming from. Examine your words under the microscope of Truth.

1 Then Job spoke again: 2 “How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak! 3 How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered! 4 Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you? Job 26:1-4

Without Hope, There Is No Future…

I’ve always said you can’t give what you don’t possess. This applies to hope as well. Without God, there is no hope. What future do we have without our Creator? It’s like living on death row. What would you have to look forward to? It’s hope that anchors our soul. It’s hope that gives us a future. It’s hope that paints a picture that we see ourselves living in. How can you paint a future to someone without hope. How can you help someone struggling without giving them something to look forward to, that has relief? You can’t. The reason joy is such a part of the believer’s life is because it contains hope. Hope is what gets us through the tough, trying times. Without hope there is nothing to make joy last. It’s that simple. I’ve heard it said, you can live 40 days without food, 3 days without water, and three minutes without air, but you can’t live 3 seconds without HOPE. We need God, for without Him, we are hopeless.

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Wealth Replaces God….

I wish people could see the depth of this truth. Unfortunately, most don’t get it. They live a life of deception trying to gain financial wealth in hopes of it bringing joy. They live under the illusion that riches bring assurance and peace. They believe in the mantra, “wealth replaces God”. It does give us the ability (false notion) to say “NO” to God, but in no way does it even remotely bring us security. Being “rich” (the goal of every young American), will never bring assurance. It can’t. It only complicates things by turning your mind onto ways to get more, or at least preserve what you have. It’s just one of the plots of the devil to get our minds off of God, and onto ourselves, which has proven to never assure anyone of anything. The only guarantees in life are death and taxes. You may be able to cheat on your taxes, but all the money in the world can’t cheat death. God’s word is the only assurance in this life. Why not spend your time getting rich in that? When you do, you’ll find true joy in the lives you invest in.

22 “God, in His power, drags away the rich.They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.23 They may be allowed to live in security,but God is always watching them.24 And though they are great now,in a moment they will be gone like all others,cut off like heads of grain.25 Can anyone claim otherwise?Who can prove me wrong?” Job 24:22-25

The Best Thing About God….

The best thing about God is His presence. It does so much for us; protects, provides, sanctifies, saves, rescues, calms, humbles, etc.... God’s presence preserves us in ways we can never fully comprehend. Seek Him out today, and take in the blessing of His nearness to you.

14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:14

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

If I were asked “what’s the one thing wrong with the world today?”, I would answer people have forgotten, or don’t know how to love. If love comes from God, and love fulfills God’s commandments, then why aren’t we putting it into action? Why aren’t we loving our neighbor? It’s because we have abandoned God as a society. If you abandon God, you abandon the source of true/real love. You can’t give what you don’t possess. Ask Him today to give you a glimpse of what true love looks like. Then pursue it with all of your heart. When you do, you will begin to be filled up. For real love has no limits.

8 Owe nothing to anyone–except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These–and other such commandments–are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. Romans 13:8-10

Relevant To Our Current Times…

This passage couldn’t be more relevant to our current times. I’m going to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about this passage. Read it and let Him touch you with His truth. With all that’s going on in modern day America right now, take this in, apply it to yourself, and then share it with others. There are two kingdoms. Viewing the kingdom in which we currently live from the perspective of the kingdom that is to come, makes understanding the point of Paul's (God's) message. It doesn’t need commentary, it just needs action. It starts with me and you.

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:1-7

Enough Will Never Be Enough….

One of the saddest things I see in young people today is the desire to get rich. Not only that, but it includes an attitude of not wanting to work for it (at least not in the traditional 9-5 job). All that encapsulates this empty pursuit that will never satisfy. Enough will never be enough. “More” only means more of your thoughts will be occupied by it. And in the end it will end up going to someone else. Not to mention all of the relationships that will suffer because of it. Money serves a purpose, but it was never meant to be our sole focus in life. There’s no better example of this than money earned through social media. Making lots of money by doing insignificant things that capture people’s 3 second attention spans may pay your bills, but it’s effort serves no lasting purpose. And sadly, one false move in the ethical realm, or even ticking one person off enough for them to want revenge and slander you (even if it’s false), can end your social influence career overnight, simply proving the point of this proverb. We can’t serve both God and mammon (money). As the saying goes, “easy come, easy go”, but I’ll add to that “riches never deliver on what it promises”.

4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.Be wise enough to know when to quit.5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5

Thinking You Know The Truth And Misapplying It…

One of the biggest problems with being “religious” is thinking you know the truth and misapplying it; being wrong and not seeing it. Jesus said it best when He talked with the woman at the well. He said God wants us to worship Him in spirit and truth. That means applying God’s word with an honest, open, and obedient heart. That involves taking others into consideration before spouting off what you know. It means incorporating experience and wisdom into your speech. It means walking in someone else’s shoes in order to be compassionate. It means honoring God by doing what He says. What good does pursuing God if it doesn’t change us to be more like Jesus? If it doesn’t, then we’re just practicing religion. Job’s friends were speaking truth, but they were dead wrong about it applying to Job. Be very careful when you want to apply truth to a suffering soul. If you don’t ask God to help you speak His truth, you’re better off just giving your silent presence.

1 Then Job spoke again: 2 “How long will you torture me?How long will you try to crush me with your words?3 You have already insulted me ten times.You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.4 Even if I have sinned,that is my concern, not yours.5 You think you’re better than I am,using my humiliation as evidence of my sin. Job 19:1-5

How Could Anyone Argue About This Truth?

Paul nails this truth about our attitudes here in Romans chapter 12. It’s simple, we are to see ourselves as an important part of the body, serving a specific and necessary role, but we are not more important than other parts. Humility and meekness play a huge role in our attitudes. The only way we can strive toward this type of attitude is to be honest with ourselves. God gives us the ability to see truth. It’s a spiritual sight. The only issue we have, is what we do with it. If we are honest, we deal with our shortcomings openly. We need to see ourselves as necessary, but not so important that we separate ourselves from others. Life is all about relationships. When we are humble and honest with ourselves, those relationships have more room to grow and flourish. How could anyone argue with this truth? It benefits everyone.

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:3-5

Leading To A Short Shuffle….

The biggest thing we need to know about sin is it’s deception. What a man may think about it, that it’s pleasurable, beneficial, and even rewarding, only prolongs his misery of its ultimate outcome. Like a frog in a pot of water slowly getting hotter, will unknowingly boil to death, so the stride and strut of the proud will shorten, eventually leading to a short shuffle. His downfall will be self-inflicted. This is the irony of sin and God’s retribution to evil behavior. Sin plays the same role every time with its deception.

7 The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened.Their own schemes will be their downfall. Job 18:7

Directed To Go Into The Goat Pen…

I’m just going to say, “read today’s passage and apply it to our governmental leaders.” Then ask yourself what are some of the current issues that permit injustice, and condemn the innocent to death? Anyone that promotes injustice and condemns innocent life is not a Christian, at least not an authentic, born-again one. They may be one in name only, but when God separates the sheep from the goats, there are going to be some mighty pity parties and hostile anger going on when the goats pretending to be sheep are directed to go into the goat pen for their final destination. You can only pretend for so long. Jesus said it best, “you will know a tree by the fruit it bears”. A thorn bush will never produce bananas, nor a pretender produce righteous works. Wake up and start seeing the world through spiritual eyes. If you don’t, you’ll only be contributing to the problem by remaining deceived.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side–leaders whose decrees permit injustice? 21 They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. Psalms 94:20-21

The Difference Between Job And His “So-Called Friends….

The difference between Job and his so-called “friends” is Job’s wisdom was based on knowledge of God and his experience with Him. Job’s friends seemed to be all about knowledge only. Christianity is different from all other religions in so many ways, but one of the biggest is it’s personal. When you experience God personally, it changes you forever. It makes us more aware of others’ sufferings, celebrations, and significance. Instead of pointing out the knowledge of God, we are to put that knowledge of Him into action. And that’s only possible when you know Him personally. You can only pretend for so long, after a while, you can’t continue to fool yourself. A sure sign of a transformed life is how we respond to suffering. Job’s three friends failed miserably. Job himself said if they were in his shoes, he’d be trying to comfort them (taking away his grief) instead of pounding the sin out of him. Pray before you go to visit a suffering soul. God will give you what you need to help the healing process. Truth wrapped in love is always the right choice. Sometimes it means saying the right thing at the right time. And other times it just means your silent presence is enough.

1 Then Job spoke again: 2 “I have heard all this before.What miserable comforters you are!3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?What makes you keep on talking?4 I could say the same things if you were in my place.I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.5 But if it were me, I would encourage you.I would try to take away your grief.6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak. Job 16:1-6

The “First Great Cause”….

If you read these words of Job and they resonate with you to a deeper level, then your salvation is real. You are further down the sanctified road than most others. It’s not until we see God as the “First Great Cause”, our only rescue, that we understand the role He plays in our life.

13 “Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences. 14 Yes, I will take my life in my hands and say what I really think.15 God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with Him. 16 But this is what will save me–I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before Him. Job 13:13-16

Why People Have No Regard For Others….

One reason why people have no regard for others is because they have no reverence for God. A healthy respect for God breeds a healthy attitude towards others. You have to have some sort of respect for humanity, in order to make loving your neighbor even possible.

11 Doesn’t His majesty terrify you?Doesn’t your fear of Him overwhelm you?12 Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes.Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot. Job 13:11-12