A Forgiving Heart Restores An Unsatisfied Life….

Forgiveness thwarts Satan’s evil schemes. Every time we forgive, it robs Satan’s ammunition station. It takes away some of the ammunition Satan has to distract, deceive, and dishonor. Forgiveness is giving up our right to get even. It also transfers the power back over to God. Eventually we are able to see this and our faith continues to grow because of it. Forgiveness is one of our greatest abilities because it not only lessens Satan’s influence, but it pleases God. If there’s someone you need to forgive, ask God to fill your heart with compassion for that person. Then go out and put it into action. Watch how a forgiving heart restores an unsatisfied life.

9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. 10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

Love Does Hard Things….

Always remember this fact about love: love does the hard things. Love tells the truth even when there are consequences that the person on the loving end will have to face even though they did not create them. Love tells the truth at its own expense. Love tells the truth when it knows it may offend, even though it’s presented in a gentle and respectful manner. Speaking truth is hard to begin with, especially now-a-days. Overcoming the fear of offending isn’t easy, but we often forget “Love conquers all fear”. Love does the hard things. Don’t pray for less fear, instead, pray for more love.

4 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. 2 Corinthians 2:4

Never, Never, Never Forget This….

Never, never, never forget this: God is the source of all comfort; especially if He seems distant. “Suffering is inevitable in a fallen world”. Adversity serves a purpose, didn’t Jesus tell us, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Go to Him and share your heart. Your reward will be immeasurable. Once you experience this comfort, you are to go out and share it with another hurting soul. It’s why He comforts us to begin with, to bring peace to chaos, and to share His immense love for us with others.

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

A Glimpse Of What He Is Like…..

Integrity matters to me, but most importantly, it matters to God. Integrity is God's character, so pursuing it gives the world a glimpse of what He is like. I’m far from perfect. I have my faults, but that doesn’t stop me from striving to do what is right. In order to deal with others justly, we have to be right with God first. When we are honest enough with ourselves to accept what God gives, and we embrace truth regardless if we like it or not, God grants us the ability to get joy out of our pursuit of integrity. Others may never see this truth, but those that are honest with themselves simply can’t deny integrity matters. The rewards are even better.

3 There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. Psalms 106:3

The Problem Is People…

For all of those people that think America should ban guns, remember this: people murder people, guns don’t. The problem is people, not the things we use.

15 But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk by itself? Isaiah 10:15

Our Best Option When Given Power….

We all need to remember that God is sovereign. For those in power, you must remember you were placed there by God. There isn’t any reason to boast or abuse your power, for it can be taken away in the blink of an eye. God says that He places people and nations in power to help further His agenda. If that’s the case, don’t you think a response of gratitude and enjoyment, making the most of the opportunity is the better response than pride and arrogance? Imagine if one day you are chopping wood with an ax, and all of the sudden you hear the ax begin to brag about how well it cuts the wood. What would you do? After looking around for secret cameras, I’d probably tell the ax to continue to chop the wood without me, then call me back to see the results. God used Assyria to punish Judah. But Assyria was later punished for its arrogant and prideful behavior. God is in control. He knows what he is doing, regardless if we think we do or not. Our best option when given power or authority is to give it back to God. That way, we guarantee things will work out for our best.

“What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of My anger.I use it as a club to express My anger.6 I am sending Assyria against a godless nation,against a people with whom I am angry.Assyria will plunder them,trampling them like dirt beneath its feet.7 But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is My tool;his mind does not work that way.His plan is simply to destroy,to cut down nation after nation.8 He will say,‘Each of my princes will soon be a king.9 We destroyed Calno just as we did Carchemish.Hamath fell before us as Arpad did.And we destroyed Samaria just as we did Damascus.10 Yes, we have finished off many a kingdomwhose gods were greater than those in Jerusalem and Samaria.11 So we will defeat Jerusalem and her gods,just as we destroyed Samaria with hers.’ ” 12 After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish His purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, He will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him–for he is proud and arrogant. 13 He boasts, “By my own powerful arm I have done this.With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it.I have broken down the defenses of nationsand carried off their treasures.I have knocked down their kings like a bull.14 I have robbed their nests of richesand gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs.No one can even flap a wing against meor utter a peep of protest.” 15 But can the ax boast greater power than the person who uses it?Is the saw greater than the person who saws?Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it?Can a wooden cane walk by itself?16 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,will send a plague among Assyria’s proud troops,and a flaming fire will consume its glory.17 The Lord, the Light of Israel, will be a fire;the Holy One will be a flame.He will devour the thorns and briers with fire,burning up the enemy in a single night.18 The Lord will consume Assyria’s glorylike a fire consumes a forest in a fruitful land;it will waste away like sick people in a plague.19 Of all that glorious forest, only a few trees will survive–so few that a child could count them! Isaiah 10:5-19

Completely In The Dark….

Words straight from Isaiah’s pen, given to him by God Himself. When someone contradicts God’s word, they have no clue what they are talking about. At least they don’t realize what they are saying/supporting. They are completely in the dark, living as though it’s noon on a tropical beach in paradise. I wish more of our politicians wouldn’t claim to be Christian, then promote bills and laws that contradict God’s word. But what’s worse is for people to believe them, that their cause will benefit people. I guess it goes back to Romans chapter one. And the life of Saul before he became Paul. Until the scales are removed from our eyes, we see what we want to see. We worship the God who we want to see, instead of the God Who actually is.

19 Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are completely in the dark. 21 They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven 22 and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness. Isaiah 8:19-22

Make God Holy….

In modern day America, with all the turmoil going on, riots, looting, hatred, and violence, calling everything a conspiracy, and blaming the current president for everything, we must make God Holy in our lives. When we fear Him (have a heartfelt convicted respect), our fears from the world will shrink in comparison. God is the only One that can actually keep us safe. He is the only One that can fix this. Even if He doesn’t, He will protect those who remain faithful to Him through it all. You can count on that.

The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 12 “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do,and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.He is the One you should fear.He is the One who should make you tremble.14 He will keep you safe. Isaiah 8:11-14a

Weak Moments….

All of us have weak moments. Times when our faith is crowded out with the emotions of the day. But when push comes to shove, our faith has to arise in us and overcome those untrustworthy emotions. Emotions are necessary, and much needed to help us enjoy life, but when the time comes where truth separates our emotions from our knowledge of truth, we must side with what we know to be true. Faith is what saves us. It’s what sustains us. It’s the only thing we have that God uses to help us stand firm. Without faith, we can’t stand firm in times of unwarranted persecution. How’s your faith today? Is it firm? If not, ask God to help pump it up.

9 Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria,and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.Unless your faith is firm,I cannot make you stand firm.” Isaiah 7:9

If People Are Still Behaving….

For those that say the Bible is antiquated or irrelevant for today’s times, I have a question for you. If people are still behaving in the exact same manner today as they did over 2700 years ago, the Bible must be relevant, correct? Times may change, but people don’t.

19 They even mock God and say,“Hurry up and do something!We want to see what You can do.Let the Holy One of Israel carry out His plan,for we want to know what it is.” 20 What sorrow for those who saythat evil is good and good is evil,that dark is light and light is dark,that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyesand think themselves so clever.22 What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wineand boast about all the alcohol they can hold.23 They take bribes to let the wicked go free,and they punish the innocent. 24 Therefore, just as fire licks up stubbleand dry grass shrivels in the flame,so their roots will rotand their flowers wither.For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies;they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.25 That is why the Lord’s anger burns against His people,and why He has raised His fist to crush them.The mountains tremble,and the corpses of His people litter the streets like garbage.But even then the Lord’s anger is not satisfied.His fist is still poised to strike! Isaiah 5:19-25

A Very Cruel Joke…

If you really think about, those that live only for this world, should be pitied. The pain and suffering this world dishes out would be for nothing. No justification, nothing to look forward to, nothing to hold on to when life gets tough. There is no hope for those living only for this world. Hope is the anchor of the soul. With no anchor to hold you in place, life tosses you up and down, moving you into deeper, more tumultuous waters, only to destroy whatever you have left. If there is no Heaven, earth would be a very cruel joke. Thank God there is. And thank God He made a way for us to go there.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another Man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 1 Corinthians 15:17-22

The Right And Only Acceptable Response….

If I were to state one scripture passage that describes the proper attitude/perspective Christians are to have that sets them apart, it would be this passage in 1 Corinthians. Paul is addressing the Corinthian church. He’s stating his Apostleship. We are to work hard, not to earn anything because it’s already been given, rather out of a grateful heart to become the men and women God ordained us to be. Gratitude and humility are our response to God’s grace. That is the right and only acceptable response we are to have towards Him. Anything else is a purely self-centered attempt to earn the credit for ourselves. Notice Paul says, “not I but God Who was working through me”. When Jesus tells us we must “deny ourselves and take up the cross”, or “die to self”, this is exactly what Paul is talking about. A cup full of water leaves no room for anything else to fill it up; no wine, no sweet drink, nothing. So it is with our spiritual capacity. When we are full of ourselves, there’s no room for God’s Spirit to move in us. Gratitude and humility are the only responses God expects from us. Are you showing these in your response to God’s gift of grace? If so, your witness and purpose are being fulfilled. If not, why not? Don’t be a brand new sports car and just sit in a driveway, wasting away all the potential it was built for. Take it out on the Autobahn and let loose. Until we see the need to respond to God’s grace in the right manner, we are the greatest potential in the world locked up, a diamond still in the rough, or a beautiful flower still covered with dirt. Push through the dirt. Rise out of the rough. Unlock your potential. Humble yourself, and give thanks to the One Who made you, and placed you in His will. Gratitude and humility are the only proper responses to God’s grace. Ask Him to help you start living these out today.

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me–and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed. 1 Corinthians 15:10-11

Times Change, People Don’t….

With the exception of a few minor details this passage seems like God is doing the exact same thing to America today. Division, disrespect, and vulgarity towards our elders. Times change, people don’t. God’s way of punishing disobedience and disrespecting people doesn’t seem to change either. We need to wake up, or at least step up our game. We may not be able to change our world, but we certainly can point others to the One Who can. And we can certainly try to take as many as we can with us on our way to Heaven.

1 The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything they depend on: every bit of bread and every drop of water,2 all their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders,3 army officers and high officials, advisers, skilled craftsmen, and astrologers. 4 I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers.5 People will oppress each other–man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders,and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable. 6 In those days a man will say to his brother,“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!Take charge of this heap of ruins!”7 But he will reply, “No! I can’t help. I don’t have any extra food or clothes. Don’t put me in charge!” 8 For Jerusalem will stumble,and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey Him. They provoke Him to His face.9 The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves. 10 Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! 11 But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve. 12 Childish leaders oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road. 13 The Lord takes His place in court and presents His case against His people!14 The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of His people: “You have ruined Israel, My vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.15 How dare you crush My people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Isaiah 3:1-15

Trust, Is A Multifaceted Word….

Trust, it’s a multifaceted word. It’s a concept that can either make a human being feel secure or betrayed. The most important concept when it comes to trust is where you decide to place it. Placing it in human beings, opens yourself up to be hurt, let down, or betrayed? Or do you place your sacred trust in God? “Trust in God” is on our money, that should tell us something. Trust in God may seem at times to temporarily disappoint, but when we walk completely through it, we find out it was not disappointment in Him, but disappointment in our own choice to place it in someone else. Yes, love and trust people, but be prepared for betrayal and heartache. Save your sacred trust for God alone. The more you trust Him, the more secure you’ll be as you walk among people on this earth. In the end you’ll never experience being betrayed by Him. Do what money tells us to do, “In God We Trust”.

22 Don’t put your trust in mere humans.They are as frail as breath.What good are they? Isaiah 2:22

Pride and Self-Centeredness….

If God hates pride and self-centeredness, why do we continue to exude them? It’s not what’s true that’s most important, it’s how we respond to the truth that matters most. Truth is important, but truth doesn’t save us, God does. Truth’s #1 function is to point us to God. If it doesn’t, then we fail ourselves. Character check: am I being prideful? Self-centered? Am I putting “less important things” in front of “most important things” just because? Do something about now. Before humility pays you a long, painful visit. Go to God and ask Him for help. He won’t ignore your request. I promise.

11 Human pride will be brought down,and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. Isaiah 2:11

Made It Through 2700 Years Of Chaos….

Isaiah wrote about 2700 years ago, and yet it sounds as if it could’ve been written today. This just shows us that times may change but people don’t. With all the modern day ideologies going on, critical theory, socialism, communism, evolution, and on and on... it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see man’s true nature. He isn’t good, he’s sinful. Once you realize you “ain’t good”, you’ve got a problem. What do you do about it? Seek your own way? Or seek the only way it can be resolved? Isaiah made it crystal clear. So clear it’s made it through 2700 years of chaos.

23 Your leaders are rebels,the companions of thieves.All of them love bribes and demand payoffs,but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. 24 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,the Mighty One of Israel, says,“I will take revenge on My enemies and pay back My foes!25 I will raise My fist against you.I will melt you down and skim off your slag.I will remove all your impurities.26 Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have.Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City.” 27 Zion will be restored by justice;those who repent will be revived by righteousness.28 But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed,and those who desert the Lord will be consumed. Isaiah 1:23-28

Pleasurable And Intimate….

Reading through the Song of Songs (Solomon), a lot of it is confusing as to what’s going on. Four different people (groups) are communicating. A lot of sensual talk. And apparently there’s some dreaming going on. The two things that stand out among this confusion are: God designed the intimate physical side of love to be just that, pleasurable and intimate. But it is to be done within a certain parameter (marriage), not twisted, distorted, or turned inside out that the world wants us to believe. And second, you can’t buy love. No amount of riches, or fame, or power can demand love (for true love doesn’t demand its own way). If it were so, what you’re looking at isn’t real love. Among all the fancy rhetoric and sensual talk God has something to say. It’s why we are to read the entire bible, not just what we feel comfortable reading. Give Solomon’s Song a try, just be prepared to blush a little.

Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,not to awaken love until the time is right. Song of Solomon 8:4

7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. Song of Solomon 8:7

Love Is The Greatest Of All Things….

If you are a Bible reader you will certainly be familiar with chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians; also known as the LOVE chapter. Have you ever really thought about LOVE? Paul says LOVE is the greatest of all things (v13). He also says that if we spoke all the languages of the world, or interpreted all the prophecies ever told, or had all the knowledge of the world, or even had all the money in the world and gave it away, if we don’t have LOVE, we gain nothing. Did you get that? Without LOVE, we gain nothing. Another point I want to make is that LOVE does not rejoice about injustice, but it does rejoice when truth wins out. Think about that for a minute. When someone is doing wrong, living a lifestyle detrimental not only to themselves but also to others, one who loves will never say (when consequences come), “see, I told you so”. Instead they will do whatever it takes to help that person. And when that person finally sees the truth in their behavior, a person who really LOVES will rejoice because the truth wins out. Does this make sense? We, as believers, need to get out there and love on people. Speak the truth, live with integrity, and honor God with all we do. When the world sees real LOVE, it stands out, because there’s nothing like it on earth. Maybe that’s why Paul tells us that LOVE us the greatest of all. I agree. How about you?

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.13 Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The World Longs For Significance….

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but it needs repeating. The world longs for significance. It desires a sense of purpose. It wants equality. Yet it looks for all of this in the wrong places. Jesus is the only true source of all three. Paul describes this here in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. He’s talking about spiritual gifts; how they are all equally important. They each contribute to the whole of the Church. One can’t say to the other, “I’m more important than you are”. At the foot of the cross is level ground. Once we find ourselves there in response to God’s calling, significance, purpose, and equality are all there for us in abundance. Now that’s something the world can never produce, because it points people in the wrong direction.

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles,second are prophets,third are teachers,then those who do miracles,those who have the gift of healing,those who can help others,those who have the gift of leadership,those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Rejoice Out Of Selfishness….

One thing we need to remember when we see hatred and violence on display is those people are made in God’s image. When justice prevails, and they are caught and given their consequences, we are not to rejoice out of selfishness, being happy they were stopped. Instead rejoice because it was God being God. God deserves the glory, so when we are happy when our enemies stumble we are not honoring God in the way He intends us to honor Him. Any time an unbeliever dies, it has to hurt God, making a dent in His heart. Every time we cheer at an unbeliever stumbling, it does the same to Him; knowing that one of His creation is reveling in the demise of another’s misfortune. How is that honoring God? Isn’t that the same type of attitude they are displaying? Honoring God is loving what He loves. And that is people. There’s no place in God’s kingdom for arrogance. Celebrating the downfall of another is the opposite of what God really wants. Compassion and mercy are the true mark of one who is close to God’s heart.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble.18 For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn His anger away from them. Proverbs 24:17-18

Edification Over Gratification….

In our day and age we currently live in our freedoms are being abused. Like I always say, “freedom and responsibility work together, without one, the other destroys itself”. Here in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 we get Paul’s take on God’s truth. Just because we have freedom in Christ, we are not to abuse that freedom. Here are four principles that we can take from this passage. Christians should: choose edification over gratification, choose others over self, choose liberty over legalism, and choose grace over condemnation. Imagine what American life would look like if every Christian employed this kind of attitude. Better yet, how would your life look if you put these principles into action?

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

Not Better…. Just Better Off….

These words cannot be more true today than they were when Solomon wrote them. Read them. Digest them. They will point you in the direction you need to be going. They will also bring you comfort in these uncertain times, knowing the One Who stands behind them. Taking these words in and making them part of who you are, will make you better. Not better than others, just better off.

9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. 11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless! Ecclesiastes 8:9-14

The True Test Of Love….

The true test of LOVE is this: it always gives us a choice. That’s what real love does. Use this to test your own love for others. And others’ love for you.

15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 1 Corinthians 10:15

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Praised By Fools….

If you really think about some of the current movements/causes going on right now they all are solely based on a world-view. If you believe man is sinful, and the world is slowly dying, then you must have a responsibility to a higher Being. You conduct your life with the end in mind. If however, you believe man is naturally good, and he can reach a state of perfection or establish a utopian society, then you seek to please yourself, you’re not responsible to anyone (an oxymoron in itself), and you blame everyone else for your problems. And most importantly, you’d rather be praised by fools than criticized by wise people. The truth offends you, so suppress it. Does this make sense? Look around, it’s happening, right in front of our eyes. It’s what American politics are about. Which world-view do you hold? It matters.

5 Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. Ecclesiastes 7:5

Like Working For The Wind….

Here’s a question we all need to ask ourselves often: when I die will it even matter that I existed? If we don’t have the mentality to leave this earth a better place then we have some serious issues with our mother’s only child ;) If we focus solely on pleasing ourselves, then we will guarantee one thing, we will leave this world no better off than when we came. As Solomon says, it’s “like working for the wind”. It’s not until we get cured of our disease, “ingrownus eyeballus”, that we realize there’s more to this life beyond myself. I guess it won’t be until scientists finally pinpoint the center of the universe and discover that I don’t live there that I can move beyond myself. Life is all about relationships. They take selfless effort to make work. If you make a hard effort to build true, real, deep relationships with others, I can guarantee one thing: you will leave this earth better than when you came. It’s starts by accepting God as the center of existence, not me.

16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing–like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud–frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Ecclesiastes 5:16-17

Just To Appease Another Person….

Do you ever say something just to appease another person? Some would see this as a sign of being respectful. It may look like we are being selfless and taking the other person into consideration. But in reality it’s the opposite, it’s being selfish. We are making promises that we have no intention on keeping. God takes this seriously. Read any OT book. You’ll find oaths are always, always, taken seriously. Jesus even tells us to simply say “yes or no”, not to make promises, especially ones we can’t keep. The next time you find yourself in a situation you’d rather not be in, instead of making a flippant promise, or saying something you don’t mean just to satisfy the recipient, say nothing. Or better yet, speak truth. You’ll find that when you don’t make promises to others that you have no intention of keeping, you’ll leave the situation in a better mind set, one that will allow you to sleep well at night. When you get away from the situation, pray and ask God to give you wisdom. So the next time the situation arises, you’ll be armed with the exact words you need to speak, knowing it’s from God Himself. We do have a choice in this life. And one of them is to live proactively, instead of reactively. Makes sense?

5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and He might wipe out everything you have achieved.7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead. Ecclesiastes 5:5-7

Do Whatever We Want…..

How often do we evaluate our own behavior? I mean how much do we take for granted our behavioral freedom in Christ? Have you ever offended someone by being nonchalant about your behavior even though it caused another to question their beliefs? I find myself doing it. The part that we usually don’t see is the even though we have freedom in Christ, under grace, that freedom was never meant to be used selfishly, to do whatever we want. If I cause another to stumble in their walk of faith, it’s most likely because I’m using my freedom selfishly; something that was never part of the design. Freedom comes along side responsibility. The two cannot exist by themselves. One can linger, but eventually left by itself long enough, it will self-implode. I believe this side of our freedom is abused more than it’s exercised in the right manner. Paul makes it crystal clear here that we are to use our freedom in Christ to help others. It definitely does not work when it’s focus is on self. Chew on this thought for a while, it will certainly make your life and walk of faith digest much easy when it’s time to swallow.

9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you–with your “superior knowledge”–eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live–for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

If You Want To Define Integrity….

If you wanted to define integrity, something missing in modern society, I think this psalm of David gives a good synopsis. Integrity causes a man to fear God more than other men. Integrity motivates a man to be faithful to God (to his core beliefs). Integrity instructs a man to live above reproach. When you live a life full of integrity, you never have to lose a night’s sleep worrying about what you said or did. Integrity has no holidays. Your character shouldn’t either. God rewards those faithful to Him. A lifetime of consistent, integrity-filled behavior is a life God will honor. Never forget this.

5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.I will not endure conceit and pride. 6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions.Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house,and liars will not stay in my presence.8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. Psalms 101:5-8

Why Human Beings Bargain With God….

Ever wonder why human beings bargain with God? I know it’s part of the “grieving process”, but can we really offer God something in order to make Him change His mind in an obligatory manner? The answer comes straight from His own mouth in Job chapter 41. It comes in the form of a rhetorical question. If everything belongs to God, including us, what can we offer? NOTHING. And yet so many religions teach you can do enough to earn God’s affection. Humans want to take credit for things. It gives us a sense of contribution, like we can earn or deserve it. Christianity is a response to what God has already done. Our obedience to His commands are out of gratitude not obligation or in order to gain. For anyone to think he can give God something He doesn’t already possess is ludicrous. Job had been suffering for some time now. His friends only made things worse. In his disillusionment of grief and loss, he began to question God’s sovereignty. He began to focus solely on himself. God never answered Job’s questions. And yet, Job repented of his actions of false perception brought on by his distress. All of this happened before God restored Job’s health, family, and possessions. What does that tell us? God is sovereign. He owns everything. Our only response is gratitude. It doesn’t earn us anything. It just gives God what He wants. And in return, we get faith that calms our innate sense that we can get our way by trying to bargain with God.

11 Who has given Me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is Mine. Job 41:11

Even Though “I’m Right”…

I’ve always believed in truth. I thought “if truth sets us free, it will always protect us as well.” I’ve had instances where that was true. But here’s a side to truth that I struggle with. Even though “I’m right”, there are times when I need to set that aside and take the blame, be cheated, accept the injustice. Why? To save the face of another believer. I guess it’s part of the dying to self that Jesus talked about. When I can do this, willingly or unwillingly, I know my walk with the Lord is truly sanctifying me. It’s not making a compromise, rather it’s not using the truth to justify myself at the expense of another’s faith. Truth matters. Living it out with humility, matters more. Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

When We Use The Right Criteria….

If more people actually read the Bible, “judgement” may not be so distorted and abused in our day. Christians are not to condemn unbelievers, but that doesn’t mean we cannot say a certain behavior is wrong, we certainly can and should. However, we are commanded to judge those who say they are followers of Christ Jesus, and yet choose to do ungodly things. It’s how the Church stays effective. As a little yeast infiltrates the entire dough, so does one unrepentant hypocrite infiltrate and ruin a group of believers. When we see governmental leaders, regardless of their party affiliation, claim to be “Christian” and yet stand on a platform that blatantly opposes God, we need to speak up. And certainly not vote for them. But we need to do it with gentleness and respect. If we don’t, we will reap the outcome of division. As Jesus said, “a kingdom divided will not stand”. There’s nothing wrong with judging, but only when we use the right criteria to judge. Read your Bible, it makes it clear.

It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13