Trying To Sensationalize The Bible….

We always need to be careful when it comes to God’s word. There are severe consequences when people speak for God, when He didn’t send a message to be spoken. This also applies to trying to sensationalize the Bible. It doesn’t need our extra input. It accomplishes what it’s supposed to accomplish. If the recipient of the Gospel is seeking God whole-heartedly, then it will need no translation. If, however, they are not seeking the Lord in the manner they should, deception and false hope will most likely be heavily woven into the situation. As the Bible tells us in Revelation, we need not add to or take away from what it already says. God’s word is complete. And it serves its purpose. We do not need to fashion it in any way. We are to share it, using it to teach, rebuke, or uplift the hearer of God’s word. It will do what it’s supposed to, for it doesn’t need our help. Be careful when speaking God’s word, the consequences may not be to your liking when done selfishly.

31 “Send an open letter to all the exiles in Babylon. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Since he has prophesied to you when I did not send him and has tricked you into believing his lies, 32 I will punish him and his family. None of his descendants will see the good things I will do for My people, for he has incited you to rebel against Me. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ ” Jeremiah 29:31-32

The Ones That Need Our Distancing….

Christians often forget by believing the world has good intentions, we polute our own drinking water. Jesus never told us to stay away from sinners. That would mean we need to isolate ourselves from everyone, including ourselves. However, we do need to stay away from those who claim they are not sinners, for we know this can’t be true. Anyone who promotes sinful behavior and claims it will help us, or advises things that would distance us from God, these are the ones that need our distancing. Believe it or not, there are people we need to stay away from. This doesn’t mean never speak to them. It just means be careful in choosing your friends and acquaintances. If you don’t, you risk the chance of blending in. The world’s influence never benefits those who have their eyes on the world to come.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15a

Where Happiness Is Found….

God’s word gives life. Following it is where happiness is found. Instead of pursuing money, pursue God’s will. His word gives us reassurance of His promises. It helps us live righteously, abandoning our shameful ways. And it renews our lives through His goodness. When people tell me God’s word is irrelevant, outdated, or even dangerous, I simply respond, “not to me”. The evidence is crystal clear. We either see it or we don’t. If we don’t, it’s because we are spiritually blind, or we simply refuse to see it. Either way, we miss out. God’s word is “alive and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Does that sound irrelevant to you?

33 Teach me Your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.34 Give me understanding and I will obey Your instructions;I will put them into practice with all my heart.35 Make me walk along the path of Your commands,for that is where my happiness is found.36 Give me an eagerness for Your lawsrather than a love for money!37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,and give me life through Your word.38 Reassure me of Your promise,made to those who fear You.39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;for Your regulations are good.40 I long to obey Your commandments! Renew my life with Your goodness. Psalms 119:33-40

Time Is Required….

One big problem with truth is the fact that in order to be proven, time is required. Truth proves itself over time. Today, people have a distorted view of time. We want everything now. “Immediately” is the call of the world. Instant gratification has become the norm. If we don’t see symptoms of disease, we continue our unhealthy lifestyles believing nothing will happen. If people are caught committing a crime, we continue to be unlawful because it wasn’t me that was caught. If God doesn’t come down immediately and tell us to our face we are sinning, then we keep ignoring Him. Our perception of time is distorted. Even the aging process seems to have sped up. Truth takes its time. Truth doesn’t bow to our demands. It does not concede to our wants and desires. So how do we come to know truth? If it’s legit? TIME. How do you know if someone is telling the truth? TIME. There are signs that we can look for, but it takes time and focus to see the fruit produced over time. Jesus said, “you will know a tree by the fruit it bears”, and that takes time. If a person is telling the truth, it’s just a matter of time and effort on our part to discern the facts. A prophet of God is right 100% of the time. Yes, he is a fallible human being, but if he speaks truth, it will prove itself over time. We live in an age where people abuse truth. It’s because we want it now, instant gratification. For instance, news agencies write stories from two different outcomes in order to be the one to publish it first. It seems being accurate is trumped by “Who gets there first”. That’s very dangerous ground and very irresponsible. Imagine writing an article about someone convicted of attempted murder of a President, but the article is written as if the guilty one was acquitted. That’s twisted thinking isn’t it? It just reveals that being truthful isn’t the priority anymore. In order to discern truth from lies, we have to see spiritually. And that takes time. God has given us 24 hrs in a day, so we are all equal when it comes to that. The difference is how we see it. Our attitude makes the difference. If we ask God for patience and the ability to discern (wisdom), then truth will be evident. We will learn to decipher the signal (truth) among all the noise. Time proves what’s true.

1 One day in late summer of that same year–the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah–Hananiah son of Azzur, a prophet from Gibeon, addressed me publicly in the Temple while all the priests and people listened. He said, 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will remove the yoke of the king of Babylon from your necks. 3 Within two years I will bring back all the Temple treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon. 4 And I will bring back Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the other captives that were taken to Babylon. I will surely break the yoke that the king of Babylon has put on your necks. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ ”5 Jeremiah responded to Hananiah as they stood in front of all the priests and people at the Temple. 6 He said, “Amen! May your prophecies come true! I hope the Lord does everything you say. I hope He does bring back from Babylon the treasures of this Temple and all the captives. 7 But listen now to the solemn words I speak to you in the presence of all these people. 8 The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, disaster, and disease. 9 So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the Lord.”10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and broke it in pieces. 11 And Hananiah said again to the crowd that had gathered, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Just as this yoke has been broken, within two years I will break the yoke of oppression from all the nations now subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.’ ” With that, Jeremiah left the Temple area.12 Soon after this confrontation with Hananiah, the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but you have replaced it with a yoke of iron. 14 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put a yoke of iron on the necks of all these nations, forcing them into slavery under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control.’ ”15 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, but the people believe your lies. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You must die. Your life will end this very year because you have rebelled against the Lord.’ ”17 Two months later the prophet Hananiah died. Jeremiah 28:1-17 | NLT

Why People End Up In Hell….

Regardless of what anyone says, the reason why people end up in Hell, isn’t because God is unfair. The reason people end up deceived and Hell-bound is because of they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.

10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

A Friend Who Tells It Like It Is…

If you have a friend who tells it like it is, A friend who helps develop your character, and one that pushes you and holds you accountable, then you are blessed and rich because of it. Make it a point to tell them today how much they mean to you. Let them know you appreciate their honest, genuine, and solid friendship.

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

The Ability To Be Honest….

Just imagine if people actually prayed this prayer and meant it. The ability to be honest with oneself is one of the greatest character qualities we can possess (humility). Acting on what we know to be true is another (courage).

29 Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions. 30 I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by Your regulations.31 I cling to Your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! 32 I will pursue Your commands, for You expand my understanding. Psalms 119:29-32

Until He Gets Our Attention….

People say God is a tyrant. They usually get this idea from the OT. The problem is they only read a couple of verses to justify their assumption. If they were to read each chapter, they may find their declarations are false. God is ready to forgive. He states it many times in the OT. Today’s passage is one clear example of this. The problem lies not with God, for He doesn’t change. The problems lies with man, because he is fickle. Man’s denial of God’s offer of forgiveness lies at the root of society’s problem: PRIDE. If we weren’t disobedient in the first place, we wouldn’t need to be prideful. Make sense? God is forgiving, He’s ready to restore us when we repent. He’s ready to welcome us back into His loving arms. God is not a tyrant; He’s a loving Daddy longing to hold us tightly and never let us go. The problem remains with us, not Him. In our striving for independence, we blind ourselves to this truth. And it’s not until He gets our attention (with whatever means necessary), that we begin to see His true Heart.

and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them My entire message; include every word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change My mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you will not listen to Me and obey My word I have given you, 5 and if you will not listen to My servants, the prophets–for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them–6 then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’ ” Jeremiah 26:2c-6

How God Orchestrates His Will…

It’s fascinating reading about how God orchestrates His will and His ways in carrying it out. Sometimes He uses good things to help turn people around, and sometimes He uses evil people to change attitudes in those He loves. Here in Jeremiah chapter 25 Jeremiah tells the people of Judah what’s about to happen. They are about to be exiled out of Judah. The saddest part is that he’s been telling them for over 23 years. No one listened. Now God is going to use Nebuchadnezzar to punish Judah for their disobedience by exiling them to Babylon and making them Nebuchadnezzar’s subjects. It’s simply amazing how God orchestrates His will. He uses the evil Babylonian empire to discipline Israel. After that, He then punishes Babylon for their evil behavior in their treatment of Israel. God is sovereign. He is worthy of our trust. Just think America isn’t immune to God’s ways of disciplining. Unless we turn around and repent of our sin, America’s fate might just be like Israel’s, or worse yet, Babylon’s.

1 This message for all the people of Judah came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign over Judah. This was the year when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon began his reign.2 Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people in Judah and Jerusalem, 3 “For the past twenty-three years–from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until now–the Lord has been giving me His messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened.4 “Again and again the Lord has sent you His servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention. 5 Each time the message was this: ‘Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever. 6 Do not provoke My anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’7 “But you would not listen to Me,” says the Lord. “You made Me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. 8 And now the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to Me, 9 I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as My deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. 10 I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out. 11 This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.12 “Then, after the seventy years of captivity are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his people for their sins,” says the Lord. “I will make the country of the Babylonians a wasteland forever. 13 I will bring upon them all the terrors I have promised in this book–all the penalties announced by Jeremiah against the nations. 14 Many nations and great kings will enslave the Babylonians, just as they enslaved My people. I will punish them in proportion to the suffering they cause My people.” Jeremiah 25:1-14

These Consequences Are Ignored….

Not knowing God, and refusing to obey God have consequences. These consequences are ignored in modern times. Because God doesn’t punish immediately (in most cases due to His patience), we tend to think everything is okay. It’s not, and it won’t be. The ultimate destination of unrepentant sinners is Hell, or as described here, a place of eternal destruction, being forever separated from God. It’s not going to be a place of partying with your friends, as some proclaim. I mean, how can people say that if they don’t even know Who God is? It’s going to be the loneliest, most depressed, hurting, angrily frustrated, and intensely suffering day you’ve ever experienced times a trillion. And there will be no relief. God keeps this world working. Every thing in it sustains itself because of His presence. If He were to ever withdraw it, everything would cease to exist. Hell is existing without God. It won’t be anything like you think. And it will be forever. Nothing is worth living in Hell for. And to think it’s our pride that sends us there. One more reason to preach the Good News, it’s the remedy for our sin problem, and it’s a guarantee Hell won’t be part of our future.

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from Heaven. He will come with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power. 10 When He comes on that day, He will receive glory from His holy people–praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

A True Follower Of God Always….

A true follower of God ALWAYS points people away from evil and back to God.

22 If they had stood before Me and listened to Me, they would have spoken My words, and they would have turned My people from their evil ways and deeds. Jeremiah 23:22

A Time Fixed For Punishment….

When evil seems to reign. When the wicked seem to prosper. When wrong is accepted as right. When God is ignored by society. And when respect is no longer taken seriously. Remember, God has ordained a time fixed for punishment. No sinner will go unpunished who rejects Jesus, not because of their rejection of Him, but because of their own sin. Jesus is sin’s remedy. Without Him, all are doomed to punishment. I know this doesn’t sit well in modern times, it’s just the cold, hard truth. Without the solution, the consequences of sin will meet each unrepentant sinner on its appointed day. God said it. It will happen. We don’t need to get all worked up when we see evil prosper. It’s a delusion, a deception. The apparent joy we think we see, is only temporary, and it’s a precursor of the punishment to come. God’s justice always prevails, it’s just a matter of time. Never forget this.

12 “Therefore, the paths they take will become slippery.They will be chased through the dark,and there they will fall.For I will bring disaster upon them at the time fixed for their punishment. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 23:12

You Will Never Hear God Say…..

You will never hear God say, “Oooops” or “My bad”, or “Sorry, my mistake”. You will never hear Him apologize for messing things up. He is in control. He knows what He’s doing. And He does everything for a reason. He’s never randomly doing things as if He’s trying to make the best of a situation. He is the best situation. God is sovereign. And He has a believer’s best interest at heart, even if it doesn’t seem like it. He’s worthy of our trust. In fact when we fully trust Him with our lives, we need not be afraid.

3 But I will gather together the remnant of My flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord have spoken! Jeremiah 23:3-4

Our Attitude Towards Money….

One of the biggest lies of all time is money will make us happy. It will erase all of our problems, and bring eternal contentment to us. Our view of money is more important than money itself. Why? It reveals what is in our heart. The one truth people should memorize, burning it into their heart is this: money gives us the means to say “no” to God. And that my friend is a disaster in the making. Our attitude towards money is more important than money itself.

21 I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, ‘Don’t bother me. ‘You have been that way since childhood–you simply will not obey Me! Jeremiah 22:21

Being A Believer Requires Consistency…

One thing that’s been hard to accept as a believer is the irony of how the world treats you. On one hand, when a believer speaks truth the world doesn’t want to hear it. The world persecutes believers, shuns them, calls them names, and abandons them. And then when tragedy strikes, that same world now asks for prayer, asks for help, and seeks to listen to what the believer has to say. This proves one thing, man is fickle. You can’t depend on him, can’t trust him, and can’t confide in him. He will stab you in the back, and then ask for help while your bleeding to death. Jeremiah experienced this with the leaders of Judah. They threatened him to stop talking, punished him for continuing to talk, then asked for prayers from him, in hope that God would listen to him and rescue them from Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah kept speaking truth and Jerusalem was captured and exiled away. Understand that being a believer requires consistency regardless if everyone around you lives inconsistently. When you are mocked, abused, called haters, or told you have a phobia all because of your consistent alignment with God, remember your faithfulness to God will be rewarded. Part of that reward is the ability to endure illegitimate abuse when times are good, and false contrition when times are bad. A believers’ consistency, helps him endure regardless of the times. God’s grace is sufficient. Trust Him on this one.

1 The Lord spoke through Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to speak with him. They begged Jeremiah, 2 “Please speak to the Lord for us and ask Him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as He has done in the past. Perhaps He will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies.”3 Jeremiah replied, “Go back to King Zedekiah and tell him, 4 ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will make your weapons useless against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside your walls attacking you. In fact, I will bring your enemies right into the heart of this city. 5 I Myself will fight against you with a strong hand and a powerful arm, for I am very angry. You have made Me furious! 6 I will send a terrible plague upon this city, and both people and animals will die. 7 And after all that, says the Lord, I will hand over King Zedekiah, his staff, and everyone else in the city who survives the disease, war, and famine. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their other enemies. He will slaughter them and show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.’8 “Tell all the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Take your choice of life or death! 9 Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who go out and surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life! 10 For I have decided to bring disaster and not good upon this city, says the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will reduce it to ashes.’ Jeremiah 21:1-10

Deeper Spiritual Insight….

God’s commands show us our inadequacies. They show us our inabilities to keep them. They show us that humility is important. They show us why Jesus was necessary. They show us our need to depend on God. They show us God’s patience with us. They show us God’s love for us. And they show just how amazing His grace really is. It’s all in the matter of seeing it. Ask Him today to give you deeper spiritual insight. To recognize how wonderful He is. And grant you the power to live out the gratitude we all should have for Him.

1 Joyful are people of integrity,who follow the instructions of the Lord.2 Joyful are those who obey His lawsand search for Him with all their hearts.3 They do not compromise with evil,and they walk only in His paths.4 You have charged usto keep Your commandments carefully.5 Oh, that my actions would consistentlyreflect Your decrees!6 Then I will not be ashamedwhen I compare my life with Your commands.7 As I learn Your righteous regulations,I will thank You by living as I should!8 I will obey Your decrees.Please don’t give up on me! Psalms 119:1-8

A Woman’s Graveyard….

I can bet there have been few people to ever think of this concept, especially people who support abortion, who take a pro-choice stance. Some of their arguments include: (1) it’s a woman’s reproductive right, (2) it’s healthcare, (3) it’s her body, (4) it’s not a baby, it’s a lump of tissue, (5) it’s forcing a woman to deliver a baby she doesn’t want ..... I could go on and on, but here’s a thought that should disturb every living, breathing, human being with a brain and conscience: when an abortion is performed a women’s body now becomes a graveyard for her unwanted child. I wouldn’t call that health care, would you? Does a woman really want her body to become a graveyard? No one likes graveyards. Sure we visit them to pay respects to our departed loved ones, but no one would want to live there. Statistics for mental health for post abortive women clearly show the answer to this question. God hates hands that shed innocent blood. Guilt follows anyone that takes part in this horrible process, regardless of how much we try to suppress it, it still resides on the inside simmering unresolved chaos. Maybe God has allowed this to prove a point: it’s called pro-choice to show every one it’s the wrong choice (pro-choice is not God’s choice). If you’re wondering how I can even mention this, just think, the moment that baby dies, he enters into God’s presence. Aborted babies get the fastest ticket to Heaven out of all of us. They get to be with God. So they are all okay. Though, this in no way justifies the action. Does that mean there’s no hope for these post-abortive participants? Certainly not. Jesus conquered the grave. And He certainly can turn a woman’s graveyard back into a flourishing garden if He’s asked to. The key is in the asking. It’s why His grace is so amazing. Hopefully, you have a deeper insight into God’s grace and man’s compulsion to serve himself, and another aspect to this evil called abortion.

17 because he did not kill me at birth. Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb, that her body had been my grave! Jeremiah 20:17

Getting Signatures For A Petition….

I was recently in a conversation with an elderly lady. She was getting signatures for a petition to ban bike riders in a certain section of a public park. When she asked me to sign, I responded with an answer she wasn’t expecting. I told her that the park was for all people. What was needed was RESPECT. She went in to tell me that a rule needed to be put in place to prevent the bike riders from causing fear in the older walkers (due to their perceived disrespect). I repeated my solution. She said that would work but it would be impossible to implement. I then went on to tell her that Jesus is the only answer to this problem. He is the only One Who can change a heart. I responded by telling her if I have a conversation that lasts more than twenty minutes, 99.9% of the time I bring in Jesus to the conversation. Why? Because He is the answer to life’s problems. Then she responded and said something that shows the root problem of the modern-day church. She said, “I wish I could do that” (speak of Jesus freely). I responded, “Why not, what’s stopping you?” If Jesus is the answer to life’s problems, and He is LORD of your life, why aren’t you speaking His Name in your everyday conversations? There’s only three possible answers to this question. One, you don’t believe He is the answer to life’s problems, He can’t fix them or help people. Two, He isn’t Lord of your life. Or three, the timing just wasn’t right, at that moment (which often isn’t the case). Jeremiah never had this problem. He suffered because of his free speaking about God. But his suffering didn’t compare to the consequences he would’ve had to deal with if he didn’t speak out. He would’ve burned up on the inside. Why don’t we have that kind of passion for Jesus? Why don’t we have that kind of conviction? The root cause of all three possible answers is this one simple answer: selfishness. That’s it. If Jesus is Lord of our life there’s only one right response, gratitude. And that is the reason Jeremiah didn’t internally combust trying to hold it in.

8 When I speak, the words burst out.“Violence and destruction!” I shout.So these messages from the Lordhave made me a household joke.9 But if I say I’ll never mention the Lordor speak in His name,His word burns in my heart like a fire.It’s like a fire in my bones!I am worn out trying to hold it in!I can’t do it! Jeremiah 20:8-9

Prudence Over Self-Preservation…

Modern day politics. Instead of taking sides (which is easy to do), why not foresee danger and take precaution. Follow the politician’s platform issues to their logical end, take them in-depth, and see where they will lead you, then act on what you know to be true. Weigh the issues biblically. That way, whatever consequences are, we will either accept them and serve their purpose and move on. Or we will continue to be mislead or deceived into thinking, “l’m safe”, to only later in our life realize how wrong we were. Ask God for discernment. He is the only One that can surgically restore spiritual sight. Choose prudence over self-preservation.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 27:12

God, You’re Good, But…..

At the end of the game in the Big 12 championship football game many years ago, the UT kicker was preparing to attempt the game winning field goal. A timeout was called by the opposing team to try to “ice” the kicker. During the timeout the holder took the kicker aside and quoted this verse (Jer 17:7). I can’t say if it was prophetic, in the sense of God rewarding UT with the victory, but I will say it’s very true in life. It’s something that when we strive to know God, and live our lives to please Him, we gain a quiet, but yet powerful confidence to continue. When we put our trust and strength in ourselves or others (man) we drift away from God. Without God we dry up; we waste away. Take for example our modern world, we depend on the government to save us. We demand our government to provide for us. We depend on our government’s strength and trust that it will sustain us. That’s so unbiblical. It’s as if to say, “God you’re good, but I’ll trust my job, my government, or my family to take care of me”. It’s not until tragedy strikes that we finally realize we were placing our faith in the wrong places. We reap what we sow. By the way, the kick was good, and UT won the game and moved up in the national rankings (not that I’m a fan of theirs). I guess God did bless the duo (kicker and holder) that day.

This is what the Lord says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. 7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.Their leaves stay green,and they never stop producing fruit. 9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:5-10

Politics Can Get Really Nasty….

Politics can get really nasty. There are problems on both sides of the party lines. But one thing is for sure, when you oppose God and His word (truths), and when you try to prevent others from preaching the Good News, you’re only piling up your sins and awaiting the anger of God.

14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 | NLT

Once God’s Word Is Accepted….

The difference between a saved and sanctified believer and one who says he believes is one and one thing only: a saved believer honors the Bible as God’s infallible word, and a nominal Christian questions it’s validity. Once God’s word is accepted, we are granted understanding. Sometimes that understanding is shallow, but it’s still enough to get us through the trial. For those who question God’s word, or deny it’s accuracy or validity, do so out of unbelief. If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit, when God’s Spirit moves within us, we understand His position. The only reason people don’t believe God, is because they don’t want to accept His truth. God’s word continues to work in those who believe. Trust Him and take Him at His word. God’s power doesn’t change (increase or decrease) because of a person’s unbelief, it just empowers the one who does believe.

13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received His message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God–which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Seeking Human Praise…

It’s good to be reminded that our purpose is to please God, not people. I think this is a huge reality check when we find ourselves becoming worldly. If pleasing people disobeys God, you’re on the wrong side of your spiritual growth. Seeking human praise is the #1 sign that our priorities lie here on earth, not in Heaven. If we set our eyes on the prize, when human rejection comes our way because we side with God, it will be easier dealing with the turmoil because God grants a clear conscience to those that love and serve Him. Don’t allow yourself to forget Who it is you’re trying to please.

4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else. 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

The Fastest Way To Be Unloved….

You heard it, but you may not believe it. God has, can, and will withdraw His protective hand and peace from a society that promotes evil, calls evil good, and punishes those that oppose them. America is not immune to this. The fastest way to be unloved is to abandon God.

5 This is what the Lord says: “Do not go to funerals to mourn and show sympathy for these people, for I have removed My protection and peace from them. I have taken away My unfailing love and My mercy. Jeremiah 16:5

10 “When you tell the people all these things, they will ask, ‘Why has the Lord decreed such terrible things against us? What have we done to deserve such treatment? What is our sin against the Lord our God?’11 “Then you will give them the Lord’s reply: ‘It is because your ancestors were unfaithful to Me. They worshiped other gods and served them. They abandoned Me and did not obey My word. 12 And you are even worse than your ancestors! You stubbornly follow your own evil desires and refuse to listen to Me. 13 So I will throw you out of this land and send you into a foreign land where you and your ancestors have never been. There you can worship idols day and night–and I will grant you no favors!’ Jeremiah 16:10-13

God’s Spirit Will Insulate….

We must always remember being a Christian is about influencing others, while not being influenced by them. Jeremiah was distraught of his persecution, but God constantly reminded him of His protective sovereignty. How often do we find ourselves complaining to God? How often do we find ourselves allowing the world to influence us? Be careful. Take God at His word. Pray for strength. Pray to be filled with His Spirit. That way when the “pity party” comes, it won’t last long, because God’s Spirit will insulate you from the world’s influence, Satan’s undermining attempt to capture our attention away from God.

 10 Then I said, “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go.I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose or a borrower who refuses to pay–yet they all curse me.” 11 The Lord replied, “I will take care of you, Jeremiah.Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf in times of trouble and distress.12 Can a man break a bar of iron from the north,or a bar of bronze?13 At no cost to them, I will hand over your wealth and treasures as plunder to your enemies, for sin runs rampant in your land.14 I will tell your enemies to take you as captives to a foreign land.For My anger blazes like a fire that will burn forever.” 15 Then I said, “Lord, You know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors!Please give me time; don’t let me die young. It’s for Your sake that I am suffering.16 When I discovered Your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because Your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins.18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.” 19 This is how the Lord responds: “If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me.If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman.You must influence them;do not let them influence you!20 They will fight against you like an attacking army,but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze.They will not conquer you,for I am with you to protect and rescue you.I, the Lord, have spoken!21 Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men.I will rescue you from their cruel hands.” Jeremiah 15:10-21

The Destiny Of People….

Have you ever thought about the destiny of people? Specifically wicked people?How they will meet their death? We get a glimpse into the possible answer in today’s passage. God is about to send Judah into exile. He tells Jeremiah that Moses and Samuel’s prayers wouldn’t even save them. When God’s judgement is carried out, there’s no stopping it. Imagine all the God rejectors, those that curse Him, reject Him, and even step into His role, they will all meet their doom. It’s just a matter of time. It’s sad, so very sad. But when you think you’re above God’s law, you tend to blow off God like a piece of lint stuck to your shirt. When your destiny comes, you’ll realize how foolish you were, and have eternity to mull over it. No amount of rebellion, or earthly pleasure, or living life “my own way”, will ever be worth the consequences. It’s just saddening to see this play out in a life that thinks it’s “living right”, only to find out in the end it was “dead wrong”.

Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me pleading for these people, I wouldn’t help them. Away with them! Get them out of My sight! 2 And if they say to you, ‘But where can we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “ ‘Those who are destined for death, to death;those who are destined for war, to war;those who are destined for famine, to famine;those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.’ 3 “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” says the Lord. “I will send the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what is left. 4 Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make My people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 5 “Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem?Who will weep for you?Who will even bother to ask how you are?6 You have abandoned Me and turned your back on Me,”says the Lord.“Therefore, I will raise My fist to destroy you.I am tired of always giving you another chance. 7 I will winnow you like grain at the gates of your cities and take away the children you hold dear.I will destroy My own people,because they refuse to change their evil ways. Jeremiah 15:1-7

Undeserved and Unearned….

Never forget, salvation is Jesus rescuing us from Hell, undeserved and unearned, and much necessary, so we can’t take the credit for it.

10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven–Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the One who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

When We Treat God Like A Stranger….

When we treat God like a stranger, He eventually becomes one.

7 The people say, “Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord,but help us for the sake of Your own reputation.We have turned away from You and sinned against You again and again.8 O Hope of Israel, our Savior in times of trouble,why are You like a stranger to us?Why are You like a traveler passing through the land,stopping only for the night?9 Are You also confused?Is our champion helpless to save us?You are right here among us, Lord.We are known as Your people.Please don’t abandon us now!” 10 So this is what the Lord says to His people:“You love to wander far from Me and do not restrain yourselves.Therefore, I will no longer accept you as My people. Now I will remember all your wickedness and will punish you for your sins.” Jeremiah 14:7-10

The World Will Never Understand Suffering….

People always question God when it comes to suffering. They either blame Him and reject Him, or they question Him but still trust Him. Ninety-nine percent of suffering is directly related to our sin. Yes, there are times that people suffer not because of their own sin, but that is such a small percentage it’s an unjustified argument to be used against God. We suffer because of sin, our own sin. When we rebel against God, we deserve the consequences we get. Every Christian knows this, it’s just a matter of accepting it, that matters most. The world will never understand suffering (much less accept it), but with God by our side, we can humbly make it through the consequences knowing we have the choice to repent and ask God to forgive us. It’s why Christians have the ability to cope a lot better than those who don’t know God. It’s the relationship with the Almighty that makes the difference. “We can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me”.

22 You may ask yourself,“Why is all this happening to me?”It is because of your many sins!That is why you have been stripped and raped by invading armies.23 Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin?Can a leopard take away its spots?Neither can you start doing good,for you have always done evil. 24 “I will scatter you like chaff that is blown away by the desert winds.25 This is your allotment,the portion I have assigned to you,”says the Lord,“for you have forgotten Me,putting your trust in false gods.26 I Myself will strip you and expose you to shame.27 I have seen your adultery and lust,and your disgusting idol worship out in the fields and on the hills.What sorrow awaits you, Jerusalem!How long before you are pure?” Jeremiah 13:22-27

So This Is What You Are Like….

Just imagine God using a pair of underwear to make a point. It’s exactly what God does in Jeremiah chapter 13. Imagine God telling you to go hide a pair of recently worn underwear outside. Then after a few years retrieving them. Can you imagine the smell? The stench? The appearance? God goes on to say the purpose of underwear is to cling to a man’s waist. It covers a very important part of his body. It even protects (from exposure). In the same way God created us to cling to Him; to walk closely with Him. But our nature drives us away. That’s what sin does. It drives us away from God rather than toward Him. And after awhile of purposely abandoning God, we eventually become useless, good for nothing (in serving Him). This passage reveals God’s heart. Some may read it and think, “this is disgusting and stupid”. But those who are honest with themselves will see God opening up and revealing His own heart. His desire for us to want to be close to Him is evident. He wants us to cling to Him like underwear does to a man’s body. When we neglect that desire of His, we rot away and become good for nothing. If you haven’t realized as you age that the priorities you once had have become less important to you, then you’re probably not moving toward God, but more away from Him. I know I don’t want to be good for nothing. And I know that the desires of this world mean less and less to me as I age. I want to please God, so being close to Him only makes sense. I don’t want to get to Heaven and say, “so this is what You (God) are like”. I want to know Him as best as possible while living here on earth. So when that day comes, my excitement when I stand before Him will be because I finally get to put a “face” to the One I already know intimately. Wear your underwear well, remembering to cling to God, daily.

1 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it on, but do not wash it.” 2 So I bought the loincloth as the Lord directed me, and I put it on.3 Then the Lord gave me another message: 4 “Take the linen loincloth you are wearing, and go to the Euphrates River. Hide it there in a hole in the rocks.” 5 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates as the Lord had instructed me.6 A long time afterward the Lord said to me, “Go back to the Euphrates and get the loincloth I told you to hide there.” 7 So I went to the Euphrates and dug it out of the hole where I had hidden it. But now it was rotting and falling apart. The loincloth was good for nothing. 8 Then I received this message from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord says: This shows how I will rot away the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people refuse to listen to Me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth–good for nothing! 11 As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to Me, says the Lord. They were to be My people, My pride, My glory–an honor to My name. But they would not listen to Me. Jeremiah 13:1-11