The Exclusivity Of Salvation…

The last two chapters of Hosea are full of judgement and destruction, but also full of wisdom and hope. One of the truths that stands out is the exclusivity of salvation. You hear people say that Christianity is an exclusive religion. It is, but it’s exclusively open to everyone, yet because of our pride it’s only those that repent and trust in Jesus that get to experience and receive salvation. There are no others gods, but Yahweh. What you think may be gods are really demons, trying to keep us from God. God’s ways are best, when we walk in them we flourish and thrive, but when we try to live through our own selfish ways, we stumble and fall. When it’s all said and done, salvation comes down to each individual finding and serving God. Christianity is exclusive, because there is only one God, one way to Him. It’s exclusive to all, but only to those who receive God’s grace. The exclusivity that the world complains about has to do with one’s pride. Heaven excludes those whose pride refuses to accept and honor God in the way He has designed it to be. Scripture makes this clear.

4 “I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but Me, for there is no other savior. 5 I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. 6 But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot Me. Hosea 13:4-6

3 Assyria cannot save us,nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in You alone do the orphans find mercy.” Hosea 14:3

9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. Hosea 14:9

Follow Their Own Natural Instincts….

The reason people aren’t consistent in doing what’s right, or are consistent in doing what’s wrong is because they don’t have the Spirit of God in them (or at least don’t listen to Him). They have no answer for their sin, their guilt. They have no source to draw true love from. The only thing they can do is follow their own natural instincts. And we all know where that leads, selfish decisions lead to division.

19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. Jude 1:19

Is It Okay To Hate?

A while back a friend of mine asked me this question, “is it okay to hate?” I thought about it, and gave the “Christianized” answer, “no”. But something inside me didn’t like that answer. Later that day it hit me, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the real answer. Yes, we are to hate. We are to hate what God hates; sin, Satan, and worldly ways (selfishness). We are to oppose it and fight it by exposing it with truth. Why? Because it deceives, hurts people, and destroys their lives. But most importantly sin, Satan, and selfishness, steer us away from God. He is the only Thing that truly matters, so if others are suffering from the fallout of sin, keeping them away from the only solution to their pain, why wouldn’t we hate that? We are to hate what God hates, but also, we are to love what God loves. Perfect love drives out fear, and ultimately conquers evil. Never confuse the two. In order to perfectly love, we have to hate what holds love from conquering it. So “yes” there is a place for hate in the Christian life, but only through guidance of the Holy Spirit are we able to use it in the right manner as motivation to bind the power of sin.

21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate You? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose You? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for Your enemies are my enemies. Psalms 139:21-22

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Jude 1:22-23a

Are You An Honest Person?

Are you an honest person? I mean honest with God? Honest with others? Honest with yourself? Here’s a test, repeat this passage out loud to God, and mean it. Watch what happens. Your reaction to what follows will clearly reveal the truth about being honest.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24

A Gateway Into The Heart Of God….

The OT is full of insights into God’s character. Here’s one that tells us exactly what He wants from us. God’s love for His creation (people) is clearly displayed here. His desire for us to be close to Him and put into practice His character qualities by making them our own, couldn’t be easier to see. Our dependence on God is directly proportional to our closeness to Him. If we make it our top priority to pursue Him, our lives will prosper. It’s just how it works. It may not always be perfume and roses, but His presence, our closeness, will be the reward that never disappoints. Make it your life goal to be close to God, you’ll find true peace and rest for your soul, that no one can take away. The Bible is a treasure trove and a gateway into the heart of God. Don’t neglect it.

6 So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on Him. Hosea 12:6

Never Let One Example Be Your Only Example….

I’ve always told people, who look for excuses to not follow God, to never let one example (usually bad) be your only example of Christianity. People will fail you. Christians will make mistakes. People will say things that are not godly. But God will never fail us. He will never forsake us, if we obey and pursue Him whole-heartedly. The reason people use bad examples of Christian behavior is to justify their lack of commitment to God. They use these bad examples, or weaknesses, to justify their desire to not go to church, or to not do the right thing. In the end, they are just excuses to not follow God. One person’s example may be a legitimate reason someone comes to Christ, but it will never be a substantial factor for denying Him. Never forget this.

Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 3 John 1:11

Do Not Feed The Wildlife….

Today’s proverb is proof that our welfare system here in the United States was never meant to be permanent. If you have ever been to a national park where there is wildlife, you know there are signs that tell us "do not feed the wildlife". Why? Because the animals will become habituated (lazy), and depend on humans for food. When this happens, the fate of most animals are sealed. Sickness (due to eating unhealthy), relocation and having to adapt to finding new food, and the threat of being put down because of the potential of harm, all come into play. When humans continuously feed wildlife, the animals are no longer wild. They become dependent upon others for their sustenance. It’s the same way with humans. If we provide them with essentials to live, eventually they will become lazy and depend on the system to sustain them. Why work if you don’t have to? The system is necessary in the short-term, but long term it does way more harm than good. There has to be motivation and responsibility involved in order for the welfare system to work. Take either away (motivation or responsibility), and you create a habituated human, rebelling against the system, demanding more and more, robbing those that really (temporarily) need it. As the joke goes, “what do you get from a pampered cow?” Spoiled milk. Those signs in the national parks are there to protect the wildlife. Why doesn’t that same perspective apply to human beings?

21 A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel. Proverbs 29:21

When We Do The Right Thing…

When we do the right thing, from a sincere heart, serving the Lord, out of our love for Him, we experience more of His presence. It’s like worship that never ends. This is not religious works trying to earn favor. It’s redemption responding appropriately. Following Jesus brings us closer to what God intended, like in the beginning in the garden before the fall. It’s the best we can experience while still living in a sin-marred world. God’s presence is our best.

12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12

The More Money We Have….

This is not always true with all people, but the tendency to use the increase in wealth to further our selfishness is astronomically high. The more money we have, the more likely we use it on things that replace God, or at least distance ourselves from Him.

1 How prosperous Israel is–a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.But the richer the people get,the more pagan altars they build.The more bountiful their harvests,the more beautiful their sacred pillars. Hosea 10:1

Calling God A Liar….

Those who oppose God by not believing in Jesus are ultimately calling God a liar. How can anyone who thinks God is a liar want to spend eternity with Him? Look how society treats liars in politics. Call it exclusive, or whatever you want to, but Heaven is reserved only for those that embrace Jesus. And for those that don’t, all their excuses and accusation toward God, fail to extinguish their choice to not be with Him in Heaven. This is very clear in the Bible. It’s a shame most people never read it to see this.

10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about His Son.11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 1 John 5:10-12

We Can’t Hide From Him….

We can run away from God, but we can’t hide from Him. Whatever the reason, turn around, raise up your head, open our eyes... hard times don’t last long when we realize God is not far away.

7 I can never escape from Your Spirit!I can never get away from Your presence!8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;if I go down to the grave, You are there.9 If I ride the wings of the morning,if I dwell by the farthest oceans,10 even there Your hand will guide me,and Your strength will support me.11 I could ask the darkness to hide meand the light around me to become night–12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.To You the night shines as bright as day.Darkness and light are the same to You. Psalms 139:7-12

Blind To The Consequences Of Sin….

This isn’t always the case when it comes to suffering, but it holds true when suffering is due to our own deliberate sin. Why are people so blind to the consequences of sin? Answer, they have no connection with God. Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18), and perfect love only comes from God. If we were as deliberate to connect to God than live to please ourselves, we wouldn’t be blind to actions that drive us away from Him.

“They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. Hosea 8:7a

“God Is An Egotistical, Genocidal Tyrant….”

When people tell me that God is an egotistical, genocidal tyrant, I think to myself, “they aren’t talking about the God of the Bible, because I know He’s exactly like the Bible describes Him. They’re talking about a god they do not know, one they’ve made up in their minds to suit their own needs, because they’ve never taken the time to know Him”. To them, God is the scapegoat when things go wrong, and a passive grandpa when times are good. If only people had the drive to actually try to know Him. It’s rather easy, but it takes an honest heart and a disciplined mind. Great treasures await those that follow this pursuit. If you read the Bible, OT and NT, you’ll find what God is really like. And when you surrender your life to Him in faith in Jesus, He will open your eyes to Who He really is, a loving, all-powerful Being, seeking His best for our good. Read today’s scripture, then ask yourself, “does this sound like the statement made at the beginning of today’s entry”?

6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know Me more than I want burnt offerings.7 But like Adam, you broke My covenant and betrayed My trust. Hosea 6:6-7

It’s Time To Break The Cycle….

Why is it when trouble comes people turn to God? Any other time most people stay away from God. I guess there are lots of reasons but the core truth interwoven among them all is it’s the way we are designed. When trouble comes and we feel helpless, our nature tells us that God is there, He can help. When we are at our most helpless point, it’s the only hope anyone can have. Why do you think Paul tells us ,”when we are weak (in Jesus) then we are strong”? It’s like God says to us, “if you won’t give Me the attention I deserve, I can make things hard, which will strip away all the distractions and pseudo-strength we think we have.” Then in our weakness, we go to Him to find strength. Any other time we think we can handle things (thinking we are strong enough) and we don’t want to bother Him. Our pride keeps us away from God when times are good, for it’s only when adversity strikes, our pride is shown to not be dependable. The core truth in today’s scripture is trouble leads us to God, by showing us a pathway to strength in our weakness. The problem with this truth is that it takes tragedy to get our attention. It’s only then that we are able to get our attention off of ourselves. Why not choose the alternative of humbly seeking God on a daily basis, choosing to respond to His grace with a grateful heart. Our level of dependence on God isn’t limited to our weakness. It’s limited by our willingness to follow Him only when trouble comes our way. It’s time to Break the cycle. God deserves our attention all the time, not just when we are in despair.

15 Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and turn to Me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for Me.” Hosea 5:15

How Do We Tell Truth Speakers From Liars?

Every Christian needs to burn this into their brain and digest it in their heart: God’s Spirit allows us to discern truth from falsehood, true people of God from pretenders and false prophets. How do we tell truth speakers from liars? First, what they say about Jesus matters. Secondly, if they listen to us, versus not listening, tells us they have the same Spirit in them that God has given us. Being a Christian isn’t about walking blindly down the path with an uncertain faith, rather it’s knowing which lamp to choose (and use) in order to light your path just enough to take the next few steps. Sometimes God shows us enough to take ten or twenty steps, and sometimes it’s just enough to take one or two. Discernment is a gift only God can give through His Spirit, and we know that others are genuine followers through their view of Jesus, and their willingness and ability to listen to those who speak truth. Never forget this. It will save you many troubles in life.

1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. 1 John 4:1-6

Regardless Of Who They Are Around….

I know this proverb rings true today. I know people who behave different ways when they are around different people. When they are around people of integrity, they act and agree with what they hear. When they are around worldly people, they act worldly. The more they hang around worldly people, they act like them and end up depressed, filled with anxiety, but yet not have a remedy for their issues. Without Jesus (the Holy Spirit), there is no peace, only temporary highs that last short periods of time, that have no lasting effects. If people (like this) want what the people that act with integrity have, they must ask God to forgive them and grant them eternal life. Then they can start to behave consistently, regardless of who they are around. Hopefully, they learn that the company they keep will determine the altitude of their attitude. Hanging out with the right people won’t make you righteous, only Jesus can do that, but it will help with your attitude and behavior because you won’t be tempted to take the wrong path. Divine guidance always helps point us in the right direction. It’s just a matter of adhering to it. By the way, obeying the law is honoring God by acting out your love for Him.

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Proverbs 29:18

Love Shame More Than Honor…

Even though this was written to Israel (the Northern kingdom), it could’ve very well been written to America in 2020. One reason we are in such a predicament is that men love shame more than honor. We want attention, but aren’t willing to work hard for the right attention that only honor brings. We’d rather skip the hard work and get what we get. The problem with this mindset is God doesn’t honor half-hearted work. It’s only fully committed work, with 100% sincerity that reaps honor. Sincerity doesn’t save, but it is part of the equation. When our hearts are fully committed to serving the Lord, is when honor, respect, integrity, valor, and restoration will take place. Nothing short of that will deliver the goods. Diligence, perseverance, and dedication are the proper response to God’s grace that will result in fulfilling God’s sanctifying process. It may have been written to Israel over 2700 years ago, but the point is still relevant today. It’s why God gave us the book.

Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel!The Lord has brought charges against you, saying:“There is no faithfulness, no kindness,no knowledge of God in your land.2 You make vows and break them;you kill and steal and commit adultery.There is violence everywhere–one murder after another.3 That is why your land is in mourning,and everyone is wasting away.Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,and the fish of the sea are disappearing. 4 “Don’t point your finger at someone elseand try to pass the blame!My complaint, you priests,is with you. Hosea 4:1-4 They love shame more than honor. Hosea 4:18b

The Hardest Part Of Being A Christian….

The hardest part of being a Christian (after actually becoming one) is trying to love people that you know are Hell-bound. And the reason they are bound for eternal destruction is by choice (their own doing). What’s the point? Our love isn’t going to change them. It seems like a waste of time, right? The only resolve I can muster is that God tells us too, so regardless of how we feel, we must be obedient to His command. Didn’t He love us, yet while we were sinners? Until God tells us to oppose someone and fight, we are to love our enemies as ourselves. We just have to put our obedience above our intellect and our feelings. God knows best, so we are to trust Him in this one. We are to be as shrewd as serpents, but as innocent as doves. Obeying God fulfills this purpose, even when we don’t comprehend the fullness of His method. We live to prove we are His, and must remain in fellowship with Him.

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure.4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in Him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in Him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know Him or understand who He is.7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion–how can God’s love be in that person?18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from Him whatever we ask because we obey Him and do the things that please Him.23 And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us. 1 John 3

The Holy Spirit’s Promptings….

Maybe one reason why the “Church” in America has lost its way is because it busies itself with less important issues (distractions) rather than listening to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Maybe it wants to read more spiritual self-help literature instead of reading the Creator’s book. Christian living is pretty simple: read your Bible, pray to Jesus, fellowship with other believers, and live by God’s Spirit. Believers don’t need any human being to tell them what is true, that’s God’s job. We just have to be attentive to His voice, and willing to act on what He says. It’s easy to get distracted and caught up in an “earthly moment”. See to it that you don’t prevent the Holy Spirit from freely communicating to you.

26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:26-27

There’s A Big Difference…

There’s a big difference between being confident in God, and being arrogant without Him. It’s all about Him; serving Him or serving self. He only grants His attention to one of the two.

6 Though the Lord is great, He cares for the humble, but He keeps His distance from the proud. Psalms 138:6

What Good Does Praying Do?

When people say, “what good does praying do?”, answer them, “it gives me strength”. God has a way of helping us, even when things seem bleak. If we go to Him in prayer, and nothing seems to change, maybe it’s because we focus too much on ourselves, which blinds us to the mysterious, unseen hand of God working in our lives. God answers prayers, all the time. It’s just a matter of recognizing it. Strength comes in prayer when we focus on God with a sincere heart, being willing to accept His response regardless of the consequences. Strength is the first response God grants when we admit our weaknesses to Him in prayer.

1 I give You thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;I will sing Your praises before the gods.2 I bow before Your holy Temple as I worship.I praise Your name for Your unfailing love and faithfulness;for Your promises are backed by all the honor of Your name.3 As soon as I pray, You answer me;You encourage me by giving me strength. Psalms 138:1-3

“Better Off”…..

Just because we live in the 21st century with faster means of transportation and instantaneous knowledge and communication, doesn’t mean we are better off. Without God, no one living in any time period is better off.

4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” Daniel 12:4

No Way Of Processing The Evidence….

The reason why some people deny God and all of His truths is because they have no way of processing the evidence. The Bible says God is light, there is no darkness in Him. When people live in darkness, it’s impossible to process the truth because there is no light to shine on it. Let me relate it this way, light is honesty with oneself. If we are not honest with ourselves, how can we ever understand truth? Truth reveals our sinful nature. If we are not honest about it, we won’t admit it, and thus never seek a remedy. If we claim we have no sin, there’s no need for a cure, right? Darkness is denial, it’s the inability to see truth (spiritual blindness). If we don’t ever admit we have a problem, the problem will never get addressed, and we will never be saved. To summarize, if God is light and we live in darkness (pretending to know what’s right), how can we ever change? But if we admit our faults, being honest with ourselves, and step into the light, we can experience God and be saved. Being honest with ourselves is a big deal. It’s a much bigger deal than most people think. Darkness and denial go hand in hand, as does honesty and light.

5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that His word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:5-10

Be “On Guard”…..

How many Christians that you know live “on guard”? Peter talks about this in his second letter (chapter 3). When we allow ourselves to get caught up in the “busyness of the day” we can easily “lose our footing”. Our spiritual insight can get “muddied up” in our daily routine of “nonchalant”. We lose sight of God’s purpose for our lives and that leads to lots of undesirable results. We can be easily deceived, turn our thoughts onto ourselves, which leads to anxiety and depression with unmet expectations, and give less effort to pointing others to God. Instead (as Peter exhorts us to do), we are to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, i.e. actively participate in the sanctification process. And that means serving the purpose in which God designed us to serve, to become more like Jesus. To live “on guard” is to be connected to Jesus, to be aware of current events, and to relate the Gospel to each human being (in every situation) in search of meaning in their life. Stagnation reverses the sanctification process, eroding the progress we’ve already made. God grants us time, to be saved, as well as saving others by our witness. Being “on guard” ensures our eyes are open, ready to meet whatever it may bring head-on with the response (answer) the world needs to hear, Jesus, the answer to sin’s devastation. Be “on guard“.

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.15 And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him–16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. Peter’s Final Words 17 I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18

It’s Animal Behavior….

When people try to use the Bible stating, “there’s no where in the Bible that God condemns inappropriate sexual acts”, don’t believe them. There’s plenty of evidence that sexual immorality is condemned by God. Today’s scripture is one example. On a side note, have you ever examined people’s rebellious attitudes that make these claims? They want to twist God’s word in a rational attempt to justify they behavior; all the while despising authority. Twisted sexual behavior goes hand in hand with an attitude that despises authority. Is the picture any clearer? Sexual perversion is a rebellious act against God Himself. It’s animal behavior that tries to pretend it’s human.

Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” 2 Peter 2:8-22

Truth Only Comes From One Source….

I guess this proverb does a good job at explaining modern day politics. When a new president takes office, we see first hand the quality of character his cabinet possesses. If we examine each of the last few presidents, his cabinet members clearly show who the president pays attention to. Politics can be nasty. If we pay close attention, and use discernment, regardless of how good or bad our president is portrayed, it will prove one thing, salvation will never arrive on Air Force One. Even though fallibility runs through us all, a godly man listens to truth. And truth only comes from One Source, God alone. Until a man decides Who/who his first source of reason is, he will always be vulnerable to the deception that surrounds him. We must insulate ourselves with God’s word. It protects us in more ways than we realize.

12 If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked. Proverbs 29:12

Does Your Life Reflect Godly Behavior?

We are not perfect. But we can live with integrity. It won’t guarantee that our life will always be smooth, but it will prove highly that our reputation will stand on its own. The only way people will be able to slander a person who is faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy, is to make up things or apply ridiculous laws that contradict God’s ways. That’s exactly what happened to Daniel. Does your life reflect godly behavior? If so, do you worry about your reputation? God always honors those that honor Him. Sometimes that means rising above mediocrity, taking the “high road”, and being willing to suffer for doing what is right. Integrity has no holiday. Righteous living points others to God without saying a word.

4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” Daniel 6:4-5

Forgetting We Are Forgiven…

One of the biggest consequences of stagnation, not growing in our faith, is forgetting we are forgiven. If we are not continually moving forward, growing closer to our Savior, that only leaves two possibilities: regression or stagnation. Neither is desirable for the believer.

3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:3-11

Boldness Comes In Securely Serving God….

Boldness comes in securely serving God alone. It isn’t arrogant, or outspoken. It meets you were you are and helps you set a resolve that doesn’t allow anything to take the place of God. It’s an attitude that trusts God first. Even if things don’t turn out the way we’d like, it doesn’t change our outlook or actions. Where can we find this kind of faith? Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. The only Recipient worthy of it. This is one of the greatest stories in the Bible. One worth reading over and over. It never gets old. In order to be effective when it comes to being bold, our faith has to be placed in Something that is greater than us. The Object of our faith has two requirements. It must be outside of ourselves. And secondly, It must be immovable. Jesus fulfills these requirements. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew this, and it served them well. Boldness comes when opposition threatens the truth. When we are connected to the Giver and Sustainer of life, we don’t have to defend ourselves. God honors those that honor Him.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel to rescue His servants who trusted in Him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon. Daniel 3:16-30

It Helps Us Help Others….

Suffering is part of being a true Christian. If we accept this truth, it changes our attitude toward everything. It brings us closer to Jesus. And it helps us help others because we have more compassion and understanding since we stand on the other side of similar ordeals. Once we “get this” and are willing, we become one step closer to reaching our goal of becoming more like Jesus.

12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.13 Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet each other with Christian love.Peace be with all of you who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:12-14

Why Some People Hate….

Have you ever wondered why some people hate people who do the right thing? It’s because they have no interest in God. They hate Him, and thus hate His followers. It comes from Satan himself. If people can’t ever possess righteousness, the very thing required to enter Heaven, then they do what Satan does, hate everyone that has it. If he (Satan) can’t ever enter paradise, Heaven, then he will stop at nothing to keep others from entering just to spite God. The righteousness we possess isn’t due to our own doing, it’s been substituted from Jesus’ life. It’s because of Him that we are seen as blameless, so we can’t take the credit. It’s available to all. Unfortunately, all don’t want it because it opposes pride. So the next time you witness people hating on others (maybe even you), remember it’s not because they (you) did anything to offend them them, it’s because they will never be able to possess righteousness because their pride won’t allow them to humble themselves. Hatred comes directly from Satan. He opposes God, so he’ll oppose you as well. All (people) that follow Satan (knowing or unknowingly) will hate you just because you follow God. We just have to accept this, like it or not, and not take it personally. We have the Truth, and it sets us free, something unbelievers can never possess.

The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them. Proverbs 29:10