The True Test of Value...

The true test of something’s value, or it’s importance to you, is how you behave when a crisis happens. When it happens, your true priorities will be revealed. Is it just for money that you do what you do, or do you truly care about what you do. How we react in a Crisis will always reveal our priorities in life.

13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. John 10:13

Expecting Others to Come Clean...

If you’ve ever been out in the wild you know to never mess with wild animals, especially a mother bear and her cubs. That’s the absolute last place you’d ever want to be. Barring a miracle, you’re as good as dead when you come between a momma bear and her cubs. Reading this proverb makes me feel foolish. Why? Not because I’m not willing to come clean when I mess up, but the fact that I expect others to come clean when they mess up is foolish on my part. Don’t waste your time when people won’t confess their sin and vow to make right what they’ve wronged. Those expectations just set us up for a huge disappointment. And to expect it to happen with everyone is foolish on our part. Yes, there are some who do make right what they’ve wronged, but when you get the signs of foolishness in one’s behavior, let it go and walk away. Your desire to get them to confess and do the right thing is never going to happen.

12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. Proverbs 17:12

True Love Promotes Life...

When reading through this passage in 1 Kings chapter 3, I can’t help but think about the lies and deception Pro-Choice organizations have been feeding America ever since 1973 (and before). Here in this story two mothers have babies. One baby dies and the deception of the now childless mother began. When Solomon recognized the situation, he knew exactly what to do to reveal the true mother of the remaining child. He knew this principle rings true, regardless of the situation. It’s an objective truth: TRUE LOVE PROMOTES LIFE. the mother of the deceased child, instead of accepting the fact that her child was dead, wanted either to have the other mother’s child, or for both if them to be childless. The truth was revealed in her reaction. If the roles were reversed, she would’ve responded in the same manner the other mother did. Why? Because God has placed inside a mother a love that promotes life. Shouldn’t we all?

16 Some time later two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled. 17 “Please, my lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house. 18 Three days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house.19 “But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it. 20 Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her. 21 And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”22 Then the other woman interrupted, “It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.”“No,” the first woman said, “the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours.” And so they argued back and forth before the king.23 Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other. 24 All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought to the king.25 Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!”26 Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the child–please do not kill him!”But the other woman said, “All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”27 Then the king said, “Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”28 When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice. 1 Kings 3:16-28

Honest and True, and Faithful to YOU...

“Honest and true, and faithful to You”. This is why David was considered a man after God’s own heart. It had nothing to do with perfection. It had nothing to do with his fame or power as king. It didn’t even have anything to do with his track record as a poor father. It was all about aligning his heart with God’s heart. Do you seek this? Is it important for you to be close to God? To seek out His righteousness in your life? To seek His wisdom in every decision you make? To view the world from His perspective? If it is, then you need to make a decision today: His will be done, or your will be done. The emphasis is on today, and every day thereafter.

6 Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to Your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to You. And You have continued Your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. 1 Kings 3:6

The Purpose of the Law....

You’ve probably read in my blog entries about the purpose of the 10 Commandments. I will usually ask others what the purpose is? They usually answer to help us live, guidelines for us to live, or rules to live by. All are common answers among the masses. The real purpose of the 10 Commandments is recited here by Jesus in John chapter 9: “to show those who think they see that they are blind.” You see the purpose isn’t for us to keep them, that’s impossible. The purpose is to show us that we are sinners. We are under God’s judgement. We are doomed. Once we have that perspective, it makes us open to hearing the Gospel. It prepares our hearts for Jesus. It allows our pride to run its course and open our eyes to the truth. The 10 Commandments show us we are sinners in need of a Savior. It prepares the way to salvation. When Jesus was speaking, He knew the hearts of the religious leaders were blind to His words, yet they claimed they could see. Their guilt was acknowledged publicly, and of course they didn’t like it. If they had been blind, they wouldn’t be guilty. Pride in oneself will always lead to spiritual blindness. It’s the number one ingredient in religiosity.

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment–to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard Him and asked, “Are You saying we’re blind?”41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” John 9:39-41

Lack of Discipline...

Lack of discipline has caused more problems in society than any other single action carried out by man. This lack of discipline has destroyed the structured system in education. It has taught children to focus solely on themselves and that consequences aren’t anything to fret over. The lack of discipline in the home has done even more damage. I just read a story about a 30-year-old man being taken to court by his parents because he still lived at home, didn’t pay rent, and refused to do anything to help around the house. You’d think this was rare, but it isn’t. The lack of discipline, along with the absence of God in our society has completely destroyed the basic fabric of our democracy. Without responsibility to God (which we all have), people in this country only have the Rights granted through our government to work with. Rights without responsibilities lead to battles that can only be settled in courts. Do you see this playing out? If you are a parent, do yourself a favor, discipline your children. Teach them that the world doesn’t revolve around them. If you’re single, realize that consequences are real, and if you don’t treat people fairly, those consequences will drive you to your grave faster than you think. Adonijah is a good example of this. Go to God today, and ask Him to reveal this truth to you. And ask that He will gently restore this view of an equal balance of Responsibility and Rights. America’s future depends on it. It starts with you.

 5 About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. 6 Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome.7 Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. 1 Kings 1:5-8

23 Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. 24 The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; He has established my dynasty as He promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!” 25 So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death. 1 Kings 2:23-25

Evidence of a Changed Life....

The effectiveness of a believer lies not in the amount of faith he has, it’s the evidence of his changed heart. Actions speak louder than words. When God does a work in you, the evidence is irrefutable.

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”25 “I don’t know whether He is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”26 “But what did He do?” they asked. “How did He heal you?”27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?”28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where He comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He couldn’t have done it.”34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue. John 9:24-34