Where Is Our Agenda Based?

Here’s a question we all need to be asking ourselves before we speak: where is our agenda based? Is it coming from God? The world? Ourselves? You’ll soon realize that anything worthy of eternity (real purpose) is spoken through you by God!
4 Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you? Job 26:4

The Ability to Change Our Attitude...

There once was a little boy who refused to sit at the table for dinner. When his mother finally got him to sit down, the little boy responded, “I may be sitting down physically, but in my mind I’m still standing”. How many of us are like that? I know I can be at times. If you know you will have to do things you may or may not want to do, how do you handle it? Do you do it with a bad attitude, or not do it with a good one? Or do you do it and change your attitude in the process? We all have a choice. We all have free will. We all have the ability to change our attitude. There is one thing that all people will do someday, honor God, what will your attitude be? I’ve already made my decision. And I’m not changing my mind.

10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,‘ every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’ ” 12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Romans 14:10-13

Not Celebrating Other’s Demise....

Here’s a quality that helps define a true believer: they don’t celebrate and cheer when the wicked get what they deserve. Here in Job chapter 22, Eliphaz is dead wrong when he tells Job this. When you see people mock, ridicule, and celebrate when people get the justice they deserve (for evil acts), it’s a good sign that they are not mimicking their Heavenly Father, rather more like their earthly father, the Devil. Christians never revelry in other’s demise. Never.

19 “The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed,and the innocent will laugh in contempt. Job 22:19

Two Different Views....

When you think about wicked behavior and people who do monstrous acts against others, there are two world views. First is the worldly, non-Biblical view. Here you witness these evil acts and wonder how they get away with it. The evil people live posh lives, have children, take vacations, and seem to be happy and content with life. This world view wishes justice is carried out, but when it isn’t, go away bitter and depressed. They lose hope that life can somehow be fair. They believe everything is by chance and no human being has any real value. Thus they start to live sporadically, trying to satisfy every feeling that comes their way. They eventually lose hope. The Biblical view on this topic, sees life as not fair as well. They also see evil people prosper. They also wish justice is carried out. The only difference is that these people know God is in control. They know He is in charge. They know that His justice will be carried out, it’s just in His timing and not ours. Vengeance belongs to Him. And even though it may not happen in this lifetime, His justice will be carried out. Many times justice is being carried out because the evil doers are slaves to their own sin. They live in constant fear of being caught and losing it all. They are often prisoners in their own homes. They don’t have peace and never will. These are the things we don’t see, only God does. So the next time you read about an evil act being carried out, ask yourself which view do you have. The only view that brings peace (allowing you to let go) is the one in which you trust the Judge to carry out true Justice. God cannot be mocked. He will judge all people. Justice will be served, it just might not be to our standards.

7 “Why do the wicked prosper,growing old and powerful?8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down,and they enjoy their grandchildren.9 Their homes are safe from every fear,and God does not punish them.10 Their bulls never fail to breed.Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.11 They let their children frisk about like lambs.Their little ones skip and dance.12 They sing with tambourine and harp.They celebrate to the sound of the flute.13 They spend their days in prosperity,then go down to the grave in peace.14 And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.We want no part of you and your ways.15 Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey Him?What good will it do us to pray?’16 (They think their prosperity is of their own doing,but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.) 17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished.Do they ever have trouble?Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?18 Are they driven before the wind like straw?Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?Not at all! 19 “ ‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’But I say He should punish the ones who sin,so that they understand His judgment.20 Let them see their destruction with their own eyes.Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.21 For they will not care what happens to their familyafter they are dead. 22 “But who can teach a lesson to God,since He judges even the most powerful?23 One person dies in prosperity,completely comfortable and secure,24 the picture of good health,vigorous and fit.25 Another person dies in bitter poverty,never having tasted the good life.26 But both are buried in the same dust,both eaten by the same maggots. 27 “Look, I know what you’re thinking.I know the schemes you plot against me.28 You will tell me of rich and wicked peoplewhose houses have vanished because of their sins.29 But ask those who have been around,and they will tell you the truth.30 Evil people are spared in times of calamityand are allowed to escape disaster.31 No one criticizes them openlyor pays them back for what they have done.32 When they are carried to the grave,an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.33 A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery.Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,and the earth gives sweet repose. Job 21:7-33

Our Thought-Life Matters....

Here’s a concept that most people tend to overlook, or never even grasp: our thought life matters. Jesus talked about this while preaching the beatitudes. Looking with lust is the same as committing adultery, hating someone is the same as murder, etc... How often do we consciously ask God to protect our thought life? How much is it influenced by TV, social media, or the internet? We can’t allow Satan to control our thoughts, but that’s exactly what we do when we don’t give it the proper attention. We must ask God to protect our thought life, and then do as Paul instructed, fill our minds with the fruits of the Spirit. Then and only then will we become effective witnesses of the Good News we preach.

13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:13-14

Do What the Dollar Tells Us....

God said you cannot serve both Him and money. Early in life we must choose which to serve, and most choose a lot earlier than they think. I have come to the realization that money is necessary to live in civilized areas, but it’s not to replace the security we have in God. Money tends to give us a false security in life. I mean having money gives us the belief that we can do whatever we want as long as it affords us to. I’ve heard it said, “Having means ($) gives us the ability to say “NO” to God.” It’s one of Satan’s biggest lies, yet we fall for it every time. Wealth, just like health, can vanish in the blink of an eye. Then what you are left with is disappointment, regret, broken relationships, stress, and most of the time, with less than before you began. We need to have the right perspective on money. We need to do what the dollar actually says, instead of what we think it tries to tell us; allowing it to control our selfish tendencies. “In God We Trust”, not “In me I trust”. You can’t serve both. Choose Whom you will serve, and do it whole-heartedly, never looking back with regret. Don’t waste your life pursuing the dollar, or one day, you will wake up to find out the pursuit of riches cost you more than money could ever buy.

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

After All is Said and Done...

After all is said and done, even during suffering, will you be able to say what Job said? I can only hope my walk with God, won’t ever lead me astray. I know He won’t disappoint, my concern is that I may disappoint. Lord keep me in the right frame of mind, so that I can continue to trust You by living out my faith.

23 “Oh, that my words could be recorded.Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,engraved forever in the rock. 25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,and He will stand upon the earth at last.26 And after my body has decayed,yet in my body I will see God!27 I will see Him for myself.Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes.I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:23-27