Displaying the Value of the Gospel…..

If only we (believers) would do a better job at displaying the value of the Gospel. If only we could demonstrate to people the value of God’s word. If only we could live boldly and confidently, showing all the beauty and comfort that is at the foot of the cross. If only we would show the intimacy with God looks like. If only our words matched our behaviors. Yes, there would still be evil practices, but fewer and fewer people wouldn’t be deceived by Satan’s ploy to tarnish our view of God’s character. Pray that God would empower you today with His Spirit, showing at least one person how majestic, loving, and approachable He truly is.

4 He said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of all who weep and sigh because of the detestable sins being committed in their city.”5 Then I heard the Lord say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! 6 Kill them all–old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin right here at the Temple.” So they began by killing the seventy leaders.7 “Defile the Temple!” the Lord commanded. “Fill its courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went and began killing throughout the city.8 While they were out killing, I was all alone. I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord! Will Your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in Israel?”9 Then He said to me, “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very, very great. The entire land is full of murder; the city is filled with injustice. They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see it! The Lord has abandoned the land!’ 10 So I will not spare them or have any pity on them. I will fully repay them for all they have done.”11 Then the man in linen clothing, who carried the writer’s case, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded.” Ezekiel 9:4-11

Money and God Are Not Equal….

You can read throughout scripture that money is necessary, but it’s not to be held in equality with God. Over time, here in America, we have learned to put our trust and security in money and less and less in God. Yes, there are certain things having money can do, like purchase possessions, pay bills, provide food to eat, and entertain us. But it’s never an excuse to say, “No” to God. When it comes down to the serious things in life, like curing a disease, reconciling a broken relationship, buying lasting happiness, money fails to live up to its perceived ability. We must learn that money and God are not equal, no matter what society or Satan tries to tell us, it shouldn’t be the pursuit of our lives. Only God can meet our every need.

19 “They will throw their money in the streets, tossing it out like worthless trash. Their silver and gold won’t save them on that day of the Lord’s anger. It will neither satisfy nor feed them, for their greed can only trip them up. Ezekiel 7:19

There Comes a Time When…..

There comes a time when God has had enough. His judgement comes, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Sin has a way of deceiving people into believing there’s more time, but when that time runs out, there is no recovery. The saddest part of being human is knowing there’s a remedy for sin, yet refusing it because of our pridefulness. There comes a time when vile behavior receives no mercy.

10 “The day of judgment is here;your destruction awaits!The people’s wickedness and pridehave blossomed to full flower.11 Their violence has grown into a rodthat will beat them for their wickedness.None of these proud and wicked people will survive.All their wealth and prestige will be swept away.12 Yes, the time has come;the day is here!Buyers should not rejoice over bargains,nor sellers grieve over losses,for all of them will fallunder My terrible anger.13 Even if the merchants survive,they will never return to their business.For what God has said applies to everyone–it will not be changed!Not one person whose life is twisted by sinwill ever recover. Ezekiel 7:10-13

17 “Have you seen this, son of man?” He asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at Me, and provoking My anger? 18 Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.” Ezekiel 8:17-18

Do I Trust Him or ……..

Having faith is easy, and at the same time it’s difficult. Just imagine, for 40 years the Israelites witnessed God and all of His miracles, and yet they still had disbelief. I think it all boils down to the choice we all have to make: do I trust Him or do I trust myself. Whichever you choose has a direct effect on your faith. Not having faith isn’t the issue, for we all have it, rather, it’s where you choose to place it that makes the difference. Unbelief, hardening of one’s heart, is the consequence of placing it in anything other than God Himself, especially when you place it only in yourself. The heart of man cannot be trusted, that includes trusting yourself.

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says: “Today when you hear His voice,don’t harden your heartsas Israel did when they rebelled.” 16 And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard His voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when He took an oath that they would never enter His rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed Him? 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter His rest. Hebrews 3:12-19

Stay Focused on What’s Important…

The resolve a believer must determine in his own heart before he can progress onward in his walk with God, is to keep displaying his courage while remaining confident in his hope in Christ. This is the key and the struggle we must all face while living here on earth. Our priorities must stay focused on what’s important, and not allow the distractions of this world sidetrack us. When we are weak, pray for His strength, and for others to be sent to your side to help you through trying and difficult times.

But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. Hebrews 3:6

Ignoring His Voice….

The heart of the “God issue” isn’t that He doesn’t exist (as many claim), it’s the hardening of one’s own heart when they ignore His voice, that’s the core issue. There are so many people who deny God because when His voice speaks to them, it triggers something in their past that’s too painful to confront. Some sin, some experience, or issue that doesn’t want to be dealt with. Denying His existence buys them more time to avoid the pain. Over time, it hardens one’s heart to His voice. Denial doesn’t change reality, it just wastes our most precious resource, time. And over time, our receptiveness to truth gardens, leaving us vulnerable to any and all kinds of deception and temptation. God wouldn’t call men if He didn’t have a purpose for them. Stop denying, running away, and respond with the only proper reaction, “here I am Lord, restore and use me to bring You glory”. Enter into God’s rest today, and use the rest of your time here on earth making eternal deposits.

7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear His voice,8 don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested Me in the wilderness.9 There your ancestors tested and tried My patience, even though they saw My miracles for forty years.10 So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from Me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’11 So in My anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter My place of rest.’ ”. 12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says: “Today when you hear His voice,don’t harden your heartsas Israel did when they rebelled.” 16 And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard His voice? Wasn’t it the people Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? 18 And to whom was God speaking when He took an oath that they would never enter His rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed Him? 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter His rest. Hebrews 3:6c-19

Anarchy of the Soul….

The problem in schools, and in society in general, is the lack of reverence for God. This lack of respect for authority and the lack of discipline to stop it has caused every structure and duty to become burdened. When you take away the very Thing that governs one’s own heart, you give birth to anarchy of the soul. Here in America, our government and society was based on two things: accountability to God (responsibility), and the protection of our rights (freedom). When our freedom no longer has proper restraint, it crumbles. No accountability leaves my rights exposed to your rights. And the only place they can be resolved is in court. There’s no wonder why our court system is so back-logged, is there? The solution is to bring back that reverence for God. It’s the only solution that works. Will America do it? Probably not, but each individual can repent of this passive sin, and start making a difference in the lives of others. At least people will know truth still exists, God is in control, we are accountable to Him, and there are “prophets” still among them.

14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble. Proverbs 28:14