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Archive for June, 2012

Those Who Seek The Lord Understand Justice

29 Jun

Proverbs 28:5-5 Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

In studying God’s Word we see that our Lord is both loving and just.  We are extremely fortunate that he is forgiving.  If those who didn’t seek Him saw the end result they would understand it fully.

Our God however wants a loving creation that seeks Him out of love.  He wants those who he created with a free will to choose Him.  Those who only do it out of fear with no love or desire to be with Him will ever have the right heart.  They will always be self centered and selfish.

We need to repent and accept Him as Lord.

The more we seek the Lord, the more wonderful we discover He is.  Seek Him every day.  He is more than worthy.

 
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Proverbs 28:4

28 Jun

I was inspired by good friend Shane to look over Proverbs chapter 28.

Some of the verses jumped out at me more than others.  I think for the next couple of couple of weeks I’ll insert those that did jump out at me.

The first is verses 4.

Proverbs 28:4- 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law resist them.

Which law?  As we know the law of the land can be wicked and go against the law of the Lord.  Our laws are geared more today for those who go against God’s Word than just a few decades ago.  The criminals have more rights than those who obey the law.  Lawsuits and the courts encouraging of it’s off the charts. 

The law Solomon is referring to is our Lords.  The law is the 10 commandments.  Watch most movies today PG or higher and even the tame ones break 5 of the 10.  By today’s standards we all are so calloused we don’t think that’s so bad.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked.  The Lord makes the law and states please don’t break it.  It’s not good for you and I hate it when you do.  The other deceiver who wants to be like the most high is happily encouraging you to do whatever you want.

Who do you want to please?  Whose side do you want to be on?

Those who keep the law resist them.  It’s taking a stand.  When the world says something’s right and goes against God’s Word and you take a stand against it and don’t participate, the Lord knows you are doing that for Him.

The Lord wants you to choose the right side.  He doesn’t want you walking on the fence, or playing in the playground of the gray area.  He certainly doesn’t want you to be buddying up next to the enemy.

Choose correctly.  Choose Love.  Choose you God and Creator and not yourself.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation

 

Romans 12:3

27 Jun

Romans 12:3 – 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Humble vs. Proud.  What good is it to humble ourselves and get right with God, only to get caught up into how great we now are in our efforts?

We need to stay humble.  Our Lord in His whole ministry was humble while on this earth.  If God can do it when He is ruler over all, I think we better put our best effort into trying to be humble ourselves.

 
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Wisdom Of This World Is Foolishness In God’s Sight

26 Jun

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 – 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Too smart for God.  We see that more and more in our society.  Science has become the God for many and what’s sad is if the all the data collected was looked at closely it all points to God and creation.

So why does the world try to be wise without God?  Because you can’t serve yourself if you acknowledge there is a God whom has expectations out there.  If a person acknowledges God is real it puts a damper on selfish living.

That leads to another issue that is getting worse every day.  People are obsessed with wanting to serve a God that thinks exactly the way they do.  When they change their mind about something God does too.  It’s convenient that way and they don’t have to conform to anything their not comfortable with.

Wisdom comes from God.  Wisdom does not come from man.  The old saying is listen to someone that has aged and gone through many things.  They are full of wisdom.  That’s true to a certain point, but I will tell you that there is still worldly wisdom and then there is Godly wisdom.  Someone 75 years old that doesn’t have God may have some interesting things to say and be filled with a lot of knowledge.  It may create shortcuts and cut back the time of worldly failure for you.  However, without God, if one takes their last breath unsaved, that wisdom proved worthless going into eternity.

Seek the Lord’s wisdom.  All else is foolishness.

 
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You Can’t Hide From God

25 Jun

Jeremiah 23:24 – 24 Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.

Sometimes I forget there are still people out there who believe God isn’t aware of their lives.  In this day and age it should be easier than ever to realize that we are a hundred percent documented by the Lord.  On earth alone today we are on many surveillance cameras.  We’re on them going into stores, walking down streets, etc.

If the Lord can count the number of hairs on your head, He knows what you are up to 24/7.

Matthew 10:29-31 – 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The good news is this.  Even if our lives are documented 24/7 by the Lord, He is still willing and wanting to forgive us of our sins.

Romans 4:7-8-   7 “Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

1 John 1:9 – 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If one doesn’t realize that God is everywhere and knows what is going on at all times, they need to realize He is always present.  You can’t hide from God.

 
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The Lord Doesn’t Give To Wrong Motives

22 Jun

James 4:3 – 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Let’s say I have all the money in the world.  I have 10 people sitting over across the way who are starving and have no clean water.  I hand someone who is not one of the ten a million dollars.  He sees them, but is not one of them.  He now takes the money and goes and buys a big house, fancy car, plenty of glamorous vacations, etc.  Never gives anything to the 10 mentioned earlier. 

How do you view that?

Let’s say I have all the money in the world and I give it to one of the ten.  They are familiar with the rest and they take the money and do the same things as the first guy.

How do you view that?

Well the one that has all the resources in the world is God.  He can bless us with what we need for ourselves and others.  However as we see in the James scripture above, there are wrong motives out there.

I personally believe that almost all of us in America are guilty to some percentage of the above descriptions.  We may throw them a burger or a glass of water, but we still are trying to accomplish the American Dream. 

It’s tough pull in the day and age we live in. 

So who gives in abundance to those with wrong motives? 

Rock stars?  Hollywood Actors and Actresses that have no problem bashing God?  Those who encourage the things against God’s Word?  They have an abundance of wealth.  Are they being blessed by God?

No the prince of the air, Satan, has the power to do that when he robbed the right away from Adam and Eve.

What did Satan say to Jesus during the temptation?

Matthew 4:8-9 –  8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus didn’t say at the time that they weren’t his to give. 

The devil is offering many things to many people.  We need to worship our Lord and make sure we try and be the best servants we can with what has been entrusted to us.

 
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Psalm 56:1-7

20 Jun

Psalm 56:1-7 – 1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
2 My enemies would hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3 Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
4 In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

5 All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

In reading this it really reminds me that as Truth is rejected, the more God’s Word and His ways are scorned.  We need to continue to stand our ground because in the last days it’s not going to get better.  Positive thinking doesn’t change the reality of where everything is heading.

The middle verses remind us that we need to trust, praise and remember there is nothing that flesh can do in the long run of eternity.  That is in the hands of God when we all stand in front of Him.  Do your best to present all you can in preparation for that day.  Everything matters.

 
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We Need To Return

19 Jun

Hosea 14:1-2 –  1 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you
and return to the Lord.
Say to him:
“Forgive all our sins
and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.

I read this and the first thing that came to my mind is how quickly our country is now plummeting away from the Word of God.  Going into the election I hear people saying I wish Trump was running.  Our problems are not financial in this country.  Our problems are spiritual and since this country now worships wealth, our curse has become debt as we have left the Lord as a nation.

 
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For Our Sakes He Became Poor

18 Jun

2 Corinthians 8:9 –9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

King of all!  Yet He didn’t come in as rich ruler and force His will on anyone.  He came in as a humble servant so that we might through His poverty become rich.  Those who aren’t in the Light will not understand this.  God since day one wanted a creation that would serve Him with freewill.

Will you?  Not just acknowledge but serve?

 
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If We Claim To Be Without Sin, We Deceive Ourselves

15 Jun

I John 1:8-10 – 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Someone that doesn’t believe that they are fallen see no need to serve anyone besides themselves.  They are not humble and not honest.  Anyone who seeks Truth and is honest with themselves can see problems in the world and even their own actions.

All the Lord wants from us is to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness.  Seek the pardon.  Ditch the pride.

Not only does one make Jesus out to be a liar if they believe they have no sin, but unfortunately they are lying to themselves.

When can or will something be able to be fixed?  The first step is to acknowledge that it’s broke.  The next step is to be willing to do the steps necessary to get it fixed.  Seeking the Truth and His Word is how we began to find His place in our lives.

 
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