True, Just, Upright

The works of His hands are truth and justice;

All His precepts are sure.

They are upheld forever and ever;

They are performed in truth and uprightness.

He has sent redemption to His people;

He has ordained His covenant forever;

Holy and awesome is His name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;

His praise endures forever.

Psalm 111:7-10

Deliver the Message

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

People do not always like to hear what the Word of God says, especially if what they are doing does not line up with what the Word of God says they should be doing.  The question is:  Do we deliver the Word of God to these people or do we keep our mouths shut so as not to make them mad at us?

People get angry all the time.  They get angry when they have a flat tire, when their kids mess up, and when they have more month than money.  All of these things are true and all of these evoke anger.  So, should we expect people to have a different response to the truth of the Word of God?  Yes and no.

Those who are ready to hear the truth of the Word of God will take it to heart and strive to change what they are doing to line up with the Word.  This means unbelievers believe and believers examine their lives and make adjustments. 

Those who recognize that they are falling short of the Word of God, but who don’t like being told so, may get angry.  Perhaps, even at the messengers: us.

As servants of God we are to deliver the message of the truth of the Gospel and the Word of God.  Jesus did not say, “Go try to be popular and well liked.”  Jesus said: “Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”  (Mark 16:15)

Stop The Parade

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging.  Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was.  They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.  And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

And he said, “Lord I want to regain my sight!”

And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.

Luke 18:35-43

Here was a blind man crying out to Jesus and here were Jesus’ followers telling him to be quiet because he was messing up the parade.  But what did Jesus do?  Jesus stopped and healed the man because the purpose of the parade was to glorify God and what would glorify God more than healing the blind man? 

When we are planning events this Christmas season let us keep in mind that that the purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus so that people will come to know Him.  What we might consider as interfering with our plans, might be just what God has ordered so that He will be glorified.  

We are mankind.  He is God.  Let’s see what He will do.

They Heard It

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard….

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and morrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:1-2, 12

We all know what they say about people whose parents took them to church and who turn out bad:  “Going to church did them no go.” 

And, adults who attend church and do things contrary to the teachings of Christ are called hypocrites.

So, what can we say?  I think this scripture says it all: “… the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”  

However, the word of God is strong and once heard it remains, and as along as the hearer has breathe he or she has the opportunity to accept it and Jesus and to receive God’s grace. 

We do not know when the Word of God will be united in faith in the heart of an unbeliever, but we know when it happens, God is there waiting.

De-Escalation Monday

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9

We all know what happens when someone either intentionally or unintentionally ticks us off.  We instantly get mad and start running our mouths saying all sorts of things which we later regret.  Or, worse yet, we get bumped into and nobody says, “Excuse me.” And, we end up wrestling around and somebody gets hurt. 

How about we have a de-escalation Monday and see what happens?  We can start by counting to ten and giving everybody the benefit of the doubt that perhaps they really did not mean to do what they did, and even if they did, well then we are just going to ignore it. 

We are called to bless, now let’s do it.