UNMASKED EVIL!

Sunday, September 30, 2018

UNMASKED EVIL!

Psalm 73

           Typical of Hebrew writing, the conclusion is presented first. “ Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. Ps 73:1 No matter how much evil rages around us the pure and good nature of God is unchanged.

           But as for me! Evil, when it is cloaked produces suspicion and caution. The hairs stand up attentive to warn us that what we are seeing is deceit. Body heat concentrates in our core. The ears tune in to lies and the eyes dilate to catch every nuance. This is evil. We know it but it is wearing fine clothing and presenting itself with manners.

           Unmasked evil is shocking! All our suspicions are verified and cordiality turns vicious. Evil bears its teeth and its breath is foul. We are afraid. We are angry and we are discouraged. How could such open evil parade in our streets? How could it sit openly in our halls of government and in our pews singing our hymns? It can no longer hide so it abandons pretense. “Our steps have well nigh slipped” because evil prevails – even in us.

           Evil prospers for a time! “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Ps 73:12 Evil rewards itself with stolen treasures. The good and the meek have been mugged and lay bleeding in the streets. They have been spoiled. We are incensed and seek revenge but evil is too strong for us. We need a champion.

           Evil has an end! “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Ps 73:16-17  In the sanctuary evil has only one of two choices. It may continue on to destruction or it may receive forgiveness through repentance. But it is in the sanctuary that evil comes to an end.

Dear Lord, in your sanctuary put an end to evil. In your sanctuary put an end to discouragement. In your sanctuary let my lips sing your praise. AMEN

RESTING – RESCUE – REPRESENTING!

Saturday, September 29, 2018

RESTING – RESCUE – REPRESENTING!

Ps 40:1-3

40 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

           Resting! David did what is the most difficult thing to do when you are going through tough times. He waited patiently. Well, I’m still working on that character strength and God keeps “helping” me by allowing me to endure situations beyond my control.

           Rescue! God responded by bringing David out of what he called a “horrible pit.” The original language indicates a cistern where every sound was echoed. The howling of the wild beast would have been amplified. The longer he stayed the deeper he sank. “He brought me up” is literally “to arise” and many commentators liken it to the resurrection. Once on the rock the “goings” are easier.

           Representing! The rescued heart burst forth in songs of praise. People hear it. They notice the change in attitude. Despair has turned to hope. Those who had lost hope now take courage because of what God has done. Without knowing it, the Psalmist had become a living testimonial to the grace of God.

Dear Lord, waiting is hard because rescue is desperately needed. Let me be brought up from my roaring pit. Let my lips praise you. Let others see it and take courage. AMEN

THREE DAILY CHALLENGES!

Friday, September 28, 2018

THREE DAILY CHALLENGES!

Phil 2:13-15

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

           The Christian is faced with at least three daily challenges that makes it hard to shine especially in business! We need to be reminded that the business man who is neatly dressed and scrubbed clean may be hiding a corrupt mind and heart! Although he may seem friendly, his true friend is “the bottom line.” It is important that we remind ourselves that three daily challenges will greet us as we begin our day.

           First, the world holds to the notion that reason is always superior to faith! Even “church people” will compartmentalize these two so that they do not intermingle. They are thought to reside in two separate realms. Reason is reason and faith is faith. Because reason is based upon science and observable facts it is preferred over faith. God never intended the two to be separated.

Rom 1:28

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

           Second, remember that business practices are “amoral” or value free. Whatever cheating or scheming necessary to “get the job done” is considered normal business practices. The religious idealist becomes very vulnerable if he applies the same rules to business that he finds at church! It is not necessary to abandon morality and decency but always remember that these do not necessarily exist in the business world.

Rom 1:29-31

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

           Third, it is important to know that we live in a world that does not respect rules! The world sees itself as morally emancipated, self-sufficient and free to do as they please. They smile at the Ten Commandments and obey them only when it is convenient or beneficial. The result of these three godless values has left the world friendless and fearful.

Judg 17:6

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Ps 53:5

5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was:

           The answer for us, of course, is not to join the world in its scheming paranoia but to be alert to the evil around us.

Rom 8:2-4

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Dear Lord, fulfill your righteous law in me today – but let me be wary of the evil world around me. AMEN

CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

Thursday, September 27, 2018

CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

Josh 24:14-15

14 Now therefore fear the Lord , and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord .

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .

           John Calvin, in his Prefatory address to King Francis when he wrote his Institutes, referred to a prevailing attitude of the time. He called it “The Appeal to Custom against Truth!” There is enormous pressure to conform to the cultural model of belief and behavior even when there are clear instructions to the contrary in God’s Word. In order to be “cool,” or simply to live in peace with our fellows, we ignore and discard God’s clear directives to not follow the crowd.

Man is morally free to make his own choices and to suffer the consequences of those choices. Man is responsible for his conduct. The social history of the world, the universal consciousness of man, and the concurrent teachings of the Bible all show this. Man is responsible for his destiny. Character is constantly being formed! It will emerge either marred or perfect, depending on whether you submit to the Divine will, or resist the influences He brings to bear upon you.

God condemned the world with the Flood but kept Noah and his family alive. The world drowned as a mob but each man died as an individual for his sins. (see Genesis 7:1 and Hebrews 11:7) James S. Hewett said: “evil custom is nothing but a kind of public pestilence in which men do not perish the less though they fall with the multitude."

Dear Lord, I will be presented with many choices today. When I make those choices there will be consequences as a result of my choosing. Please, let me see the snare and not simply the bait. AMEN

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT!

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

I hope you enjoy today’s “Classic”

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FLESH AND SPIRIT!

In childhood our flesh is ignored and we hardly give our bodies much thought. Our days are spent running and playing and catching lightning bugs and pollywogs. We ford streams and climb trees; our skin is burned by the sun and scraped by the rocks. The pains of the body are quickly removed by a mothers kiss. God is a mystery!

In youth our flesh demands attention. Great sweeping change takes place and almost violent emotions emerge. All is drama! The eyes swell with new sights and the skin tingles with new sensations. Desire is awakened and demands to be fed. Lightening bugs chase us but we pay no attention. Our bodies are strong yet out of balance and clumsy. God is postponed for another time!

In adulthood our bodies serve us well as vehicles for all our ventures. Hard work is done and sweet sleep is enjoyed. The body settles down and so do we. Families are built and memories are stored to be enjoyed later. Business and busyness fill our days. In making a living we often forget to live. God stands waiting!

In older age our bodies are an inconvenience. The spirit awakens to a waiting God, hopefully. Children are our greatest joy and we sympathize with the struggle of youth, close our eyes and shake our heads at them. They will survive if they are careful. Pain can no longer be kissed away and becomes a familiar companion but not a friend. Sleep is sporadic, fitful and unfulfilling. Friends depart and loneliness arrives but memory nearly bursts in its vibrancy. Wisdom is abundant but no one seeks it. God is a Friend!

Gal 5:16-17 (KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Dear Father, be my Lord in all the changes of my life. AMEN