deceitful – Praying Pint

52.d. Wilderness – 16.j. “You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD”

Deu 25:13  “You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.

Proverbs 11:1   A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.

Proverbs 16:11    A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Proverbs 20:10     Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

Micah 6:11-12    Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?  Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Deuteronomy 6:18     And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you

Deuteronomy 5:33  You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you

Deuteronomy 4:40  Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days

Ephah was the common measure among the Israelites, by which all the others were made and adjusted. They are not only forbidden to use divers weights and measures, one large or heavy to buy with, and another small and light to sell with, but they were not even allowed to keep such in the house. It is observable also, that these too common but dishonest actions are branded as “an abomination to the Lord,” equally with idolatry, and other scandalous crimes.

Dishonest gain always brings a curse on men’s property, families, and souls. Happy those who judge themselves, repent of and forsake their sins, and put away evil things, that they may not be condemned of the Lord. (Henry)

Integrity, doing right, is something that seems to have lost much of its meaning in our societies. I was talking with a guy who was telling me about how proud he and his son were of the fact that a cashier at a tile store did not charge the correct amount. Instead of charging for 14 cases of tile, she charged for 14 individual tiles. The difference was over $1,000. He was very proud of this accomplishment. Integrity has nothing to do with getting away with something no one can know but you. It has everything to do with doing what is right in the eyes of God, who sees all. Now before you jump on the bandwagon to condemn the actions of this man and his son, which was clearly wrong, how many times do we do what is right in our own eyes and not give thought to what is right in the eyes of God? We might not brag doubt it to others but it is being done either on purpose or out of ignorance.

The devil is always there tempting us to discount things of God. He will give us justification to neglect the Word of God. He will tempt us with the busyness of life as a true and just reason for it. Don’t buy into this. Recognize it as what it is – a temptation to limit the Holy Spirit speaking into your life, and making you ineffective in your witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One sure way to be a tool for Satan is to neglect the Word of God. We may not see this as very important because we have not determined within our hearts and minds to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions all of the time. When we don’t see the importance we don’t see the need to repent of it. If we don’t repent of it we are blind and deaf and do not hear the Holy Spirit speaking into our lives. Certainly, we do not honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Where is the integrity of our hearts, minds, and souls when we neglect God’s Word? Are we not using a small measure to weigh our standing before God?

Use the full measure of God’s Word. Grow in it. Cherish it. Feed on it. Rely on it. Trust in it. Hold fast to it. Claim it. Believe it. Never let it be said that a day goes by when your thoughts are not feeding on it.

39.r. “The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.”

Genesis 49:5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Psalms 26:9    Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

Psalms 64:2    Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,

2 Corinthians 6:14    Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Proverbs 1:15-16   my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,  for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 12:5    The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

Our soul is our honor; by its powers we are distinguished from, and raised above, the beasts that perish. We ought, from our hearts, to abhor all bloody and mischievous men. Cursed be their anger. (Henry)

Simeon and Levi are brothers,…. Not because they were so in a natural sense, being brethren both by father and mother’s side, for there were others so besides them; but because they were of like tempers, dispositions, and manners (f), bold, wrathful, cruel, revengeful, and deceitful, and joined together in their evil counsels and evil actions, and so are joined together in the evils predicted of them, instruments of cruelty. (Gill)

Being in agreement with someone and joining together in an act does not necessarily make that act right, good, or just. It may make us think it is, but that will never make it so. Being angered at an act of another person(s) will surely come to us at some point in our lives, whether it be an act against us, our family, our friends, our community, or our nation. For some reason, anger is a part of our nature, and rightly so. Having the ability to recognize right and wrong, good and bad, just and injustice, and have either indignation or pleasure from it seems to be within our nature. How we treat this recognition in light of our knowledge and application of God’s Word is the difference between that which brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ or not.

By faith, trust, and reliance on God and His promises we can choose to lay the burden of our hearts about wrongs, injustice, and other sinful actions of others at His feet. Why???

Beloved, never avenge yourselves but leave it to the wrath of God
Vengeance is mine; I will repay
Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.
For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.
Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.
the Lord will repay him according to his deeds
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
the Lord is an avenger in all these things

I think it is good that we can see wrongs and feel indignation and anger. This means we have the ability to know the difference. However, some people may be angered by good. The civil war is an example of two groups of people who saw the same thing, one calling it wrong and one calling it good. When we look at abortion there are those who call killing unborn babies good and those who call it bad. The same can be said about pornography, sex trafficking, LGBTQ, looting and burning businesses in an outcry of retaliation, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, etc…. Let us know that it is from the heart that seeks and desires to honor and glorify Jesus Christ that a person will discern what is right, true, just, and good. Praise God that we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us unto truth in all matters. Praise God that we have been given discernment. Praise God that we have been given His promises of handling all wrongs, injustices, and cruelty. Praise God who gives us promises that allow us to lay these at His feet and know, in His Holiness and in His time they will be justly handled. Praise God we can rest and have peace when all around us are in fear and anger. Praise God and rejoice for He is God and in Him, we have hope for today and assurance for tomorrow.

33.k. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Matthew 15:10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Isaiah 55:3    Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live;

Titus 1:15    To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

Isaiah 60:21   Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.

Isaiah 56:10   His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.

Isaiah 28:9-10   “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast?  For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

Proverbs 10:32   The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse

Jeremiah 17:9   The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Revelation 21:27   But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

In the heart and mind of every person resides the root of their intents. Lust, anger, hate, envy, lies, gossiping, selfishness, self-worthiness, and self-reliance seeds are planted, rooted, watered, cultivated, and harvested within the heart and mind and manifest in thoughts, words, and actions that reveal a person’s path in this life. When the gospel of Jesus Christ is rejected the fertile ground within our hearts and minds will raise and harvest crops that do not honor and glorify Jesus Christ. When the Word of God is rejected and neglected the harvest is surely not God-honoring or glorifying.

We don’t have to be around people very long to see what is planted and being harvested within their hearts and mind. Their words and actions reveal their intended harvest. How is a person to know what it is that is planted, growing, and being harvested from within their hearts and minds? The Word of God will lay wide open a person’s heart and mind, exposing the thoughts, intents, and actions stemming from within. Without the Word of God it is clear – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Human discernment apart from God’s Word will never understand the thoughts and intents of the heart. Their understanding is blind and deaf because there is nothing planted from which good crops can be harvested in either thoughts, words, or actions. Oh, they can do good things according to cultural and social norms, but the intent is self-serving, not God-honoring and glorifying. People will blindly accept their life without God in it and give no thought to their eternal destination. As they age and approach the time in their life where death is closer than their birth, they may give some thought to death and eternity. They may ask themselves; where is my eternal destination? Are heaven and hell real? Have I been good enough to be allowed into heaven? These questions all reveal a heart and mind that has never humbly repented, surrendered, believed in, and trust Jesus Christ for their forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. The good news is that it is never too late, nor is a person too old, nor is a person too unforgivable. Jesus Christ came into the world to save the sinners. He died on the cross, bearing all their sins so that they might have eternal life if they would just humbly repent, surrender, believe, trust, and rely on His sacrifice alone and apart from any good works they may have done. It is in this humble repentance, surrender, belief, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ that a person is born again and eternal life promised. These lost souls will find rest for their souls and peace of mind for their hearts.

I have seen the intents of the hearts and minds of “Christians” revealed in their words and actions. We are not immune to the seeds of destruction being planted, rooted, and harvested in our lives. These seed thoughts are being planted all the time by what we read, what we watch, what we are exposed to, and what we allow to reside in our hearts and minds. Paul addressed this very clearly when he said; “take every thought captive”. We are to be able to discern what is right, holy, good, pure, and acceptable. How can this be if we neglect and become complacent with the Word of God? God’s Word is the seed, fertilizer, and water for all that is right, true, holy, good, and acceptable. Discernment is a result of desiring and seeking God’s Word with the intentional choice to know what is right, true, good, pure, holy, and acceptable for the single purpose of being able to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we say, think, and do.

Do you want to discern what is in your heart, continually expose it to God’s Word with an expectant mind that God will reveal it. David had such a heart – “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

27.u. “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life”

Ephesians 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

You have been outside in the hot sun working all day, sweating, and getting dirty. You have been invited to a friend’s house for a bbq with others. After working all day you need a shower and good washing. When you dry off you put on the same old sweaty, stinky, dirty clothes you have been in all day and head out the door to meet up with your friends. This makes no sense, does it? It would be foolish to think that just because you have had a shower your clothes would be clean and appropriate to wear.

Numerous scriptures tell us; “Put off your old self”, “Our old self was crucified”, “Put on the new self”. Why would we put on the same dirty, foul, disobedient, passions, and pleasures after we have been washed clean from all of these? Why would we think these are ok to “wear”? Jesus Christ died to cleanse us from all of this. Paul is saying, “why would you take the cleansing and go back to doing the very things that needed cleansing?” This makes no sense.

Once we are cleansed we do well to honor and glorify our “Cleanser” Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has been given to every believer so that they can continue to grow in understanding and knowledge of the grace, mercy, and love that Jesus Christ poured out on us. When we desire this growth and seek it, we will not become complacent and neglectful in His Word, nor will we keep trying to put on our “Old Self”

27.q. “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions”

Ephesians 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Acts 20:30-31   and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Romans 16:17-18    I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Colossians 2:4    I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Colossians 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 John 2:26     I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-5   not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

1 John 4:1    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Timothy 4:3   For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Once people leave the Word of God they often then embrace fantastic fantasies. When a man rejects God’s truth, it isn’t that he believes in nothing; he will believe in anything. Their ears crave it. Their hearts feed on it. Their minds believe it.

Philosophy threatening us Christians is dangerous because it is not obviously sinful. It is high-sounding and seems highly intelligent. Vain speculation replaces God’s truth. Deception and false direction pulls and takes captive those who are not rooted, watered, and growing (maturing) in the Word of God and their understanding and knowledge of Him. Paul is warning them about people who would come and speak charismatically about vain things that seem plausible because of the way they are presented, but in truth, it dilutes the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have to be mindful of our innate desire to chase after worldly and fleshly stuff rather than the spiritual living water and bread of life found in Jesus Christ alone. As we grow in the knowledge and understanding of God’s grace, mercy, and love the things of this world become less important. Our hearts and minds daily continue to be filled to overflowing with more light, wisdom, discernment in what is God-honoring and glorifying and what is not. A shallow commitment leads to neglect. There will be no growth in our lives. In fact, there will be just the opposite. Once there is no desire for growth – a withering and shrinking decline takes place and tossing to and fro from every wind of doctrine takes root.

We are given the fullness of the Holy Spirit when we were born again. We are given free will to choose to listen, follow, and obey its leading. When we intentionally choose to desire more understanding and knowledge of God and what it means to live in such a way that honors and glorifies Him alone in all we say and do, then and only then will we display the peace, hope, and joy that only comes in and through Jesus Christ.

27.o. “So that we may no longer be children”

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Paul did not command a structural or organizational unity, but a spiritual unity around a common faith. People are given spiritual gifts (they are equipped) for building up and equipping Christians to maturity in faith, knowledge, understanding, and intimacy with Jesus Christ. Remember Paul telling the Corinthians that they were still babies in faith and though they should be on solid food they were still infants on milk concerning things of God. Maturity in faith does not just happen. It must be cultivated, watered, and fed. Spiritual maturity, knowledge, understanding, discernment, and wisdom grow when the heart and mind and soul intentionally choose to deny self and worldly lusts, pleasures, and schemes but rather chooses to humbly surrender to the will of God, seeking and desiring to be led by Him, obeying, following, trusting, and relying on Him for the ever-growing and maturing want to honor and glorify Him in all that is thought, spoke, or action taken.

25.u. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world”

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Acts 20:30    and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

2 John 1:7-11    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.  Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.  Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Jeremiah 23:14-15   But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.”  Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”

It is so easy for all people, including Christians, to be taken in by image, charisma, and outward appearances. Many will only recognize evil if it is openly and unanimously declared as evil. Why is this? Sometimes I wonder if it is more because of our itching ears wanting it this way. We want our pastor to be one of influence, great in clarity of speech, and proclaiming insights we never knew. We don’t want to diligently search scripture to know and understand – discern – the Word of God through the leading and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We want to be spoon-fed with what our pastor has to say about scripture. We don’t spend time reading and studying God’s Word with a desire to have God give us wisdom in understanding and applying it. The Word of God was not given to pastors only. God has given us His Word so that we can know Him more and more and live more and more in ways that truly honor and glorify Him. Do we think that being spoon-fed a few select scriptures once per week will fill us? Do we think being spoon-fed once per week we will have any chance of discerning what is right and wrong, true and false, good and bad in the sight of God? This lack of desire to know and study God’s Word leaves us open to embracing lies and deceptions of Satan himself, who transforms himself into an angel of light. If Satan were to appear before a human audience, he would be regarded as an angel of light. Those who can discern it look at those who cannot and wonder with amazement at how easily they have been deceived.

“It is generally said that Satan has three forms under which he tempts men: 1. The subtle serpent. 2. The roaring lion. 3. The angel of light. He often, as the angel of light, persuades men to do things under the name of religion, which is disruptive, destructive, and disloyal of things of God. As a roaring lion, the horrors of all kinds of twisted persecutions and atrocities occur. As the subtle serpent, he frequently and easily deceives us so that that which is right is called wrong and that which is wrong is called right. He appeals to the weak and strong, learned and unlearned, wise and foolish, proud and humble, rich and poor. He temps us all when we least expect it. Why does God’s Word tell us to be diligent, resist, stand firm, and remain faithful? It is because of the lies and deceptions of the father of all lies and deceit. How are we to know and discern that which is true and false, right and wrong, good and bad if the Word of God is not desired in our lives more than being spoon-fed once per week? Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

19.n. “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 4:17   Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.

Ephesians 4:22-24  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

1 John 2:6   whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Colossians 1:10-12    so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Philippians 3:17-18    Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Romans 13:13-14     Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

“That we too might walk in newness of life.” “Behold the new has come.” “He is a New Creation.” Renewed in the spirit of your minds.” “Put on the new self.” “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” “Let us walk properly as in the daytime.” What does it mean to walk properly and in a manner worthy of the Lord? The easiest way to think about answering this is to know what sin is and to know what is pleasing to God. How do we know what sin is? Do we know it by instinct? Do we instinctively know what is good and bad – right and wrong – true and false? Unfortunately, we do not instinctively know, but through our upbringing and our culture, we determine what is socially acceptable. If something is socially or culturally acceptable is it good, right, and true? – (Maybe) If it is socially and culturally acceptable can it still be sin? – (absolutely) Someone said wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it, and right is right if there is only one doing it.

If we base our rights, wrongs, and truths on what is culturally acceptable then we can easily fall prey to doing what is sin in God’s eyes. There is only one place we gain insight into what is good, right, and true. That is in God’s word. He is steadfast. His Word is true. His promises are true. He is truth. There is no falsehood in Him. If we want to know what is true, right, good, and honorable then we need to not only spend time in His Word but also spend time with Him in prayer. Jesus said that out of the abundance of our heart our mouth speaks. If we are only feeding our heart with a token stab at daily devotions then His Word will not abide in us but rather pass through us as if we were empty vessels. There must be a heart-deep desire connected to our seeking of what is true, good, and right. There must be a hunger and thirst. If there is stagnate “life” flowing through your veins and if there is a neglect of God’s Word in your day, and if there is a foggy haze to your understanding of what is good, right, and true in God’s eyes, then repent and turn away from this right now. You are a new creation that has been born with the newness of life through Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die for you so that you could keep on sinning but rather so that you would choose to intentionally live to honor and glorify Him alone. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12.w. “But I will leave within you the meek and humble”

Zephaniah 3:9 “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Jeremiah 7:9-12   Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

Ezekiel 7:24     I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.

Ezekiel 24:21    ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Zephaniah makes it very clear there will be a time of judgment for the prideful, arrogant, haughty, self-important, smug, puffed up, and condescending people. These will be removed and will no longer be influencing others. They are gone. Their final place is in torment in hell. By Zephaniah’s warning/proclamation people throughout time have had chance after chance through the grace of God to turn away from their defiance and denial of God. Some do, but many millions more do not. The promise of peace and rest, grace and mercy, forgiveness, and salvation is not enough for them to turn away from the path in life they have chosen. Defiance and denial do not negate the judgment coming but certainly do cement their eternal destiny. The humble and meek will be with Jesus Christ. Those who by faith surrender their eternal destiny into the hands of Jesus Christ will be with Him. They have repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus Christ. They humbly seek and desire His Word to guide, protect, encourage, and give them the wisdom to see the world’s lies, temptations, and enticements so that they live honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ this side of eternity. A time is coming, much sooner than we think, where we will be face to face with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Savior, and King. The time of salvation is now, before judgment, not after. Do not delay in finding true peace rest, and eternal salvation through faith in Him.

1.s. You did well that it was in your heart

2 Chronicles 6:7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ Now the Lord has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and I have built the house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

We see David had it in his heart to build a house for God. David was embarrassed by the fact that he was living in a fine palace and God was not. So, David purposed in his heart to save and set aside money, purchase materials, and design that which he purposed in his heart to build for God.

Don’t pass over “you did well that it was in your heart”. It is in the normal heart to lead and keep us focused on self and away from God.

Jon Bloom writes – “The truth is, no one lies to us more than our own hearts. No one. If our hearts are compasses, they are misguiding compasses. They don’t tell us the truth; they just tell us what we want. If our hearts are guides, they are more than likely lying and want to convince us to above all else please self. They are not benevolent; they are pathologically selfish. In fact, if we do what our hearts tell us to do, we will pervert and impoverish every desire, every beauty, every person, every wonder, and every joy. Our hearts want to consume these things for our own self-glory and self-indulgence. No, our hearts will not naturally lead us in the direction of God. We need to be saved from our hearts natural desires.” “Therefore, don’t believe in your heart; direct your heart to believe in God. Don’t follow your heart; follow Jesus. Note that Jesus did not say to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled, just believe in your hearts.” He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” “So, though your heart will try to shepherd you today, do not follow it. It is not a shepherd. It is a pompous sheep that, due to remaining sin, has some wolf-like qualities. Don’t follow it, and be careful even listening to it. Remember, your heart only tells you what you want, not where you should go. So, only listen to it to note what it’s telling you about what you want, and then take your wants, both good and evil, to Jesus as requests and confessions.”

Intentionally choosing each day to be heart, soul, and mind, focused on honoring God will change the way you see each moment that passes before you, each thought that comes into your mind, and every action you are planning to take. Stay in His word and let it fill your heart and mind with more understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ.