Evil – Page 19 – Praying Pint

False Hopes

“Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

Psalms 30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

Isaiah 56:12 “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.”

Daniel 4:30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Luke 21:34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

James 4:13-16 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

What cares of this life blind us to our soul purpose of humbly serving, honoring and glorifying God? What is in this life that compares to the promise of eternity in heaven? What does a life look like that cares not for self but rather seeks to know, understand and serve God? Our length of life is but a vapor when compared to eternity. Yet we find ourselves consumed with satisfying ourselves with what this world has to offer. Our minds lose sight of God so easily. We allow our minds to dwell on things temporary and day after day focus on what pleases us. We jump on a worldly cause and listen to others who speak with passion about it, never giving thought to or about God. We would do well to first seek God and how to humbly serve Him. We would do well to keep focus on Him. We worry, we boast, we seek self pleasure, and we consume our lives with chasing after that which pulls us further and further away from God. How long will God pursue us with grace and mercy before He says ENOUGH and allows His wrath loose.

Eye’s Open

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Psalms 27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Psalms 52:2 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”

2 Kings 6:15-17 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

Isaiah 41:11-12 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

Isaiah 54:16-17 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

Awesome words of encouragement for us today. Time after time God has seen to it that these words are recorded to give us hope in times of our trials. The battles we face are His. Yet do we believe this or do we try to go it alone and in our own strength? Look at the warning also given to those who trust in themselves and give no thought to or about God. “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” We have a place of refuge in God. We have a place of strength in God. We have a place of hope in God. Why is it we always seem to try it on and in our own strength. How many times do we need to fail in these attempts before we choose God to be the first place we run to? From my own experience I am not sure I have learned this fully. There are times my first response is to hit it head on alone. Oh that we would first run to the one who is able – God!

Integrity

“O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.”

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Psalms 25:20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Psalms 121:7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

Psalms 71:1-2 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!

Joel 2:26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you

Proverbs 20:7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them

Acts 24:16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Psalms 18:20 The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

Psalms 7:8 The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

Psalms 26:11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.

Having strong moral principles and being honest deserve some thought. How do we judge our moral principles (integrity)? By what standard do we use or should we use to know our moral compass has the right heading? If the culture of our society says murder is ok would we have moral principles if we agreed with this? One example; Worldwide 40-50 million living babies in the womb are killed every year. Do our moral principles say this is wrong or right? It is critical to understand what we base our principles on. It can get very confusing. Social media at our finger tips can easily play into defining our moral stance. Where do we find solid ground? How do we stay grounded and not moved? God’s word says that His laws have been written on every mind and heart. For the most part we know wrong from right but for some reason we seem to want to define our own wrong and right – we justify it in our mind. If we question our stance, as it may be contrary to what God is speaking to our heart, we search out others who think the same and then justify our stance on like minded people. David said he the ways of the Lord, and God’s rules and statutes were never put away. He kept them before himself. Writing them on his heart and mind, meditating on them when the sun rose and set. God’s word is truth – if you don’t start here you will never have a basis on which to stand that has eternal benefit. Every person gets to decide if they will believe in God, believe He will judge every man, believe there is nothing hidden from God, believe He alone has salvation, believe God will lead and direct them, believe God will protect them, believe God will be their salvation on the day of judgement, believe there is both heaven and hell, believe God will hear their prayer, believe God is living and ever present, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO BASE THIS ON HIS WORD.

The Straight Path

but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day

Joshua 23:6
turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day

Deuteronomy 5:32
You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 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, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess

Proverbs 4:25
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil

2 Kings 22:2
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.

Joshua is old and he speaks to the people telling them to keep on a firm path with the Lord not turing to the left or the right. He is not the only one to state this truth. Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”. It is a common theme in scripture for those who are called by God. What is the straight path? I think it is having heart, mind, and soul with a purposeful desire to fully trust and humbly serve God. He is my portion, strength, shelter, rock, hope, peace, joy, love….. and is not replaced by things of this world. Keep your feet on solid ground. Keep your eyes fixed on Him. Keep your heart’s desire for Him. Keep your ears listening for His voice and direction. Keep your trust in His strength, power, and might. Do not dilute His grace with your works. Want to be used by Him for His purpose, honor, and glory.

Commit, Turn Away, Commit

And I was very angry

Nehemiah 13:4
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty- second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. So I confronted the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

After completion of rebuilding the walls and establishing an oath with God Nehemiah went back to Babylon to see King Artaxerxes. After some time there Nehemiah received permission to return to Jerusalem. When Nehemiah returned he found that a lot had happened while he was away. The people had fallen away from what they had committed to not too many years prior. And so it goes – commit fall away, commit fall away….. This seems to be human nature but it does not have to be. Scripture is full of encouragement – “Resist the devil and he will flee”, “Train up yourself in the way that you should walk in the Lord”, “Be strong in the Lord”, “Put on the full armor of God”, “Pray without ceasing”, “Confess you sins”, “Serve and trust God with all your heart, mind and soul”, “Be faithful”. It is very easy to be blind to God’s word when there is little time spent in it. When His word is absent what is there to guide you. Commit to stay in His word and be used by God as a light to those around you.

No One Knows

And there shall be a unique day,

There is a day coming that will have consequences for everyone. Those who are of faith in Jesus Christ and salvation through him by the grace and mercy of God will have a glorious day. Those who, like in the times of Noah, do not see any merit in pleasing God or living for Him or evening believing that He exists will have a very terrible day. The fact that the day is coming does not matter if you believe it or not. Believing determines if you look forward to that day. Believing determines how you live your life this side of eternity. The same can be true of not believing. I wonder how people’s lives would change if they thought or knew this day was on the 6th of June 2016. Would that which is troubling us seem so important? Would the things that we put before others seem so important? Would the money we so dearly hang on to seem so important? Would Me, Myself, and I have any importance at all? The answer to these questions is No they are not. So what is it that keeps you from living this way?

Matthew 24:36
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man

Zechariah 14:7
On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light

Genesis 6:5
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord

Innocent as a Dove

Being blameless, innocent, and wise seems to be a huge task if we are at all conscious of ourselves. To what standard are we to use to compare our actions, intent, and thought? Do we look at the corrupt world and culture with a longing to be or have part of it? Do we walk close to it and at times step into the same thoughts and actions? How are we to keep our heart pure? Scripture states that out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks. What is feeding our heart, what we think about, what we find purpose in, will determine the course of our heart, actions, and thoughts. Having a desire to honor and glorify God along with understanding what His word says and then obeying what He says to your heart – I understand new each day I have only begun to scratch the surface in living for Him.

Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves

Romans 16:19
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil

Philippians 2:15
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life

Jeremiah 4:22
“For my people are foolish;
they know me not;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!
But how to do good they know not

Choosing Knowledge of God

Jesus had just healed two men, delivering them from demon possession and after this people of the region begged Him to leave. Others, in scripture, reject knowledge of God and still others hold to evil and reject good. Why do people reject Him? How many times do we reject His leading and purpose throughout the day? Rejecting God and His purpose for our lives comes with many consequences, all of them bad. However, for those who chose to humbly serve Him – they will find peace, love, joy, blessing, hope, and security.

Matthew 8:34
And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region

Psalms 36:2
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children

Proverbs 1:29
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster