Tag: Judgement

Daily Choice

“I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”

Hosea 10:3
For now they will say:
“We have no king,
for we do not fear the Lord;
and a king—what could he do for us?”
They utter mere words;
with empty oaths they make covenants;
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
for the calf of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—
for it has departed from them.
The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.

1 Samuel 12:12
And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the Lord your God was your king. And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the Lord has set a king over you. If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king. Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.

Gideon 8:23
Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”

What does it mean the Lord will rule over you?  In Samuel there seems to be a choice we make – “If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.”  The choice to fear Him, serve Him, obey Him, and to follow Him each of us will make every second of the day.  Hosea says those who choose to do what is right in their own eyes will have judgements that spring up like poisonous weeds on those who make choices with words rather than their heart.  Some will die in this choice and others will see what they have done and will be ashamed. In James it is stated something like this – “you say you have faith, but I say your works should demonstrate this faith for faith without works is meaningless.”  Is it easy to determine what choice has been made – or what  is the desire of your heart?  Is God and His word written on your heart – this would mean time spent in it.  Do you meditate on His word with the sun comes up and when it goes down – this would mean time spent in His word.  Do you desire knowledge and understanding of God and to grow in it – this would mean time spent in His word.  There is so much from this world and our culture that would lead us down a path that sees no need for God and seems to validate our choices.  David said “God’s word is a light unto his path.” Everyday we make a choice to live for and serve God or live for and serve self.  Some may think this is a  “one time” choice but it much more than that.  It is a continuous “life long” “daily” conscious choice,  lived out every second every single day.

Spirit fill me

“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Judges 17:6
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 12:8
“You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you.

Proverbs 12:14
From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 21:1
he king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

John 16:7
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

During the time of Samson it was recorded that the people did what was right in their own eyes because there was no leadership in the ways of God.  When they had a leader who purposed and desired to follow God they had peace but when that leader and people lost focus and fell away from serving God there was punishment, exile, slavery, death, famine, floods, wars, destruction, drought, no blessing, no hope, no faith.  I am not sure we truly grasp just how much blessing we are living in since the time of Christ.  Before Christ died He told the disciples that He must go away because if He didn’t the “Helper” would not come. The Helper is the Holy Spirit and would be ever present in the world to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.  No longer would it depend on a prophet, king, or someone else – God would be omnipresent.  We live in a time where the Spirit of God is speaking to our hearts, minds and souls to lead us on paths that glorify and honor God.  If we choose to listen and obey we find peace.  If we choose to “do what is right in our own eyes” we find unrest, hopelessness, no peace or at best temporary peace without any satisfaction.  Choose to be a vessel for God, listening to and being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Love Never Fails

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:5

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 10:24
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor

Matthew 5:22
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.

I was at a very special wedding this weekend and these verses from 1 Cor 13 were read.  I guess we expect these verses to be read at the wedding as a guide to the new couple to base their new life together on.  How much do I allow these to permeate my everyday thoughts and actions?  I can’t remember the last time I have spent time thinking about these verses but what a wake up call.  Love is patient – This is not something that comes natural to me.  It is so easy to get wigged out over plans not happing as “I” want.  Love is not proud – I happen to know that parents of the bride and groom were both proud and thankful.  They might have even been a bit boastful – “that is my daughter – that is my son”.  Their being proud and boastful was encapsulated with thankful hearts to God for their children and occasion.  Love is not easily angered, love is not self-seeking, love keeps no record of wrongs – oh my this is something we can all put on our mirrors and read daily.  How much nicer would our immediate world be if we were the ones living this out.  True love never fails.

God First

But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment

Nehemiah 9:25
So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies

Deuteronomy 31:16
Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us

Deuteronomy 32:15
then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation

Numbers 15:39
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.

Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment

Ezekiel 9:9
how I have been broken over their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols

Such examples and warnings from the past should remind us to be mindful of the trap of complacency.  Note that in their time of blessing they rebelled and followed the ways of their heart and eyes.  It is so easy to drift from God when things are going so well.  I wonder at times if we truly rely on God for each day but rather stand content in salvation and look no further for personal growth in understanding and living for God every single day.  Trust me I know all of the excuses – special projects at work, special projects at him, activities with friends, activities with family, activities with children, and after this we try to work God into the picture.  This is not how it is to be.  God should be first and all the rest second.  Would you be willing to do anything for the person who gave his son for you so that your death sentence was removed?  If that person asked anything of you, would you not do it out of thankfulness?  God not only gave His son but He also gave His Holy Spirit to us so that we would have an indwelling presence of Him and be able to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do.  He also gave precious promises to us so that we would be encouraged to follow this path of honoring Him.  Make Him first.  Our heart needs to desire Him more than the world and our eyes need to seek to see the wonder of His hand every moment.

Why Forgive Others?

Every last one of us, or someone close to us has been wronged by someone.  It will have happened from a stranger, wife, husband, mom, dad, brother, sister, extended family member, colleague, boss. and even us to others, etc…. No matter where it comes from it hurts and I think it hurts most when it comes from those closest to us.   Yet scripture is very clear isn’t it – there is no limit on how many times we are to forgive.  Our example on forgiveness is to be looked at from the side of understanding what God has done with us who have received His forgiveness.  Our Holy God not only forgave us, but also the debt of sin was paid in full by His son.  The act of Forgiveness only takes the action of one person.  It is up to the individual alone to forgive even if the other person has no desire to reconcile.  What would life be like if we were to forgive, forget, and show mercy and love to those who wrong us.  Do you want to be a light to the world that sees no hope? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Do you want to honor and glorify God? – Forgive those who have wronged you – Show the same grace, mercy and love God has given you!

Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy- seven times “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. ’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe. ’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you. ’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? ’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart

Probers 21:12
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered

James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy

Matthew 6:15
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses

Believe It or Not

Believe it or not but there is a time coming when all will stand before God and give account for their life.  Saying this is a fairy tale does not make a difference.  God sent His Son to redeem mankind so that all who believe would not perish but have everlasting life. We will enter a time of judgement before God.  Some may look at Matthew 16:27 and think they must earn their way but what they do.  Scripture says two clear points on this.  1. The only work that God requires is that we believe in the redeeming work of His son.  2. It is not by works we are saved but by the grace of God, lest any man should boast.  This may seem contradictory at first glance – Not by works yet judged by what we have done.  In short if we believe then we have said in our heart that we trust in Christ not only for salvation/redemption but also for leading us through life in a manner that honors and glorifies God.  Believing/Trusting is not a one and done event but rather a life long commitment to humbly follow and serve the God of our salvation.

Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words

Jude 1:14
“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done

Peace, or Anger and Division

Sometimes we feel justified in our anger and response to others.  Many times it is because they have hurt us or others in some way.  We have choices to make everyday and one of those is how we will respond to others, how we think of them, how we treat them, how we strive for peace or strife.  How will people see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ when we are choosing to show darkness of sin in response.  Choose to guard your thoughts and actions.  Pursue peace!

 

Matthew 5:21
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment

Revelation 21:7
The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death

Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, for without holiness no one will see the Lord

Romans 14:19
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding

Galatians 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are evident:sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 6:9
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God