20.y. “Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Psalms 55:21   His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

 Psalms 36:4   He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

 Proverbs 8:13   The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

 Proverbs 26:25   when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

 Ezekiel 33:31   And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

 Psalms 34:14    Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

 Amos 5:15   Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

 Psalms 101:3   I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

 1 Peter 3:10-11  For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

I like where David says “ I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”  He has purposed in his heart to know what is good, true, and right and by knowing this he is able to discern what is evil and worthless.  Though he sees it and though others are doing or following after it, it will not cling to him.  He has purposed in his heart to keep his life from evil and to do that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ.  

How is a person to know what is worthless and how to keep it from clinging to us?  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  We need to be able to recognize and discern the difference between that which is worthless and that which is right, true, pure, honorable, and lovely.  God’s Word will always bring to mind the difference.  Sometimes this wisdom comes immediately and other times it is a work in progress.  The problem is that God’s Word does not reside in the hearts and minds of many.  Meditation on His Word is what is able to soak in on a Sunday morning a couple of times per month.  There is so much distraction in the world today.  It is at our fingertips all our waking moments and unless there is a purposed restraint it will consume our hearts and minds.  It is in this consumption that we become neglectful and complacent to the Word of God and things of God.  Take an inventory of what is worthless in the world.  Make a list of what you see as worthless.  Spend some time looking at God’s view of what is worthless in this world.  Seek and desire to know the difference.

Father of Lies

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

“For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.”

“His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

Psalms 62:4  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.

Matthew 2:16    Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Psalms 2:1  Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed,

Matthew 22:15   Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.

Matthew 22:34  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

Matthew 26:3  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,  and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

Luke 20:20   So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

Matthew 27:1     When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

John 11:47-50   So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all.  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish

Acts 4:16-17    saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

Acts 4:25  who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

Psalms 28:3   Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.

John 8:44   You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Revelation 22:15    Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Luke 11:39    And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

We should not be blind to the fact that there are those who will actively plot and scheme against christianity and also with those who believe.  Their father is the devil and he is a liar and father of all lies.  He speaks with a smooth tongue and tells people there is no God.  He tells people that there is no life after death.  He tells people that they need more and more. He tells people that their only happiness will come from what they get for themselves.  He tells people that Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross is not enough to cover their sin.  He tells people that they are not good enough for God.  He tells people that they are failures.  He tells people that personal pleasure at what ever cost is worth it.  He tells people that they will never find peace. He tells people that there is no hope.  He tells people to be greedy.  He tells people that going to church is enough.  He tells people that they are to busy to go to church.  He tells people that giving to the church and its mission is not needed from them.  He tells people that children are to be used for personal pleasure.  He tells people to worry.  He tells people to never forgive.  He tells people that there is no need to confess and turn away from their sin.  He blinds their eyes and heart to the current sin they are in.  He tells people to hold grudges.  He encourages people to be angry.  He confuses people.  He encourages people to close their ears to the whispers of God.  He tells people that they should not wait on God.  He tells people that God will not listen or answer their prayer.  He tells people that God does not love us.  And the list of lies could continue for pages…..  Our God lives and is the rock, refuge, fortress, and heavenly Father to all who believe.  However we will never be able to fight these lies if we spend little to no time in His word.  I wonder how many defeated people are out there because they do not know God and His promises that are found in His word.  I wonder how many do not seek God because they don’t feel they are good enough.  I wonder how many do not confess sin because they have drifted so far away from God they cannot hear Him speak into their life.  Our purpose is to know God, humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  We can to believe lies or truth – if we would only choose to seek Him and His purpose, things of this world and the lies it shouts as truths, would have less and less influence.  Choose Him!!!!