Idle words

I find it interesting that Jesus specified "idle" words.  We will have to account for our idle words.  Why do we have to account for idle words but not others? 

Matthew 12:36-37(NKJV)

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

My guess is that idle words is a way of saying that we will have to account for the time that we chose not to serve God.  Just a guess.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. "

Once again I am truly amazed at how God works.  I read the first passage a couple of days ago and wanted to write about it.  I am a big knowledge junkie and I'll explain that in a minute.  What was interesting was that God said no, write this other thing instead. 

So I did.  But I kept wanting to get back to this first passage.  God wouldn't let me.  Today I found out why.  Today I read the second passage.  God knew that second passage was coming up and wanted me to combine them.  God is so cool! 

Now I know that many of you are probably saying "Oh come on, God doesn't get that involved in our daily lives.  God doesn't communicate directly with us like that."  Well believe what you want but I'm here to tell you my friend that God truly does do that.  I experience it on an almost daily basis and you can too if you want to.  Read on to find out how.

Hosea 4:6(NKJV)

    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.     Because you have rejected knowledge,     I also will reject you from being priest for Me;     Because you have forgotten the law of your God,     I also will forget your children.

I have been a knowledge junkie for years.  The Bible is replete with exhortations to acquire knowledge and I have internalized that desire.  Actually that gives me way to much credit.  I think the more accurate description is that God blessed me with that desire.

I would much rather be learning something than watching TV.  Most evenings the TV is on but only as background noise because I am learning about working on cars, or how to use CAD/CAM software, or how to program micro controllers, or any number of other things.  I'm just sucking in knowledge like a vacuum cleaner and I believe my life has been blessed because of that.

There are a couple of things about that first passage that bother me.  It says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  But the second part is the damning part.  It isn't that knowledge isn't available.  It is that the people rejected it!  That is just sad!

I remember back in the day graduating from high school, there were some who made statements like I'm never going to open a book the rest of my life and they were proud of it.  That sounds like rejecting knowledge to me.  And then people like that are surprised that life doesn't turn out as well as they had hoped.  Go figure. 

Now read the verse from today.

Hosea 6:6(NKJV)

    For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,     And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

What kind of knowledge should we be seeking?  All kinds really but number one on the list, head and shoulders above all other knowledge is the "knowledge of God".  The passage above is God speaking and He is telling us that He would rather see us seeking His knowledge than see us doing the burnt offerings etc.

Ever wonder why that is?  While I don’t presume to speak for God I'll take a stab at the explanation.  I think it is the fact that when we are seeking God we are expending personal time and effort on building our relationship with God, which is what Scripture tells us is what God truly wants.

It is real easy to write a check (the offering).  It is something else altogether to set aside time in our schedules every day to passionately seek God.  I believe it shows where our heart really is.

So I promised above to tell you how you can have God intervening in your life on a regular basis.   It starts with accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Have you don’t that yet?  Why not right now.  Just have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to guide you.  "Dear Jesus…."

Now get in to the Bible every day.  My recommendation is that you read one chapter from the Old Testament and one Chapter from the New Testament each day.  Then simply keep a journal of what God taught you that day.  What knowledge did you get from God's word today?  Write it down!

The more you do that the more you will begin to hear God and recognize His guidance in your life on a daily basis.  Give it a try.  I guarantee there is no more satisfying way to live!

Probably my single biggest question!

I don't know about you but I have several things I want to ask God when I get to Heaven.  Things that I have just never understood.  Right at the top of the list is this one.  Read the passage and then I'll tell you what puzzles me. 

Matthew 12:31-32(NKJV)

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

What puzzles me is why God will forgive someone for blaspheming Jesus, God's son, but God will never ever ever forgive someone who blasphemes' the Holy Spirit.  I'm just curious about the logic or reasoning behind it.  :)

Where is the line between faith and taking for granted?

Does anyone else ever question this?  I know I sure do.  Let me explain.

My faith is a pretty simple faith.  I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.  I believe that God is who He says He is and I believe that Jesus is who He says He is.  I believe that you have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to get to Heaven.  And lastly for now, I believe that God and Jesus will personally intervene in and guide our lives in even the smallest decisions if we will only seek them and let them.  I believe all of this based on two things.

The first thing I base it on is what I read in Scripture.  The second thing I base it on is personal life experience.  I have experienced it in my own life on a daily basis.  Just last week for example I had a decision to make on the 21st.  When I got up that morning I was still unsure of what that decision should be. 

That is highly unusual because I have a very strong faith and I just assume that God provides me with the guidance as I need it.  He ALWAYS comes through.  I'll come back to the assume part in a minute. 

So it was unusual that I didn't have the answer at the start of the morning.  I didn't panic though because I knew that God would come through.  If you look back you will see my blog that morning was titled "It's all in the details".  The answer that I was seeking was in the lesson that morning.  It was a different lesson than what I wrote about but the lesson was in there. 

So let's go back to the assume part.  I believe that faith is like a muscle.  The more you use it, exercise it so to speak, the stronger it gets.  Does that make sense?  So the more I live by faith the easier it is to live by faith. 

Again it is a simple faith.  God says He has me covered and I believe Him.  I don't spend a lot of my prayer time asking for anything other than God's guidance on a daily basis and I make sure to thank and praise Him for that guidance.  And I EXPECT to receive it.  It just never even enters my mind that God won't be guiding me. 

And that is what prompts the question.  I worry sometimes that I take God for granted.  But isn't that exactly what God tells us to do?  Don't worry about things, just lay it all at God's feet in faith? 

So far the answer I keep getting from God when I ask whether I am acting in faith or taking Him for granted is what seems to be a small chuckle and something like "Dude, as long as you keep asking that question it shows me your heart is right.  I'm sure you are fine for now". 

I think implicit in that answer is a friendly reminder not to stop asking the question.  :)

It's all in the details.

When I read this passage today I had an interesting thought….and learned an interesting lesson. 

In this passage Jesus is testifying as to who He is.  John the Baptist's disciples are asking Jesus if He is the One?  This is what Jesus said.

Matthew 11:4-6(NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 

The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Now when I read that my first thought was "yeah, and the Beast will do all of those things in an effort to deceive people too". 

I just finished reading Revelation a couple of weeks ago and I distinctly remember reading that in the end time the Beast will heal people and work "miracles" that will deceive people. 

My point in thinking this was that it didn't seem to me that this was a very strong testimony as to who Jesus was.  It just seemed to me that He could have been clearer.  If the bad guy is going to be doing these things too, then how does that prove that Jesus is who He says He is?  Do you get what I mean here?

Then I went back and read it again. 

Matthew 11:4-6(NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 

The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

One of the things that the Holy Spirit gives us is discernment.  Here is where discernment comes in.  I highlighted the one tiny detail that makes all of the difference.  The Beast won't be preaching the gospel to the poor or anyone else for that matter!

What a great lesson.  Actually a couple of lessons.  First, pay attention to the details.  Secondly, a very easy and quick litmus test for anyone claiming to be a prophet or representative of God is this.  Do they  testify to and preach the Gospel?  If they do not, then Scripture tells us that they are not from God. 

That is handy to know because remember, Scripture also tells us that we will be held accountable if we allow ourselves to be led astray.  It is our responsibility to be able to recognize the difference since Scripture gives us a way to do so. 

Just another example of why it is so important to be in the Word on a regular basis!

Jesus explicitly telling us to make a judgement.

One of my favorite subjects is Scripture taken out of context.  "Thou shall not judge" is probably the single greatest example of that.  I've written about this before so I will get right to the point. 

These verses are Jesus speaking to the disciples.  Check out the instructions that Jesus gives.

Matthew 10:11-15(NKJV)

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

And when you go into a household, greet it. 

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Worthy.  Let's take a look at the definition of worthy.

worthy

1. having adequate or great merit, character, or value:

a worthy successor.

2. of commendable excellence or merit; deserving:

a book worthy of praise; a person worthy to lead.

It seems to me that Jesus is instructing His disciples to make a judgement is He not?  And that judgement is used to determine if people or households are to receive God's favor. 

Interesting isn't it?  We see right here in Jesus own words that not all are entitled or "worthy" of God's favor.  Scripture once again shows that Jesus isn't going to be sitting around singing Kumbaya with those who reject Him!

If you had to choose one word to define these verses, what would it be?

I have always loved these two verse.  If you had to choose one word to describe what these verses are saying what would that word be?

Matthew 7:7-8(NKJV)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

For me that word would be persistence.  Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking.

Why is it Demons believe prophesy when many humans don't?

I find this interesting.  Why is it that demons believe prophesy when many humans don't?

Matthew 8:28-29(NKJV)

When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 

And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Think about that.  The demons immediately recognize Jesus for who He is and the demons question is, Dude, what are you doing here?  You're not due for a couple thousand years yet.  Did you come early to deal with us?

The demons know, understand, and believe prophesy while many humans deny prophesy.  Funny how these two groups will end up in the same place. 

Different Gifts From God

I'm sorry that my posts have been a bit inconsistent this week.  On Monday my Step Mother fell and hit her head.  She suffered a severe brain injury and we are now waiting for her to pass.  It is both a sad and a merciful situation at the same time.

Sad because we all hate to see our loved ones die.  Merciful because she has been in declining health for years.  Her suffering will end and since she is a Christian she will go from suffering in this world to being in the actual presence of Christ!

As I watch her being cared for by the hospital staff and also now by the nursing home staff, I am struck by the love and compassion these people exhibit.  They know that she is dying and do all that they can to keep her comfortable. 

But it is more than that.  It is the way that they care for her that has touched me.  Even though she is unconscious they talk to her and gently tell her what they are doing.  They take the time to bath her and even wash and comb her hair.  And not just in a swab her down type of bath but they are very loving and gentle about it.  It is as if they want to do all they can to help her leave this world with some dignity. 

It's kind of hard to explain but I am very thankful for it.  It once again shows God's wisdom as explained in Romans 12, gifts of the spirit.   

Romans 12:6-8(NKJV)

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 

or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 

he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

God didn't make us all the same.  He gave us different gifts and different roles to play.  Once again I am thankful that God gave these folks the gifts that He gave them!

"Touched me and strengthened me"

When is the last time you allowed Jesus to touch you and strengthen you?  Allowed?  Yep, allowed. 

Read the verse and then I'll explain why I put it that way.

Daniel 10:18-19(NKJV)

Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 

And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

The reason I put it that way is that Jesus usually doesn't just zap strangers out of the blue with His strength and favor.  In fact Scripture tells us that is reserved for those who have accepted Christ. 

So until you let Jesus lead your life by accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, you are not allowing Him to touch you and strengthen you. 

Think about it.  The absolutely only thing stopping you from living in God's favor is a choice you have made.  The cool thing about life is that you can always make a different choice.

Why not ask Jesus to come in to your life right now?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Remember, Satan quoted Scripture too!

Just because someone can quote Scripture doesn't mean they are a Christian.  Remember, Satan quoted Scripture too!

Matthew 4:1-10(NKJV)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 

and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:      ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,      ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,     Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

In society today we see a lot of people try to use Scripture to back up their position.  Jesus warns us that we better be able to discern when someone is using and quoting Scripture truthfully vs. when they are trying to deceive with Scripture.  Jesus tells us that we will be held accountable if we allow ourselves to be deceived. 

The other thing that I see reaffirmed here is the example Jesus sets on how to deal with those who are not honestly seeking.  In other words those who you can tell are trying to deceive with Scripture.  Jesus tells them to take a hike, to pound sand.  He doesn't sit around and try to convince those who are not honestly seeking the truth.  I think we could learn from that.

It's that whole pearls before swine thing!

Words are cheap. Where's the sign?

As in the rest of society there seems to be quite a divide between Liberal and Conservative Christians.  And in my mind at least, the Liberal Christians are the Kumbaya Jesus crowd.  Unfortunately there are even Christian leaders who fall in to that crowd. 

With that in mind, these passages seemed to speak to me. 

Matthew 3:7-12(NKJV)

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 

and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 

His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

It seems to me that John is saying to many "look, you are saying the correct words but your actions don't match your words."  In other words, talk is cheap, where are the actual signs in your life that you are following Jesus?  Show me the fruit!

Notice the focus on repentance.  It's easy to say you are sorry but where is the proof?  Where is the fruit of the change?

And if I read this verse correctly Jesus is going to be asking the same question when He comes.  Where is the fruit?  As we have covered in the past, as long as you have accepted Jesus your name will appear in the Book of Life and you will be saved.  However your fruit will determine your reward in Heaven.

So first things first.  Have you accepted Jesus yet?  Have you asked Jesus to come in to your life and lead you?  If not why not do that right now?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Now let's all get to work on bearing more fruit! :)

Was this unjust?

Daniel 6:23-24(NKJV)

Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

Was it just that their wives and children had to pay the price for their duplicity? 

There are a couple of ways to approach this.  I think from the human angle many would say that is wasn't fair or just because the wives and children didn't do anything wrong.

On the other hand the Old Testament tells us that the children will pay for the sins of the father to the third and fourth generation.

Let's look at it from another angle.  God is using the King to take vengeance for what the officials tried to do to Daniel.   So if God is directing the King to do it, would we accuse God of being unjust?  I sure wouldn't. 

The Miracle of rebirth!

God sure designed a wonderful system didn't He?  In God's system it is never too late.  We always have the miracle of rebirth at our disposal.

That miracle starts with accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Once you have that initial miracle life starts anew.  Ask for God's guidance and then plan your new life. 

The miracle of rebirth extends to the seasons and the years as well.  We see 2015 end and 2016 begin.  God once again gives us the opportunity to start over and set a new course.  Please take advantage of and enjoy that freedom.

Does that mean 2015 had to be bad to start over?  Not at all!  2015 could have been the best year ever but if you are like most goal setting people you always want to improve.  In fact that is Biblical.  God expects us to always strive to do better for Him. 

So as we start 2016 let's look to God for direction and then let's get going working towards the vision that God has given us!