The word True only appears once in Proverbs

I don't know that this means anything.  I just found it to be an interesting bit of trivia.  Proverbs is full of folksy phrases and I guess I just through the word true would be used more in Proverbs.  :)

Proverbs 14:25(NKJV)

    A true witness delivers souls,      But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

I've got to disagree with Paul a bit on this one.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4(NKJV)

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Here is my disagreement.  Do divisions among the church always indicate that we are "carnal and behaving like men"?  What about those who may be teaching a false doctrine that they believe to be true.  In other words I am not attributing any evil intent to them. 

Should we do as Paul says and sit idly by and let them continue to teach incorrect doctrine so that we are not creating "divisions among us"? 

I believe the answer is no.  Scripture tells us that one of the things it is used for is correction.

2 Timothy 3:16(NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

Correcting people is going to lead to division isn't it?  But if you are basing your correction on Scripture how is that "carnal and behaving like mere men"?

God is….Love

This was an interesting one.  I found myself drawn to verses that I think address the way that "God is love" is the most misused.  A lot of people, Christians included, like to use the "God is love" theme to excuse any and all bad behavior.  That God loves us all equally because He made us all.

Well let's take a look at some Scripture. 

Exodus 20:4-6(NKJV)

    “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 

but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Notice that God shows mercy to a select group.  Who does God show mercy to?  Those who love Him and keep His commandments.  Now God does love everyone but as you can see from this Scripture, that love doesn't exempt people from punishment.

It's no different than the way we deal with our kids.  In fact the whole idea of God not punishing people because He loves them is pretty childish in and of itself.  Think about it.  If your kids did something wrong that deserved punishment and they said "you wouldn't punish me if you really loved me." what would you tell them?  Well I believe God the Father sees things the same way.

Proverbs 8:17(NKJV)

    I love those who love me,     And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Once again we see God singling out a group for His love.  He loves those who love Him.  Here is how I see this one.  We read and hear about families where a person's kids or grandkids never come to see them anymore.  In a general way this person still loves their kids or grandkids but it probably isn't the same type of "active" love that there would be if those kids or grandkids had an actual relationship with the person.  Make sense? 

Isaiah 61:8(NKJV)

    “For I, the Lord, love justice;      I hate robbery for burnt offering;     I will direct their work in truth,     And will make with them an everlasting covenant.

I found this one interesting.  God makes a point of saying that he loves justice.  I think that there are a lot of "social justice warriors" out there who are seeking anything but real justice.  It'll be interesting to see how God deals with them. 

Oh and BTW, for all of those people who say "God doesn't hate anything", you are wrong.  Take a look at the green highlighted Scripture.

Daniel 9:4(NKJV)

And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 

This seems to be a common theme.  God's active love is again reserved for those who love God and keep his commandments.

1 John 4:8(NKJV)

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

And finally we have this verse.  God is love.  Here is how I see this one.  I think there are different levels of love in play here. 

There is the general love that God has for everyone because He made them.  On the other hand there is a more personal and a more active love for those who love God and actively seek to build a relationship with Him.

When viewed through the paradigm of God the Father this makes sense doesn't it?

Notice it doesn't say "Grace be to all"!

This is Paul's writing.  Notice that he doesn't pray for grace for everybody.  Interesting.  What do you think that means?

Ephesians 6:23-24(NKJV)

Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

God is just so cool!!!!!!!!

I'm especially feeling the blessings of God today.  I marvel at how God weaves our life's story if we will only let him. 

I know some think that following God is boring and can take the fun out of life.  I would disagree totally.  If you will completely surrender to God's will and let Him take control He will take you on the most exciting rides of your life!

It's not always easy.  It can even be scary.  But it is ALWAYS worth it.  Do you have the guts to do it???

It all starts with accepting Jesus.  Asking Jesus to come in to your life.  Have you done that yet?  No better time than right now.  Ask Jesus to come in to your life.  Have a conversation with Him.  "Dear Jesus…."

Who shall separate us indeed?!

It's easy to be a Christian in the good times.  But what about when the hard times hit?  And trust me, no matter how "good" of a Christian you are there will still be hard times. 

Do those hard times separate you from Christ or draw you closer; or make no difference at all?

Romans 8:35(NKJV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Wait a minute.  Make no difference at all? 

Yep.  I guess what I am getting at is that for a mature Christian it really shouldn't affect your relationship with Jesus either way.  Ecclesiastes tells us that there will be good times and bad.  The New Testament gives us the same message.  It's just part of the cycle of life.  So with that knowledge we need to recognize it and not let it affect our relationship with Jesus.   
 

Does that make sense? 

Adultery of the Spirit!

This brings to mind all of those so called "enlightened" Christians who think it is OK to take bits and pieces from other religions. 

Hosea 3:1(NKJV)

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”