...And Justice For All

If you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done.  For God has no favorites.  Colossians 3:25

We have all been wronged by somebody at some point in our lives.   So what does God’s Word say about seeking justice?  

A familiar saying is that “two wrongs don’t make a right, ” so we really ought to be less quick to ask God for justice as our efforts to seek justice may cause God to punish us for our wrongdoings as well.

The same holds true for begging God for fairness, because He may take away what we have to make things ‘fair’ for all.

Instead of following the our legal rules for justice with God, we should instead beg for mercy so we can be saved from the judgment we all rightfully deserve.

Simply put, it’s all because of Jesus Christ that God’s justice allows Him to grant mercy to those whose hearts sincerely love Him.

Thanks be to God for His mercy, kindness, and forgiveness!

Too Fast For Love

'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."  Mark 12:31

Whether you are familiar or not with God's Word, I believe it is safe to say that most every adult has heard God’s greatest commandment at least once during the course of their lifetime.  In fact, when we talk about loving our neighbors, it’s so ingrained in our minds that the term almost becomes second nature.  The thing about it is that I don’t think many of us understand what this verse actually means.

Loving your neighbor is not just loving your ‘good’ or ‘close’ neighbor, but actually loving the neighbor that may drive you crazy. Or it could mean loving the neighbor you try to avoid at all costs.  We are so focused on caring for ourselves before others that most people never actually get around to do it.  To truly understand loving our neighbors, we must look at Jesus who loved people “not only because He genuinely cared for them, but also because He brought glory and honor to His Father in Heaven.”

Loving other people sounds so simple, but in reality, it is sometimes very hard to do.  It is obviously important to God as this second commandment follows the first commandment: “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH.” If you think about these two commands for a moment, both hang the law and the prophets.

Although it may be difficult to love another person as we love ourselves, we can all do a better job of learning how to ‘live in love.’  The best part about it is that you don’t have to be a Bible scholar or theology major to know much about loving other people.  Just think about how different the world we live in today would be if more people actually obeyed God’s command to love others as themselves…As a Believer and follower of Christ, loving others is not just important or the right thing to do-it’s our reason for being and our purpose here on this earth!!

Quiet

"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling." Zechariah 2:13

Revisiting the original Star Wars trilogy with my boys is always a treat for me, a long-time fan since childhood.  One of the most important scenes in the original trilogy happens during Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, when Luke Skywalker is receiving Jedi training from Yoda in the Dagobah System.  Not to digress too far here, but the road to becoming a Jedi was not as glamorous as it may have seemed to the young apprentice.  In fact, much of Luke's training required his complete concentration as well as being still and listening for instruction from Yoda, the oldest and wisest of all the Jedi.

Our daily walk with God is very similar to the long and rigorous training required to become a Jedi.  We all have an impatient nature, wanting God to be active in our lives every single day.  Please don't misunderstand me-God is ALWAYS present and active in our lives.  Sometimes, He simply requires us to be still, patient, and wait for him to answer our prayers.

It's in the quietness and silence that we often experience God's presence in our lives the most.  God assures us that in our weakness, his strength and power are shown the most.

Allow yourself some quiet time with the Lord each and every day!

Unchained

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.  2 Samuel 22:30

Every day presents a new set of challenges…this past week was certainly not an exception.  Without divulging any specific details,  I found myself in a very difficult situation earlier this week that prompted me to seek God’s direction and guidance.  Not all challenges are bad.  In fact, I enjoy challenges at work as they continually help me and my team to improve and perform better.  Challenges at home can be difficult, especially when dealing with children, but again, they too can help us gain wisdom and insight as parents. 

Regardless of our marital status, children, or careers,  we will always face tough situations, difficult people, or subtle temptations.  Challenges keep us from getting too comfortable or too accepting of the status quo, forcing us into uncharted waters.  Without God’s lead, this would be frightening, but with God it can also be a glorious adventure.

No matter what challenge you may be facing, make sure God is at your side!

One More Year

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. Psalm 31: 19-20

A good friend recently approached me about playing bass guitar in a new band he is trying to put together.  As much as I enjoy playing bass (more like playing 'at' the bass) and would have loved to have been a part of a band, I had to decline due to my schedule being full.

The more I think about it, I always seem to be ‘busy’, but busy doing what?  If you were raised like me at all, you were probably taught that if you want something, you can achieve or earn it through hard work.  While this may hold true in our professional careers, this could not be further away from how God intends us to live out our Christian faith.

Take for instance the above passage from Psalms…”how great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you?”  There is not one singular mention of all that we as Believers need to do to earn more of God’s goodness.  The passage simply continues with “You lavish it(goodness) on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”

I may be way off here, but I honestly believe that God wants us to love and focus our hearts and minds on Him.  Regardless, we continue to fill our schedules with all kinds of activities, meetings, appointments, and items with the hopes of being more successful and getting our slice of the pie.  Keep in mind that all good things and blessings flow from our loving Father and there is nothing we can possibly do or work harder to achieve any more or any less from Him.  He loves us all the same, no matter where we are in our walk of faith.

Thanks be to God!!!

True Faith

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Matthew 5:14

With the unmatched popularity of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, it’s easy to create a false image of yourself for the world to see.   As a believer, people often want to know that you genuinely are ‘authentic’ in your walk of faith.  Many people have had either a ‘bad’ church experience  in their lives or a loved one that imposed their religious beliefs on them and want to know that your relationship with Christ Jesus is ‘real.’

I am sure that you can name someone who always seems to light up a room with their presence.  In much the same way, we as believers should let the light and truth of Jesus ‘shine’ through us in all that we say and do.

The next time you go into work, or you are with your family, friends, or neighbors, be salt and light so that people know your relationship with Jesus is indeed the ‘real thing.’

Listen Up

"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you-if you will listen to me, O Israel!"Psalm 81:8

Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending a Dale Carnegie class to improve my public speaking skills. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from the class was that ‘the best speaker is a good listener.’  It makes sense if you think about it for a moment. People are not nearly as interested in what you have to say as they are in having someone listen to what they have to say.

This concept holds true in the way we communicate with God.  Anyone can rattle off their laundry list of prayer requests, tack on an ‘Amen’, and feel like they have communicated with God. I am guilty of this at times and feel that I often do not spend enough time reading His Word and patiently wait for His response or guidance.

Have you ever randomly opened the Bible and found a verse that was applicable to what you were going through at that very moment? It was not by chance, I assure you.  God often speaks His truths directly into our lives through the pages of the Living Word.

Before we get too far into this new year, take the time to read Scripture more and diligently seek His voice. There are too many blessings that we miss out on because of our failure to listen.