Daily Devotional Thoughts: February 2019

Thursday, February 28, 2019

LIFE ALTERING WORDS

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Hebrews 3:1-12 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Hebrews 3:11, 18 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) … And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Hebrews 4:1, 3-5, 8-11 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. … For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Mr. Hanley taught High School World History. Two words he spoke continues to make a difference in the way I think. He told us to not focus on why there is war, but “Why peace?”. . . the two words being a useful model for pondering many situations. Two words in particular that when I finally surrendered to studying the letter to the Hebrews gained me access beyond the hindering barrier of angst.

Far too many professing Christians live fretfully forever expressing need for God’s care. Not accepting, trusting, living in God’s provision of rest; reposed in Him (Ps.23). Living in the position of angst will keep us from serving with our utmost for His highest. We cannot “seek first the kingdom of God” while embroiled in personal war dominating our days and nights.

Let us “rest”.

EBB4

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

HE WILL NOT DRIVE

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

2Timothy {GW] chapter 4 I solemnly call on you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead. I do this because Christ Jesus will come to rule the world. Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach. A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths. But you must keep a clear head in everything. ….

There are untruths we desire to believe as they are comforting or even permissive. “God always forgives our sins.” being a list topper. Check this out in God’s Word and you’ll discover forgiveness is conditional with “as”(Mt.6:12) and “if” (1Jn.1:9) involved for Christ’s disciples.

Recently I and others via attractive Facebook graphics were encouraged to “Put God in the driver’s seat of your life, because anything under His control will never be out of control.” Indeed desirable vehicle to travel in . . . but mythical it is.

Investigating God’s Word we learn that God will not take control of individual lives. This is first recorded in the Genesis account of Adam and Eve, then seen by human examples from there thru Revelation; the fact being that free will given by Jehovah God Almighty, Sovereign Creator, entails our being responsible drivers. God did not control Adam, Eve, or any of us since. God will not do so even if we claim to desire it to be so in our life.

God however has graciously provided guidance on traveling in this life. God did so with Adam. God provided His Word for all since on how to live responsibly pleasing to Him. (Rom.12:1-32) The Ten Commandments alone, especially the all encompassing 1^st and 2^nd (Mt.22:29-40), provide personal management direction for navigating life from birth to demise. For increased understanding of God’s guidance we study His Word from Genesis thru Revelation.

We may think it would be nice if we could mystically make God our responsible party, but it is not possible due to His nature; His love for all mankind and in particular for His John 1:12 children.

EBB4

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

BLESSED HUMBLING

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

As recorded in Acts 20:35 “Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Oh so true.

Jesus did not however say there is no blessing in receiving.

Blessed receiving is not always about the object. It may go far beyond material.

We know of a family, not rich by USA standards, but admittedly financially secure. So much so they are able to cover above-normal expenditures of late . . . and continue the joy of giving. Recently money has been given to them “… to help out with expenses.” The amount not from family or close friend, but those considered acquaintance.

Is the cash needed? No, at least not as yet.

Is it appreciated? Absolutely.

Are they appreciative of the kind givers? Indeed so.

Are they glorifying God in that which He has brought to pass in their lives? Oh yes!

EBB4

SSED HUMBLING

Monday, February 25, 2019

BLESSED REITERATION

Monday, February 25, 2019

2Timothy {MKJV] 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Using the styles of various chosen penman God regularly repeats truths in His Word. As an example, using different terminology Paul states truth that John recorded.

John recorded Jesus explained that we must be born-again or we cannot see the kingdom of God. (Jn.3:3) Paul stated the same fact in his 2^nd epistle to the church at Corinth: Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NLT 2Cor.5:11-21)

So why does God repeat so much throughout His Word? We already know the answer to this question.

EBB4

Sunday, February 24, 2019

BE THOU FAITHFUL

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Luke 13:24-30 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Old Faithful Geyser has erupted year after year on a rather erratic “schedule” varying from 22 minutes to 2 hours between eruptions. Yet it has been watched, advertised and extolled by millions of people.

Not far from Old Faithful is another geyser, much smaller, not advertised and seen by fewer people. Those who do see it rarely remember its name, but year after year it erupts on schedule that can be predicted almost to the minute.

We cannot all be “Old Faithful Geysers” or famous preachers, but Christ does expect us to be like the little geyser, doing our [Romans 12:3} job, where we are: faithfully and regularly.

Leslie Nivens

Friday, February 22, 2019

GRANDPARENTS

Friday, February 22, 2019

Today I’ll be enjoying and benefiting by Grandparents Day at Heartland Christian School. To start the day for myself and all the grandparents I know I’ve decided to utilize Ken Anderson’s WHERE To FIND It In The BIBLE, The Ultimate A To Z Resource and check out what God’s Word says about grandparents.

Prolific lineage, Gen.24:60

Frustrated grandfather, Gen.31:22-29

Grateful grandfather, Gen.48:11

Honored great-grandfather, Num.17:3

Birth of grandson, Ruth 4:13-16

Grandmother mentioned by name, 1Kin.15:10

Confessing sins of ancestors, Neh.9:2

Grandfather’s longevity, Job 42:16-17

Living to see children’s children, Ps.128:5-6

Message from generation to generation, Ps.145:4-7; Joel 1:3

Grandfather’s legacy, Pr.13:22

Proud grandparents, Pr.17:6

Obeying parents, grandparents, Jer.35:1-16

Grandfather’s lineage, Zeph.1:5

Forefathers gone, Zech.1:5

Grandmother’s healing, Mt.8:14-15

Tales grandmother told, 1Tim.4:7

Grandmother’s transmitted faith, 2Tim.1:5

Grandmother’s influence, Tit.2:3-5

EBB4

Thursday, February 21, 2019

CAFETERIA FAITH

CHRISTIAN CAFETERIA FAITH

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Malachi [GW] 2:13-17 Here is another thing you do: You cover the LORD'S altar with tears. You moan and groan because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them from you. But you ask, "Why aren't our offerings accepted?" It is because the LORD is a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been unfaithful. Yet, she is your companion, the wife of your marriage vows. Didn't God make you one? Your flesh and spirit belong to him. And what does the same God look for but godly descendants? So be careful not to be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel. "I hate the person who covers himself with violence," says the LORD of Armies. "Be careful not to be unfaithful." You have tried the patience of the LORD with your words. But you ask, "How have we tried his patience?" When you say, "Everyone who does evil is considered good by the LORD. He is pleased with them," or "Where is the God of justice?"

1Corinthians 6:5-20 You should be ashamed of yourselves! Don't you have at least one wise person who is able to settle disagreements between believers? Instead, one believer goes to court against another believer, and this happens in front of unbelievers. You are already totally defeated because you have lawsuits against each other. Why don't you accept the fact that you have been wronged? Why don't you accept that you have been cheated? Instead, you do wrong and cheat, and you do this to other believers. Don't you know that wicked people won't inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God. That's what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God's approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. Someone may say, "I'm allowed to do anything," but not everything is helpful. I'm allowed to do anything, but I won't allow anything to gain control over my life. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will put an end to both of them. However, the body is not for sexual sin but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. God raised the Lord, and by his power God will also raise us. Don't you realize that your bodies are parts of Christ's body? Should I take the parts of Christ's body and make them parts of a prostitute's body? That's unthinkable! Don't you realize that the person who unites himself with a prostitute becomes one body with her? God says, "The two will be one." However, the person who unites himself with the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Stay away from sexual sins. Other sins that people commit don't affect their bodies the same way sexual sins do. People who sin sexually sin against their own bodies. Don't you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don't belong to yourselves. You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in every way, so husbands and wives should be faithful to each other. God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.

Christian cafeteria faith is picking and choosing individual Bible precepts by personal base desire, a disinterest in God’s complete beneficial menu that includes submission, repentance, and all that is distasteful to ego-centric self.

A favored Christian contemporary selection includes forgiving, merciful, loving God, but excludes jealous, righteous, expecting God; God incomplete with individual and group worldview producing lifestyle skewed away from godly forgiveness, mercy, and love. (2Tim.3:1-7)

Reading the Bible from Genesis thru Revelation, outcomes of selective faith producing flawed life are told.

Christian culture today includes seduction numbers not much different than non-Christian society. LTAs and divorce rates alone reveal much unfaithful emotional modeling after looking-for-love among professing Christians’ as opposed to Biblical Christ-like love, commitment. (Jn.3:16; Pr.5:18; Mal.2:13-17; Eph.5:25; Col.3:19; Heb.13:4)

From Adam and Eve on, free will is still ours. As with them, it is our choice alone to decide and take holy sanctified nourishment; sustenance whole in diet, resulting in the most productive advantageous spiritual health; or meager limiting rations sans reverence and respect for jealous Jehovah and fellow man.

EBB4

PS. 1John 1:9

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

AN UNEQUIVOCAL WORD

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

USA senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) recently declared “In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from ‘safe, legal, rare’ to ‘keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide.’”

John 1:14; 17:4-18 And the Word [G3056] became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth. … I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now Father, glorify Me with Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave to Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things, whatever You have given Me, are from You.

For I have given to them the Words which You gave Me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am in the world no longer, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father. Keep them in Your name, those whom You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world that they might have My joy fulfilled in them. I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray for You to take them out of the world, but for You to keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word [G3056] is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines unequivocal as a stated position being determined; ended; concluded; clear and putting an end to any doubt. And we cannot ignore the last word in the word: vocal, spoken, publically declared and acknowledged by persons.

God’s Word is unequivocal. By and in the Word the followers of Christ as a set-apart people are to declare Truth unequivocally. Having been asked about abortion I do so this day: The killing the innocent is murder, one of the selfish actions that God hates.

EBB4

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

ALL IS SPIRITUAL

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Ephesians 6:10-19 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [Eph.2:2 The ruler of the authority of the air, the power of this world, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, those that live by their own religiosity apart from biblical godliness.] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

James 3:11-12 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

I’ve said or wrote it many times: all is spiritual, there is no such thing secular (the idea of nonspiritual, earthly, irreligious), and I’ve not changed my belief; such belief itself being part of my spiritual existence.

Spirituality being nothing more or less than personal or group belief system, everyone has and lives by spiritual belief: Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Unitarians, humanists and all other sects and denominations, agnostics, deists, polytheists, monotheists, atheists, democrats, republicans, liberals, conservatives, moderates, libertarians, socialists, communists, monarchists (Yep, they’re still around in the wings awaiting.), anarchists, revolutionaries, Nazis, neo-Nazis, dictators and every other stripe of person. Our positions and actions flow naturally from what we spiritually believe.

Though I often hear spoken as such; spiritual should not be equated singularly with Christian Biblical godliness. Man was created a spiritual being (Only a spiritual being can sin.), and beginning with Adam has gone on to individually determining in God-given freewill what spiritual is; the religion, belief system, life-view, he measures all decisions thereby. All men are spiritual beings. There is no such thing as a secular being, it a false invention commonly accepted. (When invented?)

Think not that spiritual belief only drives decisions in companies like Hobby Lobby or Chick-a-fila. Spiritual belief drives every company’s operation. Warren Buffet’s decisions are according to his spiritual beliefs, dare not think otherwise!

Politics are prime example of being driven by spiritual beliefs regardless of party identification.

Communism denying religion though driven by spiritual beliefs satanically religiously lived; and they changing according to beliefs of leadership: Frederich Engels believed in Claude-Henri de Rouvroy Saint Simon’s belief. (A aristocrat that somehow escaped the French Reign of Terror to become a paid political philosopher. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Henri_de_Rouvroy,_comte_de_Saint-Simon )

Saint-Simon believing in power of positive thinking connected to the discipline of sociology, more commonly later known as Marxism.

Engels latched on to a summarizing phrase from Saint-Simon “the government of men should be replaced by the administration of things.” Though idealistically sincere in beginning, Communism very quickly became an oppressive governmental bureaucracy.

It all made sense to Lenin but he soon determined that it wouldn’t come about naturally, but would have to begin with ruthless purging of the ruling class, including young Anastasia.

These impatient authors of The ABC of Communism, when things didn’t change immediately as expected, encouraged people to be patient.

Stalin had otherwise belief (Did you know he read the Bible?) and consequently began with the elimination of the authors of The ABC of Communism, then decidedly gathered around him like genuine believers and useful political survivalists, some soon meeting same fate of ABC authors. Stalin brutally enforced his beliefs.

Beginning with our founding fathers on through contemporary leaders, all were, still are led by their spiritual beliefs. This even comes down to elected and non-elected influential individuals religiously believing themselves saviors of society.

Consider the dietary rulings in public schools and the requirement that employees police them. I received info from OPS school food service employee that if a child brings now declared “unhealthy” peanut butter& jelly sandwich in his lunch it is to be taken away from them and destroyed. In the few days since I’ve been telling people at all levels I encounter, including medical professionals working to keep me in repair.. And what do I get in response? Shrugs. “Oh well, whatta ya gonna do?” “So goes life today in the USA.”

Never ever forget that all is spiritual, never secular. Biblical Christians are not at war with secularism, we’re battling thoughts and spiritual persons deep in religion of godless disobedience. We must never divide our thinking as to they being two separate entities. They are of their father the devil, and the lusts of their father they do. Satan abiding not in God’s Truth is destroyer from the beginning. There has been is not one shred of pure truth in him. The Destroyer speaks only to his own evil designs, always the liar, he is the father of lying. Jesus told the truth about this and yet people believed Him not then or now. (Jn.8:44-45)

EBB4

Monday, February 18, 2019

UNCOMMON SALT

Monday, February 18, 2019

From KJV Genesis to James salt is mentioned 41 times in 35 verses. An interesting study for those so inclined.

Though salt today is considered a common thing, it was not always so. Using salt for the preservation of food for off season provender was a major turning point in man’s history. Not to mention what would tomatoes or French fries be sans salt?

Like oil today, there was an era when salt was a major wealth producing commodity. It was even used for currency. In Jesus time it was so with Roman soldiers sometimes paid with salt. The proverb of slackers “Not being worth their salt.” is the product of such salaries; an adage that Jesus stated after listing The Beatitudes for His followers: "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. (ESV Mt.5:13)

We will taste salt yet again this day and consider our saltiness.

EBB4

Sunday, February 17, 2019

HE CHANGETH NOT

Sunday, February 17, 2019

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

While watching some old house videos I noticed that when I was talking to my grandchildren I repeatedly would give them an order, then end by saying “O.K.?” as though they had a choice?! It is no wonder that young people grow up confused! Isn’t it wonderful that our Heavenly Father is always the same? If we read and follow His instructions we will not have to wonder what they mean. They are explicit:

Thou shalt – Thou shalt not – Do good – Love one another – Go ye – Teach – Be ye kind.

And even when we waver and fail Him, He “remains faithful and just to forgive our sins.”(1Jn.1:8-10)

Leslie Nivens

Friday, February 15, 2019

JUDGING IS WORSHIP

Friday, February 15, 2019

Romans [NLT] 12:1-3 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority^[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

To Biblically judge self and others constructively is our living and sacrificial “reasonable service” (KJV Rom.12:1), truly worshipping Sovereign Jehovah God Almighty. Without the holy exercise of evaluation according to God’s Will we emulate Adam; worshipping self, Eve, and Satan.

To omit judging leaves religious practice of congregational participation et al in the realm of worldly custom far from true all-embracing worship of Him.

EBB4

Thursday, February 14, 2019

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 6: The Perils of Not Judging

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 6: THE PERILS OF NOT JUDGING

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Matthew 7:21-27 Not every one that saith unto me [Jesus], Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Construction without consideration of authentic quality makes for disastrous results. Buildings and people without sound foundation deteriorate and fall apart when stressed.

This is just as true spiritually for Christians individually and the local congregant church.

At hand, we have the perfect construction and maintenance plan, God’s schematic; His Word living (Jn.1:1) and written (Jn.17:17; 1Thes.2:13). To neglect, not reference, or trivialize sacred direction of self, brethren, or worldview is perilous. To reject the John 1:1 “Word” is to remain a John 3:18-19 non-believer “condemned already”, separated from God eternally.

Without personal examination of self we suffer not just loss of God’s support, but He resists us (Jam.4:4-10), or worse (Heb.10:31).

Without congregant judgment a church may lose its place as a spiritual powerhouse and become no more than a benevolent social ministry (Rev.2:18-23), or worse (Rev.2:5).

Think not construction or maintenance faults are always readily recognized. Even undisciplined children may be happy . . . for awhile.

I confess that in my flesh I cringe at responsible examination of self or the local church. (Especially in more than once suffered expense by exercising the latter.) But I know I must, howbeit reluctantly, judge, for it too is part and parcel of mature discipleship.

EBB4

Thought question: Who are these individuals Jesus speaks of in Matthew 7:22-23?

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 5

Friday, November 03, 2017

2Timothy [CEV] 3:16-17 Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

Anyone that claims they never judge is kidding themselves. Especially proven by “I’m not one to judge.” . . . a judgment in itself.

Fact is that most judging, whether righteous or self-righteous ego-centric, is verbal, said conversations being edifying, damaging and/or non-corrective. This being so in various groups. Local congregations included.

Paul admonished “My friends, I beg you to watch out for anyone who causes trouble and divides the church by refusing to do what all of you were taught. Stay away from them!“ (Rom.16:17) Can this apostolic command be obeyed without judgment?

It is not that we are to jump to separation. In light of Scripture we are to seek to lovingly counsel first of all. Then if “refusing” persists, label and separate from them.

We see this pattern in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian congregation riven by the divisiveness he noted in his first letter (1Cor.1:10-13). “Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us. Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? Is Christ a friend of Satan? Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don't? Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says, "I will live with these people and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." The Lord also says, "Leave them and stay away! Don't touch anything that isn't clean. Then I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and my daughters, as surely as I am God, the All-Powerful." (2Cor.6:11-18)

· Congregants, Chloe’s family, made a righteous judgment followed by the action of informing Paul.

· Paul righteously judged the informants as loving concerned honest followers of Christ.

· Paul passed righteous judgment, exhorting the Corinthian congregants to mark the division leaders and then avoid them. (Also note Rom.12:9; Eph.5:11; 1Thes.5:21; 2Thes.3:6; 2Tim.3:5)

· The Apostle John exhorted for judgment when necessary. (1Jn.4:1; 2Jn.1:7, 10-11)

Is it right to judge? Yes, but only if done according to the overall teaching of Scripture: Lovingly with correction utmost in mind. This does not however include excommunicating Howard for being adamantly against adding padding to the pews.

EBB4

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE Part 4

IS IT RIGHT TO JUDGE? Part 4

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

2Timothy [LITV] 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected, being fully furnished for every good work.

Decades past my dear aunt had a running battle with Pastor Don McKnight. The weekly county paper, THE AEGIS, published the letters. Her constant focus was on Matthew 7:1, “judge not”. Pastor McKnight’s responses were comprehensively on chapter 7 and beyond. Finally after weeks of back and forth the editor decided the discussion had become circular and published no more.

Matthew presents Jesus succinct but comprehensive exhortation on judging. Judgment that should never be done without consideration of always doing only as you will want others to do for you. This is the meaning of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets. (Mt.7:1-12; Jam.1:25; 2:12) Matthew 7:12 also explaining how we give the tacit permission of 7:2.

Immediately after explaining healthy judgment Jesus presents an important matter to be judged, false teachers. Isaiah spelled the measure of in a single verse (8:20) “To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no dawn [Light] to them!“ Jesus warned and explained tersely “… beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside they are plundering wolves. From their fruits you shall know them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?“ (Mt.7:15-16)

Among the many things I learned from Pastor McKnight is it is imperative to read and study Scripture contextually. He emphasized “First the immediate text, then the Golden Text, Genesis thru Revelation.” I judge that we all should do so. Hopefully you judge me accordingly.

EBB4