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Archive for the ‘government’ Category

FALLACY OF CHRISTIAN POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

Posted in Faith, government, Jesus, Law, Love, Peace, Salvation, Sin, The Body, The Father, The Righteous on April 7, 2018|

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“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4: 20 NASB

For over two years the Media has defined what it means to be Christian by people’s political and religious beliefs.  Rarely, are we depicted as Disciples of Christ.  Instead many articles and debates question who are the real Christians?  Some have defined Christianity based on political and religious; if you are a true Christian you must ascribe to certain political and religious traditions.

I was struck this week by a question posed on a radio station on whether or not Christians who support President Trump are really Christians.  Can Christians be characterized by their support or criticism of a leader or political party in lieu of their faith?  There are many that argue they can because certain political and religious ideals are rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I found this interesting because our salvation and adoption as God’s children cannot be secured through the law or our adaption to world systems.

Those of us who identify ourselves as Christian believe in Jesus Christ, that He died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and is alive today at the right hand of God our Father.   We know “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”  Romans 10: 9-10 (NASB)

Unfortunately, in the height of political debates and a politically charge environment we have succumb to defining Christianity through a political lens.  We have this delusion that the party we belong to or the leaders we show allegiance to has some impact on our entrance into the Kingdom of God; or defines us as a disciple of Christ.  This is just absurd, because you are trying to judge something that is spiritually rooted in God with something rooted in mankind.

Our salvation is not obtained by any work we do or what others have done.  We cannot stand before God and claim that because we ascribe to a set of political and religious ideologies we are proven to be the Children of God.  The only reason we can stand before God blameless, is because Jesus Christ died for our sins.  He took our sin and punishment.  We were graciously given Jesus’ righteousness in exchange and have been reconciled to the Father.  There is no work we have done to earn our salvation, so we have no right to boast in our political and religious beliefs.  The law cannot save us, so it is ridiculous to think adhering to certain religious and political beliefs and laws (defined by men) can save us.

The bible is clear that we can identify Christians (the Children of God) by the love that we have for one another.  Jesus even said we would know people by their fruit.  So if a person claims to love God but hates his brother he is a liar and Christ is not in him.  If one claims to follow Jesus but is full of hatred they are not Jesus’ disciple.  Whatever comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart.  Whether we are ruled by love or hate speaks more to our faith in Jesus Christ than anything else, including our political party affiliation or religious sect.

Politics and religion will always reveal hypocrisy in man.  Often time these belief systems run contrary to the person’s own behavior.  Also, it is mostly used to sit in judgment of others and think too highly of ourselves.  Boasting about our political and religious ideologies is rooted in pride and God hates pride.  We are taught in scripture to hold our brother in higher esteem than ourselves.

Christianity is defined by humility.  Jesus Christ, who is God, became man and walked amongst us.  He took our sin and became the perfect sacrifice and died so that we might live.  It is through Jesus’ resurrection that we have eternal life and power.  There is no other name in heaven or on the earth that is greater than Jesus.  Jesus is the only one who is deemed the Savior of mankind.

Our faith is not evident through our political and religious symbols and allegiance.  Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.  We may disagree on the political and religious battlefield but even in our disagreement we are called to love.

 

For those that want to know how to spot a Christian, check their fruit (character).  Jesus said you will know us by our fruit.  If these things (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, see Galatians 5:22-23) are not evident in a person’s character,  then the Spirit of God is not in them and they are not known by Jesus.

21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23 NASB

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Justice is Perverted!

Posted in government, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Prayer, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Unity on March 27, 2018|

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To turn aside the justice due a man

Before the face of the Most High,

 Or subvert a man in his cause—

The Lord does not approve.  Lamentations 3: 35-36 (NKJV)

4Therefore the law is ignored

And justice is never upheld.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

Therefore justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:4 (NASB)

 

Justice is perverted!  For that reason we are seeing a wave of protests in our country over the last couple of years.  There has been the rise of Black Lives Matter Movement, the Women’s March, #MeToo Movement and the March for Our Lives.  There is a cry for justice.  This cry is being heard by God.

As Christians we often focus on one leader or a nation to gauge the next move of God.  Yet what we are witnessing is God awakening the hearts of the people.  They are crying out for Him whether they realize it or not.  God is justice.   Justice describes the very nature of God.  God’s throne is established on righteousness and justice.

The push back these movements are experiencing are rooted in fear and hate.  Some would argue the protests are rooted in hatred but they are not.  Those who oppose the movements do not realize that what they are opposing are justice and God.  You oppose justice, you oppose God.

In the church we have heard about the next Great Awakening and it is prophesied that we will see the greatest soul harvest in the history of the church.  That is what is happening in these movements.  People are not only asking for justice but they seek compassion, love, understanding and they despise all the hate and unrighteousness that is taking place.  People are getting away with murder and they are literally pleading for their lives, asking to be saved.  It is time we listen.

Will our government listen?  Will they find justice in our society?  Many doubt they will, but I believe that God is setting the stage for Justice to be served.  “Many seek the ruler’s favor, but Justice for man comes from the Lord,” Proverbs 29:26.  People will get their justice and their souls will be saved as well.  It is God’s desire that everyone will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Jesus also said that no one can come to Him unless prompted by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is at work exposing sin, convicting the world of sin and drawing people to God.

There is also unity in these movements.  Even though each group is addressing a different issue in our society, their request is the same.   They are united by their search for justice, equality, peace, safety, love and hope.  God is listening.  Great things will be accomplished through unity.  Is the church paying attention?

We can no longer be silent from the immorality and the injustice we see.  We must turn to God and pray that Justice and righteousness will be established in the earth as in heaven.  We must also see the harvest is ready and the people are crying for the sons and daughters of God to be revealed.

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  John 4:35

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Are We Jonah?

Posted in government, Love, Salvation, The Body, The Righteous, The Word, tagged , , on November 8, 2012|

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4: 1-4 NIV

God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh about their wickedness and their coming destruction.  At first Jonah did not listen and he fled to Tarshish.  He was on a boat and a storm arose and he was tossed into the sea and swallowed by a giant fish.  Jonah finally obeyed God and went to Nineveh to tell them about their wickedness and their destruction.  But Nineveh decided to turn from their wickedness, and repent of their sins.  Even the King entered a decree that the people give up their evil ways and turn to God.  So when God saw what Nineveh did, He relented and decided not to bring judgment on Nineveh.  This angered Jonah and he went away with that anger still in him.

There are many Christians who are upset at the direction our nation is going and based on this week’s election results many have concluded that are nation is headed to destruction.  We have fasted and prayed yet God has said to us “go and make disciples.”  For decades we have said and done this.  When the nation took out bibles and prayer in schools we said destruction would come we prayed and God told us to disciple the nation.  But we just stayed in our pulpits and pews and pronounced the nation was headed in the wrong direction.  When sexual immorality became the norm in our society; we fasted and we prayed and God told us to disciple the nation but we returned to our churches grumbling and complaining.

As more and more officials were elected and brought more liberal ideas and policies, we griped and complained but we still didn’t heed the voice of God who told us to go and make disciples of this nation.  Instead we seem content to just tell the people because of their wickedness this nation is headed for destruction.

Are we like Jonah?  Do we fear that if we preach the Good news, disciple the people that God will relent and save this nation? Because deep down we know that God is slow to anger and abounding in love. When will we as Christians rise up and repent of our disobedience to the great commission given to us by Jesus to go and make disciples of all nations especially our own; baptizing them, healing them of all their diseases and loving them instead of condemning them to destruction.

Jonah was angry that God relented.  He thought the people of Nineveh deserved to be destroyed because they were so wicked.  He questioned in the bitterness of his soul – Why should they be given another chance for God’s mercy?  Jonah didn’t want to see Nineveh repent.  Are we like Jonah?

God’s response to Jonah was “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:11

God has great concern for the United States of America He wants to heal our land and change it for good.  He has directed His people to go and disciple the people of the nation.  When we do this they will turn to God and desire the things of God.  They will no longer seek those things out that are evil but call upon the Lord for salvation.  If the people change so will our government and their hearts will be turned to God.

The law cannot save.  We cannot expect our government to enact laws that will cause this nation to turn back to God.  Instead we have to humble ourselves and do what God has commissioned us to do.  We must remember that the Holy Spirit will convict men of their sin and turn them to Jesus.  We must be that light and proclaim the word of God in our towns and cities throughout this nation.  One man was able to speak a word from God and the entire city repented and turned to God.  How much more can the people of God do today under the power of the Holy Spirit?

So let’s not focus on the law or grumble about the state of our government.  Instead let’s save the people and heal their broken hearts.  They are longing for the truth and the light of God.  Everything we do we must do out of love and not judgment and pride.  We must deem them higher than we deem ourselves.

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Compassionate Conservative?

Posted in government, Love, Money, Prayer, The Body, The Father, The Righteous on October 9, 2012|

9 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV

Compassionate conservatism is a political philosophy that stresses using traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society (Wikipedia Encyclopedia).  It is a term that President George W. Bush identified with when he ran for office in 2000.  The idea was that conservatives were motivated by compassion.  This is what President George Bush said about himself.  Many republicans at that time were talking about the importance of compassionate conservatism.  However, I wonder where that compassion has gone.

I have been astounded by the rhetoric of anger, fear, and hatred that I have heard from those claiming to be conservative or republican in speaking about the direction this country is going and the current administration.  The Republican Party seems to have been hijacked by a small group of right wing individuals who promote hate and fear.   They have made the republicans look like the main thing that matters to them is money.  They are tired of paying for programs that benefit the less fortunate or cringe at the idea that somehow their wealth will be redistributed to the poor or minorities who are viewed as being lazy or dependent upon government handouts.

The Republican Party has stood against abortion and stood for traditional marriage which is what entices many Christians to the party.  We even use terms as the Christian Right who have been vocal critiques of the liberal policies that make abortion legal and desire to allow gays to marry.  Despite the Republicans’ stance on these issues the recent rhetoric for the past four years has given me great pause and I ask where is the compassion?

How is it that policies that have favored the poor, immigrants or minorities are the very policies that are driving our nation to the brink of destruction?  Why is it that when the first black President is elected there were those who questioned his birth right, and called him names including Hitler, a Marxist or whatever negative term that would bring about fear and loathing?  But I don’t expect that much from those that are motivated by money or are more concerned about their balance sheets and profit margins.  I do expect more from Christians.  Where is the love and compassion?

As much as the current administration has been criticized by the Christian right for their policies concerning abortion and marriage they have remained silent about those in the republican party spouting fear, hate and anger.  Some have even fed the rhetoric by repeating what they hear.  Things like our country is headed for destruction and God will judge us if we support the current administration or Democratic Party.  They have not criticized those within the party that are spouting all this negativity.  Where is the hope?  Why all the doom and gloom?  Compassion has been thrown out the window.

I have been truly baffled by all of this.  I have prayed for understanding but I keep going back to love and compassion.  Jesus said that the world would know His disciples by the love that they have for one another.  Instead fear has been the driving factor in this election season by the Republicans who claim that God on their platform unlike the Democrats who tried to remove God from their platform.  I guess we should at least give the Democrats credit for being honest instead of purporting to be followers of God but not displaying the characteristics of God.

Let’s leave politics to the politicians and corporations that support them.  The church is to be about the business of God.  If the government is not going to provide justice, compassion and mercy to the people it is the church’s responsibility.

We can’t just support making abortion illegal without offering a solution for women and those babies born to parents that can’t care for them or do not want to care for them.  We need to provide them with a safe place where they will find compassion and mercy, not judgment and hate.  If we do not want the government providing the poor or minorities with programs that benefit their education, finding work, health benefits, etc. then the church has to step up.

When these right wing conservatives are crying foul and speaking doom and gloom; the church needs to step up and provide hope and love to a lost and hurting people.  We should not be standing behind them rooting them on in hopes that their rhetoric will encourage people not to support the current administration or Democratic Party.  How often have we demonized the current administration and those that are part of the Democratic Party?  Since when did they become our enemy?

The direction of our nation is not dependent upon those who do not know God.  They are doing what they know to do.  We can’t expect them to walk in righteousness.  However, the direction of the nation is dependent upon the righteous.  If the nation is headed toward moral decay or destruction then we have to look to ourselves and judge ourselves before God.  Are we fulfilling the great commission that Jesus gave us?

If we would show the mercy and compassion toward others that God has shown to us then we will find favor and compassion with whatever party or person that occupies the white house.  The bible is full of examples of godly men and women that found favor with kings and governments that lived contrary to them.

We should be celebrating everything that is right in this country and provide light and hope in those dark places.  Fear, hate, and anger should never be part of our vocabulary or conversation because it was never with Jesus.  Our hearts should long for the salvation of every lost soul and compassion and mercy toward all.  We can hate sin but not the sinner.  We should be building up and not tearing down.

I hope one day Republicans will return to the idea of compassionate conservatism.  Remember the bible teaches us that if we seek first the Kingdom that all these things will be added to us.  If we give to the poor we will not have to worry about our riches.  What we do for others God will do for us.  The church knows this message and it is time we begin to teach it to the nation.  The lust and love of money is the root of all evil but love, compassion and mercy is the very DNA of our living God.

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The Price of War

Posted in government, Love, Peace, Prayer, The Body, Unity on November 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Leave your orphans behind, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in Me.” Jeremiah 49:11

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  James 1:27

Today we celebrate Veteran’s Day in the USA.  It is a time that we honor our soldiers who have served this country and the many wars we have faced.  We know the high price of war is the lost of our soldiers lives; prisoners of wars; wounded soldiers; and broken families.  Unfortunately, the current wars that we have been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan may have lingering effects for generations to come.

We have been fighting these two wars for 10 years now.  Even though the death toll has not been as high as previous wars; these two wars have taken a great toil on our soldiers, their families and our society.  Our soldiers have faced multiple deployments and we have seen a record number of women soldiers serving in these two wars.  Many children have been left behind and these children may be the greatest price we pay for these wars.  Children need their parents, if they are raised apart from their parents it has a lasting effect even into their adulthood.

I can’t even imagine a child that loses a parent to war.  Everyone knows the risk but we all hope that our soldiers return home safe and sound.  But the other tragedy facing children are the multiple deployments.  Imagine seeing your dad or mom going off to war; they return home to only be sent back again – leaving a child to face the separation again and again.  This can cause fear, anxiety, anger, and hatred to build in a child’s heart.  Where is their safety and who will care for them?

We may not know the impact of this until years from now even after the wars are completed.  Truthfully we are seeing more and more homes losing the fathers as they go off to fight in these wars.  There are also mothers being sent but the majority of those serving are men and many of them are fathers. 

We cannot ignore the impact that these wars have on our children.  They need our love and support.  As the bible tells us we are to care for the widows and orphans and we do not have to wait for our soldiers to die to take notice of the needs of the families that are left behind.

God has a special place in his heart for orphans and widows.  He has a heart for the fatherless and so should we.  I honor the men and women that have serve our country, but I pray that by God’s grace and wisdom that He can pave a way that these men and women are separated from their families as little as possible.

We may not have the resources or knowledge to prevent multiple deployments of soldiers but we can stand in the gap for those that are away and serving our country.  We can pray and we can care for their families.  We as a society can do this.  It is not only our government’s responsibility but it is also ours. 

Whether or not we agree with the wars, the truth is our soldiers are fighting and we need to support them in any capacity we can.  The holidays are approaching and there are many families that will be without their dads and moms as they serve overseas to fight for our freedom.  Let’s see what we can do  to help these families cope and enjoy this holiday season.

As Christians let us continue to pray for peace and victory in these wars so we can bring our soldiers home and these children do not have to be orphaned any longer.  Let’s believe God for a supernatural act on behalf of our soldiers.

I pray God’s blessing, protection and grace to every soldier that serves this country.  I pray for unity in our nation as our military fights for our freedom and safety.  Theirs is a great sacrifice; but their children do not have to be the casualty of war.  The African parable says “it takes a village to raise a child’; so let’s help raise this generation of military children.  We all have a part, so let’s each do our part in raising up the next generation.

Happy Veteran’s Day to all our soldiers and their families, THANK YOU for all you do. God Bless our Veterans and God Bless the United States of America.

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We Need More Daniels

Posted in government, Love on October 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.
23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,
For You have given me wisdom and power;
Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2: 20-23

When King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem he took some of the sons of Israel and brought them to the king’s court.  Daniel was one of the young men brought to King Nebuchadnezzar.  Daniel found favor with his overseer and God gave Daniel intelligence and knowledge in every branch of literature and wisdom (Daniel 1: 17). 

One day King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked the magicians, sorcerers, conjurers and the Chaldeans to interpret his dream.  Because they could not interpret the king’s dream he ordered all wise men to be killed including Daniel.  When Daniel heard the news he asked if he could have a chance to interpret the king’s dream.  Before going to the king Daniel prayed to God and asked for wisdom and the interpretation.  God gave Daniel the interpretation which Daniel then gave to King Nebuchadnezzar. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was so pleased that he gave homage to Daniel; gave him gifts; made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2: 48)

We need more people like Daniel.  Daniel did not allow his circumstance as the king’s servant to stop him from serving and relying on God for everything.  Daniel could have accepted the king’s decree that all wise men to be killed but he took a stand and inquired of the Lord.  God gave Daniel the answer and Daniel was able to interpret the king’s dream and found favor with the king. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was an evil king.  Daniel never complained about the king or his circumstance.  Instead Daniel served God and the king.  Later when Daniel interprets the king’s dream of God’s judgment Daniel wishes that the dream was for one of his enemies and not him.  We see how Daniel’s heart is toward the king and not toward his destruction.  Even after King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign Daniel continued to serve under other kings and found favor in their sight.

As Christians we seem to enjoy sitting back and criticizing our leaders.  We sit in judgment and complain about their policies and governing tactics.  We are told to pray for kings and leaders.  We are to stand in the gap.  Though we may not agree with their policies are how they govern; we should seek to bring the kingdoms of the world under God.  We can do this by asking God for wisdom in the problems our society faces.  We should be active participants like Daniel.  We should not idly sit by why a leader makes decrees that would destroy us.

Daniel prayed and asked God for wisdom.  Daniel found favor before the king and in the end because of Daniel’s love and compassion for King Nebuchadnezzar, he acknowledged God.

We can greatly impact our government but we can’t do it by just sitting back and complaining about what is going on.  God has the answers all we have to do is ask and then present these to our leaders.  If we are not in a position of influence we should pray for those that are.  We may not like who is in charge but we have a responsibility to pray for them; to support them and serve them.  Through us God will bring the kingdoms of this world into His Kingdom.

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Unity!

Posted in government, The Righteous, Unity on May 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.  Matthew 12:25

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!  Psalm 133:1

How wonderful it was to see on Monday May 2nd the unity that America showed when we learned the news of Osama Bin Laden.  It was great to hear that people everywhere where unified on this issue.  There was no democrats, republicans, black, white, class, etc.  It was just Americans celebrating the strength of this nation – the United States of America. 

For the past few years we have been so divided over so many issues and that divide seemed to be getting greater and greater.  Since the economy has been in bad shape we as a nation have been pointing fingers and blaming each other.  The rhetoric that has been spoken has been full of hate and very divisive.  But yesterday we showed that we can be better than that.  We can be a better nation.

Last week I was reading that China may soon pass the US as the global superpower.  Many continue to predict the demise of the US.  It was not like that just a few years ago but our division has taken a great toil on this nation.  It is this division that will destroy us, not another country or even a terrorist group.  If we are divided against ourselves we cannot stand.  The problems we are facing in this nation effect everyone and we must be united in solving our problems.  We may disagree on many issues but that disagreement does not need to divide us.

When the forefathers founded this nation many of them had differing opinions and ideals but they were united by one common cause – freedom.  It was that unity that founded this country and made it so great.  Unfortunately, these past couple of years there is talk of some states wanting to secede.  Some saying we have to take our country back (not sure from whom?).  The division amongst races and classes is getting worse.  It would be a great tragedy if this nation is laid to waste because of our division.

We are better than this, yesterday was proof.  We can be united once again by a vision of a better future, and coming together to solve our nation’s problems.  The naysayers are saying we will be laid to waste, but we don’t have to accept this.  We should not accept this.  The United States is still a very young country especially compared to many other nations.  The one thing that has always defined us from all others is that we were and still can be “One nation under God.”  There is power and blessing in Unity.  God bless the United States of America.

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The Pain of Remaining the Same

Posted in government, The Father, The Righteous on February 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. Exodus 12:40

2All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3“Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” Numbers 14:2-4

Most people know the following quote: “A person will remain the same until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change.”  I was thinking about this after seeing an article about how our country needs to return to the ways of the past.  There is a conservative movement to return to the way things were because people do not like the changes that are taking place and they remember what it used to be like and want to return to those “good old” days.

The same happened with the children of Israel.  They did not want to face the wilderness or the unknown between the land of Egypt and the land of promise.  When things got difficult in the wilderness they would gripe and complain and say that they would have been better off in Egypt.  They spent 430 years under the Egyptians and cried out to God for deliverance; but when God sent Moses to deliver them and they ended up in the wilderness, they wanted to return to oppression of Egypt.  They did not like the change.

It is never God’s will for us to remain the same.  God wants us to grow and mature in our faith and walk with Him.  We can’t be afraid of change.  If we do not change, we cannot grow and experience all that God has for us.  Even when looking at the state of our country the answer is not in looking back but in looking forward and having a vision for the future.

However, when we are in the unknown it is easier to reflect on what we do know even if that past situation brought us pain.  So let it not be that the only time we are willing to change is when the “pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change.”  Change does not have to be painful but we should embrace it and realize that God is always looking to take us to another level of faith and glory.

So if you are going through a difficult time right now, don’t look back to Egypt; hold onto the promise of God and know that the best is yet to come.  That is what happened with Israel – they went from the bondage of Egypt, to the wilderness, and into the promise land that flowed with milk and honey.  Your promise land is ahead never behind.

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24 Hour Access

Posted in government, Grace, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Salvation, The Father, The Righteous on January 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.  He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. Psalm 11:4 (NIV)

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

If I wanted to call the President of the United States, I would probably get no further than the operator at the White House.  If I showed up unannounced I would probably get arrested.  The President does not know me and I do not know anyone who has access to the President.  I am of no importance to the President.  The same goes for any celebrity, government official, king, prince, etc.  You have to know someone to reach a person of significance like the President of the United States.  But that is not how it is with God.

I have access to the Father at all times.  He is seated on His heavenly throne observing everyone on earth.  Jesus who is our High Priest died for our sins and we have been given His righteousness.  All those that belong to Jesus have access to the throne of grace.  We have direct access to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  I may not be able to call the President but I can call God at any time.  We are told to boldly approach the throne.

Think about it.  The one who created heaven and earth; who sets the seasons and time; the one that is the Alpha and Omega, is accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week.  No appointment needed, no operator to contact.  Our relationship with the Father has been restored by our relationship with Jesus.

Not only do we have access to the throne but God already knows everything about us.  He knows our history, our worse days and our best.  He even knows the number of hairs on our head.  He knows our rising up and lying down.  He has hemmed us in and out.  He even knitted us together in our mother’s womb.  So when we call on Him, He answers.  He is always there and will never leave nor forsake us.

The President may not know me and I may not be welcomed at the White House; but the Father, He knows me and welcomes me anytime to boldly approach His throne of grace.  What a mighty God we serve.

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Power of the Cross

Posted in Crucified, government, Jesus, Love, Salvation, Sin, The Righteous on January 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

On January 4, 2011, the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego was declared unconstitutional by a federal appeals court because of the 43 foot cross on top of the memorial.  The court ruled that the cross violated the constitutional ban on government sponsored religion.  This court case has been brewing since the 1980s.  More and more courts are finding public places that display the cross, bible or ten commandments as government sponsored religion.  I find this interesting because I thought the constitution protected religious freedom.

There has been a cross at Mount Soledad since 1913.  The cross was replaced in the 1920s and in 1954.  So this cross has been a symbol at Mount Soledad for almost 100 years, but today it was declared unconstitutional (“California Memorial Cross Found Unconstitutional” by Steve Gorman Reuters, January 4, 2011). 

Many are offended by the cross.  It is a Christian symbol and to us Christians it is a symbol and reminder that Jesus Christ died on the cross so that we might live.  Those who do not know Jesus see the cross as foolishness.  According to the courts, our government should not endorse nor display the cross anywhere on public property.  We know the cross represents the power of God.

We will probably see more and more cases being brought to the federal courts and even the Supreme Court regarding the use of religious symbols on public property.  It may seem as we are losing our religious freedoms but remember that the cross represents the power of God.

The court did not rule if the cross at Mount Soledad has to be removed, but even if it does come down the power of the cross is not diminished.  Nothing can nullify what happened on the cross.  It is because of the cross that we have been reconciled to God.  It is a symbol and reminder of God’s love for the world when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins.  Let’s pray that one day everyone will understand the true power behind the cross.

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