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Archive for the ‘The Righteous’ Category

Rembering 9/11

Posted in God's Glory, The Righteous on September 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 23Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

 24″Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

 25″Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”

 26So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”

 32Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” Genesis 18: 23-26, 32

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced one of the worst terrorist acts in history.  Thousands of people lost their lives that day and many continue as we have been fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It’s hard to believe it has been nine years and we are still fighting an enemy that wants to see us destroyed.

When a tragic event like 9/11 takes place the inevitable question is “Why God?”  The mistake many of us make in explaining God’s role is we try to justify what took place.  There were some who said that God was judging the United States and He was not happy with what we are doing in regards to sin.  Those few believed God was passing judgment and even our enemy believed they were doing the right thing by “judging” the USA through acts of terrorism.

I was on a plane at the time the terrorist attacks took place on 9/11.  I was on an airport runway in Pittsburgh waiting for our plane to take off.  We were told to return to the gate and learned when we got off that the FAA had ordered all planes to land and all airports to shutdown.  I was in complete disbelief at the events that began to unfold in New York, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.  As the day progressed I began to see God at work. 

As I heard of the reports of survivors and that this could have been so much worse I began to thank God.  So many people were able to get out of the Twin Towers before they fell and their lives were spared.  The planes were not full to capacity and one of the planes did not reach its target in Washington, D.C.  Instead of seeing God’s judgment, God’s mercy and love were at play.

I know many people died on 9/11 but let us remember it is because of our enemy not God’s divine judgment.  Let’s praise God for the many lives that were saved and the fact that God continues to protect this nation.  I believe it is because of the righteous that this nation is blessed and protected by God.  I marvel at how we have not experienced far worse terrorist attacks in our nation.  It is not because we have such great security (security is still very lax), it is by God’s grace that we have been spared more attacks and innocent deaths.

Our enemy is very real but God is greater than our enemy.  As we reflect on this day let us give glory and honor to God for His mercy, love, and protection.  We are not destined for destruction, but we are destined to be blessed and be a blessing to so many other nations.  God is for us.  He watches over this nation and keeps us safe from our enemy.  We have peace knowing that we are one nation under God, even if only a few righteous are found.  For the righteous sake, God bless America!

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Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath

Posted in Jesus, The Righteous on September 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  1 Peter 3:14-16

By now you have heard the news of a pastor and his small church in Florida that is planning on burning the Quran to protest radical Islam on the anniversary of 9/11.  The President of the USA, the state department, religious leaders, the military and other governments are asking that this pastor cancel the event for fear of what the Muslim extremists will do.  The fear is extremists will use the images of the Quran being burned to fuel terrorists attacks against our soldiers and against the US.

Is fear a justification for asking this pastor and church to back down?  No.  The argument may be true but in the heart of many of us we do not want to be ruled by fear and intimidation of terrorists.  There are those who are thinking if this pastor backs down then the terrorists win.  Maybe the pastor and his church think the same thing, but let’s examine the scriptures.

Peter sums it up the best.  We should not fear Muslim extremists or their tactics to terrorize us.  We are in Christ and if Christ be for us who can be against us?  Peter exhorts us to be ready with an answer about our faith.  We should always be ready and willing to talk about our faith and why we believe in the Holy Bible and that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  There is no need for us to attack others in their faith or even burn their books.  We should always respond with gentleness and reverence, even when our enemies respond with hatred and violence.  It is in that power of our response that we will put our enemies to shame and glorify Jesus.

The Quran should not be burned by Christians – what does that do to our testimony?  What message are we sending?  Does it actually give glory and honor to our Savior Jesus Christ?  Does it make others want to hear and learn more about Jesus?  Right now the whole world is watching what these Christians will do.  We as believers represent Christ on earth.  So the world is asking “What will Jesus Do?”

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The Righteous Exalt a City

Posted in The Righteous on May 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
         And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
         But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. Proverbs 11:10-11

There are many who are not pleased with the direction of this country.  Polls show that most Americans are disappointed with their elected officials and the President.  Congress has the lowest rating, and just about half the country approves what the President is doing.  People blame the problems of the country on the government and believe by electing new people the country would be in better shape.

The bible teaches that it is the righteous that exalt a nation.  If a nation or our cities are suffering then we have to look to ourselves.  The above Proverb states that when the righteous are doing well and being blessed the city rejoices and is exalted.  So when we are blessed the places we live will be blessed.

God expects the righteous to walk in His ways and to live Holy lives set apart from God.  The righteous will cause a city to excel, rejoice, and be exalted.  So when we see our nation suffering and our communities in trouble then we need to look and examine ourselves.  Are we doing all God has called us to do?  Are we walking by faith and not by sight?  Do our lives reflect the world or do they reflect Christ?

God intends for the righteous to be a city on a hill whose light shines and points the lost to the Lord.  We are to be a blessing and not a curse.  We are to represent heaven on earth and not simply be a reflection of the world we live in.  For when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.

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