Opposing the Wrong, Supporting the Right

Opposing the Wrong, Supporting the Right

The prophets lived in a time of great moral turpitude.  Many were confused as to what was right and what was wrong.  So much so that many of the prophets call attention to the fact that the people in their day and time hated good and loved evil.  In Micah 3:2, God tells His people: “You who hate good and love evil.”  Amos found it necessary to say, “Hate evil, love good” (Amos 5:15).  The wicked man is described in the Psalms: “You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness” (Psalm 52:3).  Perhaps the most iconic passage is in Isaiah 5:2, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

What is wrong? What is right?  How can we tell?  The answer is in the Bible.

What is wrong? What is right? How can we tell? The answer is in the Bible.

There are things that are right and good and wholesome: mercy, love, patience, kindness, sobriety, forgiveness, purity, joy, humility, faith.  There are also those things that are wrong and evil and destructive: selfishness, hate, maliciousness, drunkenness, unbelief, pride, envy, greediness, lust, and anger.  As Christians, good citizens, family members, and lovers of wholesome things, we must oppose the wrong and support the right.  We must do this personally, in our families, in our churches, in our neighborhoods, in our communities, and in our nation.  It takes effort on our part to be vigilant and stand for what is right.  Peter wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).Let’s make an effort this week to take a stand for what is right and good and wholesome.  God is with us!  He sees the good that we do!  He will remember those good works (Hebrews 6:10)!  God bless you and I love you!

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¿Convirtió Jesús Agua en Vino Fermentado?

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Washing the Disciples Feet

Washing the Disciples Feet

At supper, while washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus told Peter that if he did not allow him to wash him then Peter would have no part in Christ. Upon completion of the task Jesus proclaimed that he had left an example to follow: an example of love, humility and service. Then in the next three chapters Jesus goes on to explain what love really is and what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Washing the feet was one of many of Jesus demonstrations of love.

Washing the feet was one of many of Jesus demonstrations of love.

We have often talked about how love means sacrifice! Love also means keeping the commandments of the Lord. Love is the means by which we show others the way to Jesus. While we hear a lot about love in the greater religious world we seldom see true love in action. It is so very important that we show our love today by giving ourselves to the Lord fully in obedience and faithfulness. Let us show our love today by doing some good deed for a brother in Christ. May we show our love today by sharing the message of the greatest love ever know; share the good news with someone today! And be faithful. [

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Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness

Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

Luke 4:1-2

When we read about Satan’s temptations which he put before Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism, we usually focus on the temptations themselves.  But have we ever stopped to consider what was going on in the background, the days leading up to those temptations?

Led by the Spirit to a camping trip?  Far from it...

Led by the Spirit to a camping trip? Far from it…

The wilderness of Judea was a terrible place during Jesus’ day.  He was out there all alone, with no companions but wild beasts (Mark 1:13) and nothing to eat for a full forty days.  A month, a week, and three days with no food.  Think about that.  Put yourself in Jesus’ place.  You’re walking around, slowly approaching complete starvation, your energy and stamina sapped by the lack of food and the hot Middle Eastern sun, likely being stalked or even chased by wild animals who want you for a meal.

And here’s the biggest concept to think about.  Luke says that Jesus “was led by the Spirit” into that awful ordeal.  That means that God not only knew about the terrible suffering his Son was going through so soon after the joy of his baptism, but he initiated it!  The Holy Spirit led Jesus into that awful ordeal, knowing that it would end with Satan’s tempting the Son of God when he was at his physical weakest!  Why would God do such a thing?

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure.  God is treating you as sons.  For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them.  Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

(Hebrews 12:5-13)

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Don’t Ever Run a “Red Light”

Don’t Ever Run a “Red Light”

One learns at a very young age that there are rules which control the flow of traffic in our land. Think about how early a young child learns that red means stop and green means go. It may be a while before they realize there is a national law that you can turn right on red at any intersection unless there is a sign which forbids it. However, everyone knows the meaning of red lights and green lights.

Green light means go... Red light means stop.

Green light means go… Red light means stop.

Now take this principle and apply it to the rules God has given us for our lives. That sermon entitled “Can the Bible Be Trusted?” lays the foundation for all the “red lights” and “green lights” God has given us in His Word. If the Bible cannot be trusted, these “lights” are archaic and meaningless, but once it is established that the Bible is from heaven and God has promised that He will ensure that it will never pass away, the “lights” of the Bible take on new meaning.

Did Jesus understand that His work involved giving laws and commandments which must be followed, just like we follow the laws regarding red lights in our land? Hear His words, “All authority has been given unto Me in heaven and one earth…Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18-20). It surely looks like He intended for all men in all nations to be taught to observe His commandments. Jesus’ words demand that He saw boundaries which were established from Him for all men for all times. He was not simply giving instructions about “red lights” which only had application to the apostles.

Hear Him again. “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). The word which He gave was seen as being eternal and binding upon men from the time He spoke them until the last day mankind is on the earth. He viewed His words as being “red lights” and “green lights” in the lives of each of us.

Look at that verse again and recognize that on the last day we will have our “day in court.” Not before some judge in a local traffic court, but before that Judge who has all authority. God says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).  You and I both will be there, for everyone must give an account of his life before the Judge of all mankind.

There are consequences to not observing the laws about red and green lights. There are far greater consequences for not obey His “lights” in the eternal word He has given us!

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