What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22)
Three points:
1. There is sadness.
What was beautiful is now ugly. Sin is ugly, and a return to it is most sad.
2. We have choices.
All have a choice. God help us! We need strength and the support of other Christians to make it. If there is no one, the Lord will be our helper.
3. Hindsight is often more accurate the foresight.
But the Scripture warns us. Let us pray for protection and resist.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
1 Corinthians 3:19-20
For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight. As the scripture says, "God traps the wise in their cleverness"; and another scripture says, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are worthless." (1 Corinthians 3:19-20)
Three points:
1. The world has their own definition of wisdom.
God's is different. It doesn't take long after reading the world's wisdom to know it is foolishness. Evolution, abortion, immorality, lying, etc. "Who cares" is their attitude; "there is no God anyway". "Everything can be solved by science."
2. God sees and knows what the world thinks and does.
There is no hiding from God.
3. If and when someone will argue with God, they always lose.
For example:
The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?" Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin for paying the tax!" They brought him the coin, and he asked them, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered. So Jesus said to them, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)
Three points:
1. The world has their own definition of wisdom.
God's is different. It doesn't take long after reading the world's wisdom to know it is foolishness. Evolution, abortion, immorality, lying, etc. "Who cares" is their attitude; "there is no God anyway". "Everything can be solved by science."
2. God sees and knows what the world thinks and does.
There is no hiding from God.
3. If and when someone will argue with God, they always lose.
For example:
The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?" Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin for paying the tax!" They brought him the coin, and he asked them, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered. So Jesus said to them, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. (Matthew 22:15-22)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Psalms 56:3
When I am afraid, O LORD Almighty, I put my trust in you. (Psalms 56:3)
Three points:
1. People and fear.
There comes a time(s) when people are afraid. What is the very first thing we should do? We must remember that the Lord is my shepherd; we need to turn to God for help.
He will not cast off. The situation may continue, but the comfort of God will be there.
2. O LORD Almighty.
It is to the Lord we must pray. It is OK to ask the police, family, friends, etc, but the only one who can help our fear is God himself. He is sovereign, so He can take care of the situation and help our fear.
3. I put my trust in you.
Many trust themselves. It is the proud who do that. We need to be humble and acknowledge that we cannot of ourselves conquer fear.
Three points:
1. People and fear.
There comes a time(s) when people are afraid. What is the very first thing we should do? We must remember that the Lord is my shepherd; we need to turn to God for help.
He will not cast off. The situation may continue, but the comfort of God will be there.
2. O LORD Almighty.
It is to the Lord we must pray. It is OK to ask the police, family, friends, etc, but the only one who can help our fear is God himself. He is sovereign, so He can take care of the situation and help our fear.
3. I put my trust in you.
Many trust themselves. It is the proud who do that. We need to be humble and acknowledge that we cannot of ourselves conquer fear.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Isaiah 59:14
Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. (Isaiah 59:14)
Three points:
1. Society has fallen apart.
Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. In California, USA, the majority of citizens wanted marriage defined as a union of a male and female. The courts throw it out. Society will only get worse. So, it is said, "As in the days of Noah."
2. The importance of justice, righteousness, true, and equity.
Justice is making a correct decision. Righteousness is doing the right thing(as God as told us). Truth is factual. Equity is fairness; all get treated the same. God is pleased and society is blessed when these four things are practiced in the heart, in the family, in the church, and in society.
3. Truth is fallen in the streets.
People don't like truth. They want what is comfortable and agreeable to THEM. The only truth is in the Bible. Everything else is judged by that standard and it alone.
Three points:
1. Society has fallen apart.
Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. In California, USA, the majority of citizens wanted marriage defined as a union of a male and female. The courts throw it out. Society will only get worse. So, it is said, "As in the days of Noah."
2. The importance of justice, righteousness, true, and equity.
Justice is making a correct decision. Righteousness is doing the right thing(as God as told us). Truth is factual. Equity is fairness; all get treated the same. God is pleased and society is blessed when these four things are practiced in the heart, in the family, in the church, and in society.
3. Truth is fallen in the streets.
People don't like truth. They want what is comfortable and agreeable to THEM. The only truth is in the Bible. Everything else is judged by that standard and it alone.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
1 John 1:8-10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. If we say that we have not sinned, we make a liar out of God, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
Three points:
1. Deceive ourselves.
It is bad enough to be deceived, but to deceive ourselves is the worst. We deceive ourselves when we turn from the truth, the obvious, rejecting what we know.
2. There is NO truth in us.
What a horrible statement. No Truth! What horror. It is the first and most basic thing--we are sinners (breaking God's Law--the Ten Commandments, in thought, word, deed, and desire).
3. The necessity of confession.
We confess our sins to God. We sin against God; God is the Judge, and we make confession to Him. He will forgive. He wants to forgive. He loves to forgive those who ask. We need to humble ourselves to acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness.
Three points:
1. Deceive ourselves.
It is bad enough to be deceived, but to deceive ourselves is the worst. We deceive ourselves when we turn from the truth, the obvious, rejecting what we know.
2. There is NO truth in us.
What a horrible statement. No Truth! What horror. It is the first and most basic thing--we are sinners (breaking God's Law--the Ten Commandments, in thought, word, deed, and desire).
3. The necessity of confession.
We confess our sins to God. We sin against God; God is the Judge, and we make confession to Him. He will forgive. He wants to forgive. He loves to forgive those who ask. We need to humble ourselves to acknowledge our sin and ask for forgiveness.
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