Thursday... But are we great or a disgrace?

Some would say that we are great if they are in charge. Some would say we are great because of how large we are or how much wealth we have or power or influence.

But Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) says, "Godliness makes a nation great," Now some people can be said to be great because of their Godliness but is our nation great or a disgrace? The whole verse says, "Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

The MESSAGE puts it this way, "God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak." Oh if we would devote our lives to God.

We are headed into Easter weekend. It shows a weak nation that turned their back on God and even killed God's Son. Yes there were people who were devoted to God but their nation wasn't. Even their religious leaders turned their back on God and they were a disgrace.

Oh God, may we turn back to You, may we truly be devoted to you. May we be great again.

Over in Matthew 22 the religious leaders met with Jesus three different times. Verse 18 (NLT) says, "But Jesus knew their evil motives. 'You are hypocrites!' he said, 'Why are you trying to trap me?'" And the same is true today.

Proverbs 14:2 says, "Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him." Verse 3, "A fool's proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe."

And then verses 6 & 7, "A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. Stay away from fools, for you won't find knowledge on their lips." And then verse 8, "The prudent understand where they are going but fools deceive themselves." Oh God may we not despise you and not be deceived.

Verses 34 & 35, "Godliness makes a nation great but sin is a disgrace to any people. A king rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him." Oh God, may we be great and not a disgrace to you. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

Wednesday... It didn't just happen.

Psalm 16;10 (NLT), "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave." Wednesday... It didn't just happen. We are headed into a weekend of deep emotion. One that we really really love was killed and it didn't just happen. David in Psalm 16:10 (NLT) writes of this happening. He says about God, "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave." We read over in the Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament in the Bible of the life of God's Son who came to earth to be our sacrifice so that our soul would not be left among the dead. Jesus came so that we wouldn't have to be buried at death and just left there. But he also shares that Jesus who was going to be killed as a sacrifice for our sins would not have to rot in a grave. David many generations before foretold this and that is what happened. Now that had to be a God thing. We can guess a lot about our future and we d...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but... We each one have our own way of explaining what we are going through, don't we? Some of us are maximisers, other are minimizers and neither one is better. We each one are different and we see what we are facing differently but no matter what it is and how you see it and describe it, God can handle it! Now the writer of Psalm 46 shows the extremes. In verse 1 he states the basic reality and then he moves on into our fears and he maximizes them to make sure we really understand. Here is what Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) says, "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" So what do you fear? The Amplified Bible says verse 1 this way, "God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very presen...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog