Are You God-Approved?

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

To those with aspirations of becoming a leader in any capacity of life, the best measure of whether or not you consider yourself fit for such a position, should be compared to the requirements God set for choosing a leader for His people in Scripture. There are men and women all over the globe, who hold positions of power, yet are unfit to lead. Many of those who have led, or are presently leading “unworthily”, were more than likely placed in those positions based on family name, illegal efforts, or some other means. However, when a man or woman meets God’s requirements of a qualified leader, their reign will have a positive, and lasting impact on all who are under their watch.

First off, God must approve of the man, before He’s even considered for the position. After being God-approved, one must handle all matters with the Spirit of humility. A good leader seeks not to puff themselves up, nor do they strive to accumulate excessive wealth. Instead, their priorities are centered on the needs of those they watch over, and how they can make life better for the people, long-term. Keeping the people’s needs as their primary focus, will allow for God to provide for the needs of the leaders. When God sees His people diligently working to make the lives of others better, He’ll always be sure to meet their needs, before they even ask.

Another major characteristic of a good leader is, they have a genuine fear, and reverence for God. When a man respects God, his behavior and actions will prove it. He’ll attend to God’s Word, study His precepts, and await all judgment until it’s affirmed through God’s wisdom. How many times have you rushed to conclusions, without first seeking God’s wisdom through prayer? Leading God’s way will always produce benefits, with little room for error. In addition, God honors good leaders by building their faith and character, blessing their family, and allowing their reign to last, so that His goodness can be on display, as long as the leader obeys God’s commands, and refuses to turn to the left, or the right.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Are You Religious?

Deuteronomy 24:17-22

What is religion? Is it clothing ourselves in fine apparel, and speaking soothing words to please itching ears? Could religion be going to church consistently; singing, shouting, and giving offerings to God? Perhaps religion is claiming a title like Christian, but not necessarily fulfilling what the title means; only wearing the title to prove you are religious in the eyes of others. Hmmmm… lemme think; what else could religion be…? Ohhhh I got it! Maybe religion is exercising gifts like speaking in tongues, or prophesying. That’s it, isn’t it? Despite what the world has surmised religion to be, it is far from the previous examples I listed.

Religion is not a title, nor any act of selfishness. Instead, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27 KJV). Religion is not a title, but good works, coupled with consistent holy living. While no man is good, except the Father, God allows us the opportunity to share His love with others by exhibiting acts of compassion, kindness, and selflessness. Many say they love God, and are “religious”, yet rarely would they stop to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Life is tough for everyone, more so for strangers, widows, and those who have no father. Special attention is required for such persons, and those who are in Christ should always be ready to assist them at a moment’s notice.

In our text, God established laws, by which His people were to adhere to, concerning caring for the needs of the less fortunate. The people were required to gather enough resources for themselves and their family, then leave the leftovers to passersby who may not be capable of providing for themselves. This act is love at it’s best! When you show someone compassion, and tend to their need (without seeking glory for yourself) not only does the person you helped have a better life, but God will bless you in return. The phrase, “it’s a blessing to be a blessing” stems from this truth.

Oftentimes, those who have great needs are shunned away by men who can easily satisfy their deficit, but pride and arrogance consumes them to the point they only show concern for their own needs, rather than those who suffer lack. Prove your religion, not by spewing vain words or claiming titles, but by performing consistent good works, then God will make sure your cup will always run over, and never run dry.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Wages Of Sin

2 Kings 24:20-25:7

Since the beginning of time, nothing good has ever been birthed from acts of rebellion. When Cain went against the instructions of God, not only was he cursed, but the very grounds from which he prepared and cultivated, would no longer produce sufficient crops. Aaron and the children of Israel rebelled against God, even after witnessing some of the greatest miracles ever recorded in Scripture. Thus, they were not permitted to enter the land of promise. When we refuse to follow God’s simple and easy instructions, we literally cut ourselves off from receiving His divine protection, direction, and provision. Sin and disobedience are deterrents, that keep us from walking in obedience to God, and adds unnecessary distance between us and our intended purpose.

God made a plan for everyone, and if followed obediently, all things will be aligned accordingly, but when we sin, we push ourselves further away from where God intended our lives to be. In essence, “sin wastes time that we can never recover”. Acts of sin have consequences, and although God’s intentions are to bless, He can’t embrace and inhabit unholy temples.

Our text continues with the foretelling of Jerusalem’s captivity. God warned the king that if he swallow his pride and submit to Babylon, he and his family would live. Unfortunately, king Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon, causing his sons to be slain before his very eyes, and his own eyes to be plucked out, completing the judgment of God upon Judah.

Many view God as being unfair, harsh, and insensitive, but God is holy, and demands obedience from His people. Like a good parent, who expects their children to follow the standard they establish in their home, God wants His children to follow after His righteous standard. When we refuse to do that which is right, we will first be chastised, because God loves us too much to merely allow us to perish, without being given a chance to change. But, if we continue down the path of rebellion, God’s judgment won’t be too far behind.

I’m totally convinced, it hurts God to see His people suffer at the hands of evil men, but it grieves His heart more when we deliberately disobey the simple commands He set before us. Put yourself in God’s shoes; if you created men in your image, and prepared a wonderful end for all of them, would your heart hurt to see them go after other things, instead of you?

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Hearken, And Obey

Jeremiah 21:1-7

During my high school years, it was sad to see how the children who were considered “nerds”, were always picked on and treated unfairly by bullies. But, when those apparent bullies ran into trouble with their algebra assignments, they were quick to seek the help of those same nerds they treated so harshly before. I was taught to treat all men fairly, and with respect, because doing so would net great rewards in the future. In our text, king Zedekiah and all of Judah, would soon be overtaken by Babylon. Despite seeking the help of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, God said the captivity of Judah was inevitable. God brought judgment on Judah, not because of the sins of their fathers, but because their own sins were worse than those of the men before them. Rather than diligently harken unto the voice of the Lord, and walk in His ways, Judah followed after their own imaginations of the evil in their hearts. Like those bullies I mentioned earlier, who could have had good success in school, had they only studied and followed the instructions of their teachers, Judah could have avoided being broken, and taken captive, had they only hearkened unto the voice of the Lord. God speaks to us through His Word, and His Spirits ministers to us through the spirit of our mind (conscience). When God speaks, listen and obey, because doing so will net you great rewards in the future.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Whole Truth

Jeremiah 38:14-18

God knows all things, whereas men only see things in part. The Lord knows the end from the beginning, while man can only make assumptions based on limited knowledge. From those truths, I’d like to pose a question: Who do you trust more with your life, God, or man? When God spoke to, and through men in Scripture, His purpose was to direct them toward the most favorable path. God spoke to men like Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Joshua, and gave them words of inspiration and direction, that would only prove effective, if the people were willing to obey. When the people chose to obey, God blessed them richly and abundantly, but when they refused, they forced God’s hand to bring judgment upon them.

Our text gives a vivid example of such a lesson, when God gave word to the prophet Jeremiah, to advise king Zedekiah to surrender to Babylon, so that the city would not be burned, and he and his family would live. It’s not an easy thing to surrender to an enemy without putting forth a fight, but God knew that if king Zedekiah had confronted Babylon, he would have been slaughtered. As I afore mentioned, God knows all things, and He gave fair warning to the king, in order to preserve his life, and the lives of his people.

Do you listen, and take heed when God gives you warning, or do you have a tendency of following your own judgment? God can see beyond our thoughts and imaginations, and He left instructions (through the lives of biblical prophets and others in Scripture) that if followed, will keep us on the favorable path. God desires that all men come to repentance, and has no pleasure in seeing them perish, but the choice is ours; to take heed to His words and prosper, or ignore them and perish.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Read The Instructions

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

For the past few weeks, I’ve been helping family and friends assemble furniture, and other items at their request. When you purchase an item, the picture on the cover of the package, shows the item fully assembled properly, but when you open the box and pour everything out, it looks nothing like the finished product. While some try to be macho, and put together things by head knowledge alone, I on the other hand, prefer to follow the step-by-step instructions. There are times when following the instructions can seemingly lead you into temporary binds, but if you go back a few pages, or even turn the paper upside down, 99 percent of the time, you’ll find your mistake. The designer of such products, is fully aware that if he doesn’t include detailed instructions, those who purchase his items will more than likely give negative reports to customer service.

My blog theme reads, “Life is tough, but it gets easier to understand when we allow God to lead.” Trying to make it through life without proper guidance, is like those who refuse to read and follow the instructions, packaged with furniture items. God inspired men to write the scriptures, so that we could have the basic instructions on how to live, until Christ returns. In the same way God left His people with the choice to either choose life, or death, we too must decide whether or not we will live for God, or die in sin.

The more we read and study Scripture, the better we can keep ourselves together, but living without godly wisdom and knowledge will always lead to errors and mistakes. Read, and follow God’s instructions; this way, all parts of your life will fit together properly.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Wait For It…

Jeremiah 27:1-11

Words of prophecy, can oftentimes be compared to seed time, and harvest. After seeds are planted into the ground, the most important element in the germination process is, time. Once a seed is buried, it can be easily be forgotten, as time passes, but the moment a bud begins to rise from the soil, it makes its presence known, and fulfills the purpose for which it was planted.

Many words were prophesied throughout the Scriptures, and some of those prophecies have already come to pass, whereas others are still awaiting fulfillment. In the book of Genesis, God looked upon the earth, and was ashamed of how corrupt it had become, so God told Noah, “The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Although God spoke those words, He didn’t execute them until many years after. Our text gives another example, when the Word of the Lord came unto the prophet Jeremiah, and spoke concerning yokes being put upon certain nations, but this prophecy was not made known until 20 years after Jeremiah received it.

God’s Words were never spoken in vain, nor will they ever return void. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11). Hold fast to the promises of God, and never think He’s forgotten about you. Sometimes, things must play put accordingly, until the appropriate time, for God’s Word to manifest.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

No god Like Our God

Psalm 86:1-13

Who can do what God does? Can a doctor truly understand, and explain the code of human DNA? While they may see an in-depth analysis of cell function, no one can truly understand how cells do, what they do. Can a bird sing, except God grace him with the necessary parts to do so? Birds were uniquely formed to inhabit the heavens, and show forth God’s unmatched intellect. Do you believe in gravity? I do, but can you honestly say, you understand it fully? Can you contain it in a jar, analyze it, or paint it purple? Although we know the purpose of gravity, and what it does, no one can fully make sense of it. What is light, except the illumination of dark spaces? We see the light, but how does it exist? What substance is it composed of?

God is amazing, and the things He does are sometimes beyond human comprehension. I tried once to contain God in my finite brain, then had a headache for a few hours after. God has the power to speak things into existence, heal sick bodies, raise men from the dead, inhabit praise from those who love Him, and bless men so, until curses are unable to penetrate their lives. As I write, I have millions of thoughts running through my mind, concerning how good God is, and how He does so much for everyone! I don’t understand all the ways of God, but I’ve learned how to keep His attention, from studying the Bible.

King David left great examples of how to stay in union with God, until He creates opportunities, just so He can bless. David understood that one must first cleanse the evil from their hearts, before even attempting to ask anything from the Father. A pure heart, coupled with a consistent holy lifestyle, will always keep you in a position where God CANNOT refuse to grant your prayer requests. The almighty, all-knowing, all-wise God, looks down on the earth, and desires to perform some amazing things in the lives of the people, but many don’t believe in Him, nor in His Word, so they willingly forfeit themselves from receiving blessings that can only come from God. While men find temporary satisfaction from pleasures in the world, only God can give things that offer lasting joy, and satisfaction.

Who can do what God does? No one. Think on that for a moment, and consider adjusting your life to where it always has God’s attention.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Jealous Emotions

Zechariah 8:1-8, 11-17

The more I continue to study the scriptures, the more I recognize the emotions of God, when dealing with His chosen people. Men were created like God, in the sense that we are emotional toward those things we hold dear, and tend to express our feelings in ways that compliment our thoughts concerning our loved one’s behavior. We serve a God who oftentimes became jealous of the fact that the very people He selected to use and bless in the earth, would turn their attention to false gods and idols, who could do nothing for them except condemn them to eternal damnation. God would allow the people to wallow in their rebellious state for a season, but still had plans to use them, once they recognized the errors in their ways.

Think of a time when your child, or someone close to you, decided that your genuine love wasn’t good enough for them, so they began to find pleasure in things or people that seemed good at first, but caused them much pain and shame in the end. It hurts to see those we love, reject us for unhealthy associations, but like God, our love isn’t based on conditions, and we’re always awaiting with open arms, for them to come to their senses, and return.

In our text, God revealed that He had great jealousy for Zion, and even considered punishing them, for the sins their forefathers committed. Woah, that’s intense! Have you ever been so frustrated with one of your children, until you didn’t want to see any of them until your thoughts of wrath and butt whooping subsided? God is jealous of you, even now, and He wants all your attention to be directed toward Him, so why not give the One who created you, all your praise? Why not bless the God who puts breath and life in your body, every day? Why not serve the God who made you with purpose, and has prepared an eternal reservation with Himself, in glory? What is so important and valuable in this life, that you willingly place them ahead of God? Consider what those things are, and either smash them to pieces, or recalculate how much time you invest in them, and make certain God is your priority.

Keep your chin up, it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Fishers Of Men

Zechariah 8:18-23

One of the most taxing, yet rewarding things to do is, go fishing. Fishing isn’t for everyone, because the most important element of becoming a good fisherman is patience. Not many people are willing to wait long hours, in hopes of bringing in a great catch. But, to those who endure the waiting game, good things usually come in abundance. Even in times when you don’t catch anything except a breeze from the wind, the joy of fishing is all about the experience. Another key element in successful fishing is, bait. Different types of fish can be attracted by the right bait, and some can easily be lured with conventional means like bread and worms. Before you can clean, cook, or stuff a fish to mount on your trophy room wall, you must first be successful in luring it in, and possessing it.

If God pressed the stop button on His VCR in Heaven, and put your entire life on full display to the whole world, would the way you’ve lived up to now, be attractive enough to convince men, women, and children to believe in the truth of God’s Word, or would you prefer that God play someone else’s tape, who’s life may have been more convincing to prove His love is real? Christians are the bait that attract men to God. How we live, is the determinant factor in whether or not people can truly see the effects of a godly life. For this reason, it’s very important for the body of Christ to remain patient, while doing their best to live a life that replicates the life of Christ. While we live, we should shine in this dark world, the same way a lure sparkles in dark waters. Make sure your life is attractive enough, so that all who seek the Lord, can be drawn by your light.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell