12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.” (Psalm 19:12-13 NLT).
Jeremiah reminds us, “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NLT). It is that realization that causes David to cry out, “12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?” And then plead for cleansing. It is also this realization of the inherent evil inclination of the fallen human heart that caused Solomon to write, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).
While this “sin lurking in my heart” is troubling and many time surprises me when it springs forth, what I find more disturbing and incredulous is the fact that even as a child of God I am prone to willful sins. Like Paul I find myself crying again and again, “18 I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. 19 When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway . . . 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:18-19 NLT & 24 NIV).
Thankfully there is an answer: 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25a NIV).
What willful sins plague you? David’s prayer is one every believer should start their mornings with: “13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me.” For the believer a deliberate sin occurs every time I decide to take the reigns of my life from the hands of the Master. Here is a terrifying reality. The Bible tells me that those of us who are believers are dead to sin; it has no claim upon us (See Romans 6). I have come to realize that, since sin no longer has rightful control over me, when I do sin it is never because I couldn’t help it rather it is because at that moment I loved the sin more than the Savior. Painful reality. Biblically true.
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Need Direction?
“7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11 NIV).
We started this passage in yesterday’s Thought for the Day, looking at verse 7. Let’s look at it again, continuing on with the thought as does the Psalmist into verse 11. The Message renders this passage this way: “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.”
Our modern world is racked with uncertainty. Drunk drivers, road rage, terrorism, violent crimes, and the list goes on. Many are living in fear. This fear is fueled not only by the sinful acts of sinful men but also by the sinful philosophies of our sinful age. Post-modernism (the defining thought of Western thinking) has removed any sense of certainty. Truth is both relative and individual. The postmodernist theme is “Whatever.” So if you happen to be a moral person, that’s right for you but don’t force your morality on me. If you happen to be an immoral person, that’s alright also. Like Israel of old, each man does what is right in his own eyes. For the post-modernist that’s the way it should be.
In the midst of all this uncertainty and in stark contrast to it stands the certainty of the Word of God. Is your life spiraling out of control? “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.” Do you need direction in your life? “The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.” Are you looking for happiness? “ 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.” On and on the list goes.
You might say, “That’s easy to say, but my reality is different! I’ve tried it and it’s not been that way for me!” There is an interesting verse in Proverbs 19:3, in the Living Bible it goes like this: “A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness and then blame it on the Lord.” I have found that the certainty of God’s Word is everything it claims to be. I have also found that millions of people who struggle with unfulfilled expectations in this area actually are not being entirely true when they proclaim “I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work!”
Years ago I decided to surprise my wife with a wonderful dinner. I’m your basic meat and potatoes guy, so that’s what I decided to make. Grilled steak, broccoli, instant mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I got everything started before I realized I had no milk! No problem, all I have to do is find a can of condensed milk and uncondense it. A trip to the pantry resulted in exactly what I needed (or so I thought). One can of Carnation’s Sweet and Condensed milk. I was in business!
Outwardly everything looked fine. But when we tasted the potatoes, the changed ingredient became immediately recognizable.
When I talk to people about the security of God’s Word and discover that they have not discovered that security, I know one thing: they have messed with the ingredients. Maybe they do 99% of things according to God’s Word, but it only takes 1% to mess up the whole mashed potatoes!
If you are looking for something certain in life, if you need direction, your life put back together again, wisdom, guidance, emotional healing, joy, etc., take God at His Word. You will discover a wonderful freedom and joy and peace.
We started this passage in yesterday’s Thought for the Day, looking at verse 7. Let’s look at it again, continuing on with the thought as does the Psalmist into verse 11. The Message renders this passage this way: “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. 11 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.”
Our modern world is racked with uncertainty. Drunk drivers, road rage, terrorism, violent crimes, and the list goes on. Many are living in fear. This fear is fueled not only by the sinful acts of sinful men but also by the sinful philosophies of our sinful age. Post-modernism (the defining thought of Western thinking) has removed any sense of certainty. Truth is both relative and individual. The postmodernist theme is “Whatever.” So if you happen to be a moral person, that’s right for you but don’t force your morality on me. If you happen to be an immoral person, that’s alright also. Like Israel of old, each man does what is right in his own eyes. For the post-modernist that’s the way it should be.
In the midst of all this uncertainty and in stark contrast to it stands the certainty of the Word of God. Is your life spiraling out of control? “The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.” Do you need direction in your life? “The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.” Are you looking for happiness? “ 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.” On and on the list goes.
You might say, “That’s easy to say, but my reality is different! I’ve tried it and it’s not been that way for me!” There is an interesting verse in Proverbs 19:3, in the Living Bible it goes like this: “A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness and then blame it on the Lord.” I have found that the certainty of God’s Word is everything it claims to be. I have also found that millions of people who struggle with unfulfilled expectations in this area actually are not being entirely true when they proclaim “I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work!”
Years ago I decided to surprise my wife with a wonderful dinner. I’m your basic meat and potatoes guy, so that’s what I decided to make. Grilled steak, broccoli, instant mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I got everything started before I realized I had no milk! No problem, all I have to do is find a can of condensed milk and uncondense it. A trip to the pantry resulted in exactly what I needed (or so I thought). One can of Carnation’s Sweet and Condensed milk. I was in business!
Outwardly everything looked fine. But when we tasted the potatoes, the changed ingredient became immediately recognizable.
When I talk to people about the security of God’s Word and discover that they have not discovered that security, I know one thing: they have messed with the ingredients. Maybe they do 99% of things according to God’s Word, but it only takes 1% to mess up the whole mashed potatoes!
If you are looking for something certain in life, if you need direction, your life put back together again, wisdom, guidance, emotional healing, joy, etc., take God at His Word. You will discover a wonderful freedom and joy and peace.
Monday, June 29, 2009
God Bless America-Are We Fooling Ourselves?
"Doing what is right makes a nation great, but sin will bring disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34, NCV).
Since we are approaching the July 4th weekend, I thought it appropriate that my thought centers on a patriotic theme. Often I hear our political leaders ending their speeches with a perfunctory “God bless America.” Let me state right at the beginning of this article that such sentiments are useless as long as we as a nation persist in pursing courses in our private and public lives that God cannot bless.
In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, Israel thought it was safe because of their heritage, because they were the chosen people of God, because the temple of God was located in Jerusalem. " The Lord told me to stand by the gate of the temple and to tell the people who were going in that the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, had said: Pay attention, people of Judah! Change your ways and start living right, then I will let you keep on living in your own country. Don’t fool yourselves! My temple is here in Jerusalem, but that doesn’t mean I will protect you. I will keep you safe only if you change your ways. Be fair and honest with each other." (Jeremiah 7:3-5, CEV). I fear there are many in America who are making the same mistake Israel of Old made. We may not be declaring “This is where God lives;” our deception comes in the mistake belief that “God bless America” is a magic mantra that will somehow keep us safe!
Thomas Jefferson warned, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God? That they cannot be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever."
George Washington said, “Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness. . . Do not let anyone claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics."
John Adams warned: "There is no Government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion." He went on to say, "Our constitution was only made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Newsweek Magazine, August 1976 reminded us that "America was in fact born in the cradle of a powerful spiritual revival." And it was! We need to stop this silliness today that we call the separation of church and state. The founding fathers never intended to keep religion out of public life! Indeed, James Madison, one of the framers of our Constitution said, James Madison, the framer of the Constitution said, "We have staked the whole future of American Civilization not on the power of the Government, far from it. We have staked the future of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
We’ve lost that today. We want God’s blessing on everything we happen to like doing. We cannot understand why we are in the condition we are in today as a nation. We are following history and we are on the sunset of our greatness. We cannot continue to defy God espousing unions that are sinful, murdering innocent unborn children, proclaiming immorality to be moral, promoting corrupt policies, and the list can go on and on. If we want to recapture America’s greatness, we must return whole-heartedly to the God of the Bible. We need to declare this July 4th, not our independence from God but our utter dependance upon him. Then, the words “God bless America” will truly mean something.
Since we are approaching the July 4th weekend, I thought it appropriate that my thought centers on a patriotic theme. Often I hear our political leaders ending their speeches with a perfunctory “God bless America.” Let me state right at the beginning of this article that such sentiments are useless as long as we as a nation persist in pursing courses in our private and public lives that God cannot bless.
In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, Israel thought it was safe because of their heritage, because they were the chosen people of God, because the temple of God was located in Jerusalem. " The Lord told me to stand by the gate of the temple and to tell the people who were going in that the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, had said: Pay attention, people of Judah! Change your ways and start living right, then I will let you keep on living in your own country. Don’t fool yourselves! My temple is here in Jerusalem, but that doesn’t mean I will protect you. I will keep you safe only if you change your ways. Be fair and honest with each other." (Jeremiah 7:3-5, CEV). I fear there are many in America who are making the same mistake Israel of Old made. We may not be declaring “This is where God lives;” our deception comes in the mistake belief that “God bless America” is a magic mantra that will somehow keep us safe!
Thomas Jefferson warned, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God? That they cannot be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever."
George Washington said, “Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness. . . Do not let anyone claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics."
John Adams warned: "There is no Government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion." He went on to say, "Our constitution was only made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Newsweek Magazine, August 1976 reminded us that "America was in fact born in the cradle of a powerful spiritual revival." And it was! We need to stop this silliness today that we call the separation of church and state. The founding fathers never intended to keep religion out of public life! Indeed, James Madison, one of the framers of our Constitution said, James Madison, the framer of the Constitution said, "We have staked the whole future of American Civilization not on the power of the Government, far from it. We have staked the future of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
We’ve lost that today. We want God’s blessing on everything we happen to like doing. We cannot understand why we are in the condition we are in today as a nation. We are following history and we are on the sunset of our greatness. We cannot continue to defy God espousing unions that are sinful, murdering innocent unborn children, proclaiming immorality to be moral, promoting corrupt policies, and the list can go on and on. If we want to recapture America’s greatness, we must return whole-heartedly to the God of the Bible. We need to declare this July 4th, not our independence from God but our utter dependance upon him. Then, the words “God bless America” will truly mean something.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An Open Letter to our New Leaders
As I write this column, our nation is preparing to inaugurate the 44th President of the United States. The inauguration of Barak Obama is indeed an historic occasion. Many men of stature will be participating in the event offering prayers and blessings, and in the process, a little advice.
While it is doubtful that our new President will ever see this column, I, too, want to remind him of some vital principles as he takes office. Consider this column an open letter to our new President.
I cannot begin my thoughts any better than to remind him, and all our leaders for that matter, both local and national, of the words of Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
The Father of our Country, George Washington, our first President, in his farewell address reminded us, "Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness." He went on to say, "Do not let anyone claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics."
Our 44th President’s constant message to us has been a message of hope and change. Mr. President, with all due respect, sir, may I say that without God in the equation hope and change are pipe dreams. " The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick—who can understand it? " (Jeremiah 17:9, HCSB).
The greatest threat to our nation today is not terrorism, or the struggling economy, the greatest threat to our national health is heart disease—not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense. Sin, which means simply failure to do what God requires us to do, infects every one of us. Rather than dealing with the problem, we have tried desperately to cover up the problem. The Bible warns, "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. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent." (Isaiah 5:20-23, NIV).
While we stand guilty as a nation of such actions (the blood of 50 million innocents victims of our own holocaust cry out against us), we don’t see; we don’t respond. Sin is like an addiction, the deeper it is, the less we suspect there is a problem! The Contemporary English Version of the Bible catches this phenomenon when it translates that verse from Jeremiah 17:9 ""You people are so deceitful that you even fool yourselves, and you can’t change." (Jeremiah 17:9, CEV).
Mr. President, and all citizens not only of our nation but of the world, true change must begin in the human heart, and there is no government on the face of the earth capable of effecting such change. But God can. The message of the Bible from front to back is that God loves us and He, Himself stepped into time so that real change and certain hope could become possible. Our third President, Thomas Jefferson, reminded us, "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion in the world that deals with the heart."
One more thought for all our elected officials. As you take office, the experience of those who have gone before you may help. Many who have entered the public arena have done so with hopes of change in their hearts. Sadly, instead of them effecting change, they themselves were changed. Proverbs 16:12 in The Message Translation reminds us, "Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. "
Mr. President, and all our elected officials, let me assure you of my prayers for you. Do what’s right Biblically and your leadership will be secure. The Bible says, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." (Proverbs 16:8, NIV).
While it is doubtful that our new President will ever see this column, I, too, want to remind him of some vital principles as he takes office. Consider this column an open letter to our new President.
I cannot begin my thoughts any better than to remind him, and all our leaders for that matter, both local and national, of the words of Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
The Father of our Country, George Washington, our first President, in his farewell address reminded us, "Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness." He went on to say, "Do not let anyone claim to be a true American if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics."
Our 44th President’s constant message to us has been a message of hope and change. Mr. President, with all due respect, sir, may I say that without God in the equation hope and change are pipe dreams. " The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick—who can understand it? " (Jeremiah 17:9, HCSB).
The greatest threat to our nation today is not terrorism, or the struggling economy, the greatest threat to our national health is heart disease—not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense. Sin, which means simply failure to do what God requires us to do, infects every one of us. Rather than dealing with the problem, we have tried desperately to cover up the problem. The Bible warns, "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. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent." (Isaiah 5:20-23, NIV).
While we stand guilty as a nation of such actions (the blood of 50 million innocents victims of our own holocaust cry out against us), we don’t see; we don’t respond. Sin is like an addiction, the deeper it is, the less we suspect there is a problem! The Contemporary English Version of the Bible catches this phenomenon when it translates that verse from Jeremiah 17:9 ""You people are so deceitful that you even fool yourselves, and you can’t change." (Jeremiah 17:9, CEV).
Mr. President, and all citizens not only of our nation but of the world, true change must begin in the human heart, and there is no government on the face of the earth capable of effecting such change. But God can. The message of the Bible from front to back is that God loves us and He, Himself stepped into time so that real change and certain hope could become possible. Our third President, Thomas Jefferson, reminded us, "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion in the world that deals with the heart."
One more thought for all our elected officials. As you take office, the experience of those who have gone before you may help. Many who have entered the public arena have done so with hopes of change in their hearts. Sadly, instead of them effecting change, they themselves were changed. Proverbs 16:12 in The Message Translation reminds us, "Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation. "
Mr. President, and all our elected officials, let me assure you of my prayers for you. Do what’s right Biblically and your leadership will be secure. The Bible says, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." (Proverbs 16:8, NIV).
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