The Right Attitude

²There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

So the context of this passage is definitely that your sin (concealed or hidden) will become know because God knows and sees all. However, because the bible is so amazing it also holds in this passage another application. If we take this passage literally, even though it’s not in context it has something to teach of.

Today, as all of us are at work or home, this passage can reminds us that we should not say evil or hurtful things about others even thought we hide what we think. Gossip, slander, and maligning are sin. We often do all of these behind closed doors. But if our attitudes are right and we can not take this attitude I foresee a great blessing from God.

Lord, please let me not even say such things about others behind closed doors or in secret. Thank you Lord for the blessing you will give me today!

It’s a beautiful thing…

‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.

You will never meet someone who so intently is seeking to be in a relationship with you. God wants to be with us. There is never a time that we can’t turn back to Him.

Don’t let your “stuff” get in the way of returning to God today. I pray that you would forget all the junk that has been keeping you from starting over today, and return to God.

Are you having a hard time with someone at work?

So here’s my thought for today: Luke 6 says, “⁴¹“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴²How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

You know when you are having a rally hard time with someone in your life, like a co-worker, a family member, a close friend or neighbor, and you are absolutely fed up with dealing with that person…so you finally turn to God? How do you pray? “Dear God, please change so and so into a person who is kind and loving; or Dear God, please change their heart; Dear God, change this person to a good person, etc., etc., etc.,

Here’s my thought about this passage and it’s application in prayer: We are not supposed to judge others but examine our own hearts. I think the same is true in prayer. A men who is like a spiritual father in my life said we are to never ask that God changes their heart first, but to pray that God would change our heart. And I thought about that for a while and I think it makes sense. Sure, we want God to change the hearts of others. However, we should always ask that the change of heart comes for us first. And in that heart change, maybe the patience will be given to deal with it.

Just a thought.

Dinner with a Sinner

The Calling of Levi

²⁷After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, ²⁸and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

²⁹Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. ³⁰But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

³¹Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³²I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

It’s sort of funny thing to look back and read the scriptures and stories of Jesus. From our vantage point we can see someone who really did love the world. But imagine being there at that time. If you heard that Jesus, this guy who was possible the Messiah, having dinner with sinners you might not have the same reaction we have when we read it today. Back then you could be a little offended that he would do such a thing. But we read it from the safety of our homes or Starbucks and think he’s just so cool for doing this.

It makes me think about what it would look like if Pastor Greg invited 15 of the most despicable drug dealing, pimping, hardcore murdering, stripper club owning sinners to his house for dinner. What would be think? Would everyone view it the way we view Jesus hanging with tax collectors. I would like to think we would all have the same positive reaction but I’m not sure that would be the case.

It makes me look around my neighborhood and sphere of influence. Who am i inviting into my home? Who am I sitting with? Who am I too afraid to love because others might look down upon me?

Food for thought at the dinner with a sinner.

The Number of the Beast – 666

So did you read my heading and you were instantly drawn to this blog? If so, it’s because for so long we have been consumed with understanding it’s meaning.

“This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” Revelation 13:18

What does this mean? Earlier in the passage we read about the beast and dragons. A vivid and colorful picture is drawn. Many people are enticed to follow the beast. The Beast requires everyone to accept the mark of 666 in order to buy or sell goods (food, etc.) What does the mark mean?

I just want to encourage you to look closely at the beginning of vs. 18 “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast.” Where does our wisdom come from? God, who gives generously. I’m no end times scholar. I read a great book called, “Guide of The End Times for Dummies.” Point is this: we as Christians need to be prepared and walking in Godly wisdom, so even today we will recognize the deceptions of the enemy who is enticing us to leave what we know is right, true, and good.

And for the number? What does it mean? There are literally hundred’s of interpretations, but my favorite is this. Thomas F. Torrance wrote, “This evil trinity 666 apes the Holy Trinity 777, but always falls short and fails” The number is still a failure to God’s perfect love. Do not fear 666! You have overcome. Now tell everyone you know the secret!