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 Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:52 pm
Can You Believe This?
Check out these bizarre true stories from travel agents!
• I had someone ask for an aisle seat on the plane so her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window.
• I received a call from a man who asked, “Is it possible to see England from Canada?”
I said, “No.”
He said, “But they look so close on the map!”
• Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he only had a one-hour layover in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, “I heard the Dallas airport is huge, and I’m thinking I’ll probably need a car to drive between the gates to save time.”
• A nice woman just called our office. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20 a.m. and arrived in Chicago at 8:33 a.m.
I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn’t understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her that the plane just went very fast. She believed me.
• I just got off the phone with a man who asked, “How do I know which plane to get on?” I was confused and asked him what he meant. He said, “I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them!”
• A woman called and said, “I need to fly to Pepsi-cola on one of those computer planes.” I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, “Yeah, whatever.”
• A woman called to make reservations. “I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York,” she said.
The agent said, “Are you sure that’s the name of the town?”
“Yes. What flights do you have?” replied the customer.
After some searching, the agent came back with, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a Hippopotamus anywhere.”
The customer retorted, “Oh, don’t be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!”
The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally asked, “You don’t mean Buffalo, do you?”
“That’s it!” she said. “I knew it was a big animal!”
Know It!
God is the source of all wisdom, and He wants to help you become wise. Instead of blurting out what you think or assume is correct, ask Him to help you seek His Truth before you announce your opinion, belief or viewpoint.
Read It!
Proverbs 1; 2; 3.
Pray It!
Ask God to forgive you for the times you speak without thinking. Instead of simply blurting out an incorrect viewpoint, ask Him to teach you His wisdom and to help you think and evaluate before you speak.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:43 pm
I’ve Had It!
“Nate! How’s it goin’?” Pastor Steve asked after youth group.
“Okay, I guess.”
“You don’t sound too convincing. What gives?”
“Ah, I’m just fed up!”
“With what—grades, friends, your part-time job?”
“Nah, It’s none of that,” Nate said. “I feel stupid even telling someone this.”
“C’mon, Nate . . . it’s just me, Pastor Steve. You can tell me anything.”
“I’m totally fed up with this guy in my gym class,” Nate admitted. “Okay, so I’m short. And scrawny. And so I’ve had some physical problems and a few surgeries. I know I’m not as strong or tall or athletic or cool as the other guys. But I’m okay with it.”
“You seem pretty confident to me, Nate,” Pastor Steve said.
“I’m okay with it, but Conner’s not. And I’ve had it! I mean, I finally think I understand why some kids bring a gun to school and threaten to use it! I’m so angry I could spit!”
“Okay, so spit! But you and I both know a gun is never the answer. So keep talking, Nate.”
“I feel like such a kid saying all this. I’m 16! It’s not like I’m trying to hide from the big kid on the playground. But you know—in a way, it is kinda like that. This guy harasses me in PE; when he sees me in the hall, he knocks my books outta my hands; he shoves me into my locker; he hides my clothes when I’m taking a shower after gym; he trips me; he cusses me out—”
“Why?”
“I think it’s just because I’m small and have a few physical problems.”
“Nate, you’re being bullied. And when we think of bullies, we tend to think of kids on a playground—as you said. But really . . . bullying continues to happen throughout our entire lives.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope. Just yesterday, a guy cut me off when I was trying to change lanes. And if that wasn’t enough, he rolled down his window, cussed me out and made an obscene gesture at me!”
“That’s stupid!”
“You’re telling me! He’s an angry man full of rage. And that’s what’s going on with Conner. He’s angry, insecure and wants to exert power. And unfortunately, it’s always easier to feel more powerful with someone who’s smaller, weaker, younger or nicer. That’s why he’s picking on you, Nate.”
“So what do I do?”
“Obviously, guns are out of the question!”
“Yeah, I know. I was just blowing off steam,” Nate admitted.
“Let’s spend some time praying for Conner,” Pastor Steve said. “
Know It!
Bullies are tough to categorize. A bully may be outgoing and aggressive—the kind who gets her way through force or obvious teasing. On the other hand, a bully can appear reserved on the surface, but may try to manipulate people in more subtle, deceptive ways, like anonymously starting a damaging rumor about someone just to see what happens. But all bullies are focused on themselves and struggling with insecurity.
Read It!
Matthew 5:39; 2 Corinthians 4:7-9; 1 Peter 5:10-11.
Pray It!
Tell God how you feel when you’re being bullied. Now ask for His help in seeing that person through His eyes.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:35 pm
Temptation 101
No one’s immune. None of us are exempt. Every Christian who has ever lived has faced temptation. Before we go any further, it’s important to remember that being tempted isn’t a sin. It’s when we act on temptation—when we give in to it—it becomes sin.
Sometimes temptation may seem so strong, you find yourself wondering if you can truly be victorious. You can win the battle of temptation! The Bible gives us a clear pathway to freedom. Let’s take a peek at some specific things you can do:
1. Predetermine Your Pattern of Temptation
Do you realize that you have a unique fingerprint, palm print, voice print and heart beat? It’s true! There are patterns in your life representative only to you. Temptation works in a similar way. There are some things that entice you; others don’t. Satan knows exactly what your areas of temptation are. He knows your specific areas of weakness. Do you?
If you can identify the specific things that tempt you, you can become proactive. In other words, you can make wise choices to prevent giving in to temptation. If you’re not sure in which areas you’re vulnerable, ask these questions to find out:
— When am I most tempted? Is there a certain time of day or day of the week that you’re most tempted? Is it while you’re home alone, at night, in the afternoon? Nail down the time.
— Where am I most tempted? Is it when you’re standing next to the magazine rack, sitting in front of a computer, in the kitchen, in your bedroom? Discern the place of your temptation.
— Who’s with me when I’m most tempted? Which friends am I with? Is it when I’m alone? In a crowd of strangers? Identify whom.
— What temporary benefit do I receive when I give in? Think about it: If sin was never fun, you’d never give in! The Bible tells us that sin is fun for a season. But it’s always temporary and short-lived. So you may get a kick out of it, but there’s a huge kick back. The fun doesn’t go on. Try to figure out why you continually give in instead of resist? Is it relief? Is it exhilaration?
— How do I feel right before I’m tempted? Are your frustrated? Feeling unloved? Physically exhausted? Mentally drained? Worried? Are you lonely?
Answering the above questions will help you understand the pattern of temptation in your life.
Know It!
God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. When you’re in the middle of fighting temptation, don’t fight it alone — seek His help!
Read It!
Proverbs 4:23; 1 Corinthians 10:13 Hebrews 11:25; Hebrews 12:1-4.
Pray It!
If you’re giving in to temptation more than you’d like to admit . . . go ahead and admit it to God right now. Ask for His strength not to yield to temptation.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:58 am
The Bully Plan
“Nate, let’s think about Conner for a second. Most people who bully others are trying to make themselves feel more confident or powerful. So they put someone else down. Do you see any insecurities in Conner?” Pastor Steve asked.
“Well, I never thought about till now, but teachers are usually yelling at him for something. And I’ve heard a few kids call him stupid.”
“Maybe his grades are low. Who knows? He may have a reading problem or a learning disability that prevents him from catching on as quickly as other students.
“And Nate, sometimes people become bullies because they’ve been bullied by others. We don’t know what Conner’s home life is like. Maybe he’s been abused.”
“Yeah, I never thought about that,” Nate said.
Okay, so you’re being bullied. I know it’s frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. Let’s create a strategy,” Pastor Steve suggested. “In fact, let’s get it down on paper.”
Bravin’ a Bully
• It’s okay to be a tattle-tale. Even if you’ve already shared the situation with one adult, if that person doesn’t help you, share it with someone else.
• Walk away. It may seem like a coward’s response to ignore the bully and leave, but it’s really not. Bullies thrive on the reaction they get and if you walk away, the message is that you just don’t care. Sooner or later, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.
• Be confident. Walk tall and hold your head high. Use your body language to show that you’re not vulnerable.
• Try humor. If you can learn to laugh at yourself, you won’t give the bully the response he’s looking for.
• Avoid violence. Don’t use physical force. Violence never solves a problem, and you can’t be sure of what the bully will do.
Know It!
Research shows that 30 percent of sixth- through tenth- graders are involved in bullying at school. Don’t be a statistic. If you’re being bullied, do something about it. Seek Help and ask God for direction. Most people who bully are lonelier than most teens and don’t have good relationships with their peers. Pray for them, and ask God to use you to be a positive influence for them.
Read It!
Colossians 4:2; Hebrews 12:14-16; 1 John 3:18; Jude 24-25.
Pray It!
Ask God to give you a burden for people in your life who give you a hard time. Tell Him you realize He died for them.
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:10 pm
Temptation 102
Let’s continue with our victory plan to win the battle of temptation:
2. Protect the Condition of Your Heart
Ever heard the phrase “garbage in/garbage out?” It’s true that whatever we allow to collect in our heart will effect everything we do! So what condition is your heart in? The psalmist asked God to search his heart—to see if there be anything that displeased Him—and to help him surrender it. God will do the same for you, if you’ll ask Him.
You see, the HEART effects everything you do. It’s the holding tank for your emotions and feelings. The condition of your heart will determine your ability to withstand temptation. So be certain your heart is truly and totally in God’s hands.
We’re told in Ephesians not to give the devil a foothold. What’s that mean? Satan has the ability to carve out the tiniest space in your life. It’s unnoticeable at first. But he holds on so he can eventually grab more and more. That’s what a foothold is. If an alligator grabs someone’s foot and can hold on long enough, he’ll eventually have the entire person.
When soldiers want to take possession of an island, their strategy is to first get a beachhead. After they have control of the beachhead, they consistently push and push until finally the entire island is theirs. Know this: All Satan wants right now is a tiny foothold in your life.
And how does he get a foothold? Any negative emotion can give the devil a foothold in your life. It may be a tiny portion of your heart. But two or three tiny portions makes you an easy target. Frustration in itself won’t do you in. But frustration, worry and anger all together becomes a powerful combination, and it sets you up for temptation.
Know It!
Guard your heart! Protect it as you would a gold mine — because it really is! Don’t allow negative thoughts and bitter feelings to collect there. Like the psalmist, approach God with the request of searching your heart. There’s no one who can help you protect it better than the One who created it!
Read It!
Psalm 9:1; Psalm 19:14; Proverbs 4:23; Ephesians 4:27.
Pray It!
Confess the negative feelings, bitterness and grudges you’ve held. Tell God that you don’t want your heart to simply become a holding tank for things that can give Satan a foothold. Ask God for a pure heart — one that belongs totally to Him.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:16 am
Temptation 103
Let’s do a quick recap! To win the battle over temptation:
1. Predetermine Your Pattern of Temptation
2. Protect the Condition of Your Heart
3. Pray for God’s Help!
Prayer gives you an inner strength to overcome. We’re told in Matthew 26:41 that the consequence of not praying is that temptation will overpower us!
Prayer is the strongest defense you have against temptation. It’s your ammunition in the battle! Throughout the Bible, we’re shown time after time how God definitely answers prayer: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Daniel in the lions den. Jonah in the whale. God provides help when you call on Him. So when you’re tempted, PRAY! Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us that He not only understands your temptation, He’s already been through your temptation!
Repeat: He knows and understands what you’re going through! He was tempted to hold a grudge. He was tempted sexually. He was tempted to disobey. He was tempted to take the easy way out. He was tempted to get ahead and exert His power and gossip and get angry for the wrong reasons. But He overcame temptation . . . and so can you!
Sometimes we don’t pray because we’re not sure we want to end the battle! If you talk to Him about your anger, you can’t continue to be angry. He’ll ask you to release it. He’s going to tell you to forgive. He’ll want to bring healing to your heart.
4. Point Your Attention Elsewhere
Temptation always begins in the mind . . . with a thought. It never begins with an action. The very moment a tempting thought enters your mind, give it to God. Pray. Read Scripture. Doing this automatically points your attention in the opposite direction of temptation. Realize that whatever gets your attention, gets you!
The more you think about something, the stronger a grip it has on your life. When you’re upset, you think about it. And the longer you turn it over in your mind, the more upset you become. Next thing you know, you’re not simply upset, you’re angry! So instead of focusing on the temptation, switch your concentration to WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?).
Know It!
You’ll never be the person God wants you to be by holding onto sin in your life. So go ahead. Release it. Give up that grudge. Give Him your anger. Be willing to walk away from your hurt. Quit living in the past. Let go of your failures. Allow Him to help you become all He wants you to be!
Read It!
Psalm 50:15; Matthew 26:41; Hebrews 4:15-16; James 1:14-15.
Pray It!
Tell God that you’re realizing your area of weakness is not giving Him your temptations immediately. When something enters your mind that shouldn’t be there, seek Him help to quickly surrender it!
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:19 am
Temptation 104
To divert your attention away from temptation, it’s important to know the different stages of temptation:
1. Attention (This involves what you see, hear, think about and read.)
2. Arousal (Your emotions kick in at this stage. You begin to play out the tempting thought and action in your mind.)
3. Action (This is the final stage of temptation— the point where you give in. This is when temptation actually becomes sin.)
The key to winning temptation is not to fight it. Hey, wait a sec, you’re probably thinking. Whaddya mean not fight it?
Fighting temptation isn’t scriptural. The Bible never tells us to fight temptation. It always tells us to FLEE it! We’re told to resist the devil, but we’re told to flee temptation. And again, we’re able to flee it by capturing the tempting thought and giving it immediately to Christ.
The power of Jesus Christ is able to transform you. His power can actually renew your mind and sanctify you holy. Therefore, it simply makes good sense to surrender to the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.
You can’t control what temptations pop into your mind—but you can control how you react—what you do with the temptation.
5. Participate in a Small Group
Accountability is a great piece of ammunition in fighting the battle of temptation. It helps to have godly Christians praying for us and even asking us about the weak and vulnerable areas in our lives. We’re reminded in Ecclesiastes that we need each other. But often times we don’t want support or accountability. It’s much easier to simply rationalize and say, “Next time I won’t give in” than to actually make yourself vulnerable to others about your weak areas. “Next time I won’t give in,” isn’t a solid plan! You need more than simply hoping to do better the next time around. You need the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The most spiritually mature people are those who allow themselves to be held accountable. They’re willing to be asked hard questions, and they submit themselves to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Know It!
No one’s exempt from temptation, but God can empower you to overcome! You can win the battle. Are you willing to become accountable to other Christians? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of your life?
Read It!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:5; James 5:16.
Pray It!
Tell God that you know you can’t be victorious in the battle of temptation without His help. Right now would be a great time to surrender ALL to Him. Pledge to make yourself accountable to other Christians and to give His Holy Spirit supreme control in your life.
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Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:00 am
Quiz Time!
• To PREDETERMINE your areas of temptation means to know
a. how long your temptation will last.
b. when, where and with whom you’re most tempted.
c. that you’ll be tempted.
• The BIBLE tells us that sin is
a. contained in a hot-fudge Sundae.
b. okay if you’re lonely.
c. fun for a season.
• Your HEART
a. always burns after eating a jar of pickles.
b. effects everything you do.
c. was left somewhere in San Francisco.
• Giving the devil a FOOTHOLD means
a. he knows your shoe size.
b. he has control of a small area of your life.
c. Satan will cripple your feet.
• The Bible tells us the CONSEQUENCE of not praying is
a. that we’ll be overcome by temptation.
b. that we’ll have to go to the dentist more often.
c. that we won’t recognize temptation.
• Jesus truly KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS what you’re going through because
a. He read the book.
b. He wrote the book.
c. He, too, was tempted.
• Temptation ALWAYS begins
a. on a date.
b. in the mind.
c. in Texas.
• The STAGES of temptation
a. are contagious.
b. are action, regret, guilt.
c. attention, arousal, action.
• To key to WINNING the battle of temptation
a. is to fight it as hard as you can.
b. is not to fight it.
c. is to always have music on.
• Participating in a SMALL GROUP provides
a. instant friendship.
b. lots of parties.
c. accountability.
• The MOST SPIRITUALLY MATURE people are those
a. who allow themselves to be held accountable.
b. who never miss church.
c. who can quote an entire chapter of the Bible.
Know It!
You don’t serve a God of frustration; you serve a God of promise and victory. He doesn’t say, “Run from temptation, and I’ll check up on you next week to see how you’re doing.” He promises that He’ll be with you and empower you and equip you to be victorious over temptation.
Read It!
Hebrews 13:5; James 4.
Pray It!
Tell God that you want to be a victorious Christian—not a defeated one. Ask Him to give you a hunger for His Word and to help you thirst for Him.
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:39 pm
This or That?
Life is full of choices. Take a few seconds to decide between the following:
• Would you rather
a. do three push-ups every time someone older speaks to you
OR
b. do three sit-ups every time someone younger speaks to you?
• Would you rather
a. speak every fifth word in rhyme?
OR
b. speak every fifth word in Thai?
• Would you rather
a. run a mile on top of a six-inch-deep bed of whole potatoes
OR
b. swim one-half a mile through maple syrup six feet deep?
• Would you rather
a. be three feet tall
OR
b. be 10 feet tall?
• Would you rather
a. lose one shoe while hiking up steep mountain
OR
b. lose both contact lenses?
• Would you rather
a. remind people of the latest pop music/dance star when they see you
OR
b. reflect the character of Jesus Christ when they’re around you?
Again, life is full of choices! You make hundreds every single day—many without even thinking twice. For instance, you probably don’t spend a lot of time choosing between Captain Crunch or Honeycomb when getting your breakfast. You may not think twice about climbing into the shower or the tub, or whether to apply deodorant. We make several choices so quickly, they really don’t even seem like choices.
But there is a choice you make every day that does deserve some thought and attention. And that’s the choice of clothing you wear. Modesty may not be a hot topic, but reflecting Jesus Christ will always be a hot topic with your Creator. And one of the best ways to do that (or to fail at it) is in how you dress.
Mind if we get a little personal? Guys, when you’re not wearing a shirt in the summer, is there a reason for it? If you’re mowing the lawn, working out, or swimming, it makes a lot of sense not to have a shirt on. But are there other times you’re not wearing a shirt simply to catch the attention of the opposite sex? Is there a reason to make sure everyone can see the waistband on your underwear by wearing your pants so low?
Girls, how low is that spaghetti-strap shirt cut? How much of your tummy does it show? What message are you sending when you wear this specific piece of clothing? Are your shorts so short that someone can see up your legs when you sit cross-legged on the ground?
If you knew you planted impure thoughts in someone’s mind because of your attire, wouldn’t it be worth praying about?
Know It!
God wants you to look and feel your best, but He also wants you to take the responsibility of how you dress seriously.
Read It!
Proverbs 31;1 Corinthians 12:22-23.
Pray It!
Ask God to help you spend more time thinking about and evaluating what you wear. Tell Him you truly want to reflect His holy character in how you look.
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:15 am
What God Hates
Though we tend to think of God as a God of love, we’re clearly told in the book of Proverbs that there are seven things He hates. Know what tops the list?
Haughtiness. It means DISDAINFULLY PROUD. And disdain means to feel scornful; as if someone or something is beneath you. Another word for haughtiness is pride. Arrogance, self-exaltation, conceit, loftiness—all these words describe what it means to be haughty.
And we’re told that God hates haughtiness. Wow. Pretty strong, huh? He doesn’t just dislike it. More than simply disgusting Him, pride (or haughtiness) brings forth the emotion of hate in a God of love. Wanna tick God off? Act with pride. Be haughty. Treat others as though they’re beneath you. Be full of yourself.
What’s the big deal about being prideful? Well, wounded pride makes us want to lash out (Numbers 22-29). Pride causes us to want and seek recognition (Judges 8:1-3). Pride causes us to take too much of the credit (Judges 15:14-17). Haughtiness makes us want to take credit for the deeds of others (1 Samuel 13:3-4). A haughty spirit is what caused the death of Absalom (2 Samuel 17:11). Pride leads to corruption (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).
Prejudice grows out of pride (Esther 3:5-6). God’s presence is not compatible with a haughty attitude (Psalm 10:11). There’s even a link between pride and sexual sin (Proverbs 2:16-17). It’s the ingredient in every argument (Proverbs 13:10). Satan attacks us in our areas of pride (Matthew 4:1, 4). It affects our values (Mark 9:34).
Pride can be a barrier to believing in and accepting Christ (Mark 6:5, John 5:45). Oftentimes, haughtiness is a result of wealth (Mark 10:17-23). It blinds us to our faults (Ephesians 2:11-13), and it affects our relationships (1 Peter 5:5).
Know It!
But can’t pride sometimes be good? Pride sometimes can; haughtiness can’t. Since we’re using the two words interchangeably, you can find out if your pride is selfish or good by checking out Romans 15:17. And by the way, haughtiness vanishes when we realize who we are in relation to who Jesus is (John 1:27). Haughtiness, God hates it. It’s disdainful, ruins friendships and separates you from knowing true spiritual intimacy. Haughty also rhymes with naughty. Interesting, huh?
Read It!
All the Scriptures cited above.
Pray It!
Tell God that you don’t want to exhibit anything that saddens or angers Him. Seek His forgiveness for a prideful spirit and haughty attitudes. Ask Him to help you to see others—not as being beneath you—but as valued people He chose to die for.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:02 am
But It’s Just a White Lie!
The next thing on God’s hate list from Proverbs 6:16-19, is lying. We know the definition all too well, don’t we? Lying is purposefully deceiving. Not being honest. Skirting the truth.
Based on the above description, let’s take a little quiz about lying, okay? Mark true or false next to each sentence.
The following statements in the given situations are lies (true or false):
1. Your curfew is midnight. You come in at 12:30 a.m. The next morning at breakfast, Dad says, “Did you come in late last night?” Your response: “Are you kidding? I know what a big deal curfew is!”
2. You totally spaced on the homework assignment. Your teacher asks, “Did you complete the assignment?” You respond, “I forgot to bring it with me.”
3. Your coach has mandated that during track season no one is to consume any caffeine. You scarfed down two chocolate bars after lunch. Your coach looks you in the eye before the meet and says, “Have you had any caffeine?” Your response? “Coach, I haven’t had a Coke or coffee since the season began!”
You might classify the above as “white” lies. But if a lie means to deceive,
there are no “white” lies. Notice when God lists lying in Proverbs 6:17, He doesn’t say He hates black, brown and gray lies but overlooks white, orange and yellow ones. When it comes to being dishonest, there are no colors! Dishonesty is dishonesty, plain and simple.
Throughout Scripture, history shows us time and again that when people tried to deceive God, it always backfired. We can’t hide the truth from the One who knows all. God desires . . . and ever yearns for your honesty!
If lying and deceit cause our loving heavenly Father to hate it, it must be a big deal. Let’s take a closer look.
Dishonesty dulls our sense of right versus wrong (1 Samuel 15:13-14) and is destructive to the church (Acts 5:5). There are side effects to lying (Proverbs 20:23). Dishonesty only compounds our problems (Genesis 12:11-13). It’s dangerous to unity (Ephesians 4:25) and is a conscious attempt to deceive (Exodus 20:16).
People sometimes lie to make themselves look good (2 Chronicles 18:5-15). And sometimes lying is caused by fear (Genesis 18:15).
Know It!
Lying is like digging a hole and burying yourself in it. After you’ve told one lie, you usually have to tell another one to cover it up. And then another one. And another. As you do, the hole you’re burying yourself in simply gets deeper and deeper. Deceit and dishonesty acts as a bondage that keeps you from becoming intimate with God. Ask Him to free you from the bondage of deceit.
Read It!
All the Scriptures cited above.
Pray It!
If you sometimes struggle with honesty, admit that to Him right now. Tell Him you now realize that a lie is a lie in His eyes and that you don’t want to be deceptive any longer. Ask His help in being as honest and truthful as He is.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:20 am
Is Murder Always Bad?
Guess what’s next on God’s hate list—murder! We’re not told these are in any specific order, and I choose to believe they’re not in a certain order. I believe God hates one just as much as He hates all of them. So it really doesn’t matter if murder is number one on the list or number seven. The real issues is: It’s on the list! And even though it’s listed as third from the top, we’re told God hates it with a passion.
We’d probably all agree that a drive-by shoot-to-kill is insane and wrong. But is murder always wrong? For instance, if we know ahead of time that an unborn baby will have birth defects, is it wrong to end his life before enters the world?
In The Living Bible, it’s interesting to note that murder on God’s hate list is termed as “hands that shed innocent blood.” That leads us to believe that whether a baby is inside the womb or outside the womb, it’s an innocent being. To abort that life would be to “shed innocent blood.”
Abortion has been a hot debate for years, and the issue just keeps getting hotter. The main argument is that until the baby is outside of the womb, it’s not really a life. Yet we’re told in Psalm 139 that God knew us when we were being conceived! He looked upon us as life at the very moment a sperm fertilized an egg. And since we know the heart starts beating just days after conception, fingerprints are formed and actual identify develops—all before birth—we know that life inside the womb is still life.
To abort . . . to murder that innocent life makes God angry. He hates it! That life means no less to Him if it’s deformed; He still died for it. And there are literally thousands of people standing in line waiting to adopt healthy and unhealthy children. Who are we to decide when a life will end? God hates it when we make that decision our responsibility. It’s not our responsibility, and it never will be!
Let’s take a closer look at murder as discussed in Scripture. Can committed the first murder (Genesis 4:8- 10). Murder and anger are always related (Numbers 35:33), and we’re capable of murder in our hearts (Deuteronomy 5:17). See Genesis 9:5-6 on why murder is wrong.
Know It!
Of course, there’s more than one way to commit murder. (Flip back to May 25-27 and reread those devotions on murder.) We can murder someone’s reputation, kill his character and slay his name. Those things make God angry, too! He hates anything connected with murder, because it removes a life He created and died for.
Read It!
All the Scriptures cited above.
Pray It!
Tell God that you’ve killed some people by the words you’ve used. Seek His forgiveness. Tell Him you don’t want anything to do with murder—physical, emotional or verbal. Ask Him to help you glorify Him with your life.
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:40 am
Evil Schmevil
We’d expect God to hate evil, so it should come as no surprise to find it on the list of seven things He hates. The New International Version phrases it as “a heart that devises wicked schemes.”
Osama Bin Laden viewed his September 11, 2002 plan as a religious justification, but God saw it for what it was—100 percent evil. To plot and scheme evil of any kind angers the King of Kings!
Let’s take a closer look. Evil is defined as “something that brings sorrow, distress, calamity. The act of suffering. Not good morally. Arising from bad character or conduct.”
Ready for another quiz? Mark the following statements as true — if they’re characteristic of evil—or false if not.
1. Jayme and Nick are both running for student body president. You’ve been friends with Nick since kindergarten, and you know he’d be a great leader. You want Nick to win the election so badly, you devise a scheme that will cause students to question Jayme’s character.
2. Terry really hurt your feelings when your dating relationship ended. You can’t stop thinking about it. You talk your best friend into helping you get even. You’ll show Terry!
Evil, anger and deceit almost always go together. It’s impossible to plot an evil scheme that God is proud of. He hates all kinds of evil. After speaking at a youth retreat, a high school girl approached me and said, “I’m a Christian, but I love Satan.”
When I asked her to explain, she said, “I think it’s a sin to hate anyone and anything, therefore I refuse to hate Satan. I have hope that someday he’ll change his mind, accept Jesus as his Savior and spend eternity in heaven.”
We can’t love God and evil both. We must love one and hate the other. God is extremely bold about hating evil, and He wants us to hate evil as well. Satan is the embodiment of all that’s evil. And if we claim we have feelings for evil other than hate, we haven’t totally surrendered to Jesus Christ. Evil hung Christ on the Cross. Love caused Him to stay there, but evil was responsible for His torture. Evil separates families, dissolves friendships and can cause us to spend forever in an eternal environment of evil—hell itself. The cure for evil? Forgiveness from Jesus Christ.
Know It!
We were all born with evil hearts, but God wants to transform our hearts and replace the evil nature with His Holy Spirit. The evidence of our evil nature plays itself out in bitterness, jealousy, anger, wrong motives, plotting to harm others. But the evidence of being filled with God’s Holy Spirit reflects joy, peace, self-discipline and love.
Read It!
Romans 6:6-8; Romans 6:11-14; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:19-21; Galatians 5:22-23.
Pray It!
Be honest with God and tell him that you sometimes struggle with the temptation to do evil. Ask Him to help you remember that temptation itself isn’t a sin, but that acting on temptation is. Ask God to transform your heart to be more like His.
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Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:34 am
Be Careful Little Hands
You may remember singing a little song as a child in Sunday school or Vacation Bible School that went something like this:
“Be careful little hands what you do. Be careful little hands what you do.” There were a few more lines to the song, but each verse used a different word. “Be careful little feet where you go.”
“Be careful little mouth what you say.”
“Be careful little eyes what you see.”
We have a huge responsibility to refrain from evil. The good news is God doesn’t expect us to do that alone. He wants to fill our lives with His Spirit and enable our hands, feet, eyes, ears, mouth to glorify Him.
The next item on God’s hate list is “an eagerness to do wrong” (from The Living Bible) or “feet that are quick to rush into evil” (New International Version). So God not only hates evil . . . He also hates an eagerness or excitement about doing evil. Understand the connection? We don’t commit acts of evil dragging our feet. When we do evil, it’s because we’ve decided to act in an evil way.
Let’s take a closer peek at evil. Without God, you are capable of any evil (Judges 19:1-21:25). It’s wrong to return evil with evil (Genesis 34:30-31). All of the occult is rooted in evil (Leviticus 20:6). Holiness separates us from evil (Leviticus 11:44-45). People usually slip into a evil lifestyle gradually (Numbers 33:55-56).
God doesn’t want us to become curious about evil practices (Deuteronomy 12:30-31). We’re never alone in our battle against evil (Psalm 12:1), and we can’t get away with evil forever (Psalm 21:11). Evil acts begin with evil desires (Psalm 141:4), and planning evil is just as bad as doing evil (Proverbs 24: cool .
A small amount of evil can affect many (Matthew 16:12). The church won’t shelter you from evil (Luke 4:33), and there are powerful evil forces at work against us (Ephesians 6:12).
Know It!
Destroy evil in your life (Numbers 33:50-53). There is no evil too great for repentance (1 Kings 21:29), but you must admit your evil potential (2 Kings 8:12-13). For guidance on how to pray to God about evil, see 1 Chronicles 4:10.
Read It!
All the Scriptures cited above.
Pray It!
Tell God that you don’t want to be associated with evil. Ask His help in teaching you to flee from evil. Seek His empowerment to walk away from temptation and to deepen your trust in Him.
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:34 pm
A False Witness
Isn’t it interesting how the seven things that God hates all intertwine with each other? The next item on the list is “bearing false witness.” This is connected with lying. And lying is connected with evil, which is connected with an eagerness to do evil. Murder is evil, and so is a haughty, prideful spirit.
Could one reason for God’s hatred of these seven things be that once we’ve adapted one of them to our lifestyle, it’s only a matter of time before we embrace the others? Can one even exist for an extended amount of time without the others?
Ted Bundy, the noted serial killer of hundreds of women, admitted before his death sentence was carried out, that he had become addicted to pornography as a teen. Sex crimes and porn go hand in hand. Statistics show that men who commit sex crimes have also been exposed to porn.
Could it also be said that someone who’s a habitual liar will eventually be led to other evil habits? It’s interesting how every item on God’s hate list genuinely connects and intertwines with the others.
It’s against the law to give a false testimony in court. It’s called perjury. One can go to jail for committing this crime. Is it any wonder that God hates it? A false witness is a lie. And again . . . lies — hiding the truth — have a foundation of evil.
God’s Word gives us several warnings about falsehood. We’re told not to give a false testimony (Exodus 20:16), not to spread false reports (Exodus 23:1) and to have nothing to do with a false charge (Exodus 23:7).
We’re instructed not to give a false testimony again in Deuteronomy 5:20, and we’re told that a false witness is full of lies in Proverbs 12:17.
On June 19, we were told to hate evil. The proof of that is found in Proverbs 13:5. We see that a false witness is deceitful in Proverbs 14:25, we’re assured that a false witness won’t go unpunished in Proverbs 19:5 and 19:9.
Matthew 7:15 commands us to watch out for false prophets, and Matthew 15:19 advises us to be on guard against theft, false testimony and slander.
We see grave consequences in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 6:3 for those who teach false doctrines.
Know It!
God hates lies, and obviously He hates a false witness or testimony. Will you make time to evaluate your testimony? Is it genuine? Do you truly reflect the character of God? Or are your actions, conversations and lifestyle a false witness of the King of Kings?
Read It!
All the Scriptures cited above.
Pray It!
Tell Jesus that you don’t want to be a false witness, a false Christian or be taken in by false prophets. Ask for His wisdom and discernment to know Truth and to live your life by it.
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