Just Do The Word!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  I Thessalonians 5:11-18 NIV

We don’t need to carry big bibles, wear crosses so large they cause us to bend from the weight, or “just talk about” being a Believer. Following Jesus Christ and doing what He has told us to do–is not limited to a political party–as much as some would have us to think. There are Believers in the world who are affiliated with all sorts of political systems and some are not even worthy of mention. The truth of the matter is–Jesus said, people would recognize us by our love for one another. Love, inspired by God, transcends politics.

Today and everyday, our time should be spent in The Word, praying one for the other, and doing what The Word says to do. Though we are to encourage those who are living according to The Word, we are also to admonish and correct those who are not–if they claim  to follow Jesus. For those with whom it is evident that Jesus Christ is not their Lord, we simply pray that He will reveal Himself to them in an awesome way. And we must remember this–The Word was written for the benefit of The Believers for the unbelievers won’t care!

And when we caution others about following the dictates of men, we do so with the authority given us by Jesus Christ through Holy Spirit. For those who allow Holy Spirit to guide them in all things, will not speak anything Holy Spirit has not given them to say.

What is amazing to me is that there are those who truly feel that they have a right to direct–moral conscience–in others, when what they really end up revealing is their lack of trust in God. Not one of us–is the only person to whom God speaks. I pray He is speaking to all of His children and all of His children are listening. But I also recognize that not every person who proclaims to be a Christian, actually is–they just use the banner to entice others into foolishness.

Prayer changes things and people when they are receptive to hearing God’s voice. Pray for peace in the land, unity through Holy Spirit, and joy in the heart of every person who loves The Lord. Pray for the exposure of those who are disguising themselves to be Christians, but are manipulating the masses for their own purposes. Pray for the end of bigotry and hatred in the hearts of those who have grown cold from the lack of love in the hearts for The Lord. Pray that all who have lost loved ones will allow God to comfort their hearts and fill the void with His Love. Thank God for all who have received His love and are constantly seeking Him for direction in all things as we continue this journey called life.

We can still change things in the world, but we first learn The Word and then just do The Word!

Advertisement

Have We Sought Atonement For Our Sins?

But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.” Ezra 10:13,14 NIV

When the people (exiled groups) were assembled in order to determine why God was angry, the conclusion they came to was that there were so many “foreign” women in their midst. Now, the reference here is not about being a stranger in a strange land, but about someone who does not know God or worship Him as the Israelites had been taught to do. I’m clarifying this for a reason since we know–under Grace–not under The Law–we are still discouraged from being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers.

Why does God not want Believers and unbelievers joined in matrimony? It is a simple matter and one in which most of us would shy away from expressing–aloud. Remember Eve’s influence over Adam in the garden? Instead of him influencing her–she enticed him to eat the forbidden fruit. Since that time–it would appear–women have held enormous influence over men, especially in the area of disobeying God. Even sadder is the fact that gullible men allow themselves to be led into disobedience and open the door for sin to reign.

When Ezra brought the people together they decided that the officials should determine what to do–the men who had not been influenced by the strange women–and it was determined that the men who had married the strange women needed to send them away so they could seek atonement from God for their sin.

Is there anyone who can officiate over such an assembly today–one who would hear from God and inform the people that in order to turn God’s wrath from them, they would need to turn from sin and separate themselves from those who enticed them away from doing God’s Will?

None of us are perfect and without sin in our lives, but that’s why grace is ours today. Jesus has made atonement for our sins and we choose--just as they did in the days of old–whether we obey God or not. We cannot blame anyone–especially not women–for the decisions we make because Holy Spirit is available to all. Whether it is a woman or man who leads anyone astray from the path God has established, we need to separate ourselves from them and seek God’s forgiveness so we can get back on the right path.

It is truly unfortunate that we do not allow those who have been entrusted in positions of leadership to hear from God and inform the people. Instead, we employ secular mechanisms to make decisions and usually end up going astray, and when things go wrong, we wonder what happened. Have we learned to seek atonement for our sin or do we keep heading in the wrong direction, led by our fleshly desires?

Until we learn to do things God’s way, we will never experience a time when His wrath is turned from us. It is time for us to repent and turn away from doing things our way and choose to do what He would have us to do.

When The Leaders Weep Before The Lord!

Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The LORD replied to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations. “I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things!  Joel 2:16-20 NIV

Instead of being fearful about the situations broiling around us, the church leaders should be weeping--crying out in repentance and turning away from all the wrong they have done as an example to the people, so they too will weep before The Lord.

Until leaders–in any capacity–recognize the wrong they have done and repent and cry unto The Lord for forgiveness, not much is going to change and if nothing is going to change, we will reap the consequences of our sinful, unrepentant behavior.

Our God–the God of heaven and all Creation is the same–yesterday, today and forever. Whatever He promised the people He chose, then is relevant today. Through the prophets we are warned and if we do not heed the warning, we are doomed to suffer the same as the people did then–we put ourselves in position to be held captive, scorned, and ridiculed.

We should never concern ourselves about those who do not believe–those who are influenced by the enemy, who try to tell us–“there is no God!” For them, there are no gods that will save them, but there is One who loves us enough to save us from ourselves when we obey.

For the church leaders who beat up the congregations by trying to heap all the problems of the world on their heads–repent and weep before The Lord–owning your own sin and seek His forgiveness.

For the church leaders who do nothing but raise money for community causes or are more political than Godly, but never teach The Word or the consequences of sin–repent and weep before The Lord–owning your lack of responsibility in teaching Truth.

For the church leaders who are more concerned about adding numbers to the church–repent and weep before The Lord–recognizing that God is not interested in the numbers in a building, but the condition of the hearts of the people.

For the church leaders who live according to the dictates of the flesh and co-sign like behavior within the congregation of the church–repent and weep before The Lord.

For the church leaders who are doing everything they can to please God–stay the course–weeping before The Lord on behalf of all who refuse to hear Truth and obey.

When the church leaders understand the need for them to stay before The Lord–in repentance, and out of compassion for the people–change will come and no one will ever be ashamed to acknowledge our Living God and we will move towards peace in the land!

Finding Ways To Please The Lord!

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. Ephesians 5:8-10, 13 NIV

How long O Lord, how long will You continue to tolerate our attempts to please man more than pleasing You?

This letter written to the church at Ephesus was not written to unbelievers, but to Believers who once walked in the deeds of darkness, but should now walk in the light–making sure all of their deeds are illuminated by the motivation to please The Lord!

When I listen to people who claim to be Christians, but the words falling from their mouth sound like the words of the world and the things they do are no different than those in the world--those who have never been exposed to God’s Truth, I have to wonder–do they really know Jesus Christ?

If there is no difference between the Believer and the unbeliever–how is anyone supposed to tell us apart? Jesus told we’d be known by our love for one another–but I see little evidence of that love among those who profess to know Christ. If Believers cannot tell the difference between other Believers and those in the world, what a sad commentary that makes on society and even sadder commentary about the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.

He didn’t hang on that cross for those of us who say we believe to act like the rest of the world–cussing, deceiving, manipulating others, creating havoc and chaos every where they go. He hung on that cross–demonstrating His love for us and His desire for us to spend eternity with Him. We are to be examples to the world, not pawns in the hands of the enemy to act like the world.

Everything we do and say–should model what He did and said. We should be compassionate, kind, and loving, teaching His truths to all who will receive it. And for those who choose not to receive it, we shake the dust off our feet, smile and keep going. We take care of the poor and the needy and defend the rights of the vulnerable. We stand tall, loudly and proudly proclaiming the love of God, refusing to back down or back away from living His Truth. And when we are in doubt–about what to do about anything–we seek Him through His Word or Holy Spirit guidance so we’ll know what we do–pleases Him, whether it pleases man or not. 

Is there anybody out there who wants to please God more than man (or government)? I wonder if we have to courage to defy man’s dictates in order to please God in obeying Him. In this country, no one should be afraid to defy a corrupt and godless government, but people are and I’m inclined to believe it is because they care more about what people think of them, than God. And those same people will only have the lake of fire as their eternal resting place.

Help us today, Lord, to find ways to please You!

 

Exercising Wisdom in The Spirit!

“This is what we speak, not in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:13-16 NIV)

For all the critics of Believers–the atheists, the unbelieving, the judgmental Christian-haters–know this: There is no way anyone who does not have the Spirit of God living within them can ever understand those who do! Therefore, criticisms of those operating in the Spirit and exercising wisdom that only comes from the Spirit are vain and have no value at all.

However, those who exercise spiritual wisdom, based upon what the Spirit of God speaks to them can and do judge all matters–with spiritual criteria–not understood by those who deliberately reject the work on the Cross. And this is why, there are those who continually ridicule and denigrate those of us who understand spiritual matters–they feel left out.

When people don’t understand things–they make fun of it and are derisive–because they hate not knowing. Though many claim that Christians are judgmental, they are far more judgmental and hypocritical since many attempt to use “scripted” rebuttals from the Bible when they have no knowledge of the intent of the Bible.

I alluded this a few days ago regarding a comment I made about Kim Davis. Here’s the comment to a news article: “When one person’s beliefs are not honored, none should be. She should not be in jail for standing up for her beliefs.”

What followed was a torrent of venom from those who don’t have a clue, but these are some of the responses:

Samantha Swol YOU DO NOT GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH PARTS TO FOLLOW AND JESUS WOULD BE APPALLED WITH YOUR SORRY A** FOR PREACHING HATE WHICH HE NEVER WOULD

Jeska Taylor Mary do you have children, and if so did you murder them after they disobeyed?

Jeska Taylor Mary do you ever speak in church??

Jeska Taylor Speaking in church is a sin for you. “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.”

Mary Hall-Rayford Jeska Taylor, I’ve heard this argument before and I would encourage people to seek God and if you’re going to say any part of the Bible is right–then all of it is right. The difference is–I understand who was talking to whom and when and why Jesus had to come to get us reconciled to God. Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior? If so, you should understand that if those of us who have are ambassadors for Christ, we can say or do nothing that He didn’t say or do. And before you try to convince anyone He didn’t say anything about homosexuality, I’d encourage you to understand all of the Gospel of John, pray for reading and seeking His Wisdom. He only taught what His Father–God taught. “Go and sin no more” not go and commit no more sins. There is a difference–all is included in what He said, not just adultery. No speaking in a church is not sin for me since Paul was referencing those women who were interrupting services to ask their husbands question. If you’re going to do Bible with me, you might want to get an understanding about what was going on at the time things were said. Another verse of scripture proclaims in Galatians 5–there is no male or female In Christ; underscoring we all have the same rights and privileges. Check it out or get someone you respect to explain it to you.

And this went on and on for over an hour with over 179 comments. The best one was from Crystal Williams:

Crystal Williams Mary, MEN wrote the Bible. GOD wrote the Ten Commandments. Do you know what would happen TODAY if a person (man or woman) said they spoke to God and He actually told them things? They would have a one way ticket to the asylum. The “Christians” would be calling them false prophets, and the rational people would be calling them crazy. How do you KNOW the men that claimed to have Gods ear weren’t a bubble off dead center and just trying to push their wants onto their fellow men?

It is clear that most of the commenters–and some of whom were really nasty, resorting to using profanity, do not understand the Spirit of God and cannot understand those of us who do. Therefore, their only recourse is to attack.

This is how I determined that the only thing I can say to them is to let them know–God loves them and so do I–and pray for them to receive the finished work of the Cross.

Like-Minded Believers!

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV)

Being like-minded–having the same mindset towards all of God’s children, His attributes, and His way of doing all things–sets true Believers apart from those who simply live under a banner–of denominationalism.

How do we know those who are like-minded Believers? They say what God says, treat people like God tells us to treat people, and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ rather than a denomination, a pastor or church.

So, how are we to treat people? We treat people with loving-kindness–“by this shall others know who we are, by our love one for the other.” We don’t bash people because they do not believe as we do, we respect their beliefs and keep it moving, without debate.

Just yesterday, I responded with a comment to an article about a school district demanding that a picture of Jesus be taken down from the walls of a school. Of course, with every article posted online and comments are allowed, we are bound to see the worst in some people. My comment was two-fold. One–I saw no need in people getting upset about an image–an artist’s rendition of what Jesus may have looked like and two–those who don’t believe are always talking about how intolerant Believers are, yet they don’t see their own intolerance. Of course my comment drew nasty remarks from “anonymous posters” those who are so ashamed of who they are, they never post a picture of themselves.

My reaction to the nastiness–was simply not to respond for two reasons.  My picture is always included in any comment I write on any article because I am not ashamed of who I am or what I believe and I don’t respond to those who are not willing to be known. People are entitled to their beliefs and to disagree with others.  That’s not an issue for me, but I refuse to get embroiled with a faceless person, giving them fuel to spout more venom. IF THEY WERE NOT ASHAMED OF THEIR VIEWS, THEY WOULD SHOW THEIR FACES AND NOT MAKE VENOMOUS COMMENTS–ANONYMOUSLY. They don’t deserve a comment from me and I won’t waste my time doing so.

But they are not the like-minded Believers under discussion. They are the unbelieving and since they choose not to believe, I let them. For those who proclaim to believe God, I welcome their comments and do not mind entering into engaging discussion. I have a healthy respect for those who may know more than I know since I don’t know everything, and I encourage all to get into relationship with God.

Then there are those who proclaim to have a relationship with God, but have no clue as who God is, what He says, or how to conduct themselves as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We cannot be an ambassador for Jesus Christ–representing all He is if we don’t know what He has said or how He expects us to act. To represent someone–we MUST KNOW THEM, INTIMATELY!

Therefore, for all who proclaim to know The Lord Jesus Christ, know how He wants us to live based upon His representation of His Father and how we are to treat others--we are the like-minded Believers–the ones who know how to love, unconditionally, and are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ–proclaiming it wherever we go and in all circumstances, we are mindful of our position in the family–of all of God’s children.

No matter how the world–those walking in unbelief–treat us; we should know how to treat one another, pray for one another, and encourage each other to remain steadfast in the faith of our Risen Savior, promoting the Gospel until He comes to take us Home with Him.

Believers’ Instructions for Daily Living!

“Follow God’s example, therefore as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But AMONG YOU there must not be even a hing of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person–such a person is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:1-5 NIV)

In every letter Paul writes to the churches, he encourages those who belong to God to live like God would have them to live–using God as an example for living on a daily basis. Notice–he is writing to the churches–explaining how Christians (or rather Believers) should live for he knows that those outside of the Body of Christ will not heed his advice.  If they did listen, they would be included in the Body.

This very simple understanding is key for all Believers–God inspired men to write what He said in order to perfect the lives of those who would believe. If people choose not to believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word, that is their prerogative and they can be assured that they don’t have to believe, but the consequences and the judgment shall be the same for all–Believers and unbelievers. For God is not a respecter of persons–when judgment comes–it rains upon all, saved and sinner alike.

Even though most of us want to see everyone we know saved, it is not our job to try to make people believe. If they are not convinced by The Word, and we are not living examples of The Word, then we will be held accountable for what we do, not what they do.

It is absolutely pointless to debate The Word with an unbeliever. Although many may say they don’t believe God, deep down they know there is force more superior to themselves that holds all power in His hands, they simply choose to be arbitrary about it. And those who profess to believe in science alone–they say so because they do not understand the role of science. Science attempts to explain the existence of things or how they work. God created all that exists and determined how all things would work before man could even coin the term, “science.” This is not to say there is no value in what scientists do because there is great value in what they do. However, until they create all that God created from nothing--they are not gods, but instruments in the hand of God–when they heed Him–led to discovery and invention, not creation.

The directions Paul gives are clear–for Believers–we should not indulge in sexual immorality (and we know all that is referenced for we know our Father); we should not indulge in obscene behavior or conversation; we should not indulge in unwholesome joking (don’t pretend you don’t know what he’s talking about); and greed should never be part of our lives. For if we indulge in these things and do not repent–turning completely away from them–we will not enter into the promised eternity–living in heaven with Christ Jesus.

Are these instructions for you or someone else? The Believer–who is in relationship with God, understands God’s Word and the role of Jesus Christ coming down from heaven–knows the truth. And when we know truth, we should live truth and encourage others to do likewise.

(More to come)

Why Jesus said, “Blessed Are You When People Insult You!”

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matthew 5:11 NIV)

In this passage of scripture, which is notably called, The Sermon on the Mount, crowds of people had been following Jesus, listening to His proclamation of Good News, and paying attention to His healing the sick. He went upon the mountain side and sat down and when His disciples came to Him, He taught them. Notice all that is said, before He gets to our scripture reference for today.

Matthew 5:3-10–Commonly referred to as the Beatitudes (What our attitude should be):

vs.3 Blessed are the poor IN SPIRIT, for theirs (strength is in Jesus) is the kingdom of heaven.

vs.4 Blessed are those who mourn (grieve over the loss of a loved one) for they WILL BE COMFORTED.

vs.5 Blessed are the meek (those who have no need to bring attention to themselves) for they will INHERIT the earth.

vs.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS (doing what is right before God), for they will be filled.

vs.7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be SHOWN mercy (new mercies every day).

vs.8 Blessed are the pure in heart (have a heart for God), they WILL SEE GOD.

vs.9 Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they will be called children of God.

vs.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of RIGHTEOUSNESS, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

I have detailed explanations of these blessings in myBook.to/IAMALLTHAT 

All these Jesus said to those who follow Him and all these are still relevant today for all who follow Him.

The references to righteousness is for those in right standing with God, not because of their own righteousness, because we no no righteousness of ourselves. These are the people who know what God has said and endeavor to obey Him in all things. When they miss the mark, they are quick to repent–turning away from the thing(s) they did which did not please God. We who choose to come to God (the disciples came to Him) and listen and obey are blessed no matter what our individual circumstances are.

Knowing how other people–who don’t know Him would treat those who follow Him–the blessings He confers are to encourage us when we are belittled, and ridiculed because of our faith in Him. And then He goes on to say in vs. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” In other words, those who have been speaking God’s Word to nations long before we came on the scene were ridiculed, and killed because they spoke what God spoke to them.

Beloved, there is so much more that Jesus said, and I encourage all who don’t know Him to get to know Him through His Word. For those of us who know, we must simply keep saying what God said–knowing that one plants the seed of righteousness and direction to Jesus, another waters, and we wait to see God’s increase.

God Inspired Purpose of Scripture!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 NIV)

What I have found amazing in the past few days is the number of people who claim not to believe “in an ancient book of myths written by men” but will use it, “cherry-picking” to support and condone their stance in opposition to God’s Word. Now, think about it–isn’t that just like Satan to try to use God’s Word to convince Jesus to act in opposition to God’s Word?

The same God, who inspired men to write down the words they heard God speak to their hearts, is the same God is who is yet inspiring people to write today. That “ancient book of myths” has held its own for centuries and will still be used as a guide by the remnant that God promises to save to Himself.

I don’t have a problem with people not believing the bible because at one time, I had challenged those who believed in it. However, when my relationship with God changed, allowing me to hear Him speak to me, I understood and accepted the love He has for me–a love so great–that He inspired men to write down how He wanted me to live. Notice, the personalization of what I’m saying with the use of the pronoun–I. Being in relationship with God is an individual, personal, choice. If no one else ever understands this, I’ll stand on God’s Word alone.

You see, many unbelievers are now trying to quote the Bible. “Jesus just said, love.”  “God said don’t judge.” And one woman yesterday tried to make a case for her condoning sin by saying, “Adam and Eve were not married and had children out of wedlock.” She didn’t understand that God performed the first marriage and had she continued reading Genesis, she would have known God’s definition of marriage. I really wanted to respond, but Holy Spirit wouldn’t allow me to do so. For the Word also says, “For them that be ignorant, let them be ignorant.” Marriage did not come after Christianity; marriage was established in the Garden with the creation of mankind. Too many people confuse religious concepts with Christianity to the point they want to negate all God did in the beginning. Understanding can only come through reading and opening one’s heart to hear God explain Himself.

In the passage of Scripture used as a foundation for my blog today, Paul reminds Timothy that “all” (nothing left out of all) Scripture is God-breathed or inspired. Therefore, we should not get overly indignant when people don’t understand and only select the passages they want to use. The fact that they use Scripture at all, puts them into greater risk of being judged by God since they chose to misuse it for ungodly purposes. If a person claims they don’t believe in the Bible, they shouldn’t try quoting it when they have no idea what it means when comprehension of it is only achieved by understanding the “totality” of The Word, not bits and pieces.

I don’t have a problem with people who claim they don’t believe in God. Their very confession of unbelief is a contradiction to their behavior since they generally spend an inordinate amount of time talking about a God they don’t believe in to convince those who do believe that we’re foolish. Well, the Bible states, “the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” Since I am not a fool and know right well that–GOD exists–their unbelief won’t hinder my relationship with God.

When I agree with God, I confirm on a daily basis that my relationship with Him is intact and I have not conformed to the world’s perception and beliefs of anything that contradict Him, but I have been transformed by the renewing of my mind in Christ Jesus. I have the mind of Christ–discovered in God’s Word–and use God’s Word to teach, rebuke, correct and train others to know how to respond to the enemy’s attacks. I am thoroughly equipped to accomplish every good work assigned to me. No matter what the government does, the Supreme Court does or anyone else does or say, I will agree with God in all things and in the end, when I stand before Him, I will have no shame about the things I’ve done and I can expect to hear, “Well done, daughter!”

Be Careful of Your Associations With Others!

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16 NIV)

Even though most people have used this passage of scripture in reference to those considering marriage, it actually goes much deeper than that. We are warned not to be yoked (associated) to those who do not believe as we believe–as it pertains to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Why? Inevitably, if we leave our minds exposed to the influences of unbelief, our own belief starts to dwindle and fall apart and we’re left out of God’s favor. If we truly are the children of God, then we should never say anything that contradicts what our Father says.

Check out your associates belief systems and if they don’t agree with God, think about making new associations, ones that don’t contradict God or veer you from saying what God says–about anything and everything. There are some who believe they have God’s stamp of approval even though they are not saying what God says or doing things God’s way and when they stand before Him, they will receive their just reward. So, will we all.

Solomon–the wisest man on earth–was warned not to get involved with women who worship idols, but he allowed his fleshly desires for many of them to lead him astray. As a result, his disobedience brought him to a place of being out of the will of God.

Now, let’s think about how some of the people with whom we may have had an association with that led us astray or still do. The old adage stating birds of a feather flock together is usually true. That it–those who think alike are usually identified by their associations with others. Thieves, gangs, and murderers consider themselves to be an association with its own rules. Those who don’t believe in God (Jesus Christ)–call themselves atheists. Those who believe, invariably call themselves Christians, or something synonymous to identify with their belief–which is why we have so many variations or groups of people who believe–similarly.

When we see discord or disagreement within the ranks of any group, there is usually a separation since they no longer hold the same beliefs. This is true of different sects in the Muslim world as well as those in Christianity. In order to believe as those in any group, there must be shared tenets of belief.

I’ve discovered that within the “Christian” realm of belief, not all who profess to be followers of Christ believe the same things. What is most amazing to me is that not all believe God’s Word, yet they say they believe Him. I know their beliefs are contradictory when I look at what they do and listen to what they say. No one in a right relationship with God can ever truthfully say, God didn’t mean what He said or He didn’t say what He meant. It is these “false” Christians who encourage living in opposition to God’s Word and promote a religion of conformity to the world, when we are told in God’s Word, not to be conform to the “world’s” view, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds–according to The Word and guidance of Holy Spirit.

If we hang out or hook up with those promoting a false Christianity long enough, we’ll succumb to their way of thinking and end up moving out of God’s favor. I don’t know about you, but I love walking in His favor and will not allow anyone else to entice me from His love and the path He’s set me upon for my success.