The old saying goes something like…Loose lips sink ships. Integrity, honesty, and good moral character are foundational traits for a good reputation. How people view our position and standing demonstrates who we are as a person. A good reputation is easy to lose and very hard to get back.
Tag: faith
II Kings 4:2 ” Elisha replied to her, ‘How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?’ “
A desperate, grieving widow of a fellow prophet came to Elisha beseeching him to help her before the creditors took her two boys away to satisfy her debts. But instead of offering help, Elisha turned the question back on her. What do you have in your house…what do you have within yourself? The Lord has already placed within us everything we’ll ever need to be victorious over any situation. Elisha wanted the widow to realize the wealth and power she already possessed.
II Samuel 22: 2-4 ” The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men You have saved me. I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”
The Lord is my stability in an uncertain and constantly wavering world. He is my safe refuge where I am able to retreat, rest, and rebuild my shattered hopes and dreams. The Lord is my advocate and protector when I cry out for mercy. The Lord is my Lord.
Luke 18: 7-8 ” And will not God bring justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.”
We may think God is delaying and procrastinating, and not hearing us clearly. But His timing is always perfect. And when the time is right, all fairness, truth, and honesty will be revealed.”
Proverbs 3: 1-2 ” My son, do not forget My teaching, but keep My commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.”
Sure, there’s eternal benefits to obeying the Word of God and His commands. But there are many practical benefits and blessings we may not always think of…things like health, peace, and security, which eludes the world, but for Believers… are just a wonderful part of living our life for the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 2:13 ” I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.”
Groping around in pitch blackness can be dangerous. The consequences can be just as hazardous when spiritual darkness blinds us to the risks and pitfalls of this fallen world. When light invades the darkness, the darkness must flee. When life, salvation, and wisdom come into us…the spiritual darkness must also take flight.
Romans 15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”
Multi-generational Discipleship is a wonderful way of handing down Godly wisdom…from generation to generation. When old and young are paired together in cross-generational activities, wisdom and sage advice are shared…enthusiasm and energy are appreciated. The personal knowledge gleaned from a long-lived Christian life teaches far beyond what any class could do.
I Chronicles 15:29 ” As the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.”
She could have been down in the street with the rest of the people singing and praising God…for the Ark of the Covenant was finally coming back to Jerusalem. But instead, the bitter Michal watched from afar. And when she saw her husband, King David, acting quite unbecoming for royalty , she publicly mocked him. Her contempt continued to fester, blinding her from the true jubilation of the people and their sincere thankfulness to God. King David attempted to explain this gratitude and joy to her in II Samuel 6: 16-23, when he told her, “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.” When the masks come off…when the pretentiousness is dropped…when we get real before the Lord and worship with all our might… Heaven moves – hearts are changed- the Lord is pleased.
Joshua 22:5 “But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul.”
This verse brings together the very essence of what every Christian strives to do on a daily basis. We are to love God and in doing so, love others. We are to imitate His ways… obey His word…and resist the pull of the world, cleaving only to God…for in that is eternal life and unspeakable joy.
Isaiah 1:18 ” ‘Come now, let us reason together’, says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ “
The Children of Israel had veered far off course…they had rebelled against God and were “off doing their own thing.” Now God was calling them back…repent or face judgment…turn back to Me and be forgiven.
Safetypinlove 