Quote Scripture, not Plato or Confucius or Abraham Lincoln

A quick one today.

Have you ever noticed how many people quote others in history like President Lincoln, Plato, Confucius, or Henry Ford or countless others, and treat them like gospel?

But very few seem to quote the actual Gospel?

Start a movement today to quote God's Word instead of someone else's.  Not that others' words aren't meaningful, but the True Word should hold more weight in our daily lives than others.

Amen.

Unknown sins

A few weeks ago, during our usual Sunday service, our pastor read something that I had heard hundreds and hundreds of times before, but for whatever reason it struck me that day.

It was during what is called the "brief order of confession."  In it was a line that talks about our sins, known and unknown.

I furrowed my brow and asked myself, "What is an unknown sin?"

At first, I thought it was something we're doing, knowing deep in our heart and soul that it is wrong, but we're justifying on doing it anyway.  No, this couldn't be it.

Then it struck me.  It is something we're supposed to do and didn't.  I then thought about my college years in InterVarsity.  The leaders of the chapter at Bemidji State University were probably unaware of how poorly they were treating me. I'm positive that they weren't actively plotting against me, ignoring me, when all I wanted to do was learn more about Christianity.

That would be an example of an unknown sin.

And I forgive them for it.  If God ever offers a chance for me to forgive them in person, I pray that He does and I will.  Those leaders may be clueless as to what I would be talking about, but that doesn't matter to me.  I forgive them with all my heart, soul, and being, so help me God.

I have thought of times when I, myself, have not done something that God was pointing me to do.  Those are too numerous, I'm sure, and as long as God forgives me, I also forgive myself.  I can't change the past.

I can only do what is right in the future, guided by the Hand of God.

Don't judge Christ by other Christians

I will try not to get political here, but if there is one thing I've noticed during the last 4-5 years, there are a fair amount of "Christians" who are just plain a--holes.

These people are on social media, in my own church, and to listen to their hypocrisy absolutely hurts my heart.  I work very hard at being nice to them--sometimes I fail, sorry to say--despite their inability to not see the err in their thinking.

I'm currently reading a Christian book about not being a jerk when it comes to politics.  While I agree with some of what the author says, I can't help but see a biased angle in their thinking.

Back in college, I was a member of the InterVasrsity Christian Fellowship.  I was a Lutheran all my life, and to experience Christianity from a non-denominational view was interesting.  There are a few friends I still have from those days.  However, those involved on the leadership team were not always the best . . . Christians.  My first year was pleasant, but by the second year they completely ignored me.  I would attend Thursday night fellowship times and no one, save for my few friends, would even acknowledge me.  I asked my few friends about it and they noticed it too.

Now, if I was on the fence about Christianity or didn't believe, I could see someone's faith be completely shattered because of their actions and wouldn't want anything to do with these a--hole Christians ever again.  But my faith was much stronger than this.  I don't know why.  It just was.  It took me several years to actually forgive them--if God would give me the opportunity to meet them face to face, so I could verbally forgive them, I'd love the chance.

Christ is perfect.  His love is perfect.  Don't judge Our Lord Jesus by the actions of human Christians.  Read His teachings and let His love fill your heart.

Prayer doesn't have to be complicated

Prayer doesn't have to be complicated.  It can be as simple as "Thank you, God."

At the end of every episode of Duck Dynasty, there is a prayer.  Each one is simple and lasts no more than ten or twenty seconds.

As with everything else that's good, it's important to create a habit of prayer.  When I wake up in the morning, I thank the Lord.  Whenever one of my kids drives off, either to work or school or to be with their friends, I thank the Lord and ask Him to watch over them.  Whenever I walk out of the gym each night after a good workout, I thank God for granting me the opportunity to do so.

Don't complicate prayer.

For that matter, don't complicate daily habits of reading the Bible either.  Read it at whatever pace God wants you to do.

God is your security

Starting in the 23rd chapter, from the book of Job, Job responded by saying that his complaint about his treatment from God is bitter, but he tried not to make it very loud.  He desperately wanted to find God and ask Him what he had done to deserve such horrible treatment.

God knew where he was going and that he always stayed on God's path, treasuring God's Word more than food.

Then, in the 24th chapter, Job ranted about how the wicked never seemed to be brought to the Lord's judgment and that the poor and needy could never get a break.  By the end of the chapter though, he did admit that although the rich seemed to rise high, they never had any assurance in life.  God is the only path to security.  Not physical riches.

Create a habit of thanking the Lord

You wake up in the morning, thank the Lord.

You step outside, no matter the weather, thank the Lord.

You go to the store, thank the Lord.

You step onto the bus, thank the Lord.

You drive along the highway, thank the Lord.

You sit down to eat, thank the Lord.

You finish a workout, thank the Lord.

Even what seems to be the most mundane of tasks or everyday events, create a habit of thanking the Lord.  I live in northwestern Minnesota, and right now we have a good inch or two of snow on the ground--this started coming down yesterday.  I breathed in the crisp air and thanked the Lord.  Since the middle of June 2020, I've been going to the local gym to work out at night.  It's a good cap to my day.  It's something I've been wanting to do for a while, but for personal reasons I was unable to do so until last year.  And so, whenever I get done, I look up and thank the Lord.

Habits centered around the Lord will lead you to a much better place, as He guides your heart to where you're supposed to go.  Even reading the Bible and praying should be a habit.

Don't worry about what you didn't do tomorrow.  Start today.  Create the habits that He wants you to create.

Having peace

Chapter 22 in the book of Job is rather interesting--then again, aren't all of what we read in the Bible interesting or intriguing?

The chapter, of course, continues with another of Job's friends.  This one is Eliphaz, whom we've heard from before.  He starts by asking what use righteous people are to God Himself, what use wise people can be to God.

Then, he asks Job if it's his fear of the Lord, that He corrects Job, that is causing him so much angst?  He goes on a tirade about how Job had lent money to friends but demanded their clothing as security, stripping them down to nothing.  He refused water to those who were thirsty and food to those who were starving.  He even took land and when widows came to him, he sent them away empty-handed.

If you review the first chapters of this book, you get none of this, the events that took place.  What's interesting is that, of the four types of Bibles that I read, the New Living Translation says that "he must have" done these things, not that he had.  All of the others state that he did them.  I'm leaving this open for interpretation as there is still a message in these words.

In verse 21, Eliphaz tells Job to submit himself to the Lord and be at peace.  In verse 22, he tells Job to keep the Lord's words into his heart.  Be at peace with the Lord's words in your heart.  Definitely wise words to live by.

When my wife passed in January 2020, I was sad.  I grieved deeply--and still do, if you want to know.  But knowing what I've read and prayed about from God, my heart is at peace.  My wife is at peace, and one day I will wrap my arms around her again in Heaven.

Reading the Bible gives you a peace that is beyond understanding.  When you read His words, open your heart, open your mind, and be prepared to be filled by his incredible peace.