Bible Ballistics: BBs #184     But I Don’t Feel Like It!!!

We all have those times when our feelings run amuck. Times when we have disappointments, discouragements, hurts and struggles beyond our comprehension. We all have times, even me—especially me—when we just want to throw something, or scream or sometimes just run away!!! Ever been there, done that? I think we have all probably had those seasons in our lives, so what do we do. We walk on in what we know, not what we ‘feel’. Our feelings come and go with the circumstances around us, but what I know—WHO I know never changes!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”     Hebrews 13:5-6 (conversation being our lifestyle, not just our words)

When my feelings seem to be making me ‘crazy’, I must stand in what I know!!! I personally have had times when I’ve just had to say out loud over, and over again, “I know that I know, that I know, that I know…..”! Why ? Because I do know that God is faithful, that He is the same every day, no matter how I ‘feel’!!! Our Lord Jesus has promised to be with us always:

“….I am with you always, even unto the end of the  world. Amen.”

Matthew 28:20b

       “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know

whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that which

I have committed unto him against that day.”  2 Timothy 1:12

So??? Here’s our shot for today! Short and simple, get in the Word, find out about the faithful God of the universe, His faithful Son, my Savior and Lord, and then stand fast in what you know. God will meet you in HIS Word. But you’ve got to open it up and read and study it. You aren’t alone—God is there if you’ll but look up!!! Get your eyes off of the circumstances, and focus on the only one who can and will deliver.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” Hebrews 12:2a

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”     Daniel 2:17-18

And my dear friends, HE is still in the fire!!! Your fire!!! So no matter how you ‘feel’ today, look up:

 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

Bible Ballistics: Are You Confident In The Crisis? Vol. 6#13

We talked last week about Daniel and his faithful determination to honor his God with his whole life regardless of the circumstances. We found that while he suffered with his people for national disobedience, Daniel had made up his mind to continue to be personally faithful to his God, wherever he might be.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8

While Daniel determined to be faithful to his God, he also expressed and lived out respect and honor toward those over and around him. Daniel never acted with presumption or arrogance because of his relationship with his God. We can to learn so much from Daniel’s behavior, not only before his God, but also before the pagan world where he lived in captivity for most of his life. Let’s continue our look at Daniel’s life and see what else we can learn—a lot I believe.

As we progress into chapter 2, we find Daniel and his friends after their three-year time of indoctrination serving in Babylon, a pagan king, kingdom and culture. While we are inundated with a culture that wants to indoctrinate us in much the same way, although we aren’t in ‘captivity’ yet, what is our response? What can we learn from Daniel and how he dealt with the crisis that comes to him and his friends? Let’s dig in to see.

“…..Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” Daniel 2:1a

To sum up the crises, the king has had a dream that disturbed him. It disturbed him so much that he called in his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers to relieve his anxiety. But there was a small problem besides the anxiety over the dream itself; King Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t remember what the dream was, only his anxiety. So, he not only asked these men to interpret his dream, but to tell him what the original dream was!!! Wow, talk about an uproar in the ranks! The king’s counselors all went into ‘panic’ mode—in fact they made a most revealing statement that is often overlooked when studying this passage; a statement that is most apropos of our culture today.

“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.  

12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious,

and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:10-12

Talk about a crisis—this is one. The wise men are telling the king, “no one can do this”!!! Hello, telling the KING it ‘can’t be done’, isn’t the greatest way to work your way up the corporate ladder. While the king was furious, I don’t want us to miss what these men said.

“not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter”—

“no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things”—

“it is a rare thing that the king requireth”—

And most importantly they proclaimed before the king:

“there is none other that can shew it

before the king,

except the gods,

whose dwelling is not with flesh”—

Did you get it? They not only understood that ‘we can’t do this’, but they presumed that ‘none other can show this to the king’!! They had only one answer, but it wasn’t the answer the king wanted to hear! What didn’t they understand?

They said, “only the ‘gods’ could do this thing” but they also made a most revealing statement that we need to examine. They declared that the ‘gods’ don’t dwell with men—and their ‘gods’ don’t’! They understood that they had no control over those that they claimed as ‘their’ ‘gods’! They knew that they had no real way to communicate with ‘their’ ‘gods’; no way to ask them questions, or get real answers. What a telling truth! The ‘gods’ that men have ‘created’ of their own devices, and for their own purposes, can’t solve the issues of life; they can’t deliver in the real dilemmas and crises of life, because they aren’t real. The result for these men? A death sentence from an angry and troubled king!!! And not only the ‘wise men’ who were actually present with the king in this encounter, but ALL THE WISE MEN were sentenced to death.

Now, how does this dilemma affect our man Daniel and his three friends? Remember in chapter one, they had so impressed the king, that they were placed in his service in the ‘wise men corps’ (if you would allow me to call them that). So, when the death sentence was passed on ‘ALL’ the ‘wise men’—Daniel and his friends were included.

“And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.” Daniel 2:13

And Daniel? He stood firm in the face of the compromise of his commitment and conscience before God, but what will he do now in the face of seemingly certain death? Let’s see?

“Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom

to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard,

which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

15 He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain,

Why is the decree so hasty from the king?

Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

16 Then Daniel went in,

and desired of the king

that he would give him time,

and that he would shew the king

the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel went to his house,

and made the thing known

to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies

of the God of heaven

concerning this secret;

that Daniel and his fellows should not perish

with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”   Daniel 2:14-18

Wow! What an amazing young man.

Faced with captivity for sins he didn’t commit—

and he chose faithfulness.

Faced with imminent death for a problem he didn’t create–

and he chooses calm, confidence and reason.

I can’t help but think that perhaps he remembered a verse from the Proverbs:

“The king’s heart

is in the hand of the Lord,

as the rivers of water:

he turneth it

whithersoever he will.” Proverbs 21:1

But what did Daniel do with his faithful confidence in his God? Did he lie down and wait for God to deliver him? NO WAY! Daniel took action, but again, not arrogant or presumptuous action, but he acted quickly, yet with “counsel and wisdom”, and in respect of the authorities over him. I can’t get past the fact that this mighty, high-ranking officer had enough respect and admiration for Daniel’s integrity and demeanor that he recounted to him the situation that had precipitated the ‘death decree’. Then what? Daniel was granted an audience with the king and ‘ASKED’ for time and assured the king that he could reveal the desired information to the king, and the king granted his request! Really??? Again it appears that the king had a measure of respect toward Daniel that he didn’t have toward his other advisors! Go back and see the king’s responses to the others at the beginning of this dilemma:

Verse 5, “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.” Deliver or die!

Verses 8-9, “The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” NO TRUST!!! Lying and corrupt words???? Really???

Here we have a king who had such confidence in this young man, in contrast to the distrust of his ‘senior’ staff, that he was willing to trust Daniel with the time to find the answer to his dilemma.

And what was Daniel’s action after seeking permission for time? Daniel calls for a prayer meeting! With all the Hebrew children who were there in Babylon? NO! He called the three other faithful servants who were as devoted to his God as himself! He called on faithful prayer warriors who walked what they talked, not only before the ‘religious’ world, but those who were living it in these difficult circumstances as captives in Babylon. Daniel called his friends to pray with him for God’s deliverance, so they wouldn’t die with the condemned ‘wise men’ of Babylon.   But Daniel didn’t ask for his own deliverance only, but for all those whose lives were in jeopardy. Those who would not appreciate his intervention, and who would later plot the destruction of his three friends, and even later his own life! Yet he sought to meet the king’s need and alleviate the danger to those ‘wise men’ that caused the problem.

Yet what do we do? We often pout, complain, stomp and take our own vengeance on those who cause what we perceive to be ‘problems’ in our lives. Oh to be like Daniel—

A man of integrity—

A man of confidence in God at all times—

A man of calm and reason under the gun—

A man of action—based on dependence on his God—

A man of prayer—and a man with friends who pray—

A man of honor and respect –toward all people–

        (Respect for authority, not compromise)

A man whose life caused others to trust him—

      and in his integrity!!!

And what was the outcome for this faithful man?

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”  Daniel 2:19

What can we learn? God hears and answers prayer:

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b

“Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54:2

“But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.” Psalm 69:13

So whatever your crisis is or when it comes, remember our faithful God is always able to hear, answer and deliver. And we’ll pick up with Daniel next week, so read up on chapter 2!

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #183       A Place of Safety!!!

We live in a crazy world of chaos and terror, but no matter what is going on around us, we have a place of safety. We have a God who holds us in His hand and we can stand in the security of HIS total sovereignty no matter the circumstances or environment around us.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;” Psalm 91:1-9

What confidence we have at hand, and yet so often we let the enemy steal our joy—our confidence—our security. Not the flippant arrogance of the world, but a joy and absolute secure confidence in the ability of our God, as Paul said to Timothy:

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

I am so glad for the great old hymn written by Daniel Whittel in the 1880’s, that reminds us of this assurance:

“I know not why God’s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed

Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith

To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word

Wrought peace within my heart.  Refrain–But…

I know not how the Spirit moves,

Convincing us of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word,

Creating faith in Him.  Refrain–But…

I know not what of good or ill

May be reserved for me,

Of weary ways or golden days,

Before His face I see.  Refrain–But…

I know not when my Lord may come,

At night or noonday fair,

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,

Or meet Him in the air.”  Refrain–But…

Each time I sing this precious hymn, I am reminded of the truth that our God Reigns!!! His arms hold to my being. His wings cover me. His Spirit is working within us that we might be “conformed to the image of His Son…” (Ro. 8:29)

So??? Here’s our shot for today! Praise God “from whom all blessings flow”, give Him the glory and rest in His strength and power, His love and compassion that He pours out on us, and within our hearts. The Psalmist said it best:

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,

and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,

and thy faithfulness every night,

3 Upon an instrument of ten strings,

and upon the psaltery;

upon the harp with a solemn sound.

4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad

through thy work:  

I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

5 O Lord, how great are thy works!

and thy thoughts are very deep.” Psalm 92:1-5

Look up!

Walk straight!

Press on in confidence!

Praise the Lord God Almighty!

Praise the Son Jesus Christ!

Praise the Holy Spirit!

Praise “God from whom all blessings flow”!

REST IN HIM!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #182 Crying??? Someone Cares!!!

Ever have one of ‘those’ days? Those days when everything seems to go wrong, when you can’t seem to get it right—we all have them on occasion. But when they come—we have a resource, if we’ll but look up and turn to The Lord God Almighty to meet us in our time of need. Rest in HIM!!!

“Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalm 86:3-7

As I was reading through Psalms yesterday, the Lord just made these verses come alive in my heart anew and afresh. You see, I’ve been having one of those seasons of trial, trouble and uncertainty, but when we run to our God,

HE always answers—

HE’s always at home—

He’s always ready to guide our steps,

if we’ll but ask and then listen.

The Psalmist understood ‘those’ kinds of days and I’d like to share some of the highlights of what God spoke to me:

“O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.” Psalm 88:1-3

God knows when those tears won’t stop!

God knows when we feel like we’re hitting an iron wall!

God knows when the grief and sorrow

make us feel like we’ll just explode

from the pain and pressure within our heart.

God knows when we feel like the world is against us!

In fact Jesus experienced all of those things, and overcame.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

Jesus is:

Our Redeemer—He paid the price!

Our Savior—He delivered me with that price!

Our Sacrifice—He was the price!

Our High Priest—He delivered the price!!

Our merciful and compassionate High Priest—

He felt what we feel!

Jesus lived:

In this flesh—

In this world—that hailed Him on one day

and cried, “crucify Him” a few days later.

In victory by looking to HIS Father.

In overcoming, resurrection power—

which He imparts to us.

To accomplish victory over SIN and DEATH!!!

Therefore, we can lift eternal praises to our God even in the “valley of the shadow of death”!!! Rejoicing in all things because our Lord Jesus Christ has victoriously FINISHED the work of redemption! So,

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” Psalm 89:1-2

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:

they shall walk,

O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day:

and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17 For thou art the glory of their strength:

and in thy favour

our horn shall be exalted.

18 For the Lord is our defence;

and the Holy One of Israel is our king.”   Psalm 89:15-18

We are truly blessed to have a God who loves us, who loved us enough to redeem us from our sin. And not only redeem us from our sin, but give us victory to overcome through the blood of the Lamb—Jesus is our overcoming power, and His Spirit that He gives to those who are His.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..” Revelation 12:11a

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27

We can live in victory, if we will but remember that our God reigns, rules and relieves His children!!! Jesus gives us overcoming power and grace. We must live in light of what HE has already done!

So??? Wherever you are today, remember

that there is one who loves you,

who cares and knows where you are, and

that HE is waiting for you to call on HIM

and rest in HIS strong arms.

Remember —

“My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee will not slumber.”

Psalm 121:2-3 (Read the whole Psalm for an boost of encouragement).

So??? Look up!!! Walk forward!!! Press on!!!   Because:

“Your redemption draweth nigh” Lk.21:28 and,

“…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” 1 John 4:4b

WE WIN!!!

“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”  2 Chronicles 20:15b

Bible Ballistics: Whose Favor Are You Seeking??? Vol. 6#12

Often as we struggle through life we have many distractions, and sometimes it’s hard to keep our focus on the things of our Lord. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle, and the temptation to please men instead of God (Including ourselves). One of my heroes of scripture had a great opportunity to succumb to the pressures that surrounded him, but he remained faithful to his God! That’s the desire of my heart—to be found faithful when HE calls me home or comes for His own.

“But Daniel purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

nor with the wine which he drank:  

therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel

into favour

and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.”   Daniel 1:8-9

Let’s examine Daniel’s life and see what we can learn about faithful courage.

First, let’s set the stage: Daniel was a Jewish young man, probably a mid to late teenage, who was taken as a Babylonian captive to be educated (brainwashed) for service in the ‘civil’ government of Babylon. Daniel was one of many Jewish young men from Jerusalem, who were taken into captivity and put into a 3-year training program. They were transported far from home, family and culture. Outstanding young men who were:

“……certain of the children of Israel,

and of the king’s seed,

and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish,

but well favoured,

and skilful in all wisdom,

and cunning in knowledge,

and understanding science,

and such as had ability in them

to stand in the king’s palace,

and whom they might teach the learning

and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” Daniel 1:3b-4

They were taken because they were the “crème’ de la crème’”– from the families of the leadership and royalty of Judah, those who were good-looking and blemish-free, teachable, taken to be trained to serve in the king’s palace. They were to be ‘transformed’ into “Babylonians”! Maybe close to a hundred young men, and yet we only hear of 4 of these young men after their ‘training’.

What else do we see in Daniel and his three friends that we can assimilate into our lives? Most importantly of all, we see that Daniel was a ‘determined’ young man, he knew his own heart and mind; and what was Daniel’s mindset?

“Daniel purposed in his heart 

that he would not defile himself…”

Daniel had made up his mind (And heart) that he would maintain his integrity before God; that he would “not defile himself”. A decision that might seem useless, as it is most likely that he had already been “ceremonially” defiled by the Babylonians by being castrated, a thing that would have broken his heart ‘religiously’, but it didn’t deter him in his personal devotion to God. Daniel made up his mind to be blameless before his God, much like Job:

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

Daniel was determined to live for God even though no one back home would be watching. He was determined to honor God in everything that was within his power. Yet we often miss a valuable lesson in this passage, Daniel was determined to not only honor his God, but to display an honorable and respectful demeanor to his captors—to all.

Daniel didn’t balk, or pout or stomp and demand his own way; instead he honored the ‘powers’ that were over him and went through the ‘chain of command’ to seek to honor his relationship with God before unbelievers.

“Then said Daniel to Melzar,

whom the prince of the eunuchs

had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants,

I beseech thee, ten days;

and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon

before thee,

and the countenance of the children

that eat of the portion of the king’s meat:

and as thou seest,

deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter,

and proved them ten days.” Daniel 1:11-14

Daniel requested permission to be exempt from the diet that would have violated his conscience—he requested permission, and when it was denied on the first request, he then went to the one directly over him and his friends with a reasonable suggestion, that put it all on God. Daniel asked for this official to test him and his friends for 10 days and if he was not satisfied that they were as healthy or healthier than the rest of the captives, they would submit to whatever he decided. And God honored the faithfulness of his servants– because they were honoring God– God Almighty was at work in honoring Daniel and his friends. And how!!!

“And at the end of ten days

their countenances appeared fairer

and fatter in flesh

than all the children

which did eat the portion

of the king’s meat.” Daniel 1:15

WOW! Daniel and his friends were rewarded for their faithfulness—they looked better than any of the other captives/trainees. And as we continue with this story we find that God rewarded Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) with success in all their endeavors. If we jump to the end of the chapter we find them at the end of their 3-year term of training, and see that God blessed them mightily individually and before the world.

“As for these four children,

God gave them knowledge

and skill

in all learning

and wisdom:

and Daniel had understanding

in all visions

and dreams.

18 Now at the end of the days

that the king had said he should bring them in, t

hen the prince of the eunuchs brought them in

before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them;

and among them all

was found none

like Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael, and

Azariah:

therefore stood they before the king.  

20 And in all matters

of wisdom

and understanding,

that the king enquired of them,

he found them ten times better

than all the magicians

and astrologers

that were in all his realm.” Daniel 1:17-20

Not only were these young men found better than their peers, but they were found 10 times better than “than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm”! Did you get that? Ten times better than the entire corps of “wise men”, “astrologers” or “magicians”!!!   To repeat a cliché’, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”. God reminds us throughout scripture of His faithfulness—HE is faithful, just determine to trust HIM:

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  2 Cor. 12:9

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”   Psalm 23

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

So??? Who is it that YOU want to please? I must join with Joshua in proclaiming:

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,

choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

How about you? Who will you determine to please? Simply “choose you this day whom ye will serve”? It is your choice. But choose wisely! There is a test at the end!!!

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37