Category Archives: The Word

Jonah’s Second Chance??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #285

07 Thursday Nov 2024

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Believing God's Words, Jonah's attitude..., Jonah's Second Chance, Second Chances, The Word

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Jonah’s Second Chance???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #285

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jonah and the whale (big fish); it’s a story of willful disobedience, running away from God (like you can do that, but we often try), and the loving grace and patience of our Lord God!  God called Jonah to preach to a people that he knew had been prophesied to defeat Israel at some time in the future, and yet God called him to go and preach repentance before Jehovah God!  So, like many of us, Jonah headed for the sea—the opposite direction from the place where God had called him to go!  Sound like you and me?  So often that answer is yes!  If we don’t like the call, we run; maybe literally, maybe just in heart and mind, but we run away from God’s will!  It wasn’t profitable for Jonah, and it won’t be profitable for us—not long term!

But that’s not what I want us to consider today.  I truly believe that American has experienced a Jonah moment.  I believe that God has given us a chance to repent, share the Good News of Jesus and make a difference in our families, our communities, our states and our nation!  But many will be like Jonah, who instead of rejoicing when God extended mercy to his enemies—he sat down for a good old-fashioned pout (and they are pretty new-fashioned these days as well!). I simply want us to consider our ways, and make sure we are heading in the right direction personally, and then to share God’s truth with those around us as we have opportunity.  To go where God leads us, do the things that He asks us to be and do, to share the “truth in love”!  It’s my prayer for all of us.  I pray that you will join me and consider how to make full use of the “second chance” that I believe God has given us.  It’s your call, but remember, there is a test; and the test may be coming sooner than we think.

Jonah came out of the whale and went to Ninevah and preached the message that God had given him the first time—for 40 days he preached God’s warning; and the people, from the king down repented and sought God’s forgiveness and mercy.  Let’s see what Jonah’s response was.  It may sound familiar to our day!  To believers!  To the church!  What will we do with the second chance that God has extended to us?

“And God saw their works,

that they turned from their evil way;

and God repented of the evil,

that he had said that he would do unto them;

and he did it not…

….4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,

 and he was very angry.

2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said,

I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying,

when I was yet in my country?

Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish:

for I knew that thou art a gracious God,

and merciful,

slow to anger,

and of great kindness,

and repentest thee of the evil.

3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee,

my life from me;

for it is better for me to die than to live…

…. 5 So Jonah went out of the city,

and sat on the east side of the city,

and there made him a booth,

and sat under it in the shadow,

till he might see what would become of the city.

6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd,

and made it to come up over Jonah,

that it might be a shadow over his head,

to deliver him from his grief.

So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

7 But God prepared a worm

when the morning rose the next day,

and it smote the gourd that it withered.

8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise,

that God prepared a vehement east wind;

and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah,

that he fainted,

and wished in himself to die,

and said,

It is better for me to die than to live.

9 And God said to Jonah,

Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?

And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

10 Then said the LORD,

Thou hast had pity on the gourd,

for the which thou hast not laboured,

neither madest it grow;

which came up in a night,

and perished in a night:

11 And should not I spare Nineveh,

that great city,

wherein are more than sixscore thousand

persons that cannot discern

between their right hand

and their left hand;

and also much cattle?”                        Portions of Jonah 3:10-4:11

God is calling us to reach out in mercy and love to those perishing in sin!  We won’t win them all (in fact, not many years hence, under an unrepentant king, Ninevah did come and invade Israel) but we are called to sow the seed, to love as God does!  If you belong to Jesus, shine and put down those rocks!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.”  John 3:16-17

Amen and Amen!!!

With Or Without??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #255

01 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Great white throne, Guard Your Heart, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, The Word

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With Or Without???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #255

Is your life being lived with Jesus, or without Him?  Are you doing things your way, or God’s way.  God makes it clear in the closing chapters of The Revelation of Jesus Christ that it’s all about Jesus.  Before we approach the Revelation, let’s see Jesus’ own words about the decision of most import in life and death.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:16-21

Jesus made it very clear to Nicodemus, the religious leader in search of answers; answers that Jesus supplied with insight that we can heed or reject.  The choice is yours and mine—you and I are the “whosoever”—but remember there is a consequence to every choice, and not to be redundant, but Paul said it better than I ever could.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

 if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:7-9

The issue is, what have you done with Jesus?  Have you been born again, by the blood of Jesus?  If you belong to Jesus, are you living for Him and sharing His truth with others as God gives you opportunity?  If you don’t know Him yet, you can; by the repentance of your sin, and trusting/believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  Payday is coming, and the only acceptable payment is Jesus. (See John 14:6)

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

So, the choice is yours; will you live your life with Jesus and His saving, transforming grace; or will you live your own way?  As I said, the choice is totally yours, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Even as Joshua called Israel so many years ago, “choose you this day”!

“Now therefore fear the LORD,

and serve him in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the LORD.

15 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 24:14-15

Amen and Amen!!!

A Word from THE WORD!!! #253 A Repost of Vol. 15 No. 03

25 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in The Word

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A Repost of Vol. 15 No. 03. A Word from THE WORD!!! #253

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 03  The Blood Of Jesus Cleanses???

 

I want to share a difficult thing with you today, a subject that the world avoids, almost at all costs—in fact, at the cost of their souls.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man

shall come

in the glory of his Father

with his angels;

and then he shall reward

every man

according to his works.”  Matthew 16:24-27

Jesus told his followers that there was only one choice in life that really matters—what you do with HIM!  We can try to save our own lives, or we can trust to the Only One who can truly give eternal life, not only in the “sweet by and by” but in the “here and now”!  Even in the midst of ‘viruses’.  And just as importantly our choice will be judged one day—Jesus is coming again, to claim His own who are His bride, but also to judge those who have rejected HIM, even as He said here, “every man according to his works”!  While the cost of following Jesus is totally by faith, through grace, there is an evidence, as Jesus Himself declares:

“If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.”

We cannot cling to self, flesh, lust, sin, greed, etc… and cling to Jesus at the same time!

“No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:24

We must make a choice, and we need to consider the import of our privilege to choose—for there is a test coming, and you will answer for yourself!  There won’t be any defense without Jesus—not your momma, not your spouse, not your credentials, not your education, not your money, fame or power…without Jesus you will stand ‘speechless’ before God. (See Revelation 20:11-15)

“And as it is appointed

unto men once to die,

but after this

the judgment:”   Hebrews 9:27

And Jesus will hold us accountable according to HIS Word not my opinion or yours, or the government’s, or Hollywood’s, or popular trends, snaps, chats, or tweets!  And Judge Jesus knows truth (HE is truth) and HIS Word will be the standard.

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

 in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

You might want to make a list of all these things that The Word of God is doing, will do and consider your ways!  For Jesus made it very clear that HE knows truth—as my momma always said: “You can fool all of the people some of the time; and you can fool some of the people all of the time; but YOU CAN’T FOOL GOD:” (Not God The Father, God The Son, or God The Holy Spirit!)!

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many

wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

I know I have belabored this issue, and we’ll get to the hard part in a bit, but I am compelled to remind us all that there is only ONE WAY to God, and HIS name is Jesus, and eternal life isn’t a pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by thing, it is new life right now, eternal living as one who is “seated in” Heavenly places by the blood of Jesus that grants to us not only new life, but abundant life, victorious life, no matter how it looks to a world who hates HIM!  They hated Him when He was here on earth and He warned us that those who are His will suffer the same consequences from time to time.  Jesus reminded His disciples of this very thing on His way to the cross!  And if we have “taken up our cross” and are truly “following” Jesus, our lives will make ripples around us, causing others to keep their distance, ridicule our convictions, and call us unkind names—but we have been warned, by our Lord!

“If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are

not of the world,

but I have chosen you

out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things

will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”   John 15:18-21

Not a very popular message, but one that we desperately need today!  And my friends, if you don’t see the hand of God at work around us, you might want to open your eyes, or take off your blinders!  Jesus is at work in all around us—always has been, ever will be!  Are you listening for His voice, reading His Word and preparing for His return?  Or are you so caught up in the bling of the world that your ears have been dulled, and your eyes don’t see?  Jesus wants all to come, but HE won’t wait forever!  He told Noah, and as true as it was then, it is still true today (although God hasn’t given us the time!)

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man,

for that he also is flesh:

yet his days shall be

an hundred and twenty years.”   Genesis 6:3

And the Apostle Peter shows us the other side, and reminds us that God’s timing isn’t our timing, but don’t wait too long, for as Jesus said, we don’t know “what a day may bring forth”!

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,

that one day is with the Lord

as a thousand years,

and a thousand years

as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack

concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering

to us-ward,

not willing that any

should perish,

but that all

should come to repentance.”   2 Peter 3:8-9

God wants YOU, but He has given us the privilege of free-will to choose.  What will you do with your choice?  There is a test.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;

and him that cometh to me

I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven,

not to do mine own will,

but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me,

that of all which he hath given me

I should lose nothing,

but should raise it up again

at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me,

that every one which seeth the Son,

and believeth on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:37-40

And HIS will is for you to come to Him through Jesus!  What will you do with HIM!  He gave His all, His life’s blood for you!

“These words spake Jesus,

and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

Father, the hour is come;

glorify thy Son,

that thy Son also

may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power

over all flesh,

that he should give eternal life

to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal,

that they might know thee

the only true God,

and Jesus Christ,

whom thou hast sent.”  John 17:1-3

To pull all of this together, I want to remind us that it is the blood of Jesus that saves, cleanses, transforms and provides for all that God has saved us to do.  And without that blood (which so many hate) we have no hope.  I want to share a couple more passages and a testimony that I hope will encourage your heart and speak to those who feel hopeless—for JESUS is our hope, through HIS precious blood that saves and delivers!

“He that despised Moses’ law

died without mercy

under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment,

suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,

who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,

and hath counted the blood

of the covenant,

wherewith he was sanctified,

an unholy thing,

and hath done despite

unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said,

Vengeance belongeth unto me,

I will recompense,

saith the Lord.

And again,

The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing

to fall into the hands

of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:28-31

Jesus described this dilemma:

“And he beheld them, and said,

 What is this then that is written,

The stone which the builders rejected,

the same is become the head

of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone

shall be broken;

but on whomsoever it shall fall,

 it will grind him to powder.”  Luke 20:17-18

You can bring your brokenness to Jesus and find life, or you can reject His love, grace and salvation and experience His judgment.  I claim the testimony of the saints!

“And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and

by the word of their testimony;

and they loved

not their lives

unto the death.”   Revelation 12:11

How do you come to love Jesus enough to be willing to die for Him?  Only when we realize that HE gave His blood for me; by recognizing the love of God that GAVE HIS SON to pour out His pure, innocent, and sinless blood to pay for the sins of a poor lost wretch like me!  That’s how!  But we have come to a time in our world, in the “church” when the blood of Jesus has little if any value or meaning to many who claim the name of the ONE whose blood was shed for our salvation!  I don’t mean this to be accusatory, but to call us back to the cross and the love of The One who shed HIS blood for ME and YOU—for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.  Some of you may not want to read any further, as this testimony is a bit graphic, but I feel led to share this very private encounter with my God.

As most of you know, my daughter was murdered just before Christmas last, and of course when you deal with the legal authorities, there are papers, hoops, and such to get things done, and we were finally able to reclaim my daughter’s things last week; her personal affects—phone, cards, clothing, etc.….  We picked up the box of possessions and I almost got sick in the parking lot just knowing what was in that box.  The kind police officer had told me from the beginning that I didn’t want some of those things, and I assured him that I certainly did want them.  Some I needed for practical business matters, but the clothing and such he suggested that I not take.  Well, I did take it all.  It was a hard drive home for my husband and myself, but we got home, rested for a bit and then took the box into our den and began to open each of the marked bags of “evidence” of this crime.

Well of course, the tears began to flow, and heartbreak became reality as we opened each bag, read the label and appraised each item.  The items on the top of the stack were relatively benign, but the deeper we got into the box, the more gruesome the things became that we were pulling out.  And I’ll have to say truthfully, my tears poured as my broken heart realized what had been done to my precious, only daughter.  In fact, they are flowing now, as I write this account.  And the cry of “look what ‘he’ did” (the perpetrator) ….kept coming out again and again as we pulled out blood stained garment after garment.  Without being graphic, it was a heart-wrenching task, but one we knew we needed to do.  While the tears brought some relief, they also brought a heart that went to the cross.  As I looked at each of those gruesome items, I had to come face-to-face with what my JESUS did for me.  Cruel, sinful men took the life of God’s “Only Begotten Son” because HE loved me and wanted to save me from my “SIN”, and you from yours!  MY heart was filled to overflow to think that while my daughter was stolen from me, God GAVE Jesus to die for ME.  And Jesus went to that cross and shed HIS BLOOD for me.  Suffice it to say, I look at things differently today than I did just this time last week.  While I love my God and am grateful for all HE did for me at that cross that drained HIS SON of HIS life’s blood, I want to ask you, “Have you recognized the price that God paid to save YOU?”  I pray that I will never think of that cross in the same way again.  I miss my daughter terribly, but because of that “blood of Jesus” that “cleanseth us from all sin” I know where she is—not because she was a good person, or a good worker, or even because she was a victim—but because in a jail cell 11 years ago she had given her heart to Jesus in repentance and faith.  And while she had made some poor decisions, and fallen back into some dangerous habits that ultimately cost her life, I know that the blood of my daughter in my hands (so to speak) took me back to a cross where God willingly poured out Jesus’ blood for me.  How can I do less than serve Him with my whole being?  I can’t do less, even when others think me extreme, fanatic, or old-fashioned; I simply say, that “Old Time Religion” is good enough for me.  May God open your eyes to see His love and the price that HE paid for YOU!

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love

of God our Saviour

toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ

our Saviour;”  Titus 3:3-6

Amen and Amen!!!

Lift Up Your Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #252

21 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, The Word

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Lift Up Your Eyes???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #252

“And there shall be signs

in the sun,

and in the moon,

and in the stars;

and upon the earth

distress of nations,

with perplexity;

the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts

failing them for fear,

and for looking after those things

which are coming on the earth:

 for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming

in a cloud

with power

and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:25-28

I want to speak to the little words in this passage, rather than the nature of the prophecy; Jesus said that “there shall be signs”, and notice that this is plural—not just one but multiple signs—sadly multiple signs that most will not heed as from Jesus!  If we took time to go back and look at Matthew 7, we’d remember that Jesus referred to the “many” and the “few” in regard to finding and walking on the “narrow way”; a message much needed today, especially to remind God’s own that we are NOT in the majority!  From Genesis to Revelation, there is always a remnant of God’s own in this world, but they have seldom been in the lead!  But we are called to take note.  Jesus was speaking to His closest followers, yet even they doubted when He was put in the grave!  But, three days later they believed, and some 40+ days later they received the Holy Spirit to speak, preach and display the power of heavenly fire!

But to get back to our passage above, notice that Jesus said that “Men’s hearts” would be failing them because they will be looking at the “signs” and not the Savior!  He also implies that the signs will go on for some time, culminating in His return.

Then—and most importantly to we who belong to Jesus—Jesus told His followers that when:

“these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh…”!

Note that Jesus told us that when we see these thing “begin to come to pass” we aren’t to let our hearts fail (not over the weather, the politics, or the world crises, nor any earthly events) but we are clearly told what to do:

look up,       

lift up your heads;

And He tells us why we are to look up and lift up our heads, not let our hearts or our heads droop down over the events taking place but we can confidently look up because:

your redemption draweth nigh!

So, don’t fret over the events of the times, but rather take The Word of God and stand fast in “the evil day”!  Remember, Jesus has promised victory, and He will come, rule, judge and reign as God of all!!!  Get in The Word:

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings,

saying,Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”  Revelation 19:6

Amen and Amen!!!

Today Is Important??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

18 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?

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Today Is Important???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

“Now therefore

fear the LORD,

and serve him

in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the LORD.

15 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 24:14-15

We all fall into the habit of thinking and saying, “I can do that tomorrow! Right?” Well, maybe we can and maybe we can’t; as Joshua told the people of Israel, we are to “choose you this day” what we will do, whom we will follow, whom we will serve—God or ourselves (and remember whatever you put before God is your choice!)!  We can only live in the todays; for only God knows what tomorrow holds—and you can trust Him!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

We must remember that the choices we make today, will affect tomorrow, and sometimes many tomorrows; that is why it is important to choose wisely today. I want to share a few things that may help us make wise choices.  The Psalmist shares great principles of living godly, it’s one of my favorites.

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law

doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.”  Psalm 1:1-6

Consider the contrast that the Psalmist makes between the one who chooses to delight in God and His ways, and the ungodly who go their own way—and don’t forget that God keeps accurate accounts, and there is a consequence to every choice.  You and I are free to choose our actions but not the consequences.  And remember we will always reap what we sow, later than we sowed it, and more than we sowed!

Notice the principle here, the blessed man, chooses to cling to godly things and avoid the harmful things that will draw us away from God; yet when we choose the things of God, we will be able to stand like a tree “planted by the rivers of water”; fruitful, unwithered, and successful in following God’s path.

The ungodly “are not so”!  Remember that!  Make wise choices.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14

Be wise in your choice of companions and activities.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications   (or companions)

corrupt good manners.”  1 Corinthians 15:33

The go-to reminder of scripture is from Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

 if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”   Galatians 6:7-10

Remember that tomorrow will bring and reveal the consequences of what we choose today.  Choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!