Peace Is Our Guide

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! [Isaiah 26.3] 

Peace is conditional. Period.

The absence of peace declares unbelief in God. In this way, peace is our guide to God.

If we see this through, we will understand the significance of the first three of the Ten Commandments:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

If we can see it then, God's commandments regarding singular trust in Him ALONE are commandments of peace. 

What's more amazing is that the 4th Commandment regarding observance of the Sabbath, Who is Jesus, is all about rest. Peace and rest go together perfectly.

Now, contrast what is said above with the restrictive interpretation of these commandments we have had for so long. It is worthy of a long "ponder..."

Furthermore, think about all the turmoil associated with life these days particularly as it relates to man's do-it-for-himself systems of finance, insurance, medicine and technology... and even religion. These industries all purport to make "life" better, but do they? Rarely, if ever, are these industries praised for bringing peace to anyone. And, that is precisely why God demands that we trust Him ALONE instead of these idols! Idols cannot bring peace.

Peace comes only from trusting God, and that, in particular, from trusting God ALONE. God graciously refined this trust even further when He came to earth in the flesh and the angels made their declaration:

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” [Luke 2.8-14]

And then, Jesus Himself defined it clearly as well:

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” [John 16.33]

In perfect harmony with the Ten Commandments, Jesus gave us the exact recipe for peace:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

Father in heaven, for all that I have ever understood of Your Commandments, I see today that when I fully embrace them, they bring me peace. I see that when I give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Jesus, there is peace.

The Unpardonable Sin Revealed

The LORD will strike Egypt, and then he will bring healing. For the Egyptians will turn to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them. [Isaiah 19.22] 

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, Isaiah is giving prophecies to different regions. In his message to Egypt, we find the passage above. Isaiah 19.22 reveals much about God's character that should not be overlooked (see What Is God Like? from 2021).

Isaiah's prophecy over Jerusalem, starting in Isaiah 22, reveals their actions when they too are struck by the LORD for their sin. Their response is much different than Egypt's:

Oh, what a day of crushing defeat! What a day of confusion and terror brought by the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, upon the Valley of Vision! The walls of Jerusalem have been broken, and cries of death echo from the mountainsides. Elamites are the archers, with their chariots and charioteers. The men of Kir hold up the shields. Chariots fill your beautiful valleys, and charioteers storm your gates. Judah’s defenses have been stripped away. You run to the armory for your weapons. You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool. You survey the houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. But you never ask for help from the One who did all this. You never considered the One who planned this long ago. [Isaiah 22.5-11]

In their suffering, Egypt turned to the LORD. In contrast, Jerusalem, when struck by God, set out to resourcefully remedy their situation for themselves:

You run to the armory for your weapons. You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool. You survey the houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool. [Isaiah 22.8b-11a]

I was speaking to a family member just yesterday - a professing "Christian" - who actually said, "God helps those who help themselves..." 

It should be understood from all that the Bible teaches about God, that the unbiblical cliché quoted above by my family member reveals the exact same attitude Jerusalem had - a sin that would never be forgiven:

At that time the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, called you to weep and mourn. He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse. But instead, you dance and play; you slaughter cattle and kill sheep. You feast on meat and drink wine. You say, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has revealed this to me: “Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin.” That is the judgment of the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. [Isaiah 22.12-14]

Why would this sin never be forgiven? Because it is the sin of idolatry which means a person is not trusting in God ALONE. Only when a person trusts God ALONE (turning away from every other god/provider - i.e. repentance) is God's bountiful resource of heaven opened to them. Repentance means to turn away from idolatry and its sin and turn to God.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, as should be expected if what Isaiah said is true, He made the following demand:

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]

To be very clear, and, in stark contrast to the "DEI" mentality that prevails today (even found in leading churches), Jesus' offer of salvation is of no consequence to an unrepentant human being.

Based on the teaching of the entire Bible, the unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Luke 12.10), is to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, Who, Jesus said does the following:

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. [John 16.7-9]

The world that "refuses to believe in me" believes instead in itself - its idols. And, that is precisely what Isaiah warned Jerusalem of doing - trusting in themselves, their remedies, their own ways - to take care of themselves instead of calling out to God ALONE.

The unpardonable sin is unrepentance. Unrepentance is refusing to turn away from trusting idols (at the conviction of the Holy Spirit) to trust God ALONE. Now, it is perfectly clear why Jesus demanded absolute fearless faith and undivided loyalty to Himself:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What is said here up to this point may (because it should) invoke a hopeless feeling that wonders, "How can anyone be saved then?" Let's just further compound that hopeless feeling with Jesus' own words:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Trusting in anything instead of, or in addition to, Jesus Christ renders one "hopeless."

Question: If idols are as big a deal as this author suggests, why is Jesus not on record of ever having even used the word "idol"? 

Answer: Because, as God in the flesh, Jesus would naturally only point to Himself as the "hope" of the world: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

When we finally understand the scope of "giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus," we will experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit... There is only one proper response to this conviction: to turn (repent) from our own ways (everything we trust instead of God ALONE) with absolutely no concern for our own life (taking up our cross), to follow Jesus. 

We can KNOW we have effectively given up our own ways when the ways of Jesus replace them:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Religion will not teach this. Denomination will not teach this. The world certainly will not teach this. In fact, most of us are probably "choking" at this point. But, what we are choking on is our own pride - our refusal to give up our own ways - our idols - so that we might follow God - specifically, Jesus - ALONE with no regard whatsoever for our own well-being (taking up our cross) because we have decidedly given that responsibility to God:

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.31-34]

The grace of God is not for idolaters because the grace of God does not "cover" the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit - the conviction to give up our own ways, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. 

God, help us to believe today, not according to our definition of "believe," but according to Your definition of, and conviction to, "believe": to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

The Big Lie

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 136.4] 

Perhaps the biggest, most glaring lie circulating among God's people today is the lie that God "uses" whatever thing we decide is not an idol in place of Him even though the Bible gives every indication that it is. This is indeed The Big Lie.

For example:

"God uses man's financial system (debt)."

"God uses man's insurance."

"God uses man's medicine."

"God uses man's technology."

These are ALL lies. In fact, in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, there is another passage from the Psalms that confirms what is said here:

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. [Psalm 147.10-11]

God is not pleased with man's substitutes for His miraculous provision. 

As would be expected of God, if He takes delight in something, He seeks it out: 

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. [2 Chronicles 16.9a]

In plain English, God is searching for people who will refute (or, disprove) "The Big Lie" that He is limited to using man's devices and industries to accomplish His purpose and will in the earth. 

But of course, no good-standing Christian (leader or otherwise) today would ever say, "God is limited to using only man's ways..." Instead, they say, "God chooses to use man's ways." What's even more blasphemous (and dangerous)  is that they give the benefits of these ways of man, consequently, the label of "miracles."

The problem with saying, "God uses other things..." is that it is simply not true and it is simply not Biblical. It is all part of "The Big Lie" that Satan would have God's people believe. God never took pleasure in Israel seeking another nation's help. NEVER!

The Church today pathetically wallows in powerless religion - and the world is watching (and laughing). It doesn't matter what denomination (or "non-denomination") they are, the miraculous power of God demonstrated by Jesus is all but absent from the Church today. It's like God's people "wonder" why irrefutable "God-only" miracles are so few and far between all the while they are "cloaked" in the protective blanket of their own idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology (not to mention their idol of unbiblical religion).

The only way to even "test the waters" of God's miraculous power is to throw off the protective blanket of man's idols. The Bible is chock-full of examples of believers who literally made themselves vulnerable to allow God's power to prove itself. 

"Yeah, but what if I die, or a miracle does not manifest?"

The Bible has that covered too!

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. [Hebrews 11.32-38]

"Faith" does not always manifest through physical life or material gain. Sometimes, "faith" dies or suffers loss (refusing to turn from God in order to be set free). Don't stop reading just yet...

Faith that is only validated by human physical or material gain is conditional faith - and, as such is not faith at all. The cross of Jesus demonstrated this fact and His followers are called to their own cross as well:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

God-pleasing faith is not about whether we live or die, or, prosper or suffer loss. Faith is about trusting God ALONE for His desired outcome. The Bible supports this kind of faith with many more examples of living and prospering than dying and suffering loss, but again, God-pleasing faith is the goal, not living or dying.

This Biblical truth runs contrary to both stereotypical "Baptist-like" as well as "Word of Faith-like" promotions (I won't call them doctrines or theologies, because they are not).

God ALONE does mighty miracles. But most alleged Christians today do not genuinely believe this statement. They only believe it IF they get their desired outcome (God's will be-damned). Never mind the fact that the Bible is full of undeniable miracles where God preserved earthly life and property, false Christians quickly resort to idols so they might be self-assured of their own earthly self-preservation. And then, in blatant violation of the 3rd Commandment, they call their own methods of self-preservation (their idols) "gifts from God."

And yet... We still have the brazen audacity to question why the Church today does not enjoy the same mountain-moving power Jesus demonstrated and demanded of His followers! 

Yeah, well... ignorance of God's Word is NOT bliss!

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. [Hosea 4.6]

What is the most important thing we can know about God? It would naturally be the 1st Commandment:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3] 

This is what the subject verse from Psalm 136.4 is telling us too!

Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 136.4] 

The Big Lie would simply have us remove the word "alone" from Psalm 136.4 and completely ignore "You must not have any other god but me" in the 1st Commandment. No big deal, right? WRONG!

Father, may our faith be in You alone on Your exact terms: that we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Contrast To God's Name And Fame

Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. For the LORD will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants. [Psalm 135.13-14] 

I wonder how it would be if God's people really felt this way about Him? The Psalmist here is pretty excited and confident about who and what God is.

But then, the Psalmist gives a contrast to the greatness of God:

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

We should understand from this passage that idols all have certain characteristics. We should take those characteristics to heart allowing the Holy Spirit to enlighten us to their presence among us today. Let's go over them...

First off, idols and silver and gold are never far apart. Silver and gold represent money. Where there is money then, is where we should be on cautious lookout for idols. Criminal investigations often start by "following the money" and so, idol identification should start there too. Money does not guarantee the presence of idols, but the event of idolatry, like crime, is much higher where money is involved.

Next, idols are almost exclusively "shaped by human hands." In the broadest understanding of this phrase, it should be understood that idols are the result of man's effort. "Shaped by human hands" indicates man's undeniable involvement with idols.

Then, the Psalmist gives physical characteristics that represent the lifelessness, and therefore, the powerlessness, of idols. Mouths that cannot speak, eyes that don't see, ears that don't hear, and mouths that cannot breathe all speak of the lifelessness of idols. Without man's input, idols can do nothing.

Going further, the makers of idols are identified. Those makers of idols are just as lifeless and powerless as the idols they make. This is important! The makers of idols are simply "cash machines" - they are in it only for the money. Under the guise of "helping," their real goal is the financial "bottom line."

And finally, those who trust in idols are identified: they too are lifeless and powerless just like the makers of idols and the idols they make.

This all makes a certain degree of antiquated sense but, it becomes a "smoking gun" when we compare these characteristics to the modern idols of man's making. 

Man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology all perfectly display every characteristic listed above! These industries' lifeblood is money - and lot's of it. These industries are all the ingenious inventions of man. These idols have no life or power of their own, but depend on man's operation of them. The men who make idols are as lifeless and powerless as the idols they make in that they have only one machine-like goal: money. While these idols all promise "life and power" benefits to those who trust in them, they do so to the demise of those who trust in them, taking their eyes and ears off God, the Source of Life and Power, rendering them as lifeless and powerless then as the idols they trust.

Do we dare also review the modern Church for these characteristics? Compared to the early Church described in the New Testament, and, regardless all the hype otherwise, the modern Church is lifeless and powerless... Should we not at least wonder why? Should we not associate the Church's participation in the lifeless and powerless idolatry of finance, insurance, medicine and technology as the very reason the Church is lifeless and powerless? And, what about the industry of the institutionalized "church"?

And, speaking of a "smoking gun," Jesus could not have made it more clear:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Question: What makes man blind and deaf? Answer: Trusting in blind and deaf idols! 

The disciples walked in, because they walked with, life and power in Jesus Christ. Jesus followed Matthew 13.15 with this:

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. [Matthew 13.16]

What did the disciples' eyes see? Miracles. What did their ears hear? The truth. Why? Because they had given up their own way and were fixated on the name, fame, justice, and power of God - Jesus Christ - in strict accordance with His demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

How will our eyes see today? How will our ears hear today? How will we realize life and power today? Only when we turn to and trust in Jesus, giving up our own way (our trust in man-made idols), taking up our cross, and following Him.

No explanation for the lifelessness and powerlessness of the Church today is as clear and simple. As long and the Church continues its wholesale trust in idols along with the world, it will remain blind and deaf ...and powerless. As long as the Church today religiously justifies its participation in idolatry with complicated doctrines and theologies (including unfulfilled "faith" teachings), it will never comprehend the words of the Psalmist:

Your name, O LORD, endures forever; your fame, O LORD, is known to every generation. For the LORD will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants. [Psalm 135.13-14]

God's name and His fame distinguish His people from the world. Or, at least, they should...

Father, may Your name and Your fame be seen in me as I give up my own way - the way of idolatry, take up my cross - the way of Jesus, and follow Him. So be it.

A Mountain Is A Mountain

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! [Psalm 121.1-2] 

I wonder if Jesus might have been thinking of Psalm 121.1-2 when He spoke about faith?

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. [Mark 11.23]

A mountain is a mountain. Let me explain...

Let's say a "mountain of need" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of need is simply transformed into a "mountain of debt?"

Likewise, let's say a "mountain of vulnerability" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of vulnerability is transformed into a "mountain of insurance premiums?"

Or, let's say a "mountain of sickness" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of sickness is transformed into a "mountain of expensive medicine?"

And finally, let's say a "mountain of inconvenience" stands before you. How are you benefited if that mountain of inconvenience is transformed into an endless "mountain of must-have gadgetry?"

Indeed, a mountain is a mountain! Trading one mountain for another is both counterintuitive and counterproductive to Psalm 121.1-2 and Mark 11.23.

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are just as much "mountains" as are the "mountainous" problems  they remedy. The Psalmist said our help does not come from mountains! Jesus said to tell mountains to get out of the way! To trade one mountain for another is just plain foolish. The goal is to eliminate "mountains" altogether, trusting entirely in God.

Father in heaven, help us to see that trading one mountain for another is not help and still leaves another mountain in the way because "a mountain is a mountain." Help us to see that Your desire and demand is that we trust only You. Help us to see that our "help" is not in the mountains, but only in You. So be it.

Got Pressure And Stress?

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. [Psalm 119.143] 

It seems prudent today to consider God's commands. What are they? 

Jesus narrowed God's commands down to two critical things:

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22.35-40]

Now, if we don't find joy in these two commandments when pressure and stress bear down on us, then, it would behoove us to explore their source: the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are neatly arranged to help us do just that.

The "love the LORD your God" part of Jesus' two-fold presentation of the Commandments is found in the first three of the Ten Commandments:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

Then, the "Love your neighbor as yourself" part of Jesus' two-fold presentation of the Commandments is found in the last six of the Ten Commandments:

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.12-17]

The astute student of God's Word will recognize that the 4th Commandment is the glue (if you will) between the three Godward commandments and the six manward commandments:

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. [Exodus 20.8-11]

While it might be argued that the 4th Commandment should be included with the Godward commandments, every student of the Commandments will agree that the 4th Commandment carries a "different feel" as if it stands alone in telling us to do nothing. While the other nine commandments tell us what to do or what not to do, the 4th Commandment prescribes a time to do nothing - literally, to rest.

Interestingly enough, the very One Who left out this 4th Commandment "to rest" in His two-fold "love God - love man" synopsis of the Ten Commandments, elsewhere said something quite telling (if we will see it):

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [Matthew 11.28]

Should we be surprised then, that the Psalmist gave us the solution for dealing with pressure and stress in the subject verse of this article? 

As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. [Psalm 119.143]

It is tempting here to conclude that all we need then, are the Ten Commandments. While that is actually true because collectively they deal with our relationship to God, our relationship to man, and our relationship to Jesus, how much more do they mean when we know the "rest of the story" that surrounds them! But, when pressure and stress bear down on us, we may not have the luxury of reading and understanding the entire Bible! And, even though people have their "favorite scriptures" the Psalmist, in Psalm 119.143 points us straight to joy in God's commands: the Ten Commandments sum up God's commands!

Want to see something cool?

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. [Matthew 4.1-11]

The first two temptations were regarding promises from God to which Jesus responded with Scriptures. The last temptation was regarding loyalty to God to which Jesus responded with the 1st Commandment. It should not be overlooked that Satan kept coming when Jesus quoted various Scriptures. BUT! When Jesus quoted the 1st Commandment, the Word tells us, "Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus." Do we suppose that was by chance?

Now, does it not make perfect sense that the Psalmist would resort to the commandments to be relieved of pressure and stress? Maybe we don't know exactly what Scripture from all the Bible to quote in every pressure and stress situation in our lives, but we certainly know where to start: the Ten Commandments!

It is a sad testament to the modern Church that the Ten Commandments (all ten of them) have taken a back seat to an absolute plethora of books, theologies, denominations, sects and doctrines! It is as if the more the Church encounters pressure and stress, the less it resorts to the Ten Commandments! The Temptation of Jesus teaches us clearly that Satan is not so deterred by our favorite "promise" Scriptures, but, when we put the Commandments in his face, he will not hang around.

This is what the Bible teaches us ...if we are listening.

Father, there is no uncertain hesitancy among the Church today to stand upon Your Ten Commandments. May there be a revival of Your Ten Commandments among those who are actually Yours today. May the Church see that we are united in the Ten Commandments, not divided. May the Church today see Jesus (the Sabbath Rest) central and essential to loving You and loving man. So be it.

To Say "Most People Are Good" Is Idolatry

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. [Psalm 118.8] 

Two years ago, I wrote the article Trust People? approaching the verse above from one perspective. Today, I feel like there is a little more that can be said as this verse is considered from another angle.

If a person's actions do not give evidence of his trust in God alone, how will his words ever convince the world of its need for Him? Also from today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:

Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?” [Psalm 115.2]

Man fails when he trusts man. The only thing any person should trust about another person is: 

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [Romans 3.23]

On a side note: if our expectations of people are based on God's Word, then we are not so easily offended when people are indeed what God says they are. Furthermore, if we understand that man has no capacity for good, then, and only then are we able to genuinely and appropriately praise God, not them, for any goodness seen in them. 

It is idolatry to call a man good. To call another human being good is to determine they are trustworthy; it is, in fact, to trust in them. To trust them, adulterously puts them in the place of God in our life; it makes them a god unto us. This is problematic because God said:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

Our praise and thanksgiving is to be reserved for God FOR THE VERY REASON THAT HE ALONE IS GOOD.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 118.1] 

To praise or thank another person as "good" (or, trustworthy) is idolatry against God; it is indeed a misuse of God's good name in violation of His 3rd Commandment. To praise or thank another person as "good" (or, trustworthy) is an affront to the goodness of God.

Now let's take this a painful step further...

Fallen man has created imposing industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. Believers and non-believers alike enjoy the benefits (goodness, trustworthiness) of these man-made industries. Believers claim they are "gifts from God." Non-believers, in contrast, say they are a testament of the ingenuity of man and, as such, are good and trustworthy. True non-believers think it foolish that believers actually believe these industries are gifts from God. Psalm 115.2 says:

Why let the nations say, “Where is their God?” [Psalm 115.2]

Psalm 118.8 says:

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. [Psalm 118.8]

As innocent as it may seem to call someone - anyone except God - "good," it is a glaring testimony of idolatry.

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. [Mark 10.18]

Jesus never asked a question He did not know the answer to. The question above is no exception. Jesus' question was an invitation to his followers to understand that He was, in fact, God in the flesh. And, then, His little statement following, Only God is truly good, confirms what is stated in this article. Any argument otherwise has no Biblical basis whatsoever.

Father, help me to see that any disappointment I have with man is my own profession of idolatry against You. This needs to change in my life - help me. So be it.