Tag Archives: world

Let’s Talk And Get Real For A Moment

Currently, we have been isolated and in our homes, for nearly 5 months and our lives as we once knew it have been changed. We are looking around at our world, seeing things that we never thought we would see in our life time. Our friends and family members have differing opinions about the reason for our isolation, they have differing opinions about the agenda of the politics, they have differing opinions about societies response to the sinful natures of man, they have differing opinions about the economy and they have differing opinions about just about everything. At least that’s how we see it when we are confronted with one another. What in the world has happened? How did we get here? Why is it as such and what are we to do about it? So many questions with only one answer. Sin!

Sin has our society creating devices to injure one another, creating chaos where there once was peace, creating barriers where once there was freedom, creating falsehoods where there once was truths and creating situations of disorganization where there once was order. Sin has brother attacking brother, sons and daughters arguing with parents, families waging war against one another, friends unfriending one another on social media, youth dissension turning against and destroying historical remembrances, and moral degradation against the elderly.

What is sin? Sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. (Dictionary definition). Where did sin come from? Sin came from the fall of man through Adam and his act against Gods divine rule of law in the Garden of Eden. What does the Bible say about sin and how do we deal with the sinful nature of our brethren, family, friends, neighbors, and leaders? Let me quote some scripture verses to help you understand what we are dealing with today and what you can do about it. I will do it all with scripture.

Who sins?

  • Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  • James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
  • 1John 3:4 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What should we do about sin?

  • James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  • 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • John 3:16-17 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
  • 1Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
  • Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How shall we handle those around us who continue to sin?

  • Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
  • Matthew 15:17-20 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
  • 1Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
  • 2Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
  • Proverbs 13:15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
  • Galations 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.   For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

How do we overcome the fear of the present day?

  • Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
  • 1Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
  • Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
  • Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  • John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
  • Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

What about our earthly state leaders? Our Government?

  • Romans 13:1-14 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
  • Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

I hope that at this time, you have considered the above and realized that the Bible holds so much truth, comfort, wisdom, answers and worthy information that we do not have to subject ourselves to worldly insecurities. We can have hope in the future when we have the Lord Jesus Christ guiding us through His word.

No matter what happens within our families, within our neighborhoods, within our countries, and within our governments, we know that God shall have the final say. He shall have guidance over all that is yet to come and His plan is greater than anything we can plan out ourselves. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Word. Trust in a saving Grace.

Blessings to you my friends, may you have a wonderful day with no worries. 🙂

Have hope in the Glory of the Lord. That all shall be made new in His site.

Individually Created

Anecdotes for loving one another even if you don’t see eye to eye in every area of your lives:

1. Remember, God created each of us individually, a beautiful arrangement that He can look upon with joy!

image_2-1

2. Think about how boring the world would be if we all behaved and acted alike. It’s okay to stand out and accept those who do not fit in a square societal box!

oliver in hat

3. Rather than asking yourself why others aren’t doing enough, ask yourself whether or not you are doing enough!

bench at Carnton plantation

4. Remember, true forgiveness and hope for restoration always come after repentance, not before.

prairie dog and bird

5. Keep in mind that most of us are ugly caterpillars before we bloom into beautiful butterflies.

butterfly