accountability

A Nation That Has Forgotten God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I have lived on this earth long enough to remember our great nation’s two hundredth birthday. Yes, I’m of that age. It was the summer before my senior year of high school. I recall being slightly jealous of the senior class that graduated that year, because they could say they graduated the year of the big birthday of our nation. It was a trivial thought, but I thought it. And now somehow fifty years have passed. Far too quickly, I might add. But here we are.

As I reflect back on the last fifty years, I’ve seen many changes in this land. In the people. Some good changes. And some not so good. Progress is good if it’s done with the best intentions and in the best interest of the people. Some ideas for change should never even pass the lips of the one with the idea. They’re that bad. But again, here we are. Good and bad changes have transpired in the fifty years since we last celebrated a big birthday for our country.

As those Englanders boarded that ship to America, they were hoping for change. Good change. They were looking for freedom to express their own faith and beliefs without fear of persecution. They wanted the freedom to govern themselves with equality and justice for all. So they moved.

And we know that freedom isn’t exactly free. It comes with a great price. Just ask those pilgrims who traveled so far to enter this land and make it their home. They lost many of their people after they arrived. Life was hard. They came with nothing to a place with nothing. They had to build their lives from scratch. And look at us today. Many of us just want handouts. Or we give handouts to those who come wanting something for nothing.

I don’t watch soccer, but I’ve been seeing stories of visitors from Europe traveling our great country. They’re here for the World Cup, and they’re just in time to celebrate our nation’s birthday with us. And they’re in awe. They’re seeing the results of the hard work of their forefathers who sacrificed to move here. And they like what they see. We who have lived here for generations take our freedom and what they call luxuries as a right. We demand our rights, even if they are dangerous and damaging. And we think nothing of it. We’ve become desensitized to the wealth that we have. Our middle class lives far beyond what the upper class of other countries does. In some ways. And we take it all for granted. Perhaps when they return home, they’ll be as jealous of Americans as I was of the class that graduated fifty years ago.

When I say “we”, I’m speaking of a collective we. Not all Americans have turned their back on this county, but some have. That group seems to have the loudest voices, and they’re being heard. And yet they stay here. Really. They’re a minority, but they’re changing the culture of this great country. And we’re headed down a dangerous path if they have their way. Mark my words. And it’s interestingly refreshing to hear the Europeans praise our land as they have fallen in love with it. And yet we don’t seem to do the same. We’ve become hardened to the good that we have. And we want more. Or we want something else that is a bit more unseemly.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of men signed a document declaring their independence from their native land. And history was set in place. As we look back, we have much to be thankful for and much to still accomplish. You could say we’ve come a long way, baby, but it now seems as if we’re backtracking instead of moving forward. Oh. I’m not talking about industrial inventions and progress. I’m talking about cultural swings into a perverse belief system that reflects nothing our founding fathers set forth. We can do better. We must do better. And there’s no better time than the present.

How grateful we ought to be that we can meet together to worship God after that form which best satisfies our consciences without any fear of being hunted down by the authorities of the land…We worship God in unlimited liberty, and we ought to be exceedingly glad of the privilege, and infinitely more grateful for it than we are…Blessed is the land in which we dwell, and blessed are the days in which we live, when in all peace and quietness we worship God in public and sing his high praises as loudly as we please. Great God of peace, thou hast give us this peace, and in remembrance of our hunted forefathers we bless thee with our whole hearts! ~Charles Spurgeon

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! Psalm 33:12

The state of our country reminds me of the Israelites who left Egypt to pursue God’s call to a promised land. It was a hard road for them, because time after time they turned their back on him. They tried to do things their way. And it backfired every time. Unlike the pilgrims who sailed for over two months to cross the ocean to this land, they wandered in the desert for forty years because of their disobedience. And everyone who left Egypt on that fateful night died before they were able to enter Canaan, the land God had promised to them. All but one of the one hundred two passengers on the Mayflower survived their trip.

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. And yet, they’re a great example of a nation that turned their back on God. God chose Canaan as their new home, because he knew it would give them a life of abundance. They had multitudes of fresh food and water. They conquered cities and took over the land. Each of the twelve tribes moved to their designated areas of the country. And they settled in. But settling in wasn’t enough for them. Instead of fully obeying God by destroying everyone who had lived in Canaan, they allowed some to live. And over time, the original inhabitants of the land persuaded them to abandon God and worship their idols. They married and had families with the people they were slated to annihilate.

Each time the Israelites found themselves at a crossroad of hardship and desperation, they remembered how God had led them on the journey to this new homeland. And they turned their backs on their idols and once again worshipped God. But their commitment would continue to wane until finally God had had enough. He allowed them to be conquered by the Babylonians. Many of the elite Israelites were sent into exile in a foreign land where they had to identify as someone they weren’t. This continued for seventy years when they were allowed to return home to rebuild their land.

I think of the state of our nation and how what had started as a nation under God has become a nation that ignores God. We are on the same destructive path that Israel walked, and we seem content to do it. No remorse. Oh sure. They are plenty who are enraged that our nation has fallen so low in our morality and ethics. It seems that everything goes these days. We freely kill unborn babies and applaud men in women’s sports. We overlook the unethical behavior of elected leaders and call it good. We ignore the laws of the land and welcome those who enter our country without proper authorization. We are a country wallowing in deep decay.

In his Farewell Address to the nation the first president of this country, George Washington, discussed religion and morality as a means to support political prosperity. His view was that while some individuals of “refined education” might maintain morality without religion, the same couldn’t be expected to hold true for a nation as a whole. How right he was.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. ~George Washington

I believe George Washing was onto something, but I believe religion alone isn’t the answer. We can be religious about anything. It is a personal relationship with God and a commitment to serve and obey him alone that will turn individual lives around. Godly leaders in our country can right the ship that has been steadfastly sinking over these past decades. Prayer and commitment to God Almighty can save this nation and delay any judgment and punishment that is headed our way. Oh. We as a nation won’t get off easy when God judges us. But we can repent today and commit to following him. One person at a time can help turn the tide and get the country back on course to being a Christian nation.

The World Will Know That There is a God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’ve heard it all over the news. The United States has struck a deal with Iran. Oh. The negotiations were headed by a team from Pakistan. One Muslim country worked with another Muslim country and a “Christian” country to sign the memorandum of understanding. For the record, it’s not a peace deal. We can only hope that it results in peace. We have to wonder if there will actually be peace. Will Iran forever put aside their plan to make a nuclear weapon? Or, are they just playing games? Were they just saying the appropriate words they knew everyone wanted to hear? Are they sincere? Only time will tell, but we had better hope that this is the real deal. If not, I’m afraid the consequences will be far worse than we could even imagine. Again, time will tell.

Apparently, there are still ongoing negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and other issues. One news article I read quoted a well-known senator, who expressed concern that the U.S. and Iranian governments had different definitions of what they had agreed to. Could be. Not everyone has the same definition for the same word these days. And cultural practices and expectations can also thwart true understanding of an issue.

I’ve been reading reports about this truce and the potential fallout. There was already a hiccup when Israel struck Beirut. Iran threatened to retaliate, and the US made a statement against Israel. It was a back and forth and back and forth in the negotiation process. Not everyone wants to play nice. And here’s the main thing about the entire deal, the US knows that Iran follows a religion that approves of lying. So, trust is on very shaky ground. Even now. And Pakistan stood steady trying to prevent sabotage of any kind from either party. American diplomacy alone could not seal the deal. It took an outside force to finalize the truce. The formal signing was set for Friday, June 19th in Switzerland, but was then cancelled when the documents were signed electronically earlier in the week.

Now, some may ask which side won. You can be sure each side will take ownership of the winning bracket, regardless of the reality. In this situation, are there any winners? Is that the point? Peace is the point. No nuclear weapons or capability for a country known to brutalize its own people, let alone the rest of the world, is the point. But somehow, that main issue has been set aside. For what? People have been killed and persecuted for years by a hedonistic regime, and many knew it was time to stop them. For years, no one did any thing to stop the horrific treatment of a Persian people by an Islamic regime. This war has been costly on every side. And it impacts the world in ways we haven’t really seen yet. We must hope and pray that the issue is settled once and for all, but let’s not hedge our bets on it.

Here’s the main problem. Iran has definitely been weakened, but not defeated. The leadership regime has not been removed from power. The people of that Persian nation are still at risk of persecution and death. Is the country better off now than it was before the conflict began? Will the nation still be able to rebuild nuclear capabilities at some point in the future? If so, what was the point of all this conflict? The nation of Iran also has a history of not keeping their word. And they haven’t agreed to eliminate their nuclear capabilities.

These global issues may seem to be manmade. They are long standing and deeply rooted in darkness. Deep down, there’s a dark spiritual aspect that’s being played out. When global leaders and nations turn against God, it can only be expected that evil will prevail. The world needs to know that there is a Savior. There is still a God who is in control in evil times and even when evil leaders pursue those who stand against them. No one is above God’s commands, and all will answer to him. No one nation has all the answers and performs fully in line with God. That’s the nature of mankind. Unfortunately. We can’t trust any one in power to be God for us. We must look to God alone. There will come a day when all mankind will bow to God Almighty, and the world will know without a doubt that there is a God.

The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17:46

You may know the story of David and Goliath. David was from the tribe of Judah in Israel. Goliath was from the country of Philistia. The history of the two countries’ disagreements starts long before these two men faced off. The conflict between the Israelites and Philistines was initially about the territory of Canaan and religious and cultural differences between the two nations. When the Israelites left Egypt under Pharoah’s hot pursuit, God promised the land of Canaan as their future home. God also required the Israelites, once they arrived in their new land, to eliminate everyone living there. Everyone. God didn’t want his chosen people to be enticed to worship any other god but himself. He knew the failings of mankind, and he wanted his people to have no part of idol worship.

The story, of course, has a twist because the Israelites didn’t eliminate every last person from Canaan. And the remaining people worshipped other gods. As the Israelites moved into their designated territories in Canaan, they met and befriended the locals. And, of course, they intermarried and began worshipping gods other than the One True God. Just as God had forewarned, his chosen people headed down a dark and evil path moving further from him.

Throughout the years, Israel’s army fought different battles with the Philistines. Some they won. Others they lost. And now Saul, the first king of Israel, had led his men to a battle with the opposition. A giant in the Philistine army would come out to taunt the Israelite army every day. He was big and bad and had killed many men. He seemed fearless and egotistical. All of Israel’s army ran from his presence. Until the day David came along bringing fresh supplies to his brothers and saw what was happening. He saw the men’s fears, and he wanted a piece of the action.

David had a deep faith in God, and he was also a mighty warrior in his own right. Oh. He had never fought a battle with other men. But he had killed lions and bears preying on the sheep in his pasture. He knew how to defend what was rightfully his, and he did it willingly and skillfully. He had no fears about facing the giant all his fellow warriors ran from. So he offered himself to fight this giant named Goliath. If you know the story, you know that he stood facing this warrior with only a few stones and a sling. But when he pulled that stone back in the slingshot and let go, it found its mark. Right in the middle of the giant’s forehead. Goliath came toppling down. David then picked up Goliath’s sword and finished him off. Israel had won the battle. All because a young man had faith in a God he couldn’t see, but knew that this God would stand with him in the toughest fight of his life.

Before David shot the fateful stone into the forehead of Goliath, he gave the speech of a lifetime. He let Goliath know that God would be the victor that day, and no one else could claim the victory. I’m sure Goliath scoffed as he heard David claim victory before it actually occurred. But after that stone pierce his forehead, the giant fell face forward into the soil. What Goliath thought was an innocent act of bravery by a shepherd turned into his face to face meeting with God Almighty. It was in that moment that he stood in front of his Maker giving an account for his life and every action he had taken and every word he had spoken. There was no time to repent. Goliath was dead.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

David knew the match up between himself and Goliath wasn’t about his skill. It was a statement to let everyone watching know that God was real and active. David didn’t wait for conditions to be favorable or for Goliath’s daily threats to make sense. He stepped into an impossible situation and trusted in the God he knew and who had defended him in the past. He trusted that God would show up in his moment of need, just as he had every other time David called on him. And God led him to defeat a self-important giant of a bully. God saved the nation of Israel that day, using a young man who was obedient in the time of trouble.

The situation in Iran has few similarities to David and Goliath’s story. In one situation, both parties claim victory. In the other story, there was a definite victor and a definite defeat. Headless bodies don’t get up and walk away. But parties that haven’t been eliminated live to fight another day.

What does this say to us today? There will always be factions at war with each other. Country against country. Man against man. Man against evil. Man against good. And man against God. Does the world that you inhabit know that you serve a real and active God? Do the people you associate with on a regular basis see God working for you and through you in every battle you face? Have you bowed to the God of the universe and vowed to follow him and eradicate all sin from your life? Do you turn your back on temptations and ungodly desires? Do you stand strong in the face of giants who want to destroy you and what you stand for? God is on your side and will defend you and strength you in your times of trouble.

Does the world that you live in on a daily basis know that there is a God because of the way you live your life?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

You can read the full story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.

Poor Customer Service

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I had an experience in the past couple of weeks where I felt my husband and I received poor customer service. And honestly. It was no fault of ours. The salesperson was new to her job, but she had been doing similar work for years. That means she should have been well informed about the information we were discussing. The only part of her job that was new and unfamiliar was the company she now worked for. And her surroundings were different. I’m sure the commute to work was different. But the work was the same.

However. When this individual realized the product we were looking for was not her preferred product, she got all flustered. In her previous employment, she was responsible for selling her preferred product, which is similar but not identical to what we wanted. And she voiced her frustrations to us. She said she didn’t want to work with the product we were looking for. It was too hard. And then she entered my date of birth incorrectly into the website. When the error was discovered, it was too late to update it. She would need to make a call to another company the next day to make the change. Because it was the end of the workday and she had another client waiting, she didn’t have time to even begin work on my husband’s information. She said she would call us the next day to complete the work.

She didn’t call the next day. And then it was the weekend. She didn’t call on Monday, so I left a voicemail for her. No call on Tuesday, so I sent her an email. You see. We’re on a strict deadline, and we don’t want to wait until the last possible minute to complete this enrollment. Time is ticking by. She finally called us back eight days after our initial meeting. Oh. She apologized profusely. And then she started working on my husband’s information.

All was going well until she hit the enter button to complete his enrollment. She received an error message and didn’t know how to correct what shouldn’t have been an error. Honestly. This time, the mistake wasn’t her fault. Nor was it ours. But it was too late in the day on a Friday to call someone somewhere else to correct the problem. So once again, we’re waiting. And time is still ticking by.

Oh. There is much more to the story that I could share. There were several more missteps on her part that I just won’t go into. I just won’t. I don’t want to nitpick over words and incomplete training or frustrations, but it was frustrating. To say the least. To say that she was ill prepared for our appointment and seemed to have little regard for details is an understatement. On my end, I had thought of contacting her manager to discuss the situation. But I kept stalling. Now I’m glad I did, because when she finally returned my call and was able to finalize my situation she was very pleasant. But does that make all the other words and attitudes on her end null and void?

It isn’t my goal in life to cause someone to get in trouble at work, but I did see several opportunities for improvement at that workplace. I guess I’ll not share those thoughts at this time. I really don’t want to be seen as a troublemaker. But I do expect a salesperson to be ready to sell all the products their company offers. Isn’t the customer always right? I recall that motto being thrown around a lot in the past.

As I’m writing this, I just hung up the phone with this particular salesperson who thought she had fixed the remaining problem. And the problem was fixed. But when we received the information for one final review, there were two huge outstanding errors. We were told it was the other company, not our salesperson, who had entered the information incorrectly. After all the hassles we’ve been through with this person, we didn’t really believe her. It just didn’t ring true. But we could be wrong. And we’re still waiting for resolution.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew 7:12

I have to ask myself. What do I expect of myself in that situation? How should I respond when I’m on the receiving end of someone else’s bad day or incompetence? Do I exhibit the love of Christ? Or do I stir up even more anxious thoughts and feelings in them by calling out their mistakes? When is it appropriate to share my concerns with their manager, and when should I be silent about such matters? I need to make sure my attitude reflects the attitude of Christ at all times.

How should a Christian respond when they’re on the receiving end of poor service?

First of all, I’m not sure the salesperson had a full understanding of what to say and what not to say to her clients. She didn’t filter her words, which could have gotten really ugly if we had gone down that path. As Christians, we don’t have to start the fight. We need to know when it is appropriate to confront the misbehavior and ill spoken words and when not to. Basically, we need to choose our battles. That doesn’t mean we should never speak up about any mistreatment.

Being the recipients of inexcusable behavior allows people of faith to show the love of God. We can display godly actions and words while presenting the truth. Oh. It may not be easy in the heat of the moment, but we can exhibit kindness and speak correction all in the same breath. We have to stop and ask ourselves if we really care about the person who’s been poorly trained or having a bad day. If we were in their shoes, would we act any differently than they are? And we have to remember that they too were made in the image of God and are loved by him just as we are. But God is a God of justice, not just of love.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:19-20

And another thing. We shouldn’t keep score. Oh. We may have to recite all the wrongs committed against us when we report inappropriate behavior, but we can’t hold a grudge or try to even the score. We always have the option not to do business with that individual or company again and part ways amicably.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

But our story isn’t over, and the problem still isn’t solved. We’re still waiting to hear back from her, but she’ll be on vacation during Thanksgiving week. I just have to roll my eyes and sigh at this point.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

Coyote Alert

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Our doorbell rang the other night. Our next door neighbor and his seven-year-old daughter popped over to introduce us to their new eleven-week-old puppy. He was a tiny thing and may only gain a couple more pounds during his lifetime. He’s such a cutie. That little girl was so proud of her new puppy. She said she lets him sleep with her. I told her that she could bring him over anytime she wanted.

A few months ago, I was having a conversation with that same neighbor. He had told me that, at one point, they had owned a dog. He said he wasn’t sure he wanted to get another one, because he was concerned about coyotes in our area. Now. They have a new puppy. All fears of coyotes attacking a very small dog must have been put to rest. Or. Perhaps it was the constant asking and asking for a puppy by his ever loving daughter. It doesn’t really matter the reason that worn him down. What matters is that they never let this tiny dog outside unattended. Especially in the dark. I’ve never seen a coyote in the area, but I have heard them. And they sound like they’re the ones being attacked and torn apart.

I’m reminded of the neighborhood we left ten months ago. For some unresolved reason, I still follow that neighborhood page on a popular social media site. That small neighborhood nestled in the midst of a large city has recently been targeted by a band of coyotes. And these coyotes aren’t being shy about their intentions. In full view, they follow people walking their dogs during the daytime. They’ve been caught on camera walking right up to someone’s front door or just sitting near the driveway. They’ve made themselves known, and not in a good way. They’ve become a menace to the neighborhood. Recently, one person who lived two doors down from us uploaded a video of the woods behind the neighborhood. The only thing visible was the trees, but the sound was ominous. The coyotes were in perfect harmony with the sirens going by on the freeway. I would hate to be a pet owner in that neighborhood these days.

As I said, I haven’t seen a coyote in my current neighborhood. I’m not sure what makes me more uncomfortable. Seeing the threat or not seeing it. It pays to always be on guard for unseen predators. We can consider ourselves warned when we see or hear predators in our neighborhoods. We have to be prepared for the unthinkable. And we have to know that a predator can appear at any time, ready or not.

I realize a coyote isn’t a wolf, but they both have cunning tendencies. The coyote likes to hide in tall grass in search of its prey. And there is a plot of land behind my neighborhood that the owner doesn’t keep mowed. The grass has been getting tall. It would be a fine hiding place for an animal of prey seeking its next victim. My neighbor has a rightful fear of leaving his small dog unattended near that area behind our houses.

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

These situations remind me of a podcast I listened to earlier in the week. The president of a Christian university was being interviewed about how he makes sure the university he leads remains a solid biblical school. The conversation revolved around un-Christian biases that have penetrated biblically sound schools of higher education. They talked about secular schools where it’s common practice to teach from a secular worldview. And the fact that, at those schools, they don’t have to be dressed as sheep when they’re clearly wolves.

But a school that calls itself Christian is another beast. While the school may have the word “Christian” in its name, does it require students, faculty and staff to sign a covenant attesting that they are living biblically? Does it hire only sound Christian staff and faculty? Does it accept only students who are determined to live a biblical worldview? Because if the school doesn’t have a strong, unwavering standard, secular ideologies will creep in. Oh. It may takes years for the change to be noticeable, but there will be change over time.

The concern is that schools that have always been touted as Christian have been infiltrated by non-Christian leaders and teachers. They also admit a high percentage of nonbelievers into their student body each year. The belief has always been that they will convert the nonbelievers to faithful followers of Christ. But the statistics have shown that the opposite happens. The problem is that once people who don’t profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are allowed into the school in different roles, they will begin implementing nonbiblical teachings and practices wherever they can. And over time, the school will be turned into a den of wolves, hardly recognizable in the Christian community. Is that what Christians want?

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20

Wolves don’t destroy the church from the outside — they lead it from the pulpit. ~Bible in Context

The church’s greatest threat today isn’t from other religions. It’s from false teachers within the church who are leading unknowing believers far from the truth. It happens not only in Christian schools, but also in churches and businesses. Any organization that says it stands for Christian values must be on guard against the devil’s ploys. Their hiring practices and organizational decisions must reflect a biblical worldview. Otherwise, it’s a counterfeit Christian organization.

Christian teachers and leaders must faithfully and humbly live a Christian life? Are they honest, or are they a hypocrite? Do they cheat or take questionable shortcuts in their work? We all know that actions speak louder than words. Evil and deception can be found in Christian settings.

As followers of Christ, we need to know what a sheep wearing wolves clothes looks and sounds like. We can’t claim innocence if we haven’t done our due diligence and can’t spot a fake. That means we need to study the Bible so we know what we’re looking for. We should be able to evaluate someone’s words and lives in comparison to the Bible. Do they pass the smell test of biblical Christianity? They may be friendly and nice, but they’re enemies of the kingdom of God. They are counterfeit Christians. Basically, they’re double agents. We have to be on guard against those who appear to be Christian, but inwardly they are agents of Satan.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was wood, he was one of them. ~Turkish Proverb

Harboring the Lost

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I harbored a runaway the other day, and here’s the story.

I was getting comfortable in my husband’s easy chair one morning while drinking a hot beverage before jumping in the shower. As I sat down, I noticed movement in the the neighbor’s driveway. I saw a dog running around, skittish, uncertain of where he was, as if he didn’t belong. I got up from my easy chair and walked to the sliding door to see where the animal went. He ran over to the other side of my house and to the other neighbor’s yard. I opened the door and whistled. He spotted me and came running to the side of the deck before taking off again to the pond area. I realized I would need to rescue him, so I hurriedly dressed in warmer clothes. He didn’t know where he was or how to get home.

I opened the door to look for him again. As I looked around, I realized he was at the deck waiting for me. I convinced him to come up onto the deck, and I bribed him with a piece of meatball to come closer. With each bite I offered, he came a little closer until finally with that final bite, I was able to grab his collar. I saw the name and phone number of his owner on that collar, so I pulled the dog into my house on that cold and snowy day. As I called the number, the dog investigated my home. He realized another of his kind had recently been there. He very thoroughly sniffed out the remaining scents of my recently passed dog.

When I spoke to his owner, he confirmed that the dog belonged to him. I gave him my address and saw him turn onto the street. As his white pickup came my way, I asked the dog’s name. Toby, the man said. I let Toby know that I was talking to his dad, and that he was on his way to pick him up. And then the white pickup pulled into my driveway. When it finally came to a stop, the owner opened the door and stepped out. I opened the door to my house and Toby ran for his dad, jumped in the truck, and off they went to places unknown.

I’m not sure how pleased the man was at his dog getting loose, but I’m sure he breathed a sigh of relief when Toby bolted from my house and hopped into his truck. Even though he might have had words for the dog, I’m sure he was still grateful for a situation that could have had a very unhappy ending.

Later that day, I saw the white pickup coming around slowly a couple more times. I hoped that Toby hadn’t gotten out again, but I never saw him.

I think of the story of a young man who came to this country looking to improve his life, get an education and go home to help others. But during his early years in this country, a terrible thing was happening far away at home. A war broke out in his homeland, and he was no longer able to return.

Years later when he married, his visa was close to expiring. Immigration came calling. He and his young bride were given a thorough questioning about their marriage. And early one Monday morning, his father-in-law received a call asking when he had last seen this immigrant son-in-law of his. That father-in-law proudly stated that he had just seen him that weekend. And all was well. After jumping through all the legal hoops and hurdles, the young man became a citizen of this country. He did the hard work of making sure to do the honorable task of becoming a proud American.

There are those who come to this great land without jumping through all the hoops. They come running to this country skittish and uncertain, not knowing where they will land or how they’ll provide for themselves. They sometimes pay high prices in order to be smuggled across the border. Some may arrive because they know they will be provided for by the government, and they are rewarded for breaking and entering into a new country.

Oh. Toby wasn’t looking for a free meal, but I fed him in order to help return him to his owner. I would have been of no use to him if I let him continue to run around the neighborhood. But watching him scurry around in a frightened run while standing in the safety of my home, I was no better than the men who came across the injured man and did nothing for him in the biblical parable. The priest and the Levite hurried on past the man who had been beaten and robbed, while the next man we call the Good Samaritan stopped and helped him. He took him to an inn where he could be cared for until he was ready to return home. When we have an opportunity to help others, let’s do the Christian thing and get them to a point of returning to their home.

Don’t think for a minute that I’m comparing anyone made in the image of God to a dog, because that’s not the case. What I’m comparing is the way they left their home and entered someone else’s habitat without going through all the proper channels.

Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly. Leviticus 19:15

What could have happened if I had not called Toby’s owner? Would he have somehow quit looking for him? Would he have stormed the neighborhood desperate to find his dog? Would I have always been looking over my shoulder to see if someone saw me with a dog that wasn’t mine? Would a neighbor have recognized Toby and turned me in to the authorities?

The dog wasn’t mine to keep, and I didn’t want him, anyway. It wouldn’t have been right of me to keep the dog when I knew how to get him back to his rightful owner. Of course. I gave him food and shelter while we waited for him to be claimed.

I wonder. If someone broke into your house, would you invite them in to stay as long as they wanted even if they came with ill intent? Would you invite them in and tell them to make themselves comfortable? Would you freely offer to them the comforts of life that you’ve worked long and hard for? If the person insisted on staying forever without making amends, how long would you allow them to stay? Should your sacrifices benefit someone who hasn’t worked for them?

Sure. The Bible tells us to take care of the poor and the oppressed, but it also tells us to work with our hands. It tells us to obey the laws of the land and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Some of the Ten Commandments tell us not to steal or lie or covet. How do those who come to this land illegally justify their actions?

The Bible also says all of humanity are God’s image bearers. We are made in his image, and He designed his laws for our good. His laws aren’t made to be difficult.  It’s that we are the difficult ones. When we choose to forge our own path without Him, we forge a deceived path. We get things out of order by not following his specific commands. Namely, we place our own gods before Him, and when we do that, we place our will above his. In other words, we do what we want, when we want, how we want, and why we want. We won’t allow anyone to stand in our way, even if we have to break the law. And then we’re not even sorry. We get to the point of feeling no guilt.

For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14

Did you realize that every person who enters any country illegally has committed a crime? Do you think they should be harbored and protected indefinitely and given special privileges? So, the big question is this. What does God’s Word say about how to treat these intentional criminals? Because they have intentionally committed the crime of entering the country without proper authority. Would God allow someone who has intentionally sinned and never repented enter heaven? Oh. You may say I’m being harsh. But what does the Bible have to say about justice? After all. We do serve a God who metes out justice to everyone of us if we don’t repent of our sins. So, why shouldn’t justice be served to those who break the law?

What should happen to people who violate the laws of the United States when they enter the country illegally? That’s the question. Even though they may be trying to escape horrendous conditions in their homeland, should they be allowed to stay in a country they’ve illegally entered with no plans to become legal?

Do they intend to assimilate into the community and be fully integrated into this country’s culture? Or, are they more concerned about finding harbor in a city that will provide sanctuary from the law? Why don’t they want to follow the law? Were they lawbreakers in their homeland, too?

But you say. What about grace? What about mercy? Grace is defined as unmerited favor. It’s something we don’t earn. Mercy is defined as leniency or compassionate treatment. And what is justice? Justice is defined as judgment and punishment of someone who has allegedly wronged another.

Dr. Calvin Beisner defines justice as rendering impartially and proportionally to everyone what’s due and in accordance with a righteous standard God has set forth in His moral law. He goes on to say that biblical justice does not show partiality or require preferential treatment. He continues in his interview on the Ideas Have Consequences podcast by saying that you can’t give some benefits to some families without taking them from other families.

Oh. It’s true. This country has offered sanctuary with open arms to many who came illegally. What now? Laws that protect the nation and its citizens should be rightfully enforced, and those who want to become law abiding residents and citizens must go through the proper channels to do so. God’s design was for citizens to obey those in authority, but he also planned for biblical principles to be instituted and followed. We’ve lost our way, and it’s time to return to biblical leadership and obedience. Let’s start today.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Romans 13:1-5

Kindness is Refreshing

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The apostle Paul wrote a personal letter to a fellow believer and friend, Philemon. Now Philemon was a slave owner in the times of the early church. Paul also mentioned Apphia and Archippus in the letter. Scholars have noted that these two were most likely the wife and son of Philemon. This family had a slave named Onesimus, who had run away from their home. This, of course, was very upsetting to the family for various reasons. And somehow in running from his master, Onesimus found his way to Paul. And Paul learned to love this runaway slave as his own son. Somewhere in his life, Onesimus had become a follower of Christ. Was it because of his master’s Christian witness, or was it from Paul’s?

But matters needed to be settled between the slave and his master. Onesimus couldn’t keep running forever, so Paul wrote to his friend Philemon with the hopes of making amends for this errant slave. No one knows why Onesimus ran away. Was he mistreated? Or misunderstood? Was he dishonest or difficult to work with? It could have been that he just longed for freedom. But in those days, punishment for a runaway slave was not pleasant.

Onesimus had wronged his master. But Philemon was known as a kind man. His reputation was one of kindness. So he must have been disappointed, to put it mildly, to find his slave had betrayed his trust. And now his friend Paul was asking him to accept Onesimus back in the spirit of kindness. Could he make amends with the one who had wronged him? Would he? 

I have to ask myself how I would treat someone who had publicly wronged me. Because it wasn’t as if losing a slave was a private matter. Word gets around when a slave goes missing. Some owners might bend to threatening their slaves in case they get the same idea and there’s a made rush for freedom. 

What is the proper thing to do if the slave comes back seeking restitution?

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Am I known for kindness? Do I always offer the hand of kindness when I have been wronged? Would my first instinct be to play the victim and then speak ill of the offender? Or would I instead speak of their positive traits that I appreciate? Would I dredge up all the inconsistencies I’ve seen in their life or share the good I witnessed? Would I keep my thoughts to myself or would I share every dirty secret I know about the traitor?

When I am remembered by others, what do they remember? Is it my sharp tongue? My art of putting others in their place? Or am I fondly remembered for my kindness? Do others consider the kind deeds I’ve performed in their time of need? Do they know of my goodness and not only my badness? Not that my reputation is of necessity, but as a known follower of Christ, how do I represent the one I claim to represent?

The thing is. Paul expected Philemon to kindly welcome Onesimus back home. Oh. Maybe there would be restrictions on his freedom. There would most likely be a time of testing. But it was clear that Paul’s expectation was that Onesimus would be welcomed with outstretched arms. Philemon’s reputation preceded him, as he was known for his deep faith in Christ. Paul knew Philemon’s faith was proven and true and that it had produced in him the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is kindness. Philemon bore the image of Christ. And didn’t Christ tell us to forgive others as we have been forgiven for our sins? So wouldn’t it be natural to expect Philemon to forgive his disobedient servant? He had shown kindness to others in times past. Why not now?

Oh. No one said it would be easy to forgive a wayward slave. But as one whose faith in Christ had matured, Philemon knew the value of forgiveness. He knew the saving work of grace in his life, so why wouldn’t he extend it to others? As the Holy Spirit had worked to trim the unproductive vines in his life, he had become a solid example of Christlikeness to others. Now he must act on it.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:22-26

Are the fruits of my faith and love on display for others to see? Do others know that I’ll treat someone who’s wronged me with forgiveness? Or, do they wonder how I’ll handle this obstacle in my life? Am I consistent in my faith, or do I act on my feelings and fears? Do I hold a grudge, or do I hold my faith strongly? No one knows our hearts but God, until we act publicly on our heart’s leanings. Then our true nature is on display for all to see.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:6-7

Hearts are unknown but to God, till overt acts discover them. Matthew Henry

Lawn Mowing 101

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I grew up on a farm where I was expected to help mow the lawn. And it was a huge lawn. No. It wasn’t a lawn. It was a yard. Nothing fancy. No landscaping. Just grass. All grass with a few trees thrown in. My siblings and I took turns mowing this big green space. We would set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and trade places when the timer when off. As far as I know, no one cheated and let someone mow longer than fifteen minutes. But what do I know? And not all of us seven kids actually took turns mowing. I guess some were privileged and never had to mow. They know who they are. For those of us who did, some years we used a push mower and other years we drove a tractor mower. So I have mowed my fair share of grass in my day.

Now that I’m living two states over from where I’ve lived for over forty years, it has once again become my responsibility to mow. The gentleman of the house is still employed in the other state, so he’s only home every now and then. So the task has fallen to me to do the yardwork. The lawn is bigger than comfortable for a push mower, so we purchased a new tractor mower.

I had my first experience at mowing the entire lawn this week. Now I must say. I haven’t mowed in almost 50 years. It’s not that lawns have changed. Or that mowers have changed. But the person driving the mower has changed. The gentleman of the house trained me on the use of the new mower, so I felt somewhat comfortable with it. But the maneuvering and plotting of the mowing path were almost foreign to me. Oh to be sure. I waited until late enough in the morning that my perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor had left for work. I didn’t need an audience for this first solo trip.

I wasn’t sure how low to set the blade, so I’ll just say that I set it low. Really low. And as I looked back at the path I was mowing, I realized that was a problem. Too low is not good. So I raised the blade a bit. Much better. But the first trip around the yard was lower than the rest. And it’s obvious. And to top it all off, the low row is right next to the perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor’s yard. There’s no way he can’t spot it. It’s a good thing that grass grows.

I finished mowing the lawn, and it turned out fine. All except that first pass. And of course. When the neighbor got home, he went out and started mowing his lawn. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes at my work, but I’ll never know for sure.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

All this lawn mowing got me to thinking. Mowing a lawn is much like the life of a believer. Even though we may have been raised in church, and even though we know how to be a Christian, it’s not complex but it’s also not all that simple. There’s much to learn and experience as we grow in our faith. Oh for sure. I had to text my husband to see what setting I should use for the height of the mower. And when he didn’t respond instantly, I made my own decision which turned out to be incorrect. Just as we need guidance on performing new or unfamiliar tasks, we too need guidance and mentors when we face new hurdles as a Christian. We can’t do this life alone.

Oh. The longer we’re following Christ, it should become natural to lean on him for guidance and wisdom and strength. But we’re human, and we humans have a mind and a will of our own. We think we can make the right decisions in any and every situation, but we can’t. We get distracted by circumstances and desires that aren’t godly. We become dissatisfied with life and search for something better.

We need godly mentors to disciple new believers in the way of walking the path of Christianity. We need seasoned Christians to walk alongside newbies to guide them in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We need people willing to speak truth to fellow Christians on the disciplines of Bible reading and study, praying, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Some things aren’t second nature to us, so we need help. We need mentors to share their up and down experiences and how to maneuver through this tricky thing we call life.

Oh. I’m sure the man of the house chuckled to himself at my explanation about this job mowing. And that’s ok. But he also gave me pointers on how to handle the situation the next time. That’s what we need in our spiritual walk. Not necessarily someone to laugh at us, but someone to give us pointers on how we can keep our walk consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Yesterday the neighbor asked how the lawn mowing was going. I knew he could see my mistake, so I explained it to him He just shrugged it off. He said that grass will grow. He was kind. He’s always been kind to me. So maybe he isn’t standing back judging me for the poor decision making when it comes to mowing the lawn. We need those kind of neighbors and followers of Christ to stand beside us as we follow the path of life.

Angry at God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

God called Jonah to travel to Nineveh, and Job decided he had other plans. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh and warn the people that their city would be destroyed if they did not repent and turn from their evil ways. So, instead, he went as far as he could the other way. He boarded a ship headed for Tarshish, which is approximately 2,500 miles in the opposite direction of Nineveh. If it hadn’t been obvious to God before he boarded the ship, Jonah’s attempt to get as far away from Nineveh said it all. He refused to go.

After Jonah was swallowed by a whale and laid in its belly for three days, he had a change of heart. He repented of his foolishness and told God he would do what God asked of him. So Jonah went throughout the city warning the people of God’s coming judgment on them. And lo and behold. The people repented, and the king sent out a decree that everyone must mourn and turn from their evil ways.

Jonah was angry that they had actually listened to what he told them. He wanted them to suffer. He wanted them to pay for their sins. He was mad. And he went outside the city and sat under a shelter to see if God would really destroy them. But God taught Jonah a lesson. He caused a great plant to grow up quickly to shade Jonah from the heat, and Jonah was relieved. But God also sent a worm to destroy the plant, and the next morning the plant withered. This angered Jonah even further. But God told him that just as Jonah felt sorry about losing the plant, God also felt sorry for the people of Nineveh.

You can read this story in more detail in the book of Jonah.

What if God had treated Jonah the way Jonah wanted him to treat the people of Nineveh? Was living in the belly of a whale for three days something to laugh about? God punished Jonah, but he also saved his life when Jonah repented and promised to go to Nineveh. God gave Jonah a second chance to preach God’s message to a nation that hated Israel, so why wouldn’t God also give Nineveh a chance to repent? Jonah begged for mercy and forgiveness, so why didn’t he want the Ninevites to do the same? He wanted them to suffer and pay for their sins. He wanted retaliation for being an enemy of the nation of Israel.

And just perhaps Jonah was afraid for his reputation. If he warned Nineveh to repent or be destroyed and they survived, what kind of prophet was he? He wasn’t considering that God’s mercy for the Ninevites was greater than his prophecy not being fulfilled. After all. There was a condition to the prophecy. If they repented, they would be saved. If they didn’t repent, they would be destroyed. He wanted them destroyed. And he wanted to gloat about it.

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:20

It’s easy for someone to speculate on the reason Jonah didn’t want to do what God wanted.  But it sure is a great reminder to point the finger back at ourselves and ask why we don’t want to do the things God asks of us. Why do we fight God? Does the task he’s asking of us seem too hard? Will there not be enough fanfare and applause for us after the fact?

The question is. Do we have a legitimate reason to be angry with God when we only know a small part of his plan? What do we expect of God, anyway?

Why would Jonah not want the Ninevites to experience repentance and forgiveness? Why would he want them to suffer? It seems he didn’t love his neighbors as himself. After all, Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and history tells us that Assyria was an enemy of Israel and Judah.

Jonah knew that if the Ninevites repented of their sins, the spotlight would then turn to the wickedness of his people. The Israelites had turned from God and were worshipping false idols. If God showed mercy to Israel and Judah’s enemies, would he be merciful to them, as well? Perhaps they wouldn’t even repent as Nineveh did.

What Jonah didn’t know was that God was storing up punishment for the Ninevites. Sure. They repented of their sins that day, but God would later punish them for their revenge on God’s chosen people. The Ninevites were an evil and extremely cruel nation. They would later be destroyed, but Jonah didn’t know that part of their future. God kept his full plans hidden from Jonah. We can’t expect to know all of God’s plans for ourselves or for anyone else. What we must remember is that nothing goes unnoticed by God. He will repay everyone for the good and bad they do.

The story of God’s punishment of Nineveh can be found in Isaiah 10 and the book of Nahum.

Perhaps we need to consider the difference in retribution and retaliation. Retribution is motivated by justice, while retaliation is driven by a desire for revenge. Jonah’s anger reflects a deep seated desire for revenge, and God acted in retribution when he later wiped out the Assyrians.

The story of Jonah and the Ninevites is an example of God’s justice and mercy. We should pay for our sins, but the death of Jesus Christ on the cross paid the ultimate price for our sins. We still have to live with the consequences of our sins, but our sinful slate is wiped clean with the forgiveness that only comes from God our Father. Let’s let God decide who to punish and how to dole it out. Let’s not take matters into our own hands, but trust that God can and will do his job very thoroughly in his own time.

Skimming the Truth

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

The thing is. I didn’t lie. I didn’t embellish. But I still didn’t tell the truth. I omitted facts in my story that would have implicated me. No. It wasn’t a harmful omission. It just wasn’t a full truth. And God checked me on it. 

Oh. When I was sharing the story, I realized I should give the full details. But in a moment of self-righteousness, I omitted the information that would bring me down a notch in the other person’s eyes. So, I just didn’t share that part of the story. I didn’t realize when the conversation started that I would be faced with this dilemma, and I was a little caught off guard.

And then God tapped on my heart. And I couldn’t ignore the tap. So, I set the story straight and shared all the details. She probably didn’t think a thing about it, but I knew that I had set things right between me and my God. And that is the way I want to live my life. Keeping things straight between me and God.

I knew I needed to be exonerated in God’s eyes. Because. After all. If I ignore his tug on my heart for a seemingly inconsequential omission of information, what will I do when in a situation of consequence? If I can’t own up in the small offenses, I surely won’t have the courage to do or say the right thing in a really tough situation. 

Partial truth is not complete truth. Obviously. So is it truth? We live as if it is. Oh. We say. I didn’t lie. But if we don’t tell the entire true story, we’re leaving out vital information. And that information could steer the hearer to a different conclusion. And sometimes that’s the goal we’re aiming for. Giving enough truth to call it truth, but making sure the listener doesn’t get all the facts that leads them to a decision, act or thought that goes against our objective. It’s a faulty thing this manipulation of people and actions and facts. We need to be careful.

My dad used to say that a lie was the skin of the truth. And he was right. When the layers of the story are peeled back, it moves further from the truth. Especially if we have to stretch the information to put ourselves in a good light. The conscience will only prick for so long until a callous forms. And then it hardens to the truth. Until the day comes that truth is basically invisible. Then we must ask the question. Is it still truth?

Tell the truth. No matter what.

We lie because we’re threatened by the truth.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12‭-‬14

Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:13-14

The Jews and Gentiles were a mixed lot. The Jewish nation was chosen by God as his treasured possession. His son, Jesus, would be born into their nation to save us from our sinful condition. Then there were the Gentiles. They had their own separate beliefs, which were much more relaxed than Jewish traditions. The apostles Peter and Paul had preached to them about the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They wanted the Gentiles to know that Jesus died not only for the sins of the Jewish people, but he died for the Gentiles, as well.

Since the Jews had many regulations about food preparation and foods they were allowed to eat, anyone who was a Jew wouldn’t eat with those who weren’t of their persuasion. But when Peter spent time with the Gentiles, he ate with them. He gave up his Jewish rules in order to share the good news of salvation with his Gentile friends. He became one of them to win them to Christianity. He wasn’t trying to change their traditions. But then, some Jewish friends came to visit. All of a sudden, Peter no longer ate with the Gentiles. He became a strict Jew again. While living among the Gentiles, Peter snubbed them because his Jewish friends came to visit. Perhaps he felt torn between the two groups of people. Perhaps he was unsure how to please his Jewish brothers but still continue his relationship with the Gentiles. It was a touchy subject, to say the least.

Instead of skimming the truth with our words and actions, we need to preserve it. Let’s preserve the truth by making sure that’s all we say. No cutting corners. No exaggerations. No hedging. If we can’t say the truth, then we should be silent. And if we can’t be silent, then we should speak the truth. I know. At times, we get caught off guard. That’s what happened to me. I wasn’t planning to skim the truth, but there it was. I didn’t tell the full side of my story, so I led my listener to believe something of me that wasn’t true. And I’m sure it didn’t bother her in the slightest when I corrected my story. But it mattered to me.

And when Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles, he was hedging the truth to both the Jews and Gentiles. In his case, Paul set him straight. Paul confronted him and demanded he live authentically at all times. That’s exactly what we as followers of Christ are called to today. We must live authentic Christian lives. We must be willing to speak truth, not only in inconsequential conversations, but in all situations. Because when we are in the throes of a heavy conversation, we’ll be in a position to naturally speak truth. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Let’s be authentic. Let’s be truth tellers.

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalms 66:18-20

Tattle Tale, Tattle Tale

~ mercyfortheday ~ 2 Comments

Oh. Their long wait was over. Seventy long years had ended, along with their exile to Babylon. The Israelites were now free to return home to their country. God had punished them for disobeying and ignoring his commands. So they had been conquered by the Babylonian army and moved to a strange land. Sure. God had spoken through his prophet, Jeremiah, who told them their stay would be only seventy years. And then they would return home. Seventy years seems such a short time once it’s over. But to be a young person at the start of those seven decades was one thing. To be on the back end meant your life had passed you by in a foreign land. Your life was lived not of your choosing. But you were alive. And now you were free to go home. So home they went. They were survivors. They were the chosen remnant.

But when they got home, they realized that others had moved into their land as it stood mostly empty all those years. There were squatters living in their cities. And those squatters had their own way of living. And it didn’t fall in line with what the Israelites knew to be true. So they were at odds. But one thing the Israelites knew was that they had been advised to start rebuilding the temple of God. So they began the work.

But there were those who just couldn’t stand it. The squatters were upset by this new development. Their new neighbors, who rightfully belonged in this city, were rebuilding the temple of God. And the usurpers of the land, those who had moved in while the Israelites were in exile, were upset that the Israelites were obeying God’s command. So the newbies did what immature people do. They tattled on their neighbors. They wrote a letter to the king and demanded that he instruct the Israelites, the chosen people of God, to stop their work on the temple. And their immaturity won out. The king demanded all work on the temple be stopped. And so it did. The Israelites stopped rebuilding the temple. For fifteen years, no more work was done on it.

And then the king died. And the Israelites resumed work on the temple. After all, that was the command they were given when they had returned to their country. Rebuild the temple of God and observe his commands. And yet they hadn’t been able to complete the work. Now was their chance to make things right and finish the temple.

But once again, the newbies complained. They wrote another letter, this time to the new king. And in their second complaint letter, they asked the king to research the court archives to see if there was any reference to work on the temple. Lo and behold! There was. The king told them in no uncertain terms that work was to begin immediately. And he told the newbies that they must pay for all the work. And all the supplies. Anything the Israelites needed to finish the temple was on them. And if they didn’t obey, their lives would be taken from them. Wow. So the newbies bowed to the commands, and the temple was completed.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Genesis 50:20

I’m reminded of the many stories of the Israelites. Year over year, they refused to obey God. They refused to follow his commands. They ignored his threats of punishment and exile. Yet he still loved them. After all, they were his chosen people. But enough was enough. He wanted them to love him and pledge to him their allegiance. Oh sure. They did from time to time. They repented. But their humility and devotion to him was short-lived. And then they went back to living life their way. And when God had finally had it, the Israelites were once and for all defeated and taken as exiles to the foreign land of Babylon. Oh. God had promised this would happen unless they repented. And they never repented. So they were punished. He had promised seventy years of exile in Babylon. And that’s exactly what happened.

But God also knew that those who had defeated his chosen people and taken them prisoner were evil. He knew they needed to be punished for harming his chosen ones. Being against God’s chosen people was the equivalent of being against God. And that’s not a winning combination. So God made sure that eventually the Babylonians were destroyed. All because they defeated the Israelites.

Just know that Satan will always find someone to oppose God’s work. Someone is always gullible enough to do Satan’s bidding. But also. Just know that those who oppose God’s work and give in to Satan’s scheming will be on the list of those punished by God. Oh. God doesn’t forget those who oppose him. If they never repent and confess their sins, they will be exposed on judgment day. Make note of it.

And there’s more.

God had plans for the Israelites who had returned to Babylon. Although their efforts to rebuild the temple were stopped, God knew that the work would eventually be restarted. And so he had his people wait for fifteen long years. But he wasn’t worried. If they had continued the work, they would have paid for it out of their pockets. But by waiting, God turned their enemies plans on their heads. The squatters paid for all the repairs and supplies. The Israelites rebuilt the temple debt free. Thanks to God’s timely planning.

Oh. God doesn’t forget his people in need. When the people of God are being used and abused, he sees it. When his people are being tortured and tormented, he sees their pain. The suffering of God’s followers does not go unnoticed. In due time, God will repay those who harm his people. So when we think we can’t continue on in a state of abuse or oppression, know that our ultimate reward is eternity with God. All suffering will not be in vain. God is our redeemer.