Going to Great Lengths to Prove Their Faith When It Is Unnecessary

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.  Jeremiah, Chapter 32, verse 35.

What people are willing to do in the name of their beliefs always seems to amaze me.  Can you imagine how some people were willing to have their children, their own flesh and blood, walk through fire thinking these acts will get them Salvation?  They went to such great lengths when all God asks of us is to believe in Jesus Christ, as our Savior, and try to live as examples of how He works in our lives.  He doesn’t ask that we sacrifice our children, give all our belongings or money away to have Salvation.  His request from us is pretty simple, but I guess it seems too simple for some.
What a shame.  Some people can risk their Salvation by getting led astray by cults or they send some TV evangelist all their money so they can get to heaven but they aren’t turning to God.  All we have to do to get Salvation is underlined in this section.  I like to skip the middlemen and focus directly on God.

Here are some related passages:
*When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nation from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do like wise.  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 12, verses 29-32.

*And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.  Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall.  And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.  2 Kings, Chapter 3, verses 26-27. 

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Acting Like Nothing Ever Happened

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.  Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?  Jeremiah, Chapter 7, verses 8-10.

I realize that we don’t burn incense to idols like Baal, and then go to church, acting like nothing ever happened.  Do we do unethical things at work in order to climb the corporate ladder and then go to church and act like nothing ever happened?  Do we flirt with people other than our spouse and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?  Do we tell white lies to get ourselves out of financial predicaments with the I.R.S. and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?  Are we rude and talk hatefully to others, even telemarketers, and then go to church acting like nothing ever happened?
It’s funny how we can waltz into church acting as if we can pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.  Maybe we can pull the wool over the eyes of most, but not God who sees and knows who we are and what we have failed to do.

Consider taking the time to tell God that you haven’t always behaved the way He would want.  Ask Him to forgive you and give you the willingness to be a better Christian in the future.  He will do it if you take the time to ask Him to.

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Turning Our Act Around

Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.  Isaiah, Chapter 55, verses 6-7.

It’s amazing, how forgiving God is.  The people had been focusing on astrologers and sorcerers rather than Him, the One True God.  God told them that if they realized that they were wrong and turned their act around, He would forgive them and take care of them.  Such divine forgiveness is something I haven’t always been able to muster.

If people were rude to me, I might be nice to them, but I still remembered that they had been rude to me.  Well, this far surpasses any rudeness or disloyalty we might have to endure.  God is always willing to forgive us if we ask Him and turn our act around by focusing on His will for us.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

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You Made Your Bed, Now Lie in It

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.  Thou are wearied in the multitude of thy counsels.  Let now the astrologers the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.  Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.  Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.  Isaiah, Chapter 47, verses 12-15.

God seems to be telling the Babylonians (paraphrased), “You made your bed, now lie in it!”  Prior to this, God tried to refocus the Babylonians who were being led astray.  They listened to those with power, the sorcerers and astrologers, etc.  People were paying attention to them instead of to God.  He told them (paraphrased), “When push comes to shove, those people you looked up to are going to hit the road and they won’t be there to protect you.  But then again, you deserve it because you ignored Me when I tried to help you.  I am the Only One who could have saved you.  So, sad!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

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Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

How Does God Feel About People Who Believe in Using the God Power Within Them?

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?  Isaiah, Chapter 14, verses 12-17.


God is condemning Satan’s influence on mankind, especially Babylon.  Now, if God didn’t like that Satan had tried to become like God, don’t you think God would be equally displeased when people professing to be Christians want to have “the god power within them?”  I’m no expert, but through the things I have read in the Bible, God usually gets pretty upset when anyone is arrogant enough to try to gain the power of God.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

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Are Extra-Marital Affairs Becoming the Norm?

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and Light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah, Chapter 5, verse 20.

It’s sad that having extra-marital affairs has almost become a norm in society.  People seem to feel no remorse in doing unethical things in order to climb the ladder of success.  People who have great status and wealth are looked upon more approvingly than those who lead good-Christian lives.  People who live according to their Christian ethics are often ridiculed and aren’t given the same respect as others.  God calls it like He sees it!  When it comes to determining people’s Salvation, no amount of money, status or remarks trying to justify one’s actions are going to buy them entrance into heaven.

Here are some related passages:
*Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the Law of the LORD of Hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.  Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against His people, and He hath stretched forth His hand against them and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets.  For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.  Isaiah, Chapter 5, verses 23-25.
*And they shall teach My people the difference between the Holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.  And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to My judgments: and they shall keep My Laws and My Statutes in all Mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My Sabbaths.  Ezekiel, Chapter 44, verses 23-24.
*Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.  Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.  Amos, Chapter 5, verses 14-15.

*Ye have wearied the LORD with your words.  Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him?  When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them: or, Where is the God of judgment?  Malachi, Chapter 2, verse 17.


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Relying on Someone Else's Opinion

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Isaiah, Chapter 40, verse 3.

When a new movie comes out on the market, there are some who won’t go to see it immediately.  They don’t just believe the advertisements that the movie producers put out.  They are cautious, waiting until they see the movie reviews first to make sure it’s going to be good.  Well, I think that’s why John the Baptist was important.  Others had to hear him say that Jesus was our Savior before they would be open to believing.  Those that heard John the Baptist profess this were more willing to risk believing in Jesus.
Isn’t it strange that some have to hear someone else’s opinion before they are willing to take risks?  Well, there are people out there who aren’t going to get to know Jesus as their Savior unless they hear us share the positive influence Jesus has in our lives.  It makes me realize that I have a bigger responsibility than I was aware of.  My sitting quietly, rationalizing why it’s not a good time to share this information with others may keep someone else from getting to heaven.

Here are some related passages from the New Testament:
*For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.  Matthew, Chapter 3, verse 3.

*For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee.  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.  Matthew, Chapter 11, verses 10-12.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




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Get Off Your High Horse

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.  And the idols He shall utterly abolish.  And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the Glory of His Majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.  Isaiah, Chapter 2, verses 17-19.

I remember my father reminding me not to get so high and mighty when I was spouting off about something.  I’m glad he drew my attention to it.  I don’t want God coming to me someday saying, “Debbie, get off your high horse.  You think you’re someone special just because you have a Master’s degree.  If you spent less time focused on your career and your ‘stuff,’ you’d have more time to focus on Me and what I want for you.  It would have been nice if you could have joined Me in heaven, but you had your chance and blew it on worldly things-so sad!”

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




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Those Who Validate Atrocities to Those Different From Us

Therefore thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.  Isaiah, Chapter 2, verse 6.

It doesn’t sound like God approves of His people getting involved in fortune telling and trying to predict the future.  He probably isn’t any more pleased with people doing things like this, today!
What’s even more abominable is that they pleased themselves, in the children of strangers.  Does child abuse, child porn, etc. seem less objectionable when it’s connected to children who are totally different than we are?  During war times, atrocities like this are committed as if the women and children of other countries are sub-human entities, absolving them of any guilt for abusing them.  It’s an abomination no matter what!

Children aren’t to be exploited.  Looking at child porn sites on the Internet keeps people in the business of taking advantage of children.  Are you helping to perpetuate the problem?


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.




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Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie