Why do the arrogant make us feel uncomfortable and small?  Why do people filled with hate and find it easy to hurt others with their words with an uncanny ability to rationalize a reason to justify their hateful actions? Why do we feel small when we are arrogant to others?  (Ouch)

As we read the gospels and watch Jesus relate to those who need healing, a new life with direction and purpose, with encouragement to “go and sin no more” with the forgiveness of sins that only He could provide; we ask ourselves, are we more like Jesus, filled with compassion for others with the willingness to forgive no matter what they have done to us—or are we siding with evil and adopting evil’s characteristics? 

We either believe God and follow Him or we are not.  Jesus teaches there are only two choices and we are given the freedom to choose.  Do we choose God who wants the best for us, died for our sins, and loves us without condemnation or conditions but seeks to lead us to all that is good and right in His eyes for us?  OR do we choose the Enemy who arrogantly speaks against God and says we can be God and have all things of this life our way.  Of course, evil leads to all the character traits that are not of God and will lead us cunningly to misery, bondage, and eventually a forever death. 

“Choose this day whom you will serve” are the decisive, pleading words of Joshua, the appointed and anointed leader after Moses. Today we must ask ourselves; Who are we giving our allegiance to this day? 

It’s not just about us! Who we choose affects everyone we know! Seek God first who loves us but who also loves all others of his creation and expects us to respect others who need Him, too. Micah the prophet of God says that we are to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.  But know that it is God who is Justice, Mercy, and Grace because of His great Love for us.  God defined love because He is Love.

Let’s go a bit deeper in this thought of others—

As I used to tell my first graders who individually fought often for the attention of the room and for me, “Stop, look around you, you are not the only one who needs to learn and grow in knowledge!”  “Be respectful of others by helping each other!”  Jesus came to earth to “show and tell” the world some of these same elementary ways of behaving.  “Love God. Love each other as I have loved you”, Jesus told his disciples.  These simple words came from God’s heart with a profound love for each one of them—even Judas who betrayed Him!

God is love and expects us to develop His love who lives in us for others.  “His Law is Love and His gospel (Good News) is peace!”  This truth is sung every year on demand by unbelievers and believers alike, why? (I know because I used to lead the choir!)  I think it is because “O Holy Night” brings our attention back to Jesus who demonstrated the love of God who never gives up on us. The common world of people do not possess this kind of love but they long and seek after the One who is Love. To know God is to know Love.  Without God, we do not know Love. (1 John 4:7-8)

Unbelievers are drawn to God’s Love! It is not God’s desire that anyone perish! (2 Peter 3:9) “For God loved the world…” (John 3:16-17)

Know God. Know His Word. Ask God for wisdom and He will give us all we need.  All we need is to know enough to avoid all that is not of God and with the power of His Holy Spirit we have help in doubts so we can trust and obey!  Need power and wisdom; ask Him!  He gives exactly what we need! (James 1)

God’s Holy Spirit guides us to all that is truth as we live to please Him in all we think, say, and do. Where God guides; He provides all the power we need—resurrection power!

The Psalmist’s testimony is a reminder of the Goodness of God who is our “quiet retreat” from the sins of the world with surrender to growing in our intimate relationship with God who is Light of the World. “This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him.” (1 John 1:5, MSG)

Psalm 119:113-120, The Message

ס Samekh

I hate the two-faced,
    but I love your clear-cut revelation.
You’re my place of quiet retreat;
    I wait for your Word to renew me.
Get out of my life, evildoers,
    so I can keep my God’s commands.
Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.
    Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.
Stick with me and I’ll be all right;
    I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.
Expose all who drift away from your sayings;
    their casual idolatry is lethal.
You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;
    therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.
I shiver in awe before you;
    your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW WILL WE RESPOND?

TRUTH BOMB:

God’s Light makes the Darkness flee! Don’t just sing about it; believe it!  Our Enemy has known God from the beginning, tried to be God, and was cast out of heaven.  Now the Enemy comes close enough to us to distract and deceive while deconstructing our faith and relations with God…from a distance.  The closer we become with and to God; the harder He fights until God steps in to fight for us as we pray in Jesus Name.  The Truth is, according to God’s Word, is that Almighty God steps in while we pray.  The  Enemy hates believers on their knees crying out in the Name of Jesus so he picks up his toys and tools of evil and flees the premises until the next opportunity he thinks he will have as we stray from God’s Presence and distance ourselves from him. Only then are we easy prey for evil.

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7, NLT

“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

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19

The Psalmist knew the Truth, believers know this, but do we live it?  Do we really believe what God has done and what He says to be really real?  Our lives will demonstrate what we truly believe.  We are not perfect in all our ways.  But God, in his always faithful, compassionate mercy reaches down to rescue and forgive us when we call on Him in Jesus Name.  There is nothing that will separate us from His Love.  He is ready to forgive and restore us.

Choose God. Seek God. Do what He says.  Avoid arrogance and complacency.  Be in awe of God who wants His very best for us and sent Jesus!

Choose wisely, you won’t regret it, not even for a minute!  I chose God because He first chose to love me without conditions. I have not “arrived” at perfection nor do I have full knowledge of God or His Word; but what I do know I will tell others every single day of my life as long as I have breath.  I will tell of His great love, His ways, delivered with compassion, the One and Only God who from the beginning decided to send a part of Himself, Jesus, His One and Only Son, to save us and set us free—to love like He loves us. 

What a gift His love is for us!

Lord,

Thank you for leading us to know you more as we meditate on your Word to us. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Daily I surrender to you as you cleanse my heart of all that is not of you, as you renew my mind with your higher thoughts, and I watch as you refresh my souls with your new mercies, while you restore the joy and peace of your salvation continually at work within me.  To you be the glory! 

In Jesus Name, Amen