QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The Father often has to knock out our props before we can rest upon Him; give us a faith that will not worry, whine, or wrangle, but watch, work, wait, and warble. — Author Unknown

TAKING SIDES

"Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him."

Exodus 32:26

During the Civil War, someone asked President Abraham Lincoln whether he thought God was on the Union side in the conflict. Lincoln is said to have replied, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." There is only one standard of absolute right and truth, and that is the one set by God in His Word. Many people claim that God is for their efforts, but those claims are only valid when they are in agreement with Scripture.

Each day we are faced with decisions as to whether we will take our stand for what is right. In our world there are many competing visions of truth, and in fact a large number of people today reject the notion that there is any such thing as settled, absolute truth. When we face such an environment, we must be aware of the temptations that attempt to lure us to make "small" compromises in order to fit in better and be accepted. But each time we yield to that impulse, we move further away from being on God’s side.

When the question is raised, "Who is on the Lord’s side?" our answer should be swift and sure. We should be willing to stand up and be counted among those who have chosen His Word and His way. Even if our society completely rejects the standards and truth of God, we do not have to join them. When most of the Israelites were worshipping the golden calf, the sons of Levi were still willing to stand up and publicly declare allegiance to God. We should do the same.

Even if no one else stands with you, you will always be on the right side while you stand

urban myth

Dr. Seuss wrot the children's classic Green Eggs and Hma after his editor bet him that he couldn't write a book using fewer than 50 different words.............


TRUE: The editor's name was William Spaulding; the bet was $50.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The preaching of self is the poorest subject a preacher can find. — A. T. Roberson

WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Colossians 3:1-4

Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation's deserts. All that vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for.

Our affections—the things that we love—determine the things we focus on. The world is filled with trouble and heartbreak, yet the same world is filled with blessings and benefits from God. Which one we choose to focus on to a large measure determines whether we will be content and happy or not. Believers who are joyful Christians are not somehow spared from the hardships of life. But they are focused on the things of God.

This world is just temporary. The trials that we endure and the hardships we experience do not force us into bitterness or depression. Paul certainly endured much more than his share in the way of trouble, yet he viewed it as being for his own benefit. Paul wrote that his afflictions created "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). He could say that because his heart was settled in Heaven.

What are you looking at the things of Heaven, or are you fixated on the things of Earth?

Quote of the Week

There are three ways we can attempt to do the world of God: we can trust our own strength and wisdom, we can borrow the resources of the world, or we can depend on the power of God.