The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extorters, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” LUKE 18:11
One of the terrible possibilities suggested by the Pharisee’s attitude in prayer is this: a person can be religious and not be right. This man’s religion became the cause of his ruin. He did everything right from a religious perspective—in fact, more than right! His problem was that he had totally excluded God from the picture of his life. His religion was all about him. Every Sunday, people attend houses of worship with other worshipers. They sing hymns, recite liturgies, pray prayers, listen to sermons. And they will leave feeling better about themselves than when they went in. Unfortunately, they will still be deeply rooted in their sins. If our religion does nothing more than make us feel better about our sin, then that religion has doomed us, not saved us. The Pharisee was a religious man who was lost in his religion. Along with everything else we learn in this story, we learn about the dangers of religious pride. And that doesn’t mean we are to go to a church where we leave feeling bad. It means we are to leave feeling good about the Savior whose mercy has saved us from our sins. We leave feeling good about God’s justification, not our own.
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31
In the early years of his Christian faith, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, the great battlefield leader of the Civil War, purposed to glorify God in all things. He tithed his income and gave up all activities that might distract his thoughts from holy things. If he was asked about the good or evil of a particular activity, he would smile and reply, “Well, I know it is not wrong not to do it, so I’m going to be on the safe side.” Many Christians today flirt with sin, hoping to stop themselves just before they cross the line. Technically, they don’t sin. But General Jackson’s attitude is the biblical one: move toward God in all things, and sin will lose its strength. In other words, better to be safe than sorry. How about you? How much of your life is given to the pursuit of the glory of God? Even in times of sickness, of testing, of suffering, of doubt—are you still committed to staying close to God and allowing Him to be glorified by being your strength? Paul said even his difficulties could “cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). Bringing glory to God in all things is the only way to stay safe and avoid sorrow. - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening (Both).
Was reading in my Bible and it was Leviticus 19 and 20. Reading more of the things that the Lord Jesus Christ was telling Moses to teach the new Levitical priests to know about life and living to teach others.
When I look at the first devotional and the second I see them as one. The so-called mainstream churches of today are going to be in for a harsh reality when Jesus returns.
It's going to be incredibly sad when Christ does return and these churches are still full of people. We read of the sinful things that were written in the Old Testament and a great deal of today's churches take a blind eye to those sins. They look the other way or sadder still they celebrate these things that the Lord Jesus called abominations.
I can't conceive of an argument before Jesus for demanding He accept a sin as normal.
I can't conceive of an argument whereby the sinner demands of God that He accept them as they are.
I can't conceive of such arguments but they exist. Hell is full of people claiming that God had no right to condemn them to torment for eternity over what He said was sin...and they are still gnashing their teeth at God.
The vast majority of those in Hell rage against God because of His exercising His right as Sovereign Creator over the affairs of mankind.
Many who show up in churches today want people to tell them what they want to hear, to tell them that what they believe is ok. That they aren't living in sin and should be accepted as they are.
People by the millions enter churches each week and leave none-the-better.
They come to be warmed and satisfied and to leave. Their conscience appeased for another week. They aren't looking for changed lives nor are they wanting to be changed.
This isn't what is supposed to be for those in the body of Christ. We are told of putting off the old self, putting on the new in Christ. We are told of being in the world but not of the world. We are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Romans 12. We are to live lives that reflect Christ, not our sins.
Millions will show up at church buildings after the Rapture of the true Church and won't understand why they are still here.
Millions will be told lies about those no longer here and they will believe them. They will believe the lies because they're already living a lie before Christ Jesus.
When the Word of God isn't doing anything to your life, then you need to find out now why this is the case. One second after you die its too late. One second after the Rapture of the Church is too late.
God's Word changes people, it does not teach them to leave their sins alone.
God's Word reveals the truth about ourselves and the Spirit shows the way to live life in Godliness.
Jesus has not and never will change His thoughts on sin.
What was sin, still is sin, and all sin needs to be repented of, turned from and ran from.
We who are in Christ are supposed to be different from the world. We shouldn't be some shadow of the world.
If your life isn't moving towards a life in Godliness, the fault isn't on God. He didn't move. You did.
We are to seek a life of living the way the Spirit teaches us to live, not a life that still does whatever is right in our own eyes.
There are people today in these so-called churches teaching people to embrace their sin. That they can choose not to change and it will all be ok.
Paul warned the early Church that people would rise up from among them to teach such things. They are false teachers. The problem is there are so many that they don't stand out anymore.
Jesus said that He is going to come back.
If you have ever believed any of His promises, then all of His promises are true. Not just the ones that you like.
The 7 years of Tribulation that are in the near future will be horrific on this Earth.
Great devastation that has never been seen on Earth in its short history.
Billions of people will die in the Judgments to be revealed. Do the math. 1/3rd of mankind dying is billions of people. The millions who die or have died in recent years will pale in comparison.
You do not want to tell God that He is wrong and to stand defiant against Him.
You will suffer a horrific fate for doing so. He is God, you are not.
You do not want to miss out on the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. It's your only chance at life.
This world isn't getting better, will not be getting better. Not until after those 7 years have passed and King Jesus Himself ruled Earth from Earth.
You, my Dear Reader, must realize that you are in need of a Savior to save you FROM your sins. From because you need to stop doing them. Not living as though you were never cleansed of them.
I look at this world and can see what Jesus said to look for that would be happening before He returns.
Read it for yourself. It's there in the Gospel accounts at the beginning of the New Testament.
Do you go to Church and are not taught to turn away from sin?
Do you go and seem to be praising God yet live the rest of your week doing whatever sins feel good to you without any remorse?
Do you look back on your life and see no change towards a life lived for Jesus Christ?
My Dear Reader please get right before Jesus now before its too late. Come to Christ with the desire to be forgiven and cleansed of your sins. To be changed, not to be the same as you are. To turn away from your sins and to live for the one who saved you. To a new life.
We don't have many years left. I am not setting a date for Christ to return but rather am validating His own Word about what He said the world would be like when He returns. We live in that world today.
Bible prophecy is still happening today. The promises of God are still happening today in regards to Bible prophecy coming true.
You need to be living a life that's been changed, not one that's the same.
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