WHAT A WASTE

Do not waste your time making “futile plans” that have nothing to do with the will of God.

Why are the nations so angry?  Why do they waste their time with futile plans?  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” (Psalm 2:1-3 NLT)

We just came through another election year where the voting public was once again angry with the politicians in Washington DC.  It has become one of life’s axioms that all politicians are crooked.  Every election cycle we are subjected to outrageous advertisements from the political candidates accusing their opponents of unimaginable crimes against humanity.  Sadly many of the claims have elements of truth to them.  Our elected officials are voted into power to fulfill their duties according to the Constitution and to represent the wishes of the people.  Unfortunately many become corrupted by the power and prestige that public office brings and look for ways to exploit their positions for their own personal gain.

As Christians we are called to pray for our leaders, regardless of their political party, faith, race, or ideology.  There will always be men, or women, that do not believe in Jesus Christ and have positions of power.  They will look to suppress our God and promote every evil lifestyle that Satan can conjure, but do not lose faith.  We know the end of the story.  We know who wins the race and captures the prize.

The psalmist provides a warning to not only those in political office or in a position of power, but also to each and every one of us.  We are told to “…act wisely! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Submit to God’s royal Son”(Psalm 2:10-12 NLT).  In our great country we have been blessed to be able to elect those who run our government.  We need to remember to pray for all of our leaders, even those with whom we do not agree.

QUESTIONS:

1. Are you praying for all of our leaders?
2. Are you living up to the same standard to which we hold our leaders?



HIDING FROM GOD

There is no greater folly than that of running and hiding from God.

Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.”(Revelation 6:15 NLT)

When I was a boy, I was playing basketball against my older brother.  During the game, I became increasingly frustrated and upset that I was losing to my brother.  My rage finally got the best of me and I ran through him as he was jumping to shoot the ball.  He fell backwards and landed on his back on top of an old metal funnel that we used to fill the lawn mower.  Instantly, I knew I was in trouble.  I knew I was in trouble with my parents for losing my temper, but I also knew I was in trouble when my brother caught his breath.  So I did what most 14-year-old boys would do when being chased by their 20-year-old brother with vengeance on his mind.  I ran and hid under a car in the garage.  I only delayed the inevitable, I was still punished by my parents and my brother eventually caught me.

In Revelation 6 we read about the death and destruction that will befall the earth.  In verses 15-16 we read about everyone on earth running and trying to hide from the wrath of God.  Adam and Eve tried to do the same thing in the Garden of Eden after they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis 3:6-8.  Jonah tried to run away from what God had called him to do in Jonah 1:3.  We have a tendency to laugh at the thought of trying to hide from an omniscient God, but we are all guilty of the same thing at some point in our lives. 

It may not be a sinful past that you are trying run and hide from God, but rather a calling from God from which you are hiding.  Maybe God has called you to the mission field, but you don’t want to leave the safety and security of what you know for the unknown.  Hiding from God is a pointless venture.  One way or another God will let you know that He knows exactly where you are and what you are doing.

1. What are you “hiding” from God right now?
2. Has God called you to do something from which you are running?
3. How can you help fellow Christians or unbelievers to stop running and hiding?

WILL YOU BE FOUND GUILTY?

A decision to accept Christ is a start, but we are also required to “throw off our old selves” and follow Christ.

²⁰ …I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. ²¹ Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.  (2 Corinthians 12:20-21(NLT)

Greg Laurie, of Harvest Ministries, wrote an article that was reproduced on www.christianity.com where he asked a striking question.  “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  We know that good works are not are what God requires from us to be saved, but it is reasonable to ask, “would your co-workers, neighbors, and friends be shocked to find out you are saved?”  By committing our lives to Christ, there should be a change from your sinful nature.  That is not to say that we will not stumble and fall during our Christian walk, but we should be continuing to strive to be Christ-like.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul is worried that when he visits the church in Corinth, he will find them still caught in the same sins and lies that they were trapped in before their conversion.  I believe Paul was trying to tell the Corinthian church that as Christians they would be tested and occasionally fail, but they must get back up and continue their walk. 

We should be constantly working and stretching ourselves to be like Christ, but when we do fall, we should learn from it and move on.  It is our sinful nature that weighs us down with all of our past sins and failures.  Satan would love nothing more than to have us depressed and focused on all of the reasons why we are unworthy of God’s grace, because then we are not focused on what Jesus did for us on the cross.  When our focus is correct, we can then grow as Christians and help those who are struggling.

1. What past sins are demanding your focus?

2. Have you asked God for forgiveness?

3. Who can you help that is struggling with their Christian walk?