Isaiah 1:11

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.

Over 2,700 years ago, God put the hammer down on empty religion. God abhors formal ritual when His presence is missing. Bringing it from their town to ours, we examine what the Holy Spirit had Paul write in the following:

Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

If your religion is a ritual, like those to whom Noah preached, you’re going to miss the boat.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. 

–       Henry Van Dyke

No offense, but the truth is this: We are all flawed. Moses expressed that to God way back in the Book of Exodus. God wasn’t looking for a perfect man because none exist. He just wanted an imperfect man to trust Him.

Exodus 3:11

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

No, Moses, it is not who are you, but who God is.

Exodus 3:14

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Are you ready to go when God calls?  God didn’t go to the higher seats of learning to get His apostles. Give it some thought and apply. You never know what God can do with a man who admits he comes short of God’s glory.

Gary

In a democracy, everyone has two cows, then a vote is taken, and whatever the majority decides to do, you do, and that’s no bull!   You see, being in the majority doesn’t mean you’re right. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Matthew 7:13-14 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

In Numbers 13 Moses sent twelve men to check out the land of Canaan. Two believed God and ten didn’t. The people went with the majority and were wrong. They lost a whole generation. Don’t make the same mistake.

Give it some thought.

Gary

If everywhere you go, there is a problem, guess what? Does the Bible address such a phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Philippians 2:3 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Proverbs 29:11 

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Luke 6:31 

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Your counselor won’t tell you that you are the problem, because you’ll cancel all future sessions. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Mama Tried” is a song Merle Haggard sang out in 1968. Here are some lines:

The first thing I remember knowin’
Was a lonesome whistle blowin’
And a young un’s dream of growin’ up to ride
On a freight train leavin’ town
Not knowin’ where I’m bound
And no one could change my mind but Mama tried

One and only rebel child
From a family, meek and mild
My Mama seemed to know what lay in store
Despite all my Sunday learnin’
Towards the bad, I kept on turnin’
‘Til Mama couldn’t hold me anymore

And I turned twenty-one in prison doin’ life without parole
No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied
That leaves only me to blame ’cause Mama tried

Does it have a precedence in history? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 6:20
My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.

Yes, there is a long and sordid history of destructive goals in young men, many of whom refused the advice of a godly mother. The same happens to us when we don’t acknowledge the Word of God. Give it some thought.

Gary

It’s a statement I heard somewhere and believed to be profound. “I’m a prisoner of the wind.” Does the Bible address such a concept? Glad you asked.

Ephesians 4:14

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

James 1:6

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Protection from the winds of false doctrine is available when your feet are planted securely in the Word of God.

Give it some consideration.

Gary

It’s the day when tomorrow will never come. “Yes, I’ll get right on that tomorrow,” you said. “What do you mean it’s important? There’s always time.”

I’m sorry that you didn’t consider angina, that slippery curve, the drunk driver or that fall. How many times have you heard it said, “He died unexpectedly.”? That was all for someone else, because you are the exception to the rule. Don’t you know that when you wake up in some other dimension, there is no return?

Luke 16:22-23

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 

Truthfully, we can find ourselves instantly on the other side of life and introduced to eternity. We don’t know when that day in which tomorrow will never come will happen, but we can be ready.

Give it some consideration.

Gary