To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I have done it a thousand times.

–       Mark Twain

Mark sure had that one nailed. For those of us who started that destructive habit in our youth, we can relate. Can the Bible bring that concept into the Christian experience? Glad you asked.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

He wants to be our enabler in the battle against all kinds of sin. I’m so glad the Lord removed those chemicals from my life fifty-two years ago. At seventy-three, I can breathe because of His help. How about you? Is it time to quit harmful sin that so easily handles you and make a future for yourself?

Give it some thought.

Gary

The “God is dead” phrase originates from Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, in which a madman in a marketplace declares, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him,” revealing humanity’s loss of traditional faith, and the collapse of foundational values, forcing people to create new meaning.

If God died, the universe would explode.

Hebrews 1:3

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Colossians 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

No, God isn’t dead, but Friedrich sure is. Give it some thought.

Gary

Some churches believed if they built it, they would come. So, they built it, but they didn’t come. The results – a field of dreams became a nightmare. Some pastors have put their church into insurmountable debt by following such a philosophy. They claimed that God was leading and people followed but, in the end, all was lost. Their affection was for a building and not the body.

Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Proverbs 10:9 

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Is your pastor about the building or about the body? Examine this one and give it some consideration.

Gary

News Headline: Putin and an AI generated human-looking robot were presented face to face. The robot got too close to the president and a body guard stepped forward. Reason being, it doesn’t matter how advanced technology becomes, it should never be trusted. Man is so intelligent he creates things with built-in flaws that we should be wary of. Haven’t we come a long way? The Russians don’t trust each other even when it’s a robot. Distrust abounds.

Micah 7:5 

Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms;

Psalm 146:3 

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

Princes or robots – don’t trust them. Give it some thought.

Gary

That deer heard a noise, made a jump, and raised its tail to show the white flag. Others saw the flag and also ran. God designed them to react like that, because they live in a dangerous world. Enemies abound and lurk at every corner. That deer, must of necessity, be ever vigilant and at the same time be considerate of others.

What’s my point? Glad you asked. Spiritually speaking, we as Christians live in a similar environment. There are forces out to get us and those about whom we care.

Ephesians 6:12 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 2:2

In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 

We live in a dangerous place, so be on guard and also warn others. Give it some thought.

Gary

My grandfather guided many down the Allagash river in the early 1900s. Legend has it that he would carve rocks to make them look like an arrowhead and hide them in plain sight in some of the campgrounds he stopped at with those sports.  He’d already told these people of the Indians traveling this same course hundreds of years before which would enthrall his listeners.  As they set up camp, he would suddenly exclaim, “Would you look at that?” as he ‘discovered’ one of those arrowheads.  They never knew the difference, had a good time and took home memorabilia. I think my grandfather smiled all the way home until he placed the money he’d made into grandmother’s hand.

Deception, I didn’t get it from my grandfather. It’s just in all of us from birth and needs control.

Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Colossians 3:9 

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.

2 Corinthians 11:3 

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

It is a humorous story and he shouldn’t have done that, but because he did, I have a devotional for today. Give it some thought.

Gary

How could a young boy like David slay a warring giant like Goliath? Let me give you three reasons. One, even as a youth, he believed wholeheartedly in the living God. Second, a great number of his days were spent in practicing with an ancient weapon that had proven itself effective. Third, there had to be a divinely appointed scene set up on the stage of life whereby those things would be enacted.

What am I saying?  God does His part and we must be prepared to do ours.

Proverbs 24:27 

Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Luke 21:36 

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Give it some consideration and always be prepared to meet a giant.

Gary