16

Jump Start # 1210

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1210

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

 Yesterday in our Jump Start we talked about money. Those thoughts lead us to this passage today. Twice Paul says, “I have learned.” I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am and I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry. There is a secret and Paul learned that.

 

This passage tugs on our hearts because we know it’s true and we also know that for most of us, we couldn’t say what Paul said. The being filled and the abundance parts sure seem sweet to us. We believe we could handle that. Most couldn’t. Most would lose their focus, spend like there is no tomorrow and become gluttons of materialism. The world of abundance quickly turns to a feeding frenzy of greed when we lose sight of who we are and the big picture of the kingdom. Abundance brings the responsibility and the opportunity of doing more to help others and spreading the kingdom. Look at the rich man in Luke 16. He dressed nice. He ate well. He lived in a gated home. None of those things are right nor wrong. However, he was given the opportunity of helping others, one other, Lazarus, and he didn’t. He was in the position to possibly save that poor man’s life. And he didn’t. Be careful with thinking I can do well with abundance. Many don’t. It ruins them, changes them and causes them to lose their focus.

 

The other end of the spectrum, most admit up front, is difficult. It’s difficult to go hungry and to live in humble means. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced real hunger. Sure my belly has growled, but it’s hard to pray “give us this day our daily bread,” when the pantry is full and the frig has plenty in it. Real hunger. Real  needs. Real humble means. There are those in this country like that. There are those in our congregations like that. But they are few. Most do pretty well.

 

There was a secret that Paul learned. That secret was about contentment. This is something that just doesn’t come naturally. We must learn it. It’s hard to learn this from an over weight preacher who is wearing an expensive suit. Listening to that guy tell us something about being hungry when he obviously hasn’t missed a meal in a long while doesn’t sit well for most of us. I don’t think Paul learned this from someone else. I think he learned this on his own, through faith and through his commitment to Christ. Paul was on the road for a long time. He was in prisons. He was with brethren and with strangers. God took care of him. Through God, brethren supported and financed his trips. Through God, he was kept alive. Through God he learned that God is not impressed with the size of your house, but rather the size of your heart. Through God, Paul did all that he could any where he was. When in prison, he’s praising God and influencing prisoners. When he couldn’t stand before a congregation, he taught Caesar’s household. God had been with him. Paul knew. Paul learned.

 

This part of Paul’s life is hard for me to connect with, I must admit. He was single, he didn’t have roots. He didn’t need a home. He didn’t have a family. He didn’t concern himself with leaving an inheritance for his children’s children, as we talked about yesterday. Just some food and clothing and Paul was good to go. My world is not like that. I have a house. I have family. I have roots. I don’t want to go hungry because it means those that count on me go hungry. I have life insurance, investments and budget my money because  I want to take care of others. I don’t want them to be hungry—not now, not ever. Part of this passage does bother me.

 

However, I do believe that we can learn this same secret—contentment. It’s not what you have, but what has you. It’s not about finding joy in stuff, but in Christ. It’s never forgetting how generous God has been with you and continuing that on to others, especially outside my family. It’s remembering my future lies with Christ, not in investments, insurance policies or worrying about what the market is doing. It’s remembering how blessed I am and how those poor, simple early Christians trusted in their God. It’s realizing that because I am blessed with abundance, I am not to misuse that. Abundance should not change me. It should not make me think that I am better than others. It should not make me look down upon others. Abundance means God is expecting more out of me. I am in the position to do more. This is not just the Sunday collection plate we’re talking about, it’s doing what the rich man didn’t do. It’s being that good Samaritan. It’s helping that young college kid. It’s helping the senior citizen with a limited income. It’s not just helping those in the congregation, but in the neighborhood. It’s opening your heart and then your wallet. It’s more than simply handing a few dollars to someone, it’s changing their future. It’s buying books for the young preacher. It’s helping the poor college kid with his tuition. It’s stepping up in your giving so the congregation can afford new song books. It’s sending some money to a family overseas in a third world country. It’s helping a young couple afford an adoption. It’s helping with medical costs or funeral expenses. Life changing events.  You have not just brightened a person’s day, you have taken away a burden that they felt overwhelmed with. Through you, God is touching and answering their prayers. That’s what this secret is about. It’s about not being so attached to stuff but being very attached to God. It’s about working and cooperating with God to help others.

 

It’s hard to imagine how a huge portion of this world lives. I have been to some villages in India. It looked just like National Geographic images. Huge palm branches tied up with string was one guy’s house. He slept on a dirt floor. He existed. Barefoot kids kicking a piece of trash because they couldn’t afford a soccer ball. They were smiling, laughing and having a great time. They didn’t know anything else. They didn’t have hundred dollar Nike soccer cleats, shin guards, matching uniforms, state of the art goals or a marked field to play on. They were playing in a vacant lot. With sticks they had marked the boundaries in the dirt. No drink bottles. No soccer moms watching and texting. No one with Iphones taking pictures of the game. No. Just a bunch of poor, dirty kids, playing in a dirt lot, but having the time of their life. I don’t think many American kids would have done well in that setting. It burned this passage deep into my heart. They learned the secret. They were content. They were happy. Playing a game of soccer with a piece of trash that wouldn’t even roll very well. How I wish I could have handed them a real soccer ball. There was none. No stores in that village sold any. I asked. But maybe that would have messed things up.

 

The lack of contentment leads us to complaining. We complain about the weather, the temperature, the traffic, prices and this and that. Content folks count their blessings. Content folks realize that each day is a gift. Content folks make sunshine out of any situation.

 

I wonder about those kids in India. It’s been a while now. I wonder what happened to them and what became of them? I had kids about the same age. My kids got to go to college. They live in homes and drive cars and have jobs and are married. Those poor Indian kids didn’t have those opportunities. Yet, I hope my kids learn to be as happy, content as those Indian kids were.

 

I hope I learn to be the same myself. It’s a secret Paul said. He learned it. The rest of us must work at it. It’s about God, not stuff. It’s about trust, not things. It’s about who we are in Jesus.

 

Roger

 

15

Jump Start # 1209

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start #1209

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

 

The inheritance. Everyone would love to have that rich uncle who just happened to leave his estate with you. To have been born in the family of the Rockefeller’s, the Kennedy’s, or today, Bill Gates’ family, can bring dreams of selfish spending on fleets of cars, and homes in different cities and shopping sprees to foreign destinations. Oh, the fun, we may think. Be careful. Don’t forget Ecclesiastes and the vanity of vanities, and the striving after the wind.

 

Instead of talking about the receiving end of the inheritance, we need to devote some attention to the giving end of the inheritance. That’s how this verse is directed. Before the younger generation among us shouts a hearty “AMEN,” they need to be thinking about what they will leave to others. Children’s children are simply grandchildren in our words today. I’m getting several lately. Three now and rumors of more to come. Love the grandkids. Their cute faces and innocent ways can melt any heart.

 

Now some thoughts about money. Some are uncomfortable with this subject. Maybe it’s because they need help. Others do not feel that it belongs in a discussion at church. How wrong they are. Jesus talked more about money than He did Heaven. Have you noticed how much Luke alone deals with money: the rich ruler, the story of the good Samaritan, Zaccheus is called very rich, the farmer who wanted to tear down barns and build larger ones, the rich man and Lazarus, the prodigal son. Money issues are important. They are important to God. Families that live paycheck to paycheck are putting themselves on the brink of disaster. Far too many have a massive hole dug called debt.  They begin to wonder if they will ever get out of that hole. Joseph prepared Egypt for coming disaster. During good years they stored up so when lean years came, they not only survived, but they helped others. Many only spend more in the good years and panic when the lean years come. Too many view the church has the solution to their problems when many of their problems were caused by poor management not famines.  The current stats about personal debt and personal saving is scary. There is a huge waterfall that many are facing but they do not realize it. They will have to hope that their children’s children will bail them out of the messes they created.

 

These current trends reveal that many are not good stewards. This is more than not good, it’s not Biblical. God expects and wants us to be good stewards. More than that, we are showing that we are not in the position to help others. The story of the good Samaritan wouldn’t work today because the Samaritan would be maxed out on his credit cards and he couldn’t help out. We are crippling the good we can do because we don’t have any money. We are also showing that we haven’t learned contentment. Paul told the Philippians that he learned the secret. Most haven’t gotten that yet.

 

Money problems strain marriages. Those problems keep us up at night. We become filled with worry because we don’t know what we are going to do. The way things are, most hope to work until they are 80. What if you can’t? What if they don’t want you? What then? In too many homes, husband and wife are not on the same page and too often one doesn’t know what the other is doing financially. It’s a real mess.

 

I hope I have painted a dark picture for you. This is what is going on today. This is happening among God’s people. Bankruptcy isn’t a solution. It’s running from your obligations. When you use a credit card, you are promising to pay that back. If you don’t have that intention, you are living dishonestly. You are lying. Leaving something for our children’s children…are you kidding? Most have nothing to leave. Period!

 

Congregations need to teach Biblical principles about money. This is a spiritual issue. We’ve had our heads stuck in the sand for far too long. It’s time to be honest, open and Biblical.

 

Three principles to consider:

 

1. Make money without neglecting your soul. Money buys a house, but not a home. Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail. Money isn’t everything. Jesus said, “What does it profit if a man gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” What good is it? There are no U-haul’s pulled by the hearse. How much will you leave? Everything. All of it. If we spend all of our time making money, but it causes us to lose our soul, it has been a poor endeavor. Tell your boss when you are interviewing for a job that you want Sunday’s off. Missing worship for very long affects your soul. Before long, you’ll get used to it. Then, you’ll like it. Then, you’ll think that you don’t need it. Your faith will starve and your choices will hit bottom. It’s ok to make money, but feed your soul. And do that often.

 

2. Save money without ignoring others, especially the kingdom of God. Don’t horde, nor become a miser or tightwad. God is generous. Be that way. Be helpful to others. Save. Have a plan. Stick to it. Work that plan. Don’t count on others to be your retirement. You save. Invest. Get smart with money. Don’t waste it. Help the young preacher. Be there for others.

 

3. Spend money without it defining your life. Don’t think you are a big shot because you live in a big house or drive a nice car. Remember that you are a sinner that needs Jesus. We all are. Side by side in the cemetery lie the rich guy and the poor guy. In life so different, in death, the same. It’s ok to have nice things if you can afford them. You should not have to apologize to others, especially brethren, especially preachers, that you bought a new outfit, a new car, or took a nice trip. We ought to be thankful that you can do that. Don’t be jealous when others do and you can’t. Don’t feel less of a person or a Christians because they do and you don’t. Our lives are not defined by what we have but who has us—Jesus.

 

A side point here. Often, Christians will use another Christian to have some work done. They often expect a “discount” because we are Christians. If he wants to give you a discount that’s his business, but don’t expect, nor ask for it. That’s tacky and trashy. I’d rather give a Christian more because I know he won’t misuse the money.

 

Giving to my children’s children. I want to do that. It must be more than a dream. There has to be a plan that gets a person from point A to point B. Without that plan, this becomes nothing more than wishful thinking.

 

Money—what an important topic. May God bless you to use it wisely. May it not become the very item that keeps you from Heaven.

 

Roger

 

14

Jump Start # 1208

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1208

Hebrews 11:24-25 “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin”

 

Choices. Everyday involves choices. Most of them are tiny and insignificant. We choose what to eat, what to wear, what show to watch. No big deal. But there are other choices that can shape and change who we are and our future. In the news, a teenager chose to drive drunk. His car hit another car and someone was killed. The teenager now sits in jail. A choice. A choice that has affected his life and the life of others. Not all life changing choices are grave and tragic. A family decides to move. New schools, new church, new neighborhood, new friends—that change can have lasting effect upon the family. A person decides to buy a new car or house. His decision is a bit impulsive and he’s pressured, yet he signs the papers. Now he is strapped with high monthly payments for several years. His choice, but it could well be a game changer for him.

 

Our passage involves the choices of Moses. Before he was old enough to know better, his parents were making choices for him. He was hid from Pharaoh’s death squad. He was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. One of the grandsons of Pharaoh. What a privileged life that would have been. The best in education. The best in houses. The best in stuff. Affluent. Powerful. Recognized.

 

When Moses was in the position to make choices he made some radical ones. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. His choice. He refused to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. His choice. He chose to endure the ill-treatment with the people of God. His choice.

 

Moses’ choice was more than a matter of simply believing God in a culture and environment of paganism. There was more to it than that. To choose God, meant he chose God’s people. In choosing God, it meant going where God’s people were going. I think some want to choose God but stay in Egypt. You can’t stay in Egypt when God’s people are heading through the wilderness. You must be with them. This is hard for some, especially younger people. They want God, but they want friends who have nothing to do with God. They want God but not the church. They want God but they want to stay in Egypt. Can’t do that. The choice of God meant leaving Egypt. It meant trading a palace for a tent. It meant eventually, the finest foods of Egypt for manna every day. It meant trading comfort for struggles. It was his choice. It was the right choice. It was what choosing God involved.

 

Moses’ choice also came with consequences, as most choices do. A college student decides to drop out, there are consequences to that decision. A girl decides to say “Yes,” to a marriage proposal, there are consequences to that decision. For Moses, it not only meant leaving Egypt, it meant being disliked, hunted and chased down by Pharaoh and his mighty army. The king was furious. It was Moses, with the hand of God through the plagues, that opened the door for Israel to leave Egypt. Pharaoh was forced to that positon by the death of first born throughout his country. He didn’t want to but had no other choice. After Israel left, Pharaoh went after them. Was he going to force them back or simply kill them? God took care of that and them in the Red Sea.

 

Decisions come with consequences. Not everyone will like nor agree with your choices. Once you’ve made your decision, you now have to live with the consequences. I had a conversation the other day with a guy about his tattoo. He had many. One in particular he mentioned to me. It was the name of his girl friend. She thought it would be a sign of their love and commitment to each other. The problem was, she wasn’t that committed. They broke up. Her name remained on his arm. Now there’s another girl friend and now there is a problem, wrong name on the arm. He regrets having the tattoo. At the present he can’t afford to take the name off. He’s embarrassed about a decision that he now wishes he never made. That happens. It happens in things other than tattoos. Sometimes we get mad. We say things. We say mean and hurtful things. The heat of the moment cools, but those words linger in the air. It’s hard to take them back. Embarrassed, we now regret having said them.

 

The context of our passage tells us something else about Moses’ choices. The next verse says, “considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward,” Considering…looking…Moses put some thought into his choices. They weren’t impulsive. He understood that what God offered was greater than what Egypt offered. He understood God was right and Egypt was wrong. He understood that there is an eternal reward for following God. Egypt was empty there.

 

This helps us to understand the importance of thinking through a decision. Think about it. Consider it. Look at every angle. Get advice. Put your mind to it.

 

There is a decision to follow Christ. Jesus used the illustration of counting the cost. One wouldn’t start a building project without knowing how much it was going to cost, unless he’s in Congress. If he ran out of money and the project stopped, everyone would ridicule such a foolish decision. There is a cost to following Christ. There is a decision that must be made.

 

We must consider and look as Moses did. We must realize that not everyone will agree with that choice. We must understand that following Christ means leaving Egypt and traveling with God’s people in the direction towards Heaven. It means giving up things. It means leaving things behind. The world won’t understand. You will. God will. You see things that the world doesn’t. You see like Moses did.

 

Now, all these centuries later, we talk about Moses. We don’t know much if anything about the Egyptians of his day. Forgotten. Lost. Gone. Moses made the right decision. There is a song we sing, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” I have decided. That must be my decision. Not my parents. Not my church. Not my wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, room mate, or friend on Facebook. My choice. My choice comes with responsibilities. My choice comes with consequences. My choice comes with rewards.

 

Moses chose. So must we.

 

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 1207

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1207

1 Kings 22:19 “Micaiah said, ‘Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of Heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.”

 

Our passage today is a very interesting scene that takes place in Heaven. Ahab is the wicked king of Israel. Influenced by his evil wife, Jezebel, the prophets of God had been slaughtered and an attempt was made on Elijah’s life. Now the Syrians were coming to battle Israel. The false prophets that Ahab had surrounded himself with encouraged him to go to battle and promised him a victory. Micaiah had a different message.

 

This is where our verse comes from. In a vision, the true prophet is shown a special scene in Heaven. There is nothing like this in the rest of Scriptures. The Lord, sitting on the throne, wonders who and how they will get Ahab to go off to battle. The Heavenly host, angels and others, give their input. Different suggestions are made. One suggested enticing Ahab with a false spirit by having his prophets deceive him. The plan was approved and the wicked prophets gave a glowing picture of a sure victory. It wasn’t going to happen. God had decreed that Ahab’s life and reign was coming to a sudden end.

 

Ahab disguised himself and had another dressed like the king. They Syrians pursued the fake king. Innocently, someone fired an arrow that hit Ahab between the joints of his armor and he was killed.

 

This is fascinating Biblical history, but more it pulls the curtains of Heaven back just a bit so we can see what happened behind the scenes. It shows that the heavenly host have more input than we often think. They are not just silent servants that stand about awaiting the Lord’s next commands. The Lord included them, sought their insights and advice and even approved their plan. It also shows that the Lord approved of sending a deceptive spirit upon a wicked king.

 

Now some observations and lessons:

 

First, God is active in the world. In Daniel that is a statement about God bring kings up and removing kings. Sometimes, most times, we do not see what the Divine is doing behind the scenes. Wars, deaths, assassinations, changing of leaders—how much of this is designed by Heaven is hard for us to know and grasp.

 

Second, it shows that we haven’t fully figured out the inter workings of Heaven. It seems from this passage that the Lord was wanting ideas. Certainly He knew what to do. Why did He invite the suggestions of the Heavenly Host? How many other times has something like this taken place? This opens a whole world of things we have not nor cannot fully grasp.

 

Third, the Lord approved of a spirit deceiving Ahab and filling his prophets with false messages. That doesn’t fly well in our thinking about God. His holiness and goodness, at least in our minds, would never deceive or approve of deception, even to accomplish His will. But it seems He does here. This tells us once again, we do not have God figured out. He’s beyond us. As we learn from Job, we are not one to question God. His ways are true.

 

Fourth, Ahab was forced to go into battle. Ahab was weak, corrupt and wanting to hear what he heard. It didn’t take much for him to be convinced that a battle was the right thing to do. Ahab could have said no. His wicked heart fed right into the deceptive words of the false prophets. The two were made for each other.

 

Fifth, Ahab was removed as king. That was God’s plan. Ahab thought he was wise in disguising himself. You can’t fool God. God knew. A random arrow got Ahab. The arrow, directed by Heaven’s design, accomplished what God wanted. He was through with that filthy, ungodly leader. He had connections to God’s prophets but he wouldn’t listen. God also dealt with the wicked Jezebel. She got what was coming to her.

 

Finally, God is amazing. What seemed like just another battle in the pages of history, are full of God’s plans, and God’s designs. Most never knew about all of this. It was just a sad day for Israel as they suffered yet another loss in battle. It’s hard to know just where God has His fingers in our world and even in our lives. His will cannot be overthrown. It will be accomplished. It may come about in ways that we would never dream.

 

Ahab dies as a man void of God in his life. He was empty of goodness and righteousness. He had multiple chances to do right, but he didn’t. And for us, we must wonder if the Lord holds a huddle or heavenly meeting with those around Him to discuss things on the earth today. Our jobs are not to try to figure these things out, because we cannot. Ours is to live according to His revealed word and trust always in the Lord.

 

Roger

 

10

Jump Start # 1206

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1206

Obadiah 15 “For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.”

  Obadiah is that tiny minor prophet that is tucked in between Amos and Jonah. It’s one of the early prophets. It is one of the few one chapter only books of the Bible. It was written concerning the prideful nation of Edom. It shows that God was not exclusively focused upon Israel during the Old Testament period. The judgments against Edom were because of how they had treated Israel. Their arrogance moved them into a position where they thought they were untouchable. They were by most nations. They weren’t by God.

 

In a series of “do not’s” the prophet pronounces:

  • Do not gloat over your brother’s day, the day of his misfortune
  • Do not enter the gate of My people
  • Do not stand in the fork of the road to cut down their fugitives
  • Do not imprison their survivors

 

Then comes our verse. God will treat you the way you have treated Israel. Getting what we have done is a theme in the Bible. In James, the Bible declares that God will have no mercy for the merciless. In Matthew, the way we judge will be the way we are judged. In the prayer that Jesus taught, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven others. Jesus further added to that, “if you do not forgive others, then your Heavenly Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

 

There is a connection between how we treat others and how God treats us. We cannot be bad toward others and expect God to be good to us. Thinking poorly of others…ignoring the needs of others…talking mean about others…and then thinking that God will embrace us because we are His people doesn’t fly with what the Scriptures teach.

 

The rich man in Luke 16 ignored poor hurting Lazarus who was laid at his gates. The poor man died. His death wasn’t noticed or even a concern for the rich man. Then the rich man died. He received exactly what he had done for Lazarus—no comfort, no compassion, no help. Alone in his agony, he begged for help. No one would be sent. He received as he did.

 

I think if we truly believed this principle, it would change the way we looked at others and what we did. Turn the conversation to national politics and all kinds of ugliness comes out. It’s easy to see the faults and mistakes of others. It’s easy to throw stones at others. It’s easy to point the judgmental finger at others. We recognize why others are so wrong. We have a hard time seeing anything wrong with what we do, especially  those judgmental attitudes. Remember, the way you treat others is a reflection of how God will treat you.

 

Now, there are a couple of qualifiers here:

 

Just because I am nice, sweet and generous with others does not mean that God will grant me Heaven. I must walk by faith and obey Christ. Goodness alone doesn’t open Heaven’s gate. Faith in Christ is a must. Cornelius, from Acts 10, was a very good man. He was generous, devout, and even prayed. However, he was not saved. Had he died, he would have died lost. There are many Cornelius’ today. Great people. Best neighbors. True friends. They’ll do anything for you. They are kind, helpful and a joy to have in your life. Most would think that they are saved. Why? Because they are so good. Goodness is never good enough for God. Sins, we all have them, have destroyed our relationship with the Lord. Only Christ can save us. All the great neighborly things a person can do will not cover the sins one has committed. We must believe and walk with the Lord.

 

God allows judging. That shocks some folks. They have the notion that Christians aren’t supposed to judge, period. Ever. Now they can judge Christians for judging, but the Christian isn’t allowed to judge. That’s the most common thought on the street. So the atheist can flaunt his shallow and fake theories, but if a Christian challenged those theories, he’s wrong for judging. Really? The same goes for the same-sex crowd. They are allowed to say anything they want—false, prejudiced and untrue as it may be. That’s allowed. That’s freedom of speech. But if a Christian were to respond, especially by pointing out that same-sex marriages aren’t approved in the Bible, they scream homophobia, judging and the wrath of the media swoops down and belittles the Christian until he is silenced. Wrong. God allows judging. It must be done properly and be based upon His word. When Jesus said to beware of wolves in sheep clothing—that necessitates some looking, comparisons, and judging. There is no other way. When the Bible speaks of fellowship being based upon walking in the light, there is some determination that must take place. How do you know if I’m in the light and how do I how that you are in the light unless we do some looking, considering and judging.

 

Judging to condemn…judging without taking thought to self…judging to put one down, be mean, or to make one look better than others, is not what we are talking about here. Yes, that judging is condemned. Treating others as we would want to be treated, the golden rule, helps keep all of this in check. Edom wasn’t doing that in our passage. They were harsh to Israel. They were cruel to Israel. They afflicted and hurt Israel. God was going to do the same to them. How they treated, was the way that they were going to be treated.

 

So, watch what you say about others. Watch your attitudes today. Don’t be mean toward others and think that God will smile upon you. There is a connection between how we treat others and how God treats us.

 

Roger