Isaiah 5:20-21

"…20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight!"

A Reverse Golden Rule

Narcissists do to others all the things they would hate done to them. A sort of reverse Golden rule. "They can dish it out but they cannot take it" as the kids say!

Luke 6:31
"31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you."

Ephesians 5:29 "29 Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. "

When we treat others with the love and respect we desire, then we will be loving them God's way. Mankind does everything possible to protect itself, imagine if everyone cared for everyone else the way they take care of themselves!!!!

Now that's a whole lot of love!

Our Learning Has Eternal Value

I see the value of every situation and every trial we have on this earth. I believe that everything we learn from our trials here, will serve us as we are reigning with Christ in the Millennium.

Any thoughts?

Our Culture in a Nutshell

Here is a snapshot of our culture today, it shows that mankind hasn't changed much!

Jeremiah 6:14-15 "…14 "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. 15 "Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."

Are the Opinions of Others Controlling You?

Are the opinions of others controlling you?

If you find yourself worried about what others think of you, you are trapped in the web of a need for acceptance.

When we are free in Christ we have no need to worry about what others think of us. Our concern is whether or not we are pleasing Christ.

When we love Christ and care about obeying His Word, no one else's opinion will matter unless it is based on the word of God.

Placing the opinions of others above God's principles, is a little like having an idol. We must test all opinions of men by the Word of God. If we follow something it will not be the opinion of man that we follow, but God's Word.

Every person we meet has an opinion about what we do with our lives, they want us to be like them. This is why so many people lack fortitude and honesty, they restrain their beliefs out of fear of rejection by those who expect us to speak, act and pretend just like they do.

Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a [b]friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Our best friend ought to be Christ, after that our other good friends ought to be those who love Him. NO man's opinion is ever as important as the commands and mandates of Christ.

If we have a friend who attempts to undermine our walk or our calling as commanded by Christ, then those people must be ignored and even removed so as not to be a hindrance to us and the purposes of God.

John 14:15 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

"Forever" is the Important Word

For all those who think we can lose our salvation, look closely at this passage:

John 14:15-16
"15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

When we have become born again we love Christ, He then seals us with the Holy Spirit of Promise as a guarantee of our inheritance and Christ becomes our advocate, "FOREVER."

Did you see that? The word FOREVER ought to jump off the page, do not ignore it.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "…21 Now it is God who establishes both us and you in Christ. He anointed us, 22 placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come. "

Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."

Cognitive Dissonance in the Apostate Church

The modern church engages in Cognitive Dissonance.

The meaning of Cognitive Dissonance:
"the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change."

Regularly as they say they believe the Bible while at the same time disobeying most of what's in it. They accept divorce and remarriage, they are secretive, they present a false persona in order to be accepted, they lie when it serves them and deny what they do to others.

2 Timothy 3