Psalm 119:113 - Double Minded?

Psalm 119:113 - "I hate those who are double-minded..."

This is a great verse to follow 119:112 "I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes..." 

There are a lot of 'religious performers' out there today.

And never stop to think that you ( or I ) may be one... at any given moment we are fully capable of putting on a religious veneer and appearing to be something we are not. Many make it a way of life and never know it... This is to the heart of Jesus' comment to the Pharisees  ' You are white-washed tombs'... look like one thing on the outside and dead on the inside. The worst part is even when confronted with it they did not see it. ( see also Luke 18:9-14 ) God desires our heart and will to be directed to Him... Our actions then follow ( Psalm 119:105-108) Instead we hold on to our will and direct our heart wherever we please and then throw Him a few religious actions once or twice a week.  Hosea 6:6 - "I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings".  He wants us to long for Him like a young couple in the beginning of courtship long for each other. He wants us to ache for Him when we lose track of where He is. He wants us to simply love Him...

Instead we love what we want and often never give Him a second glance. What kind of marriage would we have if we treated each other the same way we treat God. What kind of relationship would that be? Isn't this why we are given the examples in Ephesians 5 - Philippians 2 - and 1 Timothy etc...  What kind of preacher should we seek: one who speaks well or who is a 'one women man', one who is a great manager or one who is a great father?

We live in a world that does everything it can to pull a mans attention in every direction and corrupt him. And then offers hope in anything except the Lord... we are truly like sheep led to a slaughter. Wide is the road that leads to destruction. We also live in a world that promotes 'religion' and accepts a man who is on the outside 'religious' and on the inside corrupt and vile.

They are often our Sunday School teachers... Choir directors... youth pastors... and even pastors. But what you must see... they are all first men, husbands, and fathers. The attack today on the home is unbelievable and even worse is that it starts in the elementary schools... kids are being raised to put on a mask; not believing in anything or standing for anything other than political correctness. And then when they get home what do they see.... When they get to a church ( if they even do ) what do they see? What do they hear? Do they hear religious words - empty theology that sounds great but isn't explained. Do they see dad putting on his mask every Sunday? Or do they see a man serving others and stumbling after his God?  Why should they believe what the world is teaching is so wrong when they observe 'dad' playing with religion on Sunday and being entertained by the world all week? 

We must stop doing Christian things and start being truly Christ like. Take off the stupid mask... it really isn't hiding anything.  I agree with David... I hate those who are double-minded - mainly because I often see it in me.

Psalm 119:112 The first thought of the Day...

"I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes Forever, even to the end."

Is the first decision you make when your feet hit the floor in the morning "I am going to be faithful to the Word of God today"?  Is He before your eyes when you first open them? Is your heart leaning in His direction or yours?  

If you don't move your heart in His direction first your feet will never go alone...

It's always about the inclination of the heart not the "Religious action"

He simply wants you to want Him. ( James 4:5 )

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart...

What Happened to Capitalism? - Thoughts on Psalm 119:109

There is a lot being said today about Capitalism and Socialism.  A free market society based on a democracy without the government sticking it's hands in and trying to control it all.  We as Americans have always fought and stood for our "freedoms"... and rightly so.  Many Americans have died in the past so we can have the freedom we have, and take for granted, today.

So what does this have to do with Psalm 119:109?  "My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Thy law."

What makes a Democracy and Capitalist society great is the underlying values that support it.  A "Self-governing", morally based, hard working, caring society; all of which are founded on Christian principles and a mindset that "the world does not revolve around me" and "Love your neighbor as yourself". But when you take the foundation out of the equation you have the whole thing fall apart. Now you have selfish ambition and greed that takes advantage of the next guy for the sake of self.  When such freedom and power is left into the hands of a Godless individual nothing good comes out of it.  In His providence God gave us freedom but not without rules and divine laws. We have systematically over the past 30-40 years removed God from the home, workplace, and schools. He no longer influences the young nor those in higher learning. His ways are not observed nor is He thought of when we make daily decisions. Sunday is another normal workday and Wednesday prayer meetings are now ignored and we play golf instead. I don't have to go into the entertainment world and how much it has fallen over the years. We are increasingly entertained by the things that turn Gods stomach. Our marriages are rarely the example of Christ and His church and the Bible is hardly looked at in our homes much less lived by; it seems self-control is something we have forgotten all about.  We have earned the situation our society and country has fallen into; notice:

Dictatorship leads to a Tyranny - Tyranny leads to Anarchy - Anarchy leads to a Revolution - Revolution leads to a Democracy - Democracy leads to Socialism ( because of a lack of self restraint) and Socialism leads to a Dictatorship... such is the pattern of history. With freedom comes great responsibility... responsibility is a word we have all but forgotten.

This is what happens when you leave such freedom in the hands of a people that do not observe the law of God.... no wonder "Capitalism" is under such attack. The problem is not Capitalism... it is in the hearts of the people. An atheist today will recognize man as being corrupt and fallen. He just runs to man made principles to solve a God sized hole in the heart of man. And why not, most professing Christians aren't showing the surrounding culture anything different.

America - Mr. President - Governor - Employer - Husband/Father - Teacher and Coach;  if only we had not forgotten Him and His ways... our freedom's may not have slipped away as they seem to be.  But no matter what God is just as Glorious as He has always been and repentance is still available... Start in your home and pray for the home across the street and leave the rest in God's hands... He is not asleep at the wheel.

Best,

Scott

Psalm 119:105 THIS IS A FIRST!

Have you ever just taken a verse a face value and never tore into it? I have heard since I was a kid that "the word of God leads you through life" - Sure... I believe that. But explain that to me...

Well this may be old to you... but it's a first for me:

It sure is fun to meditate on scripture...

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet..."  - this indicates looking at where you are presently standing. This is an illumination at yourself and your present position, stance, situation, heart attitude, etc... Notice he is looking at his own feet. He is looking at his own condition. The beginning of it all is an inward look. The word of God must first shine it's Light on and at you! ( ie. "Get the log out of your own eye first"...)

"And a light to my path..." - This is in addition to the first. Yes the Word of God leads us through life. But it starts with us... then when your heart and "feet" are in the right place it then can lead you in the right direction. Something tells me God is more concerned with who you are more than where you are going. Compare yourself to the Light of scripture rather than to the people around you... they sin, you'll compromise. Scripture is perfect, you aren't. You'll deceive yourself... scripture will tell you the truth. You want to look at the world... scripture makes you look at God. This is Who we were created to look at... we just get distracted way to easily...

also look at Proverbs 6:23

What is the purposes of the Commandments? ( see Romans 7:5-25 )

What is it's teaching? ( Galatians 3:24 )

What is the purpose of reproof and discipline? ( Hebrews 12:5-11 )

also look at James 1: 21-26

-scott

Thoughts on Psalm 119:97-104 / James 1-4:17

All in the context of "wisdom" - defined as the knowledge of how to regulate one's relationship with God, knowing how to judge circumstances and "life situations" that we find ourselves in and how it ( the circumstances) plays in our closeness to God. You can see what's happening around you and determine what it has to do with you and God... what He is doing and why. The Greeks just observed the course and motions of the heavens, ascending to the mountain top to gain a better view of all things around them. Watching the sky to determine the course of the storm. What is a godly man to be looking at and watching?

Skillful, watchman, experience, prudent, balanced, truth, sensible, expert, wise.

How are these character traits developed?

Read Psalm 119:97-104 and at the same time read James chapter 1 through chapter 4:17

Key points:

Wisdom gained through hard times and trial...

Learning to know the difference between trials and temptation...

Being real... ( an effectual doer of Gods word not just appearance only )

So speak and so act...

The heart of man as seen (heard) through the man's mouth... 

Pure, Balanced...

Peaceful closeness to God...

Making the right decisions in one's daily walk...

Best,

-scott

Decisions, Wisdom, Understanding, and seeing in the Fog

Question:

How do you make a decision when everything around you seems to be in a fog? Are you even supposed to make a decision? Are you being led by God into a fog for discipline and training or did you stray into yourself - or both? Which way do I go; which way do I turn? Do I stay here until the fog lifts or do I try to walk in a certain direction? Do I ask the typical question, "What is the will of God" or do I accept the fact that He is in control and this fog is part of His will? ( by the way... I'm not asking if we should consider if He is in control. He is...) The ultimate question is if I know He is in control why do I so often act like He's not! 

I have noticed that foggy days can be nice...

The air smells cleaner...

Things seem to slow down a bit...

My focus becomes more narrow ( this is a good thing if you tend to work too much like me)

My coffee tastes better...

I take smaller steps...

I ask more questions and stop assuming and taking things for granted... ( I don't want to step in anything )

I'm afraid of moving to fast and hitting something or someone and hurting them and myself...

I get very concerned about every move I make... I don't want to make the wrong one.

I pray more...

I read more scripture...

I look harder...

I meditate more...

I listen more... ( hopefully speak less )

I stop reacting quickly to things... I tend to analyze everything and every detail...

...and in a crazy way things become more clear.

uh... Thank You Lord for foggy days!

Read:

Psalm 119:97-104; 105-112

James 3:13-18

-scott

Where are you at?

Well, it's been a while since I have posted anything. I have been reading a lot; just to busy to actually post anything. 

In spite of all the economic and political issues we seem to be hearing daily, things are good... God is still Sovereign, and nothing has slipped by Him. We just have our priorities out of order as a people. Seems like we are back to the tower of Babel all over again trying to build our little thing to reach the sky. As Jeremiah said, ( and I paraphrase) "You cut down a tree... burn part of it and warm yourself... make the other half into an idol and bow down to it!??!" Man continually worships and serves the creation rather than the Creator... Man continually professes to be wise and shows himself the fool. And God continually gives man over to a depraved mind... Just listen to the nightly news and you will hear it daily... man showing just how ignorant he can become when he refuses to acknowledge God. God sits on his thrown and scoffs... and so He should. 

Where does wisdom come from? Where is understanding? Where is "True Knowledge" found?

Where can we get trustworthy council? Where can we lean and hope? Where is security? Where is comfort? Where can we just escape? ( yes you can put down the remote and the video game controller) - SCRIPTURE! 

Read Psalm 119:97-104, 105 ( I won't comment yet, but would love to hear yours )

I've also started reading through Kings and Chronicles... along with finishing up teaching in the Book of John. 

Where are you at? 

How Much do We take God for Granted?

I'll be honest; the past few months have been a struggle. I guess it really started around the holidays, and continued through the first of the year. Nothing but business and a crazy schedule...mixed with free time and a lack of discipline on my part. A week of missing solid times in the Word easily turned into a month and so on. With my travel schedule the way it was I missed the solid accountability of my brothers at church and became more influenced by work. My mind has been pulled away from meditating on Gods Word and my discipline to stay in it has been replaced with a discipline to work. Not saying that my work is wrong... Just saying my priorities are out of whack... and I have found myself truly missing the Lord. It is amazing how faithful He has remained to me when I haven't been very faithful to Him. It's also amazing how empty you can become without spending valuable time with Him... A confirming affirmation to me that I am truly born again is the simple fact that I used to not feel this way when I went a short time without reading the scriptures. I used to not long for Christian brothers to just be around... It used to not feel like the world had actually been lifted from my shoulders when I walked through the church doors. I used to not feel like I had abandoned my best friend when I left my Bible on the shelf. Now I do.

All that brings me to Psalm 119:97-104. Interesting timing... I won't type it all, but read it.

I'll comment on 97... ( I will later go back to 89-96)

"O how I Love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." - 119:97

All I have to do is give you the lexicon definition for "love" with it sitting in the verse it is in, in context with the month I have had... and you should see where the conviction hits the hardest.

Love - ( as used in verse 97 ) An ardent vehement inclination of the mind and a tenderness of affection at the same time. Used to describe the close attachment between parents and children... the close ties of friendship. Jesus instructed us to "Love" (using this word) God more than anything else or anyone else, which Jesus indicated was one of the two main pillars upon which the entire O.T. rested.

Do you love the word of God like this? Or like me... have you taken it (and Him) for granted lately? When will my stinkin' flesh come to the reality that it isn't just putting a book on the shelf but actually God Himself... - Oh God forgive me.

-scott