Daily Wisdom

“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isa 2:11

Pride by nature is the most destructive aspect of man’s character; leading him to avoid humility, accountability and responsibility to God.  It creates entitlement in one’s spirit that leads to selfishness and their own means of sufficiency and dependence in efforts to seek personal wants and desires.  “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” Psa 146:3   Men’s haughtiness will be brought down by either the grace of God revealing the evil of their pride or by the providence of God depriving them of all that they were prideful of. It’s folly for man to think he can hide or shelter himself from accountability to God or in his continual denial the wrath of God.  The shaking of man’s heart will be felt by those who set their affections on the things of this earth.  He that cannot be reasoned by grace from out of their haughtiness and sin will soon be humbled and brought before God’s account. Israel’s continual sin was their choice to rely upon their neighbor/man instead of their God.  We’re all prone to self reliance and dependence that turns us from faith in God to self-faith in that around us. Let not man be your fear, nor your hope; instead hope in the Lord who alone will be exalted above all.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Psa 111:10

Haughtiness is a high heel shoe for the low man.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

God Bless America?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…” Isa 5:20

What have we become? A once blessed nation has resorted to systematically aborting children and selling their body parts!  We’re walking away from God and into judgment.  America has the largest abortion rate in the world and most incarcerated humans, God bless America?  We are more concerned about keeping up with the Kardashian’s than keeping up with God! We honor athletes who have been an abuse to society and caused death all because they can entertain us on the weekends, God Bless America?  We’ve taking God out of our schools, facilities and society, yet when killing sprees occur we hold vigils praying for God to help us, God Bless America? We take prayer and the bible out of schools, but incorporate them into prisons? We will not stand before God with an American shirt on or a flag draped over our shoulders, but we will stand before Him and He will ask what we did with Jesus? In Isaiah ch. 5, God condemned Israel’s actions for: (1) Exploiting others (vss 8-10), (2) Redefining God’s moral standards (vs 20), Pride (vs 21), Perverting justice for gain (vss 22-24); this greatly illustrates our society today, and because of these same sins God brought judgment upon Israel. How can we say or even ask for God to bless America if we are unwilling to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge our sin?  Woe unto America who calls evil good and good evil! 

What are you doing with Jesus?

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“…they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Zech 13:9

“it is my people:” not only by creation as the rest, but by devotion and worship, by predestination and infusion of grace, by singular Providence, by mutual love. As an infant child cries out for their mother, the human soul that cries for the Lord is heard above and beyond any other.  The ear of a mother can decipher, above a room full of cries, the voice of her own and claim her child as hers. In the same manner a child can be calmed by a touch or a softly spoken word from their mother, which comforts them in the assurance of unconditional love. The promise of the Lord will make us aware that we are His special, peculiar and covenant people; and as He called His people out of Babylon; He will answer your call and deliver you from any bondage by bestowing His favor upon you; and by granting His presence with them, as well as by the witnessing of His Spirit (Rev 18:4 & 19:1), and you will know Him as Savior, and claim Him, and acknowledge His as such; which is the greatest happiness that can be enjoyed (Psa 144:15 & Rev 21:3).

That which brings forth light; must endure burning.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Cor 9:6

God will allow the most amazing truths to come from the most unlikely situations.  I recall a conversation with an individual who was not accepting of the church and his need for a savior, but was able to ask a poignant question which had a lot of merit.  He referred to an article he saw in which it stated that a small percentage of Christians actually supported their local church with tithes or offerings. He stated he was surprised; he thought if we believed the bible and stuff about God Christians would be willing to support it and invest in it!  His statement was not arguable in truth, but what was amazing to me was the fact he was able to “get it” and yet many believers don’t.  Jesus in this instance sided with the individual I spoke with stating, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt 6:21)  Our investment in Christ is to go far and beyond tithes and includes our time and talents we use to invest in God as well.  Unfortunately my encounter was correct, too many Christians often sow a handful of seeds and pray for a bountiful harvest.  Are we as Christians investing in what we believe or what we desire, when it comes to our time, talents and tithes?

God does not want your money, He wants your heart and everything else will follow.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what so ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Mt 5:46-48

C.S. Lewis states it best, he says: “Do not waste your time bothering with whether you love your neighbor, act as if you did.”  In such wisdom we find a great truth – when we behave is if we love someone, will come to love them. In other words the command of God has nothing to do with feelings or emotions, but as everything to do with action. If we act in love our heart will soon follow suit.  Christ is calling us to a Christian life that is distinct and different from a world that loves selfishly and emotionally.  If we love by such things as denomination, church, conservative, liberal, pro or anti anything, how are we different from the world? How does such a Christian life illustrate a love of Christ that is different and distinct and creates a desire to be sought after?  We are called to a radical love that sets itself apart from a conditional human love.  We are to be radically different towards those who do not think as we do, live like we do.  Often others cannot see the truth of Christ in us because they cannot see the love of Christ in us. “For the love of Christ constraineth (binds together) us” (2 Cor 5:14)

Radical Christian love – radically changes a heart!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Jn 15:4

It’s said that the hardest mission is sub-mission to God. The world sees submission as surrender or humiliation and defeat, relenting to another’s power over you is often deeply resented.  Yet for the Christian there is a great irony and paradox of the Christian faith; submission is the beginning steps of a victorious life in Christ. This is achieved by our ability and willingness to see and acknowledge Christ great love for us and convicts our heart that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4).  By this effort we are able to turn over our desires, passions, goals, dreams, possessions and priorities for His will in our life.  It starts with our submission to a greater calling towards others and not our self, but what we selfishly hold onto offers nothing to the eternal kingdom of God.  The grapevine is a single vine that supports numerous branches and bears many grapes. In the O.T. grapes symbolized Israel's fruitfulness in doing God's work on the earth (Psa 80:8; Isa 5:1-7; Eze 19:10-14). In the Passover meal, the fruit of the vine symbolized God's goodness to his people.  Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are those who abide in a living union with Christ. But those who become unproductive—those who turn from abiding in Christ by turning to the world—will be pruned and separated from the vine and die and become fruitless.

Those who trust in self must abide in the results of self.

HSAY…Todd