To Glorify God? - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. -
1 Corinthians 10:31

    Indeed, what does it mean to glorify God? I think of the concept and even say it often enough but do I truly understand what it is to glorify God? The term “glorify” coming from the Hebrew and the Greek are reflected in the words: great, heavy, honor and magnify. Glory is therefore something of great value. Glory, in Greek, comes from dóksa (dokeō). This is where “doxology” comes from: to praise God.
    So when we worship or pray we are glorifying God, yes? But the apostle isn’t talking about worshiping or prayer. He is saying “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” and he prefaces this command with a mention of eating or drinking. So it is safe to say, in fact, it is crucial to say that everything we do should be done to the glory of God! Whether it is the way we eat or drink or speak or dress or conduct ourselves we are to do it all to the glory of God. And that, brothers and sisters, includes all modes of self-expression. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- Colossians 3:17.
    So if we are to glorify God in all we do are we doing so in our daily lives or merely on Sunday, if at all? What ramifications does the command to glorify God have for us Christians in the 21st Century? Certainly there are many forms of  self-expression available to us in these days of Godlessness that in all probability do not “glorify God.” I believe it is incumbent upon us to re-evaluate those forms we deem harmless, or simply feel entitled to, despite scriptural notification. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. -
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
    May we all begin again today to reflect upon the holiness and splendor of our God who has lovingly saved us through the blood of His own son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Blindfold of Satan - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

    It has been truthfully revealed to us that in the flesh we can do nothing to approach God. Our flesh is merely the outward sign of death, both physical and spiritual. This is the result of being born with “the sin nature.” Thanks to Adam’s failure to obey God’s command in the Garden of Eden we, as his descendants, all share one thing in common as human beings. It isn’t our language, our race, our ethnicity or any other physical human trait: it is the sin nature. So we are all born into this worldly life as equals . . . in sin. Unless we are quickened by the Holy Spirit we will all die in that sin. Why?
    First, as I stated , we all share the sin nature from birth. But there is another factor that stands in the way of our coming to Christ - the blindfold of Satan! Satan uses everything in his power to keep us from seeing the light of God’s grace. The devil knows that if he can keep us distracted with things of the flesh we will remain disinclined to seek God, and his plan has worked well since the dawn of time. “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” - John 1:5.
    So we run from the glory that is God because Satan has blinded us to “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) When the holy Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to us we hide our eyes and close our ears and our hearts just as the devil has taught us. “Give me the world and the things that are of the world; things I can understand! We cry. Why? Because Satan has blinded us. We are born with no desire to see God and Satan reinforces that commitment to the flesh! “How then,” you ask, “is anyone saved?” - by the grace of God and only by the grace of God.
    Since we are dead in sin we cannot possibly do anything to save ourselves. God chooses to save us and accomplishes His heavenly will through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit quickens us and regenerates us into faithful believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Unless the Holy Spirit steps in to change our sinful hearts there can be no salvation.
This is the only way to salvation: the regeneration of the heart so that we come to believe and have a living faith in Jesus Christ. God chooses us; the Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts; Christ pays the price for our blindness and we are then free to see the glory of God! God - the Holy Spirit - Jesus Christ: this is grace. We don’t have to do anything; we can not do anything; we are powerless to do anything. The Holy Spirit, acting on God the Father’s behalf will open our eyes and our hearts to the saving act of self-sacrifice that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, provided for our eternal salvation.
    “How does this happen,” you ask? If your question comes from your sincere desire to know God . . . it has begun. The Holy Spirit has begun His work in you. Praise God for His love and grace! Others will walk away when you stay to hear that subtle voice in your heart. They will follow the flesh and blindly seek all the world has to offer. The blind of this world will walk unwittingly in darkness toward the pit, the lake of fire, but you walk in the light of Jesus Christ.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:8-10.
    May we all walk as children of light; it is both pleasing and acceptable to the Lord.
   

A Godly Civilized Life - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

    Recent events reveal an America that no longer cares to work for its own bread. Street riots, violence for the sake of violence, destruction of other’s property, and the pillaging of other’s goods are earmarks of a society which no longer cares about the Godly ideas of living an orderly life, earning their own bread, or walking in Christian humility. And any man or woman bearing the Christian title, "Reverend" who supports such violent civil disobedience is no Christian, but merely a false teacher!
    Detractors of the above statement will be quick to insist that the law enforcement officers in the lead-up to such instances routinely overstep their authority and are prejudicial in serving justice. But if those citizens most often engaged in such disorderly conduct were to follow Paul’s straightforward and clearly understandable commands would such violent confrontations still occur? How? How could they possibly occur if people followed the simple rules Paul set forth in his letters to the Thessalonians.
    “ . . . that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:11 -12. Let’s take Paul’s message in its natural order: “aspire to lead a quiet life” - Paul is simply advising us that conflict and uproar do nor serve God’s ultimate purpose for our lives. “mind your own business” - more trouble is caused by people who tend to place their attention everywhere but where it belongs. We need to exemplify the Christian life by attending more to the Godly things in this life and less to the worldly! “work with your own hands” - every man or woman who is capable of working should be working, not making excuses why they can’t or won’t work. There is a  twofold result that comes from putting Paul’s advice to the test: first, not only do you show those around you that the Christian lifestyle is marked by responsible behavior including dutiful employment. Secondly, such a civil behavior and work ethic results in a man or a woman being able to “eat their own bread” as well as glorify God in the process. I’m sure that the smashing of windows and the pillaging of buildings has never glorified our Almighty God . . . and it never will! There is no social gospel at play in the world. There is no Black Liberation Theology. There is no Feminist Theology. There is no Gay Theology. God has never ordained such heresies. There is only the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that all those who seek heaven take 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 to heart so that we can be what we should be in the eyes of our neighbors, but most  importantly in the eyes of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Positive Gibberish - James 4:15

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” - James 4:15

    If you do any communicating on the social media I’m sure you have encountered something like this uncountable times: some computer enhanced photograph of a butterfly with iridescent wings and an elegantly written message overlaid upon the photo saying, “I am a good person.” Aside form being just one of thousands of inane ramblings the example represents what is known a as “positive affirmation.” Seems innocent enough . . . doesn’t it? But once again - the devil is in the details!
    The notion goes something like this: never utter anything negative and nothing negative can ever come into your life. Always think and speak positive thoughts and your life will always be positive . . ad nauseam.
    From a purely human point of view people who adhere to such nonsense are not only annoying but truly difficult to interact with in an adult manner. For example, they say “We don’t dwell on negative things.” The truth is - they never even consider the negative side of life . . . at least not openly, so a serious adult-oriented conversation is out of the question. They prefer to avoid conflict rather than to take a position and defend it. Their condescension usually precedes them into the room. And if, God forbid, you hold a different opinion than they do they will give you the impression they are merely tolerating your presence. Sound like anyone you know?
    Here’s the primary problem with these “New Age Thinkers” - and that’s what they are - these folks are the very ones who most often choose a “designer god” that they find appeals to them the most! “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”  -  Exodus 20:2-3. In addition to being a New Age product these positive affirmations are spiritually crippling and lead to more desperation when the desired results fail to materialize. Of course, the proponents of this satanic nonsense from Phineas Quimby and Mary Baker Eddy at the turn of the 20th Century to the modern Word Faith Movement - Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn - all subscribe to the erroneous notion that you can “speak” prosperity and health into your life.  The concept is also known as “The Law of Attraction” and has been spuriously promoted through people like Rhonda Byrne and her book, “The Secret”. From positive mental attitudes to mantra-like mindless repetitions, people are lured away from the only real source of truth and contentment: Jesus Christ.
    Those of us who believe in God’s Word know that regardless of our circumstances the will of God for us will triumph. “ . . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18. And why, as believing Christians would we not want God’s will to supercede our own worldly desires? Your kingdom come. Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10.
    A young acquaintance of mine posted a “positive affirmation” by none other than Joyce Meyer the other day. I responded by suggesting that she pay a bit more attention to the belief systems of those she esteemed worthy of quoting: we are no longer “friends.”
     For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13. May we always place our trust in God to see to our needs. Pray and accept that His will for us is part of His plan and His plan will not be thwarted regardless of any “affirmation” - positive or otherwise.