Christian Living

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. These words of Moses from Numbers 32:23 were spoken to the children of Gad and Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh. What did Moses really mean? Be sure your sin will find you out.
In order to understand, we must read and understand the rest of the chapter.

Traveling down the freeway, I saw it again. The bumper sticker on the luxury motor home said, “We’re spending our children’s inheritance.” Would we have seen this forty or fifty years ago? I think not. What has changed?
My mind went to the Sunday morning devotional. Brother Merlin’s (all names changed for confidentiality) chosen Scripture centered around Proverbs 23:23. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Buy the truth? How does one do that? Sell it not; how could one sell the truth?

We were just having a friendly conversation. The local bike shop owner and I were discussing a range of topics from current events to the weather. He suddenly changed the subject: “You know,” he said, “It is tax time, and it is a privilege to pay taxes. I want to help everyone change their mindset. If you’ve earned money, then you should willingly and cheerfully pay your taxes. It isn’t a burden.”

“So why can’t we go to Bro Tim and say that his eyes should be opened so he can receive his sight? They certainly could have done that in Jesus’ day! Is there something wrong with our faith, that we are unable to heal people like the disciples did when Jesus was here?”
I sat and pondered the statements made by the young man across the table. He was sharing his heart. His questions are valid. These questions make their rounds in our circles, and they deserve an answer.
There are some facts we know of about miracles:

Americans are somewhat obsessed with physical exercise and fitness. People of all ages exert themselves to extreme measures in pursuit of greater physical health. Folks go to significant measures to “workout.” Ironically, while people shy away from careers which require manual labor, they will invest time, money and energy into a daily or weekly “workout.” Even some churches are advertising a “fitness ministry.” One can observe folks who exercise almost to the point of exhaustion.

Proverbs talks about the simple ones. They are ignorant, unlearned, and naive. But the scorner is one who knows better and fights against the truth he knows. He rejects help from his authorities. Proverbs 9:7-9 says, He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Church Hymnal #426
Words: Benjamin Schmolk (1672-1737) was born to a Lutheran pastor in Silesia, Germany, a region now contained in modern Poland. As a young man, he once filled in for his father and preached a sermon so impressive that a local benefactor paid for his university schooling at Leipzig. Upon graduating, Schmolk joined his father as assistant pastor.

The concept of obedience is very familiar to us. We were all supposed to have been taught this at a young age. But yet we need reminders and succeeding generations will keep arising that need these concepts taught and reinforced.

We live in a day when “honor” is a very unpopular word in the world around us. Ungodly people do not want to obey any authority over them, therefore; they choose to tear down the reputation of those in authority and do not give leaders the respect God would have them show.
Romans 13:1 says, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

In the world in which we live, we are being challenged to conform to its controlling principles. We are in this world, but we are not to be a part of it. What does this mean for the Christian? The Bible gives us clear direction in Romans 12:2. And be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, (center of understanding), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”