There is an interesting cycle of events that is described in the Old Testament after the tribes of Israel establish themselves in the “Promised Land.” The people follow God and his direction and the kingdom prospers, then they fall away into worshiping idols and they are destroyed by foreign kingdoms. Somewhere along the way they rediscover God’s direction and they return to prosperity. The cycle repeats several times.

Even subsequent to bible times we see the Roman Empire accept Christianity, then fall away into idol worshiping and the Empire falls.

Psalm 2:1-5 describes the process. The Living Bible translates it like this, “What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God! For a summit conference of the nations has been called to plot against the Lord and his Messiah, Christ the King. “Come, let us break his chains,” they say, “and free ourselves from all this slavery to God.” But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans. And then in fierce fury he rebukes them and fills them with fear.”

After hundreds of years of belief and reverence for biblical faith and morals in Europe and the United States, the Psalms’ words about nations wanting to “free themselves from all this slavery to God” sounds like a comment we might hear someone say today. Let us pray that we can turn the direction back before we see the “fierce fury” of God.

Dear Lord, You gave us free will and unfortunately many people give into temptation and turn away from you. Help us have courage to influence the people around us to return to your direction, for our own good and your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Many of us have read Psalm 37:4, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” Does that mean that if I really want a Ferrari, if I delight in the Lord, I will get one? I think Paul gives us some insight into that question in Philippians 2:12-13 where he writes, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

I think that when we “delight in the Lord,” or Paul’s words, “obey God with deep reverence and fear,” God makes us want the things that please him. Only you can know what these things may be, for you. They could be seeing the world, meeting someone in particular, starting a business, writing a book, or being a missionary, or volunteering at the soup kitchen. God has a plan for each of us.

When we remember to, as Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God,” and keep his will as our primary objective, what we want and what he wants tend to come together.

Dear Lord, many things about our lives are a mysterious and unknown, you made it that way for your reasons. Help us remember that we don’t need to figure it all out, we just need to focus on you and surrender to your will, then move forward with our lives. You will give us the desire and power to do what pleases you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you know people who are just cheerful, upbeat, and cooperative all the time? Or at least all the time you encounter them? It could be a coworker, checkout person at the grocery store, the UPS or FedEx person, or a relative. Though sometimes you may wonder how they can be so upbeat all the time, isn’t it nice to interact with that person?

Paul tells the Christians at Philippi, in Philippians 2:14-15 to have this demeanor, saying, “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Complaining is essentially telling others about our problems, and having some indirect expectation that someone else is responsible to solve them for us. God tells us we will have challenges, to make us stronger and better, and he will help us overcome them. When we complain, we are displaying our dis-belief in God’s promises and his power.

When we argue, we are likely to be focused on our selfish wants, rather than showing the love for others that God expects. Regardless of whether we disagree with someone’s views, we need to interact with respect for them. I like the expression; we can “disagree without being disagreeable.”

Bottom line, as Paul says, we should be striving to live clean innocent lives, and be that cheerful, upbeat, cooperative person that others wonder about.

Dear Lord, You know we are weak and struggle to follow your guidance in our lives. Help us improve. Help us believe your promises of support, guidance and protection, so we will live confident, cheerful lives and be the shining lights in this world that you intend us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Intimidate: Definition – to frighten into submission

Intimidation is used by our opponents to make us do things they want us to do, or to prevent us from doing things they don’t want us to do. It is the primary tool used by bullies, military powers, criminals, and terrorists. It can also be considered to be how the devil prevents us from doing what we know we should, by making us fear the perceived embarrassment, fear losing out, or fear being defeated if we stick to our integrity and ethics.

Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippians. In Philippians 1:28 he wrote, “So don’t let your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is God’s way of showing them that they will be destroyed and that you will be saved.”

With our faith in God’s strength, not our own, we can stand up to any opponent, be it a person, temptation, ridicule, or risk.

The, well known, story of David and Goliath is written in 1 Samuel 17. In verse 47 David describes what happens when we put our hope and faith in God’s power, “Then everyone gathered here will know that the Lord can save without sword or spear, because the Lord determines every battle’s outcome.”

Dear Lord, you control all things. Often we experience situations, people, and temptations that would intimidate us into improper behavior or inaction when we should be doing your will. In these times, help us remember to rely on your power to overcome and not be intimidated. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One of the necessities of life is making decisions with incomplete and imperfect information. “Do I buy the non-refundable airline tickets for the trip 6 months from now?” “Do I take the new job, or stay where I am?” “What curriculum should I choose?” “What college should I choose?” The problem with making these decisions is that we fear that we might learn something along the way that would have changed our decision.

Paul writes about this as it applies to our Christian life in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

We may not have the complete picture in order to make the perfect decision every time, but God does. Paul finishes this,, well known, text in verse 13 with, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” So if we put our faith and hope in God’s guidance and live in love for him and our neighbor, he will be there for us, and guide us on our journey through life. As yesterday’s message said, “God will not fail us.”

Dear Lord, you know everything, our every thought, our secret hopes and dreams, and you have plans for each of us. Help us remember to trust your guidance to make decisions and take actions boldly, knowing that if we do things in obedience to you with love for others, you will protect and support us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.