The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. -Nahum 1:3 NIV

Sometimes it seems like ‘justice’ will never be served — as we understand it. But, if you think about it, it’s a good thing that God is slow to anger!

A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor. Proverbs 29:23 HCSB

So often in my life I have been troubled by some issue and also have spent countless hours worrying about how I am going to deal with whatever it is before taking it to the LORD in prayer. What is that about? Simple. Pride.

From the days of Adam and Eve and their fall in Genesis until the present, mankind has used pride as a barrier to God and to fail bringing Him the glory He deserves. Pride caused Cain to murder his brother. Pride caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. Pride caused Saul to feel threatened by David and relentlessly try to kill him. Pride caused the disciples to argue over who would be greater in the kingdom of God (Lk. 9:46). In every case, pride caused harm to the individual and inevitable humbling to all who came under its control.

Let us all pray that our pride will be recognized by us and not get in the way of the Holy Spirit on our lives as believers!

Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up. -Hosea 8:7 HCSB

The expression “you reap what you sow” is an expression I heard my parents and countless others say many times over in my life. Even with that, I can’t tell you how many times I had to learn that lesson the hard way!

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
-Galatians 6:7‭-‬8 HCSB

Are you sowing to the Spirit or to the flesh? Fortunately, God is loving and patient, allowing us to change our ways and embrace faith in Him. Reap the best harvest of your life, an eternal one with Christ!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

We are new in Christ. Brand new.

When I was younger, we were able to go to a local tire store and buy ‘recap’ or re-treaded tires. New rubber treads were molded to old, worn casings. While the tires may have looked like new, they certainly were far from that. Often, especially on big trucks that logged a lot of highway mileage, the tread would fly off of the casing and be found littering the roadway. If the driver was lucky, they would not lose control of their vehicle and would simply put on another bargain-priced tire.

What would cause the destruction of the tire? Something new was molded onto an old, corrupted casing. The ‘inner man’ (casing) was corrupted from age and abuse and would collapse under the pressure and heat of the road.

Such it is with people. We labor in a fallen world under the burden of our sin. The longer down the road we travel, the more corrupt we become as we suffer the wear and tear of our separation from God. Often, we look for things to make us look good and feel good (temporarily). So we ‘put a new tread’ over our tired, worn-out lives. Perhaps the covering is a romantic relationship, job, a new car or place to live. Maybe it is gambling, drugs or alcohol. Whatever it is, if not from God, it is no more than a self-destructive covering on an old and worn casing that is bound to come off and reveal the corrupt and worn part that is our very being. More than that, the damage may be severe and permanent.

So what can we do? The answer is Jesus. He is the one who can renew our very being! Have you been reborn by the Holy Spirit? It’s as simple as asking the One who died for you to come into your life as your Savior. We cannot come to Christ on our own. It’s not a matter of being a ‘good guy’ or being a righteous Church member. Our righteousness is as “filthy rags” to God (Is. 64:6). We need Jesus. We need what He has to offer us: SALVATION. LOVE. A PLACE IN HIS FAMILY.

The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. -Proverbs 18:10 HCSB

Is there is ever a time to remember this truth in America, this is it!

In a follow up to my last post, I think it’s important to reiterate the need to be well-versed in solid biblical doctrine.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. -II Timothy 4:1‭-‬5 NKJV

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:9 NKJV

Many more verses will document the value of righteous doctrine. My prayer is that you know its value, study it and employ its truth in your daily walk with Christ.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. -Hosea 4:6 CSB

Please note, they were destroyed for lack of knowledge, not how they feel or what they ‘believe.’ Too often, Christians view doctrine as something divisive and not worth the effort of studying. Sadly, they are deceiving themselves and rejecting God’s directive to study and “show ourselves approved.”

Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. -2 Timothy 2:15 CSB

How do you regard doctrine? Do you spend time studying God’s Word to glean the harvest of knowledge He has there for you?

Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction. -Psalms 119:18 CSB

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -Romans 8:31 NKJV

How many times in my life do I need to remind myself of Roman’s 8:31? We live in a world filled with servants of Satan and enemies of God. It is natural that we will experience oppression if we proclaim the Gospel and live in accordance with what we acknowledge as Christian principles. So please remember: if God is for you, nobody can stand against you — from an eternal perspective.

Is God for you?

Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 15:5‭-‬6 ASV

So much division in the world is present that it is easy to become overwhelmed with all the negativity. From virus to racism to underhanded politics, our society is replete with animosity, bitterness and hatred. But what of the Church? Are we not to be pilgrims in this world, passing through while preaching the Gospel of peace and salvation? Thank the LORD that He is so patient with us in our sinful frailty and many failures. He is truly a God of grace. Do you know that patient grace that can only come from Him?

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “ Abba , Father! ”
-Romans 8:15 HCSB

I was fortunate growing up with the family I had. Although I didn’t know it at the time, my parents were loving and nurturing and good examples whenever I had the brains to notice. My siblings were also alright, all things considered.

So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. -Luke 15:20 HCSB

Did each of us as children have issues? Naturally. Did our parents love us anyway? You bet, each of us very much and without question. As far as humans go, filled with human frailty and sin, they did a pretty decent job. Can everyone say that? Of course not. We were fortunate kids, but I [for one] didn’t know it at the time.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. -Psalms 103:13 HCSB

As Father’s Day is almost upon us, perhaps we can all take some time to reflect not only on our earthly father, but give special thought and honor to the One who cannot be out-loved: our Heavenly Father.

In remembering your Heavenly Father on a day largely set aside for earthly Dads, please take time to think about your own children, should you have them, from a Biblical perspective:

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. -Ephesians 6:4 KJV