Jesus Was Just Like Us

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 366
March 30, 2016 (year 2, day 1)

Even though Jesus had a unique birth, His life and experience was very much like everyone else...

"Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:21-22 ESV

RANDY: Things all believers share with Jesus:

1) Baptism - water baptism has always been a practice of the church.  Though it in no way actually brings salvation, only faith in Jesus completed work on the cross brings salvation, it symbolizes repentance from sins and acceptance by God.

2) Praying - Jesus prayed to God the same way we do.

3)  The Holy Spirit - All believers are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, and those that are preparing to enter ministry are supposed to also be Spirit Baptized, just like Jesus and like the apostles on the day of Pentecost.

4) Adoption into God's family.  Jesus was the only begotten son of God (meaning declared as a promise).  We are adopted into God's family and share in the inheritance of eternal life as believers.

There Is No Other Way

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 365
March 29, 2016 (one year of scripture posting)

The message has always been the same, repent of your sins and bear spiritual fruit (let your life show your repentance)...

"Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."

Matthew 3:5-8 ESV

RANDY: This scripture is quoting John the Baptist, and took place shortly before he baptized Jesus.

The Bible is clear, John the Baptist had the "spirit of Elijah" (an Old Testament prophet who was predicted to return just before the Messiah). And John was quite literally just a few months older than Jesus.  Both their mothers spent time together during their pregnancies.

John proclaimed the exact same message of repentance of sins that every prophet before him had proclaimed. After Jesus was baptized by John, and the Holy Spirit came upon Him, Jesus proclaimed this exact same message in His public ministry too.

The world has one single problem, and that problem is sin. The only way to deal with it is through repentance (turning away from sin) and turning to God for forgiveness. The next step is living a life that reflects that forgiveness from God outward to the world.

There is no other way...

Jesus in the Old Testament?

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 364
March 28, 2016

Scripture makes it very clear, Satan and Angels are very real...

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord , and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.”

And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by."

Zechariah 3:1-5 ESV

RANDY: Throughout scripture, God has made it clear through visions, His prophets, and even Jesus Himself, that Satan is the adversary of God, the accuser of mankind.

God often uses angels to help defend man against the power and accusations of Satan.

God himself takes away our sins and washes us clean through the blood of Jesus. 

I find it interesting that the phrase, "angel of the Lord" is used in this passage. That is a phrase often associated with the pre-incarnate Jesus in the Old Testament, and here again if you substituted Jesus in place of that phrase, it makes total sense. 

Maybe this is Jesus before he came to earth, being described as the one who takes away iniquity and clothes in pure vestments. That is the way Jesus is described in Revelation.

Just saying...

A Warning to All Who Preach or Teach

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 363
March 27, 2016

Refusing to preach the truth about God’s laws and words will curse a minister for not saving his congregation from its sin...

"And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand.

But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

Ezekiel 3:16-21 ESV

RANDY: God is deadly serious about the responsibility that ministers have to their congregations. Jesus said it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and be thrown into the ocean than to cause a young Christian to stumble in their faith. 

Here God says that not warning someone who is sinning that they are in sin, and that pperdon then refusing to repent for that sin, will actually make the pastor (prophet) responsible for that person's  spiritual death and will damn the pastor himself. 

Kinda makes you wonder how God views pastors that never mention sin in their sermons (Joel Osteen, and the like), and also pastors who refuse to call sin - SIN (all pastors who support homosexuality, abortion, etc). According to this scripture, they are directly responsible for the unrepentant sins of their followers if they did not make it crystal clear that the followers were sinning.

This should scare anyone who claims to speak for God in any teaching or preaching role. There is a reason God only wants spiritually mature believers whose own lives are above reproach as his official representatives.

New Mercies Everyday

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 362
March 26, 2016

Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that God gives us a fresh start each day...

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

RANDY: This particular passage is taken out of a long area of scripture where everything has been going wrong in the life of the writer.  Based on all the things the writer has stated, you could easily see them losing all hope and faith, and yet, they are praising God for his new mercies everyday.

Take a look at your own life. No matter how tough things look right now, know it could be worse, and also know that each day God gives you a fresh opportunity to seek forgiveness, to seek closeness with Him, to change your attitude from one of hopelessness to one of hope.

Have a great new day in God’s glory and mercy...

Teaching the Younger Generation

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 361
March 25, 2016

Is this the way the young men you know act?...

"Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us."

Titus 2:6-8 ESV

RANDY: Far too often, young men and young women think it is perfectly fine to speak crudely or rudely. Off color or dirty jokes are the norm. Disrespecting older people seems to be an ever increasing generational problem.

Is it any wonder that these young people are growing up into middle aged and older people who have no respect for authority, for the church, or for God.

Teaching the right way has to start when these people are small children. Maybe this is why God and Jesus spoke so much on the importance of leading children into righteousness and away from evil.

Evil People Are a Reality

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 360
March 24, 2016

Even though we do not battle against flesh and blood, but rather against powers and principalities, there are still evil and wicked people that we must pray to be protected from...

"Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 ESV

RANDY: There are those both inside the church and from without the church, who practice evil and wicked ways and have no faith in God. 

If you need examples, the Islamic terrorists that are killing people globally every single day, are a great example.

Those that say they are Christian as a public declaration, and yet their lives completely deny any truth to this declaration: Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, etc.

Pastors and church members who bring divisions within churches, driving away those who want to serve the Lord, for fear that they will somehow lose their own power and authority. God hates those that cause divisions, that is an abomination to him.

There are wicked and evil people who are under the influence of Satan, and we can pray for protection from God, against such people.

The Foolishness of the Wise

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 359
March 23, 2016

What the world thinks of as wisdom, is foolishness to God...

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 ESV

RANDY: The world thinks believing in God is foolishness.  God knows that trusting in the ideas of man is where true foolishness lies.

The reason that nothing will be fixed in this upcoming election, is that no one who will be of the ballot in November trusts in God.  All their plans will ultimately fail because they are not trusting in the only one who can make sure they succeed.

The Old Points to the New

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 358
March 22, 2016

God has been pointing to Jesus throughout all of history...

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe."

Romans 3:21-22a ESV

RANDY: Jesus is the living embodiment of God’s power and holiness on the earth.

All who have faith in Christ are saved...

Truth is Plainer than Fiction

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 357
March 21, 2016

Sometimes there are truths hidden in the minor details of a story...

"And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home."

Acts 21:1-6 ESV

RANDY: One if the distinct differences between Biblical accounts, and storytelling in the ancient world is the way that in tge Bible, there is no attempt to glamorize or embellish on the details of the story.  Things are told in exactly the same way you would write a letter to a friend to merely inform them about what you did on a trip.

Instead of fantastic stories and dramatic accounts, instead what we see are simple statements like, "we went here, we went there, we met these people, we did this while we were in this city." This is actually among the internal textual proofs that this account is history, and not fiction, like many other ancient stories such as The Odyssey or The Iliad, the stories about ancient Troy, etc.

The Bible presents real people, in real places, doing everyday things, without adding dramatic elements for effect.

This is the nature of historical accounts.

In Spirit and Truth

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 356
March 20, 2016

God is not found in any building or at any sacred place. He is found only in truth and spirit...

"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 4:20-24 ESV

RANDY: God has always desired to have people that seek Him spiritually and truly, not as a way to make a public spectacle of worship.

I guess this is why I have always felt closer to God in small quiet churches than big loud ones with all the fancy props.

I want to talk to God, silently and intimately. We hear Him speak back best in those times.

Do We Have To Preach Fire and Brimstone?

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 355
March 19, 2016 (being sick has made it hard keeping up with this)

A young pre-teen recently asked me the difference between heaven and hell.  Without getting too elaborate and without trying to scare him, I said heaven is where God is, and hell is where he is not.  Let's look at one Biblical description...

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.

Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him."

Malachi 3:16-18 ESV

RANDY: It describes God recording things about the righteous in a book of remembrance, perhaps the "book of life" that Jesus later describes as containing the names of all who are righteous.

The names of those not righteous are not in the book.

This is not a particularly scary view of hell vs heaven. This rather presents heaven as being like a father rewarding a faithful son with inheritance and not rewarding an unfaithful son.

We don't have to scare people into believing.  The Bible often focuses on the blessings of obedience rather than the punishment for failing to trust in God. We can do the same and it's ok.

Anyone Who Harms Children is Cursed by God

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 354
March 18, 2016

Scripture is beyond clear, harming children, especially leading them into sin, is one of the worst sins a person can commit...

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Matthew 18:1-6 ESV

RANDY: God hates all forms of child abuse.  From murdering unborn children, to teaching them hatred of others of different races, to physical and sexual abuse.

Throughout the Bible, God clearly says children are His greatest blessing for His people, outside of personal salvation. 

The next time you start to agree with ANYONE who proposes hurting children of any age, remember that God curses such actions and unrepentant perpetrators end up in Hell for such actions.

Action and Consequense

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 353
March 17, 2016

Sometimes when we disobey God, it can take a while before we see the results of that disobedience...

"Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out."

Joshua 17:12-13 ESV

RANDY: God had commanded the Israelites to drive out all the people in the promised land.  Instead, they decided it would be somehow better to force the Canaanites to work for them rather than drive them out.

So basically you have a society that has just been freed from slavery, now taking slaves, something God had forbidden them to do. 

Just because an action by Israel is recorded in the Bible, it does not mean God approves of the action.  There is just no attempt to hide the ugly truth in scripture.

The disobedience of this generation led to excesses in the following one who the Bible records, "Did not know the Lord".

This eventually destroyed Israel.

What we do today, matters for the future, even if we don't see it right away...

The Lies of This World

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 352
March 16, 2016

The world will trick you if it can...

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."

Colossians 2:8 ESV

RANDY: The world does not want you truly believing in Jesus, because if you do, you will stop indulging in all the sin the world has to offer, and you will start living a Holy and dedicated (to God) life.

This is upsetting to the powers that oppose God.

To try and lead you astray, those who oppose God will use ideas like scientific naturalism, philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, and even religious traditions such at Cathecism, Confirmation, ritual prayer, ritual fasting, prescribed tithing, and numerous other things that seem related to God but in reality have nothing to do with Him.

God wants us to live lives of loving  obedience and relationship with Him and other people.

Heaven and Hell are the Only Options

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 351
March 15, 2016 (I have been sick, trying to catch up)

What does the Bible say about the outcome of life...

"The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath."

Proverbs 15:24 ESV

RANDY: Heaven and Hell are real places and we will go to one or the other. Jesus himself spoke of this numerous times.

Sin Nature

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 350
March 14, 2016

This is the natural state of man...

"The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one."

Psalm 14:2-3 ESV

RANDY: People don't naturally seek after God. People love their sin more than God.

Reaping and Sowing

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 349
March 13, 2016

Don't be lazy or wicked...

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.  The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out."

Proverbs 13:4, 9 ESV

RANDY: We actually do reap what we sow.

Think You Can Get Away With Hypocrisy? Think Again.

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 348
March 12, 2016

Hypocrisy will be revealed...

"In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."

Luke 12:1-3 ESV

RANDY: One of the biggest complaints about people of faith has always been hypocrisy, saying one thing publicly and doing something different in private.

Jesus, gave a very stern warning to those who claim to represent God, that hypocrisy is not acceptable and God will reveal it, even if man overlooks it temporarily.

This warning should be a gut check moment to all believers, not to try and justify hidden sins. In the end, they come to light. 

I can think of numerous cases in the media these days, Bill Cosby, many priests in the Catholic Church revealed to be child molesters, famous pastors of large churches that have fallen into adultry or other sins, etc.

God has warned us, so we are without excuse.

Just Knowing Who Jesus is Will Not Save You

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 347
March 11, 2016 (a little late again)

Demons know who Jesus is...

"And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

Mark 3:11 ESV

RANDY: Several times in scripture, demons recognize Jesus for who he is.

Demons will not be saved on judgment day.

Head knowledge cannot save you, only a relationship with Jesus that he described as being "born again" can save you.

True Prophet and Messiah, Jesus

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 346
March 10, 2016

How do we know Jesus, and not any other prophet was the chosen Messiah for Israel and the world...

"So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord , and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died.

His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. 

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."

Deuteronomy 34:5-12 ESV

RANDY: Jesus, is the only Prophet to know and talk with God one on one and perform as many miracles, even more than Moses.

Any claims by false religions that there Prophet is the true prophet are denied by the lack of miracles.

You Never Know When You Will Go Too Far

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 345
March 9, 2016

Why is it that even when we see God's actions in the world, we often will still harden our hearts against him...

"So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the Lord , and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses."

Exodus 9:33-35 ESV

RANDY: Before God ever hardened Pharaoh's heart, he had hardened it himself against the things of God.

One day, after hardening his heart repeatedly, God finally allowed Pharaoh's heart to fully harden and he was completely lost.

Think about this when you harden your heart to God, we all do it from time to time.

Sometimes You Can't Take Your Actions Back

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 344
March 8, 2016

The Bible often records horrible actions of people, and sometimes the results are horrible too...

"Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.

And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

Genesis 34:1-4 ESV

RANDY: So Shechem raped Dinah, the daughter of Jacob.  After he had forced himself on her, he fell in love with her and decided to marry her.  So he asked his father to arrange it.

But it was too late, the damage had been done.  In the end, Dinah brothers ended up killing all the men in the entire village that Shechem came from, including him and his father, as revenge for raping their sister.

Jacob condemned the actions of his sons, but he could not stop them from taking vengeance for the rape.

The lesson is clear, sometimes we cannot take our actions back, and the consequences may be far more than we ever imagined was possible.

God Calls Some People as Ministers

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 343
March 7, 2016 (running late still)

God has always set aside a priest class from among His people. Even to this day that is still true...

"And the Lord said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the Lord —instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.”

So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273.  And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord .

And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs), and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.”

So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord , as the Lord commanded Moses."

Numbers 3:40-51 ESV

RANDY: Even though the New Testament refers to believers as a nation of priests, it also clearly talks about overseers as being in a special position and dedicated to  God for His work.

Why Was Jesus Sinless?

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 342
March 6, 2016 (running late again)

Ever wonder why Jesus was sinless?

"If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish."

Leviticus 3:6 ESV

RANDY: It has to do with the Old Testament sacrifice laws.  Jesus was the sinless, perfect lamb of God.

Some Things Never Change

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 341
March 5, 2016

Sometimes it seems like anyone who stands up against the status quo and political correctness in defense of God’s ways is in this same situation...

"And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him.

But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?”

And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus."

Esther 3:2-6 ESV

RANDY: This has happened with the gay marriage issue. Christians as a whole, are now hated because some well known Christians have chosen to stand in defense of God's word, rather than give into popular modern culture.

This is happening once again with the issue of rejecting Islam and Sharia law.

I see this continuing to get worse and worse over time.

In fact Jesus fully agrees with me.  He said in Matthew 24 that we would be hated by all nations, for His name sake.

Ever had one of those days...

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 340
March 4, 2015 (somehow this didn't post)

Ever had one of those days you just wish you had never been born...

"Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’  Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it. 

Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.  That night—let thick darkness seize it! Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

  Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it.  Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan. 

Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning,  because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes. 

“Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?"

Job 3:3-11 ESV

RANDY: Some days it just might be better to go back to sleep.

Does History Repeat Itself?

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 339
March 3, 2016

I try to let God lead me where he wants me to read in His word each day, and this is what he led me to today...

"King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."

Daniel 3:1-7 ESV

RANDY: I almost wonder.  Have you seen Trump Tower glittering gold in the evening sun...

Wedding Day

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 338
March 2, 2016 (running late again)

A wedding is a time of great joy...

"Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart."

Song of Solomon 3:11 ESV

RANDY: Whenever a man marries his wife, it is always a great joy to his heart and it is appropriate that all should rejoice at the wedding.

Marriage is used in the Bible as a reflection of God’s love toward us.
We are designed to be in an intimate relationship with God and it brings Him great joy anytime someone joins their heart to His.

We should always strive to be in relationship with God in a pure and Holy way.

All is Vanity

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 337
March 1, 2016

Every generation thinks they invented the wheel. It is as if they think no one before them ever thought of what they are now considering.  The truth is, the world just keeps repeating the same thing over and over.  God is hoping that some day we will realize that we just need Him...

"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?  A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.  The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.  The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 

All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.  What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

  Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.  There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after."

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 ESV

RANDY: As we head into this election season, remember that every type of government has been tried, and all have failed.

We cannot hope to vote our way to a better world.  We need to turn to God.  That is our only hope.

What is Prophecy?

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 336
February 29, 2016

When people deny God’s word, sin and lawlessness are embraced...

"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."

Proverbs 29:18 ESV

RANDY: Often this passage gets misinterpreted, because we think that "prophetic vision" is referencing future forcasting. In reality, Biblically speaking, words of prophecy are just speaking words from God. Since scripture in the Bible is all from God, anytime scripture is proclaimed, it is by definition prophetic.

Jesus himself spent most of his ministry quoting Deuteronomy and Leviticus to people.  There as very little futuristic prophecy in Jesus ministry, though there was some. Mostly, he just told people to keep God's commandments in principle and spirit, not just the letter of the law.

Today we see sin and a desire to cast off the 10 Commandments all around us, because as a nation we are no longer willing to listen to prophetic vision. We would rather hear from a celebrity rather than from God.