Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do - Psalm 33:8-15 (NLT)
Since the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade a lot of people have made their feelings known. Last week the lead singer for Green Day renounced his citizenship and stated he was moving away from the US. And, as normal people celebrated our national day of independence, we learned that many in Hollywood announced they were "canceling" Independence Day.
Actress Candace Cameron Bure, however, took to social media to reveal that rather than complain or criticize she prays over the United States. Taking a picture of herself and her dog, she wrote: “God Bless America.”
“Happy 4th of July,” she continued. “Independence Day!! I’m so grateful to live in the USA and I continue to pray for God's protection over our nation.”
She, along with her brother Kirk Cameron, believe in God and are faithful Christians. As such, she added Psalm 33:12 to her post, which says, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” She added, “What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord.”
Now, this week’s offering is not about Roe v Wade. It’s not about abortion. It’s not about Hollywood. And, no, it’s not about Christmas in July on Hallmark…
King Solomon - understood to be one of the wisest people to ever walk the earth - once wrote: “There is a way which seems or appears right to a person. But the end of that way is death,” (Proverbs 14:12). In a very real way, this is exactly what his father, King David, was saying when he wrote: “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. “
In other words, each and every one of us has an idea of what we need to do, where we need to go, how we should think and speak. We all have an opinion. And, actually, that is what makes our country great. Freedom of thought. Freedom of speech. Freedom of action.
We can make/remake all the laws which govern our society. We can vote one way or the other. We can blame others. We can yell. We can even leave the country when we want, why we want.
But, in the end, every single one of those paths leads to destruction. To death.
Why? Because those opinions and decisions are solely based on human wisdom - earthly thinking. And the human mind is a flawed, if not frail, thing. As such, so is its decision-making process.
Most of the things we believe - our opinions - are based on what we want; what is best for us; what we assume is best for others. What’s worse - is that most have abdicated thinking for themselves and instead think only what they are told to think - by the world.
And, here we are at the point of differentiation - between believers in and followers of Jesus and those who reject him. Followers of Jesus place their total trust in him, his words, his commands and in the leading of his Holy Spirit. On the other hand, those who deny Christ Jesus, trust in themselves and their wisdom.
It is not that followers of Jesus have abdicated their own free thinking and handed over the reigns to an unseen force only to be manipulated like marionettes. Quite the contrary. Disciples of Jesus fully realize the truth that they are limited in their thinking and generally selfish as well. Therefore, we seek to be better people and thus we have abandoned the right to ourselves.
As Oswald Chambers so powerfully understands it: “Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest.”
To whom - or what - have you abandoned yourself? Who, or what, do you serve? Whether we admit or not - we have all abandoned ourselves. Even Bob Dylan admitted this truth when he penned the words: “…you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed you’re going to have to serve somebody; well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord but you’re going to have to serve somebody.”
There certainly is a “way” which seems right to humankind…Where has that gotten us? We openly flaunt our right to infanticide. We gladly proclaim our right to bear arms - while our kids pay the price. We pay for women to travel to have abortions while refusing to care for them and thier child if they choose to give birth. We allow people with power and money to traffic our children. We continue to purchase items from countries where child labor is used. We sexualize our children and consider it to be healthy for them…And the end of that way is death.
Now, this week’s offering is not about Roe v Wade. It’s not about abortion. It’s not about Hollywood. And, no, it’s not about Christmas in July on Hallmark…
King Solomon - understood to be one of the wisest people to ever walk the earth - once wrote: “There is a way which seems or appears right to a person. But the end of that way is death,” (Proverbs 14:12). In a very real way, this is exactly what his father, King David, was saying when he wrote: “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. “
In other words, each and every one of us has an idea of what we need to do, where we need to go, how we should think and speak. We all have an opinion. And, actually, that is what makes our country great. Freedom of thought. Freedom of speech. Freedom of action.
We can make/remake all the laws which govern our society. We can vote one way or the other. We can blame others. We can yell. We can even leave the country when we want, why we want.
But, in the end, every single one of those paths leads to destruction. To death.
Why? Because those opinions and decisions are solely based on human wisdom - earthly thinking. And the human mind is a flawed, if not frail, thing. As such, so is its decision-making process.
Most of the things we believe - our opinions - are based on what we want; what is best for us; what we assume is best for others. What’s worse - is that most have abdicated thinking for themselves and instead think only what they are told to think - by the world.
And, here we are at the point of differentiation - between believers in and followers of Jesus and those who reject him. Followers of Jesus place their total trust in him, his words, his commands and in the leading of his Holy Spirit. On the other hand, those who deny Christ Jesus, trust in themselves and their wisdom.
It is not that followers of Jesus have abdicated their own free thinking and handed over the reigns to an unseen force only to be manipulated like marionettes. Quite the contrary. Disciples of Jesus fully realize the truth that they are limited in their thinking and generally selfish as well. Therefore, we seek to be better people and thus we have abandoned the right to ourselves.
As Oswald Chambers so powerfully understands it: “Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest.”
To whom - or what - have you abandoned yourself? Who, or what, do you serve? Whether we admit or not - we have all abandoned ourselves. Even Bob Dylan admitted this truth when he penned the words: “…you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed you’re going to have to serve somebody; well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord but you’re going to have to serve somebody.”
There certainly is a “way” which seems right to humankind…Where has that gotten us? We openly flaunt our right to infanticide. We gladly proclaim our right to bear arms - while our kids pay the price. We pay for women to travel to have abortions while refusing to care for them and thier child if they choose to give birth. We allow people with power and money to traffic our children. We continue to purchase items from countries where child labor is used. We sexualize our children and consider it to be healthy for them…And the end of that way is death.
The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.
May God have mercy on us. May we abandon our ways of death and turn to Him and turn to life.
Jesus, after all, is “the way, the truth and the life.” Let us seek him and live.WWJT - What Would Jesus Think?
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