No Hope in the Pope!

 Pope Chopper I Carries Pontiff into the Sunset

Joseph Ratzinger can now go back to being himself, a frail old retiree enjoying his December days of life, rather than the go-to leader of a billion people, plus or minus. His papal ring and red shoes will now be relinquished.

We will endure the process and wait for the white smoke over the Sistine Chapel to tell us another Pontifex Maximus has been chosen. I don't know whether or not the next Bishop of Rome will be the person described in Revelation 13:11-18. However, soon, a new Pope will be that man. (IMHO)

We must keep our eyes on the One Who truly speaks "ex cathedra" for He alone is our true hope. But it would pay to keep a watch on Rome, for the end of days is near and those arising to power on the world's stage are all suspect for their possible affiliations with the coming one-world leader.

Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath

Mat 12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

On this day, Jesus’ disciples were the children of the corn. The corners and end rows of the fields were available to the needy as they constituted the welfare program of the day. But, it was Saturday and His guys were hungry. So, they became cornhuskers and the religious spies didn't waste a moment in criticizing the Lord for this breach of cultural protocol.

Many are the Pharisees of our day, criticizing good believers for doing what they must do, even if it means going against traditional taboos.

So steeped in the law are the modern Pharisees that they condemn the guiltless and show no mercy to those whom they want to convert to their cultish legalism, but won't lift a finger to help them with their need.

Thankfully, we have a God Who works outside of the box of tradition and legalism, Who cares more about the soul than the methods, mores and mandates of man.

He never violates His Word, but He will move heaven and earth to meet the needs of His children.

Mercy over sacrifice, Christ more than the temple, true needs over the Sabbath.

Puppies and Piglets

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Do you feel like you have to always have the last word in a discussion or an argument? Resist that temptation. Those that have ears to hear will hear, but those who are blinded to the truth will resist it at all costs.

You possess the pearl of great truth in that you have Christ as you Savior, the Holy Spirit as your guide, the second coming as your hope and the Word of God as your anchor. The whole body of your other-worldly possession is so holy, of such great price, you dare not cast it before those who will blasphemously trample it underfoot. Moreover, they will turn and rend you, the messenger.

Let them yell and scream and spew their faithless idiocy, yours is to guard the truth and proclaim it to those who have ears to hear.

In Titus we are instructed that, A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (3:10)

We owe everyone a chance, a hearing of God's truth. But if they blatantly disregard and denigrate His precious truth, we are safe to shake the dust from our feet and to move on to more receptive hearts.

Don't argue with bloviating idiots who love to hear the sound of the sewage as it spews from their own lips. They are reprobate and God likens them to dogs and pigs. Bow-wow, Oink-oink!

'Nuff said.

Happy is the One Who Hopes in God

Psa 146:5  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

1. He is the Creator  -  Psalm 146:6

2. He is the keeper of truth - 6

3. He puts up for the oppressed - 7

4. He feeds the hungry - 7

5. He sets the prisoner free - 7

6. He opens blinded eyes - 8

7. He lifts up the downtrodden - 8

8. He loves the righteous - 8

9. He preserves strangers - 9

10. He gives relief to the fatherless and widows - 9

11. He executes vengeance on the wicked - 9

12. He reigns forever.  - 10

This is the kind of God that satisfies and always does right. Hope in any other tends toward disappointment. Hope in Him is always rewarded with satisfaction.

This is God!

Psalm 139

God's Omniscience (all-knowingness) 1-6 Such knowledge is too high for me 6
    He knows my activities 2
    He knows my thoughts 2
    He knows my words 4

God's Omnipresence (Everywhere present) 7-12 I cannot escape it. 7
    He is in heaven 8
    He is in hell 8
    He is in the uttermost parts of the sea 9, 10
    He is in the night  11, 12
    He is in the day  12

God's Omnipotence (all-powerful) 13-18 I cannot fathom it. 18
    He is in control of my entire life 13
    He covered me in the womb  13
    He made me in every detail  14-16

Thing is:
You cannot out-think Him, ask Isaiah
You cannot out run Him, ask Jonah
You cannot outlast Him, ask Jacob
You cannot out-give Him, ask Luke
You cannot out-love Him, ask John

Is He the Lord Sovereign of your life?
Do you recognize His Lordship?
    Over your worship?
    Family?
    Finances?
    Relationships?
    Life?
    Church?
    Witness?

Though men may strife to go beyond the reach of space
To crawl beyond the distant shining stars
This world's a room so small within my Master's house
The open sky's but a portion of his yard.

How big is God, how big and wide His vast domain
To try to tell these lips can only start
He's big enough to rule this mighty universe
Yet small enough to live within my heart.

What a Wonderful God!!!

Psa 130:3  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

7  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

The work of the cross is so complete, so overwhelmingly efficacious that the believer can totally rest in the forgiveness made possible by Christ's sacrifice.

It really has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Him. If we are His, we are forgiven, comprehensively. Our sins, past, present and future, are obliterated by the blood of Christ.

This is just another thing that causes us to shout, what a wonderful God, what a blessed plan, what a glorious Savior!

The Word of the Lord

Psalm 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalm 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

God's holy Word, you can trust it. Not the modern versions derived from the corrupted Alexandrian texts, but the received text. It is without error, pure, complete and trustworthy.

Let it speak to you daily, meditate on its riches, hope in its promises. Trust in its veracity, walk in its light, rest in its power.

The Word of the Lord is the best thing you could read today. There is nothing as pure, as uplifting, as alive as God's love letter to you. What was written to you as a guide for your footsteps so long ago is more than dried ink on ancient parchment. It is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. It will speak to your immediate need.

Read it today to be blessed.

Heed it today to be consecrated.

Share it today to be effective.