August 8
Ezra 7:1:-8:20 | PS 30:1-12 | Prov 20:28-30 | 1 Cor 4:1-21
Whichever side of the political aisle you land you will be attracted to news sources, sites on social media, etc. which will feed or further your position. On these sites are "experts" who are used to quote numbers, who possess impressive resumes, that are used to prove the position. We, the people, then quote that which we see on these sites. Journalism and the news industry are not and perhaps have never been objective. It is meant to sway public opinion. This is all done in our society which for the most part is utterly godless, even on news sources that claim to be on the side of God. We read in 1 Corinthians 4:5, "So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due." Only God knows the inner workings of an individual, who are any of us to truly understand. Many of us in the faith go on to say beautiful things about God, perhaps quote this or that from Scripture, but then often go on to explain why our anger is deserved since people are taking away all that we have worked hard to deserve, which should bring us to 4:7, "For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?"
The reality is things are not as they often seem. Those lifted up often should not be. Many who remain under the radar are God's true emissaries but are never seen in the spotlight of humanity, as we read in 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, "Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment." Big churches might have all the bells and whistles, might have amazing and large ministries, but might be moving in its own strength, while smaller and less well known places and individuals might be moving steadfastly under the supervision of God. Please understand, outside of being in God's Word constantly from cover to cover you are in no position to even discern. Even when you are in His Word we must hold onto everything lightly as we place everything and I mean everything under the Lordship of God.
Our nation often makes radical changes every four years as a new presidency gets underway. There are things that you will agree with and disagree with whenever this occurs. Interestingly, with our current president, though I appreciate much of what he does, it seems that many are simply blinded either falling into the camp of Trump derangement syndrome or what many would not want to admit, but Trump infatuation syndrome. Like any other leader we need to evaluate everything under the eyes of the God of the Bible. When we see the sending of Ezra to Jerusalem by the hand of King Artaxerxes of Persia, though we don't know everything that he is otherwise doing, in this action you can't escape noticing the absolute submission and humility under the hand of God. See how the king concludes his letter which accompanied Ezra in Ezra 7:25-26, "And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” So, may we and our leaders humble ourselves before Almighty God. May we evaluate everything through the lens of Scripture. May we not be swayed by public opinion and not read into things simply because we agree with an individual or a platform. God is right each and every time. When anyone stands in opposition to God's Word it needs to be seen as such no matter whether that person is otherwise on your side or not.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: