Caught Thief

Ezekiel 45: ⁹ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.

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Budget time came around quickly this time. Cuts had to be made and I thought to myself “If we could only get rid of my boss and a few other scoundrels then there would be enough money for raises.” I called them scoundrels because this was an easy label to justify my decisions.

• There have been times I have been a thief in disguise.
• There have been times I have stolen someone else’s salary and position.
• There have been times I have fought off the mighty in order to gain ground.

Dispossessing was about the only way to get ahead in the company I was in. I mean the person above had to practically die out of office in order for everyone to move up a notch. The accepted method of moving ahead was to knock the person off the top and take the higher spot.  This was done through clannish slander and smear campaigns. BUT GOD wanted me to behave different.

• GOD said to me “Give up your violence.”
• GOD said to me “Give up your oppression.”
• GOD said to me “Stop dispossessing MY people.”

GOD wants me to have a heart “for” people, not against them. HE would rather I stay in the same spot and serve than to rip someone apart and conquer them. GOD wants “their” heart and it may take me to humble myself rather than exalting my skills. My purpose should only be to bring people to HIM.

• Are you trying to slander someone?
• Are you thinking the best for that person or are you secretly trying to dispossess them?
• Can you stand on your own merit by having GOD guide you?

Seeking Revenge

Ezekiel 25: ¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, ¹⁶ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast. ¹⁷ I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance on them.’”

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Seeking revenge felt good sometimes. I mean with anger boiling, I felt I had the “right” to inflict whatever pain or harm I could legally do to the person who “started” the fight in the first place. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD says to me “Get rid of malice in your heart, otherwise it can turn into hatred.”
• GOD says to me “Get rid of ancient hostility in order to move into the future.”
• GOD says to me “Vengeance is MINE says the LORD, I will repay.”

Letting GOD take care of those who trespass against me enables me to feel better about whatever is going on with “that” person. I can sleep and eat without a carrying around misery and pain. GOD wants me to ask HIM to forgive my trespasses as well as those who trespass against me. Instead of seeking revenge, I will seek GOD.

• Do you have malice in your heart against someone?
• Are you carrying around ancient hostility?
• Can you allow GOD to take care of the situation knowing HE will deal with you also?

Words are Mighty

Psalm 122: ⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

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Filled with rage, my poisonous words spewed out of my mouth. The problem was that the words kept coming out and soon I had filled the room with spiteful malicious paragraphs that I could never take back. Later, a thought popped in my mind. I wonder if this person is a follower of GOD.

• When my words are filled with hurt, they are not pointed at the kingdom.
• When my words are full of fear, they are not pointed at the kingdom.
• When my words are packed with pain, they are not pointed at the kingdom.

Words can go two ways, to build someone up or tear someone down. The latter of the two is very easy, especially when I am trying to get a point across. What I have found is these words do not bring peace. Yeah, “I” may feel better, but am I bringing peace to “that” person?

• GOD wants me to pray for security for people no matter how insecure they may be.
• GOD wants me to pray for peace for people no matter how contemptuous they may be.
• GOD wants me to pray for GOD’s prosperity which may mean a kingdom full of people rather than a bank full of money.

David was already very wealthy but he said “For the sake of the house of the LORD our GOD, I will seek your prosperity.” David knew that sacrifice was needed in order to lead a group of people who put their trust in the LORD. These people were excited about GOD and loved to worship HIM at all turns. GOD wants me to celebrate those who put their full trust in HIM. HE wants me to add peace to those who seek HIS face.

• Are your words pointing people to the problem or to the kingdom?
• Do you find poison in your words or can you point people to peace?
• Will you try adding GOD to every conversation you have today? 

Building People

2 Chronicles 36: ²³ “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’”

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Find their flaw, document it and express it to the network of people was the method used in this particular company to get promoted or more budget or more responsibility. It really seemed sad, but there was one person who I admired who said to me “Be a king maker.” As I pondered these words I wondered “How?” I mean I’m not on the top, how will I put someone where I’m not?

• When everyone is tearing people down I have a choice to be like them or not.
• When people are focused on slander, lies and misconceptions I have a choice to be like them or not.
• When the crowd is full of malice, poison and spite, I have a choice to be like them or not.

In the middle of a chaotic workplace, he was telling me to “build people up” rather than tearing them down. Those who will be in my corner will remain there and those who aren’t will not. I remembered these words as I worked in a very difficult neighborhood who did not focus on GOD rather they turned to gang violence.

We went out and invited people to the church and they said things like “I have no clothes to wear” or “I haven’t been in a while” but they came when we said to them “You have a lot to offer and only you can help others.” I prayed with people and by building them up, they actually came to the church. GOD drew them back to HIM.

• GOD wants me to build people up because that person is a new temple.
• GOD wants me to build people up because HE wants to draw them to HIM.
• GOD wants me to build people up because my words will mimic HIS and be full of grace.

Building people up can only be done when I can appreciate how GOD has made me. If I don’t like how GOD made me then I will speak poorly about others. If I can understand that GOD was very pleased when HE made me, that HE understands my flaws and loves me anyway, then I can be excited about HIS people.

• Are you in the process of tearing people down or building them up?
• Do you see people as a threat or GOD’s workmanship?
• Can you stop spreading your poison about “those people” and begin building up the flock GOD has sent to you?

Mind if I slam you?

1 Peter 1: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

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“Where were you?” questioned the person running the meeting. “We had a situation we had to take care of” was my reply and it was somewhat true. The situation was we had to settle the check at our long lunch that caused us to be late. “Whew, that statement worked, situation avoided” or was it?

Then it hit me… “Who were they to be critical of me?” Maybe I should tell everyone what they were doing last week.

• When I am dishonest it blinds me to truly seeing what is right.
• When I am deceitful I tend to cover myself by slandering “that” person.
• When I am full of slander I begin to form a mild variety of hatred that I quickly dismiss by pointing out their flaws.
• When I am caught in the act I quickly deny the situation or I put up my defenses saying “they made me do it” which shows my hypocrisy.

The best person I know to protect is “me.” I mean if it means I have to stretch the truth a little to protect “me” then who cares? A tiny fib won’t hurt will it? And besides GOD forgives me anyway so I’m clear right? Wrong! GOD saw through the Pharisees’ attempt of holiness mixed with sin and condemned their practice. HE won’t spare me unless my focus changes.

• GOD wants me to love those who are difficult to love.
• GOD wants me to act with the truth and diminish my deceitfulness.
• GOD wants me to admit my flaws instead of pretending they don’t exist like a hypocrite.
• GOD wants me to want HIM instead of envying someone else’s power, position or praise.
• GOD wants me to praise others instead of muttering bad things under my breath about them.

Craving “spiritual milk” means growing up through understanding what GOD wants of me, not what I want from HIM. It means understanding HE desperately loves me and has a wonderful plan for me as well as “that” person. Taste that the LORD is good.

• Are you hiding something?
• Do you know it is better to admit whatever it is so you can heal faster?
• Can you stop talking about “that” person and start talking about yourself?
• Won’t you ask GOD “what do you want me to do” and wait on HIS answer?

Which politician do I want to go to hell?

Titus 3: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

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Competition was thick in our environment. It took hours of conversations discussing viewpoints and perspectives on which direction we would go. I had to let everyone know how poor the other person’s idea was. Finally when the decision was made mine emerged victorious! My gloating could not be withheld. “People above me… I’m coming after you!” was the look on my face.

• When I act with slander I’m on the wrong path.
• When I act disobedient I’m on the wrong path.
• When I act with malice and envy I’m on the wrong path.

Really, really wanting my way makes me act in ways that don’t please GOD. I justify in my mind that since everyone else is acting with slander, malice and strife then maybe I should too. But I wonder what GOD wants me to do.

• GOD wants me to give my leaders respect and remain in doing what is good.
• GOD wants me to slander “NO ONE” because HE loves them just as much as HE loves HIS SON.
• GOD wants me to live in peace even with those who dislike me for HIS SON died in my place in the middle of my sins.

GOD is not a political party for “all have sinned.” When I esteem one human over another I lose focus on the only human who was perfect, namely JESUS. My prayers should be that all politicians worldwide bow to the SAVIOR who is the CHRIST.

• Are you caught up in the media frenzy of political races?
• Do you get tired of slanderous remarks or are you making them?
• Can you use the same energy you use talking about your candidate to speak about CHRIST?

A drastic change

Colossians 3: ⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

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Our discussion centered on women, cars, money and positions. We had our futures ahead of us and the lusts for all these things were prominent. There was a magic number for a salary when I graduated that would set fire to my life for a while.  I mean what’s wrong with having stuff and with “dating” a few folks? I’m still a believer right?

• When I am greedy it is difficult for me to be generous.
• When I am lustful it is difficult for me to relate to someone in a deeper way.
• When I am angry it is difficult for me to show GOD’s peace.
• When I am slanderous it is difficult for me to show grace to someone who may not know CHRIST.
• When I am foul in my language it is difficult for GODLY words to cross the same lips.

Lust, lying and language are all things GOD can easily forgive. HE knows I sin but forgives me anyway. Yet when I act upon these things there is an empty feeling.  The hole in my heart just grows bigger and bigger. What can fill it?

• GOD wants me to look forward to HIS kingdom and lose focus on the earth little by little.
• GOD wants me to walk on HIS path which includes fruit not destruction.
• GOD wants me to be new each day dropping a little sin off here and there.

It’s a process.  I am not going to be changed right away but little by little I am becoming what GOD wants me to become.

• Are you caught up in a lifestyle that is not pleasing to GOD?
• Do you feel you should make a change?
• Have you tried to seek HIS face?
• Won’t you let HIM guide your path?

GOD said to say “You are wonderful!”

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Part of me was bored and another part of me was tired of being pushed around so I joined a gym. After a couple of years of lifting weights I was transformed from scrawny to sculpted.  I could now hang with the fellas, talk about women’s body parts and dare people to pick a fight with me. I had finally arrived or did I?

• My unwholesome talk tears people down for my own gain.
• My rage and anger repels people from GOD instead of drawing them to HIM.
• My brawling and slander makes me look to pick fights instead of seeking peace.
• My malicious behavior causes me to hate the sinner and enjoy my sins.

I actually thought some people were pitiful and it was their fault for being scrawny. I mean look at me… I changed, so can you. Pull yourself up and get going. BUT GOD wanted me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to encourage people instead of tearing them down.
• GOD wants me to be compassionate with others instead of writing them off.
• GOD wants me to forgive people because HE forgave me.

GOD definitely doesn’t want me to become a jerk. It’s through HIS love that HE draws people to HIMSELF.  HE transformed my heart to show compassion and HE enables me to say “You are wonderful” to people who need encouragement.

• Are you fighting with someone?
• Do you have a need to win that argument?
• Are you feeling a little down about yourself?
• Do you believe you are wonderful because when GOD made you HE declared it?