PLUS

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

I John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

A few months ago, a professor at Harvard Business School lost her job. It was due to an interesting ethical lapse that appeared to demonstrate a systemic problem. This professor was found to have falsified data during her research and thus lied in her publications. It was a stain on the university’s reputation and had ripple effects at other colleges as they had adjusted their educational policies to align with her findings.

The most fascinating element of this breakdown of academic integrity was the subject matter of the research – ethics and honesty. This professor was unethical about ethics and dishonest about honesty. It was lying squared!

The world all around us is looking to drag us away from what is right, pure, and true. They seek to alure us to their paths and attract us to their lives. It comes from the most prominent seats of power and the most revered of institutions. They will do whatever it takes to get us to conform, even if it includes lying squared!

The counter-cultural alternative is our Lord and Saviour, who is the way, the truth, and the life. He is calling us to be conformed not to the world, but to Him. In sharp contrast with the world, he offers what is good, and acceptable, and perfect. And His presence in our lives is greater than the things of this world that seek to lie and cheat and steal to keep their grips on humanity.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO AVOID BEING ALLURED BY THE TRAPPINGS OF THIS WORLD AND INSTEAD CONFORM TO CHRIST. Lying squared is all around us, but the truth is the far more attractive alternative.

Psalm 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

Psalm 115:9-11 “O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.”

On March 3^rd, 1865, Congress passed a bill requiring the words “In God We Trust” be engraved on all gold and silver coins. It was the last bill that President Abraham Lincoln signed into law before his assassination. Though that slogan had been engraved on some U.S. coins before that time, it was that federal act that first formalized an acknowledgment of the need for a trust in God into nationwide law.

These leaders were able to enshrine In God We Trust into the nation’s law because it was already enshrined in Christian theology. In a Biblically literate society, they had read about and understood the trustworthiness of God as revealed in His Word.

When God says something once, early American leaders knew to believe it. When He says something back-to-back-to-back, as He does in Psalm 115, then they knew it should be on the forefront of their minds. In fact, such a thing was well worthy of engraving onto those things that would fill every pocket and populate every wallet.

Interesting, there was a bit of a debate about engraving “In God We Trust” on every coin in 1865. There were those in Congress who thought that such a phrase was inappropriate. Interestingly though, it wasn’t because they were secular humanists who strove to purge every mention of God from their society. No, just the opposite. A contingent in Congress had a better alternative – “In God Alone Is Our Trust.” This group of federal legislators wanted to emphasize that God was not just to be trusted as a prominent element of society, but instead as the preeminent element of society. He wasn’t just to be highly trusted, but ultimately trusted. While it was the shorter more catchy motto that was signed into law, the more powerful intent is engrained into the fabric of American society!

PLEASE TRUST IN GOD AS NOT JUST PROMINENT, BUT PREEMINENT. Every time we look in our pockets, purses, or wallets, may we remember that God is to be ultimately trusted. After all, it is right to remember that – In God Alone Is Our Trust!

ADMIN: I won’t be publishing a PLUS blog next weekend, but please keep praying faithfully for widespread revival in the United States of America!

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:19-20 “But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.”

God’s contingent promises are powerful and meaningful. So are His warnings!

If we are faithful to humble ourselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God promises that He will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin, and will heal our land.

Alternatively, if we turn away from Him while forsaking His statutes and commandments and serving other gods, then we will become a cautionary tale for the rest of humanity and throughout history. The choices are stark, and the context should compel us today.

In II Chronicles 7, God had just created a remarkable edifice for His people – the temple. It was an amazing structure that embodied a stunning institution. And when God builds something grand, He reminds His people of the importance of staying right and getting right to retain the blessings of their heritage.

As we marvel at our nation’s 250^th birthday that is on the horizon in 2026, and as we ponder the powerful signing of the U.S. Constitution that we rightfully celebrated this past week, may we remember the starkness of the contrasts in II Chronicles 7.

God has created a remarkable governmental edifice for the American people. It is an amazing structure that embodies a stunning institution. And when God builds something grand, He reminds His people of the importance of staying right and getting right!

PLEASE GOD, MAY WE HUMBLE OURSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK YOUR FACE, AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS. Oh how desperately this land needs His healing! It is time to follow His perfect formula for getting right so that we can return to the blessings of our heritage.

NOTE: I posted this PLUS on September 6, 2018. It was immediately after I was publicly (though only reputationally and legally) attacked for my faith. Instead of my intended post for today, I thought a repost of these thoughts would be particularly relevant to the challenging times we now face seven years later.

Matthew 5:44-47 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Because we are Christians in America in 2018, there are those who will oppose us. They will curse us. They will hate us. They will despitefully use us. They will persecute us.

In reality, this isn’t unique to American Christians in 2018. It has happened to believers throughout history.

As we stand strong and unwavering in our beliefs, Jesus gives us the perfect checklist to follow. As we are cursed, hated, used, and persecuted, we are to respond in a way that is refreshingly different and distinct from the world. We are to do good to our opposition; we are to pray for them; we are to love them.

After all, this is the checklist that Jesus Himself followed. He loved those who opposed Him. He did good to those who hated Him. He prayed for those who despitefully used Him.

If we are to make the impact that God intends for us, then we are to follow His ways. They are greater than our ways!

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY RESPOND TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE US IN A WAY THAT FOLLOWS JESUS’ ADMONITION AND EXAMPLE. Maybe by doing so, we can have the impact that Jesus intends for us. Maybe by loving our enemies, we can prompt revival in this land!

II Corinthians 5:20-21 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

During our first military assignment in California, we bought a home off base. It was on a wonderful piece of property and we had the benefit of a very big lot at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Shortly after our move in, a kind neighbor who lived at the base of our street stopped by to say hi. He owned a landscaping business and offered his services at the market rate to take care of our yard. With a young family and a busy job, it was a welcome opportunity to shed some workload, but we weren’t ready to commitment until we got a bit more established.

A few days later, we took a walk around the neighborhood and noticed something important – his property was a disaster. The landscaping was non-existent, the yard was overgrown in some places and dead in others, and the property was an eye-sore. This quick observation made it obvious that we wanted nothing that he had to offer in the landscaping and yard maintenance realm. We weren’t looking for perfection, but at least a modicum presentability and respectability.

How is your spiritual landscaping? Is your testimony an eye-sore? I’m not talking about perfection, but at least a modicum of presentability and respectability. If not, people won’t interested in anything you have to offer.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, STARTING WITH US, TO LIVE LIVES THAT ARE FITTING AS AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST. It is important to remember that people are always watching to determine what they think about what you say you represent. It is critical that we live out genuine testimonies that includes at least a modicum of presentability and respectability.