The wrath of God poured out on the enemies of Israel
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
When God sets His plan in motion, He normally uses the most unlikely people to perform His will through. But one thing is always consistant. His actions are just and He wiil receive glory from them. Take the minor prophet Obadiah for instance.
Obadiah was an Edomite, (the people from the decendants of Esau. He converted to Judaism and was sent a message from God in a dream about the assured destruction of the Edomites for their constant antagonizing of the Jews.
Obadiah's own people turned their backs on him and did not heed the warning from God. Their immanent destruction was a choice they made on their own by hardening their hearts and not changing their ways.
As Obadiah, whose name literally meant "servant of Yaweh," had prophesied, God's wrath against the Edomites came to pass, just as was explained in Obadiah 1:15: "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."
God's actions will always line up with His word, and you can bet His glory will be delivered unto Him, and those who seek to follow in His will are going to be blessed.
I am often times perplexed when I hear a person ask, "If God was such a loving God, then why would He send someone to hell?"
They obviously don't understand the nature and the heart of God. God's will is that no man should perish. He doesn't want anyone to die and go to hell. Man, because of a hardened heart and a sinful desire, brings that fate on himself by rejecting the blood sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross.
If they would only open their hearts and see that God's will for their lives is perfect, they might would submit to that perfect will. But arrogantly, people say, "Well, I've made my peace with God and we have an understanding."
Do they really? It seems as though the deal is one sided and the sake of convenience is embraced.
When Obadiah gave God's message to the Edomites, he had hoped that they would have listened. Had they, God would have withheld His wrath as He did against Ninevah when they heeded the message Jonah gave them about their coming destruction if no change came to meet God's will. If their salvation was possible by their obedience, so is ours.
When we open our eyes to the truth, and allow our hearts to harken to the voice of God, the fruit of the spirit is planted. When we exercise that fruit, there is growth and oneness with the spirit. If not, the Bible says in Romans 1 that God will give us up to a reprobate mind and give us over to our sin.
What fruits are we bearing when we walk according to the flesh? We are bearing fruits of Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Stand For God and He Will Stand For You
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
When Esther was chosen out of all the land to be queen to King Xerxes, she had no idea what influence her crown and her faith in God would have on the survival of her people, the Jews.
Hayman, the royal advisor to King Xerxes, had a life-long grudge toward the Jews and usually took his frustrations out on the king's guard, Mordecai, who was a Jew, and incidentally, Esther's uncle.
Mordecai was in the right place at the right time one day in the palace when he uncovered a plot against King Xerxes' life. He exposed the plot and ultimately saved the king's life. Hayman was furious, as the king ordered him to throw Mordecai a parade and proclaim to the people of Persia that Mordecai was a man that found favor with the king.
The next day, Hayman devised a plan against Mordecai and the Jews. He went to King Xerxes, who trusted Hayman with his life, and told him that the Jews were secretly conspiring an uprising against the rulers of the land to overthrow it and needed to be punished. Hayman's grudge was against Mordecai alone because he refused to bow to the king and vowed only to bow before God, and God alone.
King Xerxes told Hayman to go about his plan and even gave Hayman his ring to seal the decree. So, it was set. In 30 days from that day, all the Jews in the land, men, women and children were to be killed.
Word got back to Mordecai as to what the king had ordered, and he went to his neice, Queen Esther, and pledge for her to go before the king to expose Hayman for his evil plot. The rule that was set before all the land was that anyone who dared appear before the king uninvited would be put to death, unless he held out his sceptor to welcome them.
Esther reluctantly agreed to appear before him, knowing then that this was why God put her in position as queen; to deliver the Jews from the evil plot of Hayman.
Of course, God was with her when she went to see the king. King Xerxes held out his sceptor and welcomed her. Because of her beauty, she found favor in his eyes. Esther came before the king, bowed and made her request known to him.
Being a reserved and honorable woman before God, she meant to expose Hayman in private, so to not bring any embarrassment to the king. She invited them both to a banquet, which she had prepared for them that night.
At the banquet, she told King Xerxes and Hayman that someone was plotting to destroy her and her people. The king pledged death to whomever it was, no matter who it was. Hayman pled for Esther to tell him who it was. Esther pointed at Hayman.
Hayman was perplexed and said that he would never bring harm to a queen that King Xerxes loved, such as her. She told him that it was him who called for the death of the Jews. That included her uncle Mordecai, who had saved the king's life before, as well as her; for they were both Jews.
King Xerxes was furious that Hayman had plotted to kill his queen and the very guard who had saved his life. He ordered Hayman's immediate execution. King Xerxes appointed Mordecai as his royal advisor, the position that Hayman had abused to push his own agenda against the Jews.
Esther was one of the greatest heroines of the Bible because she knew what she stood for. Esther believed in letting God fight for her as she submitted to his will. She walked in spirit and in truth as she represented her people to the glory of the God, who had delivered them from destruction time and time again.
With a little faith and the willingness to serve God and walk in spirit and truth, He'll do the same for you.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
When Esther was chosen out of all the land to be queen to King Xerxes, she had no idea what influence her crown and her faith in God would have on the survival of her people, the Jews.
Hayman, the royal advisor to King Xerxes, had a life-long grudge toward the Jews and usually took his frustrations out on the king's guard, Mordecai, who was a Jew, and incidentally, Esther's uncle.
Mordecai was in the right place at the right time one day in the palace when he uncovered a plot against King Xerxes' life. He exposed the plot and ultimately saved the king's life. Hayman was furious, as the king ordered him to throw Mordecai a parade and proclaim to the people of Persia that Mordecai was a man that found favor with the king.
The next day, Hayman devised a plan against Mordecai and the Jews. He went to King Xerxes, who trusted Hayman with his life, and told him that the Jews were secretly conspiring an uprising against the rulers of the land to overthrow it and needed to be punished. Hayman's grudge was against Mordecai alone because he refused to bow to the king and vowed only to bow before God, and God alone.
King Xerxes told Hayman to go about his plan and even gave Hayman his ring to seal the decree. So, it was set. In 30 days from that day, all the Jews in the land, men, women and children were to be killed.
Word got back to Mordecai as to what the king had ordered, and he went to his neice, Queen Esther, and pledge for her to go before the king to expose Hayman for his evil plot. The rule that was set before all the land was that anyone who dared appear before the king uninvited would be put to death, unless he held out his sceptor to welcome them.
Esther reluctantly agreed to appear before him, knowing then that this was why God put her in position as queen; to deliver the Jews from the evil plot of Hayman.
Of course, God was with her when she went to see the king. King Xerxes held out his sceptor and welcomed her. Because of her beauty, she found favor in his eyes. Esther came before the king, bowed and made her request known to him.
Being a reserved and honorable woman before God, she meant to expose Hayman in private, so to not bring any embarrassment to the king. She invited them both to a banquet, which she had prepared for them that night.
At the banquet, she told King Xerxes and Hayman that someone was plotting to destroy her and her people. The king pledged death to whomever it was, no matter who it was. Hayman pled for Esther to tell him who it was. Esther pointed at Hayman.
Hayman was perplexed and said that he would never bring harm to a queen that King Xerxes loved, such as her. She told him that it was him who called for the death of the Jews. That included her uncle Mordecai, who had saved the king's life before, as well as her; for they were both Jews.
King Xerxes was furious that Hayman had plotted to kill his queen and the very guard who had saved his life. He ordered Hayman's immediate execution. King Xerxes appointed Mordecai as his royal advisor, the position that Hayman had abused to push his own agenda against the Jews.
Esther was one of the greatest heroines of the Bible because she knew what she stood for. Esther believed in letting God fight for her as she submitted to his will. She walked in spirit and in truth as she represented her people to the glory of the God, who had delivered them from destruction time and time again.
With a little faith and the willingness to serve God and walk in spirit and truth, He'll do the same for you.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Jesus Was God And Man
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
Many a debate has been held about who Jesus really was. Some claim that he was merely just a prophet, a preacher who was out to reach the masses with a new story leading the people from the rule of the Pharisees. Some said he was Elijah or one of the prophets of the Old Testament who had come back to set the law straight.
Jesus ask Peter who he said Jesus was. Peter said that Jesus was the Son of the living God; the Messiah who came to save us all. The Pharisees called him a blasphemer, a rebel causing insurrection among the Jews in Jerusalem.
Christian comedian Mark Lowry once said that Jesus was the greatest preacher that ever lived because he never preached a funeral. He rose the dead. He went on to say that Jesus wasn't only the greatest prophet, he wasn't just the greatest preacher, he wasn't just the greatest teacher. He was a virgin born Son of the living God; He was our Savior.
John 20: 24-29 says:
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed
What, Jesus was God? According to the Scriptures it is so. John 1: 1-14 says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The man whom Jesus loved, John, bore witness to who The Son of God was, first hand as he followed Jesus through his ministry, And even after his death burial and resurrection.
What is a cult? A cult is any group with the religious beliefs That take away from the Deity of God as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who have three distinct characteritics, yet are all one and the same. Jesus told His disciples in the upper room during Passover that if they believe in God, believe also in him, for He and the Father were one.
He told his disciples that no one could come unto the Father but through Him. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is hope in the name of Jesus, and one can only receive forgiveness through the name of Jesus. Seek Him and His righteousness today.
Pray this prayer and mean the words for God knows your heart.
" Father, I come before you now, confessing that I'm a sinner by nature, and I cannot save myself. I have sinned against you by thought, word and deed; by what I have done and what I have left undone. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, come into my heart and save me, forgive me, cleanse me and renew me so that I made delight in your will and walk in your way, to the glory of your holy name. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
If you prayed that prayer while reading this article, and meant the words, not just to keep from going to hell, but to die to self and live for him, then you are a child of the living God. My prayer is that whoever did pray that prayer, has come to the point in their life where they realize that their sin offends God and they repent and go the other direction toward His will. God bless,
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Many a debate has been held about who Jesus really was. Some claim that he was merely just a prophet, a preacher who was out to reach the masses with a new story leading the people from the rule of the Pharisees. Some said he was Elijah or one of the prophets of the Old Testament who had come back to set the law straight.
Jesus ask Peter who he said Jesus was. Peter said that Jesus was the Son of the living God; the Messiah who came to save us all. The Pharisees called him a blasphemer, a rebel causing insurrection among the Jews in Jerusalem.
Christian comedian Mark Lowry once said that Jesus was the greatest preacher that ever lived because he never preached a funeral. He rose the dead. He went on to say that Jesus wasn't only the greatest prophet, he wasn't just the greatest preacher, he wasn't just the greatest teacher. He was a virgin born Son of the living God; He was our Savior.
John 20: 24-29 says:
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed
What, Jesus was God? According to the Scriptures it is so. John 1: 1-14 says:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The man whom Jesus loved, John, bore witness to who The Son of God was, first hand as he followed Jesus through his ministry, And even after his death burial and resurrection.
What is a cult? A cult is any group with the religious beliefs That take away from the Deity of God as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who have three distinct characteritics, yet are all one and the same. Jesus told His disciples in the upper room during Passover that if they believe in God, believe also in him, for He and the Father were one.
He told his disciples that no one could come unto the Father but through Him. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is hope in the name of Jesus, and one can only receive forgiveness through the name of Jesus. Seek Him and His righteousness today.
Pray this prayer and mean the words for God knows your heart.
" Father, I come before you now, confessing that I'm a sinner by nature, and I cannot save myself. I have sinned against you by thought, word and deed; by what I have done and what I have left undone. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, come into my heart and save me, forgive me, cleanse me and renew me so that I made delight in your will and walk in your way, to the glory of your holy name. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
If you prayed that prayer while reading this article, and meant the words, not just to keep from going to hell, but to die to self and live for him, then you are a child of the living God. My prayer is that whoever did pray that prayer, has come to the point in their life where they realize that their sin offends God and they repent and go the other direction toward His will. God bless,
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
God's Answer to Anger Management.
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
God places the responsibility of dealing with our emotions, our joy, our sadness and our anger solely on us, when we lose control of things. When we take our day and our frustrations out on others, especially when they are not to blame for how we feel, we choose to lose our temper. Free will takes over and leads us into sin. God says in His word that He has given us a way out of temptation, through the power of the Holy Ghost. It is up to us to take that avenue and flee from the evil wiles of the devil. However, most of the time, our problems are the most important ones to us. Sometimes, we have a hard time seeing past our own noses and our own circumstances, and we lose control.
We forget about the depraved and sinful individuals that we were before we accepted Christ. It was that nature that we gave into that made us realize that we were dead in our sins and needed God's forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. How soon we forget when the newness wears off. How soon we go back to being "the old man/woman" that we were before salvation. Colossians 3: 8-13 talks about that old man, and how we are to put off that old nature. Read that scripture here.
Then, the Apostle Paul also writes about the sinful nature of our "old man/woman" in Ephesians 4:22-32, here. The Apostle Paul knew the feeling of walking by sight and not by faith. He was, after all, the biggest persecutor of all Christians in his day. When he finally met God on Damascus Road to Jerusalem, he saw the tragedy that befell his victims of the torturous persecution that he dealt to them. This caused Paul to "put off" the old Saul (His name before becoming a Christian), and to "put on" the new man, Paul. One could speculate that he changed his name because of all the evil that he had brought on Christians.
The scripture about the introduction of Saul to Paul is written about in Acts 13:6-10. You can read that passage here. Paul chose to see what was clearly in front of him, through the revelation of the Holy Ghost, as he rebuked Elymas when Barjesus, a false prophet sought Paul and Silas in order to hear the word of God. Elymas sought to turn Barjesus and the deputy, Sergius Paulus away from faith in Jesus. Paul told Elymas that his way of thinking was of the devil and was the enemy of all righteousness.
Here's some food for thought. Every time we put our circumstances and our desires, however important and serious they may seem, over the will of God, our impatience and insubordination towards the Holy Ghost brings more hostility to whatever situations we surround ourselves with.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
God places the responsibility of dealing with our emotions, our joy, our sadness and our anger solely on us, when we lose control of things. When we take our day and our frustrations out on others, especially when they are not to blame for how we feel, we choose to lose our temper. Free will takes over and leads us into sin. God says in His word that He has given us a way out of temptation, through the power of the Holy Ghost. It is up to us to take that avenue and flee from the evil wiles of the devil. However, most of the time, our problems are the most important ones to us. Sometimes, we have a hard time seeing past our own noses and our own circumstances, and we lose control.
We forget about the depraved and sinful individuals that we were before we accepted Christ. It was that nature that we gave into that made us realize that we were dead in our sins and needed God's forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. How soon we forget when the newness wears off. How soon we go back to being "the old man/woman" that we were before salvation. Colossians 3: 8-13 talks about that old man, and how we are to put off that old nature. Read that scripture here.
Then, the Apostle Paul also writes about the sinful nature of our "old man/woman" in Ephesians 4:22-32, here. The Apostle Paul knew the feeling of walking by sight and not by faith. He was, after all, the biggest persecutor of all Christians in his day. When he finally met God on Damascus Road to Jerusalem, he saw the tragedy that befell his victims of the torturous persecution that he dealt to them. This caused Paul to "put off" the old Saul (His name before becoming a Christian), and to "put on" the new man, Paul. One could speculate that he changed his name because of all the evil that he had brought on Christians.
The scripture about the introduction of Saul to Paul is written about in Acts 13:6-10. You can read that passage here. Paul chose to see what was clearly in front of him, through the revelation of the Holy Ghost, as he rebuked Elymas when Barjesus, a false prophet sought Paul and Silas in order to hear the word of God. Elymas sought to turn Barjesus and the deputy, Sergius Paulus away from faith in Jesus. Paul told Elymas that his way of thinking was of the devil and was the enemy of all righteousness.
Here's some food for thought. Every time we put our circumstances and our desires, however important and serious they may seem, over the will of God, our impatience and insubordination towards the Holy Ghost brings more hostility to whatever situations we surround ourselves with.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Monday, November 11, 2013
A Veteran's Service is Appointed by God
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
Every year, November 11 is Veteran's Day. Some view this day the same as they do Christmas, Easter, 4th of July and Memorial Day, as a day to take off from work or go on road trips to see family, or just take it easy for the day. Life gets in the way for a lot of people and things get overlooked.
Tomorrow is a gift and it was God that gave us our freedoms. But God also blessed America with brave men and women who value the price of freedom and weren't afraid to pay freedom's price with their lives.
I heard a speech this week from a man named Major Charles Lanfear of the Texas Army National Guard. He told about a man who he had known for years. Major Lanfear did not know until this year that his friend had served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969.
When his friend finished telling his story, Major Lanfear immediately thanked him for his service. His friend thanked him, looked him in the eye and said, "You know, you are the first person who has ever thanked me for my service."
Major Lanfear Said, "It saddens me that a man could serve his country as valiantly as my friend did, and until 2013, had never been thanked for his military service."
To me Veterans Day is about you and I doing our part to make sure that no service member goes unthanked for their sacrifice and service to this country. They sacrifice everything so selflessly, while making sure that we are protected, and that liberty remains in tact and not taken for granted.
All gave some, but some gave all. Not all veterans have fought, but all veterans have served. Thank them while there's time and when you have the chance.
God Bless our veterans and God bless America!
Sincerely,
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Every year, November 11 is Veteran's Day. Some view this day the same as they do Christmas, Easter, 4th of July and Memorial Day, as a day to take off from work or go on road trips to see family, or just take it easy for the day. Life gets in the way for a lot of people and things get overlooked.
Tomorrow is a gift and it was God that gave us our freedoms. But God also blessed America with brave men and women who value the price of freedom and weren't afraid to pay freedom's price with their lives.
I heard a speech this week from a man named Major Charles Lanfear of the Texas Army National Guard. He told about a man who he had known for years. Major Lanfear did not know until this year that his friend had served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969.
When his friend finished telling his story, Major Lanfear immediately thanked him for his service. His friend thanked him, looked him in the eye and said, "You know, you are the first person who has ever thanked me for my service."
Major Lanfear Said, "It saddens me that a man could serve his country as valiantly as my friend did, and until 2013, had never been thanked for his military service."
To me Veterans Day is about you and I doing our part to make sure that no service member goes unthanked for their sacrifice and service to this country. They sacrifice everything so selflessly, while making sure that we are protected, and that liberty remains in tact and not taken for granted.
All gave some, but some gave all. Not all veterans have fought, but all veterans have served. Thank them while there's time and when you have the chance.
God Bless our veterans and God bless America!
Sincerely,
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
A Two Edged Sword.
by R. Douglass Mahaffey
In James 3, the scripture talks about the strongest and most effective muscle in the body, the tongue. James actually referred to it as a "two edged sword." He goes on to say that one who can briddle his tongue, or not offend the Spirit by word, is a perfect man.
The perfect man that James is refering to isn't the same kind of perfection as Jesus had, because all have sinned and have separation from God. James is refering to a person who is complete in their Christian walk. That person still has sin in their life because of the sinful nature that we have inherited from Adam.
What separates them from most people, spiritually, is that they have grown in Christ to the point where they have learned to control their tongue. James writes that when a person is able to control the tongue, that controlling the rest of the members of their body is easy.
Once that has been accomplished in life, walking in spirit and in truth becomes easier as well. But beware, as Jesus told his disciples, stay alert and in constant spirit of prayer, so that you do not fall into temptation. Jesus said that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
I used to volunteer for a community theater in Houston in 2008. The president of the theater board was a real harsh person. One would think that she would treat people with a bit of professional kindness if she wanted the patrons to return and continue supporting the theater.
I was cast for a part one summer just after submitting my membership in the theater. On media night, the photographer that the theater had used for years made a tongue in cheek remark about the hard-hearted president. The comment was something to the effect that "she had a heart of gold, but you would never see it."
What a sad legacy for someone to leave behind in this life that is but a vapor; here but for a season, then gone tomorrow like a vapor. When we get so set in our ways that people don't even want to be around us, how effective of a soul winner can we be?
When the great commission given to man by Jesus, during His ascention, was to go into all the world and make disciples of all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to do that, we need to love people and engage them to share Christ with them. How easy is it to win them if we can't love them? Love is a verb... so is hate. God is love. I encourage whomever reads this article to choose love, and choose God as well.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
In James 3, the scripture talks about the strongest and most effective muscle in the body, the tongue. James actually referred to it as a "two edged sword." He goes on to say that one who can briddle his tongue, or not offend the Spirit by word, is a perfect man.
The perfect man that James is refering to isn't the same kind of perfection as Jesus had, because all have sinned and have separation from God. James is refering to a person who is complete in their Christian walk. That person still has sin in their life because of the sinful nature that we have inherited from Adam.
What separates them from most people, spiritually, is that they have grown in Christ to the point where they have learned to control their tongue. James writes that when a person is able to control the tongue, that controlling the rest of the members of their body is easy.
Once that has been accomplished in life, walking in spirit and in truth becomes easier as well. But beware, as Jesus told his disciples, stay alert and in constant spirit of prayer, so that you do not fall into temptation. Jesus said that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
I used to volunteer for a community theater in Houston in 2008. The president of the theater board was a real harsh person. One would think that she would treat people with a bit of professional kindness if she wanted the patrons to return and continue supporting the theater.
I was cast for a part one summer just after submitting my membership in the theater. On media night, the photographer that the theater had used for years made a tongue in cheek remark about the hard-hearted president. The comment was something to the effect that "she had a heart of gold, but you would never see it."
What a sad legacy for someone to leave behind in this life that is but a vapor; here but for a season, then gone tomorrow like a vapor. When we get so set in our ways that people don't even want to be around us, how effective of a soul winner can we be?
When the great commission given to man by Jesus, during His ascention, was to go into all the world and make disciples of all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to do that, we need to love people and engage them to share Christ with them. How easy is it to win them if we can't love them? Love is a verb... so is hate. God is love. I encourage whomever reads this article to choose love, and choose God as well.
R. Douglass Mahaffey - Founder and Publisher of The Wise Conservative.
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