Judges 21:25    In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

I know.  It's a strange verse for a blog of this sort.  But doesn't it describe our day when even many churches re-interpret the Bible to mean what they want it to say?  And we are not entirely innocent.  We pick and choose.  Instead of taking all of God's Word at His Word, we soften the language, we polish the meaning, we sweeten the consequences, and we live lives that don't have the significance for the Kingdom that God calls us to.

How would your life change if you took all of God's Word as truth to be lived out?  How do you think your community would change if you lived your life only and completely for the glory of God?

Psalm 118:5-6   Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?

The answer?  Nothing.  Man can do nothing that hasn't gone through God's hands first.  So don't fear.  Just trust!

Luke 6:37-38   “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

What you and I do for good or for evil comes back to us multiplied.  Do you judge others?  You will be judged.  Do you condemn them?  You will be condemned.

But when you forgive, you will be forgiven.  And when you give, it comes back many times.  I'm not talking about financial or material gain.  That's a distortion called the "prosperity gospel".  When we give in the name of Jesus, God gives us more of Himself in our lives.

And that's better than money any day!

1 Peter 5:6-9a   Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith…

Humility is the right attitude when we realize the cosmic war we are in.  Almighty God and His angels are doing battle with the devil and his demons.  He is looking for you and me to be in a place of vulnerability.

But when we humbly acknowledge our weakness and God's strength in us, we remain humble under God's hand, knowing that one day He will lift us up to be with Him.  Then we can resist our enemy.  We have solid faith in God's ability to protect us.

And in the middle of the battle, He invites us to cast ALL our cares on Him.  We don't need to worry about our own abilities or resources.  Why?  Because He cares for us!

Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Scientists are searching for what they call the "God particle", an unknown something that holds all of matter together when the positively charged protons in every nucleus of every atom are being repelled by each other. 

But we know that the "God particle" isn't really a "something", but a Someone.  Jesus holds all things together.

Do you need that reassurance in your life?  Jesus will hold you in His care.  Simply trust Him today.

Galatians 4:6-7   And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”   So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

We can come to our Father God freely because the First-born Son, Jesus, gives us access to Him through His sacrifice.  Praise God!

Revelation 2:12    The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Wow!  Another verse tells us that Jesus will give us a new name in heaven.  But even more amazing, He will write His own name on us.  That denotes ownership.  Jesus will give us constant proof that we belong to Him.  For eternity.  Wouldn't you like that?

Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

When Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the new covenant.  A covenant is a legal agreement.  I promise one thing, and you respond in a specific way.  Jesus poured out His blood.  The covenant agreement was that Jesus would die for you, in your place.  And your part is to live for Him.

Are you part of this covenant in the blood of Jesus?  Are you living in His love and grace?  Thank Him today for His covenant to you.

Lamentations 3:21-24
Then I remember something that fills me with hope.
The Lord's kindness never fails!  If he had not been merciful,
    we would have been destroyed.
The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning.
Deep in my heart I say, “The Lord is all I need;
    I can depend on him!”

The Lord is all you need, too.  Depend on Him for everything!

1 Corinthians 10:13   No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Have you ever tried getting out of an escape room?  It takes time, patience and effort to find your way out.  But temptation is different.  There is only one way to be certain that you won't give in to the temptation to sin.

Will power will not work.  Trusting Jesus to make an escape route, and following Him, will always keep you safe.  In any temptation, ask Jesus to show you the way out.  Then just follow Him!