GOD HONORED A KILLER!

The children of Israel were waiting for the disobedient generation to die off - before they could enter the Promised Land.

While waiting, some of the young men began going to wild parties with the local Moabite girls...Before long all Israel was joining freely in the worship of Baal (Numbers 25:1,3  LB).

God was NOT HAPPY about this disobedience.

Then, one of the Israeli men insolently brought a Midianite girl into the camp, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people...(v.6). 

In His righteous anger, God ignited a plague that started sweeping through the people of Israel.  Phinehas (grandson of Aaron the priest)...jumped up, grabbed a spear, and rushed after the man into his tent...He thrust the spear all the way through the man's body and into her stomach  (vs.7-8).

The plague was stopped - 24,000 people had already died!

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Phinehas has turned away My anger, for he was as angry as I, concerning My honor;  so I have stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended.  Now because of what he has done...I promise that he and his descendents shall be priests forever"  (vs.10-11,13).

APPLICATION
God will still honor men and women who will stand up for Him and what is right!  God will reward quick, decisive, action that defends His honor! 

However, we are to submit to the laws of the land according to Titus 3:1 and I Peter 2:13-17.  Any aggressive actions we take should be in harmony with the governing authorities - or we should be prepared to suffer the consequences of our actions! 

O God!
Courage is in short supply in the American church.  Raise up young men and women who will be angry about the things You are angry about!  Ignite a passion for You that will cause them to stand against all forms of evil - regardless of the cost.  Reward them with increased access to You and an enlarged influence in this culture! 
Amen!

PEACEMAKERS DON'T MAKE GOOD LEADERS

I am a peace-maker.  I want unity and peace above all.  I work hard to obtain and maintain peace.  I willingly sacrifice to sustain peace.  I want us all to finish the race together.

This is the very reason that I have not been an effective leader.  I have not been willing to make the hard call.  If my decision will anger or disappoint someone, then I back up from it. 

However, reality calls for tough decisions.  What's right is more important than what everyone will like!  I wish I had learned that earlier in life!  It would have made me a much more effective leader!

Dissonance is uncomfortable!  Differing opinions create tension!  Resistance causes fear.  Ideas have to be thought through carefully.  Spiritual discerning must take place.

But, what's right and best must take precedence over maintaining the status quo!  The status quo may be what is most comfortable, but it is probably not what is best! 

An essential leadership quality is courage coupled with justice.  This kind of leadership presents itself not with an "It's my way or the highway" mentality, but with a "This is the way and we must walk in it" attitude!

This leadership is not ruthless, but persuasive;  not insistant, but determined;  not uncaring, but committed to what is right and best! 

God, help me - even at this stage of life - to become more confident in my ability to lead.  Give me courage to believe that You want to work through my leadership to accomplish Your great purposes.

HOME LEADERSHIP I

A friend loaned me the book The Resolution for Men, which springs from the movie COURAGEOUS.  The book is well-written with excellent guidance for men. 

On page 74, I found what I believe to be the most important paragraph in the book:

God has put something into men that longs to be courageous.  And when a man uses that courage to lead his wife well, she tends to bloom.  She respects him more and experiences a greater sense of security.  She'll want to follow his lead, and she will feel safe in doing so.  But when a wife lives with a leadership void, she will feel constantly pulled into the position of filling it.  As she leads her husband, not only does her respect for him weaken, he tends to cower and become even more passive over time.  She can be brilliant and strong, but both of them will feel resentment toward each other and less secure together.  Nobody wins.  Everybody loses.

I see more and more men giving their God-designed leadership to their wives.  It's the path of least resistance.  It's the easy thing to do.  They think it will lead to peace if they always go her way.  It's open-season on men in this culture!  Emasculating men is the new sport of humor.  What men don't realize is that by abdicating, your wife is gradually, but consistently, losing respect for you!

Dr. Willard Harley's book, His Needs, Her Needs:  Building An Affair-Proof Marriage, informs us that admiration is one of a man's top needs.  If failing to lead causes disrespect, then a man stands to lose something that is VERY IMPORTANT to him! 

We live in a world that is increasingly recognizing the strength and capability of women.  I applaude that.  However, husband/wife roles were designed by God.  Adam was created first;  Eve was created to be his help-mate. 

If we disregard the importance of those roles, we will suffer consequences.  It truly is a prime time for men to exercise courage and step into the leadership role God designed for them!

[More tomorrow]

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Yesterday Debbie and I were out shopping.  This time of year, I always get hit with the same wave of discouragement while moving through the stores.

While walking through the Christmas section of a large discount store, I was checking the prices on Christmas lights.  Aisle after aisle were loaded with Santas, reindeer, snowmen, snowflakes, etc., etc.  I couldn't find any symbol that would remotely remind you of the One whose birthday we celebrate!

A few years ago you could occasionally find bells or stars, but they seem to have been put on the 'naughty' list now.  I wasn't able to find a manger scene in this store!  Debbie found one roll of wrapping paper that included the words: "Merry Christmas". 

The One who is the cause of the celebration is being completely removed from the recognition of the day.  The Holy Day has truly become a holiday.

We get cards from Christian friends that say, "Happy Holidays".  We even rode by the house of Christian friends who had "Happy Holidays" in their front yard.  More and more followers of Christ are exchanging greetings with the words:  "Happy Holidays".  Innocent people are buying the mantra of a secular culture!

Sorry!  I don't like to use this vehicle for disparaging rants.  Let's see if I can turn it around?

As for me and my house - we will forever celebrate CHRISTMAS!  My decorations will point to the Savior of the world!  Our cards will always convey a message about the One who offers us the hope of Heaven!  We'll put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with:

• candles and lights to symbolize the light of the world
• shiny balls to symbolize the gift of gold given by the magi
• tinsel to remind us to reflect His love to a needy world
• candy canes - which we call candy J's...for JESUS!!
• bells to remind us to ring out the Good News that a Savior is born!
• stars because of the Star of Bethlehem
• and maybe even a picture of Santa - kneeling at the Manger!!!

You get to make your own choices.  Are you going to advance the secular message or the true message of joy and hope?

2,000 years ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, a baby was born.  This baby was planted in a young Jewish girl named Mary, by the Holy Spirit!  This God-child was the Son of God - the Maker of the universe.  He came to give His life for you and every other person on earth.  His sacrifice for sin opened the way for your salvation.

Proclaim it or ignore it.  Make your choice!