Encouraged by God's Word

Archive for January, 2010

Hello Friends,

Okay, here’s another driving story for you.

For the past month or so at this one intersection, there has been one of those illuminated traffic signs. You know the ones they use when the traffic pattern is different and they want to inform all drivers of what’s happening.

Well this sign didn’t have any messages related to the traffic. It didn’t even have anything to do with road work or anything like that.

The sign read “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”.

Now we’ve all heard (or said) this on a number of occasions. “I’m not drunk, I’m just a little buzzed.” Now what exactly is “buzzed” if it’s not being drunk? It’s the same thing and if anyone tells you differently their lying.

See we try to justify our level of drunkenness in hopes of not making it as bad as it is by saying we’re “buzzed”. But if the truth be told, you’re drunk.

Don’t we do the same with sin? We tell ourselves that what we do is not that bad. Yeah we told a lie but it was a “little white lie”. It didn’t hurt anybody.

Sin is sin regardless if we think it’s big or not.

Why do we try to justify our sins? Why do we make excuses for our sins or make them seem as if they’re nothing?

1 John 3:8a says He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 

When we openly sin, regardless of what type of sin it is, we are glorifying the devil. You know the father of lies, the prince of darkness, the unclean spirit, the wicked one, the tempter.

We are saying that we are down with him and all that he stands for. We are telling people that we are associated with him because we do what he does and that’s sin.

Buzzed driving is dangerous and can be deadly just like committing a small sin. We can say all we want about how we can drive while we’re buzzed but if our senses are slightly impaired, we are putting ourselves as well as others at risk. And all it takes is a split second of bad judgment to have a deadly car accident.

The same goes for small sins. If we continue to commit what we consider small sins, we will more than likely remain a sinner because our perception is that it is not that bad. And eventually they’ll catch up with us and kill us.

The last time I checked, Jesus died to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), not just the big ones but ALL of them so let’s not disrespect God’s word and continue to commit any sin because we think it’s not that big.

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Friends,

How many of you have ever driven on the highway before? Do you know the rules of the road as it pertains to which lane to use while driving?

Just recently I was traveling on the highway and in the route I take there are some parts of the road that are four lanes and some that are only two lanes. Now if you drive you know that the slower traffic should stay to the right so those who are trying to move on can pass in the far left lane.

As I was driving and trying to reach my destination, every now and then there was someone in the left lane driving too slow and holding me and others up and this was really a pain in the behind when there were only two lanes.

Eventually I would move to another lane and pass them but it was an inconvenience. I was trying to move on but others were slowing me down.

These people were inconsiderate of other drivers who were trying to get somewhere and they were only thinking of themselves.

Isn’t this true in everyday life? When you have a destiny to reach there is someone who wants to slow your progress? They want to get in your way and keep you from moving forward?

Psalm 37:23 says The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.

Merriam-Websters defines Ordered to mean having elements arranged or identified according to a rule.

God wants to arrange our steps and He wants us to walk according to a rule which is clearly His word. He doesn’t want us outside of His plan for our lives. We have a destiny that is pre-ordained and NOTHING or NO ONE can hold us back.

God wants to make sure we are moving in the right direction that has been arranged by Him. And if we do that, God will be delighted. He will be pleased at our progress and accomplishments.

Does the Lord delight in the way you are going now? What steps are you taking to correct your mistakes and move in the right direction?

When you have a destination to reach, don’t let others get in your way. Keep on moving and do what you have to do to reach your goals. Do what you have to do to reach your destination.

Do what you have to do to please God!

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!