Don't Exchange Logic for Lies and Goodness for Evil

Our world has exchanged logic for lies and light for darkness.

Here's a true example:

A man asks a couple to sign a petition to prevent vets from crushing unborn puppies' skulls, tearing off their legs and pulling them from the womb dead without anesthetic. The couple are shocked and immediately agree to sign. Then the man explains that he's actually describing late term abortions for human babies and asks them to sign a petition against it. They refuse. (see video)

Logical truths are replaced with irrational lies: protect the puppies, but let unborn babies be mercilessly tortured to death.

Other examples:

✔ People who claim Christianity is hateful while defending the evil, violent, chauvinism promoted by the Muslim Quran. See The Truth about the Islamic Takeover.

✔ Those who reject their Creator but trust human minds to tell them how the earth was formed “millions” of years ago.

✔ Those who ignore the science of DNA and claim young children can change their sex.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:19-20

I'm so grateful we Christians were rescued from this darkness and brought into the light of Christ. Ephesians 3:8-9

Let's stand firm in the Light.

For more encouragement to shine see 7 Ways to Shine for Christ and to keep from losing heart in our ungodly world see Don't Let the Darkness Scare You. 

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5 Practical Ways to "Hide" God's Word in Your Heart

Imprisoned for his faith, Haralan Popov went five years without a Bible. When he found one, he knew it would soon be confiscated by the guards, so he memorized large portions, “hiding it in his heart” (Psalm 119:11). 

Even though we are not in such a difficult situation, it's still wise to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we can remember it in whatever situations we face. 

Here are some ways to do that:

1. Concentrate on Scripture passages by looking at each word and phrase separately, asking God to give you insight into how the passage can be lived out in your life. 

See A Fun Word Study for one way you can do this.

 
2. Write the passage and read it each day for a week or a month. This is especially good when going through a trial or overcoming temptation.

See A Practical Way to Deal with Specific Sins.

3. Draw a picture of the passage with symbols representing key elements of the verse. 

See my one-minute post on Bible Journaling and an example using Psalm 37. 

4. Write the passage in your own words (being careful to stay true to the meaning). 

5. Like Popov, memorize the passage. 

See 6 Tips to Make Scripture Memory Easier.

Leave a comment and tell me ways that you hide God’s Word in your heart. And please check out a poem I wrote about this subject: A Woman of the Word.

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True or False: Christ Didn't Call Out Sinners, Only Pharisees

It's so sad to see false teachings spread by Christians, especially when the false teachings encourage Christians to deny key components of Scripture.

Let me give you an example of a quote I've seen repeatedly on social media:  

“Jesus didn’t call out sinners—He called out the religious hypocrites.” This quote is typically followed by claims that addressing people's sins is unloving. 

 

First off, this statement is illogical. If Jesus didn't call out sinners but He called out the Pharisees, that would mean the Pharisees weren't sinners! But half-truths or lies in disguise, as I like to call them, aren't logical or scriptural.

1. Christ's mission was to call all sinners to repentance and salvation (Luke 5:32). If we don't understand our sinfulness, we won't understand our need for a Savior (Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:1-3; Luke 17:3-4; etc.).

 

2. John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord by calling out sinners: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:1-2).

 

3. Christ told his unbelieving brothers, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (John 7:7). 

 

4. Christ told his disciples their mission was to preach “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” to all nations (Luke 24:45-47).

Jesus called out all sinners, including religious hypocrites.

 

Ironically, people who spread this half-truth are actually behaving like the religious hypocrites, twisting Scripture to appease culture, judging others without first judging themselves (Matthew 7:1-5).

Let's not join them.

 

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See When Professing Christians Throw Remnant Christians Under the Bus for some helpful insights into this spread of lies in disguise. 

 

 

I hope you will consider buying my book, Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe. 

 

It explains how many teachings are blurring the line between Scripture and culture. 

 

I'm excited about it, and I'm praying it helps Christians discern false teachings and arm themselves with accurate biblical truth. Read more about it HERE.  

Lies in Disguise is available:    

At a discounted price from the publisher for a limited time: Lies in Disguise. 

On Amazon. 

And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

 

 

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3 of Satan's Tricks

Have you ever thought of making deliberate plans to overcome temptation? Christ's temptation in Luke 4:1-13 is a good place to start.

1. Christ was alone, fasting, and ready to launch His ministry.

2. Satan tried to get Jesus to make selfish choices instead of submitting to God’s plans.

3. Satan misused Scripture, but Jesus responded with the correct use of Scripture.

So what can we learn?

1. Satan likes to tempt us when we're vulnerable: hungry, sick, tired, discouraged, or preparing for important ministry.

2. We should question our decisions if they place more emphasis on our personal desires than on God's will (Matthew 16:24-27).

3. We should be aware that Satan twists Scripture. The better we know Scripture, the less likely we'll be deceived (2 Timothy 2:15).

If there are areas where you've repeatedly given in to temptation, pray today about making a plan for success, knowing that God will always provide a way out:  

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

For more encouragement, see Be Strong and What's Your "Achilles' Heel"?

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Do You Say Grace and Then Engage in Gluttony?

 

When a reader asked if I'd ever written a devotion on gluttony, I was surprised I hadn't. Maybe it's because I've crept into the overweight category as I've aged. Or perhaps because I know it's a sensitive subject. But remaining silent about gluttony for fear of offending others is as ungodly as refusing to speak up about other sins. So today I'm writing my first devotion about the sin of gluttony. ~ Gail

 

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Being overweight involves a lack of self-control, a sin problem we should battle. See We Need It: Self-Control.

But today I want to address gluttony which goes beyond lack of self-control. 

Since the 1960s, obesity in America has gone from 13% to 40%, severe obesity has gone from 1% to 10%, and childhood obesity has gone from 5% to 21%. This is a serious addiction we can't overlook, another sign that our culture is moving farther from God. (source)

Gluttony goes beyond a lack of self-control to idolatry. Food becomes an idol of pleasure for which people sacrifice their physical and spiritual well-being. 

Ironically, gluttony has two sides. Some people become anorexic or bulimic, starving and binging. I speak from experience because I was bulimic for several years in my 20s. I basically wanted to have my cake and eat it too (i.e., have low weight but occasionally binge like a pig). When I became a Christian, it was one of the first sins God helped me overcome.

If you're struggling with gluttony or lack of self-control in any area, I encourage you to ponder this Scripture that rescued me from bulimia:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13
 

Each time I was tempted, I realized that God wanted to help me, but I had to give up my idolatry to accept His help. 

 

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Please check out What’s Your Addiction? where I explain how overcoming bulimia came through the testimony of a man who was addicted to cigarettes. And don't miss today's Bite Size Bible Study for a short but meaningful study of gluttony with some helpful Scripture references. It addresses obese pastors and the importance Scripture places on caring responsibly for our bodies.

Notes

Overweight vs. obese: Medically, weight is defined as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and 3 levels of obesity (source). We can't determine in every case exactly when lack of self-control moves into gluttony, but it seems to begin at obesity unless medical problems are involved. 

Regarding eating disorders: I’m not saying there aren’t other elements involved in eating disorders, but they start with and are fueled by sinful desires. 

Bulimia: This eating disorder involves overeating (binging) and throwing up. Some bulimics do this several times a day, some daily, some intermittently, some only on rare occasions. 

Anorexia: This more serious eating disorder can involve bulimia, but it also involves self-starvation and leads to a distorted view of body weight. I'm not sure it could accurately be described as gluttony. It involves gluttony in some cases, but it's more about making a god of low body weight than making a god of food.

 

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