August 24 2009 Daily Journal

August 24 2009 → Daily Journal

Just as an observation: it's much easier and quicker to empty the baptistry than to fill it.

OT Reading: Exodus 1:8-2:10 →Lots here about obeying God rather than man. About being a people that are so dedicated to living out who we are that we are perceived as a threat by the world. A threat to their well-being, that we will rise up and take over. We as believers in Christ ought to hit that point. The world should be afraid that self-sacrifice, love for others, joy, and compassion will take over. And either join us or try to oppress us. Either way, the Kingdom grows.

Proverbs 24:5-6 →Yet what do we do? We idolize strength and denigrate 'wiliness.' We want a football coach that will jam a running back up the middle 30 times a game, but never try a fake punt. Why? We prize strength over wisdom or knowledge.

Proverbs 24:10-12 →And this is why we still try to act in politics, even though the Kingdom of God is not of this world. We must act, even in difficult times. We must try to save those stumbling toward slaughter.

Proverbs 24:27 →Do what is necessary to survive, then worry about comfort.

Proverbs 24:29 →Repay evil with good. Just as God repaid our evil with good at the Cross.

James 5:1-6 →the first part of this is a warning. Are you growing wealthy by denying people their rightful wages? Do you leave small tips at restaurants? Do you skimp on what you pay people for work they do for you? Do you run a business but not pay your workers well?

The last verse, though, is enough for those of you who feel like you are getting the bad side of being underpaid. James 5:6 shows that the righteous man does not resist the evil being done by the wealthy. The righteous trust God to handle the situation.

Acts 3:1-10 → Read that, and think about what Peter and John learned in John 9:1-5.

Thanks for taking the time to read! Doug Hibbard