Some of the headlines in the news right now are indicative of just how upside-down the world is. As a matter of fact, it is amazing that the news media would even give some of these people a headline, except the media is about as far from truth and common sense as the earth is from the sun.

Here’s one: Hillary Clinton says that Americans worship guns more than life. This is coming from someone who advocates killing babies in the womb. Howard Stern calls Donald Trump supporters “Morons” who want to live under a dictator. This is coming from a guy who thinks lockdowns and vaccine mandates apparently are not dictatorial. These people judge others from the content of their own hearts.

In Ezekiel 22, the Lord God speaks about a situation in ancient Israel much like what we have in many places around the world, especially in America.

In Verse 25, the Lord God says,

“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.”

In Verse 29, The Lord says,

“The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.”

He concludes in verse 30,

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”

Sadly, He found none.

We all like to quote that verse about how the Lord searched for someone who would make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Him for the land, but we rarely quote the last of it, where He found none. Don’t get me wrong. There are many organizations that are standing in the gap, seemingly against overwhelming odds. There are many more people who are asking themselves and others, “What can I do?”

First, seek the Lord. Are there things in your life that are preventing you from seeing what to do? Are you discerning the truth for truth’s sake, or to confirm your own bias? Ask yourself, “what is the mission?” As individuals, we cannot solve all the problems, but the Lord knows you can help solve one of them. Ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to do. Don’t confuse the Lord’s work with political beliefs.

Remember what sets people free from oppression—truth.

As Christ said about his disciples in John 8:32,

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

We can’t defeat lies with lies. Discern the truth. Finally, taking a stand is doing what you can do where you are.

The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:9,

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Peter goes on in verse 12,

“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Pray. Know who you are. Put on your armor. Dig in. Make a stand. The Lord will work through you.

Posted in The Daily Jot

The loud daily din of the news media opining away about the evils of anyone who doesn’t agree with their form of liberalism takes a toll.

The constant stream of fake news leaves people with confusion over what to believe.

The visceral emanating from the mouths of elected representatives of the people characterizing those who disagree with them in foul terms wounds the nation.

Celebrities have gone wild in portraying as outcasts those who disagree with their humanist ideals.

We are living in a time when civility has become rare.

In the midst of this, be encouraged. We, as Christians, have a mission and a purpose. Take heart. We are to overcome evil with good and not grow weary in doing it.

Every phone call you make. Every letter you write. Every email you send. Every word you speak. Be encouraged. The Lord said in Isaiah 55:10-12,

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Neither be offended. The Lord says in Ezekiel 3:17-19,

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

No matter how long, no matter how difficult things become, do what the Lord tells you to do. As you do these things unto the Lord, you have made a transfer, so to speak, from yourself to others. It is now on them to act responsibly with the information. You have done your part.

God sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins that we might have life everlasting. It’s up to us to share the many facets of living out our salvation. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 exhorts:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”

Keep going. Keep doing. You never know when your action may be that last full measure needed to advance God’s plan. Never give up.

Posted in The Daily Jot