Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: jesus

  • Billboard

    In the advertising industry they have a 3 second rule for billboards.  The driver of a vehicle should be able to read, process, and understand your message in roughly three seconds or less.

    What do billboards do? They represent the company or service or organization that they are advertising for. Whether it’s a product, service, or idea – that organization is represented by that billboard. That billboard reflects the belief or morals of that company or organization.

    Just like a billboard you are called to reflect God. Every day, every circumstance, every situation, in every word or action. Every second of every day you’re a walking billboard for God. You are the lens that people are experiencing God through.

    The way you dress, the way you eat and drink, the tone of your voice, your choice of words, your positive or negative attitude.  This is just to name a few of the ways that you are a billboard. 

    Somebody is driving by your billboard every single second of the day.  Your billboard never goes dark or is unreadable. It is always reflecting something.

    They don’t even have to be able to see you.  They can be talking to you on the phone. You can text them. You can be on the internet leaving a comment or post. You are still a billboard for God.  You can do nothing incognito.

    “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” Colossians 4:6 NIV

    You are to be an enhancer. An enhancer is anything used to improve, strengthen, or add value to the quality of something.

    Are you doing that today?  In your work, at home, with friends, on the internet, in the aisle of the grocery store, on the phone to the insurance representative, getting a soda at the gas station or your cup of coffee at Starbucks.  Does the person at the drive up window see God’s reflection when they get the order wrong?   

    Today you will only have 3 seconds to show God.  Are you in the right relationship with God to properly reflect His Image?

    It is not a religion, it is a relationship.

    Prayers and love for all.

    Larry

  • Where is Your Desire

    “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord”. Hosea 5:4 NIV

    “The wicked things that the people have done keep them from returning to their God. They have a spirit of prostitution, and they don’t know the Lord”. Hosea 5:4 God’s Word Translation.

    This explains that the people of Israel could not return to God because their sinful habits and love for idols controlled their hearts. They ignored God’s ways and chose a “spirit of prostitution,” meaning they chased after worldly things instead of knowing and obeying the Lord.

    Can someone lose their Salvation? Can someone lose God? Maybe we are considering the wrong question.

    What if the real danger isn’t losing God, but losing your desire to return to Him?

    While I fully believe that God never shuts the door of Salvation. The Gate is always open, and the Shepherd will always let into the fold any sheep that knows His voice.

    This verse is telling you that your habits and desires may get you to a time where you do not desire to hear the voice of the Shephard.

    This doesn’t mean that the Shepherd shut the gate on their salvation. It means their actions were the result of their choices and those choices changed their desires and changed them. The sheep stop desiring to come into the fold.

    Even when the Shepherd left the flock and went to find the one that was lost.  That Sheep did not want to return to the fold because it thought the grass was greener where it was. It said, “I am fine on my own”.  I don’t need a Shepherd. I can find green grass and nice water on my own.

    The desire to listen to the Shepherds voice was no longer there. 

    This is how sin works.  What begins as a decision slowly becomes a pattern. Patterns begin to shape desires. And over time, those desires change our identity.

    You have heard me say that you cannot eat one Lays Potato Chip.  One chip leads to eating a whole bag.  Once you start you are destined to eat them all.

    Once you have eaten the bag you no longer want the fruit of the Spirit. You are full of what the world has to offer, and you no longer have room for the guidance of the Shepherd.

    This is the sin against the Holy Spirit.  Constantly not listening, not acknowledging the prompts and nudges from the Holy Spirit.

    This does not mean that God is unwilling to forgive or offer Salvation. Both are always available. What this describes is an attitude of permanent, unrepentant rejection of God.  The Voice of the Shepherd is no longer reaching the internal parts of the brain.   

    You keep wanting Control and will not listen the Shepards voice.

    If you constantly choose to look for satisfaction in the wrong places, you cannot experience a close relationship with God. God wants a heart that acknowledges its mistakes and actively seeks Him.

    Keep your eyes and ears on things above.  Not on worldly desires, news shows and the draw of social media and the internet.  You cannot hear the Holy Spirit when the noise of this world is drowning it out.

    Shut it off! Be honest with yourself and ask what your desires are today.  The World or the Voice of the Spirit?

    You cannot serve and listen to both.  You can only serve one master.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Who Are the Righteous

    “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”, Proverbs 24:16 NIV

    What a wonderful promise from God to all those that strife to follow Him in this world of evil.

    First, we need to look at the biblical definition of what a Righteous man is.

    The Bible says that Abraham believed God, and it was “credited to him as righteousness”. It is a gift of God’s grace, not something a man can earn by his own strength.

    Righteousness is gifted to you.  You do not earn this by your perfection of keeping any or all religious rules.

    In the original Hebrew, the word for Righteous is tzaddik. It means to live in a right relationship with God and others. It is about trusting God and showing mercy and humility, rather than just following a set of strict rules.

    A righteous man is someone who lives in a right relationship with God and treats others with justice, mercy, and truth. He is not a flawless person, but one who genuinely trusts God, repents when he fails, and strives to obey God’s commands.

    The Bible tells us that these are the characteristics of a righteous person.

    He acts justly: He is fair, honest, and treats the poor and vulnerable with respect.

    He keeps his word: He does what is right, even when it costs him.

    He controls his tongue: He does not gossip, lie, or use his words to hurt others.

    He loves mercy: He forgives others and shows grace, just as God has shown grace to him.

    God gives another promise to the righteous person.

    “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all”, Psalm 34:19 NIV

    “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous”, Psalm 1:6 NIV

    To put it simply a righteous man is one whose focus is solely on building a relationship with God.  Trying to let the Holy Spirit control and guide his life.  Not believing that any rule keeping will ever get him to attain eternal life. The Law is very important because it points out where my relationship needs work on.  The Law in of itself has no saving power.  Only a relationship with God does.

    How do we know that God loves to save the righteous?

    Look no farther that the story of Peter.  The disciples were sent by Jesus to go across the sea by boat.  In the middle of the night while they were rowing hard against the wind and waves. Jesus came to them walking on the water.  Peter upon hearing that it was his master, teacher, and savior asked to be able to walk on the water to Jesus.  A huge step in Faith for a fisherman who knows that no one can walk on the water.  He steps out of the boat and is walking along fine, keeping his eyes on the one that can give him the ability to walk on the water.  Peter is a righteous man, trusting Jesus with everything at that moment.

    Then Peter starts letting the problems of the world confuse him about where his eyes and mind should be focused on.  He starts to see the waves and the wind, and he gets distracted and immediately starts to sink under the pressure of the moment. 

    Yet, what is the first thing Peter sees when his eyes and focus go back to his Savior.  He sees that perfect hand of Jesus reaching out to save him from the depths.

    Jesus was there immediately when Peter cried out for help.  No condemnation, just a saving hand. Jesus was there for the righteous man.

    You are going to have bad times.  The world and its evil are all around you.  Your mind may be getting distracted by the news and happenings of this world.  You may be in pain and depression.  God does not expect you to live a perfect life.

    “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again”, Proverbs 24:16 NIV

    God promises to pick you up and raise you up to Him.  To those whose eyes are on Him.

    Work on your Relationship. Nothing else matters.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Repentance

    In Hebrew, the primary word for repentance is Teshuva (תְּשׁוּבָה), which translates literally to “return”. It represents an action-oriented process of turning away from wrongful actions and returning to one’s true, positive path.

    Shuv (שׁוּב): The foundational verb meaning “to return,” “turn back,” or “turn around”

    Teshuva focuses on restoration. It implies that a person is not defined by their mistakes and that by choosing to “return” to a state of purity and alignment with God, they can redirect their destiny.

    The primary Greek word for repentance in the New Testament is metanoia (μετάνοια).

    Literal meaning: “A change of mind”

    In the Bible, repentance is not merely feeling regret or sorrow; it is an active, transformative decision to turn one’s mind, heart, and actions away from sin and toward God

    Repentance in both versions is an Active word not a passive word.  You actively and purposefully turn and go the opposite direction. You actively pursue a different course of living, thinking, behavior.

    Repentance is not merely saying I am sorry and then going about business as usual.  Repentance is not about asking God to remove the temptation, deep grained behaviors, control issues and the draw of the world.  You must purposefully stand up, turn around, and go in a direction that brings you back to God. You must stop doing the items that are keeping you from experiencing the full blessings of God.

    Do we always realize that we need to repent?  The answer is a very big NO! We need a spouse, friends or a person sent from God to wake us up to the fact we need to change.

    Take the time to read 2 Samuel chapters 11 and12, which is the story of King David and Bethsheba.  In Chapter 11 David committed sins against the Lord and he was just living and acting like nothing happened.  In Chapter 12 God sent Nathan to tell King David a story.  David’s reaction to the story was to demand that the rich man in the story be punished. Then Nathan pointed out that the story was about King David.  Then and only then did David repent and go about changing his life.

    King David got so caught up in the desire for Bethsheba that his eyes were clouded by Satan.  He could not see his own wrongdoing. 

    This happens to us many times and we need a messenger from God to wake us up to the fact we are living and acting wrong.

    Yes, believers can absolutely be blinded to their way of life. When people become deeply comfortable in their habits, they often fail to notice faults in their own behavior. Over time, these daily actions form a rigid pattern that hides the truth from the very people living in a way that does not glorify God.

    People usually cannot see their own blind spots without help. Trusted friends, or a deep personal reflection are needed to point out these errors. Taking an honest, open look at your actions is the first step to seeing the truth clearly again. The Mirror is important.

    The believers in Matthew 7:22-23 fully justified their actions and way of life.  They believed with all their heart they were living a life worthy of going to heaven.

    God’s response was “I do not Know You”!

    God sent the Holy Spirit to guide you to what is an eternal way of life.  The Holy Spirit may move your spouse, friend, pastor or elder to point out your errors.  Lay down the defensive mechanisms, turn and walk a new path with God.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Show God’s Love

    “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you Love one another”. John 13:35 NIV

    What a powerful verse that has not been understood by many Christians.

    Many people were brought up and still believe that the way for people in your community, neighborhood, to see that you are a follower of Christ is by keeping certain religious rules or beliefs and habits.  Certain rules or rituals that you believe are how you show your love for God. If you keep them, people will know that you are a Christian. Then you identify the people that are not keeping the rules that you believe you got from God, as people that are outside of God’s saving grace because they are sinners and you are not.

    Yet Jesus is very clearly telling you and me that the only way to truly be seen as a disciple of Him is to have unconditional love.

    It is a call to identify a follower of Christ not by rules or rituals, but by unconditional love.

    So, let us ask ourselves what unconditional love is?  Well, I am going to give you a definition of unconditional love that I feel God shows me every day.

    “Unconditional love refers to an absolute, limitless affection that is not based on human performance, worthiness, or circumstances and is a constant, unchanging commitment to an individual’s well-being that cannot be earned. That cannot be increased or lost through their mistakes”.

    Now don’t confuse unconditional love with acceptance of behavior. God disciplines those that He loves.  God allows consequences and correction to help you mature, learn and turn away from destructive habits. But this is all done in Love!

    God Loved King David even though he had an affair with Bathsheba and then killed her husband.  There were consequences but God never lost His love for David. God called David a “man after God’s own heart”.  Why? Because David deeply valued God’s presence, sought His will, and possessed a genuine, repentant spirit rather than a life of perfection.

    I do not earn God’s love by going to church on the Sabbath day, by not eating or drinking certain foods, by not working or doing certain things on the Sabbath, or by keeping the ten commandments. 

    I do not lose God’s love by breaking any of the ten commandments or by not living my life like religion tells me I should.  

    Once I understand that I cannot lose or earn God’s Love by my behavior. It makes me Love Him even more!  When I understand what unconditional love God shows me, my love for Him increases. Then and only then do I start to represent God by showing the same love to all mankind.

    God is telling you that this is the only way for others to see a clear reflection of Him is to show unconditional love. Then when they see and feel that unconditional love the hardness of their heart cracks a little bit and the little mustard seed of the Holy Spirit can start to take root in their life.

    Condemning someone for their behavior or lifestyle does not open their heart to the Holy Spirit. Telling someone what they are doing wrong does not change their hearts and show them God.

    People were drawn to Jesus by an unseen force that drew them in. They felt loved and accepted. They were not asked to change any behavior before Jesus loved them.  After eating and drinking and listening to Jesus, He then asked them to go forth and sin no more. They were asked to repent and live a new life of Love only after they saw and experienced how much Jesus loved them.   Jesus tells us in the gospel of John that we can do even greater things that He did.

    “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”. John 14:12 NIV

    God sent the Holy Spirit to give you fruit for others to eat.  How does that fruit taste to those around you?  Sweet like God’s Love or bitter with condemnation?

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Warning

    “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus”. Acts 3: 19-20 NIV

    In the original Greek, repentance (metanoeo) means to change one’s mind and heart, to think differently and to see things differently.

    Turning to God signifies a complete reorientation of life away from how you were living before repentance.

    Used in the verses above it signifies much more than just saying “I Am Sorry”. It is a heartfelt transformation of your perspective and walk in life. It is an about-face. You must abandon your previous ways, and you have to institute a new walk with God, that is visible for all to see.

    You need to have a much broader sense of what needs to be repented from.  Just not what you may consider a sin.  But how are you living daily? Are you caught up in the ways and habits that the world considers success and happiness?

     Do you consider behavior to be something that gets you into heaven? Are you totally ignoring an intimate relationship with God? You are “religious” and believe in God yet are in the group of people that God says He spits out of His mouth.

     “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”. Revelation 3: 15-16 NIV

    You see the people in these verses are good religious people. To the world they are following God and are living a life or a Christian. Apathy will cause many good people to miss out completely on being in the group of those that are raised up to meet Jesus when He comes again.

    To me this is the life that needs to be repented from and totally walked away from.  Are you on fire for God in every minute of every day? It is not about standing up and preaching or condemning people for their behavior.  God is telling those in the Laodicea churches that if they are not representing His character in every situation and circumstance. Living a life of Love for all. If they are not on “fire” to represent Him in everyday life, then He is going to spit them out of His mouth and then they will be in the group of people that God says He does not know.

    Being “on fire for God” means having an intense, passionate, and active devotion to one’s faith. It describes a believer whose love for God is so all-consuming that it shapes every area of their life, rather than just being a casual, Sabbath only commitment.

    Spiritual Fervor: A strong, visible enthusiasm for prayer, worship, and studying the Bible.

    Boldness: An eagerness to share their faith, serve others, and stand up for their beliefs, even when it’s uncomfortable.

    Transformed Priorities: A conscious shift away from selfish or worldly desires toward living a life that reflects God’s teachings.

    The verse in Revelation is speaking directly to you!  Not to the world of non-believers. God is addressing you in your daily walk of life and telling you that He sees and knows your deeds and He considers them to be lukewarm. You consider yourself well off by worldly standards but to God you are pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

    In Verse 18 of Chapter 3 in Revelation, God gives you three things that you can buy from Him to become on fire for Him.  You must buy these three things!  He is not just giving them out for free. You can not buy these with money or success, church attendance, or good behaviors. 

    You buy them by time spent with God in an intimate relationship.  You buy them from turning from the world and turning towards God.

    You must become His character.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Everyday Blessings

    Satan got Adam and Eve to focus on one fruit when God had given them a whole garden. That’s how he works.  He gets you to focus on that one thing you do not have instead of all the blessings you do have.

    Why did this happen?  They lost focus on all the bountiful blessings around them. They let an outsider convince them that there was a better way and that they needed something that God had not provided. He convinced them that God was holding out on them, and they deserved to have it.

    We are no better today. Look at your own life. Have you lost focus?  Most have at one time or another

    Is there a difference between what God thinks you need and what you think you need?

    Yes, there is a profound difference. What you think is important usually revolves around temporary circumstances, money in the bank, a bigger house, more comfort, and immediate success. Am I keeping up with what society says is success? I would be happier if I had this or that.

     What God thinks you need centers on eternal character, spiritual growth, and a deeper relationship with Him.

    But God is not inconsiderate of your daily needs. Trust that God knows what you need and will supply it when you need it! God miraculously took care of the daily needs of Elijah both by Ravens and the widow of Zarephath. God did not give Elijah a whole barrel of food to last. He provided daily. 

    “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” Matthew 6:30 NIV

    How do I shift from what I think I need and want, to praising God for all that He has given me daily.

    Here are a few practical steps you can take.

    1. Start a daily Gratitude Practice.  Instead of asking for things, spend time thanking God for your current provisions. Keep a dedicated gratitude journal and write down at least three specific blessings each day. You will soon see you live a life of abundance instead of scarcity.
    • Actively Count your “Hidden” Blessings.  Write down your non-material gifts. Relationships, family, food on the table, job, grandchildren, friends, etc… The greatest blessing is that God loves you and has forgiven you, forgotten about your past transgressions and is building a mansion for you to live in next to Him in heaven.
    • Serve Others.  This is so important to understand.  You focus outward and it redirects your mind away from your personal desires. When you wash the feet of a person in need, only then will you be thankful that Jesus cleansed your feet with His blood.
    • Stop comparing yourself with what others have!  Covetousness will always creep in when you look at what others have.  This is exactly what happened to Adam and Eve.  They focused on what they did not have instead of the whole Garden of blessings. Social media is one of the greatest tools that Satan uses to make you desire what the world thinks you need instead of what God wants you to have.     
    • Start by changing your focus away from this world into a focus on eternal items. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6: 33 NIV

    This moment is a great time to just sit quietly and look around.  Open your mind and eyes to all the blessings that God has already given you and remember He is not done yet.

    Prayers for All.

    Larry


  • Patience

    “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. James 1: 3-4 NIV

    The Greek word for perseverance is Hupomone. It means to abide under, remain, or endure and implies an inward fortitude that allows one to withstand trials. It is not a passive resignation of the circumstances.

    Hupomone is often translated as endurance, steadfastness or patience.

    Patience is a fundamental character of God. That is why the Apostle Paul lists it as a “fruit of the Spirit,” meaning it is a character trait produced in believers by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 list it a fruit of the Spirit, not just something you can manufacture on your own.

    There are two aspects of patience that are focused on in these verses.

    The first is what produces patience? It only comes from me allowing total immersion by the Holy Spirit. It is a gift from God, given by allowing the Holy Spirit to control my actions, my thoughts and my character.

    The lesson is that I should only be focused on growing in my walk with God. Each morning starting the day off by walking with Him in the Garden and finishing each day off by walking with Him in the Garden. I can only hope to obtain any fruit of the Spirit by remaining in my close walk with God. The branch must stay connected to the vine to produce any character of God. The Fruit of the Spirit only comes to those that give total control to God. I can not build character on my own.

    The Second aspect is patience comes from testing of my faith. These tests are a sign of God’s Love toward me. The trials are intended to purify, strengthen, and elevate me rather than punish me.

    God loves me too much to leave me alone. 

    “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees”. Psalms 119:71 NIV

    “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you”. Deuteronomy 8:5 NIV

    That is why James tells us to consider it pure Joy when tested. GOD LOVES YOU!

    In this world today and with all that is happening. One of the greatest witnesses that we can be for God is to show and exhibit Patience. Standing in a calm manner when all around us is turmoil. When your buttons are being pushed, when all around you is chaos and seems out of control. Stand and represent your Savior with the patience and Character of God.

    That is why today I am so thankful for God’s Love and Patience.  When tests came my way, there were times I failed to exhibit patience.  I got upset and reacted in a manner that did not represent God’s character. I may have reacted and said some things that were hurtful to others or not a representation of God. The Great wonder of it all is that God never lost patience in me, He just says I Love you and let’s learn from this. Then He tests me again and each time I grow a little more patient in my reaction to the tests.  When I understand that these trials and tests are because God Loves Me, then my Love for God grows in leaps and bounds.

    This is a complete change from within. A transformation of the mind and heart.

    “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me”. Psalms 51:10 NIV

    The real and greatest reason to give up control and accept the fruit of the Spirit is found in Psalms 51: 13. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you”.

    You can change people by being a witness for God in patience!

    Prayers for All.

    Larry

  • You are being Deceived

     If we are honest and ask ourselves what is one of the greatest deceptions that Satan has pulled over our eyes? I believe it is a deception that we easily fall into and we do not even begin to understand the dangers of this deception.

    It is the desire we have for an instant culture. I want it NOW!  Satan knows exactly how to cultivate that desire in each of us.

    David waited 12 years, Joseph waited 13 years, Abraham waited 25 years, Moses waited 40 years and Noah waited 120 years.

    We have lost patience with all aspects of life. We cannot wait 12 minutes let alone even comprehend waiting 12 years. Satan uses every opportunity to bring impatience into your life and therefore we are not interested in waiting for the Lord. When he keeps you impatient, he knows that you will fall back to trust in your own wisdom and timing. You will not have the patience or fortitude to wait on the Lord for the guidance you so need. Satan knows this and so readily keeps you in some sort of impatient attitude. If he can keep you in this attitude of instant desire, he knows that you will soon grow impatient with waiting on God.  You will soon seek your own answers or solutions to a problem.  A human solution or answer is never better than waiting on the promises of God.

    The Microwave was invented because we could not take the time to cook. Fast food came along for the same reason, and we do not care about the damage it does to our digestive system because we get it quickly. We want someone to summarize the bible or any book for us because we do not think we have the time to read. We want the news in sound bites.  We want our medicine to work instantly and are not interested in an herb or plant that would be a better cure for our illness but would take longer to work. We no longer mail anything because we want it faster by email. The computer must keep getting faster because we cannot wait one second to get an answer to a question. Then artificial intelligence comes along.  A false person to think for us and to accomplish tasks that we think we do not have the time to bother ourselves with. 

    There are many more examples, and I am sure most of them seem innocent and maybe helpful to you.  Yet, each one took you a little further away from waiting to hear God’s voice. Everything you do brings you closer to God or farther from God.  There is no neutral activity.

    Sarah lost patience and faith in God’s promise of a son.  She convinced Abraham that God had forgotten about them and the best course of action was to invite another woman into the equation.  Then a child that God did not ordain was created. Impatience with God brought a never-ending battle in the middle east.

    We want an answer to our prayers even before we are done praying.

    One of the best characteristics of God is His Patience. It is a fruit of the Spirit that Jesus promised to give us if we would receive it. Satan knows that if he can keep this fruit from you, he has won a major battle.

    “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you”. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

    Step 1. Realize God’s infinite patience with you. If anyone deserves to be impatient and act on that impatience, it is God. Have you forgotten how patience God has been with you?

    Step 2. God Calls you to be patient. Read: Romans 12:12, Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 3:12-13

    Step 3. Remember Love is Patient!  Matthew 22:37

    We all have fallen into this deception of impatience.  Satan knows exactly how to push your buttons.  Today, take the time to realize how Satan is working in your life with the attitude of impatience.

    Start a new walk of comfort in waiting on the Lord.

    Prayers for all.

    Larry

  • Stand Tall, The Battle is Mine

    Jesu Juva..

    In the first few verses of Chapter 3 in the book of Judges, we learn that God purposefully left some nations to persecute and to go to war against the Israelites.

    “They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses”. Judges 3:4 NIV

    This is a wonderful verse that should explain to each of us that God’s ways are not your ways.  You want all your difficulties removed and for life to be smooth and peaceful. You think God loves you if everything is perfect and there are no disruptions in your life. God says just the opposite and says I am going to leave some major problems to test you to see if you are going to be faithful.

    You will notice that several times throughout the existence of the Israelites that during any period of peace. The Israelites became fat and happy and forgot their God.

    “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen”.  Ezekiel 16:49-50 NIV

    God is telling you that the real sin Sodom committed was to become idle, lazy, arrogant and overfed.  Those sins led them to committing detestable things before the Lord.

    So here in Judges we have a group of people that God is asking them to represent Him to all the nations surrounding them. But they keep on forgetting God and trying to live like the other surrounding nations.

    Verse 30 says that there was peace in the land for 80 years.  If you look ahead to the first verse in chapter 4 you will notice that the Israelites sinned again.

    But there is a very interesting verse between those two verses.

    “After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel”. Judges 3:31 NIV

    History tells us that even in this time of peace the Palestinians were making incursions into Israel to test their armies and defenses.

    One day they sent a raiding party into Israel and came upon one man. Shamgar was just out with his oxen, minding his own business.  He was not prepared for the attack in the sense of having any armor, sword or a battle plan.

    He had with him a cattle prod that was just a stick used to tap the oxen and direct them to turn left or right.

    An oxgoad is a long (often 8–10 feet) wooden stick, traditionally used in farming to prod and direct oxen while plowing. It is typically fitted with a iron spike at one end to drive animals, and sometimes a flat metal blade at the other end to remove soil from the plow.

    Now put this picture in your mind. Six hundred men, armed and ready for battle, are descending upon you and your oxen.  They were screaming and yelling and running toward you.  They were getting ready to slaughter you and slaughter your oxen for a big BBQ.

    What would be your first reaction?  Be honest. Abandon your oxen and run for the nearest safety.  Run faster than you have ever run before. You would also be screaming for the Lord to save you from certain death.

    But God had already given Shamgar all that was needed for victory.  Shamgar did not consider his own safety or death.  He knew what was wrong and right. He knew that these Palestinians were attacking his God and He knew he had to defend.

    The greatest weapon Shamgar had was total trust in God.  If God had given him all the implements of war, Shamgar might have believed in his own might and power. In his own skill of fighting.  Shamgar had God on his side and all he needed was a stick.

    One man with God on his side slaughtered 600 enemy invaders. The verse says he saved Israel that day.

    Shamgar did not wake up that morning with any knowledge or idea that was the day he was going to be called upon to save anything. Yet, when presented with an intrusion, an attack on God. Shamgar stood his ground and went on the offensive. 

    All we get about this story is one little verse about an unknown man that saved Israel.  The Glory goes to God not Shamgar. 

    “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. Psalms 23:4 NIV

    You may be going through the valley of darkness, feeling alone, forgotten and in pain. Remember all you need is to trust God and go on the offensive. God has provided everything you need to be victorious.

    Prayers for All.

    Larry

    Soli Deo Gloria