Week Twenty-Three - Joy

JOY

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”  I John 1:4

Full of joy!  Because of the things written.  And what might that be?  It is the promise of eternal life and of fellowship with God and his Son Jesus Christ. (Verse 2, 3)  Joy comes from good fellowship.

There is nothing so heartwarming and fulfilling than good fellowship.  When we can sit with a good friend and talk, share and discuss life it has a positive effect on our attitude and outlook.  Knowing that someone else cares and is trying to understand our hurts, struggles and goals makes us feel loved.  We were made for fellowship.  We were made to have friends and to be a friend.  The joy that comes from a good friendship is lasting and abiding.

Our fellowship with the Lord should be the same.  It should bring us into a friendship with the Creator.  If our fellowship with him is correct it will bring us into joy and confidence.  It will become a place where we run to for help, but also, a place where we go to share our heart and pour out our thoughts.

We don’t have to be afraid to tell Him anything.  He will understand.  He will even be the kind of friend that will point out where we are going wrong.  But he will never condemn.  He will simply lead us to truth and then give us the power to put things right.

The more we fellowship with Him, the greater will be our joy.  Full joy – because we can have good fellowship.

Are you a good friend?  Do you have a good friend?  Are you in fellowship with your Lord?  A lack of joy is an indicator that there is a lack of good friendship/fellowship.

JOY

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 
III John 4

Isn’t it great when you hear good things about your children?  To have a good report from the teacher just lifts your spirits and gives you hope!  A bad report is totally disheartening.

Here in the book of Third John we have two people mentioned by name.  Gaius and Diotrephes. Gaius is described as a well-beloved elder.  Because of his walk in obedience and truth, John tells us in verse two that he is wishing prosperity and health for this man.  Diotrephes is described as malicious, proud and controlling.  John’s response toward this man is one of warning.  No doubt John was going to have to sort the issues with this man.  We read toward the end of this little book that he had more to say and would be coming to speak face to face.  Pretty serious prospect!

It is certain that our testimony goes before us.  We cannot escape that fact. If we are walking in truth our testimony will be one that rejoices the heart.  If we are walking in disobedience, our testimony will not bring joy, but heartache.  I don’t know about you, but I want my testimony to bring joy.  I want it to give life and a breath of fresh air to those who need the encouragement.  I don’t want to leave a poor testimony at any time.  Most of all, I want to have a good testimony with my Lord.  I want to hear that “Well, done…”

It won’t happen just because I want things that way.  It will come because I discipline myself to walk in truth, to make Biblical choices, and to live a life well-pleasing.

How about you?  Are you just hoping for a good testimony or consciously building one?  Are you a Gaius or a Diotrephes?  Does your life produce joy or heartache?

JOY

“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” 
Hebrews 12:2

The prospect of joy creates endurance. For our Lord, the prospect or promise of the fulfillment of all the joy He and the Father proposed for mankind and for the hosts of heaven lay on the other side of the cross.  The plan of the ages hung on this one act.  There would be no joy in heaven without it.

It is always marvelous to think about the fact that the cross was not the paramount focus of Christ.  It was only a tool that would catapult forward God’s plan.  As he went to the cross his focus was on what would be accomplished and the joy that would be known for eternity.  That is why he could be forgiving and kind through the awful ordeal. 

Sometimes we face awful ordeals as well.  Never as great in comparison to the cross, but for us in our human form, just as challenging.  The example of Christ gives us a healthy pattern for facing trials.  The ability to focus beyond the immediate and look to the benefit of the outcome gives us the endurance we need to make it through our trials and struggles.

Futurizing is what I call it.  It isn’t a real word – yet – but it means to have an attitude of looking beyond today.  To think about what you desire in the future and to make choices today that will enable your dreams to come true.  It creates endurance.  It gives trials meaning.  It gives hope. There is a future for all of us.  We need to be looking further down the road.

How about you?  Are you hung up in the immediate and failing to see what might be the outcome?  Are you willing to pay the price now to create joy in the future?  Do you have endurance?

JOY

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing…For ye are our glory and joy.”  I Thessalonians 2:19, 20

What made Paul rejoice?  It was the believers in Thessalonica.  He had observed their works of faith, labour of love and patience of hope as he records in verse three of chapter one.  He knew the suffering they had endured for the name of Christ and he longed to come and visit them, but he had been hindered.  So he wrote them this letter we now call First Thessalonians.

His emotions penetrate these verses. He is like a proud father toward these people seeing them as a crown upon his head.  Joy is his outward emotion and the core of his deepest love for them.

Having the privilege of being a missionary and being involved in church planting gives the same emotions.  As I see new ones coming to Christ I rejoice.  As I see the maturing ones taking steps of faith, I rejoice.  As I see the more mature ones discipling their fellow brothers and sisters and then taking the lead of the church, I rejoice.

The fulfillment of ministry brings a deep joy, confirmation, and satisfaction. It also produces wonderment and gratefulness at the evidence that God has actually used ones life to influence others for Christ and to bring glory to His name.

Do you know that type of joy?  Is your life being used of God to create something bigger than yourself?

JOY

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy…”  Acts 20:24

Paul had just been sharing his heart with the elders of the church at Ephesus.  He was ready to head toward Jerusalem, not knowing what might happen there.  His attitude was not one of carelessness, but of determination.  He had faced confrontation before. It was not doing to deter him now.  He had a ministry to fulfill.  He wanted to complete it with the knowledge that he had done what had been appointed unto him.

I see three important traits that can be incorporated into our lives to create joy.  First, we must determine that the circumstances around us will not move us from our goal.  Second, we must not deem our own lives more important than the goal.  Third, we must finish.  We must see things through to their end.  Then, we will experience real joy.

This three-point formula can be applied to many avenues in life – marriage, parenting, education and ministry.  For example, in marriage we cannot let the happenings of life separate us.  We cannot have joy in marriage if we think we are the most important factor.  And, we must stay with the commitment – til death do us part – to know the depth of joy that can be ours in marriage.

In parenting also, we have to hold fast.  We cannot let the temper-tantrums of the three-year-old cause us to give up on discipline.  We must not be self-seeking, but willing to sacrifice for the benefit of the child.  And we must stick with it.  The joy of parenting is the finished product – a self-sufficient, upright citizen!

I think you get the idea.  Education and ministry also require us to be consistent, to sacrifice, and to see things through to the end.  Getting sidetracked along the way will not produce real and lasting joy.

Have you gotten sidetracked in your marriage?  Your parenting?  Your education or ministry?  There is no time like the present to re-establish your goals so that you, too, can finish your course with joy.

Week Twenty -Two - Integrity

INTEGRITY

“The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.”  Psalm 7:8

“….according to mine integrity that is in me.”  The Bible definition is: completeness, fullness, innocence, and simplicity.  The Psalmist is asking the Lord to judge him according to the integrity that he possesses. A deeper look into the definition will help us to define the character quality of integrity. 
One dictionary put it this way: “possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.  Completeness: the state of being complete or undivided. Wholeness: the state of being sound or undamaged.”
Another said, “Integrity comes from the Greek words 'integritas' and 'integra' meaning whole. It enters into every aspect of one's life. It is a belief system without faltering, no matter how dangerous it is or how unpopular it is with others. It includes: sincerity, keeping one's word and agreements, honesty, truthfulness, ethics, fairness and justice.”
These definitions give a wide scope to the facets of this quality.  In so doing, they reveal the depth and width of the expectation of those who claim to have integrity.  It is truly a quality rare and valuable.
Several years ago I was challenged to initiate a practice in my life of taking a Bible principle and asking the Lord to teach me not only the meaning, but to also teach me how to implement it into my life.  Integrity was one such study.  I found that not only did the Lord open my mind to the various nuances of the word, but He took time to challenge me personally by bringing circumstances into my life that forced me to choose between responding in integrity and responding with lesser character.  Sometimes it was as simple as telling the truth.  Sometimes it was honesty in business decisions.  Other times I found myself faced with having to take a Biblical stand in public.  Over and over the Lord brought situations before me that made me consider integrity and allowed me to see my own weaknesses.  I have never forgotten those weeks of study.  Even today I can remember the feelings of fear and anxiety as I was being forced to speak up and stand up for right.
I challenge you to do the same.  Just as the Psalmist is opening his life for the Lord’s examination, you, too, must ask yourself – how would I measure up if I stood before the Lord to be judged according to my integrity?  Will you take up the challenge?

INTEGRITY

	“And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.”   Psalm 41:12

“…upholdest me in mine integrity…”  Integrity creates position, which is a type of protector and defense.  It is a boundary that gives security and upholds the individual.  For example, in computer language, integrity of information is about how to deal with security and reliability of the data in the system.  Solid security measures mean that the data will be retained safely until needed.  Integrity thereby creates a security and confidence.

There is much to be said about the knowledge that you have done right and are going right - no guilt, no accusing thoughts, just solid assurance and solid stance.  The old adage of “having your ducks all in a row” would apply here.  A person of integrity is prepared.  He has a contingency plan and his personal business is secure.

This type of lifestyle is admirable and desirable.  However, take time to look again at the verse.  Ask yourself this question – Is this person’s base in his own works of integrity or somewhere else?  I think you will find that though the Psalmist is doing his part in living and ordering his life in integrity, he is living his life before the Lord and basing his life upon the Lord to hold him up.  He isn’t living proudly and self-sufficiently, but rather, humbly and honestly with His God.

There is no place for pride and an air of self-sufficiency in integrity.  The sense of place created by integrity is one of humility and dependency.  It draws men and gives opportunity to point them to Christ and not ourselves. 

Are you guilty of thinking that you are a “self-made” person?  Do you think that you have gotten to where you are by your own smarts?  Integrity means admitting that we are but stewards responsible to God’s authority.

INTEGRITY

“So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.”  Psalm 78:72

God, knowing the rebellious heart of Israel, still fed and guided them.  With skill and integrity He proved himself to be a loving and merciful God. 

He is a God of integrity.  He is true to His Word.  He does not change simply because the situation gets difficult.  He maintains his principles and keeps his promises.  His heart is secure and trustworthy.  He is fair and ethical and does not alter.  His Word is settled, and we can depend upon Him.

We can trust Him fully.  We do not have to wonder what He is up to.  We do not have to fear that tomorrow we might be disowned.  We do not have to be ashamed or make excuses for Him.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever – wholly dependable. And, he isn’t afraid for us to examine him.  Conversely, he challenges us to prove Him – to put him to the test.  He will always come through with flying colours!

Integrity, therefore, is a godlike quality.  It is also the character of Christ as we read in II Peter 21-23 “because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously…”
If even the Saviour of glory lived in integrity and then entrusted himself to the integrity of God the Father, why should we not even more so? 

INTEGRITY

Job makes for an interesting study in integrity.  Poor old Job was tested beyond measure, but the thing he clung to was his integrity. 

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”  Job 2:3 “…holdeth fast his integrity…”  In the face of great trial, instead of letting go of his religion and cursing God, Job holds it faster than ever. "Still he holds fast his integrity, as his weapon, and thou canst not disarm him-as his treasure, and thou canst not rob him of that; nay, thy endeavours to do it make him hold it the faster; instead of losing ground by the temptation, he gets ground. Constancy crowns integrity.  (Matthew Henry) I love that – “instead of losing ground by the temptation, he gets ground.”  Integrity gives Job endurance and hope.

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?  Curse God, and die.”  Job 2:9  

Integrity means maintaining your good name and character. It is having values, being consistent with your values -- not wavering due to outside influences, but standing strong in how one should live and believe. It is always doing the right thing even when you know no one else is looking, or in Job’s case, no one else is supporting you.  How sad that his wife was not of the same calibre. Distress and loss had brought her to abandoning her faith and her God.  Job, on the other hand, stood firm in His resolve saying, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”  Job 13:15 and “….till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.”  Job 27:5

Let’s make a note here.  There is a difference between integrity and stubbornness.  Integrity is based in principle and belief.  Stubbornness is based in self and rebellion.  Job is not stubborn, but he is principled.  He is not rebellious, but totally submitted to God’s righteous judgment of the situation.  He knows that staying where God has placed him, though it is a hard spot, is the place to be.  It is the place where God will bless and honour, and the place where Job can be best used to bring God glory. 

Finally he says, “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.”  Job 31:6 

Hard times test what is really in our core. They can either strengthen our resolve, or crack our façade.  Job was willing to allow God to test him.  What about you?  Are you willing to allow God to check out your level of integrity? Do hard times create strength in you or do they cause you to crumble?  Are you willing to go through confusingly hard times solely for the glory of God?

INTEGRITY

Let’s look at three more verses in Proverbs on integrity before we finish.

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”  Proverbs 11:3

Integrity gives direction to life.  It refers to wholeness, a person whose thoughts, words, and actions are congruent, and therefore not in conflict, a life of harmony, lived according to conviction. Some would contend that these convictions are completely individual and vary widely from person to person.  That is relativism, a thought that pervades our society.  But, this would mean that even selfish or cowardly people could be said to have integrity. However, worthy convictions are based upon ultimate truth – the truth found in God’s Word. Integrity, then, is a “life in which thoughts, words, and actions are congruent and conform to ethical principles.”

When we live by truth and understand the true value of right decisions based upon truth, we have a solid guide for life.

“Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”  Proverbs 19:1

Integrity gives dignity and is free.  The poor man and the rich man can have a basis for agreement and an expectation of blessing as they both live according to Biblical truth.  The truths of Scripture, if applied to our lives, will create an atmosphere of compassionate concern, honest living, personal confidence, and strength of character, no matter our social level. 

The Golden Rule, for example, is instructing us to take into account the dignity of another person, treating them as we would want to be treated. The Bible is full of such straight forward instruction on the treatment of others, the expectation of God, and the comparisons between right and wrong, as we see in Proverbs, which help us to not only make decisions, but also understand the outcome of our decisions.

Exercising sound judgment is the ultimate skill of life and that is not determined by our bank balance, but rather by our understanding and application of the Word of God.  The person of integrity will be found doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right reason.

Conversely, those who choose not to integrate Scriptural directives into their lives will always find that they are living a disordered and complex life full of foolish hurts.  They will remain focused on the temporary instead of the eternal and find little satisfaction in life.  Integrity will elude them.

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”  Proverbs 20:7

And, finally, integrity brings blessing, not only for the person so attuned, but also for his heritage.  His family will be blessed.  They will have a solid, peaceful and secure home life and will take the teachings of that home into their own.  Let me give you two examples that show us how important it is for us to live a life of integrity.  My grandfather pointed this out to me years ago.

Jonathan Edwards was a great preacher of years gone by, he was known as a man of great integrity.  “Edwards's descendants have had a disproportionate effect upon American culture: his biographer, George Marsden, notes that "the Edwards family produced scores of clergymen, thirteen presidents of higher learning, sixty-five professors, and many other persons of notable achievements”.  Throughout the generations his offspring are found in places of prominence and the blessing of God is upon his family.

Joe Kennedy was believed to be a bootlegger during the prohibition and made his fortune on insider trading and stock manipulation. Throughout the generations his offspring, due to wealth and influence, are also found in places of prominence, but we do not see the blessing of God upon his family, but rather the judgment of God. 

The blessing of God is upon those who follow His Word.  It is as simple as that.  A person of integrity knows this to be true and is comfortable with the fact that obedience brings blessing.  Honouring God creates a platform for God to honour you, and not only you, but ultimately also your family.

Week Twenty-One - Increase

INCREASE

“The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.”  Psalm 115:14

When the time comes for children to leave the nest there is a raft of emotions and soul searching questions for parents to face.  “Have I prepared them adequately?  Will they succeed in life? Will they survive?”  Questions like these and many others haunt parents as they try to help their children make final preparations for living outside the home.

In my life this meant sending them overseas to college and having to trust that they could navigate a new culture and find their way through the maze of driving, taxes, jobs, and friends.  I shuttered at the thought.  I had spent much time trying to prepare them, but when the day came I realized there were things I had failed to address, but it was too late.  They were out there and I was no longer by their side.

That is when God gave me this verse…”The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.”  God assured me that He was the one who had taken care of me all through my life.  He would continue to take care of me, and more than that, He would take care of my children.  And not just “take care of them”, He would actually “increase” them.

This word means to add, increase or do again.  It has the idea of to join.  God was telling me that He would see to their success.  He would join Himself to them and cause them to increase. He would add to their lives all they needed and He would do it over and over again as required.  He would take over from me and be their Heavenly Father.  The best parent they could ever have – just as He had been to me.  When I left home, He took over in my life. He had increased me already and He would do the same for my children.  I had to agree.  He had blessed me abundantly and taken really good care of me.  How could I even doubt that He would not do the same for my children?
Through the years I have claimed the promise of this verse and over and over again the Lord has proved Himself faithful.  Truly He has increased me, but He has also increased my children.  They are living solid lives, faithful to the Lord and truly know the Hand of their Heavenly Father is involved-joined- in their lives.  We have much to celebrate.

What about you?  Do you see the hand of God in your life?  Do you trust Him to take over in the lives of your children?  There is no better place for them – turn them over to Him and watch what He can do.

INCREASE

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:16

I have always found this description of the joints working together interesting.  God designed the human body in such a fearful and wonderful way so that it all works together perfectly.  But this description in Ephesians is not about a human body, but a spiritual body – the church - a spiritual body that is fitted together and effectually works for the benefit of each member.

However, God opened my eyes to that last phrase, “maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Increase means literally, to increase or to grow, so, a mature church is self-propagating.  As you look back from verse eleven you see four distinct qualities of a mature church. 

Verse eleven – it has called and equipped leadership.
Verse fourteen – it has solid and accepted doctrine.
Verse fifteen and sixteen – it has a growing and united membership.
Verse sixteen – it is self-propagating – making increase.

It isn’t enough to have a good pastor, solid doctrine and a happy fellowship of members, a church must be increasing.  It is to be about growing.  This might be in numbers, but better in planting new churches.  Just as the human body self propagates, so should the church.  Making increase edifies – it builds up.  The more a church, then, is involved in increase, the stronger it will become.  To remain introverted is to decrease.  The church should be extroverted!  Exporters of the truth – carrying it on from generation to generation.  And that is to be done by church-planting.

Is your church extroverted?  Are they exporting the truth?  Are they involved in missions and church-planting?  That should be the goal.

INCREASE

 “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?  Ecclesiastes 5:11

“…if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”  Psalm 62:10

Oh, the vanity of riches.  Haggai 1:6 tells us, Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”  That is an apt description of our everlasting toil.  Though we strive to gain, it all is like putting our hard earned wages into a bag with holes.  Here today, gone tomorrow. 

God’s Word has much to say about riches.  These verses warn us about setting our hearts and hopes upon what we have gained.  Believing that a large saving account is a source of security is vain.  Going at life with the goal of “getting rich” causes us to miss the most valuable things in life – things that are eternal.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned about laying up treasures where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break through and steal.  To live in this way is to be disappointed.  Genuine increase is not found here.  A healthier way to look at riches is to see them as a tool.  They provide the necessities of live, and sometimes, give us icing on the cake.  But they are only tools- a means to an end.  To see them as more than that is to be deceived.

Our heart and hopes should be based in the God of all provision.  Riches come from Him.  I like the way Solomon puts it in Eccelstiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

So, when riches increase – enjoy them, but do not set your heart upon them.  They are a gift from God and a tool, but nothing more.

INCREASE

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.  Proverbs 18:20

“We ought to take as great care about the words we speak as we do about the fruit of our trees or the increase of the earth, which we are to eat; for, according as they are wholesome or unwholesome, so will the pleasure or the pain be wherewith we shall be filled.”  Matthew Henry

We will be increased by the words we have sown.  If we want to find fulfillment and peace in life, we need to learn to talk better.  Improved speaking will be blessed in many ways by God, by others, and will even benefit our own soul.

Taking time to consider our words will save us from uttering foolish or hurtful words which bring us pain in life and conviction in our conscience.  Solomon knew that the more words spoken, the greater the chance of sin. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19

Uttering every thought that comes through your mind without filtering is unwise.  Dominating conversation in order to hear yourself speak is foolish.  Using words to manipulate or deceive is truly unkind and evil. 

How many times have you been guilty of leaving others bleeding from wounds inflicted by your tongue?  Your tongue should be used for the health and wealth of others, but many times others are left feeling angered, grieved or confused by our words.  Most people suffer in silence, but the guilt is still real and when you are told of the pain and damage you have caused, it is an embarrassment and a burden on your soul.

The law of sowing and reaping means that we will receive back in life what we give out.  I don’t know about you, but I want to receive kind and encouraging words from those around me on this path of life.  So, I am best to make sure that is what others hear from my voice.

The increase of your lips can be directly related to the improvement you can make to your speech by learning the rules of wisdom for the tongue and lips.  The Book of Proverbs is full of instruction on the tongue.  Consider these: 

Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” 

Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”

So, learn to guard your speech, limit your words and think before you speak. Rule your spirit and be gracious making every word helpful and kind. Reject harshness and talebearing. Purify your thoughts. Work harder at learning to listen. Seek always to build others up.

Consider how will you feel in the Day of Judgment, when you must give an account for every idle word to the Lord of glory? (Matt 12:34-37)

Let me leave you with this - Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  Proverbs 9:9

INCREASE

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”  II Timothy 2:16

I just could not leave this thought without sharing a further definition of “increase”.  Here the literal meaning is to beat forward, to lengthen out by hammering as a smith on a forge. Metaphorically it means to advance, go forward or promote.  Let’s take this verse apart a bit and then we will draw some conclusions for our own application. 

The admonition to “shun” means to stand above or separate from.  “Babblings are intemperate words delivered with a loud voice. In the context of the verse this is referring to false doctrine and those that promote it.  They are exemplified as ones who use forceful rhetoric to put forward their agenda.  We are told to stand apart from them, to separate ourselves and look to see what will be their end.

They will increase unto more ungodliness.  Their path will literally be stretched out or beaten forward to make way for more ungodliness.  One commentator put it this way:  the image is as, “They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make is to a greater pitch of impiety.” (lack of religious respect: a lack of due reverence for God)

Matthew Henry simply put it this way:  “The way of error is downhill.”

And is that not what we see today?  As man tries to promote his humanistic and secular agenda upon the things of God we see an increased lack of respect for God, His Word and true holiness. Man’s path literally is increasing into more ungodliness. It is going downhill.

So what should be our response and application of this verse?  First, I think we need to not be so simple as to listen to the loud voices.  God’s voice comes quietly and reverently.  The loud voices, those that are accepted by the world and that try to weaken or alter doctrine, should not be the voices we are following.  We need to stay true to God’s Word and step back from those who are not.

Further, we need to be examining our own lives to see where error may have crept in.  We will find it in places where we have accommodated lower standards, slacked off in practice of spiritual disciplines, or lessened our devotion to God.  The loud voices will tell us that we are being too narrow or too strict.  They will seek to comfort us by assuring us that we need to be relevant or more modern.  They will lure us with the promise of a happier Christian life if we will just give a bit in a few places.  Don’t be fooled.  There is no such thing as a “happy Christian life”.  There is, however, the truth of a blessed Christian life.  That comes from honouring and reverencing God and His Word.  It is sourced in obedience and respect.  Only there will you be truly “happy.”

What voices are you listening to?  Where have you let up in your doctrine or standards?  Is your path increasing in godliness, or is it declining?