4 Pillars of Strength: Jesus told us that the highest priorities a person...

4 Pillars of Strength: Jesus told us that the highest priorities a person...: Jesus told us that the highest priorities a person can have is to love God and to love your neighbor (near one, fellowman) as you love your...

Jesus told us that the highest priorities a person can have is to love God and to love your neighbor (near one, fellowman) as you love yourself. He taught us to put "first things first".  Sometimes I wonder if we really get it?

When young Solomon became King of Israel, he went to "the high place in Gibeon to worship God".  The Holy Spirit could not resist Solomon's passionate heart and said, "Ask for anything.  What shall I give you?"  

 2 Chronicles 1:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge (plead for the needs of) this great people of Yours?" 

Bottom line:  Solomon had his priorities right (at least in his early years).  His love for God birthed deep concern for "the great people of God".

Which raises a good question:  Just who are those great people that Solomon (and Jesus) were concerned about? 

My wife, Nancy has always had this passionate political side and I knew that it would be a no-brainer that she would show up at Chick-fil-A Restaurant in support of first amendment rights.  While standing in line for her chicken sandwich, she saw the silent protest of two members of the "Rainbow Coalition" against what they perceive as gay bashing. Nancy felt compelled to approach them and ask forgiveness for any Christian who had ever been unkind or disrespectful to them.  With tears in their eyes, this couple hugged Nancy and thanked her.  I believe that in that moment, they got a picture of who Jesus really is and who He is not!  Jesus is not a finger pointing God ready to show us how awful we are, but a God who longs to touch us at our point of need.

Like Solomon, we need the wisdom to go out and come in.  Seeing people the way Jesus sees them only flows from a heart that sees God for who He really is:  One who loves His great people and values every person despite the fact that everyone of us is flawed by sin and needs a Savior.  Only God can give that kind of wisdom and that kind of love, and that is why we must seek Him in the "High Places".   

I get the feeling that as we love God and love people the way Jesus does, this world can become a better place, despite all of its struggle.  Let's put "first things first". 

this is a test

Character First

When was the last time you were doused with Dove Dishwashing Liquid, hosed with water, and launched slip-slidin away down a steep, soapy, visquine covered hill in the company of 300 out of control teenagers, and survived?  Welcome to Open Bible East Teen camp! 

Nancy and I spoke to the 300 young people about "CHARACTER FIRST" and how Daniel and his friends, despite a Babylonian culture that sought to remove every vestige of God from their lives, purposed in their hearts that they would not defile themselves.  Not only did they refuse to blend into the culture, but they went counter-cultural, serving God boldly in a Godless society.  Promotion and persecution followed (think Tim Tebow, who being both loved and hated, has been traded to of all places, NYC, so that the Lord can maximize the influence of a mediocre NFL QB who has a lion heart).  The greatest thing a Christian can do is show who the real Jesus is by revealing the character of Christ through who they are and how they live.  Daniel showed character at the tender age of 17, and he showed character at 70.  All the way through his life, Daniel stood on his convictions, lived his core values, and had the courage to face lions rather than compromise for a lie.  Character brings Influence!

Most of us have admired Joe Paterno through the years, and hopefully no one takes joy at Joe's statue being removed from Penn State Stadium. But how could a man who carried so much influence take to his death the infamy of staying silent when innocents were knowingly abused (we all had better take heed to this, because even the best can be deceived)?  It was so much more than Joe being silent.  It was that Penn State football became Godlike, and Joe violated his character, his conscience, and his core values to protect the Godlike status of a football program.

In this neo-Babylonian culture that we live in today (read Revelation 18), we daily face choices to stand on our convictions, or to compromise.  The world, our flesh, and the devil are three strong opponents and we are tempted by the false Gods of our culture.  Those who think they stand, take heed lest you fall.  Whether you are 17 or 70, purpose in your heart to not defile yourself with your choices, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to stand on your convictions.  I would much rather be persecuted for standing in the character of Jesus than to endure the shame of compromise whether it be public or private.

May the character of Jesus exude from your life, and may your influence grow as you stand on your convictions.

Tom