Many people really believe that they will never be called out on sin that no one or few people know about. They are convinced that sin done in secret has noconsequences. Such a sin has a Teflon like quality – nothing sticks to it.
The Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 4:5 that what is done in darkness will bebrought to light. But what it doesn’t say is that the light will be a SPOTLIGHT! We are not getting away with ANYTHING. Jesus will expose all secrets. I believe our actions are being recorded and the tape will be shown to us; how embarrassing will that be?
Note 2 self: Watching ourselves taking a cookie from the cookie jar when we thought no one was watching in the presence of the Creator will not be one of our fondest moments. Avoid the SPOTLIGHT and do the right thing!
Are all sins created equal? This has been a topic of debate for years. Many people have uttered the words, “A sin is a sin, one is just as bad as another.” I have never subscribed to that philosophy simply because there is evidence to the contrary.
The Bible gives us the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) as the goldstandard of sin to stay away from.
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
God doesn’t stop there, in Proverbs 6:16-19, He describes sin that He hates. As hate is a pretty strong word, it warrants great consideration when evaluating one sin over another.
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
And then, of course, there is the unforgivable sin found in Mark 3:28-29.
28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
Note 2 self: God has different standards than man, but I believe there are some similarities in one regard. Consider this, the person who robs a convenience store may receive five years or more in prison, but the person who kills another person in cold blood can expect a life prison term if not execution. To the question, are all sins created equal? I believe the answer is a resounding NO! Clearly, some sins are worst than others, and I believe the punishment is commensurate with the sin.
Happy New Year everyone and congratulations on making it through 2018. As we continue in 2019, it is crucial that we keep our time on earth in its properperspective. It’s temporary, but we have an excellent opportunity to positively influence others as we share our love of Jesus with them. Remember, it’s all about Him and truthfully very little about us. The time spent on Earth affords us the opportunity to earn rewards on the other side of life (The Incorruptible Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:14-27, the Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thessalonians 2:19, the Crown of Life – James 1:12 & Revelation 2:10, the Crown of Righteousness -2 Timothy 4:8 and the Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:2-4; all of which are far greater than we could ever imagine.) while experiencing a few earthly treasures along the way.
Note 2 self: Always remember who you are working for and the path to yourdestiny will illuminate itself. The challenge – make 2019 your most excellent service year to the Lord thus far.
Are you all in?
I shared some thoughts on our New Year resolutions on this video.
Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we spend time with family and friends, let us not forget the greatest love storyever told. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Note 2 self: In other words, God loved us some much that He sent His only Son on a suicide mission so that we might have an opportunity at eternallife with Him. God took on human form and suffered a shameful and painful death for all of humanity. Who are you willing to die for? Perhaps you would give your life for your children, parents, dear friends and possibly other relatives whom you love. But, would you give your life for the kid who bullied you in the 5th grade or the mass murderer who recently killed those innocent people in the Jewish synagogue in Pennsylvania? I would think NO! Without a doubt, God loves us, and yes – Jesus’ sacrifice for us is the greatest love story ever told.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
Blessings to you all, my friends.
Daniel
The Note 2 Self Guy
Update 2/10/19 Here is my special Valentine’s Day week Facebook live video on this theme.
A cornerman is a coach or trainer whose job is to assist a boxer at the corner between rounds. He is the one who informs the boxer what he is doing wrong. He gives his fighter encouragement with the end goal of helping him to win the match.
Life is essentially one boxing match (trial and tribulation) after another. There are many unknown forces waging war against us but there is one force who is in our corner.Jesus is the Lord of the universe and beyond.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lend not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Note 2 self: The force of one is all you need but in reality, you get three – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
To the question, do you have a good cornerman? If Jesus is your cornerman, you have the BEST there is.
So, what exactly are the tools in God’s toolbox? Well, one could consider the fruits of the Holy Spirit as God’s tools. The use of these tools shows the existence of God to humanity. What are these tools/fruits of the Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 states the following: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….”
Note 2 self: No one ever said that mastering these tools would be easy, but with continuous effort and prayer we do it. As Christians, we are God’s representatives on earth. We are to be Christ-like. The fruits of the Spirit are the virtues of God. When we exhibit these fruits, people can see God through us, and many will want to know Him as a result of what they see in us.
So to the question, are we using the tools in God’s toolbox? If we are not using the fruits of the Holy Spirit daily, then the answer is no. If using all the tools every day proves to be a bit of a challenge, then use at least one tool every day until eventually, we master them all. Remember, when people see the fruits the Holy Spirit in us; they will see God.
Philippians 2:14 says the following, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Ever wonder why God requires this of us? Well, there are good reasons for this. Think about it. What are the traits of people who alwayscomplain? They usually have a negative outlook on life; are hateful; are rude; are always angry or upset about something; are argumentative, and most people don’t like being around them. Is that really what we want?
Let’s make a deal! Every time we complain about something, we have to give God thanks for two things that He has done for us.
Note 2 self: Why the 2 to 1 ratio? God deserves a little interest, doesn’t He? I mean really, He has been putting up with our whining for years. After a while, we will truly realize just how blessed we are, and the need to complain will diminish.
Sadly, sometimes bosses can be JERKS. Working for them can be a form of stressful torture. They consistently complain about everything. They yell and often micro-manage. Their demands are unreasonable, and their tones are even disrespectful. So, what are we to do?
God has this thing all figured out. So what if your boss is a “JERK!” Colossians 3:23 instructs us to do the following, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”
Note 2 self: Basically, we work for God, not man. When we do our best work, we honor Him.
When we do this, good things happen. Obedience to this command usually results in promotions, salary increases, recognition, better job opportunities, increased job security and most importantly – PEACE OF MIND! At the end of the day, if our efforts are good enough for God, then they should be good enough for man. If they are not, then it is time to bounce(move on) to our next blessing. Stress can kill and who wants that.
There should never be any shame in our game when we have given maximum effort to God in our work. Chins up – we have given God honor.
Hey, fellas, does God love your woman? What? You heard me, does God love your woman? First Peter 3:7 answers this very question. “Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Note 2 the fellas:Godloves and values your woman so much that He is warning you that if you mistreat her, that when you pray to Him, He will be like, “Talk to the hand.” Ever wonder why God seems not to be answering your prayers? You may want to check the way you are treating your wife.
So does God love your woman? He most certainly does!
Sometimes I wonder why is this happening to me but then I think, why not me?
Note 2 Self: Our trial is a golden opportunity for us to show God what we are made of. God chose us for this test and we are his warriors for the cause. He has already given us everything we need to be victorious.
Did you know this is how we earn one of the available crowns upon judgment day? Say what? That’s right. The Crown of Life will be given to those who persevere under trials (James 1:12). Wow, we have an opportunity to be God’s champions!
All you warriors out there, handle your business and go out and earn your bling-bling! Our Lord is with us!
