Category Archives: Commands

Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Gifts, Giving, Money, Scripture, Tithe, Treasures

BAD GIFTS

MALACHI 1:8

“‘And when you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?’ says the LORD of armies.”

I used to work for a ministry that had several thrift shops. These thrift shops operated solely on donated items. People can be very generous when they want to be. Occasionally, however, we received some “gifts” that weren’t so nice. Things like used underwear and used mattresses just can’t be sold. That meant we had to discard them. You would not believe the amount of things we simply had to throw away because they were not saleable.

Man, oh man! The Lord lets the priests have it in verse 8 today. He accuses them of presenting blind, lame and sick animals. These items were not even appropriate for their governor. Why would they think He would accept them? God had strict guidelines for what kind of animals could be presented as offerings to Him. Leviticus 22:22 told them, “Those that are blind, fractured, maimed, or have a wart, a festering rash, or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD, nor make of them an offering by fire on the altar to the LORD.”

APPLICATION

Now, you are probably saying, Carl, I am not offering animals to Jesus. You’re right, absolutely right. But let me ask you this. Are you offering your seconds to Him? God still requires us to offer our best, our first fruits to Him. What are you holding back? What are you saving for yourself that belongs to Him?

Romans 12:8 addresses New Testament giving. “or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Jesus demands more than the tithe. He demands it all. Sound selfish? Not at all, because He gives it all back to you many times over.

How about your time? Are you robbing God of that too? Carl, I’m just too tired on Sundays to go to church. God understands that. Carl, I really have to work today to make more money. Stop the excuses. Stop offering the bad gifts. Give it all to Him. He deserves your very best.

Father, I offer my all to You today. Take it and use it however You desire.

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Allegiance, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Fatherhood, God's Will, Honor, Love, Scripture

HONOR THY FATHER

MALACHI 1:6

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of armies to you, the priests who despise My name! But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’”

I had a great dad. My dad was not a perfect father, but I never doubted for a second that he loved me and would have done anything in the world for me. I showed my dad honor by visiting him, by listening to him, by listening to his advice. In fact, as I got older, I would often run something by him just to give him the opportunity to give me advice, whether I needed it or not.

In verse 6 today, the LORD is beginning a chastisement of the leaders of Israel, the priests. We will see in the following verses in the days to come how they were dishonoring the LORD. But in today’s verse He just reminds them of their obligation to honor Him, just as they would honor their earthly father. The word “honor” is a Hebrew word that means numerous, rich, honorable, to make weighty. Interesting definition, huh?

APPLICATION

I am instantly reminded of the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) which says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” Do I need to remind you that this is a commandment, not a suggestion. And this commandment is the ONLY commandment that comes with a promise, a promise to prolong your days. That’s a pretty good reason to honor your parents, isn’t it?

How do you show honor to your father? So many families are fractured today because of dishonor. So many fathers are wounded because of it also. Did you realize when you dishonor your father you grieve his heart? When we dishonor God through our sins, it grieves His heart. Our earthly father relationship is supposed to mirror our relationship with the Father.

You may be estranged from your earthly father right now. You may even feel justified to do that. Biblically speaking, unless your father has abused you in some way, you are still commanded to show him honor. Listen to the Lord. Ask Him how you are supposed to honor your father. That will also honor Him.

I show You honor, my Lord, by honoring my father here on earth. Now, that he is with You, I show him honor by thanking You for him.

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Abiding, Belief, Bible, Commands, Commitment, Devout, God's Will, Mentoring, Passion, Scripture

THE ONLY ONE

ZECHARIAH 14:9

“And the LORD will be King over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.”

I have been married almost 38 years. That’s a long time, but not nearly long enough. My wife is truly the only one for me. No other woman fills my thoughts. No other woman has my heart. There is only one for me. (I’m hoping she’s reading this, lol).

Aren’t the words of today’s verse exciting? The LORD will be King over the whole earth. He will be the only one. The Hebrew literally says “It shall be Yahweh one and His name one.” There is no need to say “only,” because it is implied with the word “one.” There is only one – the LORD.

APPLICATION

When are we going to start living that way? When are we going to stop putting all these other things above Him? What are you talking about, Carl? I don’t do that. Really? Take a look at your calendar. Take a look at your bank account. Where do you spend your time and money? What do you prioritize?

We are all guilty at times of not making Him first in our lives. We get so caught up with life that we forget Who is first. I am not throwing stones. I am just as guilty. Too much time in front of the television. Too much time on the computer or phone. We are all obsessed with worldly objects.

Can we all agree to make Him first this week? I want to spend more time reading His Word. I want to spend more time encouraging other believers. I want to invest in the lives of more men to make them better husbands and fathers. What will you prioritize this week? Make Him number one. Deuteronomy 6:4 says it best. “Hear, Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

You are the only One for me, dear Lord. Forgive me when I fail to recognize that.

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Allies, Battles, Bible, Commands, Danger, Encouragement, Enemies, God's Will, Scripture, Strength, Weakness

THE LEAST SHALL BE FIRST

ZECHARIAH 12:7

“The LORD also will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be greater than Judah.”

There are stories all through the Bible of God using the smallest or youngest to achieve great things. One of the greatest is of David. He was the youngest of Jesse’s sons, but God chose him to be the second king of Israel. If you are the least bit familiar with the Old Testament, you have read of all David’s exploits and how the Lord used him.

Zechariah contrasts the tents of Judah with the inhabitants of Jerusalem. One scholar says this about this verse. “tents—shifting and insecure, as contrasted with the solid fortifications of Judah. But God chooses the weak to confound the mighty, that all human glorying may be set aside.” Don’t you just love that? He uses the weak to confound the mighty.

APPLICATION

We should never think we are too small or too weak or too old to be used by the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.” Everyone is useable by God.

Maybe you have a physical defect that you think prevents you from being used. Not so! David Ring is a very gifted evangelist who has cerebral palsy. He has multiple physical challenges, yet God has used him all over the world to lead others to Christ. He often makes this statement when he speaks. “I have Cerebral Palsy. What’s your problem?”

So, let me ask you. What is your problem? Why aren’t you allowing the Lord to use you? You have so much to offer. It’s not about you, though. It’s about Christ in you. When you yield to Him, He can take your weakest trait and magnify it into a useable skill. Just let Him use you to great and mighty things!

Father, I thank You for using me, despite my weaknesses.

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Rejection, Scripture

THROWN TO THE POTTER

ZECHARIAH 11:13

“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.’ So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.”

I struggled to come up with a personal illustration of this verse. I have never been paid thirty shekels of silver and have never thrown it to the potter in church. I can only point you to the story of Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:3-10. You need to read that in its entirety, but here are a few of the verses. “5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.’ 7 And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers.”

Zechariah is giving a vision here from the Lord to share with the people. No scholar thinks Zechariah actually took money and threw it at a potter in the temple. But look at how this prophecy was fulfilled perfectly by Judas and the priests. The rejection of Jesus by Judas and the priests symbolized perfectly Zechariah’s vision as told to the people. Keep in mind, Zechariah was written around 500 years before Judas’ betrayal.

APPLICATION

So, what does this mean for us? To continue our thought from yesterday’s blog, how have you spurned the Lord? How have you rejected His gift of grace and mercy? We run the danger of doing that even after becoming a Christian. We can get so focused on our life or even in living according to some set of rules we have been given that we reject the freedom we have in Jesus.

People say But Carl, it’s too hard to live for God. I just can’t be holy like that. To that I share 2 Peter 1:3. “3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

You can accept and obey every command given to you by God. God does not expect us to obey something we are incapable of. So, let us stop throwing away the clear commands of the Father and seek ways to obey. Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit Who can guide you perfectly in God’s way.

Father, I was just as guilty as Judas before coming to You. Forgive me for not walking more holy.

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Abiding, Admonished, Advocate, Affliction, Belief, Bible, Choices, Commands, Danger, Deliverance, Escape, God's Will, Remembering, Scripture

THEY KNEW

ZECHARIAH 11:11

“So it was broken on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD.”

Sometimes you just know! Right? Call it a gut thing or something just didn’t feel right. Perhaps you remembered something you had been told earlier. A situation jogged your memory and you said, “Aha, I remember that.” Whatever the reason, you have that “Spidey sense” that warns you about something. You heed the advice you have been given and avoid a catastrophe.

“The afflicted of the flock” referred to in today’s verse had done just that. They had heard the warnings from Zechariah and fled Jerusalem before it was surrounded and destroyed. They escaped into the mountains. How did they know this? Because Zechariah had forewarned, and they had believed him. These were the humble and devoted ones who were still seeking to follow Jehovah. Their devotion was rewarded.

APPLICATION

How can we escape terrible situations in our lives? By listening to and obeying the Lord. His Word gives us ample warning of the things we should and should not do. Before you freak out, it is not a book of rules. It’s a guidebook for life. 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Here’s a verse you probably know. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I could go on listing verse after verse, passage after passage about God’s warnings to us. The warnings, in and of themselves, mean nothing unless you are willing to listen and obey. Just because we read it or hear it doesn’t mean we are delivered. We have to obey.

I have discovered that if you stay close to Jesus, if you read His Word regularly, if you memorize and meditate on it, if you apply His Word to your life and spend time with Him daily in prayer, then you will be quick to hear and obey all those warnings. Or will you be like the other Israelites who heard but did not heed the warnings? It’s your choice.

I hear You, Lord, and I will obey.

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Commands, DUTY, God's Will, Obedience, Scripture, Service

MY DUTIES

ZECHARIAH 11:5

“‘Those who buy them slaughter them and go unpunished, and each of those who sell them says, “Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!” And their own shepherds have no compassion for them.’”

I have shared how I served for over thirty years working with children and youth in the foster care system. For the most part, the very people who were supposed to protect these children, abused or abandoned them. I could share dozens of stories where the parents chose drugs or alcohol over their own babies. Others saw their children as objects to be used rather than loved and cared for.

In much the same way, the very people who were supposed to care for the children of Israel had left them unprotected. The religious leaders who were instructed to teach the Law to the people had abandoned their duties. The people of Israel saw defeat and exile, all because of their refusal to obey the One who had given them their land.

APPLICATION

Jeremiah talks about this as well. In Jeremiah 50:6-7 we read, “‘6 My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains.

They have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. 7 All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries have said, “We are not guilty, since they have sinned against the LORD who is the habitation of righteousness,

the LORD, the hope of their fathers.”’”

I need to ask you something. Have you been given a duty and responsibility by God which you are not fulfilling? Perhaps, it is in the care of your children. You know that care also involves teaching them about the Lord and His love for them. Not teaching them that is neglect in His eyes. They have been given to you as a gift. You should cherish these gifts.

I do not want to arrive in heaven with uncompleted tasks. I want to work each day to accomplish each and every duty I have been assigned by Jesus. Loving your neighbor is a good one to practice. Submission to elders is another. How are we doing with those two? Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He would have you do and then do it.

Father, I do not want to be like the leaders of Israel who abandoned their posts. Give me strength to serve well.

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Accountability, Bible, Calling, Commands, Gospel, Missionaries, Obedience, Scripture, Witnessing

SO MANY PEOPLE

ZECHARIAH 8:22

“‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of armies in Jerusalem, and to plead for the favor of the LORD.’”

I have to be honest – I hate crowds. As much as I love football, the thought of having to fight the crowd at a Georgia football game makes me cringe. I have been in big crowds. There has never been one that I truly enjoyed. Oh, the event I may have attended was good and all, but fighting those crowds in and out of the stadium or arena makes me just want to stay home.

So, when Zechariah shares the words of the Lord that “many peoples and mighty nations will come,” I am sure some people were not too happy. But we have to move past our own likes and dislikes, don’t we? So did they. These people were coming “to plead the favor of the Lord.” They were to be welcomed and shown the love of their God. What a change for them. Instead of dreading the impending masses of armies, they were now serving the Lord of armies by welcoming these pilgrims.

APPLICATION

I think you can guess where I am going to go with this. We need to not only welcome people as they come to Jesus, but we also need to seek them. I have friends who live in countries where there are billions of people who need Jesus. They live in cities that are packed with people literally shoulder to shoulder. They go not because they like those living conditions. They go to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We are clearly commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 to go to all the nations and make disciples. That starts at home with our neighbors. We are also told in Acts 1:8 by Jesus, “‘but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.’”

Where is the Lord calling you? There are truly so many people who need to hear the Gospel. We are all called to share it to as many as we can. What is the result if we don’t? They will spend eternity in hell, separated from God. None of  us want that. So, tell someone the good news this week.

Lord, put me in the path of those who need to hear about Your Son and let them listen and receive it.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Hearing, Listening, Scripture, Uncategorized

GOD’S STILL TALKING

ZECHARIAH 8:18

“Then the word of the LORD of armies came to me, saying,”

Every day when I am in my Quiet Time, I pray to hear the voice of the Lord. Now, don’t think I am strange. I don’t mean audibly, but that would be very cool. I am talking about Him speaking through His Holy Spirit into my heart and mind. Some days, He is practically yelling at me. Other days – not so much. He’s quiet. That’s when I listen the hardest.

Today’s verse is the eighth time in chapter eight that Zedekiah received a word from the Lord. God is about to speak on the joyous festivals that are coming to Israel (more on that tomorrow). This whole chapter has been about God sharing His blessings on this remnant of Israel. After all the suffering, after all the judgment, they are now back in the good graces of their God and are worthy of His blessings.

APPLICATION

Did you hear the Lord speaking to you this morning? Oh, you didn’t listen, did you? The first rule to hearing is listening. How do you listen? Okay, that’s enough with the questions. I am not trying to make you feel guilty for not hearing the Lord or not listening. I simply want to urge you to take the time to listen and hear.

Perhaps you don’t want to hear His voice. Maybe there is some secret sin you are withholding. In John 8:9 we see the people’s response to Jesus when He was dealing with the woman who had been caught in adultery. “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

I have often wondered what Jesus wrote in the sand that day. Maybe He listed some of their secret sins, so they all slipped away. Don’t do that! Confess those sins. Be cleansed through His forgiveness. We all need a daily washing, don’t we? Hear His voice calling you to repentance.

I confess to You, Lord, each day the sins I have committed. Wash me clean once again.

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Bible, Commands, Evil, Godliness, Goodness, Hate, Rebuke, Scripture, Truth

THINGS I HATE

ZECHARIAH 8:17

“‘“Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these things are what I hate,” declares the LORD.’”

Hate is a strong word. I know, I know. But there a few things in this world that I hate. I hate searing, hot days when you can’t get any relief. I hate it when my truck breaks down, and I can’t fix it. I hate brussel sprouts and spinach. Yep, I said it. Sorry, moms out there. Most of all, I hate sin.

The Lord listed a couple of things He hates in today’s verse. He says He hates hearts that have devised evil against another, and He hates perjury (telling lies). Of course, the God of truth is going to hate those things. We should hate the same things God hates. If He hates them, they are worthy of hate. The Hebrew word here for “hate” can also mean something that is odious, that stinks.

APPLICATION

In the first part of Amos 5:15 the prophet says, “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate!” That’s good. Then Paul says this in Romans 12:9. “Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.” I think you get the picture. There are some things that it okay to hate. In fact, we are commanded to hate evil.

The problem today is that the world has totally changed the definition of what is evil. That can be confusing if you are not in the Word and spending time with the Lord every day. If you listen to the Social Media influencers, you will definitely be led astray. Most of them applaud the things the Word says is evil.

Let me encourage you today to be a hater. Yep, a hater. Hate those things that pull people away from God. Notice I said things, not people. We need to love everyone because God does. But He hates the sin. So should we. We need to be bold and point out those sins without demeaning the person. You’ve heard it said, “Hate the sin but love the sinner.” Practice that today.

Father, I do hate those things You hate. Help me be bold to point out those things to others.

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