Proverbs 15:15
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."
As I walked around the corner from a hallway the lady at the front desk said to me, "I heard you coming." I was curious as to how she knew that it was me, so I asked her how she knew this. She responded, "You have a happy laugh that sets you apart from my other customers." She said, "You have a way of brightening someone's day with your laughter."
Daniel 3:28
"Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."
People are constantly trying to change society. Unfortunately societies can be changed by those who are sinful as well as they can be changed by those who want to change a society for right; however, the way one changes a society never changes. Those who have a wrong belief system understand what it takes to change a society and are willing to pay that dear price. If Christians are ever going to change their society then they also are going to have to be willing to pay that same price.
Ezekiel 44:23
"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."
One of the greatest voids in Christianity today is holiness. We live in times when many have tried to redefine holiness to the detriment of churches, nations and lives. Society has tried to silence those who preach holiness. Those who preach and teach holiness have been portrayed as dividers and problem makers. Yet, this still doesn't change the fact that God demands His people to be holy. In the verse above, God shows how to develop a holy people.
Ezekiel 34:2
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?"
Many people desire position for the wrong reason. Many people desire position for the prestige of the position instead of the opportunity that position brings. There are many young men who desire to pastor a church for the sake of seeing their name on the desk or door of their office. Many youth desire to have leadership positions for the sake of having the luxuries and honor that come with that position. If the truth be told, there are leaders who are simply serving their position instead of serving the people.
Ezekiel 23:31
"Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand."
The key to being successful in any area of life is finding the right role model. If I wanted to build a hamburger franchise, I would find a successful burger franchise and follow their model. If I wanted to build a successful family, I would find someone whose family is functional and happy and I would follow their model. Following the right model is so important to successful longevity and blessing.
Ezekiel 11:19
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:"
The heart is the organ of the body that acts as a pump to supply blood with oxygen and nutrients to the other organs of the body. The main reason a person might need a heart transplant is that their heart has stopped pumping blood and the body is no longer able to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Though there are many contributing factors as to why a person may or may not qualify for a heart transplant, the main need is a donor to give their heart. That means someone must die so that another can continue to live.
1 Corinthians 10:30
"For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?"
The Scriptures make it very clear that a person is saved by grace. God says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8) They also make it very clear that once a person gets saved they will always be saved. God says in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." A person doesn't get saved and lose their salvation tomorrow because of something they have done; rather, once you are saved you are always saved.
Proverbs 3:35
"The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools."
People in most workplaces are oftentimes clamoring for a raise. There are some who simply don't say anything about getting a raise, but inside they truly desire that their boss would give them a raise. There are others who always complain about not being paid enough and vocalize their desire to earn more. Getting a raise always seems to be a desire in every workplace.
1 Corinthians 2:4
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:"
There is something definitely lacking that I see in our present day Christianity. We are living in times when Christians should have the greatest influence of all time. Technology is at its best! We have the opportunity to influence a world in a moments notice with technology. We have the best printing and graphics technology of any time. We have access to education like no other generation has had. We have the capability to contact thousands with one click of a button through social networking. Yet, Christianity's influence is not growing, but waning.
Jeremiah 36:32
"Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words."
Jeremiah had been shut up in prison for proclaiming truth about the future of Israel. While in prison, God told Jeremiah to write the words that He would speak against Israel and Judah. After writing these words, Jeremiah told Baruch, his secretary, to take the roll upon which the words were written and read it in the temple so the people could hear it. At the hearing of these words, the people proclaimed and fast, and a worker in the king's cabinet went back and told all the king's servants what he heard. They invited Baruch to come and read the words to them, at which time they requested he read these words to the king.