Morality "Trumps" the Law!

So they [the rulers, elders, and scribes, and priests (vs. 5-6)] called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ... (Acts 4:18-19) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) 

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's moral! Anything that goes against the Word of God is not to be obeyed. Those who are in authority or have the charge to carry out unjust commands must resolve, as Christ Jesus commanded His disciples, on how to decide whom and what we should obey:

Jesus began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees [the religious leaders], which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:1-5) We are to fear God more than man, because the consequences of disobeying his moral laws or more grave than any consequence man can implement.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26-27) If this is pure and undefiled religion, why would anyone think it's ok to separate children from their parents, especially mothers? God, please save America and its leaders!

Jesus said, "...For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always." (Mark 14:7) Love helps people, who are seeking better for themselves and their families, become what God created them to be - it's better for them and for the world! So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Luke 10:27)

PLEASE VOTE WISELY GOING FORWARD...

Want to Meet the "Perfect" Person? Start Living Your Best Life!

Recently there has been a lot of media attention towards Prince Harry of Britain and his new wife, Meghan Markle of the US. Of all the things heard and written, a specific soundbite from an interview with a reporter struck me as worthy of sharing as part of a Bible study. Paraphrasing, the interviewee said, "Meghan was already well educated, successful at her career, well traveled and connected. Remember, a mutual friend introduced her to the Prince."

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, before they met in July 2016

I enjoy listening to Paul Sheppard, and in one of his message series, he said the following regarding singles wanting to meet the "perfect" person and get married: "Many of you are praying and asking God to send you the perfect person, but if He did, why would that person want you?" His point being, we need to become our best most perfect selves in order to be in a position to cross paths with others who best compliment our lives.

For those of us who are single (like Prince Harry was) or single again (like Meghan Markle was), what do we need to do to become our perfect selves? Well, being this is a Bible study blog, the first thing is to accept the perfection that Christ Jesus offers us. Christ taught, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48 KJV) And He also prayed on our behalf, "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;..." (John 17:23 KJV)

Step 1: accept the free gift of salvation offered through faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 5)

Step 2: once saved, allow the Holy Spirit of God to lead, guide and convict which areas of our lives need to be changed, improved and explored based on the Word of God (John 16)

• Spiritual growth by studying the Word of God daily and having private prayer time (Psalm 1)
• Become an active member of a local church that rightly teaches the entire Word of God (Hebrews 10)
• Become more charitable towards others and faithful in giving tithes and offerings to God (2 Corinthians  9)
• Reduce and/or payoff debts, only have debts on things (house, transportation to get to work and church) or for things (education) that should or will be worth more in the future (Romans 13)
• Physical wellbeing, health and nutrition because this body is the only one we'll have (1 Corinthians  6)
• Education and expanding our minds, not just about God but everything in His creation (Proverbs & Ecclesiastes)
• Professional growth and development (Colossians 3)
• Explore, travel, see and try new things that don't compromise our faith and beliefs (Joshua 1)

Step 3: don't stress about if or when we will meet the right person,  just start living our best lives. Whether God allows us to meet the perfect "prince" or "princess" or not, remember we already have a perfect relationship with the King of kings and Lord or lords, Christ Jesus!

• Don't compromise on God's standards, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24 KJV)
• Don't settle for less than what God wants us to have, based on what He's done to demonstrate His love for us. "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."  (Ephesians 5:29-30 KJV) "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV)

Paul Sheppard also shared from 2 Kings 4:8-9, "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband,..." (KJV)

Without going into all the details of the message, a major point he made is when the scriptures introduce a woman or wife first and as being a great woman, the husband married well, someone who already had her stuff together, so he could join his life with hers perfectly. 

If you haven't started living your best life yet, start right now by working on improving your life choices in the areas above. If you've already started living your best life, then continue by striving to perfect it through your faith and relationship with Christ Jesus. 

My motto is "I don't go with the flow, I flow with God!" Wherever He leads, I follow, and whatever or whomever He allows to cross my path or come beside me as I contine following Him is up to Him, but regardless, the Word instructs "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)