VALUE SYSTEMS

John 21:15
After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you love
me more than these?" "Yes, Lord,"
Peter replied, "you know I love you."
"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.



"Do you love me?" Three times the Lord Jesus asked Peter this question, and Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, I love you more than these.” Now, Peter was not a regular fisherman. He had boats, nets and servants, making him more of a commercial fisherman. He had everything a common man could wish for during Jesus' time. The Lord asked him the same question three times because Peter would have to abandon all his worldly possessions and leave behind everything to follow Jesus. When Jesus asked these questions, He had already been resurrected from the dead and had proven His power to conquer death. The greatest message that needed to be preached was already before Peter, and Jesus was really telling him how important it is for people to hear God’s message. Make God’s values your own values, making what’s important to Him important to you.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Job 7:17
What is man that you make so much of him,
that you give him so much attention?



What is so great about man that should require God’s full attention and that He should have sent His only Son to die on the cross to save man? What makes us so important to God? The answer is simple: God owns you and created you in His image and likeness. There is something in you that belongs to God according to Genesis 2:7 when the Word says, “And the Lord God formed a man's body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And the man became a living person.” Nothing else in God’s creation was given the breath of God except for man. This makes us unique and special to Him. It is not your appearance, money, possessions, achievements, fame or popularity that would make you important to God, but that breath which is in you that belongs to Him. That's the big deal.

AND NOW YOU'RE RICH

2 Corinthians 8:9
You know how full of love and
kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was.
Though he was very rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor,
so that by his poverty
he could make you rich.



God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, was sent from heaven because of love. In John 6:38 Jesus tells us, “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.” He left heaven’s glory where streets are pure gold and the gates are made of pearl, to live on earth and became poor so that those who would receive Him could become children of God and heirs to heaven's glory. Now that kind of inheritance would make a person very rich indeed.

LIONS' DEN

Daniel 6:20
When he came near the den,
he called to Daniel in an anguished voice,
"Daniel, servant of the living God,
has your God, whom you serve continually,
been able to rescue you from the lions?"



The book of Daniel tells us of those who were envious of Daniel’s position with the king, conspiring to spin an evil scenario that would force the king to sentence the respected prophet to death in a lions' den. What those conspirators failed to understand was that Daniel belonged to and worked for God. Under God’s protection, the lions' den became Daniel’s den with the lions as his visitors. In Daniel’s den, the lions came under God’s authority and those that worked for God were given rule over the beasts. Working for God has some serious privileges – if and only if you have Daniel’s kind of faith. So what kind of faith do you have?

PEACE BECAUSE OF CHRIST

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been
made right in God's sight by faith,
we have peace with God because of what
Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.



As Christians, our righteousness isn’t a result of our own personal good deeds because even with our best behavior according to Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags.” The rags mentioned in this verse are actually the clothing used by lepers to wrap their bloody and pus-filled wounds. It’s because of God’s love that His Son was sent to heal us from our unrighteousness, bringing us back into God’s sight and at peace with Him. The peace that we now have, we only have because of Christ.

SENTIMENTAL

1 Corinthians 7:31
Those in frequent contact with
the things of the world should
make good use of them without
becoming attached to them,
for this world and all it contains
will pass away.



The Word of God teaches us how to have the right attitude toward personal possessions and our feelings about them. Because our time and energy were consumed while gathering possessions, these items will often begin to carry sentimental value. Certain items will even symbolize achievements or special events. God said, however, to avoid becoming attached to our earthly possessions because earthly things will eventually pass away. God gives His children everything needed, but we have to be careful to not fall in love with these tools, but rather to love the Creator because when world passes away, the Creator will be all that is left standing. Do you find yourself sometimes attached to things of the world? Just remember the One that provided those things to you.

YOU LAZYBONES

Proverbs 6:6
Take a lesson from the ants,
you lazybones. Learn from
their ways and be wise!



There’s a story I’d read about a girl who made Jesus her Lord and Savior. Her parents ridiculed her for the decision and they did their best to get her to renounce her faith in Christ. Through this, however, she remained faithful and told them, “By God’s grace I’ll never go back to my old life!” As time passed, her father noticed the change in her life and told her, “I guess it must be real because now you get up at six o’clock every morning to study the Bible. Before you were so lazy, we had trouble getting you out of bed!” King Solomon wrote about ants in Proverbs 6:7 telling us, “Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they work.” A person doesn’t have to be told or forced to get up and work, so don’t be lazy. Let your testimony on work ethics be a strong testimony of faith.

SOLID ROCK

2 Samuel 22:32
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?



Edward Mote wrote the hymn “The Solid Rock” in 1836 and chorus runs like this: “On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.” There’s very little in a person’s life that’s set forever because everything is constantly changing. You can be rich today and poor tomorrow, healthy today and sick tomorrow. Our Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:24 that, "Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” Jesus is the only thing in life that's set forever. Be wise and make sure He's the foundation of your life.

OBEYING YOUR PARENTS

Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents
because you belong to the Lord,
for this is the right thing to do.



Disobedient children exist because disobedient parents exist. God's first instruction to parents is to teach their children to love God. If parents would just obey God, parents would find their children in full obedience of their rules and requests. As children, we need to remember that our rights have boundaries. I'd read this funny story about a father and son when the son was turning eighteen in a state where the curfew for minors was 11:00pm. The son told his father how happy he was that he could now stay out as late as he wanted. His father responded, “Yes son, you can stay out as late as you want, but the car is under eighteen and it has to be in the garage by eleven.” Parents need to understand that they themselves have to obey the Lord. Children need to understand that they have to obey the Lord and their parents. And everyone needs to understand that every privilege has it's limitations.

READY AND WILLING

1 Peter 4:1
So then, since Christ suffered
physical pain, you must arm yourselves
with the same attitude he had,
and be ready to suffer, too.
For if you are willing
to suffer for Christ,
you have decided to stop sinning.



The harsh reality of life is that suffering is real and expected. Even God suffered when He took the form of a man in Jesus Christ. There’s a story about a king that was suffering through a painful illness and as a cure for his ailment, the king was advised to find a happy man and to take his shirt, and to wear it day and night. He sent messengers to search and retrieve such a man from the kingdom. Months passed, and after a thorough search the messengers returned without such man or shirt. The king asked, “What did you find?” The messengers responded by saying, “O king, we found one such man, just one in the kingdom.” The king the asked “Then why did you not bring back his shirt?” One messenger replied, “Master, the man had no shirt.” You see, even in the darkest times of suffering one can still be content. As Christians, we need to be prepared for suffering during our walk with Christ and it’s with the attitude of Jesus that we will be able to withstand the pain.

COMFORTABLY UNCOMFORTABLE

Job 6:10
At least I can take comfort in this:
Despite the pain, I have not denied
the words of the Holy One.



Job may have experienced some of the worst pain – mentally and physically – ever experienced by a man. There will be times that Christians will go through discomforts while walking the Christian walk. Some of those discomforts will even be caused by the people around us - sometimes even by Christians. The Word of God teaches us in Philippians 2:3, “Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” A spiritually mature person is comfortable in uncomfortable situations – just like Job. How comfortable are you in uncomfortable situations?

ATTITUDE

Philippians 2:5
Your attitude should be the
same that Christ Jesus had.



Firmin Abautiz was an elderly man known for being calm and never losing his temper. His temperament was so steady that some intentionally tried provoking Abautiz. In one instance, his housekeeper purposefully neglected to make the beds. The next morning, Abautiz reminded her to make the beds, but the housekeeper claimed to have forgotten it and nothing more was said between the two. For two more days, she continued to avoid the beds, and for two days she was reminded daily, and for two days she provided an excuse. On the third day, Abautiz said to her, “You have not yet made my bed, but it is evident you are determined to do it. Well, I suppose you find the job troublesome. It’s of little consequence though because I’ve become comfortable with it already.” Some things are beyond our control because each person is allowed the freewill to choose and make decisions. Instead of losing the joy of life because of difficult situations, try gaining the joy of life by having a Christ-like attitude.

GRANT US SUCCESS

Psalm 118:25-26
O Lord, save us;
O Lord, grant us success.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD
we bless you.



Psalm 118:25-26 is meant to be sung as one's begging to God for success. The same exact song was sung many years later by the masses when Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21:9 and we learn that, “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” Hosanna in it's truest and most sincere translation means, “God save us.” In life, we must realize that true success can only come through Almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have the right attitude toward God and His plan for your life, you certainly will find success and blessings upon your life. Have you entrusted the success of your life and endeavors to God?

TENDERHEART

Ephesians 4:32
Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
just as God through Christ has forgiven you.



Isn't it beautiful to see when people are kind, tenderhearted and forgiving of each other? Maria Feodormena, the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander III, once saw a letter signed by her husband denying a pardon for a condemned man. The letter read as follows: “Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.” The empress edited the note and moved the comma a tiny bit so that it read: “Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.” That act of kindness spared a condemned man’s life and later that man was freed. Christian brothers and sisters need to be kind to each other because the long term effects of kindness are immeasurable and beyond generations. What was your last Christian random act of kindness?

YOUR BROTHER'S KEEPER

Genesis 4:9
Then the Lord said to Cain,
"Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied.
"Am I my brother's keeper?"



When envy and selfishness reign, death will no doubt soon follow after, but when love and compassion is lived out, abundant life will certainly begin. Cain chose envy and selfishness over love and compassion. Had he chosen to love his brother instead of succumbing to his fleshly desires, he would have found life with Abel to be fruitful because when two are together in one accord it is always better than being alone. Thomas S. Stewart’s story was that he was a blind man who studied law at McGill. His brother, William, became his eyes and ears throughout all the different phases of college life. Thomas graduated as the valedictorian of his class, while William finished second. Their story is a testament to how two can work together to achieve greatness.

A GOOD EXAMPLE

1 Peter 5:3
Don't lord it over the
people assigned to your care,
but lead them by your good example.



Every Christian is a leader, particularly to those who don’t know the way. In Luke 6:39 Jesus gave the following illustration: "What good is it for one blind person to lead another? The first one will fall into a ditch and pull the other down also.” You are tasked by the Word to lead people who are in darkness to God’s marvelous light and the best way is to lead by your good example. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.” Your good example can lead the lost to God. Can you think of a time when your good example had an impact on someone who was lost?

ENDURE THE TEST

James 1:12
God blesses the people who
patiently endure testing.
Afterward they will receive
the crown of life that God has
promised to those who love him.



Companies and institutions reward their employees with bonuses for good performances. Similarly, students who patiently study and pass the exams are rewarded with their deserved grades when their classes are completed. All of this is a reward pattern that has been taken from the very Word of God for His faithful children. Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Be faithful and obedient to the Word, perform the tasks given to you, pass the exams of life and at the end of your journey Christ will have a crown waiting for you as a reward.

TROUBLES

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our present troubles are quite
small and won't last very long.
Yet they produce for us an immeasurably
great glory that will last forever!
So we don't look at the troubles
we can see right now; rather, we look
forward to what we have not yet seen.
For the troubles we see will soon be over,
but the joys to come will last forever.



Throughout life, it's guaranteed that we will have problems and turbulent times, but according to the Word of God those moments will be short-lived happenings that are for our benefit and growth. You just have to look at life through the spiritual eyes given to us by our spiritual Father. Jesus taught us in John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Our biggest enemy has already been overcome and defeated. Jesus is already victorious and we are on His side. Have you ever felt completely overcome while dealing with problems and trials? Take heart, Jesus has overcome and He's on your side.

JUST JUDGMENT

Psalm 51:2-4
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my shameful deeds —
they haunt me day and night.
Against you, and you alone,
have I sinned; I have done
what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right
in what you say, and your
judgment against me is just.



When we backslide and turn away from the right path, God still gives us His right and fair judgment. That judgment may hurt and we may even temporarily lose the comfortable peace, joy and happiness that He wants for us. The best remedy to regain His blessings is to recognize one’s mistakes and humbly come to the throne of God’s grace. Ask for cleansing from sin and for His forgiveness, and you’ll be off to a good start. After all, His judgment is justified.

REVERENT FEAR

Psalm 2:11
Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
With solemn declaration under oath.



Serving the Lord means doing exactly what He wants and the time He wants. Reverence means that you should think about things the way God is thinking about things. This can be achieved through continual prayer to God, just as He commanded us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to, “pray continually.” The Holy Spirit tells us what the will of God is through His Word as John 16:13 teaches us, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Also, 1 Corinthians 2:16 tell us, “Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel? But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” God’s children need to pray often to get and stay connected with God because He should be served with reverent fear.

A TRUE WITNESS

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."



A witness is a person with personal knowledge of something, who can give evidence and testify. This definition lets us know that a person who hasn’t experienced the saving power of Jesus cannot be a witness of His power and grace. Because of this definition, it's stands for us to reason that if you don’t know, or aren’t sure, if you are going to heaven when you die, the religious persuasion you are following is most likely a false teaching. The body of Christ knows where they are going as promised by Jesus himself in John 14:1-4 when He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Take the time today to share this good news of salvation with the people around you and become a true witness of Christ.

DON'T LOOK BACK

Genesis 19:26
But Lot's wife looked back,
and she became a pillar of salt.



It wasn't the looking back that destroyed Lot’s wife, but rather it was her disobedience to God's given command. The angel’s instruction was clear in Genesis 19:17, “Run for your lives! Do not stop anywhere in the valley. And don't look back! Escape to the mountains, or you will die.” You’re might even be asking yourself, “Why on earth did she look back?” The Bible teaches us in Luke 12:34, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” When God gives instructions, our responsibility is to obey. What we may lose by obeying isn’t important at all as long as we gain Christ’s approval for being obedient.

THE BODY OF CHRIST

1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it.



The church, which is also called the body of Christ, is called out of from the darkness into God’s marvelous light through the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:18 tells us that, “Christ is the head of the church, which is his body.” This is why the Word of God says in 1 Peter 1:15, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” Always be reminded that as part of the body of Christ, you represent the Lord Jesus our God everywhere you go. Are you a good representative of the Lord Jesus?

LOVING EVIL?

1 John 2:15
Stop loving this evil world and
all that it offers you, for when
you love the world, you show that you
do not have the love of the Father in you.



In 1 John 2:15, the Apostle John isn’t referring to the world God created at the beginning of Genesis, but rather to the evil system and practices of the world in sin. People can choose either godly or evil practices to become the standards that dictate one’s lifestyle. When a person doesn’t read the Word of God, their chosen standard becomes the evil and sinful world, so if you want to live the godly standard that can be found in the Bible, you’ll need to read the Word and live it’s commands obediently. After all, you don't want to find yourself in that gray area of life where you may find yourself loving evil things.

APPROPRIATELY MODEST

1 Timothy 2:9
And I want women to be modest
in their appearance. They should
wear decent and appropriate clothing
and not draw attention to themselves
by the way they fix their hair or by
wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.



The way a person dresses can become an issue because one’s attire draws attention. The Bible doesn’t stop us from wearing the clothes we want, but rather it teaches us to dress appropriately because our attire can be used to draw people’s attention either toward yourself and maybe away from God. Whether you agree or disagree, when ladies wear the kind of clothes that draw men’s eyes to their body and form, those men are drawn closer to the flesh rather than to God. Always do your best present yourself decently and appropriately. You don’t want to find yourself as a stumbling block to someone else’s walk with or towards Christ.