True Bond

For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face and known me personally. Colossians 2:1 (AMP)

The Question: Why would someone have great concern for others, when he had never met them? 

The answer: "Those believers."  

The bond of true Christians is not based on if we go to the same church, or if we live in the some community, or even the same state. The true bond of Christians is Jesus Christ. And that bond makes miles disappear and unites people all over the world. 

The internet has made our world much smaller, in that we can have instant access to other Continents. It wasn't that long ago, where we'd have to wait months to receive a letter from around the world. Now, we wait seconds. 

With the instant access of the World at out grasp, the question then is: Am I using it to draw closer to other believers? Am I using it to encourage them? 

Paul had great concern for other believers, even those he never met. If I am to have that same concern, it begins in my heart. And for my heart to beat with the love and concern for others, it must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

Not Succumb to the Lower Standards

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 11. Here is what I learned.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 (NIV)

When the foundations [a stable society] collapse, what can ·good [righteous] people do?” Psalm 11:3 (EXB)

If the foundations be destroyed - These are still to be regarded as the words of the psalmist's advisers; or as an argument why he should make his escape. The word "foundations," here, refers to those things on which society rests, or by which social order is sustained - the great principles of truth and righteousness that uphold society, as the foundations on which an edifice rests uphold the building. The reference is to a destruction of those things in a community, when truth is no longer respected; when justice is no longer practiced; when fraud and violence have taken the place of honesty and honor; when error prevails; when a character for integrity and virtue affords no longer any security. This is supposed to be the case in the circumstances referred to in the psalm, when there was no respect paid to truth and justice, and when the righteous, therefore, could find no security. It is under these circumstances the advice is given Psalm 11:1, that the righteous should seek safety in flight. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The other day I was watching football on TV. I enjoy watching the games, however, I do not enjoy the commercials for the TV shows and movies. Why don’t I like seeing the ads for new shows? Because each new show and movie is simply violence, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. Hollywood seems to think that the further from morals, such as truth, integrity, respect, the shows become the more we like them. There is some truth in that, for those lack morals, do enjoy watching those shows. 

The more we watch shows missing the principles of truth, honesty, respect the more we become desensitized to the violence, gore and lack of morals. The more death we watch on TV or in movies, it desensitized us to what death really is. 

As society as a whole moves farther away from God and His standards, the more the righteous need to get closer to God. Just because “everyone” is doing it (ignoring God and His standards) does not make it right or acceptable. 

To create a positive day, I need to focus my attention on God’s standards and not succumb to the lower standards the World tries to promote as good.