“You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes
of men,
but God knows your hearts.
What is highly valued among men is detestable in
God’s sight.”
Lk. 16:15
What’s “highly valued” in today’s society?
Let’s look at a few societal ideals and contrast them with
what God values:
Society: outward
beauty and youth
God: inward beauty
and maturity (1Pet. 3:3; Matt. 23:27-28; Eph. 4:13-14)
Society: personal
power
God: Spirit’s
power and influence (1Cor. 2:14;
Acts 1:18; Rom. 15:13; Jn. 16:12-15)
Society:
tolerance for anything and everything
God: love the person;
hate the sin (Rom. 12:9; 1 Cor.
13:6; 1Jn. 2:3-6; Mk. 12:30-31)
Society: calling
evil good and good evil
God: good is
good, evil is evil (Is. 5:20-21;
Jn. 3:20-21; Rom. 12:9; 3Jn. 1:11)
Society: ends
justify the means
God: the “means
matters” and we will give an account
(Heb. 4:13; Phil. 3:18)
Society: self-promotion
and exaltation
God: a humble
self-prospective (Lk. 18:14; Gal. 6:4-5; Jms. 4:6; Ps. 147:6; Is. 66:2)
Society: love of
money
God: love of God
and His perspectives regarding this world
(1 Tim. 6:10; Matt. 6:24)
Society: pleasure
at all cost
God: following
Jesus at all cost, trusting in His promises of blessing both today and through
eternity (Phil. 2:21; Dt. 28; Jn. 10:10)
“A message from God concerning the
sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their
own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The
words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do
good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful
course and do not reject what is wrong.” Ps. 36:1-4
Dominion belongs to the Lord and
He rules over the nations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is
the Lord. (Ps. 22:28; Ps. 33:12)
Your
unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; Your
faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Pour out Your unfailing love on those
who love You; give justice to those with honest hearts. (Ps. 36: 5 & 10) Amen. ~Shaun and Betsy
