I have been reading a lot of news on how guns should be banned etc, to the carnal mind that makes sense. But to the Christian the way to stop school shootings is by getting God back into schools.

Deu_30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Perhaps it is time for Christians to quit compromising and instead of becoming more tolerant that we become less tolerant of sin?

In the Old Testament we read how the priest is supposed to keep the lamp burning in the temple of God all night, to me it is symbolically showing God’s presence in the darkness being brought forth by the priest.

Exo 27:20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

As we read 1 Sa. Eli had lost his site and so he allowed the light to go out at night. It is through the word of God we are given site so we can keep the light burning, showing forth the light of Christ to a dark world.

1Sa 3:2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

Mat_5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat_5:14 Ye are the light of the world…

Inspired by Bro Doc’s post about the upside down world.

I wanted to share with others this story dealing with the upside down way the world does things.

My sister has a female friend named Deb whose husband has been suffering for a few years with lung cancer. He had received lung transplants some time back also. They lived on his disability as she took care of him. He passed away a few months ago. Deb’s husband Steve had no life insurance and they didn’t have much money so they were going to have to go real cheap on the funeral, they were going to have him cremated. Someone stepped up and paid for a real nice funeral, nice coffin and nice grave.

Since the funeral Deb has not found a job and now she might loose her home. Each month she is getting further in the hole financially.

The upside down way of thinking is this, more care was taken for the dead than for the living. Instead of a wasted expense on a nice funeral for the dead, the money could have been used to pay the bills to continue the life of the living.

As the word tells us our belief is counted for righteousness.

As we read the word we should read all the promises that are obtained by the righteous.

If those promises aren’t obtained it is not that God has changed his mind but that our level of belief is not as great as we try to claim. Our level of belief grows just like following a map to a destination increases the closeness to our destination. There are many that deny that as truth because they have followed their map and yet not obtained the promised destination. Perhaps the map we have followed is not completely correct?

If we are not obtaining what God promises we can change God or change our self. A proud man tries to change God, which is why they shall fall.

Mat_6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Psa_34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Pro_11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

Psa_34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psa_5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psa_34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psa_37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psa_92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

In the book of Daniel we read about King Nebuchadnezzar and how he built a gold statue and passed a law that every one had to bow down before it when they heard the music. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow before an idol. They were willing to die before they would disobey the word of God by bowing before an idol.

Because they were willing to die for their beliefs, they brought glory to the true God, and were rewarded for their convictions.

Dan 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

Dan 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

There are several other stories in which those that are willing to die for their beliefs bring glory to the true God and are rewarded here are a few, Esther, Mordecai and Daniel.

Before one can glorify God to other and be rewarded for standing strong upon their beliefs, they have to first be tested. See the persecution your going through today as a potential for you to bring glory to the Lord and to be rewarded.

Mat_5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.