Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “True Greatness”
Our Bible verse for today: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 21:25 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Great people live according to Biblical standards.”
The final words of the book of Judges accurately sum up that entire dark period of Israel’s history, “everyone did as he saw fit.” There was no king in those days and there were no strong godly leaders. Living Biblically was not the culturally accepted way of life, and so everyone simply made-up their own rules and lived in whatever way they wanted.
The people had abandoned God and as a result their moral values were derived from their own opinions and desires rather than from God’s absolute standard of truth and righteousness. But when people abandon God and His standards, truth and morality become relative and evil prevails.
As we conclude our month of considering True Greatness as defined by God, we should by now realize that the single most important dominate characteristics of a great man or woman of God is that they know the Bible, and they live by it. Regardless of the standards of greatness promoted by the world, and regardless of their own preferences and desires, great men and women of God study God’s word, know it well, and then resolve to live by it.
God has promised that He has a good and perfect plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11); He has also promised that He will speak to and guide those who call out to Him with a sincere heart (Jeremiah 29:12-13); He will lead us down paths of righteousness for His own sake (Psalm 23:3); He will be with us always as we live this life that brings Him honor and glory (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5); and He will bring to a successful completion that which He is in the process of working out in our lives (Philippians 1:6).
Living as godly men and women really isn’t that hard; God Himself helps us to do it.
I want to leave you this month with a passage of Scripture that I hope will give you great comfort and assurance as you continue to try to live a life that is pleasing to God. It is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Trust God with your whole heart. Do not depend on your own understanding but instead, acknowledge Him in all your ways (study His Word, pray, do what you know to be right); and then you can count on Him to make your paths straight. Great men and women of God know this to be true, and they live accordingly.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 