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God’s standard isn’t basic or bare minimum but the overall best practice...
Do you believe in God or only believe in yourself? Some argue that there is no God. Others say that we are all gods in our own right. What do you say? Better yet, what does the Bible say about such things? This is a question that must be answered and interpreted correctly for us to appropriately align ourselves with values that are not associated with corruptible morale.
To be confident in an ideology, the accepted ideals, policies, and theories of our society, without confronting the origin or agenda of these beliefs is foolish. What secular minds accept as moral authority is not good. Only the Christ-minded can profess to truly know the standard of all perfect morale and order. That is hinged on the law and love of God.
What if what you call good is actually bad? Would you be willing to deny how you feel about destructive ideals after discovering the truth? Or are you too committed to what works for you to lay it all down at the feet of Christ, postured for reformation in the Lord? These are questions I hope prompt wise consideration and vulnerable meditation.
God's standard is excellence
King Cyrus, historically referred to as Cyrus the Great, ruled from 559 until 530 BC as the king of Persia. King Cyrus, who founded the Achaemenid Empire, was also hailed as a type of messianic figure in the Bible for his part in liberating the Jews from Babylonian captivity. We read in Isaiah 45:5-6 how the Lord is a God who summons kings and makes them great for His name's sake. Proverbs 21:1-9 provides keen insight on God’s influence towards kings:
“In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.”
As ruler, the king has the responsibility of stewarding over those in his domain with wisdom, provision, and protection. When the Lord softened King Cyrus’s heart towards Israel, there was a partnership declared between God and Cyrus that favorably released Israel back into their promised land. The Lord, Who is the supreme Ruler and King of the universe, demonstrated all the qualities of a faithful Overseer by facilitating the liberation of Israel through a gentile king.
Though King Cyrus was the one who defeated the Babylonions and freed the Israelites, he was only acting as a proxy under the influence of God’s sovereign command. Like King Cyrus, God has awarded each of us a balanced measure of authority that we are to enforce as representatives of His sovereignty on earth. Regardless of who the Lord chooses to use, we are reminded in Isaiah 45:5-6 that He is the only supernatural catalyst that authorizes and initiates heavenly decrees in the earth.
Isaiah 45:5-6
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me, 6 so that all may know, from where the sun rises to where it sets, that there is none but Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.
There is no God but the LORD. He is the beginning and the end. He defines every creation and decrees every doctrine. There is no standard but the banner of His excellence! The standard He establishes is the mark of approval all creation must uphold as the standing principle and practice. It's important to understand that God’s standard isn’t basic or bare minimum but the overall best practice.
Matching god's standard
Like King Cyrus, would we allow our hearts to flow in God’s hands like streams of fresh water towards those who thirst for truth and deliverance? That is the question that separates the mundane from the marvelous, the goats from the sheep, and the wheat from the tares. Each day we have to decide whether we are going to do our best to match God’s standard or neglect it.
Even if we miss the mark at times, we must remain resilient and steadfast. If we fail, we fail in the light but if we reject the Lord’s standard, we are given to the darkness. Choose to take a stand. Choose to serve the Lord and not worldly whims. It’s sad to see many so-called churches completely altering biblical doctrines to appease a group of people. Inclusivity is not an excuse to debase the Word of God.
Either you love Jesus Christ and want to obey His commands out of that love or you will serve your own agenda, using Christianity as a front to wrap your sin nature in grace. That is not divine grace but a disgrace and affront to the King of Glory. The Bible is very clear about the consequences of altering the Word of God. These following scriptures support this point.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
-Revelation 22:18-19
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
-Romans 6:14-16
24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
-Matthew 6:24
Characterized by The right traits
As a child I remember having an adjustable basketball hoop lowered so that I could dunk on the rim. As I grew taller, the rim height changed. Though most park rims were 10 feet high, they were cemented in the ground with no way to adjust the height. As I loved playing basketball, I could either pretend to dunk on the adjustable hoops children used or practice drills and strengthen my body until I was able to dunk or grab the rim.
At only 5’ 7”, I strengthened my legs enough that I could at least grab the public playground rims in highschool. Regardless of whether I’m 5’ 7” or 6’ 4”, the standard for public rims won’t get shorter when I show up because I want to dunk. If I don’t consistently do the work, I won’t be able to reach the rim. As easy as this is to understand, it’s unfortunate that some don’t want to do the work of wrestling with their fleshly desires in order to live a godly life that meets the standards our Creator set for us.
As humans, we are not perfect and will occasionally miss the mark. However, our overall lifestyles should be reflective of the model Jesus personally set for us. The quality of our character should represent more than our wants and needs. As we grow in Christ, so should our ability to operate in the choosing power of the Holy Spirit that governs our hearts with biblical criterion, standards on which our godly judgment is based.
Our customs, ideals, and overall sense of morale begets the fruit of excellence that glorifies God. Even those who despise us for our belief in Christ should be able to witness the fruit of the Spirit in our actions and not just our words. Let our professions be confirmed in our behaviors. Shine forth with traits that not only witness to our faith in Christ but sets the high bar for others to reach for as the appropriate biblical and cultural standard of excellence.
Scripture Reference:
Isaiah 45:1-5 (NIV)
“This is what the Lord says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:
2
I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
3
I will give you hidden treasures,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
4
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me.
5
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
Thank You and God Bless!
Thank you for reading this blog. Your support and contribution is treasured here. Please continue to share this content so that God may work through us to be a benefit to others. I invite you to leave a comment and stay tuned in for the next blog. I pray that this blesses you and honor’s God. Let’s continue growing together as Kingdom Citizens in Christ. Show love, be kind, and trust in God. Thank you and God bless.
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