The Coming Storm

It is Tuesday evening and I am sitting at the computer listening to a loud generator give me the chance to write this, and waiting for the power to come back on.  Monday night at 9:00 p.m., my husband rushed inside, hollering for me to close up all the windows as we watched the air turn yellow from the huge pollen cloud the winds were picking up.  

A huge storm was blowing in, bringing with it winds ferocious enough to snap two trees on our lot in half.  One of them partially supported a big swing my husband had hung last year for our grandbabies.  Precariously hanging in the top of the other support tree, it will have to come down to prevent injury to the kids.  The other tree, another 3-foot thick lodge pole on the north end of the lot, snapped in two like a flimsy toothpick.  The loud crack that accompanied it sent my husband flying to the window, fearing it was one of the many that surrounds the large snow roof our 5th-wheel is parked beneath.

As the sky grew darker and the lightening flashed around us, the power sputtered a few times, then went completely out.  We watched as the horrific winds whipped the towering trees in 20-30 foot circles.  We were amazed that any of the hundreds of trees in the old subdivision were able to withstand the onslaught.  I thought of the birds that were perched in them, clinging with all their might to the branches.  If they failed to hold on, the wind would sweep their tiny bodies far away from the small bit of safety their home provided.  Our dog cowered beneath our feet, the roar of the wind and the booming thunder terrifying her.  An occasional pat on the head and our soothing voices brought brief solace to her as the storm raged on.

Although we have experienced similar storms in intensity in our mountain valley, this particular one stretched on much longer.  Almost an hour later, the winds finally subsided and the rain began to fall, washing the pollen and dirt from the air.  Opening the door, I breathed in the rain's scent and the cool air brushed across my face.  I was thankful for the storm's end.  In the morning we would survey the damage it brought and, hopefully, the region-wide power outage would be remedied.

Over twenty six hours later on a Tuesday evening, we are still without power.  According to Idaho Power's phone message Monday night, the damage the storm created covered hundreds of square miles, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.  Over 18,000 people in the small communities that make up West Central Idaho lost power, and only about half of them have had it restored.   Although I often wish we were back in a house of our own, there are definitely advantages to living in an RV, especially in circumstances such as these.   I cooked dinner for our son and his wife and four children tonight, and the kids had warm showers and jumped into their pajamas.  It was reassuring to them to know that amidst the mess the storm had created were small comforts to make them feel safe.  As long as our propane, our now half-filled clean water holding tank, and the drinking water bottles I filled today hold out, we are better off than many.  I know there are people feverishly working to restore the power we so take for granted and that, eventually, it will come back on.  But I am still praying for patience.

In light of the temporary discomforts we face when man-made electricity is taken from us, I am reminded of a far greater Power that can never be taken away.  He revealed Himself in the storm last night.  It was a reminder to me that God is greater than anything man is capable of accomplishing.  Perhaps last night's storm was God's way of once again revealing His almighty power to us; a reminder He is still in control of the universe and its elements (Isaiah 40:12-31).

I think God is working overtime in one last attempt to bring men back where they need to be - in awe and worship of our Great Creator.  The disasters that have recently come upon the world give credence to this belief.  His ways are unknown to us.  His majesty is yet unseen by us.  We only get a glimpse of His might and strength from time to time.  But one day, He will reveal to all mankind His almighty and glorious power.  There will be no mistaking it when He does.

The storm that is brewing and waiting in the heavenly realms will be unequaled to and unlike any the world has ever witnessed  (Jeremiah 25:32; Matt. 24:26-29; Luke 21:25-28; Rev. 6:12-14).  It will be a storm to end all storms.  And riding on the clouds will come our Lord, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  His voice will be carried on the raging winds to every corner of the earth, and His omnipotence, His power, will at last be known to all men (1Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 2:9-11).

Are you ready for the last and great coming storm?  Are you prepared to face the Bringer of the storm Who will test the faith of each and every person on earth?  If not, be forewarned.  The storm is coming and it is coming soon.  Only this time, no power on earth will be able to stand against it and no power known to man will be able to subdue it.  

The roots of sin will be ripped from the earth and cast into the fire reserved for them.  The rains of righteousness will cleanse the earth of all depravity and sinfulness and the darkness that now covers the earth will be replaced by the glory of Christ's light.  And when the storm is at last over and all things are renewed, our Lord Jesus will reign forever and ever (Rev. 21:1-21).

As unprepared as we were for the storm that hit our Idaho home, we are ready for the coming storm that will sweep across the entire earth.  It will be the final one, great and terrifying to all who have not embraced Jesus Christ.  

Have you readied yourself for the last, great storm God will bring upon this earth?  Are you prepared for what it will bring? I pray you have and that you will join those who will be spared from the horror the violent winds carry with them as they pour out God's wrath upon the earth and the men who dwell upon it.  I also pray you are ready for the judgment that follows.  If you have not yet done so, yield to the call of the Holy Spirit, repent of your sinfulness, and embrace your Savior and the salvation He is offering you - for Christ is standing and preparing Himself for the coming storm.

(It is now Wednesday, 1:33 p.m., almost 40 hours after the storm, and the power was  finally restored to our small community about 30 minutes ago.  Praise God!  I am thankful for His ever-faithful care, protection, and providence!) 

Life's Renewal

1 Corinthians 15:35-57

Last year, my grandson, Kieran Reed, gave me a small clay pot filled with dirt.  Inside it, he said, was a “mystery” seed that he had planted.  I posted the story “here” of how it struggled until I replanted it in a larger pot, and then watched it grow into beautiful yellow gladioli.

In the fall before the harsh frost brought an end to warm and sunny days, I carefully followed the directions I found on the internet and prepared the new bulb that had grown for winter storage.   Attached to the considerably larger new bulb was the original one.  As I looked at it, I was amazed that a 4-foot tall plant could grow from such a small seed.   Because my knowledge of gladioli was limited, I was not sure if the original bulb would continue to live.  However, as the larger bulb dried in preparation, the original bulb shrank and withered, eventually breaking away.  From a tiny one-inch bulb had grown tall and slender stalks arrayed with glorious flowers.  But all of the life that the first small seed contained had been passed onto another bulb that was at least two inches in diameter.  Life had been faithfully preserved, but its appearance had dramatically changed.

After the required drying time was completed, I carefully placed the bulb in a plastic bag and tucked it away in a cupboard.  Hoping I had done all that was necessary to sustain it over the winter, I would plant the seed again the following summer.

Winter and Spring were long and harsh and I looked forward to the warmth of summer.  When it finally appeared it was safe to do so, I began filling hanging baskets and pots with perennial flowers.  They were a cheerful sight and as Summer struggled to begin, I kept a close eye on the thermometer so they would not get nipped by the night frost.  A few days afterward, I remembered the bulb that waited in my cupboard.  Going to the internet one more time for instructions on how deep to plant it, the bulb was lovingly placed in its earthy nest.  There were a couple of cold nights that caused me to worry over it because they are very sensitive to frost, but I placed it in the sun each day and waited for the light to call it from its sleep.

A few days ago, I rose to brilliant sunshine.  Stepping outside my door, I moved my flower baskets and pots from the shade where they hang and sit and into the sun.  This practice is my feeble attempt to give them a much-needed boost in our short growing season.  Shade from the roof and the pine trees on the lot fail to provide the flowers with suitable sunshine, and the cool nights stunt their growth.  As I reached down to pick up the pot in which I had planted the bulb, my blurry unbespectacled eyesight caught a glimpse of pale green poking up about ¼-inch from its center.  Ever so gently, I reached down and touched it and was delighted to discover that the bulb was beginning to sprout.

Life was being renewed.  From a perishable seed sown with great love by the hands of my grandchild was raised an imperishable one by the hand of God.  In its beginning weakness and its struggle to survive and grow into what it is designed by God to be, it had to first die to find new life.  Its original body was transformed into a new body filled with greater strength, clothed with more vibrant beauty, and faithfully given the promise of continued life.

I will be diligent and careful in tending the gladioli this summer.  I will watch it grow, stake its tall, slender stalks to prevent them from breaking, and delight in its budding beauty.  It will be a constant reminder of my grandson’s love for me and greater still, of God’s love, His faithful providence, and the continuance of His gift of life.  And when it is time to store it away for another winter sleep, I will sing praises to my God that “Death has been swallowed up in victory” as I wait for its life to begin anew.

"Have You Come To 'When' Yet?" - Oswald Chambers

Although there is a two-fold message within the text, as I was reading this Oswald Chamber's devotion this morning, it came to me that it ties in  with the previous post.  At least in the sense that we are called to stand firmly on the foundation God has placed us upon, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and be in intercessory prayer for those we know who are either lost in darkness because of unbelief, or the ones who are being led astray by the constant onslaught occurring within the church. 

Because the Lord expects His children to desire to carry His message to others, it is necessary that we always keep them in our hearts and minds, but most importantly in our prayers.  When  discord appears between us because of the things we see as falsehoods that our friends and family are falling prey to, we are called to make every effort to turn them back to God's truth through intercessory prayer.  Sometimes the circumstances make us uncomfortable, or the impact of their rejection can break our hearts.  But the battle is not ours.  It solely belongs to the Lord.  We feel the sting of the arrows being flung our way, but the war that is being waged is a spiritual one.  That is when we are called to pray with fervency, for "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"  (James 5:16 - KJ), meaning the Lord will hear them.

If we keep ourselves acutely attuned to the prodding of the Holy Spirit, we will know when He is asking us to intercede in prayer for others.  We should never make it our own work, but ask Him to work in the hearts of those we love.  After all, we are not being assaulted, but Him.  His honor and glory are at stake, not our wounded pride or self-interest.   It is then that the "when" of the circumstances comes into play: when we put ourselves aside and lay others before the throne of God.  And it is then that we will see what Job realized when he did the same.

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends."

Job 42:10

"The plaintive, self-centered, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament.  The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement.  'Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.'  I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift.  

Am I humble enough to accept it?  I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession.  There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement.  Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it [again, and again!].

If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God's word, then start praying for your friends, enter in the ministry of the interior.  'The Lord turned the captivity of Job 'when he prayed for his friends.'  The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer.  Where God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours.  Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now."  (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, June 20)

Standing Firmly On Your Foundation

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

Isaiah 7:9(b)

When we first believe in Jesus Christ and invite Him into our hearts and as Master of our lives, a foundation is laid by which God’s remaining structure is built.  The Holy Spirit Who dwells within every true believer, pours the cement of God’s Truth upon solid rock, insuring that no shifting sands will undermine what He builds and topple it to the ground (Matt. 7:24-27; 1Cor. 3:10).  He then guides us to Godly men who will teach us the Word of God and all it contains, and who will erect the impenetrable walls of God’s divine will and purpose.  He establishes bulwarks against the raging sea of false doctrines that are devised by men who malevolently attempt to tear down what He has built.  If we are not guarding ourselves closely, it is at this critical juncture that we find ourselves in peril of deception and being led astray (Matt. 7:15-19; 2Cor. 11:1-15).

Within each structure that is built, doorways are added in order to gain entry.  Each one is usually equipped with a heavy lock or alarm system that prevents thieves from entering and stealing what you possess (Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:35-40).  Some walls have watchtowers and stationed upon each one is a watchman whose eyes are constantly scanning the horizon for the enemy’s approach (Matt 24:36-44; 26:41).  But if the door is opened to a stranger, or the watchman falls asleep and the wall is breached, access is gained by the enemy and those whose wish it is to lure us from the safety of God’s harbor and into the dangerous seas of false and damning doctrines.

The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about being over-confident about their faith and encouraged them to run from people and things they knew were wrong.  He concluded his warning by exhorting them to turn to God for help when temptations come (1Cor. 10:11-13).  God has the strength to help us avoid being led astray by deceivers.  But we must first have the desire to allow Him to point out the deception.  Once we have allowed Him to reveal falsehoods that are perpetrated by charlatans, He will, by His power, give us the strength  and wisdom to turn from them.  “Our lives derive all their strength from God; if He deigns to make us strong, we cannot be weakened by all the schemes of the adversary." (C.H. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening, pg. 176)

The apostle John wrote: (1John 2:24)  He realized that there were ravenous wolves that had slipped in amongst the flock of new believers.  These depraved men were stirring up false arguments with the intention of tearing down God’s beginning foundation which He established among them.  John warned them about those who were bringing a “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you.”“counterfeit” gospel (1John 2:26-27) that would lead them from the Truth they had originally received.  If we allow the Holy Spirit’s voice to penetrate our hearts and minds, we are divinely guarded from the danger of being overtaken by lies and deception.  We are further strengthened by yielding to Him and His counsel so that the next time we are assaulted by false teachers and those who would pervert the Word of God, we are better-equipped to turn from them and return to our beginning as established by the Lord.

It is in every Christian’s eternal best interest to always stand firmly upon the foundation which God has established.  We are to equip ourselves through diligent and tireless study of God’s Word that is meant to provide us with the necessary armor against the endless onslaught of those who are perverting the Truth (Eph. 6:10-20).  And we are also called to “point these things out to the brothers” (1Tim. 4:6) so that they will not “abandon the faithand follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1Tim. 4:1).

We have an obligation to gently, yet firmly, correct our brothers and sisters, especially in the age in which we live where the church is being ruthlessly invaded by frauds and deceivers bent on preaching lies to line their pockets, and to suit themselves and their sinfulness.  We should be willing to encourage others to “test the spirits” for subtle and damning heresies and fine-sounding arguments that would lead them from Scriptural Truth, regardless of how your encouragement is received by them (Jude 1-2).  There will be those who will stubbornly refuse to hear what you are attempting to bring them, those who will be willing to believe the myriad untruths and maze of lies so prevalent in today's Christian community.  They may even react with vitriol, striking out at you and condemning you with their own brand of condemnation and, sadly, hatred.  In light of the trouble that is brewing within today’s church, this can be expected.  But we must “press on toward the goal to win the prize” and to “live up to what we have already attained” (Phil. 3:14).  If we are obedient to God’s urgings to remain fearless and faithful, the man who truly possesses the Spirit of God will see his error, heed your warning, and return to his beginnings (2Tim. 4:2-5; Titus 2:15; Rev. 3:19).

“Stand firm and hold to the teachings” that have been passed onto you by the mouth of God (2Thes. 2:15).  Look to His Holy Spirit to properly guide and instruct you in the Truth so that the foundation that has been laid will stand solidly throughout all of eternity.

There is no spare time available to fear offending a brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from Spiritual Truth.  Their very soul depends upon you remaining faithful and helping them return to the Rock on which their foundation began.

“I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

Who Ya Gonna Call?

Where does faith flee in times of trouble?  When we become overwhelmed with concern or dread over certain situations that appear to be beyond our control, do we stubbornly continue to attempt to solve it through our own efforts?  Do we run and hide from it?  Do we waste precious time moving through the list of "experts", hoping we find one with the answer?  Or do we turn to the One Who has all the wisdom, strength and power necessary to restore order and remedy the situation?  As I write this, I am reminded of the silly movie, “Ghost Busters,” and its sound track that asks the question, “Who ya gonna call?”  Sadly, more often then not, God is the last One we call upon for help.

I have been listening to the so-called "experts" and watching the reactions of those who have been searching for an answer to the recent British Petroleum oil well failure.  Five miles below the surface of the sea, oil is continuing to gush, threatening livelihoods, wildlife, and patience.  While men scramble to provide a solution to stop it, blame is cast like stones being thrown and the oil continues to pour from the well.  

Politicians, environmentalists, and elites are calling for BP’s blood to be shed.  Poorly choosing his words (or, perhaps, revealing his true nature), our President is looking for “necks” to place his "boot" upon and the appropriate “ass to kick” for causing all of the trouble.   In the meantime, he has refused to privately meet with BP's CEO.  His inaction speaks multitudes of his inability to mediate our nation's problems.

Although it was an unfortunate and tragic accident, our administration’s first response was to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the Gulf and examine the legal consequences.  We then were subjected to the politicization of the disaster; men attempting to elevate themselves with special interests groups.  Threats of felony charges are being considered before a thorough investigation is completed to determine if there is blame to be levied.  Continued demands have been made that all recovery costs be paid by BP, even though BP has already promised to do so.  Tort attorneys have converged upon the area like a flock of vultures, soothing the locals and assuring them they will squeeze every ounce of blood they can from BP for their losses in income.

Many viable and reasonable solutions have been offered, but those who perhaps have a workable solution unfortunately fall out of the circle of elites who are in control. The powers that be have no time for them; therefore, those who may have had a solution to the immediate problem at its onset are ignored and rejected.

My frustration does not lie with the disaster itself.  It is solely based upon man’s stubborn unbelief in a Creator Who has held the balance of the universe in His capable hands since He formed it (Genesis 1:1-31), and Who continues to do so.  My disappointment has everything to do with man’s unwillingness to turn to the Creator of the oil and the sea for His help and guidance in stopping the flow.  There is even a failure I see within the Christian community to return to faith and petition the Lord for understanding and solutions.  Instead, they place creation above its Creator and wring their hands wondering what can be done.  After it all boils down, the dregs left in the bottom of the pot are a stubborn, stiff-necked nation and a complete and utter disbelief in an all-powerful, Almighty God.  There is very little, if any, faith or trust in His ability to bring the disaster to an end.  And because we have become a nation of unbelievers and Christians with weak faith, we are seeing the results.

When God destroyed mankind in the flood, did He not also cause the waters to recede, restoring the earth and providing a habitable place for Noah and his descendants, promising that the earth would “endure” and never cease until the final judgment?  (Genesis 8:1-22)

Jesus called His disciples those “of little faith” as they struggled to row their boat against the raging sea (Matthew 8:23-27).  Cannot He who created the sea and all that is in it, and Who calmed the stormy waters, also calm the gushing oil and heal what it has damaged?

If we had “faith as small as a mustard seed,” as Jesus promised, “Nothing [would] be impossible for [us]” (Matthew 17:20).  Just as no mountain would be unmovable, the gushing oil would also cease and the well would close tight.  But because we have further limited our faith by our arrogance, stubbornness, greed for power and control, our hatred for what God has blessed us with, and our unwillingness to ask God for help, He has turned His face from this disaster - and He is also turning His face from us.

God will not continue to allow His children to minimize His omnipotence or to shelve Him as a last resort.  He will eventually reveal Himself and His sovereignty and power.  But for now, His desire is that we first look to Him for help, that we call out to Him when things like this happen.  His arm is not too short when disaster strikes or when we need Him (Numbers 11:23).  He is mighty to cleanse, to heal, to provide, and to save us from calamity.  But we must choose Him as our First Responder instead of shoving Him into the back of the line, as we so often do.

As long as we continue along the path of no faith, or weak faith at best, the oil will continue to plague the Gulf and other disasters, tragedies and crises will continue to come upon us.  We must choose wisely Who we are going to call for help when they do occur and not take our time doing so.  The end results will heavily rely upon the choice we make.

Additional reading:

• Genesis 1:1-6
• 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
• Psalm 19:1-6; 46:1; 65:5-13; 89:13
• Romans 1:20, 25
• 1 Corinthians 1:25

Choices: Plausible Deniability Or the Side of Truth

Today, I learned the definition of a often-used term, one I had heard many times before, but which I never paused to consider in any depth.  It is one of those catchy phrases that is used by people who are attempting to throw off those seeking a specific truth.

This term, “plausible deniability,” is a clever ploy, at least in the mind of the one using it.  Rather than replying to a probing question with a precise and clear “yes” or “no” answer, it is used to dodge a direct question and side-track the one seeking honesty.  In short, “plausible deniability” is nothing more than a bald-faced lie.

Webster defines “plausible” as “seemingly true, acceptable, honest, trustworthy” and, at the same time, the word implies “disbelief” and “distrust”.  The dictionary goes on to add, “plausible applies to that which at first glance appears to be true, reasonable, valid, etc, but which may or may not be so, although there is no connotation of deliberate deception.”  It sounds “credible” because of “evidence” and “sound logic”, but can also be considered “specious,” which is defined as “superficially reasonable…but is actually not so, and it connotes intention to deceive.”  The antonym, or exact opposite, of this term is defined as “genuine, actual.”

“Deniable” is another adjective defined as something “that can be denied.”  It can be applied to situations such as allegations of misconduct made by others against a defendant who refutes or denies the claims made against him.  But by tying the two adjectives, “plausible” and “deniable,” together, it provides the defendant with an unclear, muddled response that neither acquits or condemns him.  By employing the phrase, he is able to skirt the issue by only appearing to answer it.  It is neither an admission or denial of the accusation being leveled.

The most often-used situation for usage of “plausible deniability” is performed by our politicians and others when faced with probing questions by Congress of misconduct or impropriety.  “I don’t recall” is perhaps the most common.  The most recent crisis, the BP oil leak in the Gulf, brought this practice to the forefront as the CEO of BP maintained for weeks an ignorance of the specifics.   We were then forced to listen to the excuses and blame game our current administration fostered using the same technique.  The suggestion that one’s memory is fuzzy about the details, or excusing away a slow response, provides an effective strategy of dodging the truth.  The problem is that it has become all too acceptable and commonplace to employ this method instead of simply providing us with the truth.

When I consider how many times I have watched on television men and women under oath who are being drilled about illegalities they may have been involved in, and hearing their incessant, “I don’t recall” what was said, heard, or done, I become disgustedly nauseated.  They have been coached by a battalion of attorneys that it will be better for them to simply deny any culpability by using a bad-memory defensive maneuver.  In other words, deny what seems plausible or credible, and cover up the truth with a cleverly devised deception.  Doing so provides them with the ability to assuage their burning consciences and delaying, perhaps avoiding, any consequences that arise from their actions.  As long as the players in this chess game remain united in their deceptiveness, the end result will be a stalemate of unanswered questions.
 
“What is truth?” was asked of Jesus by Pilate as our Lord stood trial before him.  Pilate believed that whatever the majority were united in their belief, that was truth.  Truth was relative in that whatever was being stated as common belief, must be truth.  Regardless of the lies brought before him by the Jews, he must deliver on that evidence alone.  Although Pilate would have preferred He do so because he saw no guilt that deserved the punishment the Jews were demanding, Jesus refused to deny the “plausible” charges brought against Him.  Instead, He answered Pilate’s final statement, “You are a King, then!” this way:

“You are right in saying I am a King.  In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” (John 18:37)

Jesus answered clearly and precisely the question that was posed to Him.  He could have chosen to protect Himself and avoid what was coming.  He could have employed “plausible deniability” by stating, “Well, some say I am a King and others say I am not.  Maybe yes, maybe no.  I have not decided yet.”   But because Jesus is Truth, the only possible response for Him was the one He gave.

We have all been guilty of using “plausible deniability.”  If you find yourself questioning this statement, look back to your earliest memories.  Children are experts in the response, “I don’t know.”  But as we became adults, the childish method of attempting to cover up a wrong-doing by attempting to give half-truths, or no answer at all, should have been replaced with admittance of our failures and acceptance of the consequences they bear.

God searches the heart for honesty and truth in every man.  He sees those who bear false witness and knows those who testify to deceive or divert from the truth.  Nothing can be hidden from His searching eyes.  Each “plausible denial” will be rooted out and exposed for what it is - a craftily concocted lie that is intended to keep others from knowing the truth.  We should remember when we are tempted to use this defense that we would be better served by staying on the “side of truth,” rather than suffering the condemnation that will eventually come by choosing to lie - which is what it truly is, regardless of what we would prefer to call it.

Additional reading:

• 1 Samuel 16:7
• Exodus 20:16
• Matthew 5:33-37
• James 5:12