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Sometimes, there are problems in our spiritual walk that we can't see. It takes the grace of God to reveal them and provide understanding on how they interfere with our spiritual growth. These 'blindspots' are the sins, attitudes, and repeated behaviors we don't initially recognize as issues. Yet, they have long-lasting consequences that can quietly fester, taking us away from the Lord. They may not seem like a big deal because their negative consequences have not become apparent. Blindspots often only become clear when danger is imminent, and if care is not taken, the potential harm cannot be avoided.


King Solomon, like many people, had blindspots. The most glaring was his lust for women. 1 Kings 11:3 tells us he had 700 wives and 300 concubines and was unfamiliar with God's warning about the number of wives kings shouldn't have. Deuteronomy 17:17 - He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver or gold. His choice to marry foreign women also reveals unfamiliarity with Deuteronomy 7:3-4 - Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, /for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. Just as the Lord warned, King Solomon's wives brought the worship of their false gods into Israel, and he turned away from the Lord (1 Kings 11:4).


Sadly, the inability to resist his desire for women made a mockery of the great gift of wisdom the Lord gave him. Since he didn't read the Laws of Moses, which he was supposed to per Deuteronomy 17:18-20, he was ignorant of how his decisions brought sin into his life. His lifestyle reflected a level of indiscipline with women that did not complement the wisdom he received. That indiscipline, plus his worship of other gods, brought God's anger and cost his descendants the kingdom. Instead of 12 tribes, Solomon's house would only rule over two tribes. His son, Rehoboam, became king over a diminished nation, his inheritance squandered.


This is how blindspots sabotage the call of God upon a person's life. Having multiple women, what seemed unproblematic, spiraled into much more. King Solomon likely thought that marrying these women, many of whom were princesses, would ensure political alliances with other kingdoms. Alas, he forgot that obedience to God was all he needed. He disregarded God's warning that if he or his descendants ever stopped obeying Him, they and the people would lose His favor (1 Kings 9:3-9). And the Bible reveals that the consequences of King Solomon's blindspots lasted long past his reign, affecting not only his heirs but all the people of Israel for generations.

​Now think of your own life. Are there things you should be saying no to, the way Solomon should have resisted all those women? What about the things you do that disobey God's laws? Could your lack of knowledge about God's word be causing you to disobey Him? Are there people in your life to steer you toward the Lord instead of toward the world? Can you see how you might have blindspots - the invisible yet problematic aspects of your character that could lead you toward a dangerous end?


Like King Solomon, we all make mistakes. Glory to God that we have a chance to repent and change. We can ask God to reveal the blindspots causing problems or those that will in the future. The Lord desires us all to enjoy His blessings and favor all the day of our lives. Sin limits our access to such, and the blindspots only drive us into sin. However, God loves us and wants us to know the attitudes and behaviors that could sabotage the call upon our lives. He wants to deliver us from them and protect us from recurrences.


This is not to make anyone insecure in their walk with God. The believer's journey has enough complications, we don't need to add to them. Still, this message should encourage us all to recognize there is room to improve, so we aim to grow as children of God. We must let Him help us because we can't rely on our strength. Studying God's word and applying it in faith will help us. Jesus opened the minds of His disciples so they understood scripture, and when we pray for the same, we receive (Luke 24:45). Leaning on the Holy Spirit means we'll get those heavenly nudges we need as we drive on the streets and highways of life. Nudges that keep us safe so we don't collide with anything hidden in our blindspots.


May the Lord help us seek and receive His insight into the blindspots that need to go so we deepen in obedience and grow closer to Him. May He provide the strategy to eradicate the problems waiting to derail us, IJMN Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you.




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From an early age, we are taught that a person's rights are crucial and should not be trampled on. There is nothing wrong with this assessment. However, as Christians, we need a more nuanced view. Our legal rights are subject to God's will. We must understand that the rights created by constitutions and other documents are secondary to God's desires and instructions. It is time to learn to rely not on man's words but on the word of God. As we do so, we shall realize that it is fine to give up certain 'rights' because the King of kings will always uphold his word and therefore, our superior rights as His children.


Paul and Silas were arrested in Philippi because Paul delivered a slave girl from an evil spirit of divination (Acts 16). The girl had relied upon that spirit to make money through fortune telling, which is satanic, for her owners. When they learned of her spiritual freedom, they accused the disciples of teaching ideas contrary to Roman law. The magistrates had the disciples flogged and thrown in prison. While there, the men worshiped at midnight with prayers and singing, and God moved mightily. The ground shook, shackles broke, and the prison doors opened. Their fellow prisoners got to see God's power intimately. Their warden and his family also gave their lives to Christ that night.


God didn't stop there. In the morning, the magistrates changed their minds and ordered Paul and Silas released and sent officers to relay the message. Acts 16:37 - But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The magistrates heard of the disciples' citizenship and became scared. They went to the prison to appease Paul and Silas because, as Roman citizens, they were supposed to have been afforded proper legal procedures and not just beaten and imprisoned as non-citizens could be treated.


Paul could have made this point earlier during his interaction with the magistrates, but instead, he and Silas humbled themselves and allowed their legal rights to be disregarded. They didn't do that because they had low self-esteem. On the contrary, they did this because they trusted that God was taking them where He wanted them to be. That place just so happened to be a prison. While not a desirable place to visit, God used their presence there to work miracles and introduce Himself to people who would otherwise never learn about Jesus Christ. The gospel had to come to them.


There are times when we've got to give up our rights so God can use us to reach the unreached and teach the untaught. Such submission is not a sign of weakness but indicates a believer's faith and reliance on God's grace. God's word is that anyone treated unfairly will receive His justice and righteousness (Psalm 103:6 NLT). There is no question that Paul and Silas were unfairly treated. All they did was free a demonized girl, the way Jesus taught. However, that slave's oppression meant money for her owners, and that was enough for the disciples to be villainized. But God honored His word, and His disciples were treated like men of honor and escorted by the magistrates who begged them not to be angry.


God is just. And if He sends His children into the 'lion's den,' He will ensure they come out glorified. However, His children must lay their rights down to receive the reward that awaits. In no way is this message supposed to discourage anyone from obeying the laws of man when they do not conflict with God's word. After all, in Mark 12:17, Jesus said we are to give Caesar what is Caesar's, and other parts of the Bible teach us to respect our leaders and, by inference, the laws they create (Proverbs 8:15). Therefore, we will always need God's wisdom and instructions on how to manage the troublesome situations that will arise. These could be in the workplace, in our familial relationships, or even while on public transportation.


Can we give up our rights and allow God to do with us as He wills, the way Paul and Silas did? Are we willing to tolerate discrimination and trust the Lord to lead us out of the lion's den in victory as He did with Daniel? Can we let God have His way with our lives? Jesus showed us what it means to submit all rights for the will of God and the blessing of others. We are still reaping the fruits of that sacrifice. Through Him, we receive strength to honor God as stated in Philippians 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. And the Spirit of the Lord remains charged with helping us navigate life with God's wisdom and scriptures. When the time comes to give up our rights, and it will come for every believer, we have to know that the Lord will defend and reward us. Our Heavenly Father will always help, IJN, Amen.


See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you.




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We serve the compassionate God, and it's no surprise that His Son displayed great love. He went from town to town healing people and sharing the good word that grace was available from a loving God. Matthew 9:36-38 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.


Jesus saw people and had compassion for them. He understood their foundational problem - the devil was harassing them, making them helpless. They were bogged down with illnesses in their bodies and minds that kept them from God's promise of fullness of life. And worse, they lacked the knowledge of God's word, which could free them (Hosea 4:6). In addition, their shepherds, religious leaders, and teachers were unfortunately failing to keep adequate watch of them.


The people in question were more religiously zealous than the average current Christian. They frequently attended their synagogues, performed religious rites, fasted, and observed the Sabbath strictly. And yet, Jesus saw harassed and helpless people whose circumstances caused him to have deep compassion for them. He couldn't ignore their plight. He had to take the time to teach them and bring them closer to the Lord.

We are called to emulate our Savior, so we too must have compassion for others. We who know the love of the Father, and the guidance of His Word and Spirit, must understand that no matter the challenges we face, billions are yet to encounter Jesus Christ truly. This includes our fellow churchgoers and family members. We show them compassion by lovingly sharing the good news about God's grace through our deeds and words. Financially supporting the individuals and organizations who do this is another option. We must increasingly intercede for the helpless and suffering, pleading to God to ease their plight. We should also fill more stomachs, clothe the needy, and be the godly voice for the oppressed and voiceless.


It is easy to say we don't have the funds or the time. However, God has an interesting way of filling pockets when the funds will be used for His purposes. And regarding time, we have more time than we realize. We all find time for the things that are a priority, many of which are insignificant when we think about them. We can take time from those activities to express the compassion of Jesus and the love of God to others. When we desire to be more compassionate and loving, the Lord will work on the details and make it possible for us to accomplish this goal. He sent us the Holy Spirit to help us become more pleasing to Him and is therefore responsible for making it happen. All we have to do is let Him have His way in us.


Plus, we must do what the Savior instructed and "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). Thus, we need to pray for more servant field workers to spread His word and free others from bondage through Jesus. Note, we shouldn't be content to leave the heavy lifting to others. Every believer is a Kingdom Ambassador called to make disciples by teaching others about Him and His teachings (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, we should be ready to be those the Lord of the harvest will send to do His will in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and around the globe.


The Lord will help us to do more than what we've done by His grace. He will help us to lean on Him for strength and wisdom so we can express godly compassion and love. As the word states in Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. IJMN Amen.



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