Details

Principle

Man lives by the word of God.

Explanation

Earthly food is necessary for human existence, but it is the word of GOD that gives life.

GOD told Israel that He allowed them to go hungry during the exodus and wilderness journey because He was teaching them that man lives not by earthly bread, but by His word:

1 “Every commandment I command you today you must be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and inherit the land the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 Now you shall remember the whole way the Lord your God led you in the desert, to deal harshly with you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He dealt harshly with you and weakened you with hunger, and fed you with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God man shall live. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet become callused these forty years. 5 You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. 6 Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
(Deuteronomy 8:1-6 OSB)

Earthly bread sustains us because GOD created this law of nature in the beginning. Ultimately, all sustenance comes from GOD. All energy is derived from GOD. He is the only eternal energy source and the root of all life.

Details

Principle

God disciplines people.

Explanation

We have previously established that GOD loves us and that this form of love means that He desires what is best for us, to see us prosper.

We have also established that GOD hates sin. Sin separates the sinner from GOD, relationally.

Because GOD loves us, it hurts Him to see us separated from Him. It is best for us to be with GOD, relationally—and in every other way.

Because GOD wants what is best for us, and what is best for us is to be with Him, He is willing to do what it takes to give us every opportunity to correct our ways. When we go astray in our choices and behavior, GOD disciplines us with the intention of causing us to correct our behavior so that our relationship with Him can be healthy.

GOD's discipline is meant not out of mean-spiritedness, but for our good.

Details

Each morning, we awaken to another day living in "upside down world." Few things make sense anymore and you can't trust much of what you see with your own eyes.

It's now obvious that a silent war rages over human solidarity.

On one hand, people are incessantly bombarded by efforts to divide us. Nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, sexuality, discriminated groups, minorities, political allegiance, vaccination status, and on and on it goes.

Despite these efforts, people are increasingly realizing they've been duped and manipulated. Unifying causes draw ever-increasing supporters, such as: love of country; moral values; defense for those who need help, such as the unborn, elderly, disabled, abused, and trafficked; and justice against those who have harmed others.

Only a few years ago, many of these topics would have felt on the fringe, if not entirely outside the scope of my focus area of Christian living. Some will probably get angry and leave because they don't like what I'm saying. But I assure you, this is squarely a post about Christian living.

Today, it has become obvious that these individual topics are not merely independent interests that coincidentally produce a similar dividing effect. It is time we wake up and see that division itself is the goal of those who wish us harm.

Everybody knows the saying: "United we stand, divided we fall." Christians know that Jesus said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Division weakens. The weak are easily defeated.

When Jesus sent out the 70, He told them:

Details

Principle

God told Israel to destroy all idols in the land.

Explanation

GOD told Israel, as they found idols in the land of Canaan, to destroy them:

25 You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not desire the silver or gold of theirs, nor take it for yourselves, lest you stumble because of it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
(Deuteronomy 7:25-26 OSB)

The Canaanites had devolved into great wickedness, including—and in conjunction with—the worship of their gods. Idol-making and worship accompanied this idolatry. Israel's mission was to purge these from the land.

Ridding the land of these idols would contribute towards Israel's faithfulness because Israel wouldn't be tempted to imitate the evil practices of the Canaanites.

 

Biblical Principles List

Details

Principle

God told Israel they would be blessed if they kept the Law of Moses.

Explanation

GOD promised Israel through Moses that they would be blessed if they kept GOD's laws:

12 “Then it shall come to pass, when you listen to all these ordinances and keep and do them, the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy He swore to your fathers; 13 and He will love you and bless and multiply you; He will also bless the offspring of your womb, and the fruit of your land: your grain, wine, and olive oil, and the herds of your oxen, and the flocks of your sheep, in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 14 You shall be blessed more than all the nations; there shall not be a childless male or a barren female among you or your cattle. 15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and He will not put on you the evil diseases you saw and knew in Egypt, but will put them on all who hate you. 16 Also you shall eat all the spoils of the nations the Lord your God gives you; your eye shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.
(Deuteronomy 7:12-16 OSB)

GOD's immediate purpose for Israel was to displace the wicked Canaanites and enjoy the blessings of the land. However, this depended upon Israel's faithfulness to GOD and His decrees.

 

Biblical Principles List