on June 14, 2012
Luke 3:19,20 – But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
One evil deed adds to another, to another, to another! Oftentimes the deeds that follow are worse than the previous. Paul warns Timothy of this truth in 2 Timothy 3:12,13 – “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” This was certainly true in the case of John the Baptist and his evil treatment by Herod. John did not placate Herod just because he was the ruler over that region. On the contrary, he dealt plainly with Herod for his evil doings – especially his adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. This rebuke led Herod to add one more evil to his list of wicked deeds – he locked John up in prison! It wasn’t enough for Herod to do evil, he had to add to it the evil of locking John in prison for telling him it was evil. “For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’” – Mark 6:17,18.
One of the worst evils a person may inflict upon another is to prohibit his freedom to speak God’s truth and to declare God’s standard of righteousness. An even worse evil is to imprison a person for speaking the truth and calling for Godly righteousness. Our founding Fathers clearly understood this when they established our nation in a manner that protected freedom of speech and religion. Such a constitution acknowledges that God’s laws are superior to man’s laws. That means that a John the Baptist ought never to be put in prison in this country! In the beginning of our nation, laws were enacted that sought to honor and establish the laws of the God of the Bible and to punish evil and wickedness as defined in the sacred scriptures. The maintenance of these laws and liberties has always been dependent upon electing and appointing leaders who revere such laws and the God who inspired them.
However, as a nation we have not been so careful to appoint persons who revere God and His precepts. In recent generations we have seen the government of individuals who have forgotten God and neglected His laws. These officials (like Herod) are more prone to legalize sin and enact laws that contradict the original Biblical precepts. (May I speak here of abortion and homosexual agendas?) Such is the way of evil that paves the way for Herodian leadership that will ADD TO IT THE EVIL of eliminating free speech and religious liberty. Not only does this kind of governor enact laws that legalize sin and immorality, but he adds to it the GREATER EVIL of making it illegal to speak against these immoral laws, thus persecuting those who speak against them! This is the trend unfolding in our great nation. Oh God, may Your kingdom come! May Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Thank God for those who have boldly declared the righteousness from God.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Steve & Allison Worrall, Alberto & Kasandra Aneses (Al Jr.), Steve Babcock.
Saturday:
- Praise God for the freedom of speech and liberty to live lives pleasing to God!
Sunday:
- Thank God for founding fathers who guarded our nation against governance like Herod’s!
Monday:
- Pray that our nation would be wise and discerning to elect and appoint leaders that will honor God’s laws and precepts!
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Pray for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Wednesday:
- Pray that God will lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil!
Prayer Challenge: Let us not miss the blessing that is given to those who are insulted, persecuted, and treated in evil ways because of standing for the Word of God. May our faith be sustained by the joyful anticipation of hearing our Master say, “Well done good and faithful servant!” God, grant that we may be salt and light in our world as we let the Word of God shine in OUR words and deeds. May we not be overcome by evil, but may we overcome evil with good!