Isaiah 3:1-5 For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply,all support of bread, and all support of water; 2the mighty man and the soldier,

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner and the elder, 3the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.4And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. 5And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow

and every one his neighbor;

the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.

This could be the headlines today. 60 minutes could be doing a special. True Detectives could be investigating, all the news networks could be reporting it as fake news. The pentagon could be amassing our young troops but don't know who the enemy really is, and last but not least the leaders of our country would be announcing "stay calm this too will pass."  Rob K.

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2 Kings 16: 2-3 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God, as his father David had done, 3but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.

Compared to Genesis 22 Abraham was tested in his willingness to do as Ahaz. His example of faith is a monument today to those of us that trust in God without questioning His direction He leads us.

On the other hand man, left to our own devises has no limits.

When we discount, question and neglect even the smallest of His required actions such as noted in Mark 16:16 we are as guilty as Ahaz. James 2:9-10. The challenge today is to sharpen our desire to know and do what our God directs without debate or hesitation.     Rob K.

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Matt 27:3-53Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.

Matthew, inspired by God reveals the 'rest of the story" for our benefit. An account of the lust for and attaining of ill gotten money. The the results of this sin is the death of our Savior, Jesus, The God/Man. The conviction in the heart of the sin committed.The act of true repentance shown by attempting to reverse the sin. Finally, the power of "choices" made can lead to life or death circumstances.

The lesson revealed here is: the wages of sin is death. Rom 6:23.

All have sinned. Rom 3:23. Therefore all will die. But the power in our choices can make the difference between life and death.  

Examine our choices carefully for we could be crucifying our Lord afresh. Heb 6:6-8.   Rob K.

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2 Thes 3:1-5 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Comforting & active words: Speady, honored, delivered, faith, Lord is faithful, establish us, guard us, confidence, command, direct our hearts, love of God, steadfastness of Christ.

Powerful thoughts to meditate upon today. Oh how we are blessed to be in His care.   Rob K.

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2 Peter 3 Peter is reminding Christians for the "second time" that people deliberately overlook the obvious. The end will come. The scoffers will continue to ignore it but the promises of God will surely come to pass. They always have and they always will. The rainbow is His witness for God promised the end would not come by water again but by fire. As the writer of Hebrews states, "Don't forsake our gathering together." "In fact, gather together even more so as we see the day approaching."

Where will He expect us to be this Sunday morning?   Rob K.