TODAY Is the Day of Salvation!

"For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.' Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation"
(2 Corinthians 6:2).

God chose us for salvation. He does all the work to save us! There is nothing we can do to deserve or earn salvation. All we can do is believe what God said, trust Him, and receive His salvation.

Why do I need to be saved?

Everyone needs to be saved because, according to God's Word, we all have sinned and are bound to spend eternity apart from God.

“For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard” (Romans 3:23).
 

Everyone lives forever according to God’s Word, but only those who "repent and believe the Gospel" (Mk. 1:15) will spend eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

Mankind was created by God to glorify Him and to fellowship with Him. As such, there is, within every human being, a longing for God that can only be filled by Him. We may try to fulfill this longing with human relationships, material things, or pleasurable things but it can only be satisfied by our Creator, God. Ultimately, trying to fill our longing for God with anything other than God is fruitless and sinful behavior that leads us away from Him. Such sin ultimately leads to death.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Salvation is God’s free gift to us that makes us right with God so that our relationship with Him can be restored.

“God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Only God can save us! It is His unmerited and undeserved gift to us. We have no part in salvation other than to believe God and receive His free gift of salvation.

How do I know that God can and will save me?

We know that God will save us because He said so in His Word.

“[The Lord] does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).

It has always been God’s plan to reconcile the world (all of mankind) to Himself.

“19For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others…21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21).

From the very beginning, God's plan has been to send Jesus in human form to walk with us, to share God’s love with us, and ultimately, to die for our sins. Jesus' substitutionary death was made necessary because of Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience to God.

“Because one person (Adam) disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person (Jesus) obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight” (Romans 5:19).

Jesus is the only One Who makes salvation possible. God’s Word states that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus shed His blood on the cross of Calvary so that we can be forgiven. He did it to pay our sin debt so that we could be cleaned up and enjoy fellowship with God.

What do I need to do to be saved?

There is nothing any of us can do to be saved on our own! God is the only One who can save us. It is all His doing. Salvation is free and comes with no strings attached, but, as with any free gift, to be of value, it must first be received. Receiving salvation is simply a matter of believing Who God is and in what He has said and then appropriating it.

“9For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
 

Note the last part of verse 9 above: “…you will be saved!” There is no catch! You cannot clean up enough to deserve God's salvation. You cannot do enough to earn His salvation. You are guaranteed salvation when you openly confess Jesus as LORD, believe that God raised Him from the dead, and then receive (possess) what He has offered to us. No matter what you have done or how unworthy you might feel, salvation is available to you simply because God has offered it to you. All you need to do is to possess it!

Salvation is simple. God's Word states that to be saved, you must:

1. Realize that you are a sinner (Rom. 3:23) and admit it to God.
   
2. Repent of your sins and believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9).
   
3. Confess that Jesus is LORD (Master) of your life (Rom. 10:10).

There is nothing magical about going through the steps above, but something supernatural happens when you truly believe what God says in His Word and trust Him concerning it. The above steps merely place you in a position to possess God's free gift. It is God Who does the saving. You can only respond to what He has already said and done.

If you believe that through the Lord Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection you have been made right with God, agree with God about it, confess it openly, and you will be saved. Saying a prayer, walking down an aisle, raising your hand, or even being baptized cannot save you. Only God can save you. Trust Him and receive His free gift of salvation right now, today!

<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

What happens after I am saved?

Once you are saved, you will be a different person! The change that has taken place in your heart and life has all been brought about by holy God. You are now in Him and His Spirit is in you. God's Spirit in you is both your guarantee (Eph. 1:14) and your assurance that you are saved and now belong to Him.

Remember that God had to change your heart before you could even receive salvation. This process is called "regeneration." Only those who have been regenerated by God have the capability to receive the truth about God. One you have been regenerated, you are then called by God (Rom. 8:28) and ultimately drawn by Him (John 6:44) to receive your salvation.

As a new believer, these are things you will want to do in response:

• Be baptized as Jesus commanded (Mark 16:16).
• Share your salvation experience with others (Matthew 10:32).
• Spend time daily with God (Psalm 63:1) and in His Word (Matthew 4:4).
• Be involved in a God-honoring, Bible-believing church (Hebrews 10:25).

If you followed God’s instructions and willingly received His free gift of salvation today, please let me know by commenting below so that I can rejoice with you and pray for you as you begin to grow in Christ.

Living on the Edge

Have you noticed the proliferation of extreme reality shows on television? It would seem the new drug of choice is adrenalin. Folks seek out the sensation of having their hearts pound practically out of their chest, feeling blood rush to their brains, and gasping for breath. I have never been much of a risk taker, but I can understand the underlying quest for excitement and the head rush that accompanies it. Interestingly enough, this is not a new phenomenon. Folks have sought excitement throughout history. It is a part of our human nature. What has changed is that there are now a variety of new ways to experience that adrenalin rush.

Have you ever considered that one of the most extreme things that anyone can do is to live consistently and openly for Christ? I'm not talking about going to church and using Christian lingo, but actually living a Christ-like life. I'm talking about being willing to go against the flow of what's considered popular or politically correct to live your life for Jesus. It's easy to be a good Christian at church, or when you're surrounded by Christian friends, but what about when you're in school or at the mall or on the job?

There are Christians in other parts of our world who are suffering persecution and even death because of their faith in Christ. I cannot imagine that bungee jumping or hang-gliding could begin to provide the adrenalin rush caused by being chased by machine gun- or machete-wielding Christ haters. There are news reports virtually every day about religious persecution, pastors being imprisoned, Christians being beheaded, and churches being destroyed all over the world. Even with the unrest and much of the anti-American violence we see in the new every day, we truly have no idea how very good we have it here in America. In other parts of the world, living a life that is consistent with the teachings of Christ can and often does cost individuals their freedom and sometimes their very lives. Would you be willing to live according to God's standards no matter what it cost you?

If you're an adrenalin junkie, I challenge you to consider try the most extreme reality that I can imagine, which is living for Jesus 24/7. Despite the fact that we in America are still blessed with religious freedom, living for Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Ask someone who has done it consistently. They will likely tell you that it has cost them friends and sometimes family. They might tell you of times when they have been insulted or bullied when sharing their beliefs or taking a stand for what is right. Jesus warned Christians that we would be "persecuted for righteousness' sake," but He also reminded us that we will be blessed in proportion to how well we endure such persecution. (Matthew 5:10-12)

If you're one who loves to live on the edge and who craves adrenalin highs, let me challenge you to try the ultimate extreme! Try living for Jesus Christ for one full day in front of your family, your friends, and even strangers. Better yet, live a Christ-like life when no one is around, when it's just you and God! After all, the true test of godliness and Christian character is how one acts when no one but God is watching!

Who Is a True Christian?

It is important to note that only God can definitively determine who is His and who is not a Christian, for we judge appearances while He judges hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). That being said, I do believe that there ought to be visible evidence of Christ-likeness in the life of anyone who claims to be a Christian.

“You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles” (Matthew 7:16 NLT).

Since so many people today, especially celebrities and those in politics, claim to be “Christians,” I thought it judicious to list some Biblical criteria for how to identify a true follower of Christ.

• A true Christian, first and foremost, is one who has believed in and confessed publicly that Jesus is Lord!

“9For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who acknowledges Jesus Christ and the only way to salvation.

“Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who holds to the Truth in love and becomes more like Jesus Christ every day.

“Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).

• A true Christian is one whose attitude is the same as Jesus’.

“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who bases what he believes, who he is, and what he does on the inerrant, infallible, and eternal Word of God.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17 It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).

“Forever, O LORD, your word stands firm in heaven” (Psalm 119:89 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who follows God’s example in all that he does.

“Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are his dear children” (Ephesians 5:1 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who loves what God loves, hates what He hates, says only what God says, and does only what God wants.

“Jesus replied, "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19 NLT).

“But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own” (John 5:30 NLT).

• A true Christian is one whose life is controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit.

“22But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

“37Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment’” (Matthew 22:37-38 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who exemplifies agapé love and lives out what Jesus called the second greatest commandment, which is to love his neighbor as himself.

“A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who loves others in the same way that Jesus loves him.

“I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you” (John 15:12 NLT).

• A true Christian is a servant of God who boldly proclaims His Word persistently regardless of the time or circumstance, and who corrects, rebukes, and encourages other believers using God’s Word as his basis.

“Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who obeys God rather than man.

“But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than human authority’” (Acts 5:29 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who obeys God and by so doing has the assurance that they belong to Him.

“And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. 4 If someone says, "I belong to God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth” (1 John 2:3-4 NLT).

“This is the message we have heard from the beginning: We should love one another” (1 John 3:11 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who follows the example of Christ.

“And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who does not copy the world’s ways, but has allowed God to change him and the way he thinks so that he always does what God wants.

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

• A true Christian is one who hates the world and rejects what it has to offer.

“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you” (1 John 2:15 NLT).

This is by no means a complete list, but it should help one to separate true believers from what I often refer to as CiNOs (Christians in Name Only). Jesus, Himself, said that not everyone who claimed to belonged to Him would make it to heaven.

“21Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22On judgment day many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized'” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV)

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of one's salvation is her/his obedience to Christ's commands.

The Power of Spoken Words

Speak the following out loud:

1.       I belong to God. (John 17:9)

2.       I am protected by the power of His name. (John 17:11)

3.       I am kept from the evil one. (John 17:15)

4.       I have been justified through faith. (Romans 5:1)

5.       I have peace with God through Jesus. (Romans 5:1)

6.       I am saved from God’s wrath. (Romans 5:9)

7.       I have died to sin with Christ. (Romans 6:3)

8.       I am no longer under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

9.       There is no condemnation of me in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

10.   God’s Spirit now dwells in me. (Romans 8:9)

What you just did was to confess, out loud, truth from God's Word. What happened while you were doing that is that you were speaking truth and hearing truth at the same time. God’s Word says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). All faith comes from God and is increased by reading and speaking His Word.

Successful educators will tell you that people—children especially—learn best and retain more when they use as many of their senses as possible during the learning process. Reading God’s Word out loud uses one’s visual and auditory senses. Writing down what one reads involves the sense of touch. This process is a practical way to learn and retain God’s Word, but according the Romans 10:17 above, hearing the Word increases one’s faith.

I have found that reading and speaking God’s Word out loud no only helps me to remember it, but also fulfills Romans 10:17 in my life.

“²I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?...⁵So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2,5 HCSB)?

The above verses bring to mind two other Scripture passages about faith: James 2:26 and Hebrews 11:6.

“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works” (James 2:26 NLT).

“Good works” in conjunction with faith in this context represent the applying of our faith to the process of speaking and hearing God’s Word.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT).

The faith that pleases God in this context is the faith applied to the process of speaking and hearing God’s Word.

“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see” (Hebrews. 11:1 NLT).

Faith is reality for the believer, even when that reality is not yet visible! Some versions use the term substance. Substance is virtually the essence of life itself. Faith is also the evidence of what we cannot yet see.

“…That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before’” (Romans 4:17 NLT).

God spoke light into existence. He spoke space between the waters of heaven and the waters of earth. He spoke and grass sprung up and trees bore fruit. When God speaks, what He speaks happens! When we hear God speak and believe what He says, faith happens!

“⁹If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved” (Romans 10:9,10 GNT).

Based on this passage, it is by our faith that we are made right with God. Our confession is agreeing with what God has said and proclaiming it openly. This combination of possession and profession are what secures our salvation.

Confession in this context is speaking the truth, or saying what God has already said! Confessing the God’s truth builds our faith. Believing and confessing lies, however, has a totally negative effect.

Have you ever made statements like “I hate my hair!”, “My knees are too bony.”, “I’m too fat.”, “I’m too skinny.”, “I’m too stupid to understand math.”, or “I’ll never amount to anything.”? Or has someone else made such negative statements about you and you believed them?

How do such negative statements make you feel?

What you are doing when you speak negative and untrue words to yourself and believe them is, in effect, reinforcing your belief in what is not true about you. Hearing and believing negative things that others (including the devil) say about you has the same effect. Scripture admonishes us to confess what God has said so that we fill our hearts with His truth. Listen to what Jesus said to the Pharisees.

“You snakes—how can you say good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34 GNT).

According to this verse, evil words come from evil hearts and good words come from good hearts.

If you consider the “whole counsel” of God in the matter of confession and faith, you will discover that what you believe and speak openly matter greatly.

“¹⁰Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen! ¹¹No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. ¹²A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water” (James 3:10-12 GNT).

There's an old saying that, “what goes down in the well, comes up in the bucket.” Whatever you believe and speak the most is what ultimately fills your heart. Do you see, then, why it’s important to be careful what you say?

Let’s look at the power of confession from Jesus’ perspective.

“I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!' and it will go. You could do anything!” (Matthew 17:20b).

“²¹Jesus answered, ‘I assure you that if you believe and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I have done to this fig tree. And not only this, but you will even be able to say to this hill, “Get up and throw yourself in the sea,' and it will. ²²If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer’” (Matthew 21:21-22 GNT).

“²⁴For this reason I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for. ²⁵And when you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrongs you have done” (Mark 11:24-25 GNT).

“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 7:7).

Do you see a common thread in all these verses? They all are about making our requests known to God. And how do we do that? By asking!! Asking is believing and speaking or confessing what we want, and as long as what we want is what God wants for us, He guarantees that we will receive whatever we ask for. But first we must ask.

“You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it” (James 4:2 GNT).

Let me sum up for you why it is important to speak God’s Word.

God’s Word…

• …always produces fruit, accomplishes all He wants it to, and prospers everywhere He sends it. (Isaiah 55:11)
• …is pure. (Proverbs 30:5)
• …nourishes the spirit. (Luke 4:4)
• …always bears fruit. (Luke 8:15)
• …blesses those who hear it and keep it. (Luke 11:28)
• …cannot be broken. (John 10:38)
• …grows and multiplies, (Acts 12:24)
• …works in those who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
• …is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.
    (Hebrews 4:12a)
• …is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
    (Hebrews 4:12b)
• …framed the worlds. (Hebrews 11:13)
• …is JESUS! (Revelation 19:13)
  

Boldly Speak Your Christian Testimony

A testimony simply is a statement or declaration about something someone has experienced, such as eyewitness testimony in a trial. Your Christian testimony is your story about your salvation and how and why you chose to accept God’s free gift. It should include three things:

1.  How you came to hear and respond to the Gospel

2.  How you responded (i.e., your actual conversion experience)

3.  How your conversion has made your life different

What impact has hearing the testimonies of others had on you? Have they strengthened your faith? Have they encouraged you?

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Church in Colosse, explains how the testimonies of others can encourage us.

“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:16 NLT).

Speaking, teaching, and even singing are all forms of confessing or speaking the truth. Praise is a very powerful form of confession in which we speak or sing back to God what He has revealed to us about Himself in Scripture. We can do this corporately (as a group) or individually. Either way, there is power in praise.

Speaking the truth is so powerful that in the Revelation, believers…

“… won the victory over [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed;…” (Revelation 12:11a GNT).

Faith and confession are directly proportionate. Your faith only will increase as does the frequency of your confession. Confession is to faith what thrust is to an airplane. Thrust is the amount of lift applied to an aircraft’s wings determined by the forward speed of the aircraft. The faster the aircraft travels in a forward direction, the more lift it produces on its wings. The more you confess truth, the more your faith increases.

So it is with confession. The more you confess God’s Word (out loud), the more your faith increases. And since faith is reality for believers, increasing our faith increases our acceptance of God’s reality in our lives.

This is the true power of spoken words!

The Necessity of Standards

In the Pavillon de Breteuil in Sèvres, France are housed all weights and measures that comprise the International System of Units (SI). The International Bureau of Weights and Standards (BIPM) maintains the standard for every weight and measure used by the International System of Units (SI) per the Convention du Mètre.

The BIPM also maintains a single, official Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

In addition, the BIPM is the keeper of the international prototype of the kilogram.

So, what is a standard?

According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a standard is “a recognized unit of comparison by which the correctness of others can be determined.”[1] In other words, a standard is a unit of measure against which other similar units are measured and/or calibrated.

Thanks to standards, an ounce is an ounce, a pound is a pound, and a foot is a foot. With standards in place, a gallon of gas should be the same volume from one gas station to another. A pound of beef should be the same weight from one grocery store to another. And six inches of gold chain should be the same length from one jewelry store to another.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a standard as “a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable.”[2] Other words that are sometimes used as synonyms for standard are gauge, criterion, and benchmark. Each of these indicates a means of determining what or how something should be. Below is a list of items which rely on standards with which we are all familiar.

• Thermometer
• Rain gauge
• Yardstick
• Postal scale
• Compass
• Electrical outlet
• Decibel meter
• Traffic sign

Imagine if there were no standards. What if adjoining sections of railroad track were different gauges? What if electrical current varied from outlet-to-outlet? What if traffic signals had different meanings from town-to-town? Standards matter!! 

Birdhouse bottoms (an illustration)

As a young boy, Nick was a Royal Ambassador in his church. At each weekly meeting the RAs would be given a project of some kind to engender individual participation and teamwork. Each boy would be given a specific responsibility and the end result would be a finished project to which each boy had contributed.

On one particular evening the group project was to build birdhouses. Each boy was given a set of instructions and a pattern which he was to use to trace out on a blank piece of wood the specific part of the birdhouse for which he was responsible. The traced pattern was then to produce a piece of the precise size and shape needed for birdhouse assembly. Once all the parts were cut out, they were distributed amongst the boys to be assembled into completed birdhouses.

Nick’s assignment was to draw and cut out the bottom for each of the birdhouses. As such, he was given the pattern for the bottom piece. He was to transfer this pattern to a blank piece of wood which he would then cut out. The finished bottom pieces would then be distributed to the other boys to use in assembling their birdhouses.

Nick carefully traced the pattern onto his first piece of wood and then cut it out. It looked just like the pattern, so rather than go through the tedious process of tracing the paper pattern onto the second piece of wood, Nick used his first cut piece as a pattern and traced around it. Pleased with how much simpler and quicker his method was, he continued this process, using each new cut piece as the pattern for the next one before handing it off. Unfortunately, since Nick had deviated from the standard, each birdhouse bottom he cut was slightly larger in dimensions than the pattern and did not fit with the other pieces.

Lack of compatibility

As late as 1927, green lights meant STOP in some US cities and GO in others. As could be expected, there were frequent traffic accidents when travelers went from city-to-city. For the sake of traffic safety, standards for traffic lights became a necessity.

Standards are necessary for many reasons, not the least of which is compatibility between materials, products, methods, and services. This is vital for safety, efficacy, efficiency, mass production, and quality control. Imagine the catastrophes that could result in engineering, building, science, and medicine were it not for standards.

In 1904, a fire broke out in Baltimore, Maryland. Special trains rushed fire equipment from Washington, DC; New York, and Philadelphia. The fire destroyed approximately 2,500 buildings and burned for more than 30 hours, all because the hoses from the other cities would not fit the Baltimore fire hydrants.

Clearly standards matter. Without them there would be confusion, complications, and inefficiency which create hazardous conditions and could lead to catastrophe.Standards apply to things other than products as well. They help to regulate important services, policies, processes, rules, and laws. There are quality standards, procedural standards, standards of service, safety standards, and standards of conduct. Virtually every area of our lives depends on standards to keep us safe, healthy, productive, reasonable, and ethical.

Standards in the Bible

We find mention of standards in the earliest books in Scripture.

“Abraham agreed and weighed out the amount that Ephron had mentioned in the hearing of the people - four hundred pieces of silver, according to the standard weights used by the merchants” (Genesis 23:16 GNT).

Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, put two quarts of manna in it, and place it in the Lord's presence to be kept for our descendants.” As the Lord had commanded Moses, Aaron put it in front of the Covenant Box, so that it could be kept. The Israelites ate manna for the next forty years, until they reached the land of Canaan, where they settled. (The standard dry measure then in use equaled twenty quarts.)” (Exodus 16:33-36 GNT).

“Everyone included in the census must pay the required amount of money, weighed according to the official standard” (Exodus 30:13a GNT).

“Take the finest spices - 12 pounds of liquid myrrh, 6 pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 6 pounds of sweet-smelling cane, and 12 pounds of cassia (all weighed according to the official standard)” (Exodus 30:23-24a GNT).

“Its value is to be determined according to the official standard” (Leviticus 5:15b GNT).

“They presented their offerings in the following order: The offerings each one brought were identical: one silver bowl weighing 50 ounces and one silver basin weighing 30 ounces, by the official standard,…” (Numbers7:12a GNT)

Moral standards

Merriam-Webster defines standards as “ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior.”[3] Standards are necessary to regulate our behavior, but who determines these standards? As Christians, we find our moral standards clearly set forth in Scripture: God’s inerrant, infallible, and eternal Word. Below is a passage that gives good advice about the basis for how we should live.

“1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. 2Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things” (Colossians 3:1-6).

God’s Word provides standards for virtually every area of our lives.

·         God’s design for marriage

“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (Genesis 2:24).

“‘4Haven't you read the Scriptures?’ Jesus replied. ‘They record that from the beginning God made them male and female.’ 5And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 6Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together’” (Matthew 19:4-6).

·         Sanctity of human life

“27So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and told them, ‘Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.’ 29And God said, ‘Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food’” (Genesis 1:27-29).

Yes, you must execute anyone who murders another person, for to kill a person is to kill a living being made in God's image” (Genesis 9:6).

·         Proper regard for our bodies

“1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is” (Romans 12:1-2).

“19Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

·         Proper attire

“At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves” (Genesis 3:7).

“And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife” (Genesis 3:21).

“The woman approached him, dressed seductively and sly of heart” (Proverbs 7:10).

“9And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

·         Proper response to government

“God blessed them and told them, ‘Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals’” (Genesis 1:28).

“1Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow” (Romans 13:1-2).

“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do” (Romans 13:6).

“13For the Lord's sake, accept all authority -- the king as head of state, 14and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

·         Proper attitude toward others

“1Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. 2For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. 3And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5).

“15If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).

“19My dear brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back again, 20you can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:19-20).

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

“For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

·         Proper stewardship

“A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy” (Leviticus 27:30).

“Say this to the Levites: ‘When you receive the tithes from the Israelites, give a tenth of the tithes you receive -- a tithe of the tithe -- to the LORD as a gift’” (Numbers 18:26).

“The people responded immediately and generously with the first of their crops and grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tithe of all they owned” (2 Chronicles 31:5)

“On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering. Don't wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

“You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Since God is the Creator of everything, including standards, should we not measure everything we think, say, and do against His Word, the ultimate Standard?

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[1] http://www.standardslearn.org/lessons.aspx?key=1

[2] "Standard." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 Oct. 2014. .

[3] Ibid