Managing 2024 Well
Part 4
“Seeing Like God Sees”
The Sanctity of Life
We reflect God’s glory!
One of the biggest mistakes in life…
-Addressing peripheral things without looking at any deeper issues that might be involved.
Umpire:
“He ain’t nothing til I call him.”
“Seeing Like God Sees”
Seeing “What” God Sees in others
Seeing “When” God Sees
Seeing “Where” God Sees
Seeing “Why” God Sees
Seeing “How” God Sees
Seeing “Who” God Sees
“God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
-Genesis 1:27,28
There are some things in the Bible we better not misunderstand.
The Sanctity of Life
“Every living soul belongs to me…”
-Ezekiel 18:4
The Image of God started at Conception
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful…16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;… 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!”
-Psalms 139:13-17
My Father's ways may twist and turn, My heart may throb and ache.
But within my soul I’m glad to know My God makes no mistakes.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; [For a Purpose] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
-Jeremiah 1:5
Children are a Blessing
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
-Psalm 127:3
Children are a blessing before they’re even born
“If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”
-Exodus 21:22-25
“Original Sin”
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.”
-Psalm 51:5
Satan will always try to stir up our sinful nature by tempting us to trust him instead of God.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the TRUTH by their wickedness, [Like a cough suppressant pushes down a cough, these people press down/suppress God’s truth.] 19 since what may be known of God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them… 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind…” 32 Although they KNOW God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
-Romans 1:18-32
We must not allow Satan to “suppress” any of God’s truths in our lives.
Satan is behind every effort and attempt to de-value life.
The unborn
The elderly
The disabled
Anyone different in any way
etc.
“Did not he [God] who made US in the womb make THEM? Did not the same one form US BOTH within our mothers?”
-Job 31:15
Don’t be judgmental
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
-Matthew 7:1-5
Be careful never to to devalue a person, while trying to point out that they are devaluing a person.
“The Choices Pregnancy Center”
Meets the needs of pregnant moms who are facing fears and challenges by helping them to meet the needs that these perceived threats and challenges bring.
Three categories
1. You had an abortion.
2. You know someone who had an abortion.
3. You know someone that had an abortion, but you did not know they had one.
Thank God for his forgiveness.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
-1 John 1:8-10
“If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you… I put my hope.”
-Psalm 130:3-5
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
-Psalm 103:12
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
-Proverbs 3:5-8
Jesus is the answer
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For IN HIM ALL THINGS were created… 17 He is before all things, and IN HIM all things hold together.”
- Colossians 1:15-17
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who MADE US, and We ARE HIS; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
-Psalm 100:3
“EVERYONE BELONGS TO ME, the parent as well as the CHILD—both alike belong to me.”
-Ezekiel 18:4
"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
-Exodus 23:1
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
- Deuteronomy 30:19
Remember who created you.
You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and so is everyone else.
“Be Jesus to others, He is always Jesus to you.”
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