What You Value? What Do In our American society what a person finds important, of value, is vitally connected to what one's society finds important. The safety of a nation is surely related to what it values. Good and healthy values maintain the existence of a nation. Our "UNALIENABLE RIGHTS... Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" are in jeopardy. They are notto be transferred to a newowner. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). As our nation abandons its historic healthy foundation, it will be unable to survive the tests of rightness and reality. It is only solid ground that offers support to the good and bad. A nation that has little or no place for moral rightness, traditional family structure, etc. cannot last. It is within a healthy society that things not so healthy and even worse can exist and have a place and hope for a good recovery. As we are indifferent to and even vote for the losing of healthy values then we are left with unhealthy values. Such unhealthy conditions are like the flea finding no good home in the dead cat. As we abandon God-honoring family structure and moral standards we assure the present and future generations of much trouble. Our present needs, wants and wrongs have no refuge apart from a safe moral and family environment. There is little to no support to be found when the father and mother are missing, making for troubled and troublesome young people. A people away from God's good order are like a train off its tracks. Neither shall rightly advance. The God ordered values of MARRIAGE (Geneses 2:24: Hebrews 13:4), FAMILY DISCIPLINE, MORAL RIGHTNESS, WORK, LAW and ORDER, RESPECT, DECENCY, etc. are always safe and sure standards. God's Values Do Not Change "For I am the LORD,I CHANGE NOT; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto ME, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:6-7). "The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 33:11-12). God's Values Allow for Grace "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should PERISH, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise PERISH" (Luke 13:3,5). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's Values Set the Standard For Our Values "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I wil love him, and will manifest Myself to him... He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings" (John 14:21, 23, 24). "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the sout the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:7,8,9). Our values must realistically line up with God's RIGHTNESS. God's RIGHTNESS is put on display in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ whom God values. Our values need to line up with God's. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is to value God's Rightness. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4). "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). Middletown Bible Church 860-346-0907 349 East Street, Middletown, CT 06457 Route 217 (East Street, Westfield) midway between Routes 66 and 372 SUNDAY: www.middletownblblechurch.org Independent Bible Centered Christ Exalting For information or spiritual help, please call or write. "A friendly church where you're a stranger only once!" BIBLE LINE: Call 860-346-0021 for a timely message 24 hours a day. 9:30 am Sunday School - all ages 10:45 am Morning Worship 7:00 pm Evening Worship WEDNESDAY: 7:30 pm Prayer Meeting and Bible Study BIBLE LINE for CHILDREN: Call 1-800-368-1115 What You Value? What Do In our American society what a person finds important, of value, is vitally connected to what one's society finds important. The safety of a nation is surely related to what it values. Good and healthy values maintain the existence of a nation. Our "UNALIENABLE RIGHTS... Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" are in jeopardy. They are notto be transferred to a newowner. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). As our nation abandons its historic healthy foundation, it will be unable to survive the tests of rightness and reality. It is only solid ground that offers support to the good and bad. A nation that has little or no place for moral rightness, traditional family structure, etc. cannot last. It is within a healthy society that things not so healthy and even worse can exist and have a place and hope for a good recovery. As we are indifferent to and even vote for the losing of healthy values then we are left with unhealthy values. Such unhealthy conditions are like the flea finding no good home in the dead cat. As we abandon God-honoring family structure and moral standards we assure the present and future generations of much trouble. Our present needs, wants and wrongs have no refuge apart from a safe moral and family environment. There is little to no support to be found when the father and mother are missing, making for troubled and troublesome young people. A people away from God's good order are like a train off its tracks. Neither shall rightly advance. The God ordered values of MARRIAGE (Geneses 2:24: Hebrews 13:4), FAMILY DISCIPLINE, MORAL RIGHTNESS, WORK, LAW and ORDER, RESPECT, DECENCY, etc. are always safe and sure standards. God's Values Do Not Change "For I am the LORD,I CHANGE NOT; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto ME, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 3:6-7). "The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD" (Psalm 33:11-12). God's Values Allow for Grace "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should PERISH, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise PERISH" (Luke 13:3,5). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). God's Values Set the Standard For Our Values "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I wil love him, and will manifest Myself to him... He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings" (John 14:21, 23, 24). "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the sout the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:7,8,9). Our values must realistically line up with God's RIGHTNESS. God's RIGHTNESS is put on display in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ whom God values. Our values need to line up with God's. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is to value God's Rightness. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4). "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10). Middletown Bible Church 860-346-0907 349 East Street, Middletown, CT 06457 Route 217 (East Street, Westfield) midway between Routes 66 and 372 SUNDAY: www.middletownblblechurch.org Independent Bible Centered Christ Exalting For information or spiritual help, please call or write. "A friendly church where you're a stranger only once!" BIBLE LINE: Call 860-346-0021 for a timely message 24 hours a day. 9:30 am Sunday School - all ages 10:45 am Morning Worship 7:00 pm Evening Worship WEDNESDAY: 7:30 pm Prayer Meeting and Bible Study BIBLE LINE for CHILDREN: Call 1-800-368-1115