Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 29 (The City of Morality, Part 10: “What’s My Badge of Honor?”)

By admin On February 1st, 2018

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – December 29

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The City of Morality,

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Part 6:

“What’s My Badge of Honor?” 

To read Part 1, click here… “January 5th (The City of Morality

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

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Have you ever heard anyone say about someone else, “They’re as proud as a peacock’? Well, it’s been a very commonly used expression over the years, and probably through the centuries.

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And just one look at this incredibly beautiful bird, and it’s small wonder why this connection is made!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_Feather_Close_Up.JPGNot only is it a dazzling creature to behold, but even its proud strut, in royal blue, makes it appear to be the chief figure in a royal procession.

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But when this amazing bird fans out its plumage, it appears to have many eyes looking at it, as if it is boasting, “All eyes are on me! ME, ME, ME!!!”

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Peacock – cropped image – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

English: Close up of a Peacock Feather – cropped image – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

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WHAT’S YOUR BADGE OF HONOR? 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpgNow, let’s talk about people. 

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Have you noticed that we humans always seem to have one or more positive traits of character which, well, just seem to be a type of “badge of honor” for us?

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Well, the Pharisees of old had their own badge of honor.

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Do you know what that badge of honor was for that group of religious leaders?

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Yes, it was their morality, prosperity, position, and cleanliness. This made them feel as though they were just a bit more righteous than, “the great unwashed!”

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Peacock – cropped image – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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PHARISEEISM TODAY

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

And let’s face it! Cleanliness, position, prosperity, and morality are perhaps the most common “badges of honor” even to this current day.

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And especially in the most prosperous nations, a great number of people live in this self-deception that they are more righteous than others, because of their prosperity and position; or because they are very moral; or because they are very neat and clean.

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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OTHER BADGES OF HONOR

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

But it always seems like each and every person has some sort of badge of honor which causes pride and self-justification.

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For some, it might be their friendliness.

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For some, it might be their merciful acts of charity.

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For others, it might be their quick-witted jests.

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For still others it might be their superior work-ethics.

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Yes, the list goes on and on!

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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MANY BADGES OF HONOR!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

There are perhaps hundreds or even thousands of personal traits that make people feel just a little better than others.

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Oh, maybe it’s one’s punctuality; or his knowledge of the Bible; or his humbleness; or generosity; or superior intellect; or honesty; or some talent; or his knowledge of some sport, or of some philosophy.

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Actually, the list seems almost endless as to the possible attributes which humans consider to be “my badge of honor!”

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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“A BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, O GOD, YOU WILL NOT DESPISE”

Psalm 51:17

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

Now of course the Bible totally condemns all such self-exalting and proud thinking!

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Listen to Paul speak about his own badges of honor…“If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.’ Philippians 3:4-6

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Yes, Paul was one of the greatest of all Pharisees! He was an extremely well-disciplined and hard-working person! He had a lot of excellent virtues which he could boast of!

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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PAUL LOST ALL BADGES OF HONOR!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

And yet, listen to Paul’s testimony about these supposed badges of honor…“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ…for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them, but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness…but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:7-9

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Yes, when Paul finally met Christ, he suddenly realized that he was a just another miserable sinner, saved by grace!

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Listen…“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:” Romans 7:18.

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Yes, Paul’s new desire was no longer his own self-exaltation, but rather, to now exalt the Lord Jesus, and learn everything he could about Him! And Paul knew that Jesus was meek and lowly in heart (see Matthew 11:28-30).

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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“THE LOFTY LOOKS OF MAN…SHALL BE HUMBLED…IN THAT DAY!”

Isaiah 2:11 

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peacock_feathers_close.jpg

The Bible leaves little room for we sinners to remain self-deceived regarding any worthiness we might imagine that we possess! Yes, when we fix our gaze on the glorious and majestic One, it lays all our supposed goodness in the dust!.

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And of course, God at times allows the Devil to put us through humbling circumstances of one type or another, to lay all pride in the dust, forever!

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And this is best illustrated by Paul’s testimony…“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2nd Corinthians 12:7

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Not only Paul, but also King David, Solomon, Job, and Peter all went through humbling circumstances, so that God could forever purify their hearts from all foolish human pride.  

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Peacock – cropped – Wikimedia – the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

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THE GOOD NEWS!

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The Good News is that there exists a true goodness!

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And this true goodness is now being offered to each and every member of the human race! Yes, the gift of Salvation is now available to any and every willing recipient who begins to follow Jesus by faith on an upward, Heavenward journey to the Celestial City of God!

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And instead of a mere outward display of moral behavior, Jesus can come and live out His life through each and every Heaven-bound pilgrim, as he or she walks that narrow pathway (comprised of every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God!)

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Upward Pathway – by böhringer friedrich for – cropped/altered image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pray_for_Our_Nation_sign_IMG_3291.JPG

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Drive out all my foolish proud judging! Purify my heart. Give me the mind of Christ, so that I too can become meek and lowly on heart…

Pray for Our Nation sign – Wikimedia – Share-alike-lic.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read…January 20th (3 Fingered Judgment-Day), or you can also read… “September 30th (How To Spot The Biggest Sinner!)”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

.picture - soldiers of the cross - armor up!

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Once_in_a_Blue_Moon_(40034339832).jpg“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, AN EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:18-23 

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Please tilt your head to the left. Do you see a man with a very long pointed nose. (Obviously, the sketch to the right is just an exaggeration in order to help you find the face in the photo to the left.)

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Do you see an angry look? His right eye-brow is raised as if he is judging.

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This second face in the Moon appears to be that of a combination of a man as well as a fox. Or maybe a wolf. Doesn’t he have a long narrow nose like a wolf or fox? Maybe even a dog. Nevertheless, the expression on his face, as he appears to look down upon the Earth, is that of scorn. Unlike the first Moon-man’s sad shock and awe; this ‘man/fox/wolf/dog’appears to be that of anger and scorn. As if he is disgusted at the sinful planet below.

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He is very moral, you see!

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Moon – Public Domain – 2nd face Pharisee Scorner – by Cezar Popescu for Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain – cropped, highlighted & rotated photo

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Moon Into Blood Trilogy: 2nd Face: The Evil-Eyed Pharisee Scorner”

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Songe_de_Tartini_par_Louis-L%C3%A9opold_Boilly_1824.jpgTOMORROW:

December 30 (The Devil Made Me Do It! Part 19: “Sleeping To Satan’s Lullabies!”)

Violin Lullaby – Satan – Tartini’s Dream – Louis-Léopold Boilly 1761-1845 – Devil’s Trill Sonata – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. 

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THIS IS STUDY #361 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain

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Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

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