1) Perhaps more so for me than for you folks, Wednesdays are the time that I get to review some of the classic things that I’ve taught as a pastor, teacher, preacher, and reacher. I rarely share these things because I think you need them; I most often share them because I think I need them. With that in mind, we will jump into what I am calling "Three Good Nails," which technically comes out of Ecclesiastes chapter 12.

2) The first nail that I want to discuss has to do with one of the most important elements of our faith. We need to know that we are chosen by God. That is not a statement that removes free will. To say one is chosen by God is simply the divine point of view. The human perspective is to say we must respond, and it’s our requirement. It’s always both. But we ARE CHOSEN!ut it’s worth noting that throughout the Gospels, Jesus went to people, and other people came to Jesus. It goes both ways, but the Lord always knows who are His.

3) The next nail is not a new tale. Everybody knows it, but nobody really wants to discuss it because it is in the New Testament. After all, everybody goes to the Old Testament: if you do something wrong, zappo; in the New Testament, if you do something wrong, you get a pass. Hey, guess what? It’s time to read the New Testament and find out that’s not even close to true. I don’t think Herod, who died because God smote him with worms, would agree. And two other people I know who wouldn’t agree, and that would be Ananias and Sapphira. We examine their actual sin.

4) The last portion of our lesson has to do with understanding how we want to engage with God. Do we want God fighting for us, on our side, with us, and on our behalf? Or do we want God fighting against us and challenging us in everything we do? It’s easy for people to forget that Proverbs teaches "before honor is humility." So, before we get the crown, we wear the cross. That’s how Jesus did it. That’s how we do it.