I was reading Proverbs chapter 16 this mornings. I noticed four different verses in the chapter that spoke of Gods sovereign control over our lives, but these verses also spoke of the necessity for us to make our plans.
Proverbs 16:1~The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:3~Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:9~The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:33~The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
PEOPLE:
1. Plan what you are to do in your heart.
2. Move that plan out of your mind, and plan the way you are going to do it.
3. If you have searched the scriptures to make sure your plans are good and righteousness, have prayed, sought godly council, and still are unsure of direction; then cast lots (casting lots is akin to a coin toss today, it was a way for a person to lay two decisions before the Lord, and ask God to make clear what decision is His by casting lots).
4. Commit your work to the Lord, then act.
GOD:
1. God will establish the plans.
2. God will establish the steps of the plan, and the answer of the tongue, not only your tongue, but the tongue of others that you sought godly council from.
3. God will ordain the outcome of the casting lot decision.
4. God will establish the action of the plan.
When I have to make a decision about something, I sometimes fail to get to the bottom of the list, and actually act. I can be passive in the decisions I make for my family, and I do not like this quality about myself. My mind is such that I like to get all the information I can before I make a decision, and many times there isn't enough time to get all the info I would like. Or, I am not diligent to think the decision through long enough to make a decision. It takes lots of work (at times) to make decisions. I can not multi-task at all. I can do, and think of one thing at a time. These things may come rapid fire at me, and can come rapid fire out of me. So it may look like I am multi-tasking, but I am really single tasking; and doing that very fast.
I am helped by the four verses in chapter 16 this morning. God wants me and you to ponder, get council, search the scriptures, pray, make a plan, and act. Gods sovereign reign over creation will ensure that He will establish the plans we make for His glory. Amen!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
A Morning with Caffeine
Monday, February 27, 2012
Doing Whatever We Please
Psalm 115:3
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
OUR GOD
The God of the scriptures is personal. He is our God. This speaks of Gods immanence, His nearness, His closeness.
IS IN THE HEAVENS
This speaks of the transcendence of God. He is set apart from His creation. He is not dependent upon His creation for anything. He reigns, rules, governs, and is sovereign over His creation.
HE DOES ALL THAT HE PLEASES
God is active in creation. All that He does, He does because it pleases Him.
Have you ever thought that it would be nice to be able to do whatever you pleased? God does whatever He pleases. The difference between God doing whatever he pleases, and me doing whatever I please, is that everything that God does is good. That wouldn't be the case with me. I would probably do everything that appeared good for me, but it would most likely come at the cost of being bad for someone else.
Doing whatever we please is normally called selfishness. Doing what I want to do, because I want to do it. But is that the case with God. Is God selfish? In one sense I could understand someone thinking this, because like I said, if I only did what pleased me, it wouldn't be for the common good of society, it would be good for me. My motives are such that I would seek to do whatever brought me the most amount of pleasure. But when God does this, He does it with pure holiness, pure righteousness, pure goodness. When we do not do what pleases us the most, but what pleases God the most, God knows that this WILL in the long run bring us the most pleasure. So that if we do what pleases God, in time, our desires will become conformed to Gods desires, and we will then be doing what pleases both God and us.
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
OUR GOD
The God of the scriptures is personal. He is our God. This speaks of Gods immanence, His nearness, His closeness.
IS IN THE HEAVENS
This speaks of the transcendence of God. He is set apart from His creation. He is not dependent upon His creation for anything. He reigns, rules, governs, and is sovereign over His creation.
HE DOES ALL THAT HE PLEASES
God is active in creation. All that He does, He does because it pleases Him.
Have you ever thought that it would be nice to be able to do whatever you pleased? God does whatever He pleases. The difference between God doing whatever he pleases, and me doing whatever I please, is that everything that God does is good. That wouldn't be the case with me. I would probably do everything that appeared good for me, but it would most likely come at the cost of being bad for someone else.
Doing whatever we please is normally called selfishness. Doing what I want to do, because I want to do it. But is that the case with God. Is God selfish? In one sense I could understand someone thinking this, because like I said, if I only did what pleased me, it wouldn't be for the common good of society, it would be good for me. My motives are such that I would seek to do whatever brought me the most amount of pleasure. But when God does this, He does it with pure holiness, pure righteousness, pure goodness. When we do not do what pleases us the most, but what pleases God the most, God knows that this WILL in the long run bring us the most pleasure. So that if we do what pleases God, in time, our desires will become conformed to Gods desires, and we will then be doing what pleases both God and us.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Pondering How To Answer
Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
I hated every time my parents had to go to parent-teacher conferences at school. I was about a strait C student. My parents would always come home and tell me the same thing year after year, "Son, all of your teachers told us the same thing, 'Scott has so much potential, but he talks too much'".
This sin I carried with me all the way until I was 32 years old. My wife and I became Christians during the same period of time, we were both 30. When my wife was saved, she was given a special gift of discernment. She was able to distinguish between good and evil very easily. I, on the other hand was not given this same gift. Any discernment I have now has come slowly over time, through study, and listening and reading discerning people.
Here is how this story is relevant to Proverbs 15:28. At about 32, I was convicted that my mouth was spilling out a constant flow of information. It was a mixture of truth, half truths, and falsehood. My wife, who was slow to speak, and very discerning; started asking me to prove to her some of the things I was claiming were true, when she did not think they were. I was not able to do so, and began to come under conviction for my sin. I went through a stage after this when I hardly spoke to anyone. I despised my mouth, and hated that it was uncontrolled like a wild stallion. My friends noticed and told me that it was wrong for me to not speak. What was wrong, was that I was quick to speak, and what I spoke was a fruit salad mixture of truth and falsehood.
By Gods grace I have begun to learn that a righteous man ponders how to answer. He ponders the thoughts in his mind before they come out of his mouth. I do speak now, but have learned to be quicker to listen, and slower to answer. Praise God for His Spirit who sanctifies, His Word that councils, and His Son who lived, died, and rose to forgive the sin of my mouth.
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
I hated every time my parents had to go to parent-teacher conferences at school. I was about a strait C student. My parents would always come home and tell me the same thing year after year, "Son, all of your teachers told us the same thing, 'Scott has so much potential, but he talks too much'".
This sin I carried with me all the way until I was 32 years old. My wife and I became Christians during the same period of time, we were both 30. When my wife was saved, she was given a special gift of discernment. She was able to distinguish between good and evil very easily. I, on the other hand was not given this same gift. Any discernment I have now has come slowly over time, through study, and listening and reading discerning people.
Here is how this story is relevant to Proverbs 15:28. At about 32, I was convicted that my mouth was spilling out a constant flow of information. It was a mixture of truth, half truths, and falsehood. My wife, who was slow to speak, and very discerning; started asking me to prove to her some of the things I was claiming were true, when she did not think they were. I was not able to do so, and began to come under conviction for my sin. I went through a stage after this when I hardly spoke to anyone. I despised my mouth, and hated that it was uncontrolled like a wild stallion. My friends noticed and told me that it was wrong for me to not speak. What was wrong, was that I was quick to speak, and what I spoke was a fruit salad mixture of truth and falsehood.
By Gods grace I have begun to learn that a righteous man ponders how to answer. He ponders the thoughts in his mind before they come out of his mouth. I do speak now, but have learned to be quicker to listen, and slower to answer. Praise God for His Spirit who sanctifies, His Word that councils, and His Son who lived, died, and rose to forgive the sin of my mouth.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The Secret of Contentment
Philippians 4:10-13
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We are currently on vacation. We are out of the normal in's and outs of life. I slept in this morning until 6:00 am. I went downstairs to make a pot of coffee. By the time I sat down, and sent off the memory verses to my kids via email, and our meditation verse of the day; my son and wife woke up. In Philippians 4:13, Paul is saying that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. And in the context of the "all things," he is speaking of contentment. He has learned the secret of being content in all circumstances. The secret is "through Christ."
As I pondered that verse as I was changing diapers. I was asking myself if I had learned the secret. I had not gotten my normal amount of time to be with the Lord and His Word, and was I content with that?
I am currently sitting in the front seat of our van as my wife nurses our infant in the back (we are parked). 30 minutes has now passed. We went into the mall to buy something for my wife, and now I am sitting in another parking lot as my wife is in Target. Have I learned the secret of being content yet? I believe that I am growing toward that. These moments I have had to type are really the first spare moments of my day this far. Oh, we all need to learn more and more, the secret of contentment.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We are currently on vacation. We are out of the normal in's and outs of life. I slept in this morning until 6:00 am. I went downstairs to make a pot of coffee. By the time I sat down, and sent off the memory verses to my kids via email, and our meditation verse of the day; my son and wife woke up. In Philippians 4:13, Paul is saying that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. And in the context of the "all things," he is speaking of contentment. He has learned the secret of being content in all circumstances. The secret is "through Christ."
As I pondered that verse as I was changing diapers. I was asking myself if I had learned the secret. I had not gotten my normal amount of time to be with the Lord and His Word, and was I content with that?
I am currently sitting in the front seat of our van as my wife nurses our infant in the back (we are parked). 30 minutes has now passed. We went into the mall to buy something for my wife, and now I am sitting in another parking lot as my wife is in Target. Have I learned the secret of being content yet? I believe that I am growing toward that. These moments I have had to type are really the first spare moments of my day this far. Oh, we all need to learn more and more, the secret of contentment.
Friday, February 24, 2012
A Remedy For Anxiety
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Are you an anxious person? Anxiety is like weights that make it hard to keep running. Anxiety is like a burden on the back. Anxiety weighs us down. But what is the remedy? A good word. And what is the source of the best words? God's Word of course. Our lives can be filled with worry and anxiety of all kinds, but the pure milk of the Word of God will turn our anxiety into gladness.
What are your burdens this morning? Take your thoughts captive. Write them down so you can see what it is that is troubling you. Then search the Bible for a promise from God, a "good word," to turn your sorry into gladness.
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Are you an anxious person? Anxiety is like weights that make it hard to keep running. Anxiety is like a burden on the back. Anxiety weighs us down. But what is the remedy? A good word. And what is the source of the best words? God's Word of course. Our lives can be filled with worry and anxiety of all kinds, but the pure milk of the Word of God will turn our anxiety into gladness.
What are your burdens this morning? Take your thoughts captive. Write them down so you can see what it is that is troubling you. Then search the Bible for a promise from God, a "good word," to turn your sorry into gladness.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Children Need Discipline
Proverbs 13:24
Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Before my wife and I were Christians, we followed the wisdom of the world in relation to the way we raised our kids. We would watch Dr. Phil, and Oprah, seeking to glean their wisdom. We were also involved with ECFE. None of those sources gave us the wisdom that we needed to parent a child to fear the Lord and walk according to his ways. We were instructed in "time outs," and "counting to three," "groundings," etc. We were told that spanking was wrong, and an old form of instruction that was no longer good or relevant. What I see now is that we were actually hating our children by not spanking them. And you can look out at vast generation of children today that have been raised up in homes who have heeded this worldly wisdom, and see what a moral down grade we as a society have slid down.
Proverbs tells us that love for our child will motivate us to discipline them diligently. When we do not spank them when they are young, we are actually hating them instead of loving them. Spanking drives foolish far from a child. The heart of every child is pointed toward sin and selfishness. Spanking done right, will free the child from their bondage to sin.
If you are not a parent that spanks your children and desire to start. There are many things to know first. I would recommend to you a few sources to get you started.
1. Shepherding a Childs Heart, by Ted Tripp
2. Standing on the Promises, by Douglas Wilson
These are two sources that we have found very helpful. Disciplining your children starts with a heart change in the very core of the parent. Love your children. Be diligent to discipline them.
Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Before my wife and I were Christians, we followed the wisdom of the world in relation to the way we raised our kids. We would watch Dr. Phil, and Oprah, seeking to glean their wisdom. We were also involved with ECFE. None of those sources gave us the wisdom that we needed to parent a child to fear the Lord and walk according to his ways. We were instructed in "time outs," and "counting to three," "groundings," etc. We were told that spanking was wrong, and an old form of instruction that was no longer good or relevant. What I see now is that we were actually hating our children by not spanking them. And you can look out at vast generation of children today that have been raised up in homes who have heeded this worldly wisdom, and see what a moral down grade we as a society have slid down.
Proverbs tells us that love for our child will motivate us to discipline them diligently. When we do not spank them when they are young, we are actually hating them instead of loving them. Spanking drives foolish far from a child. The heart of every child is pointed toward sin and selfishness. Spanking done right, will free the child from their bondage to sin.
If you are not a parent that spanks your children and desire to start. There are many things to know first. I would recommend to you a few sources to get you started.
1. Shepherding a Childs Heart, by Ted Tripp
2. Standing on the Promises, by Douglas Wilson
These are two sources that we have found very helpful. Disciplining your children starts with a heart change in the very core of the parent. Love your children. Be diligent to discipline them.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A Just Judge
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How can God be "just" to forgive us our sins? I mean, if a man who is convicted of murder, is pardoned by a judge without any restitution, penalty, or jail time; how can that judge be a just and good judge? The answer is the he wouldn't be a good and just judge if he forgave us our sins, without any penalty.
This ties into my post yesterday about Jesus being our propitiation. Jesus steps into the court room and takes our our guilty sentence. He becomes our wrath bearer and he is punished for a crime he did not commit. Then we (the criminal) are not only declared "not guilty" in the courtroom (justification), but the perfect life that Jesus lived is placed on our account as though we were him (substitutionary atonement). This is sometimes called "the great exchange."
Thus if we confess our sins, he is faithful AND JUST to forgive us our sins AND cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (sanctification). Justice has been served at the cross of Calvary. PRAISE BE TO GOD!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How can God be "just" to forgive us our sins? I mean, if a man who is convicted of murder, is pardoned by a judge without any restitution, penalty, or jail time; how can that judge be a just and good judge? The answer is the he wouldn't be a good and just judge if he forgave us our sins, without any penalty.
This ties into my post yesterday about Jesus being our propitiation. Jesus steps into the court room and takes our our guilty sentence. He becomes our wrath bearer and he is punished for a crime he did not commit. Then we (the criminal) are not only declared "not guilty" in the courtroom (justification), but the perfect life that Jesus lived is placed on our account as though we were him (substitutionary atonement). This is sometimes called "the great exchange."
Thus if we confess our sins, he is faithful AND JUST to forgive us our sins AND cleanse us from all our unrighteousness (sanctification). Justice has been served at the cross of Calvary. PRAISE BE TO GOD!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Highest Act of Love
1 John 4:10-11
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
We learn from these verses that the highest form of love is to be a propitiation. A propitiation is a "wrath bearer." Jesus is God's wrath bearer. A wrath bearer, absorbs and fully takes the wrath of someone, so that what remains is grace and blessing.
Jesus took the wrath of God in our place. God was not angry with Jesus, for he fully did the will of his Father. But God was angry with us because we have not done God's will. God's wrath was poured out on Jesus as he hung upon a cross on the hill of Golgotha. Jesus then assented to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside those who believe. This Holy Spirit begins to change the believer into the same moral image of Jesus. This is the other part of propitiation. The forgiveness of God because of Jesus, and the grace of the Holy Spirit is the grace that we receive because Jesus was our propitiation. When you watch this video...All I Have is Christ - An Animation...think "propitiation," when you see fire poured out on Jesus from one side of the cross, then blessing flow out the other side.
When we love people like this, that is the greatest expression of love. When you absorb wrathful words and wrathful actions of others, so that another can receive kindness; this is being a functional earthly propitiation.
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
We learn from these verses that the highest form of love is to be a propitiation. A propitiation is a "wrath bearer." Jesus is God's wrath bearer. A wrath bearer, absorbs and fully takes the wrath of someone, so that what remains is grace and blessing.
Jesus took the wrath of God in our place. God was not angry with Jesus, for he fully did the will of his Father. But God was angry with us because we have not done God's will. God's wrath was poured out on Jesus as he hung upon a cross on the hill of Golgotha. Jesus then assented to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside those who believe. This Holy Spirit begins to change the believer into the same moral image of Jesus. This is the other part of propitiation. The forgiveness of God because of Jesus, and the grace of the Holy Spirit is the grace that we receive because Jesus was our propitiation. When you watch this video...All I Have is Christ - An Animation...think "propitiation," when you see fire poured out on Jesus from one side of the cross, then blessing flow out the other side.
When we love people like this, that is the greatest expression of love. When you absorb wrathful words and wrathful actions of others, so that another can receive kindness; this is being a functional earthly propitiation.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Emasculation
"I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves."
Well, in my NASB Bible, there was a cross reference to Deuteronomy 23:1 which says...
"No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord."I quickly reasoned that Paul, who was a Rabbi, was thinking back to this text in Deuteronomy. He had the Old Testament flowing through his veins. He was probably reasoning that if the false teachers who had come into the Church at Galatia, would just go ahead and emasculate themselves, they would not be allowed to come into the Church. If they were not allowed to come into the Church, they would not be able to teach their false doctrine, and lead the Christians astray any longer.
The Pastor was teaching from this text in Galatians that Paul's use of vulgar and explicit language, gave us the right (in certain situations) to do the same. That was the application he drew from the text. I did not think the Pastor was wrong, only that Paul had a desire for the Church to be purged from all false doctrine and false teaching. He did not want the people to be led astray away from a pure devotion to Christ. Paul's desire, I thought, was not that we should all run around with knives, trying to lob off the privates of false teaches, but that we should do everything in our power to keep the Church of Christ free from error. (Matthew 18 and Church discipline.)
I raised my hand and asked what he thought of my interpretation. He quickly silenced me and told me that in no way Paul had that idea in mind. He wouldn't have had the Old Testament flowing through his veins, he was a New Testament Christian. This really helped me understand what it was I was feeling was wrong with a Dispensationalist. They treat the Bible as two separate and distinct books; the Old Testament and the New Testament. They would say there are many things that are helpful in the Old Testament, and we can get some pointers from looking back there, but it isn't a whole lot of help to us now. There are obvious differences between the two testaments, but I believe from Genesis to Revelation, it is but one book with one main message.
The Church we go to now is Covenantal in its interpretation of Scripture. What blessed me yesterday was that our pastor is preaching through the book of Galatians right now. He spoke about this text and Paul's hatred of false doctrine. He spoke of needing to be diligent to go to the wall with those in the Church who are trying to distort the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. Amen. I approached him after the service and ran my interpretation of Galatians 5:12 by him. He listened carefully and asked me to clarify a couple of things. He then said that Paul was a Rabbi and would have had the Old Testament flowing through his mind. He told me that I was probably right and he wished he would have thought of that himself. He was going to think about it some more, and said that he would probably use that understanding next week in his sermon.
What blessed me was a couple of things. One is that my pastor is a humble, precice, and teachable man. He is pursuing his second doctorate degree, and is still willing to listen to the ideas of a 38 year old HVAC Technician. And two, he sees the Bible as one book, with one main message, written from One main Author.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Walk This Way
Isaiah 30:21
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
I am so very thankful that the God of the universe has not remained silent. He has communicated with us through specific words and actions throughout history. We have a written record of how he interacted in the life of the Israelite nation, and the pagan cultures around them. We have a written record of how God interacted with us in the person of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. We have a record of how God communicates with us by the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and makes it known to the people of God. It leads us like an alert and awakened conscience that says "this is the way, walk in it." We can know whether or not we are being led by the Spirit of God if the direction we are led is consistent to the Word of God.
I thank you Father that you have not remained silent.
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
I am so very thankful that the God of the universe has not remained silent. He has communicated with us through specific words and actions throughout history. We have a written record of how he interacted in the life of the Israelite nation, and the pagan cultures around them. We have a written record of how God interacted with us in the person of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. We have a record of how God communicates with us by the third person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and makes it known to the people of God. It leads us like an alert and awakened conscience that says "this is the way, walk in it." We can know whether or not we are being led by the Spirit of God if the direction we are led is consistent to the Word of God.
I thank you Father that you have not remained silent.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
A Fountain of Life
Proverbs 10:11a~"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,"
Proverbs 10:21a~"The lips of the righteous feed many,"
When you open your mouth to speak, what comes out? Is it a fountain of refreshing water that nourishes and gives life to your hearers, or does it dry them out and leave them feeling parched? Is it a banquet of tasteful and sustaining food that leaves your hearers full and satisfied, or does it leave them hungry and starving for a good meal?
I desire for my mouth to feed many, and be a fountain of life to those around me, especially my wife, children, family and friends. There are three things that are helpful to know this morning as we ponder what a mouth looks like that is a fountain of life.
1. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life (Proverbs 13:14).
2. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27).
3. Good sense or understanding is a fountain of life (Proverbs 16:22).
In order for my mouth and yours to be refreshing food and drink to the people around us we must overflow these three things, teaching that is wise, the fear of the Lord, and understanding, or good sense. John Piper says that "the fear of the Lord" is a fear that is afraid to leave God to find joy and happiness in another place, or in another object. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom says Proverbs chapter 1. So I can not have any true wisdom on my own. God's wisdom will flow to me as I am close to Him. I must be filled full of God's wisdom in order for it to flow out of my mouth. Luke 6:45 tells us that "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." So what my heart is full of, will come out when I speak.
For my mouth and yours to be a fountain of life to those around us, we must be filled to the brim with the wisdom and understanding that flows to us as we stay close to God. Then this understanding, and wisdom will spill out of our mouths to those around us. Thus becoming a fountain that feeds many.
Proverbs 10:21a~"The lips of the righteous feed many,"
When you open your mouth to speak, what comes out? Is it a fountain of refreshing water that nourishes and gives life to your hearers, or does it dry them out and leave them feeling parched? Is it a banquet of tasteful and sustaining food that leaves your hearers full and satisfied, or does it leave them hungry and starving for a good meal?
I desire for my mouth to feed many, and be a fountain of life to those around me, especially my wife, children, family and friends. There are three things that are helpful to know this morning as we ponder what a mouth looks like that is a fountain of life.
1. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life (Proverbs 13:14).
2. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27).
3. Good sense or understanding is a fountain of life (Proverbs 16:22).
For my mouth and yours to be a fountain of life to those around us, we must be filled to the brim with the wisdom and understanding that flows to us as we stay close to God. Then this understanding, and wisdom will spill out of our mouths to those around us. Thus becoming a fountain that feeds many.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Whoever is Simple, Let him turn in Here
Notice how the call of wisdom, and the call of folly are the same.
Proverbs 9:1-12
Chapter 9
The Way of Wisdom
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “ Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:13-18
The Way of Folly
13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 “ Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Proverbs 9:1-12
Chapter 9
The Way of Wisdom
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “ Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:13-18
The Way of Folly
13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 “ Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
True Wisdom
Proverbs 8:12~"I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion." (ESV)
~"I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion." (HCSB)
~"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." (KJV)
As I was reading this passage over and over this morning, something wonderful happened. I began to understand this verse in a greater light. Shrewdness and witty inventions are crafty words. They are words that speak of the serpent in the garden of eden. These words have a negative aspect to them, but they also have a very positive aspect to them as well. The positive aspect of them is found in the wisdom of Christ (Colossians 2:3~Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.)
I pray for wisdom and discernment almost every day. One of the things that I learned, (or was freshly reminded of) this morning was that wisdom is not so much about how many facts you know, or how smart you are. Wisdom is the character of Christ in action.
We had an incident in our home last night. My two youngest children are a boy, 22 months, and a girl, 4 months. Our boy is very careful with his baby sister. Yet he is beginning to push the limits as to what he can and can not get away with. He has been told that he is not to hit or kick the baby at all. He understands what this means and is very careful to never disobey our commands (when he knows we are watching). Yesterday I changed the baby's diaper and was heading to the garbage to throw it away. Our son was hovering over the baby, kissing and hugging her. When I walked out of the room, he stood up and began to jump up and down very near her head. I peeked around the corner to watch him and he saw me and said "hi baby," and bent down to give her a kiss. I quickly moved to the other place in the living room to see him from another angle. He no longer thought I was watching, and began to jump near her head again. He then gave her a brief and very light kick in her head. She smiled. It could have been unintentional, so I watched for another 20 seconds. He proceeded to give her another little kick in the head again, this time a little harder. She smiled again, but I knew that he needed to be punished for his disobedience. I ran around the corner and disciplined him accordingly.
Why I was reminded of this story this morning is because I think this is the kind of craftiness and shrewdness that true wisdom has. When I was a teenager, I was very crafty and shrewd. But my intentions were always evil and sinful. As a 38 year old father, who is now a Christian, I am called to be crafty and shrewd as well, but with good and godly intentions. I anticipated that my son was going to disobey a command that he knows and understands. Did he hurt his younger sister, no. Then why discipline? Because this issue is not whether he hurt her or not, it is whether he obeys or not. If I let him disobey in the little things when he is under 2, he will disobey in the bigger things when he is 22.
My craftiness and shrewdness in that situation is what the Bible calls wisdom. It is not necessarily all of the facts that I know, it is the applying of those facts to life which is true wisdom from above. True wisdom is found in the Person of Jesus Christ, and this wisdom is shrewd and crafty in a good way.
~"I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness and have knowledge and discretion." (HCSB)
~"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." (KJV)
As I was reading this passage over and over this morning, something wonderful happened. I began to understand this verse in a greater light. Shrewdness and witty inventions are crafty words. They are words that speak of the serpent in the garden of eden. These words have a negative aspect to them, but they also have a very positive aspect to them as well. The positive aspect of them is found in the wisdom of Christ (Colossians 2:3~Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.)
I pray for wisdom and discernment almost every day. One of the things that I learned, (or was freshly reminded of) this morning was that wisdom is not so much about how many facts you know, or how smart you are. Wisdom is the character of Christ in action.
We had an incident in our home last night. My two youngest children are a boy, 22 months, and a girl, 4 months. Our boy is very careful with his baby sister. Yet he is beginning to push the limits as to what he can and can not get away with. He has been told that he is not to hit or kick the baby at all. He understands what this means and is very careful to never disobey our commands (when he knows we are watching). Yesterday I changed the baby's diaper and was heading to the garbage to throw it away. Our son was hovering over the baby, kissing and hugging her. When I walked out of the room, he stood up and began to jump up and down very near her head. I peeked around the corner to watch him and he saw me and said "hi baby," and bent down to give her a kiss. I quickly moved to the other place in the living room to see him from another angle. He no longer thought I was watching, and began to jump near her head again. He then gave her a brief and very light kick in her head. She smiled. It could have been unintentional, so I watched for another 20 seconds. He proceeded to give her another little kick in the head again, this time a little harder. She smiled again, but I knew that he needed to be punished for his disobedience. I ran around the corner and disciplined him accordingly.
Why I was reminded of this story this morning is because I think this is the kind of craftiness and shrewdness that true wisdom has. When I was a teenager, I was very crafty and shrewd. But my intentions were always evil and sinful. As a 38 year old father, who is now a Christian, I am called to be crafty and shrewd as well, but with good and godly intentions. I anticipated that my son was going to disobey a command that he knows and understands. Did he hurt his younger sister, no. Then why discipline? Because this issue is not whether he hurt her or not, it is whether he obeys or not. If I let him disobey in the little things when he is under 2, he will disobey in the bigger things when he is 22.
My craftiness and shrewdness in that situation is what the Bible calls wisdom. It is not necessarily all of the facts that I know, it is the applying of those facts to life which is true wisdom from above. True wisdom is found in the Person of Jesus Christ, and this wisdom is shrewd and crafty in a good way.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Seductive Speech
Proverbs chapter 7 is mostly about Solomon looking out his bedroom window, watching an adulterous married woman lure a young man. I find the whole chapter useful, but there is one verse that I believe is very helpful for us as men.
I am an HVAC Tech by trade, and I drive alone in my work van every day. I am very thankful that I do not have to work along side many women, but I could have many opportunities to listen to the seductive speech of women if I desired. I feel for men who are surrounded by the type of women described in the book of Proverbs. My council to you is that you heed the wisdom of Solomon. Understand that if you spend time listening to smooth and seductive speech, pouring slowly and sweetly out of the mouth of a seductive woman...
Proverbs 7:21~With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.If you are a man in the workforce, surrounded with co-workers that are seductive women, and if you spend time in conversation with them, you are just like this foolish young man in Proverbs chapter seven. Let the wisdom of the Bible instruct you that we as men are lured into adultery by listening to seductive words from the mouth of a seductive woman. This flips the other way as well; if you are a woman in the workforce, and you are surrounded with men that are flirtatious and seductive. You too are prone to be trapped by the words of another. Men are very visual creatures, and probably the sight of the sensual woman led this young man to walk near her front door, but it was her words that brought him inside her house.
"All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life." (Proverbs 7:22-23)I am not suggesting that you are rude, cruel or cynical with a co-worker who is seductive; I am suggesting that you do not spend time in conversation with them. Your conversations should be limited only to things that are necessary, as your job requires.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Bible Memory
Proverbs 6:20-22~My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
Look at the benefits of Bible memory from the above passage.
1. The commandments of God will lead you while you are walking in this life.
2. The commandments of God will protect you while you are asleep.
3. The commandments will commune with you while you are awake.
The commandments of God are the truths from God's nature and character, revealed to us in language. As I sit here, I can not think of anything better to do with God's commandments then to bind them, and tie them around mine and my children's hearts. O Lord, give me the grace to apply, and find a way to bind Your Word around our hearts.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Ponder The Path Of Your Feet
Proverbs 4:26~Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
If I look down at my feet and see that they are standing on a path, it does not come naturally for me to do any pondering about the path at all. It comes even less naturally for me to ponder where the path leads. I do not like this about myself. And I very much like that some of my family does have this quality about them. You may find it odd that I would consider myself a lazy thinker. This will be the 147th day in a row that I have written a post, and much of what I have written is pondering foot paths. But know that for me to ponder something takes effort and purpose. I do not, by default sit around and think, I mostly veg.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Guarding Knowledge
Proverbs 5:1-2
My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.
I am very much like men in many aspects, but am unlike them in some. Most men guard their mouths when they are at home and around, especially their wife. They will speak nearly everything that comes to their mind at work, but then guard the door of their lips like a roman guard when they get home. This is where I am unlike most men. The Lord has helped me to communicate better over the years. But I used to talk all the time. I still talk plenty, but I do much more listening then I used to.
I remember one time, someone dear to me called me to tell me something that they heard. It was about God. This person asked me not to say anything good or bad about it, just to listen because it was of interest to this person. I did not honor this person's request at all. I listen attentively to what they were saying, then proceeded to back up a dump truck load of information, and pour it on this individual. After a few weeks the Lord showed me that I needed to repent of my pride. The reason I did what I did with this person that I love, is that my heart was filled with pride.
This action that I did, taught me many things. For one, I thought I was wise because of all the things that I knew. But what I learned was that I was actually a fool. You see a fool speaks everything they know, or think they know. A fool does not know how to guard their lips when they need to, and they don't know how to have the guards leave their post when they need to.
My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.
I am very much like men in many aspects, but am unlike them in some. Most men guard their mouths when they are at home and around, especially their wife. They will speak nearly everything that comes to their mind at work, but then guard the door of their lips like a roman guard when they get home. This is where I am unlike most men. The Lord has helped me to communicate better over the years. But I used to talk all the time. I still talk plenty, but I do much more listening then I used to.
I remember one time, someone dear to me called me to tell me something that they heard. It was about God. This person asked me not to say anything good or bad about it, just to listen because it was of interest to this person. I did not honor this person's request at all. I listen attentively to what they were saying, then proceeded to back up a dump truck load of information, and pour it on this individual. After a few weeks the Lord showed me that I needed to repent of my pride. The reason I did what I did with this person that I love, is that my heart was filled with pride.
This action that I did, taught me many things. For one, I thought I was wise because of all the things that I knew. But what I learned was that I was actually a fool. You see a fool speaks everything they know, or think they know. A fool does not know how to guard their lips when they need to, and they don't know how to have the guards leave their post when they need to.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Be Attentive, That You May Gain Insight
Proverbs 4:1 says ~ Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Finding A Straight Path
Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I grew up in a country home in Minnesota. From the time I was about 10 years old until I moved out, we had at least one three-wheeler. I spent most of my summers exploring the woods, and zooming around on well established paths. My dad and I had made paths somewhere around the time we first came to own a three-wheeler, and I used them regularly.
My parents recently moved away from this home. Last summer a fairly severe storm came through which caused many trees to fall at their property. Two of my children and I went over there after the storm and began to clean up the mess. As I was cutting up one of the trees that fell near their pole barn, I was reminded that I was standing on a path that was once nearly as beat down as their driveway. I walked a ways into the woods, following a faint memory of where the path used to be. There was no indication anywhere external from my mind that there ever was a path there. Everything had grown up, and it was no longer recognizable.
When we seek to walk the paths of life, it is easier to walk paths that are established and straight. It is so hard at times to walk a path that you don't understand. It is so hard to lean NOT on your own understanding, but to lean ON the understanding of the Lord. But this is what God calls us to do. Acknowledge him in all our ways, leaning on his understanding and not our own, and he WILL make our paths straight.
I grew up in a country home in Minnesota. From the time I was about 10 years old until I moved out, we had at least one three-wheeler. I spent most of my summers exploring the woods, and zooming around on well established paths. My dad and I had made paths somewhere around the time we first came to own a three-wheeler, and I used them regularly.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Place Of Storage
(Proverbs 2:1-6) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
The Lord says that he will give wisdom and understanding to those people who store up his commandments with them. The NKJV translates it "within them," and the ESV says "with them." I like using the sense of both words. For me, I hear things, think about things, or study things and need to get them out of my head and onto something I can look at. It helps me to store up things first, then store them up within me. Storing up God's commandments within us is essential. If I left it as just storing up God's commandments, I might as well just carry a paper Bible around with me, because inside contains all of God's commandments, concise, and very nicely stored up. But those commandments need to make their way out of my storage device, and into my head to stay.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Another Morning With Spurgeon
"He shall save His people from their sins."—Matthew 1:21.
MANY persons, if they are asked what they understand by salvation, will reply, "Being saved from hell and taken to heaven." This is one result of salvation, but it is not one tithe of what is contained in that boon. It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all His people from the wrath to come; He saves them from the fearful condemnation which their sins had brought upon them; but His triumph is far more complete than this. He saves His people "from their sins." Oh! sweet deliverance from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, He casts Satan from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer. No man is a true Christian if sin reigns in his mortal body. Sin will be in us—it will never be utterly expelled till the spirit enters glory; but it will never have dominion. There will be a striving for dominion—a lusting against the new law and the new spirit which God has implanted—but sin will never get the upper hand so as to be absolute monarch of our nature. Christ will be Master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. The Lion of the tribe of Judah shall prevail, and the dragon shall be cast out. Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, He has done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves His people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among His people. Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour. (Charles Spurgeon)
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Wasting Away
(2 Corinthians 4:16) So we do not loose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
I would venture to say that you and I do not know anything about having a body that is physically running out of necessary strength and energy to keep proclaiming the gospel to the nations. (2 Timothy 3:12) "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution," In Paul's mind, if you are to live a godly life for Jesus, you WILL suffer.
It is a good opportunity for us to ponder our Christian walk. If you are reading this in the United States, I doubt you will ever physically suffer for the sake of Jesus. But that doesn't mean that we should not be suffering at all. Society is becoming more and more hostile against the truth claims of Christianity, and if you and I are faithful to life high the name of Jesus; we, as Paul said, will suffer.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Being Pleasing To God
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:5-6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
I read the first Hebrews passage this morning and it struck me that "doing good," and "sharing" were deeds that we either do or don't do. And whether we do them or don't do them, either pleases God, or displeases God.
I put the second set of verses from Hebrews above because I searched that word "pleases," and found that it is only used three times in the Bible. Once in Hebrews 13:16, once in 11:5, and once in 11:6. Enoch was a man in early Genesis who walked with God. God was pleased with him. Then in the 11:6 passage we learn that it is impossible for us to please God apart from faith. Which would mean that even our "doing good," and "sharing," are displeasing to God if we don't do them in faith.
It brings me joy this morning to ponder that God is pleased with the things I do. Yet it is also fearful to think he is displeased over things I do as well. Amazing that the Creator of all the universe is pleased by the things humans do by faith. This truth is a far cry from the blind watch-maker idea of God; where he created the universe, spun it in motion, and is now nowhere to be found, having nothing to do with his creation. No, God is watching over our every deed, pleased by every action that is done by faith.
God is a God of pleasure and personality. Just like you are pleased or not pleased by the actions of your kids, God is pleased or not pleased by the actions of His kids.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 11:5-6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
I read the first Hebrews passage this morning and it struck me that "doing good," and "sharing" were deeds that we either do or don't do. And whether we do them or don't do them, either pleases God, or displeases God.
I put the second set of verses from Hebrews above because I searched that word "pleases," and found that it is only used three times in the Bible. Once in Hebrews 13:16, once in 11:5, and once in 11:6. Enoch was a man in early Genesis who walked with God. God was pleased with him. Then in the 11:6 passage we learn that it is impossible for us to please God apart from faith. Which would mean that even our "doing good," and "sharing," are displeasing to God if we don't do them in faith.
It brings me joy this morning to ponder that God is pleased with the things I do. Yet it is also fearful to think he is displeased over things I do as well. Amazing that the Creator of all the universe is pleased by the things humans do by faith. This truth is a far cry from the blind watch-maker idea of God; where he created the universe, spun it in motion, and is now nowhere to be found, having nothing to do with his creation. No, God is watching over our every deed, pleased by every action that is done by faith.
God is a God of pleasure and personality. Just like you are pleased or not pleased by the actions of your kids, God is pleased or not pleased by the actions of His kids.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Fully Armed
There has never been an additional command to set down our weapons. Are you still fully armed?
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Count Others More Significant
(Philippians 2:3-11) Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Rivalry is the desire to put one's self forward
Conceit is self-esteem which is groundless, empty glory, vain glory, vain opinion of self
Humility is to have a deep sense of one's own moral littleness, lowliness, modest
Significant is to be above, to be excelled, to be superior
Obedient is to listen attentively and be submissive, to obey
Rivalry and conceit seem similar but I think they work themselves out like this: rivalry is the desire to step forward in order to show myself off. And conceit is the vain and selfish opinion of myself that brews in the heart. So it starts with a lifting up of one's self in one's own mind, then to step forward and boast or brag about one thing or another. How many times do you ask another person a question, only to voice your own opinion about the matter? How many times do you listen in order to understand, and not to find fault?
Jesus is our example. He, as God, became man. Really that says it all. Can you imagine deciding to become a maggot in order to save a race of maggots, or carp, or poop flies? God, the creator and designer of every thing seen and unseen decided to humble himself to become a little baby boy. God, who is completely holy and set apart from his creation in a moral sense, walked on this earth with folks that were just like you and I; who are forward stepping, selfish, conceited and always think of ourselves more significant than others.
Jesus is the humblest man to ever walk the planet. Yet He spoke boldly and profoundly. He rebuked those who had vain opinions of themselves. Humility doesn't lift one's self up. Humility knows that it is not the creator of the truth, but is bound to live and speak the truth. Today this comes across as very arrogant and intolerant. Yet those who criticize Christians who seek to live humble lives, and speak the truth in love; are themselves very arrogant and intolerant of the views of Christians. Tolerance is not accepting every opinion or view as though it were true. Tolerance is listening to and understanding opinions and views of others, speaking truth to them; yet not putting one's self forward as though I was the creator of that truth. Tolerance agrees to disagree. Tolerance says, "I will listen to you, and tell you that you are wrong, yet we can agree to disagree." Tolerance doesn't have to accept every opinion as truth. That is relativism.
Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death by a cross. We have a command to "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." The more obedient we become, the more humble we become. I know that I am not the creator of truth. It is very humbling to say in my own mind that I am unable to know right from wrong, truth from error, and wisdom from foolishness. I want to think that I am capable to determining what I should and should not do on my own. Yet I know that this view is the relativistic view of our day. Does it seem to you that we as a society are doing a good job determining right from wrong on our own? It seems to me that our society is in a downgrade, where we call good-evil and call evil-good. Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to what? To the will of His Father. And where do we find out the will of the Father? You guessed it, the Scriptures.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Love That Takes My Hatred Away
(1 John 4:19-21) We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.The book of First John is written to people who profess to be Christians. It is written "that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13b) So we have to keep that in mind as we look at any text throughout this book.
We have a command here, "whoever loves God must also love his brother." Love for other people is a proof that I love God. I have heard John MacArthur say that "brother" would mean any person at all. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to love false teachers, but other than them, we are commanded to love everyone else. Love here does not mean that I have some gushy emotional feeling toward every person, only that this type of love meets peoples needs.
Why am I to have this type of love for my fellow man? First, because it is commanded. Second, because it is evidence that I am loved by God. "We love because he first loved us." This really is startling to think about. The reason I love human beings made in God's image is because God loved me first. One of the proofs for me to know that I am loved by God is that I will love other people.
You say, "God loves all people." But the Scriptures says "Jacob I loved, Esau I hated." (Romans 9:13) There is some sense in which God's grace shines on the just and the unjust. Every breath that we take is a mercy from God. But this type of love that God shows toward His creation in general is different from His redemptive love, His love which saves and rescues the sinner from their sin, and gives them eternal life.
When a person experiences this type of redemptive love, the result will be a release from hatred in the heart toward your fellow man. When a person comes to know the love of God in salvation, his heart will reflect this love back to others; hence, "we love because he first loved us."
Do you want to be free from the hatred you feel in your heart toward other people? Run to Jesus!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Should Pottery Speak Back?
(Romans 9:20) But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
(Isaiah 45:9) Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making? ’ or ‘Your work has no handles ’
Understanding yourself as a clay pot is helpful in so many practical ways as you live your life on this earth. We tend to think of ourselves as people who "deserve" so much that is good. When in actuality, if God gave us what we "deserve," it would be His furious and un-quenching wrath. We deserve God's wrath because we have broken God's commandments.
I find this truth helpful and liberating. I wonder to myself at times why I look the way I do, or why my mind works the way that it does. I am tempted many times to look up at the One who formed me and ask why..but I know I have no right to demand an answer. The Potter is good and wise and filled with love for the vessels He has formed. He has a good purpose for each and every vessel He forms, one may be for honorable use, and one dishonorable. Whatever use I may be, honorable or dishonorable; I must remind myself, "who are you O man to answer back to God."
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Sin of Pride
I am still reading the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges for our small group. I finished the chapter on the sin of pride this morning and thought I would share a few of the points.
He said that Christians (including me) can be prone to these particular sins that are in the category of pride.
The sin of MORAL SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS: We as Christians can tend to look down our noses at society with a heart filled with pride because we don't do some of the weightier and obvious sins that the world does. We can be like the Pharisee in the temple who looked at the Tax Collector in the back of the Church and said "I thank God that I am not like that Tax Collector over there." How many of us have read that passage and said in our heart, "I thank God I am not like that Pharisee?" This sin of moral self-righteousness is not limited to Christians. There are plenty of non-Christians that appear morally better than others in society, and have the same sin leaking throughout their heart. How many non-Christians read the beginning of this paragraph and said in their heart, "I am glad that I am not like those moral self-righteousness Christians!"?
The sin of CORRECT DOCTRINE: We also as Christians can tend to feel pride over having (in our opinion) all our doctrine straight and in line. We can feel pride because we are Calvinists and not Armenians; Covenant and not Dispensationalists...you get the point. Bridges also said that even the person who does not have a thorough doctrinal position, still can feel pride by his non-doctrinal views; they are "our" views that we tend to feel pride about whatever they are.
Then there is the sin of ACHIEVEMENT: We can also have pride over our achievements. The things we have learned, have accomplished, have done, have written, have spoken, have had our children do. This can be in any category of our lives from work to play, from home to church.
These are a couple of the verses Bridges suggested meditating over in his chapter on pride. I hope these points are helpful to you, and the verses listed below. I prayed throughout the chapter as I read it and asked the Lord to reveal to me the sin of pride in my own life; maybe you could do the same. Hopefully that didn't sound too prideful when I just said that :-)
1 Corinthians 8:1
1 Corinthians 4:7
Luke 17:10
Psalm 75:6-7
Hebrews 13:17
He said that Christians (including me) can be prone to these particular sins that are in the category of pride.
The sin of MORAL SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS: We as Christians can tend to look down our noses at society with a heart filled with pride because we don't do some of the weightier and obvious sins that the world does. We can be like the Pharisee in the temple who looked at the Tax Collector in the back of the Church and said "I thank God that I am not like that Tax Collector over there." How many of us have read that passage and said in our heart, "I thank God I am not like that Pharisee?" This sin of moral self-righteousness is not limited to Christians. There are plenty of non-Christians that appear morally better than others in society, and have the same sin leaking throughout their heart. How many non-Christians read the beginning of this paragraph and said in their heart, "I am glad that I am not like those moral self-righteousness Christians!"?
The sin of CORRECT DOCTRINE: We also as Christians can tend to feel pride over having (in our opinion) all our doctrine straight and in line. We can feel pride because we are Calvinists and not Armenians; Covenant and not Dispensationalists...you get the point. Bridges also said that even the person who does not have a thorough doctrinal position, still can feel pride by his non-doctrinal views; they are "our" views that we tend to feel pride about whatever they are.
Then there is the sin of ACHIEVEMENT: We can also have pride over our achievements. The things we have learned, have accomplished, have done, have written, have spoken, have had our children do. This can be in any category of our lives from work to play, from home to church.
These are a couple of the verses Bridges suggested meditating over in his chapter on pride. I hope these points are helpful to you, and the verses listed below. I prayed throughout the chapter as I read it and asked the Lord to reveal to me the sin of pride in my own life; maybe you could do the same. Hopefully that didn't sound too prideful when I just said that :-)
1 Corinthians 8:1
1 Corinthians 4:7
Luke 17:10
Psalm 75:6-7
Hebrews 13:17
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