A Dose Of Spurgeon

Presence of Mind

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. (Proverbs 3:25-26)

When God is abroad in judgments, He would not have His people alarmed. He has not come forth to harm but to defend the righteous.
He would have them manifest courage. We who enjoy the presence of God ought to display presence of mind. Since the Lord Himself may suddenly come, we ought not to be surprised at anything sudden. Serenity under the rush and roar of unexpected evils is a precious gift of divine love.
The Lord would have His chosen display discrimination so that they may see that the desolation of the wicked is not a real calamity to the universe. Sin alone is evil; the punishment which follows thereupon is as a preserving salt to keep society from putrefying. We should be far more shocked at the sin which deserves hell than at the hell which comes out of sin.
So, too, should the Lord's people exhibit great quietness of spirit. Satan and his serpent seed are full of all subtlety; but those who walk with God shall not be taken in their deceitful snares. Go on, believer in Jesus, and let the Lord be thy confidence.

Consider This..

It is important what we spend our time considering. It is also important that we spend our time considering. I looked up a few texts this morning to help me to see what God wants me to consider.

Deuteronomy 32:7, 32:29
1 Samuel 12:24
Job 37:14
Psalm 8:3
Proverbs 6:6
Matthew 6:28-29
Hebrews 3:1, 12:3

First God wants us to consider the past. We are to consider how God has worked for us in the past. This not only applies to our personal lives, but how he worked for us (as being a grafted in people) in Israel.

Then we are to consider our future. Where do our current actions lead. What will become of me and my family if I continue doing X?

Also we are to consider Gods creation. We are to consider the ants, the clouds, the animals, the stars, and the lilies in the field.

Lastly we are to consider Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We are to consider him when we are in trials, for we have not resisted temptation to the point of shedding blood. Because for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross. Consider him who was faithful to God is each and every area of life.

Thinking On The Love Of God

Psalm 48:9 says “We have thought on your steadfast love, O God”… It got me thinking about the love of God this morning. If the author of Psalm 48 is telling us that it is a good thing to think on the love of God, what is it that we should be thinking about exactly?

Romans 5:8 tells us that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 8:39 tells us that “nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 4:9-10 says “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 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.”

And 1 John 2:5 tells us “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”

We are to be thinking upon the love of God. The height of God’s love is the crucification of Jesus. When Jesus bore our wrath on the cross, and gave to us eternal life through faith in him; this is the love of God. And this love becomes perfected in us when we are obedient to God’s word out of love for Him who loved us first.

The Christian Mind

I thank the Lord for thinks like blue tooth ear buds. I was able yesterday to keep my phone in my pocket, ear bud in one ear, and listen to half a conference on the Christian mind; all the while working on HVAC equipment and getting paid for it. I am not always able to listen while I work, but I do have, most mornings and hour commute where I can fill my mind with the preaching of God's Word.

--  listen to   -- This is a link to the conference I listened to. It was the 2012 National Conference of Ligonier Ministries: The Christian Mind. I highly recommend it for all.

I turned in my Bible this morning to Psalm 7:9, Psalm 26:2, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 8:5, and 1 Corinthians 2:15-16. Putting those verses together I learned that God tests the mind of man. I learned that David (who was a righteous man) asked God to test his heart and mind. We can conclude that it is good for us to ask God to do things that his word already tells us that he does. We can also conclude that a righteous man will want God to test his mind. Gulp.

I learned that the man who has his mind stayed on God will have perfect peace.  I also learned that the spiritual man judges all things. He is himself rightly judged by no one, but none the less, he judges (or discerns) all things.

May we know the perfect peace that comes through keeping our minds stayed on the Lord, who gave to us our minds.

A Dose Of Spurgeon

Another devotional from Charles Spurgeon


"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." --Matthew 26:56 

He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from Him in the very beginning of His sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at the best, and they flee when the wolf cometh. They had all been warned of the danger, and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic, and took to their heels. It may be, that I, at the opening of this day, have braced up my mind to bear a trial for the Lord's sake, and I imagine myself to be certain to exhibit perfect fidelity; but let me be very jealous of myself, lest having the same evil heart of unbelief, I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honour to have stood at Jesus' side right manfully; they fled from honour; may I be kept from imitating them! Where else could they have been so safe as near their Master, who could presently call for twelve legions of angels? They fled from their true safety. O God, let me not play the fool also. Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for His truth. 

What anguish must have filled the Saviour as He saw His friends so faithless! This was one bitter ingredient in His cup; but that cup is drained dry; let me not put another drop in it. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify Him afresh, and put Him to an open shame. Keep me, O blessed Spirit, from an end so shameful.

The Secret Of Contentment

…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. --Philippians 4:11-13

Do you like learning secrets? Most people, I would think love to hear a juicy little secret. Our ears naturally perk up when people whisper. Well Paul has a secret to tell us. It is a secret that he wants to whisper in your ear. It is the secret of being content.

Oh how we (I) need to know and believe this truth. Covetousness (which is the opposite of contentment) made God’s top 10 list (10 Commandments). It is one of those roots that grow near the bottom of all sin. Paul’s secret to us, is that we can learn to be content in any and all circumstances. We can learn to be content through the strength of Jesus Christ. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The “all things” is in the context of contentment. Paul is telling us the secret of being content in all circumstances. It is through Christ, who strengthens us…

The Wise And Foolish

Ephesians 5:15-17
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Understanding what the will of the Lord is, “is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:9). If we do not understand what the will of the Lord is, then we are foolish. We are also foolish if we are not looking carefully at how we walk. We are foolish if we are not making the best use of our time.

We are wise if we do understand what the will of the Lord is. We are also wise if we are looking carefully at our life, and observing what our walk is like. Again, we are wise if we are making the best use of our time.

I hope the will of the Lord speaks to you this day as you sit under the preached word of God. I hope it causes you to think more carefully about your life. I hope you spend some time looking at the minutes of your day to see if there are any that are not used to the glory of God. Speak to us O Lord, for we are a needy people.  

How To Cleanse Ourselves

2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

We are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. We are to do this based upon “these promises.” What promises you ask, the promises that are in chapter 6, verses 16b-18...

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

These are great promises from God, to us. Do you know where Paul (who wrote 2 Corinthians) got them? Leviticus 26:12, Isaiah 52:11, and a combination of texts from 2 Samuel, Ezekiel, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and Exodus. The promises in these Old Testament books are for us. Obviously using proper hermeneutics, there are certain commands and promises that were specific to a particular people in a particular time. But we ought to let the truth of this sink in. Paul is reasoning from Old Testament texts. These texts are the promises that we are to believe in order for us to obey the command to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit.

Thank you Lord for your great and precious promises. Give to us the faith to believe and embrace them.

Discerning My Direction

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:9-10

I find it very hard at times to do what this verse tells me that I need to try to do..to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. This verse gives me three categories that are meant to help and I am thankful for them. Though, for me, I am not always able to instantly place hard decision into the categories of goodness, rightness, or trueness.

The opposite categories also can help. The opposite of good is evil (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). But “evil” is also a name that is difficult for me to define. So I prefer to use the name “bad” as being the opposite of “good”. The opposite of “right” is “wrong,” and the opposite of “true” is “false.”

True and false, I think have to do with precepts and facts. Good and bad have to do with situations. And right and wrong has to do with motives. Thus with these three categories we cover all the ground. We cover the standards that govern truth, the Norms. We cover the standards that govern goodness, the Situations we encounter. And we cover the standards of our motives and desires, the Existential perspective of ourselves.

I find it helpful to write my mind clear. This post is meant for me to clarify how I am to govern, and lead the family God has given me…for His glory. Walk as children of light, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Let Us Reason Together My Son

Isaiah 1:18-20
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The first chapter of Isaiah reminded me of the Christian hymn by John H. Sammis (1887), called “Trust and Obey.”

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

The people of Judah had rebelled against their Lord. God points out their sin to them and tells them to be “willing and obedient.” Trust (willing) and Obey (obedient).

I love the picture of God speaking in verse 18. He desires His followers to trust and obey Him. He speaks to you and I while we are in our rebellion, our selfishness, and in our heart that has become cold in our affections for Jesus; “come here, let’s reason together about this.” “Lets talk this thing through.” “Your sins are many, but I will cover you.” “I will make your blood red sins, white as snow.” “Let us reason together.”

This picture of God shows us how incredibly kind and forgiving He is. It is the way that we should strive to be with our spouses, our children, and all people in general. We are fallen and sinful creatures. We sin against others. We are sinned against. When we are sinned against (like God is), we should model the way He pursues the ones He loves. He goes after them while they are in their rebellion, and draws them like the kindest Father we could ever imagine. I picture a child that is so angry with his parents. He has his arms crossed, head down, back against the wall. His father comes up and places his arm around his sons shoulder. The son coldly shrugs his shoulder, pulls away from his father and looks away in disgust. My tendency in that situation would be to get angry at my son for his rebellion. But God speaks so patiently to the one He loves, “come here son, lets reason together.”

A Story About Our Mouths

James 3:7-9
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3: A Story

Above is a video link made by Desiring God. We first watched this video at a conference at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Where Is My Trust?

Proverbs 28:26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Does not this text imply that to live your life in this world while trusting in your own mind, is to not be wise, but rather a fool?

How then do we become a "wise walker?" By trusting in Another's mind. And by trusting in Another's mind, we shall be delivered from foolishness. Who's mind then shall we trust in? If you and I are sitting across a table from one another, both reading the same text; you read you are not to trust in your own mind, and I am not to trust in my own mind, how could I then trust in your mind if you are told that you can not? 

We are foolish if we look to human reason as the ultimate authority. True wisdom is looking to the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is revealed to us in Scripture. 

Shepherd The Flock Of God

Here are three texts for your consideration this morning.

Proverbs 27:23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,

1 Peter 5:2-5 Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourself with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, to which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Whether you are an elder at a Church, or a husband and father in your home; there are good implications for us in these verses. Do you think of yourself as a Shepherd, and your children as the flock that Jesus purchased with his own blood? See how many implications you can find...

I'm Just Kidding!

Proverbs 26:18-19 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”(HCSB)

What goes through your mind when you read your daily news papers? You read of a man who grabs a gun and walks to a neighboring village to spray bullets at unsuspecting victims. You read of a student who brings a gun into his school and slays at random everyone in his vicinity? Are you appalled? These are madmen who throw flaming bullets and deadly arrows. We should be grievous at the sinful behavior in our world. But should we be equally grievous at a justice system that treats criminals as victims, and victims without justice?

You would never think of yourself as a madman would you? If you have ever purposely deceived another person, only to blurt out “oh, I’m just kidding,” when you got caught; you are exactly like the madman. You have the same heart as the madman, and God sees and judges the heart of man. The difference between you and the madman is only one of degree. You both begin with the same heart that seeks to deceive and wound another human being. The madman does not fear the consequences of his behavior, so he takes his actions to the extreme. You do fear the consequences of being caught, so you deceive in a lesser degree.

Throughout my sinful past, I have deceived many people in the way that I am describing. I feared being in jail, so that kept me restrained in some degree. The justice system the Old Testament prescribes would have hindered even further my past behavior. “Stripe for stripe, skin for skin, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Do you think our justice system is good? A system that seeks to reform and correct the criminal, instead of being an arm of justice? Which philosophy hinders crime, and protects society more? Just some ponderings...

The Wisdom of a Fool

Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

As I am reading through the book of Proverbs again, it is very noticeable to me that the adult who is a fool, does not appear to have much hope. There is hope for the foolish child who is raised under the tutelage of wise parents who instruct them in the Scriptures. But if this foolish child never heeds instruction in wisdom, they will become an adult that is the fool in Proverbs. Once they become an adult that is a fool, is there still hope? The above verse tells us there is still hope for the fool. This indeed is good news. But what about the fool, who thinks he is wise?

This actually is striking. This fool, does not know they are a fool. They are a fool, who believe themselves to be wise. This type of person has even less hope than a person who is a fool, and knows that they are. A fool, who knows they are foolish, have themselves a bit of wisdom. Thus the fool is wise. But the fool who does not know they are foolish, but believes himself wise, has no apparent wisdom. This person is utterly deceived, and has no idea. Do you think yourself wise in some measure?  

The Sin of Anger

This morning I finished another chapter in Jerry Bridges book "Respectable Sins." The chapter is about the sin of anger. He says that it is hard to define anger, but describes it in this way..

“What is anger? Many of us might say, 'I can't define it, but I know it when I see it, especially if it's directed toward me.' My dictionary defines anger simply as a strong feeling of displeasure, and usually of antagonism. I would add that it's often accompanied by sinful emotions, words, and actions hurtful to those who are the objects of our anger.” 

Bridges dismantles our idea of what “righteous anger” is. He says that “righteous anger arises from an accurate perception of true evil-that is, as a violation of God’s moral law. It focuses on God and His will, not on me and my will.” Second he says that “righteous anger is always self-controlled. It never causes one to lose his temper or retaliate in some vengeful way.” I would dare say that there are not many of us who, when we have been angry, display a righteous anger.

Bridges brings anger back to our hearts when he says, “we need to realize that no one else causes us to be angry. Someone else’s words or actions may become the occasion of anger, but the cause lies deep within us -- usually our pride, or selfishness, or desire to control.” That truth is very helpful for me. If you think about all the times you feel anger rising up in your heart, more likely you are becoming angry because of your pride, selfishness, or desire to control. We get angry because we want it our way. We get angry because our reputation or our character has been questioned. We get angry because others don’t conform to our desires.

“We cannot deal with anger until we acknowledge its presence. Then we need to ask ourselves why we became angry. Was it because of our pride or selfishness or some idol of the heart we are protecting? If so, we need to repent not only of our anger, but also of our pride, selfishness, and idolatry.”

Bridges finishes his chapter by reminding us that we need to be grounded in a belief in the sovereignty, goodness, and love of God. Ultimately He has ordained every circumstance in our lives. He, in His good providence, seeks to use all of it to conform us into the likeness of the One who bore our sinful anger on the cross.

Impatience and Irritability

I just finished reading the chapter called "Impatience and Irritability," in Jerry Bridges book "Respectable Sins." He defines impatience as a strong sense of annoyance at the (usually) unintentional faults and failures of others. He says that our impatience then is often expressed verbally in a way that tends to humiliate the person who is the object of the impatience. The key to understanding this type of impatience, says Bridges is that "it is a response to the usually UNINTENTIONAL actions of others."

Bridges lists a couple of examples. One is that we often have impatience over the seemingly slow response of our children and teenagers to become obedient. Another is that we often are impatient as we commute to and from places in our cars. He gave an example in his own home. He said that he lives his life on a time margin. He likes to start out early, and arrive at locations in plenty of time without needing to hurry. His wife on the other hand likes to leave in just the exact amount of time. Often Bridges says he is ready and waiting for his wife to get in the car so they can leave. Then he says, "will I be patient with her, realizing that a harmonious relationship with her is more important than leaving the house at my prescribed time?"

Even though our spouses, our children, or others in general, seem to be the cause of our impatience; they merely provide the opportunity for our flesh to assert itself. Bridges says, "The cause of our impatience lies within our own hearts, in our own attitude of insisting that others around us conform to our expectation."

Irritability, says Bridges, "describes the frequency of impatience, or the ease with which a person can become impatient over the slightest provocation." If you and I often get impatient with others around us, then we are an irritable person.

Know that impatience and irritability are sins. The point of Jerry Bridges book is that Christians often are quick to point out the flagrant sins in society, but neglect these subtle and often hidden sins that lie deep within the recesses of our own hearts. Only gospel grace can bring them to the surface. Only Jesus can cleanse us from the sin of impatience and irritability.

D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E-D E-ating

We have a book in our home from Elyse Fitzpatrick, called "Love to Eat, Hate to Eat." In her book, she has this acrostic that she recommends to be a guide for our eating. I read it last night, and plan to memorize it. I thought I would share it here incase you desired to do the same.

D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E-D   E-ating:

DOUBT: Do I doubt that I can eat this food without sinning for whatever reason? (Romans 14:23)
IDOLATRY: Will eating this food demonstrate a heart of idolatry power or pleasure? (Exodus 20:3)
STUMBLE: If I eat this food, will it cause some weaker Christian to stumble? (Romans 14:21)
COVET: Am I eating this food because I saw someone else with it and I'm coveting? (Exodus 20:17)
INROAD: If I eat this food, will it create an inroad for sin in my life? (Romans 13:14)
PRAISE: Can I eat this food with thanks and gratitude? (1 Timothy 4:4)
LIFE: Would eating this food harm my life or health in anyway? (Exodus 20:13)
ILLUSTRATE: Am I modeling good eating habits for others? (1 Timothy 4:12)
NO: Am I able to say no to this food even if I know that I can eat it without sin? (1 Corinthians 9:27)
EMOTIONS: Does the desire to eat this food flow out of any sinful emotion? (Genesis 4:7)
DISTRACT: Will preparing or eating this food distract me from something more profitable? (Luke 10:41-42)
ENSLAVED: Will eating this food bring me under any kind of bondage? (1 Corinthians 6:12)

In all our eating and drinking, are we glorifying God?

True And False Christians

John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

These words from Jesus are so relevant for us today. Jesus was speaking to Jews who were claiming to be believers. They were claiming to be disciples of Jesus. Which in our vernacular, would be the same thing as claiming to be a Christian. Do you claim to be a Christian? I do, and most of the people in my household claim to be as well.

Jesus tells us the characteristic of a true Christian; that they "abide" in Jesus' "word." What does this mean other than they are saturated in the words of Jesus spoken to us in the Bible? If there is a "true disciple," then there most certainly is a "false disciple." Which are you? The characteristic of the true and false Christian is whether or not they are abiding in his word.

Abiding in Jesus word means at a minimum, you are reading your Bible. Jesus' words are written in the Bible, and there is no way you could be abiding in his word, if you are not reading his word. Secondly, to abide in Jesus' word would mean that you are letting the words you are reading sink down into your soul. Christians don't just know facts about God, but these facts are meant to change us. They are meant to be applied to the very way we live, breathe and function in this world.

If you are a Christian, "you will know the truth." Where on this creation is the source of truth? It is in the Bible. Jesus says that true Christians will know their Bibles. Do you?

Gummy Bears Are Not Pointed, They Are Pointers

Proverbs 24:13-14 My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

I have been speaking for a couple of days about self-control. Self-control is a very broad subject, but I have mostly spoken about it in relation to eating. Most people that I know can tend to over indulge when they eat sweets. I for one have more than just A "sweet tooth," for I have MANY sweet teeth.

Sweets (sugars in general) are addressed as a subject in the Bible. You will find numerous texts in Proverbs that speak about honey. "The drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste." We even find in our text today a command to "eat honey." Why? Because "it is good," and "it is sweet." But the sweetness of honey is not meant to end with our taste buds. They are meant to point us away from the chocolate chip cookie, to the wisdom of God, which is Jesus Christ. "Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24)

God has given us many kinds of sweet food and beverages to enjoy. These things are good. But like all things that are good, there can be a wrong use of a good thing, which results in it becoming a sinful thing. We as humans have been stained by sin from the fall of mankind in the garden. We may not be as sinful as we could possibly be, but all of our faculties have been tainted by one degree or another by it. Candy, deserts, and soda pop are good in and of themselves. But we are prone to covet, and over indulge in that which is good, and in turn, we sin.

These things are pointers. Pointers to the sweetest gift that God has ever given to mankind. His beloved Son...

A Three-Fold Path To Wisdom

Proverbs 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

I was reading the philosophy of a particular home-school curriculum the other day. They had their education broken down into three groups. The curriculum used the ideas of the above verse for their categories.

The first level was that of KNOWLEDGE. This was the basic level where all children start. Children are good at memorizing names of things and facts. They can even typically memorize these facts without even understanding what, or why it is.

The second level was that of UNDERSTANDING. This is where the children begin explore what those facts mean. They tie the name of the thing, with a definition. They tie definitions together and show how ideas link with other ideas.

The third level is that of WISDOM. This is the top level of knowledge. The children at this level are encouraged to apply what they have learned to their life. Wisdom is essentially knowledge and understanding of truth, in action. This is where knowledge needs to end if our children are to be wise.

As I was reading this home-school philosophy, I saw that this type of learning should apply to all areas of life. It is a three-fold way for all people to "buy truth." If you and I are to be wise, we must begin with a basic knowledge of a truth or a fact. Then we are to explore that fact until we understand it. But for you and I to be wise, we must not end there. We must apply to our lives the facts and truths we have now understood.

My Dog Has A Choker Collar, Should I?

Proverbs 23:1-2 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, 2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.


If you read yesterdays post, you remember that we were discussing the subject of self-control. Did you determine whether the wall around your life was solid or broken down? And if it was mostly solid, but had some penetrations, holes, or other imperfections in your wall? Today I wanted to bring out three principles that I find in Proverbs 23.


The first principle is anytime you are going to eat, sit down. This may sound strange at first, but how much food do you consume while you are standing in the kitchen, or walking back and forth from your office cubical? You walk by a bowl of chips, or a dish of candy that sits on the counter, and take little grabs here and there. All of these little "grazings" add up. You will not be able to adhere very well to the second principle if you do not have all of your choices before you first. If you are going to grab a handful of snacks as you walk by a dish; bring the handful to your chair, sit down, place it before you, then eat. That way you will be able to apply the second principle before the food enters your mouth. The picture in the text is a person who has first sat down to a table, and is awaiting the meal to be served. 


The second principle is that once you have sat down, observe carefully the food that is before you. This requires you to think before you shovel. We are to think before something comes out of our mouth, and think before something goes into it. This is the hugest thing for me. I can act without thinking. I can even act, while consciously thinking about not thinking, crazy as that may sound. It is wanting to eat something you know that you shouldn't, but not wanting to be stopped, or bothered by your conscience. We are to observe very carefully the food that is in front of us. 


The third principle is to alway carry a hunting knife sheathed to your side. Just kidding! But what a hunting knife to your throat would do is prevent you from swallowing the food. I think the principle is for you and I to take whatever necessary precautions (minor to extreme) to keep from shoveling too much food down our throats. The problem with gluttony is that we are desiring a created thing above the Creator of all things. The Creator of all things has spoken to us in His Word. And He has told us Who He wants reflected in each of our lives. He wants us to show by our eating, that He is more to be desired than gold, silver or food.

What Does Your Wall Of Self-Control Look Like?

I discussed the topic of self control in an earlier post (Christian Self-Control). Self-control is a very important quality to obtain. I would say that the opposite of self-control is self-indulgence. Proverbs 25:28 says that "a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Walls around the city in ancient times were the very thing that protected the people of the city. If the walls were strong, tall, and un-penetratable; enemies would not be able to breach the city and bring harm to the people. But if the walls were broken down, the people were un-protected and vulnerable to every sort of attack.

Every person has a wall around themselves. The question is whether it is a broken down wall, or a solid one. If you take a quick survey of the wall around you, are you aware of any weak spots, or holes in your wall? It may be nice to think that I could run to Menards, buy some mortar, save big money, and quickly return to fix any holes in my wall. But unfortunately self-control is not something you can buy with money, or find in a store. Self-control is quality that describes God Himself. God's governing of Himself is the standard of what self-control is. The closer we draw to God through Jesus, the more self-controlled we shall be.

He Cares For You

1 Peter 5:7b "He cares for you." ~Simeon Peter


Matthew 6:26 "Are you not of more value than they [the birds]?" ~Jesus


Can a materialistic world care for you? No, a materialistic world is impersonal. It is made up of matter, not personality. Can we get our value from a materialistic world? No, for the same reasons.

Is it not disturbing to you that when you were in school, you were pumped full of the knowledge that you have no value? There is no Person that created the universe who cares for you? It disturbs me! What would my life have been like if I was taught there was a personal God who made everything I saw, including me. All that I could see had a purpose behind it. I was created for a purpose.

Let the words of Peter sink into your soal this morning. God cares for you. He actually cares for you! God's Son, Jesus the Christ, tells you that you have value. You are cared about and valued. Even if every person you know shows you no concern or care, God cares for you. Even if none of your thoughts, none of your actions, nothing you do is valued by others. God values you. Oh, what a sweet truth to spend your morning meditating upon.

Great Faith~Charles Spurgeon

Great Faith~Charles Spurgeon


Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul. Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; and without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily. With faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God. If you would find the men who serve God the best, you must look for the men of the most faith. Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot do great things for God. Poor Little-faith could not have fought "Apollyon;" it needed "Christian" to do that. Poor Little-faith could not have slain "Giant Despair;" it required "Great-heart's" arm to knock that monster down. Little faith will go to heaven most certainly, but it often has to hide itself in a nut-shell, and it frequently loses all but its jewels. Little-faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;" but Great-faith remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall thy strength be:" and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:" and she fords the stream at once. Would you be comfortable and happy? Would you enjoy religion? Would you have the religion of cheerfulness and not that of gloom? Then "have faith in God." If you love darkness, and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing, covet earnestly this best gift, "great faith."

Philosophical Thought Permeates All Art

I told my Pastor a week ago that I did not have a good theology of aesthetics. He recommended a few passages of Scripture, and a few books to read. He had in his library a book from Francis Schaeffer called HOW SHOULD WE THEN LIVE? This was not one of the resources he recommended to me at first, but it was what he had in his library.

I have been skimming it for the past two mornings. I just finished reading a chapter called "Modern Art, Literature, Music and Films." It was most helpful to begin my study of aesthetics. I wanted to share briefly what I learned so that you to may glean some wisdom.

All of these cultural forms of expression; art, literature, music, and film, come from the philosophers of the day. There was a time when the philosophers were Christian theologians. The philosophers were writing profound things that were consistent with a Christian worldview (a world of design, order, unity, reason and beauty). The Artists would read the Philosophers. They would then paint and sculpt art that was consistent with this worldview. Next, the Writers would come along and reflect upon the art forms of the Artists. These writers would write poetry, novels, music, drama, and cinema. Thus the cultural forms of expression of the 1600 and 1700's were consistent with a Christian world and life view.

It does not take a genius to see that the art expressions of our day are no longer consistent with a Biblical world and life view. Painting are fragmented and disorderly. Movies are void of a moral standard of right and wrong. Music is not harmonic or orderly. Novels do not represent reality. Drama does not represent a true characteristic of humanity. Poetry and song lyrics are random, immoral and fantasy. And all of these art expressions (aesthetics) are a product of the philosophical writings of our day, or the philosophical ideas of the past that are still adhered to today.

I was reflecting on the chapter I read this morning in Schaeffer's book. My iPhone is docked next to my computer and performing a sync. It finished syncing and my computer hibernated, then my screen saver popped up. It is a light that is brightest in the center, and has light legs that flow out of the center like a slow moving octopus. I was struck as I was gazing at my screen, that this was not consistent with reality. There is nothing I can find in nature that looks like this exactly. It is a combination of light moving underwater like a octopus, but is it neither of these. It is nothing real. It was designed out of a philosophy of randomness and chance that is not consistent with the world around me that God has designed. I would imagine that I will see many things around me today that I have been blind to for 38 years.

Purposes Like Deep Water

Proverbs 20:5~The purpose in a man's heart is like deep waters, but a man of understanding will draw it out.


I find something very interesting about this verse. It is one that should be explored and explained in every Christian Counseling Course. It gives us a glimpse into the depths of the purposes in man. It also gives us a sight of what a man with understanding is able to do with  his wisdom.

Men in particular are very secretive and protective of their own purposes. It is hard to get a man to speak of the things that are at the depths of their souls. These purposes, which are at the core of what makes each man tic, are in deep waters. They are not easily identifiable by simply looking over the stone ledge of the well and peering down. The visible things you see while peering over are the things that each man wants you to see. They are the things placed on top of the water to give an impression to the peering person as to what that man is like. They distract the looker from seeing what lies deep below the surface of the water.

Look now at what a man, with the wisdom and understanding of God is able to do. A man of understanding will draw it out. A man of understanding will be able to see past the floating object on the surface, to the colors and shades of the water below. They, with their subtle and loving questions, will draw to the surface the purposes which lay on the bottom of the well.

Truth Without Application Brings Deception

James 1:22-25~But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 


We first have a command..
Be doers of the word, not hearers only


We have a consequence for not obeying the command..
I will deceive myself


We have an example..
A man who wakes up in the morning and takes a peek at himself in the mirror. He spends no time studying his reflection. No time reflecting on things he sees. No time thinking about what he saw when he leaves. He no sooner walks away, and has already forgotten if his hair was done or not. Forgotten if his teeth were clean or not. He needs to go back again to take another look. But after he looks, he will soon return again looking the same way he left.

We have an application of the command, and the example..
If you are like that man with the word of God, and you hear the word preached, and do not spend any time reflecting, or thinking about it at all; do not apply what you heard preached, you will be deceived. If you are not like that man, but you do think about the word you heard preached, you do act on the truth you heard, you apply and do what was required of you from God; you will not only not be deceived, but you will be blessed in what you do.

May you not be deceived today as you sit under the preaching of the Word of God!

Desire Without Knowledge

Proverbs 19:2a~Desire without knowledge is not good,


James 1:14-15~But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 

I may have mentioned this before, but I believe that we are desire driven. All that we do, we do because we desire to do it. If I have conflicting desires at war inside me; one of the desires will take the other one captive, and the action that we do, we do because the strongest desire won. We may have a desire to do some sin. But we also have a desire to obey the voice of the Lord that tells us to not sin. We will war and fight inside our own mind, until there is a champion. The champion will move the the person to action, whether to sin or righteousness.

A desire without the harness of knowledge, and the driver of wisdom, is dangerous. It is like a wild stallion that has been hitched to a wagon filled with children; destruction is sure to happen. Our desires are God given. They are not evil, or neutral. They are either good or bad. Desire without knowledge is not good. Desire with knowledge is good. So what instructs us to know whether a desire is good or bad? It is the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the morality of God, written in 66 different books, under one cover. They inform us what God is like, and what we are like. They are to harness our desires with the leather straps of knowledge, and lead them with the driver of wisdom.

Being In Love With Our Own Voice

Proverbs 18:2~A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.


Proverbs 18:13~If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.


Have you ever been around someone who loves to hear the sound of their own voice? They may ask questions, but only so that they can give you their opinion about the subject. They don't really listen, they just wait for the first break in the conversation to spill out everything they want to say.

A person like this is a fool according to Proverbs. They don't really care to understand anything. They have their opinions already, and really love to tell people what they are. If you are like this, it is shameful. I have been around many people who are just like this. They loft up all kinds of information. They gather great crowds of people. They have great pleasure in simply listening to their own voice echoing in the air.

If you are like this, and are reading this; a characteristic that would be true of you is that you would not listen to the wisdom of Proverbs. You will shut your ears, and not take any pleasure in these verses. You may even be speaking to your computer screen, telling it your opinion, and wishing that I could hear what you were saying. Well you may write a comment if you wish, I will hear what you have to say. The gospel is slowly giving me victory from being a shameful fool who doesn't listen.

Repeating a Matter

Proverbs 17:9~Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. 


Our ears love to hear juicy gossip about others. Our mouths love to spread juicy gossip about others as well. But if love covers offenses, then hate lifts the covers and lets others see what is under the sheets. Love brings people together by keeping offenses under the covers, and hate pulls off the blanket, separating close friends.

I would hope that Christians would be delivered from the sin of gossip, but are we? Do you couch the spread of gossip by prayer? You would never think about sharing juicy information about Julie's affair she is having, but would you put it on your prayer chain? Would you get in the corner of the Church and tell your friends the intricate details of Julie's affair, and then say that you are just telling them because you want them to "pray for dear Julie?" Does Matthew 18 teach that the first step in restoring a brother is to pray for them? Or are you to reach out to the dear brother or sister who is in sin? "go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone." (Matt 18:15b)