The Old Testament was Rough. Is the NT better?

I’ve been reading the Bible in chronological order for the past 10 months or so. Still making my way through the Old Testament (OT). Reading in chronological order of occurrences is great because you get a better idea of which prophets were contemporaries of which kings and you can better understand where books like Esther and Ruth (my favorite OT books) fit into the history of Israel.

Let me just say that I am super happy to be a New Testament (NT) believer.

Don’t get me wrong, it might have been interesting to be an Israelite during their times of obedience and prosperity - especially during Solomon’s reign when there was no war (although the taxes were apparently outrageous). But, even then, a daughter could be sold to pay off family debt and married off for political or financial gain, which doesn’t sound cool at all. And everything was always made from scratch. Literally, you grow the grain to grind into flour to make bread and your next sweater started out on the body of a sheep eating grass in your field. Give me my Door Dash, Walmart and Target pickup, and Amazon delivery.

We read the OT to learn the history of mankind, especially of God’s chosen people. We learn about why, even with God as national leader and His perfect laws as the laws of the land, obedience does not come easy to human beings. They went through famines, wars and plagues. Justice was often swift and deadly - eye for eye, stoning for adultery, and so forth. The system of animal sacrifices had to be physically taxing, sweaty, stinky and dirty work for the priests of the day.

Philippians 2:13 [NKJV] “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure”.

But we also learn about the commitment to responsibility and care for neighbor that was inherent in the statutes and judgments outlined by God to the nation of Israel, including putting a wall or fence around your flat roof so no one would fall off and being commanded to help your enemy’s donkey out of a ditch.

Everything about the OT leads us to understand the need for a Savior to rid of us sin, a Perfect Lamb one-time sacrifice for all sins forever, and the Holy Spirit to help our obedience to have staying power through real change in character.

So, while the NT typically requires less “blood, sweat and tears” associated with sacrificing a perfectly good lamb from your flock, it requires more of us than even the most loving OT regulations.

This is the point of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:21-48, where He begins with “you have heard it said (or said of old)” and then goes on to ramp up the standards for our interactions with one another.

So, perhaps the Israelites would look us and the NT Christian standards as being “rough” compared to theirs. They were told to love their enemies and do good to them (See Exodus 23:4 for example). However, it was limit to action, not a change in heart. In Matthew 5, Jesus calls us to be a changed person - to change our outlook and our hearts, letting the change be reflected in action.

The point of both the OT and the NT instructions can, I believe, be summed up in Matthew 5:44-45 [NKJV] 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Or, as I might say in a more modern vernacular “You are a child of God. Act like it!” Acting like a child of/the people God is the number one thing that the Father wanted of Israel and that He wants from us today.

Unless you are a very different person than I am, you will have certain behaviors and thoughts, habits and sins, that require spiritually bloody, sweaty, and tear-filled efforts, reminiscent of the work of the sacrifices of the OT.

The work of getting rid of sin is rough. But it is what we are called to do. We have the history of the OT to guide us, the words and examples of Jesus to help us better understand the requirements, Jesus’ sacrifice to wipe the slate clean and start again each day, and the help of the Holy Spirit to give us the “will and the way” to real change. Philippians 2:13 [NKJV] “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure”.

I have had my rough patches getting rid of sin, and I understand that the struggle is real. But I am very appreciative of being born in and called in this age and not the OT times, for a variety of reasons. I look forward to comparing notes with the OT and early NT people of God in the future Kingdom.

How about you? What do you think, sweet sisters? Would you rather have been a part of the OT people of God?

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

Forgive THAT enemy??!!

Luke 6:27 [NIV] “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”

Of all the hallmarks of Christianity, loving our enemies might be one of the most unique…and taxing of Jesus’ expansion of the requirements for being an obedient child of God. However, I think most, if not all of us “seasoned” Christians could manage that from afar. But that I mean that it seems to me that it is a whole lot easier to forgive an enemy that you don’t have to deal with – speak to, be around – after the forgiving is done.

But how would it feel to have your enemy repent and start attending church with you? Worse, what if he was ordained and now had the authority to preach Christian love to you? That’s exactly what happened to the early New Testament church.

1 John 3:2 [NKJV] Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

In the book of Acts, we read about the martyr, Stephen, who forgave those we were stoning him, just before he died. That is an amazing testimony of forgiveness and love.

Acts 7:57-60 [NIV] 57 this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (Stephen) 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Let me emphasize this point: those stoning Stephen laid their garments at the feet of Saul, who then continued on his rampage against Christians. And then we read in Acts 9 that Saul repented. This persecutor of the sheep was about to ask to be accepted into the fold. How would you fare if God sent you as the first emissary to welcome Saul into the ecclesia?  

Acts 9:11-14 [NIV] The Lord told him (that is Ananias), “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

God sent Ananias to Saul to be the first person to treat Saul as a brother and welcome him into the family of God. Ananias, understandably, felt the need to remind the Lord of just who this Saul was and what he was doing for a living. But then Ananias went and did as God commanded.

Acts 9:26 [NIV] 26 When he (Ananias) came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Don’t judge our Christian brothers and sisters from this era too harshly, Saul had given them plenty of good reasons to be wary. And it isn’t like there had be decades since Saul, now Paul, had been involved in persecution. He was on his way to do more damage when the Lord stopped Paul in his tracks.

Paul needed a gutsy intercessor. Someone whose love could overcome not only his own fear and doubt, but also that of the church. Enter Barnabas.

Acts 9:27-30 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

With the intervention of one bold man, Barnabas, the church did accept the new Paul as a true preacher of the Gospel. But you have to know that for a long time, wherever he went, Paul was rubbing elbows with and preaching to the acquaintances, and even friends or family of many whom he had persecuted.

He had been the enemy of these people. Now, he spoke to them from the scriptures with authority. Even those who had suffered at his hand, or who had a family member who did, had to forgive Paul and, not just do good to him, but treat him as a brother in Christ, AND accept instruction on how to be a better follower of Christ from this man who might have persecuted their own friends and family! I cannot imagine that was easy.

But before we say this seems like a bit much, we should consider the ultimate example of and loving your enemy, doing good to them and accepting them as brothers or sisters in the family of God. That example is, of course, Jesus, our Messiah. Not only did He die for you and me, He died by our own hands (through the Roman soldiers working on our behalf), because every sin I ever committed and every sin you ever committed required this death – caused it. Therefore, when He forgave those doing the work of crucifixion at the time of His death, He was forgiving us too.

Let’s keep in mind that He died for us long before we were born, let alone repented of our sins. So, we do not have the right to expect repentance or changed behavior before we forgive others. That was not Jesus’ example.

Of course, there are circumstances in this life where it would still be best not to be around that person who placed themselves as your enemy, even after they have repented, but that doesn’t negate what has to be in our hearts for that person.

Even if you and I never face this type of thing – never have to accept, respect, welcome into congregation someone who has sought to kill us in this life – we know that if God’s will is done (His will that all none perish and all come to repentance – 2 Peter 3:9), in the Kingdom we will serve with someone who had done us some harm.

So, who is the worst person you can imagine having to forgive and WELCOME into the family of God? Joseph Stalin? Adolph Hitler or Heinrich Himmler? Pol Pot? The priests who preyed on innocent young boys and remain unpunished? Those who flew into the twin towers on 9/11? A family member who molested you? A mate who cheated?

Perhaps it will not be so much of a struggle for us when we been welcomed into the Kingdom. Why do I think that? Because of what is says in 1 Johne 3:2.

1 John 3:2 [NKJV] Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

We shall be like Him. Jesus died for me long before I repented and began the struggle to act more like Him. He advocates for me every day, even though I caused His death – even though today’s sins still require His blood. The Father forgives me today and accepts me back into His presence. He considers me family, for all my faults and repeated sins. And we will be like Him when we become spirit beings.

So, for now, we have to practice loving our enemies. We must be like Barnabas, welcoming them into our congregations and we must practice the love of God toward them, even if the hurt is very recent – as the early New Testament church had to do with Paul. As Jesus and the Father do with us.

I pray to have more of His forgiving and welcoming heart toward all repentant sinners. I hope you will pray that too.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me right now in the chat room or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.

Becoming more childlike

When we think of becoming childlike, we often think of Matthew 18:1-4 [ESV] Where Jesus calls a child to Him and says, (verse 4) Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

We think of being childlike, we think of being as humble as a child and that is certainly important. There is so much that we can learn from children. Childlike humility is not the only thing.

In Luke 18:16-17 [NIV] we find another childlike trait we can emulate. In verse 17, Jesus says, Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

We are to receive the kingdom like a little child. How do little children receive things? Well, until they learn that some things are more valuable than others and that they should want the more valuable things, children receive all gifts with equal appreciation. Whether it is a $500 remote control jeep they can ride around the neighborhood in or a $2.00 bottle of bubble solution and a cheap wand.

By contrast, adults tend to want the best gifts, even when it comes to the spiritual ones. God does not rank gifts. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 12 He says they are all essential to the health of the spiritual body. But humans rank the gifts. The gift of prophesy is certainly given more weight in many church cultures than simple, steadfast faith.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

However, after chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians wraps up with 31, which says, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”, chapter 13 specifically says that knowing prophesy doesn’t matter if love is not the motivator of it. Love is the more excellent way than any gift we might covet.

One more way to be like a child is to be joyful. Unless they are in dire circumstances, children are typically able to find joy in all activities. They eat with relish and joy. They find joy in coloring, swinging, running around, playing on the playground, jumping in puddles and in music – just to name a few. They don’t need fancy things to find joy.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit [Galatians 5]. We were meant to have childlike joy. The word “joy” appears 165 times in the Bible.

So, we must be humble like a child, and we must receive all gifts with equal appreciation, just like children do and we should be joyful like children.

Recently, for our Friday night online program, Start Our Sabbath, I gave a presentation about being childlike and asked the viewers to offer additional qualities of children that we should immolate – additional ways we should be childlike.

Here are some things they came up with:

·       Children are curious. They ask questions and really want to know the answers.

·       Children are forgiving. They don’t hold grudges.

·       Innocence is a childlike trait.

The Bible counsels us to be every-learning (curious) [2 Timothy 2:5; 2 Peter 3:18], to forgive others readily and repeatedly [Luke 6:37; 17:4] and to be without guile (innocence) [1 Peter 2:1; Revelation 14:5].

Sweet sisters, we would do well to learn from and imitate these characteristics of children. Let’s strive to be more childlike.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can comment here or write me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

Day 90 - 90 Days In Proverbs - Neighbor

Proverbs 14:21 [NKJV] He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy [is] he.

The Hebrew word translated as “despises” means “to despise, hold in contempt, hold as insignificant.” It is that last phrase that gets my attention because it seems to me to add another layer to what it means to despise. Surely, most of those of us who call ourselves Christians would not allow contempt or despising to take root in our hearts. But just considering someone to be insignificant? – well, that’s something else entirely.

In the English language, insignificant means “too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.”

Before I go into that further, let’s review Luke 10:29-37 and nail down the whole “who is my neighbor” thing. After the lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor,” Jesus responded with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This segment concludes with the following: Luke 10:36-37[ NKJV] 36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

In short, Christians should consider anyone in need to be a neighbor. We should not ignore their needs, as several did in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, perhaps considering that person to be unworthy of our attention, concern or help.

How easy is it to assume someone begging on the street got there by their own bad decisions and are unworthy of our concern (or at least our money). How easy it is to harden our hearts because we have seen TV shows that expose some panhandlers as actually shysters. Even if we don’t want to fuel a drug habit or risk helping those really not in need, a small gift and a prayer with the beggar cannot go far awry. A bag of food or some warm socks or a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning would surely be appreciated. Alternately, rather than handing over items to the homeless, we can help the shelters and non-profits that take care of them.

Whatever we choose to do, it is clear that doing nothing is not an option for a Christian. No neighbor is insignificant or unworthy of our help. And, according to Jesus, anyone in need is my neighbor.

In Acts 10 and 11, we find the story of Peter and the sheet full of unclean animals. Peter explains the point that God got across to him with this dream in Acts 10:28 [NKJV] Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Sisters, for too long, human beings who are all – every.single.one – made in the image of God have been treated as common or unclean. Whether we are talking slavery or Apartheid or a cast system or oppression of ethnic or religious groups, unfair economic practices, prejudices, Jim Crow Laws of the South, etc. Some of these programs are no longer in play, but don’t for a second think that the human tendency to treat some groups as less than others is a thing of the past.

I have seen it, recently, within the Ecclesia. These practices and even these thoughts are an abomination to God.

No human is “common” to God. All are precious. Each one has the same potential to become a child of God. You too, sweet sisters. You are children of God. We must act like it.

So, my final words to you are these: You have the power of God behind you. You can do so much more than you think you can. Be prayer warriors for others. Go out and make the world a better place. Lift your sisters up and never, ever tear them down, though the world would try to pit you against each other. Love your neighbors as yourself. Champion the less fortunate. Take care of your neighbors – whether close or far, whether old or young, whatever race, color or religion they might be.

May God bless you all.

Prayer – Lord God, provider of all my needs, I pray that you will help me to see those in need as my neighbor, as worthy of my help, time and care. Help me to have a compassionate heart toward all my neighbors and show me where and how to best help and serve them. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 89 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Which way?

Proverbs 14:12 [ESV] There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

These days, we often say “trust your gut”. We say, “if something doesn’t seem right about a person or situation, don’t get involved”. That is good advice. But, when it comes to right and wrong, good and evil, we cannot trust our natural instincts to guide us. Human nature will often steer us wrong. Why? Because human nature, on its own, is selfish instead of selfless. Human nature, on its own, can be too easily led by the voices of Satan and this world he created. Human nature, on its own, can be too focused on “me first” or “if it feels good, do it” or any one of the other slogans of Satan’s war against humanity.

Isaiah 55:6-9 [ESV] has a warning for us about the pitfalls of trusting human reasoning: 6 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The great thing about this warning is that it points out how much more compassionate God’s ways are than ours. When we forsake our own human-nature-led thoughts and actions, the way becomes open for pardon and compassion from God.

The entire Bible is an outline of the contrast between God’s ways and man’s way. Studying the Word helps us to see the difference between them.

However, there is also an overview found in Matthew 5 via the Beatitudes and especially the section from verse 33 on, where Jesus begins with “you have heard” and then flips to “but I tell you” and proceeds to contrast man’s thoughts on various subjects with Jesus’ instructions.

We know that studying and following these things get us to a new, godly mindset and actions because Jesus concludes with this:

Matthew 5:48 [NIV] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The guidance of Matthew 5, especially the “Beatitudes” that begin the chapter, can be a great help in moving me from trusting my own understanding toward having the understanding of God. The Beatitudes also promise us that we will be blessed by this new behavior.

If we listen to the guidance from this world that tells us that loving ourselves is the greatest love of all, we can be misled into actions that are not godly. This was the temptation that Satan used with Eve in the Garden of Eden, when he told her that she would be better off if she took the fruit and that God was trying to keep her from something she deserved.

Sisters, this way of self seems right at times. The words of Satan about putting self above others seem logical. But the way of God is one of love for others that is equal with love of self and of loving God beyond all else. Let’s not trust our human ways, because we know those are the ways that lead to death.

Let’s always trust completely and lean wholly on the mind, heart, words and Holy Spirit of God to lead us in the right way – the way to life.

PRAYER – Dear Father God, I know that human nature and reasoning will lead me astray. But I seek to put them aside and to be guided by your thoughts and words. Fill me with your Holy Spirit to guide me so that I think Your thoughts, so that I say Your words – words that are aligned with Your truth - and so that I do the works that are led by Your love and compassion throughout this day. In Jesus name I ask this. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 88 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Sometimes It Is Messy

roverbs 14:4 [ESV] Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

There is a saying in the USA that goes something like this, “If you want to make an omelet, you’ve got to crack a few eggs.” To me, the message of this proverb is similar: you can have a clean manger or you can use an ox and put up with some ox mess in your manger to get abundant crops.

The life and struggle of the Christian is often messy work. It makes perfect sense that this would be true since the work of removing sin from our lives required blood – the precious blood and sacrifice of Jesus. So, sometimes removing sin from our lives or staying obedient in tough times requires our own “blood, sweat and tears.”

Hebrews 12:3-4 [ESV] 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

The use of the word “yet” indicates to me that Paul expected the Christians he was writing might, in the future, face such a struggle that did require blood. 

God calls us to produce much fruit for the Kingdom, as Jesus explained in the parable of the sower. Mark 4:20 [ESV] But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Sisters, we are not called to have a clean manger. We are called to hitch our carts to Jesus and plow like oxen through the sin-filled soil of our own hearts so that the seed of the Word can be planted and prosper there. Removing sin can be messy work. However, the burden of eliminating sin is not as heavy as the burden of carrying it.  Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28-30 [NKJV] 28 "Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light."  Jesus has already done the hard work of paying for our sins and He now works with us to remove them.

Once the Gospel is firmly planted in our own lives, we are to plant that seed of the Gospel in the world. In His own time, Jesus said that the fields where “white already to harvest.” [John 4:35]. How much more are they ready now – almost 200 years later?

For both the inner work of removing sin and the outer work of preaching the Gospel, we must understand that the work can be messy – dirty - difficult. We must choose the messy work rather than the clean stall. If we want a bumper crop, we need to be willing to get our hands dirty with the work God calls us to do.

Prayer – Lord, God, You have called me to participate in your harvest. I know it may be messy work. Sin does not leave easily. Though it may be difficult work at times, choose to participate with You in planting and harvesting obedience in my own heart and in the world around me. Plant your Word in me, Oh Lord. Help me to plant Your Word in the world around me. In Jesus name I ask to join and extend His work on the earth each day. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 87 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Protection

Proverbs 14:3 [NIV] A fool's mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Have you ever wished for just the right words to encourage a friend, to keep an adult child from making a bad decision, to get yourself out of trouble when you were young or to win an argument? Yeah, me too.

Jesus talks about giving His Disciples the precise words to speak when being brought before the authorities for preaching the Gospel. Luke 12:11-12 [NKJV] 11 "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

But, other than that, we need to rely on the wisdom He makes available to us via His Word and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide us with the right words to say.

I believe the primary way that the words of the wise protect them is by teaching us what to refrain from saying or when we should just keep our mouths shut. Obviously, we should refrain from “lashing out with pride” as fools do, according to today’s Proverb.

However, the Bible provides us with many other things to refrain from saying. Paul presents at least a partial list in 2 Corinthians 12:20 [NLT] 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.

Quarrelling, slander and gossip are ways that a fools might uses her lips. But any one of us can be tempted to participate in quarrelling, slander or gossip if we are not vigilant.

Further, things like jealously and anger can lead us to use our lips for less than God-glorifying purposes.

Sometimes, I need protection from my words, even as I strive to be protected by them as Proverbs 14:3 suggests. Words can wound and, if we are not careful, dear sisters, we will be the victims of the wounds of our own words. If we are not careful, we will say things that wound others and may destroy a relationship.

We also have to think about the words we say about ourselves– the so-called “self-talk” that we let run through our minds. Yes, we need to understand that without God we are wretched – spiritually poor, blind and naked, as scripture tells us. But Jesus has already lifted us out of that state when He died for us. God’s mercy and forgiveness, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit changes all that. We become daughters of the King and heirs to the Kingdom along with Jesus. Our self-talk should be about how much God loves us, the great sacrifice that Jesus made because He loves us and the fact that we grow ever more like them through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, as Philippians 4:13 tells us. That includes learning to stop words of gossip and quarrelling, as well as changing that self-talk in our heads. The work of Holy Spirit is changing our lives for the better and our words should reflect that.

Jesus warned us that our words will not be taken lightly. Matthew 12:36-37 [ESV] 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Gulp. May God help my lips to protect me from saying the things I shouldn’t say!

Prayer –  Loving Father God, Our prayer today is simply the reciting of Psalm 19:14 [ESV] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 86 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Home builder

Proverbs 14:1 [CSB] Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Women are not solely responsible for building up or tearing down a household. But we do bear some of the responsibility, just as our husbands do.

It’s no secret that home that is attacked from the inside is much more at risk than one being attacked from without. So, what’s a woman to do to ensure she is building up her home?

First, we must be sure we are actually focusing on building up the people of our families. It isn’t enough to just refrain from tearing down. We should use words to encourage and support the members of our household. We should show patience with them. We should sew peace.

Each person should know we care about them and that we expect the same high standards of behavior – things like patience and peacemaking – from each member of the household as well. We must model patience and peacemaking or our efforts to hold others to these standards will be in effective.

Proverbs 31 outlines the character qualities of a woman who builds up her home. She is hard-working and trustworthy. She uses her resources wisely – whether money or time or employees. She wakes up early to provide for the needs of others and she models the behavior of helping the less fortunate.

However, here is the point from Proverbs 31 that I want to emphasize: Proverbs 31:26 [CSB] Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.

So often it is our words that wound – that tear down instead of building up. I’d never hit my husband, but it takes particular care to ensure that my words never harm him. I’d never knock my children to the floor, but my words could crush them, if I react without thinking in a moment of frustration. It takes thoughtfulness to deliberately build up each member of my household with my words and that should be our goal.

I would never take an ax to the foundations of my home, but there is power in my words to destroy a home from within, at the foundation level. There is also power in my words to build up my home and create a strong, loving and cohesive unit.

James 3 has plenty to say about the power of the tongue and its ability to cause destruction. It’s a worthy read if you are looking to control this little but potentially destructive member of the body.  

Proverbs 18:21 [CSB] tells us Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Sisters, you, like me, may need help guarding your tongue. In our younger years, my family was known for it biting and allegedly witty and funny remarks. Now we know that cutting remarks are never a good choice, no matter how funny we think they are. With age and time in the church, comes a better understanding of the power and purpose of the toungue. And, thankfully, the Holy Spirit is there to provide us with help to control our tongues – both to avoid its wrong us and to employ it for good.

It is also important to thoughtfully and deliberately spend time building up the members of my home – not just refraining from tearing them down. Proverbs 25:11 [NKJV] says A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in settings of silver. This give us an idea of just how valuable and important it is to speak good words.

So, let’s thoughtfully and deliberately use our words to build up our homes. Find opportunities to praise and thank your husband and children, or whomever might live in your home with you.

The right words build up. We are to be home builders.

Prayer – Father God, I know that life and death are in the power and control of my words. Let me always speak love and hope and encouragement. Let my words be peacemakers in my own home. Help me to always build up my family. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 85 - 90 Days in Proverbs - Full

Proverbs 13:25 [NKJV] The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

There is poverty everywhere around us, even in the United States and other first world countries. News programs and other media sources make us aware of the dire situations in other nations. We receive calls to help nationally, internationally and locally, via social media, radio and TV. Sometimes, we even see people living on the streets or in their cars. There are food pantries, homeless shelters and government supported housing developments in every town I’ve ever been in.

Yet we cannot assume that those who are satisfied are righteous and those who are hungry are wicked. Good people, faithful believers do suffer poverty and loss. So, how do we reconcile Solomon’s words with reality? Whether Solomon intended to speak about physical or spiritual hunger, we cannot be sure. However, we do know that God, our Father and Provider, is always more focused on the spiritual lesson.

I am reminded of Matthew 5:6 [ NKJV] Blessed [are] those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. We must be hungry for God. We must be thirsty for the cool water of the Holy Spirit.

In Psalm 42:1-2 [ESV] we get some insight in to David, the “man after God’s own heart” …“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…”  David longed for more of God.

John 7:38 tells us that those who hunger and thirst for God will not only be filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit themselves, but will “water” others with the same: Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. [ESV]

How wonderful it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit! How very satisfying it is to help others in this spiritually dry and thirsty land to receive the blessing of rivers of truly living water.

This is what Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman at the well. John 4:10 [ESV] Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

If we hunger and thirst for God, He will fill us with spiritual food and living water so that we never go hungry again. God does provide for our physical needs – food, shelter, clothing. He is concerned with those.

However, whether you are in one of life’s ups or one of its downs, God will always feed the hungry soul and water the thirsty spirit of those who long for Him. I pray that He will fill you up to overflowing today, so that you might help to water this sin parched land.

Prayer – Father God, provider of all good things, I long for You – for the pure and living water of the Holy Spirit, for the satisfying meat of your word. Please fill me so that Your living waters may also flow from me into the world around and bless others. Satisfy me always with the spiritual food and drink that my soul craves. In Jesus name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 84 – 90 Days in Proverbs - The Hard Way

Proverbs 13:15 [NKJV] Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful [is] hard.

The word translated hard here does not specifically mean difficult, although it is often translated hard or strong. It is from a root word meaning “constant or to continue” and was often used in relations to flowing rivers. So, I think of this proverb as saying that the way of the unfaithful just does not stop.

The NIV puts it this way: Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. So, perhaps the point that Solomon is trying to make might be that the way of the unfaithful just does not stop until they have destroyed themselves. This world, this age we live in, will never lack unfaithful people.

Even though Solomon’s point seems to be that the unfaithful won’t stop until they have destroyed themselves, if you are suffering due to some unfaithful person, it might feel like they won’t stop their wicked ways until it destroys you.

The counterpart to the unfaithful is that word translated as “favor” is the same word often translated as “grace”, as we find it in Genesis 6:8 [KJV] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

This word is used six times in the book of Esther, describing how Esther’s good behavior or God’s intervention brought her or her people grace or favor.

If the ways of this unfaithful world or some unfaithful individual are beating you down, remember that God’s grace and favor are there for you. You are not alone. You are not forgotten. Their unfaithful ways cannot destroy you if you remain in God’s grace.

Left unchanged, the ways of the unfaithful, no matter his/her intention, will eventually destroy the unfaithful person.

So, we should pray for the unfaithful person and this unfaithful world, though it seems that their ways are like a never-ending river. We have God’s grace to protect us from destruction. They do not. Our prayers can help change that. Pray that the unfaithful repent and begin to live in a way that brings favor from God. His love and grace, His faithfulness, is a never-ending river and the only thing that will dry up a river of unfaithfulness.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for Your grace, Your favor towards me. I ask for your mercy, blessing and healing on the unfaithful who seek to destroy me or bring destruction upon the earth. Ultimately, they can only bring destruction upon themselves. I ask for your saving grace to help me through the trials this unfaithful world brings upon me. And help me to stay strong and constant in faithfulness to You and Your word so that I am never among them. Grant me, and my enemies, the favor of Your love and mercy, until You send Jesus back to this earth to end they ways of the ways of the unfaithful. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 83 – 90 Days in Proverbs - No Insta-Pot God

Proverbs 13:12 [ESV] Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Recently, I made lentils in my new Insta-Pot. When you have a craving for lentil soup, it is great to be able have it ready in minutes instead of hours. We talk about this “instant society” we live in and how young people want everything “now.” I was that way when I was young too – impatient to get out of high school, finish college, launch my adult life, etc. But, frankly, as a woman in her 60’s, I have less time to wait for things now than I did decades ago. Sometimes, even the microwave seems to take forever.

God is not bound by time as we are. 2 Peter 3:8 [NKJV] tells us: with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

In fact, He is notorious for making people wait. Abraham waited 25 years from God’s first promise of a son until Isaac was born. [You can check that out in Genesis 12:1-4 and 21:5]

Daniel, after receiving dramatic prophesies, was told: Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [Daniel 12:9 [KJV] You may feel the time of the end is near right now or still far off, but we surely agree that for Daniel, at the time he was given the prophecies, it was a very far way off until they would be fulfilled. We are still waiting and Daniel has been dead for more than 2,000 years.

Having prophesied the coming of the Messiah in Genesis 3:15, the Father made His people (and the world) wait for just the right time for the Messiah to come. Galatians 4:4 [NKJV] tells us, But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. God waited until the time was right.

The New Testament church has been waiting for the promised return of Jesus for almost 2,000 years now. I remember being told about the return of Jesus when I was 10. So, I have been waiting 50 years myself. The believers who went before us and died in the faith might be surprised in the resurrection about just how long they have been waiting in their graves. After all, some of the disciples thought Jesus might return with the Kingdom right away – in their own lifetimes.

God is no Instant-Pot Father. He waits for the right time. But His promises, though delayed, are still sure. Luke 1:37 [NIV] says, For no word from God will ever fail.

So, the Father asks us to wait too, not just for the return of Jesus, but also for answers to many of our prayers. Psalm 27:14 [KJV] Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. We wait for healing, or for a child to be called, or for the right mate, or a job. However, just like God waited for the right time to send Jesus, He waits for the right time to answer our prayers.

We will see answered prayers in this life, sweet sisters. We will see blessings during our mortal lives. Sometimes, though, those answers, those healings, those blessings, won’t come until Jesus returns.

It seems to me that this life is primarily a waiting room for the future Kingdom of God, for our rewards for obedience, for the time of peace that we crave, for the calling of all of our loved ones, for healing, for all that we hope and pray for to come into being.

Although you may, at times, feel sick with longing for your prayers to be answered, wait on the Lord, sweet sisters. At the right time, all of your desires will become a tree of life and all this waiting will be over.

Prayer – Lord God, it is hard to wait for healing, for relief, for your promises, for a loved one to answer your call, for Jesus to return… But I wait on you with hope and confidence that your promises are sure, that your mercy endures and that your love me requires the wait.  Help me, Lord, to continue to wait patiently until all your promises are fulfilled with the understanding that You and Jesus wait on me – on my growth and development – and that You are waiting patiently for the time for the Kingdom too. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 82 – 90 Days in Proverbs - With Pride

Proverbs 13:10 [KJV] Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.

Can it really be true that all strife and contention comes from pride? That is sobering, sisters, because pride seems to be a major component of human nature apart from God. But, any pride in us is a big deal to God.

God takes the evil of pride very seriously. And He takes it upon Himself to take down the prideful. Here are just two examples of Old Testament prophets outlining God’s warning to the prideful.

Jeremiah 50:32 [ESV] The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all that is around him.

Obadiah 1:3-4 [ESV] 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?" 4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.

These scriptures show how serious an issue that pride is to God.

Proverbs 16:18 [KJV] tells us Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Clearly, we cannot allow pride to prosper in our hearts or to have a role in how we live our lives. Thankfully, for believers who have committed ourselves to obedience, removing pride from our hearts is the work of the Holy Spirit. Meekness is one of its fruit. [See Galatians 5:22-23] Meekness is the opposite of pride. The two cannot dwell together in us.

If there was anyone who walked the earth who had great reason for pride it was Jesus. Yet, He came with humility and meekness to show us the way to walk humbly on the earth. [See Matthew 11:29 and 21:5]

Micah bottom lines, simplifies our calling for us.  Micah 6:8 [KJV]  He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Humility, the polar opposite of pride, is what God requires. We must walk humbly with God, acknowledging His greatness and our dependence on Him. When we really focus on the power and love of God; when we under that all blessings come from Him, it should be difficult to be prideful about anything we accomplish in this life.

Daniel 4, beginning in verse 28 tells the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. Even though he was warned that the Kingdom would be taken from him, he gave into pride about the state of his kingdom and had to live like an animal for seven years. God is serious about pride.

Lest you think that pride can only trip up the unconverted, listen to the message of Revelation 3:17-19 to the church at Laodicea: 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18 "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. [NKJV]

Pride can trip any one of us up, if we are not vigilant. The Bible tells us that with pride, there is trouble, contention and destruction.

Dear sisters, let’s not allow pride to cause contention in our lives, whether at home at work or at church. Let’s turn away from pride that will ultimately destroy us. Instead, let’s follow Jesus’ example and Micah’s admonition to walk humbly on this earth, understanding that anything we accomplish is a gift from God.

Prayer – Dear Father God, Please remove pride from my heart. Help me to see that all I have comes from you. I am humbled by your love and your gifts to me. Please sew the fruit of meekness in me by your Holy Spirit and help me to walk humbly with you each day, following the example of your Son and my Savior, Jesus. It is in His name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 81 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Light

Proverbs 13:9 [ESV] The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

The word used for light in this proverb is the same word used in Genesis 1:3 [KJV] where it says, And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

In that beginning, God called for light in this world.

The word used here for “rejoices” means to brighten up or cheer up. If you are at all like me, seeing a sunrise or sunset, seeing a blue sky with puffy white clouds, seeing sunlight dance across the water of a lake or the ocean, or watching sunlight glitter through the leaves of the trees brings joy to your heart. Sunlight can cheer us up and brighten our days. Sunlight can even reduce depression.

But the light of the sun is not the only light meant to bring joy and cheer to this earth.

God sent Jesus to light the world, as we read in John 8:12 [ESV] - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We praise God for the light that Jesus brings to this sin darkened world. However, there is more. Jesus is not the only one tasked with lighting the world.

Matthew 5:14 [ESV] tells us, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

We believers also have a responsibility to brighten the lives of others – to cheer up the downtrodden of this world. We can do that in the same way that Jesus did. How did Jesus bring light? First of all He used words of hope. He spoke about God’s great love for all mankind and His plan of salvation. He gave people hope for the future. He promised to bring everyone into the family and Kingdom of God. He said He would make room in the Father’s mansion for each of us.

We can shed light into this world too, by using words of hope too. We can tell others about what God has in store for us, about salvation through Jesus and about the hope we have in Him.

Jesus also brought light by His actions. He feed the hungry and prayed for the sick so they might be healed. We can feed the hungry. We can pray for the sick. These are just a few of the ways that we can imitate the light-giving work of Jesus.

Sisters, when God originally said “let there be light”, the sun, the moon and the stars appeared in the heavens. In creating mankind in His image and calling us to be His children who are to be doing His work in the world, He is also saying “let there be light” and we must respond. We are called to shine His light into this dark world. Let there be light. Let that light be you. Shine on, my sisters.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the light that Jesus brought to this world. Please help me to also answer your call to be the light of the world, to cheer up those around me, to cause others to rejoice. Let me shine your light out into the world as Jesus did. In His name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 80 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Emptying the Ocean

Proverbs 13:7 [NKJV] There is one who makes himself rich, yet [has] nothing; [And] one who makes himself poor, yet [has] great riches.

Money and the things it can buy is only one way to be rich. Even though money is the primary factor used to designate someone as rich in this world, the vast majority of the people of the world today do not qualify as rich by that measure. This was also true of most of the people of the world in Solomon’s time.

As Christians, we understand that those of us with money to spare are commanded to help those with less. Giving to the poor is one of the factors that separates the sheep from the goats. [See Matthew 25:31-46]

However, we miss the greater point of this Proverb if we only think of money and goods as a way that someone can be rich.

Perhaps you are rich in friends, in relationships, and have many people you can depend on to be there for you. Maybe you have many people who can count on you in good times and bad. However, if I have lots of acquaintances that I don’t truly appreciate, failing to nurture the relationships and express appreciation, then I am rich in the number of people I know, but have nothing – no real friends. If I choose to give myself in time and attention, prayer and fellowship with the people and the relationships God has put in my path, then I make myself poor in self-focus but rich in the blessing of those relationships.

Perhaps you are rich in talents. What are those talents used for? Someone with a beautiful singing voice may not be using it to bless others. You can sing at home and glorify God, of course. But could that talent be used to bless others at a nursing home, at church or at a children’s hospital? When we use our talents to serve or bless others, we make ourselves poor in a way because we are giving those things away for free. Yet that service of giving away a talent – using it to serve or bless others – provides spiritual richness now and a rich blessing in the Kingdom.

The focus of this Proverbs seems to be that giving away what we have makes us truly rich. You don’t have to take a vow of poverty and divest yourself of all material things. You don’t have to spend all your days giving away your talents. God understands that you need to make money and take care of family responsibilities.

But we become rich in many ways when we use what we have to bless others. We become rich in joy as we see the joy that our talents bring to others. When we use what we have to serve others we become rich in hope because we are storing up treasure for the Kingdom.

In addition, we have this promise from God in Luke 6:38 [NKJV] "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Luke 6:38 is showing us that we have a promise that whatever we give away will return to us abundantly. Therefore, we can only try to make ourselves poor by giving away the blessings that God has provided to us. Ultimately, it will not work – we cannot become poor by giving away our blessings – because God will bless us more abundantly for our efforts.

I this way, giving away the goods and talents with which God has blessed us is a bit like trying to remove the water from the ocean during a rainstorm. You cannot empty the ocean. And you will not be able to out-give our generous Abba. But we are supposed to try.

There are many ways in which you or I could be considered rich. God asks us to respond to any richness by giving it away, so that He can make us truly rich.

Prayer – Lord God, from whom all blessings flow, you have blessed me with riches from your storehouse in heaven. Lead me to find ways to give away the blessings of riches that You have specifically given to me. Help me to give them away so that I can truly be rich.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 79 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Guide

Proverbs 12:26 [ESV] One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

We are all aware of the fact that ultimately God, through His Word and the Holy Spirit, is to be our guide in life, as David points out in several Psalms. Here are just two examples:

Psalm 31:3 [KJV] For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 48:14 [KJV] For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide [even] unto death.

But Proverbs 12:26 reminds us that we are also to provide the service of being a guide to others around us.

How does that work? When we show the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace) it should be a guide to others, showing them how to act in the various circumstances of life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we show joy when it seems like a tough time to show it. We love when the natural reaction is hate. We show inner peace when others would expect us to be troubled. We show patience in our very impatient world. Our actions should say, “This is how a Christian responds.”

Of course, we each are human and we stumble and fail in our efforts to be a consistently good guide for others. But, even in our failures, when we admit sin or fault, seek forgiveness and work to be better the next time, we set a good example of the right path for a Christian to follow.

As the Psalms remind us, if we are ever unsure of the path to take, God is our true guide until our death. When we need guidance, we can search His word and seek Him in prayer, as well as seeking out godly counsel from others. And that is also a good guide for those neighbors who might be watching our examples.

Sweet sisters, I hope you have had good guides in your Christian walk. I hope you seek God, the supreme Guide, when you need help. I hope you will have the great joy of guiding others to Jesus by your words and deeds.

PRAYER – Sometimes, Lord God, I don’t know what path to take. Sometimes I stumble on the path of righteousness I am seeking to follow. So, please lead me in the way you would have me to go. Help me to be sure footed in my walk. And help me, thereby, to be a guide to others around me who may wonder themselves which is the right path for a Christian to follow. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

DAY 78 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Lifting Heavy Hearts

Proverbs 12:25 [KJV] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

While the Hebrew word is translated “heaviness” in the King James Version, it actually means anxious or anxious care. This is often a self-imposed heaviness that we can find relief from by focusing on the Good Word of God’s promises to His children.

The English Standard Version uses the word “anxiety” instead. It says, Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. [Proverbs 12:25 ESV] We each face trials and troubles in our lives – trials and troubles that can cause anxiety. Maybe it is a wakeful night worrying about a medical test. Or maybe it is a season of worry about a grown child who is making bad choices that are negatively affecting his/her life.

Jesus also offered us some guidance on anxiousness and anxious care.

Matthew 6:25, 28, 31, 34 [NKJV] 25 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ... 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ... 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ... 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.”

I believe Jesus is saying that we should not allow these physical concerns like food and clothes to weigh our hearts down, as Solomon also warned in Proverbs 12:25. Jesus isn’t saying that we should not work to provide food and clothing for ourselves and our families. He is saying that the Father is faithful to provide these to us because He cares for us.

Sisters, when we have anxious cares, the Word of God is there to help lift our hearts back to gladness. We can focus on His promises. We can read about the guaranteed victory that is waiting for the faithful. We can focus on the blessings God has provided in the past, recalling the times He has rescued us, provided for us and given us peace even in difficult times. Counting our blessings isn’t just something we sing about. It is also a very effective method of helping to lift a heart that is heavy with anxious cares about things we need.

Sweet sisters, I hope you are not burdened with anxious care today. However, if you are experiencing troubles that are causing you anxiety, please seek wise counsel for help out of your situation, if possible. Please also take it to God in prayer and ask others to pray for you. Please also count your blessings and center yourself in the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. And I pray you will be relieved of the anxiety that is burdening you today.

Prayer:  Father God, sometimes I get anxious about my physical needs or the physical needs of my family and friends. In those times, please help me to remember all you have done for me. In those times, help me to lift my heart with the promises in Your Word. And when my friends or family are experiencing anxious care, please help me to be a comfort to them, lifting their heavy hearts with words of comfort, love and peace. In the name of your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 77 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Lip Service

Proverbs 12:13-14 [ESV] 13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

The book of Proverbs certainly talks a lot about lips – both the proper use and the destructive use of our lips (or mouths).

As a salesperson, I do a lot of talking, introducing myself and the company I work for, explaining what we do, giving presentations about our services, reviewing proposals over the phone and more. I guess you could say that the “fruit of my mouth” is a key factor in providing my income. I am careful to accurately outline the cost of our services and what the software program can and cannot do. If I am not clear, it can cause us to lose an opportunity or create some major problems for existing clients.

How much more important is it for us to speak clearly and accurately about the Gospel message and God’s plan of salvation? How much more important is it that in all our conversations we sew good fruit and do not transgress God’s law or His will?

Of course, God alone does the calling of His children into the flock. However, I must realize that it is possible for my words (in person or on social media) to cause undo concern and work against God’s own efforts in someone’s life – especially if my lips express inaccuracies about the Gospel. It can also be a problem to new believers and potential new believers if my lips spew out sinful things like lies or gossip, or hateful things like name-calling or ugly memes. This is not the example I should be setting.

James warns against the potential conflict between what I say about being a Christian and what my lips put out there into the world. James 3:8-12 [NKJV] 8 But no man can tame the tongue. [It is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh [water] and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Even though James says “no man can tame the tongue” we know that God, through the Holy Spirit in us can tame our mouths and bring them into His service. Without the intervening of the Holy Spirit taming the human tongue is nearly impossible.

As Christians, our words, our lips were meant to be fruitful for God’s purposes. Let’s be like the righteous in Proverbs 12:13 whose words help us escape from any trouble. Let’s be like the righteous in verse 14 whose words sew good things that can come back to us and satisfy not only our lives with good, but also work the works of God.

Prayer – Lord God, you gave me a mouth to sew good things for my benefit and for the benefit of others. Use my lips today to work good works – to encourage, uplift, speak truth, preach the gospel and anything else that will glorify you and make good use of the mouth you gave me. In Jesus name I ask, acknowledging that He set the example me in using words to glorify you. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 76 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Pursuing What Matters

Proverbs 12:11 [ESV] Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. ...

When we read about worthless pursuits, let’s not be tempted to think of young people and their video games or Youtube watching. I should consider my own worthless pursuits. In order to examine what might be considered my own worthless pursuits I should think about binging a season of my favorite show in one night. But I should also go deeper.

The definition of what is a “worthless pursuit” can be much more complex and far-reaching than that.

For example, anything not guided or blessed by God – anything not within His will – can be or can become a worthless pursuit.

James 4:13-16 warns us about setting about on any plans not guided by God [ESV] 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

While you may not need to pursue God’s will in deciding if you should serve broccoli or green beans for dinner, buy a blue car or a black one, etc., I believe that there’s much more of our lives that could and should be subjected to the “God’s will test”. This is true especially if you and I want to ensure that we don’t pursue something that is worthless. Again, we are defining anything that is not within the will of God for us as being a “worthless” pursuit.

So, we need to search God’s scriptures, lay out our plans to Him via prayer, and seek wise council among trusted advisors before life’s big decisions – like marriage, college, career choices, and volunteering. Volunteering, helping others, is an important component of the Christian walk. But we should ask God, “What should I spend my time doing? Where would you have me serve? Is this the best place, the right place to use the resources and talents you have given me?” before getting involved with a service project. Whether that project is volunteering at women’s shelter, for a church educational program, for a community service project or any other charitable deed.

God has invested each of us with resources, with talents and with 24 hours a day. He gives most of us “three score and 10” (that is 70 years). We should be spending some of that serving others. However, any time, resource or talent we spend that is not spent doing what is within His will can ultimately be a worthless pursuit and a waste of our limited time on the earth.

Sisters, we must filter all potential activities (even those that seem good and worthwhile) through the lens of God’s will. This is the only way to ensure that the time, resources and talents we have are spent on only the most worthy pursuits – pursuits that honor our Father and are done because it is His will that we should do them.

Prayer – Lord God, all that I have you have given me. I seek your guidance today. Show me your will for how I spend my time, resources and talents. Help me spend them on pursuits that are worthy and in line with your will. In Jesus name. Amen

Your thoughts —  

_____________________________________________________________________________________