He Abides

(Joh 14:16 KJV)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

(Proverbs 18 also read)

There is a portion of a song going through my mind.  The title is “He Abides”.  The words that keep vibrating through my brain are, “...for the hand of God in all my life I see.”

That pretty much sums things up.  I see my fingerprints on things and the chances of success are low.  And yet I see things in my life that I would chalk up as success if I saw them in anybody else’s life.  Many times they go contrary to what I thought I wanted.  Most times they work out for the best.

Most of this is because of Providence, the hand of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, grace in action.  I praise God for his hand in my life.

So?  Ultimately, it always comes bound down to trust and obey.  Rejoice. 

God Communicates

John 14:18 (KJV) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

This is a case where I did not start at a verse and then seek a deeper understanding.  This was the case where I was thinking about God communicating with us, and this verse came to mind.  The reason it might help me understand is that the context of this verse deals with Jesus sending the Holy Spirit to be with us. That in itself is a wonderful concept.  My thinking, however, is more about understanding the word of God, and the will of God, rather than just rejoicing in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In a roundabout way this reminds me that the Holy Spirit will help me to understand what I read.  I am no longer the general pagan, trying to understand spiritual concepts that are beyond me.  I am now the believer, who has a personal tutor to explain, and enlighten.

So?  God wants to communicate with His people.  He has given us His written word.  He has sent His Holy Spirit.  He will communicate if we will seek and listen. 

Hydrate III

(Joh 4:14 KJV)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

We are told we need to spiritually hydrate.  We are told that God is the source of that refreshing.  Here Jesus tells us that this “water” (5204) is to be sourced from within, not without.  

Too often we rely on outside sources for renewal.  That is not bad in itself.  Corporate worship, sharing with friends, good books, going to camp or on a retreat are all potentially great experiences.  Go for it and enjoy but don’t forget that God has sent His Holy Spirit to reside in you.  You don’t need to go anywhere to find hydration.  

So?  Look within, not to find your New Age inner self, but to make contact with the living God who is eternal and today.  I think the big words are immanent and transcendent.  The little word is Emmanuel, God with us. 

Plum Truth

(Proverbs 21:28 KJV)  A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

“I was only joking.”  No you weren’t, you lied to me.  “So I exaggerated a bit.”  No, you lied.  “It is just a matter of opinion.”  No, a lie is a lie.  If you have ever listened to the news or read a newspaper you know how easy it is for some people to look at truth and deliberately distort it.  If you have had someone tell a story about an event that you also witnessed, you have sometimes wondered if you were on the same planet.  I know at times that I wonder if it is me who is losing my mind or the other person who lives in fantasy.

We are called to be beacons of truth.  That starts with eternal truth. 

(John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It extends into every nook and cranny of our influence.  Obviously there is room for differences of opinion and perception.  My wife had her toe nails painted.  Why?  I don’t know.  I think it is a female thing.  I commented on the black color.  I was told they were “plum”.  Then she came up with a couple of other colors that were also hard to tell from black.  That is not an issue of truth.  The fact that she had them coated is truth.

So?  Are you a follower of Jesus?  Then there is a limit to how much you can exaggerate, joke, spin and interpret.  Take this seriously.  God does. 

Cultural Cacophony

(Proverbs 22:21 KJV)  That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

This verse is enough to make me a pariah in modern culture.  This is one of the great divides that has wedged its way into our understanding.  We live in a world that says there are no absolutes, there is no truth.  Our culture tells us that everything is relative and if we think differently we are intolerant and intolerance is the big sin of our age. 

Jesus was exclusive.  He did not believe there were many paths to eternal life.  He believed there was one and it went through Him.  This echoes through the Bible from the Shema,

(Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV)  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

To the words of Jesus,

(John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

So?  It is hard to see and hear when we exist in a cacophony of pagan nonsense.  Be aware that often that confusion exists in the church.  Do your homework.  The truth is available but your surroundings are working overtime to keep you from knowing what it is. 

The Right Standards

(Proverbs 28:28 KJV)  When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

How can you tell if the people on the “rise” (6965) are “wicked” (7563) or “righteous” (6662)?  The public discussion is full of name calling and accusations.  Much of it is just the surge of the moment.  Some of it is deliberate misleading.  This is an important question for believers to consider.

The definition of moral and immoral that our society has adopted is totally different than the morals that are given to us by the Bible.  Keep in mind that the community you live in will label you as immoral if you do not recycle your plastics but be perfectly open to aborting your child.  Do you remember the media furor over Vice President Pence sharing that he would not have dinner alone with a woman who was not his wife?  These same people have no problem with left wing activists burning and looting to keep someone from expressing an opinion they don’t like.

So?  You can call yourself a Christian but if you are not living in righteousness as God defines it, you are whistling in the wind.   

(John 14:21 KJV)  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

That means keeping His commandments, not the opinions of the school board or Supreme Court.

Foundations

(Proverbs 24:3 KJV)  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

If you had to pick the most important element for building a home, what would it be?  Today most people would talk about love.  They might go for compassion, sensitivity or even tolerance.  Here Solomon is putting his oar in the water for “wisdom” (2451).  Since that is a major theme of Proverbs you won’t be surprised by that.

Keep in mind that this wisdom is based on a fear of the Lord and following His commandments.  It is interesting that Jesus also taught this.

(John 14:15 KJV)  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Wisdom means knowing how to show love.  That is why Solomon also talks about disciplining children.  This means that fair scales are important to all areas of life. 

So?  Love is wonderful but don’t shortchange your future by failing in your quest for wisdom. 

The Range of a Lie

(Proverbs 25:18 KJV)  A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Liars have a special place in the wrath of God, or I guess you might say a special place in Hell.  We talk about “white” lies and such.  I don’t think God sees it that way.  Here we have a graphic way of showing the width of the category.  You have three weapons mentioned.  They are used at three distances and three methods.  All are considered lies.  All kill.  The difference being emphasized is that the lie kills the one sending it, not the one receiving.  Beware.

One reason lies might be so offensive to God is the way Jesus identified Himself,

(John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Since Jesus is truth, He has a special animosity toward deceit.

So?  Whatever synonym you choose to use, be honest.  It has eternal consequences. 

Follow Through

(Proverbs 10:29 KJV)  The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

There is a certain “way” (1870) that the righteous are to live.  This is one of those words that is very common in the OT, used over 700 times.  Its Greek equivalent is found in a very well known verse,

(John 14:6 KJV)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It can be used figuratively or literally. 

There is a path of behavior, priorities and decisions that are required of followers of Jesus.  Think of it as being the interstate through a large town.  You might have off-ramps, merging and lane changes but if you keep following the shield with the right number you will get through and come out on the other side.

So?  Do you know from first hand reading and listening what the way of God involves?  Sermons are good.  Advice is fine.  The complete manual is at your fingertips.  The way is marked out for you. 

Prep It Up

(Proverbs 1:21 KJV)  She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

Wisdom is present in all areas of life if we listen from the common, “concourse” (noise NASB) (1993) areas to the “gates” (8179) where the elders sit in dignified conversation.  We see similar statements about wisdom at least two other places in Proverbs at 8:1-3 and 9:3.  Strangely enough the same words are used of the seducing adulteress in 9:14.

How do we tell the “cries” (7121) of wisdom from the “words” (sayings NASB) (561) of seduction? 

First, we need to seek wisdom. 

(Hebrews 11:6 KJV)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Second, we should be calling on the Holy Spirit to lead and teach.

(John 14:26 KJV)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Third, we should be reading and studying to build a foundation for wisdom. 

(2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

So?  It is time to apply yourself.  Give God some handles to work with in your mind and heart. 

Would Jesus Write a Blog?

(John 14:12 KJV)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We are all familiar with the phrase WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) which has a line of bracelets and such.  Often it is an interesting concept.  We know that Jesus came at the best time:

(Galatians 4:4 KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

But what if He came today.  How would He communicate?  Would He have a TV ministry?  Would He use voice mail?  Would He write a blog?  I think the answer is “None of the above.”  The Roman world had ways to communicate.   They were crude by our standards but worked when the fastest mode of transportation was a horse.  Jesus used none of them.  Instead He used the time tested method of teaching and preaching.  He trained a few men, promised them the Holy Spirit and left them to do their job.  I think He works the same way today.

But “all of the above” are being used to proclaim Jesus.  Which makes me wonder if that is part of what Jesus was talking about in this verse.  I have heard that it refers to the Holy Spirit and how spirit filled followers can be in more places than the physical Jesus.  But what if this was prophecy that included the printing press, radio, and the internet.  Sin is often the corrupt and selfish perversion of something God designed for good.  The internet certainly has its share of perversion.  But by using it for His glory, we can sanctify it or allow Him to sanctify it through our righteous use.

Would Jesus write a blog?  I don’t think so, but maybe He wants you to do so.

Interpretation a la Catholic

(John 14:26 KJV)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Because I am currently reading Proverbs in the Douay Version I decided to check this verse as a Catholic would read it.  The translation was good.  In fact it translated “Comforter” (Helper NASB) (3875) as “Paraclete” which is the Greek word.  I like that.  I would like to see that kind of thing more often.  Then I read the comment at the bottom of the page, and here we found the danger point.  The editor said that the Holy Spirit “is promised to the apostles and their successors, particularly in order to teach them all truth and to preserve them from error.”  This reflects the Roman Catholic teaching that the final judge of truth lays in the church and ultimately in the Pope.  This could be read that we, as layman, do not receive the Spirit and have no real knowledge of the truth.  Be careful of others reading their opinions into scripture.

The Author of Non-confusion

(John 14:26 KJV)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

I am re-reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  In Book 3, Chapter 3, “Social Morality” you find these words:

When it [the Bible] tells you to read the Scriptures it does not give you lessons in Hebrew and Greek, or even in English grammar.

In light of my comments on the different translations of Proverbs 10:3 I thought some clarification might be in order.  Reading and studying the Bible is something that can be done on all levels.  Anyone can do it.  You do not need a seminary education to read truth.  In fact, some times that can get in your way.  The world is full of “Doctors” and “Professors” and “Reverends” that are so impressed with their own wisdom that they cannot see simple truth. 

If you are not well educated you should not assume your feeling of inadequacy keep will you from eternal truth any more than the ego of the educated must block them from simple truth.  We all have the written word but it is the Holy Spirit that opens it up to you.  If you will not listen to the Holy Spirit you will never know the truth and it will never make you free.  If you will listen then the riches of God are open to you.

It works like this, in my opinion.  (But keep in mind I have been to seminary, so my opinion is questionable.)  You read part of the Bible.  The Holy Spirit tries to apply that to your life.  Because you have different needs every day, you may get a different lesson every day.  It may be a lesson just for you.  The lesson will not go against the totality of scripture.  If you think God is calling you to go shoot your neighbor, trust me, it is not from God.  But the application may make sense to no one else.

When we have problems with translation we can continue to trust the Holy Spirit.  You still should find the best translation available but I am convinced that you could be reading the New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and if you are listening to the Holy Spirit you can find truth and recognize error.  Thus we may see some J.W.s in heaven but it won’t be because they are good Witnesses.  It will be because the Holy Spirit taught them in spite of all the indoctrination that went on.

So, relax, learn and grow.