(Proverbs 7:18 Webster) Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
Immediate gratification is not just a problem in our generation. Solomon was aware of the tendency even in ancient Israel. We have so many areas of our lives in which we live in the present with no regard for the future. That is why credit cards get people into so much trouble. It is why so many are under a mountain of student loans. It is why people buy things they cannot afford. It is the reason for pandemic sexually transmitted disease.
Christians should be different. We live for eternity not the moment. We don’t forget the concept of tangents. A small variation now can mean a big difference tomorrow and an insurmountable barrier later in life. I believe one life saver candy is ten calories. Ten calories today won’t make a noticeable change. After a year it means a pound, no big deal. In thirty years it means thirty pounds.
So? Work on an eternal perspective in your choices and priorities. It means walking by faith because you won’t see the results for years. Do you believe God speaks truth or not?
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Contrast
(Proverbs 6:18 KJV) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Contrast can teach us a lot. There are times you can read a statement and the Holy Spirit brings to mind the opposite. That hit me this morning. This verse is talking about the “heart” (3820) that relishes “evil” (7463a). That is the norm. That is what I am surrounded by on the freeway going to work. That is what I see filling my classes and sitting in authority over me at work. This morning I was reminded that it doesn’t have to be that way. Any or all of these people could be set free if they would bow their knee to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
The words of a hymn, “O for a Heart to Praise My God”, came to mind. In this case it was the second verse.
So? If your heart has been set free, celebrate. Rejoice. If your heart is still longing to do the self centered thing, talk to God about it. He has a cure.
Contrast can teach us a lot. There are times you can read a statement and the Holy Spirit brings to mind the opposite. That hit me this morning. This verse is talking about the “heart” (3820) that relishes “evil” (7463a). That is the norm. That is what I am surrounded by on the freeway going to work. That is what I see filling my classes and sitting in authority over me at work. This morning I was reminded that it doesn’t have to be that way. Any or all of these people could be set free if they would bow their knee to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
The words of a hymn, “O for a Heart to Praise My God”, came to mind. In this case it was the second verse.
A heart resigned, submissive, meek,Yes, we are surrounded by people who serve Satan. They won’t admit it. They may not even be aware of it. It is kind of like the HIV virus. You can be infected with it for years and not know. The good news that we have and HIV carriers don’t is that we can be cured of our infirmity.
My great Redeemer's throne,
Where only Christ is heard to speak,
Where Jesus reigns alone.
So? If your heart has been set free, celebrate. Rejoice. If your heart is still longing to do the self centered thing, talk to God about it. He has a cure.
Friday, February 5, 2016
Beware of Strangers
(Proverbs 5:20 KJV) And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Two types of people are to be avoided. The “strange woman” (adulteress NASB) (2114a) and the “stranger” (foreigner NASB) (5237). The translations tend to overlap in English. The first literally means stranger and the second foreigner. Keep in mind the tribal sense of social relationships of the day. People identified with those related by blood. Anyone outside was to be treated with suspicion.
We have come a long way. Paul set the standard with
So? Limit your involvement with those outside the faith. Obviously we cannot all go live in communes. What we can do is listen to those who speak with wisdom and a fear of the Lord.
Two types of people are to be avoided. The “strange woman” (adulteress NASB) (2114a) and the “stranger” (foreigner NASB) (5237). The translations tend to overlap in English. The first literally means stranger and the second foreigner. Keep in mind the tribal sense of social relationships of the day. People identified with those related by blood. Anyone outside was to be treated with suspicion.
We have come a long way. Paul set the standard with
(Colossians 3:11 KJV) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.Our new relationships are based on the blood of Christ.
So? Limit your involvement with those outside the faith. Obviously we cannot all go live in communes. What we can do is listen to those who speak with wisdom and a fear of the Lord.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Evil Fix
(Proverbs 4:16 KJV) For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
The NASB “evil” (7489a) is much better than the “mischief” of the KJV. In our day mischief is something that an active child might get involved in. We used to talk about how my son had “mischief in his eyes”. At no time did we imply evil. We need to understand that much of the antisocial behavior we see is not mischief, it is evil.
Think about the news for the last year. Terrorism. Child abuse. Rape. Rioting. Government coercion. It is not mischief, it is evil. When a group of disguised Muslims line up a group of orange clad Christians on a beach and cut off their heads it is evil. Not because of the religions involved but because such an act is evil. This is a reminder that there are some people who don’t feel their day is complete unless they have been able to mess with someone.
So? Don’t make excuses for evil. Don’t make excuses for yourself. Be salt and light. Be the love of God in action, even as you see evil for what it is.
The NASB “evil” (7489a) is much better than the “mischief” of the KJV. In our day mischief is something that an active child might get involved in. We used to talk about how my son had “mischief in his eyes”. At no time did we imply evil. We need to understand that much of the antisocial behavior we see is not mischief, it is evil.
Think about the news for the last year. Terrorism. Child abuse. Rape. Rioting. Government coercion. It is not mischief, it is evil. When a group of disguised Muslims line up a group of orange clad Christians on a beach and cut off their heads it is evil. Not because of the religions involved but because such an act is evil. This is a reminder that there are some people who don’t feel their day is complete unless they have been able to mess with someone.
So? Don’t make excuses for evil. Don’t make excuses for yourself. Be salt and light. Be the love of God in action, even as you see evil for what it is.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Apply the Antidote
(Proverbs 3:31 KJV) Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
In our politically correct times the KJV would be a poster slogan. It talks about the “oppressor” (376/2555). One of the mantras of the political left is oppression and the greedy rich. They might even like the NASB with its “man (376) of violence (2555), which is a more literal translation. Those of us on the right might get a little tired of the way the warning is misused. The problem is that when we are reacting to the perversion of the principle we often are also guilty of ignoring the problem.
Christmas is past at this point but the music of Christmas should teach us all year. Take these words from the third verse of “O Holy Night”,
So? The antidote to oppression is not more federal regulations it is an application of Christian love. You can’t oppress someone when you are being patient, kind, and so forth. Apply the behavior that God has shown us.
In our politically correct times the KJV would be a poster slogan. It talks about the “oppressor” (376/2555). One of the mantras of the political left is oppression and the greedy rich. They might even like the NASB with its “man (376) of violence (2555), which is a more literal translation. Those of us on the right might get a little tired of the way the warning is misused. The problem is that when we are reacting to the perversion of the principle we often are also guilty of ignoring the problem.
Christmas is past at this point but the music of Christmas should teach us all year. Take these words from the third verse of “O Holy Night”,
Truly He taught us to love one another;Just because people take the concept of “justice” and twist it for their personal agenda does not mean that we are allowed to ignore it. Oppression is real. It is not just a social issue of rich and poor. It takes places in families and in churches.
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
So? The antidote to oppression is not more federal regulations it is an application of Christian love. You can’t oppress someone when you are being patient, kind, and so forth. Apply the behavior that God has shown us.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Be Nice
(Proverbs 2:20 KJV) That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
The long view goal of scripture is of course our eternal destiny. We want to be on the list “When the Role Is Called up Yonder”. But the teachings of the word are also very practical and very “today”. It is to make our “walk” (1980) today the walk of “good men” (2896a). The KJV makes this more clear than the NASB. The word “men” is not in the Hebrew. This is a quality of behavior. Notice that in the last phrase you have “righteous” (6662). The point is to contrast and compare, not expand.
The quality here is defined as pleasant and agreeable. This means that by studying the principles of the Bible and putting them in motion in life we become nice people to be around. It changes the way in which we relate to people around us. They may avoid us because we are upright and won’t laugh at their dirty jokes but they should never shun our company because we are rude or obnoxious.
So? Be good in the way that ice cream is good. Sometimes that is called being a peacemaker. Sometimes it is being patient. Sometimes should become always. Study and apply.
The long view goal of scripture is of course our eternal destiny. We want to be on the list “When the Role Is Called up Yonder”. But the teachings of the word are also very practical and very “today”. It is to make our “walk” (1980) today the walk of “good men” (2896a). The KJV makes this more clear than the NASB. The word “men” is not in the Hebrew. This is a quality of behavior. Notice that in the last phrase you have “righteous” (6662). The point is to contrast and compare, not expand.
The quality here is defined as pleasant and agreeable. This means that by studying the principles of the Bible and putting them in motion in life we become nice people to be around. It changes the way in which we relate to people around us. They may avoid us because we are upright and won’t laugh at their dirty jokes but they should never shun our company because we are rude or obnoxious.
So? Be good in the way that ice cream is good. Sometimes that is called being a peacemaker. Sometimes it is being patient. Sometimes should become always. Study and apply.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Basic Maintenance
(Proverbs 1:25 KJV) But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
This verse sums up the prevailing American attitude. It also fits well with most of the world. We sit like the three monkeys in front of the “counsel” (6098) of God. In this case it is a matter of seeing no truth, hearing no truth and speaking no truth. The truth is freely available and it is rejected. Any time the forces of righteousness unite to use the democratic process to advance God’s standards an elitist judge will strike it down. How long can the machinery of a country keep working when the basic maintenance is being ignored?
No one individual can change the direction of a country but we need to understand that many times God has intervened for the faithful remnant. The question we need to ask ourselves, individually, is “Am I paying attention?”
So? If all you are able to influence is the air in the tires of society, then make sure that the air is good. Do your part to be righteous and keep trusting God to paint the big picture.
This verse sums up the prevailing American attitude. It also fits well with most of the world. We sit like the three monkeys in front of the “counsel” (6098) of God. In this case it is a matter of seeing no truth, hearing no truth and speaking no truth. The truth is freely available and it is rejected. Any time the forces of righteousness unite to use the democratic process to advance God’s standards an elitist judge will strike it down. How long can the machinery of a country keep working when the basic maintenance is being ignored?
No one individual can change the direction of a country but we need to understand that many times God has intervened for the faithful remnant. The question we need to ask ourselves, individually, is “Am I paying attention?”
So? If all you are able to influence is the air in the tires of society, then make sure that the air is good. Do your part to be righteous and keep trusting God to paint the big picture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)