(Proverbs 7:13 KJV) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
Once again we see how glorious gifts of God can be turned into traps of the devil. Who could be against hugs and kisses? Think birthdays. Think Christmas. Think family reunions. Think children. Hugs and kisses are a wonderful part of life. The problem is not in the action. The problem is in the motivation and timing.
One of the techniques of dishonest researchers is to take a beneficial item and test it in such a way that it looks evil. Take salt. We have been under a deluge of criticism of salt. It is a major evil according to the powers that be. They have convinced people to cut down on their salt. They have persuaded restaurants to stop putting so much salt in their food. When you buy a bag of chips it has less salt in it. The result is the food does not taste as good. Does it lower blood pressure? In some people but not in most. Too much salt is bad for you. Keep in mind that too much oxygen will burn out your lungs and too much water will drown you.
So? Avoid the misuse of God’s gifts. Avoid the extremes in just about everything. The problem will not be high blood pressure but eternal damnation.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Blind Deliverance
(Proverbs 6:5 KJV) Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
I am not a hunter and doubt if I ever will be. I have nothing against hunters or hunting. I think it is legitimate and for many people necessary. My son wants to try it and so when a neighbor said he went hunting I suggested he take my son out. He volunteered to put us in a blind together. I know enough about hunting to know that he was politely suggesting that I not suggest again.
Hunting is often a matter of letting the game come to you. In that case the gazelle of Proverbs is wandering along, minding its own business, and suddenly the hunter shoots. The point for us is that we can never know when the forces of evil might be waiting in anticipation for us to wander into their sites.
How does a deer “deliver” (5337) itself? Constant awareness is a key. Running the other direction would help. Other places in Proverbs suggest righteousness (11:6), an upright mouth (12:6) and the discipline of a parent. Paul makes a suggestion,
I am not a hunter and doubt if I ever will be. I have nothing against hunters or hunting. I think it is legitimate and for many people necessary. My son wants to try it and so when a neighbor said he went hunting I suggested he take my son out. He volunteered to put us in a blind together. I know enough about hunting to know that he was politely suggesting that I not suggest again.
Hunting is often a matter of letting the game come to you. In that case the gazelle of Proverbs is wandering along, minding its own business, and suddenly the hunter shoots. The point for us is that we can never know when the forces of evil might be waiting in anticipation for us to wander into their sites.
How does a deer “deliver” (5337) itself? Constant awareness is a key. Running the other direction would help. Other places in Proverbs suggest righteousness (11:6), an upright mouth (12:6) and the discipline of a parent. Paul makes a suggestion,
(Ephesians 6:16 KJV) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.So? Walk in faith which means in righteousness. Deliverance is at hand.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Is That All There Is
(Proverbs 5:20 KJV) And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Have you noticed the appeal of the exotic, or the imagined exotic. Granted that often it is just a need to conform to what the “cool” people are doing. It is often being the victim of advertising. When the Volkswagen Beetle came out it was acknowledged as being an ugly creation. That was part of its appeal. The other part was that people thought it was cool. Why do people spend thousands on a Rolex when a cheap Timex will keep time just as well?
There was a song in the sixties, “Is That All There Is”. It is a song of desperation and futility. It is a wonder to me why it did not start a revival in America because so many people are asking themselves that same question. So we are warned against the “strange woman” (adulteress NASB) (2114a) and the “stranger” (foreigner NASB) (5237). This could involve sexual sin but for most of us it is values and priorities that are antagonistic to the life of righteousness.
So? Be alert to all the traps that are out in front of us. Most are matters of gradual compromise. A few are abrupt. All can be avoided. All must be avoided.
Have you noticed the appeal of the exotic, or the imagined exotic. Granted that often it is just a need to conform to what the “cool” people are doing. It is often being the victim of advertising. When the Volkswagen Beetle came out it was acknowledged as being an ugly creation. That was part of its appeal. The other part was that people thought it was cool. Why do people spend thousands on a Rolex when a cheap Timex will keep time just as well?
There was a song in the sixties, “Is That All There Is”. It is a song of desperation and futility. It is a wonder to me why it did not start a revival in America because so many people are asking themselves that same question. So we are warned against the “strange woman” (adulteress NASB) (2114a) and the “stranger” (foreigner NASB) (5237). This could involve sexual sin but for most of us it is values and priorities that are antagonistic to the life of righteousness.
So? Be alert to all the traps that are out in front of us. Most are matters of gradual compromise. A few are abrupt. All can be avoided. All must be avoided.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Contestants
(Proverbs 4:9 KJV) She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
I am not interested in winning any “beauty” (8597) contests. Notice that the KJV has “glory” instead of “beauty”. Both translations have trouble deciding which translation to use in different places. Our idea of beauty doesn’t worry me. I am old enough to know that glory is not a word used to describe me. Yet there is a quality of the righteous life that God wants us to have and it only comes through wisdom.
We have a saying that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This quality is that way and the Beholder is Jesus. What we are striving for is to appear to Him in the judgment day clothed with a life of obedience and focus so He can say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
So? This is a glory that is radiated because we have allowed Jesus to fill us and He shines in our lives. There was a chorus we used to sing,
I am not interested in winning any “beauty” (8597) contests. Notice that the KJV has “glory” instead of “beauty”. Both translations have trouble deciding which translation to use in different places. Our idea of beauty doesn’t worry me. I am old enough to know that glory is not a word used to describe me. Yet there is a quality of the righteous life that God wants us to have and it only comes through wisdom.
We have a saying that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This quality is that way and the Beholder is Jesus. What we are striving for is to appear to Him in the judgment day clothed with a life of obedience and focus so He can say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
So? This is a glory that is radiated because we have allowed Jesus to fill us and He shines in our lives. There was a chorus we used to sing,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,I don’t care if I win the title as long as I am a contestant.
All His wonderful passion and purity!
O Thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Even Keel
(Proverbs 3:17 KJV) Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
“Peace” (7965) [shalom] is a basic to wisdom. Notice that this is one of those Hebrew words that are familiar to a lot of us. It is one of those words, like “aloha” which can be used in many contexts and always has a positive connotation. It also requires some understanding. This is not the peace of no conflict. This is not the god of the peacenik.
Shalom may be expressed in our environment and our culture but ultimately it is an inner assurance. We live in troubled times. We have “wars and rumors of wars”. We have seen earthquakes and hurricanes. The corruption and perversion that we are seeing in the news is at flood levels. In the midst of that we can have Shalom. We can know peace. It is because we know, and fear, God, which is the beginning of wisdom.
So? I cannot assure you that the next big storm won’t take away your electricity. I can assure you that you personally will never lose the power to keep an even keel.
“Peace” (7965) [shalom] is a basic to wisdom. Notice that this is one of those Hebrew words that are familiar to a lot of us. It is one of those words, like “aloha” which can be used in many contexts and always has a positive connotation. It also requires some understanding. This is not the peace of no conflict. This is not the god of the peacenik.
Shalom may be expressed in our environment and our culture but ultimately it is an inner assurance. We live in troubled times. We have “wars and rumors of wars”. We have seen earthquakes and hurricanes. The corruption and perversion that we are seeing in the news is at flood levels. In the midst of that we can have Shalom. We can know peace. It is because we know, and fear, God, which is the beginning of wisdom.
So? I cannot assure you that the next big storm won’t take away your electricity. I can assure you that you personally will never lose the power to keep an even keel.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
First Tweek
(Proverbs 2:17 KJV) Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
This verse begins to describe a slide into Hell. It begins with mention of the people and influences of “youth” (5271). This assumes that there have been some good people around who have taught and demonstrated what it means to live upright and holy lives. Even for those who are raised in total paganism there are examples that can be followed. The Holy Spirit always offers guidance and a conscience that will move us in the right direction.
The slide begins when this person abandons that which they know is right. It always amazes me how much children know about right and wrong, even when they deny it. When we read in the newspaper about someone who has met or caused tragedy they do not come from nothing. If the reporter did the job he was paid to do you will probably find a long path of deviant behavior, many arrests and violent episodes.
So? Where are you on the road? Some of us are getting near the end and changes will only have time for minor improvements. We need to seek those improvements anyway. Some are at the beginning and small tweaks can have major effects over the length of a life. Then our tangents are taken into eternity.
This verse begins to describe a slide into Hell. It begins with mention of the people and influences of “youth” (5271). This assumes that there have been some good people around who have taught and demonstrated what it means to live upright and holy lives. Even for those who are raised in total paganism there are examples that can be followed. The Holy Spirit always offers guidance and a conscience that will move us in the right direction.
The slide begins when this person abandons that which they know is right. It always amazes me how much children know about right and wrong, even when they deny it. When we read in the newspaper about someone who has met or caused tragedy they do not come from nothing. If the reporter did the job he was paid to do you will probably find a long path of deviant behavior, many arrests and violent episodes.
So? Where are you on the road? Some of us are getting near the end and changes will only have time for minor improvements. We need to seek those improvements anyway. Some are at the beginning and small tweaks can have major effects over the length of a life. Then our tangents are taken into eternity.
Monday, January 1, 2018
Beginning
(Proverbs 1:7 KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
On New Year’s Day we talk about new years resolutions, or we used to. I haven’t heard much about it lately. The date is arbitrary. We have Chinese New Year and the Jews have their own date. Ours was probably something that grew out of the shortest day of the year toward the end of December. It is a time of “beginning” (7225). It is a time to start over. It is a time to remind ourselves of our priorities and the basic principles that guide us.
It is a time to renew our “fear” (3374) of the Lord.
So? We don’t know what the year holds. There will be joy and disappointment. There may be tragedy. There may be serendipity. Face it all with a healthy fear of God in your hearts so that you can face the year with hope.
On New Year’s Day we talk about new years resolutions, or we used to. I haven’t heard much about it lately. The date is arbitrary. We have Chinese New Year and the Jews have their own date. Ours was probably something that grew out of the shortest day of the year toward the end of December. It is a time of “beginning” (7225). It is a time to start over. It is a time to remind ourselves of our priorities and the basic principles that guide us.
It is a time to renew our “fear” (3374) of the Lord.
So? We don’t know what the year holds. There will be joy and disappointment. There may be tragedy. There may be serendipity. Face it all with a healthy fear of God in your hearts so that you can face the year with hope.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)