(Pro 14:2 KJV) He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
“Fear” (3372) is a two edged sword in relation to the way we live our lives. Keep in mind this is not the craven fear that you experience when something jumps out at you in the dark or when your car goes through the guard rail and heads into the canyon below. This is the fear that keeps you from sticking a bobby pin into a light socket but allows you to plug in your toaster without a thought.
This is an attitude that has a ground in understanding of the holiness of God. It is experienced by the person who knows that God turned Lot’s wife to a pillar of salt but has waited patiently for you to work on your bad habits. It is the kind of emotion that helps you to know not to climb a tree during a lightening storm.
So? Walk in fear. Walk in confidence. Walk in the light of His love.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Choices and Change
(Pro 13:6 KJV) Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
There is an inner quality that has a lot to do with how we live our lives. It directs the decisions we make. When we allow God to work His miracle of grace in our lives changes are made. We have a lot of different words describing this born again experience. We speak of regeneration, justification, sanctification, adoption and probably more. This creates an inner condition or attitude. In this verse they are described as “righteousness” (6666) and “wickedness” (7564).
These inner qualities determine the decisions we make. They change our lives. Sometimes the changes are immediate and dramatic. Sometimes they are so slow that you need to pay attention to notice how much has changed. They do make a difference.
So? Which direction do you want your life to go? God is willing to work miracles and make dirty into clean. Which do you chose?
There is an inner quality that has a lot to do with how we live our lives. It directs the decisions we make. When we allow God to work His miracle of grace in our lives changes are made. We have a lot of different words describing this born again experience. We speak of regeneration, justification, sanctification, adoption and probably more. This creates an inner condition or attitude. In this verse they are described as “righteousness” (6666) and “wickedness” (7564).
These inner qualities determine the decisions we make. They change our lives. Sometimes the changes are immediate and dramatic. Sometimes they are so slow that you need to pay attention to notice how much has changed. They do make a difference.
So? Which direction do you want your life to go? God is willing to work miracles and make dirty into clean. Which do you chose?
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
All in
(Pro 12:7 KJV) The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Righteousness is a better building material than wickedness. Think of the parable of the two houses. One, built on sand, collapsed in the flood. The one built on rock stood firm. Transfer that over to the story of the Three Little Pigs. The thatch and twigs collapsed under the huffing and puffing. The masonry plan stood firm. Some behaviors work to insure endurance and long term security. Others might look good in the short term but come apart when things get tough.
So? Do you believe it or hedge your bets?
Righteousness is a better building material than wickedness. Think of the parable of the two houses. One, built on sand, collapsed in the flood. The one built on rock stood firm. Transfer that over to the story of the Three Little Pigs. The thatch and twigs collapsed under the huffing and puffing. The masonry plan stood firm. Some behaviors work to insure endurance and long term security. Others might look good in the short term but come apart when things get tough.
So? Do you believe it or hedge your bets?
(Heb 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.I would suggest going all in for righteousness.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Mail Order
(Pro 11:18 KJV) The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Have you ever ordered something on line? It is not a new experience. People were able to order things from catalogues before telephones. It was called “mail order”. With the advent of telephones you could talk to a nice lady over the phone. The internet brings little to the process except possible speed. What is still there is the disappointment of the object you received. Have you been there? Am I alone in this? Somehow it isn’t as shiny, as big, as impressive as it was advertised to be. If you had held it in your hand in the box store you would not have bought it.
The promises of sin are like that. The word here is “deceitful” (deceptive NASB) (8267). Some of that is the crafty nature of Satan and the temptation he throws at us. Ultimately it is because we think we are going to be the one who games the system.
So? Keep in mind that God does not need to mark the cards to know what is in your hand or heart. Sin has its payoff. You will not cash in on a win streak. God is patient. He is waiting.
Have you ever ordered something on line? It is not a new experience. People were able to order things from catalogues before telephones. It was called “mail order”. With the advent of telephones you could talk to a nice lady over the phone. The internet brings little to the process except possible speed. What is still there is the disappointment of the object you received. Have you been there? Am I alone in this? Somehow it isn’t as shiny, as big, as impressive as it was advertised to be. If you had held it in your hand in the box store you would not have bought it.
The promises of sin are like that. The word here is “deceitful” (deceptive NASB) (8267). Some of that is the crafty nature of Satan and the temptation he throws at us. Ultimately it is because we think we are going to be the one who games the system.
So? Keep in mind that God does not need to mark the cards to know what is in your hand or heart. Sin has its payoff. You will not cash in on a win streak. God is patient. He is waiting.
Monday, February 10, 2020
Sin Talk
(Pro 10:19 KJV) In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Law has a purpose and the purpose depends on the motivation of the governing forces. Originally laws were to set up the rules of society, to determine ahead of time what was acceptable and what was not. Thus, law in the best sense makes it possible for people to live together in peace and prosperity. This view of law assumes that the majority of citizens and the governing authorities have upright views of how things should work.
The other approach is what we are seeing today. We have governments that pass all kinds of laws, sometimes conflicting, and then apply them in such a way to reward the in group and punish everyone else. It is called “statutory neglect”. Thus we can have laws about curfew or loitering and only apply them against black people.
A multitude of laws really reflects a population that does not want to be responsible for its actions. It is possible to function with limited laws if people have the right motives. Thus we have the Ten Commandments. Very short and covering everything that really needs to be said. Or take the United Stated Constitution. It is only a few pages long. Compare it to the tax code of the IRS which fills up shelves.
So? In order to avoid sin, “seek ye first the kingdom of God”. And keep your mouth shut while you do it.
Law has a purpose and the purpose depends on the motivation of the governing forces. Originally laws were to set up the rules of society, to determine ahead of time what was acceptable and what was not. Thus, law in the best sense makes it possible for people to live together in peace and prosperity. This view of law assumes that the majority of citizens and the governing authorities have upright views of how things should work.
The other approach is what we are seeing today. We have governments that pass all kinds of laws, sometimes conflicting, and then apply them in such a way to reward the in group and punish everyone else. It is called “statutory neglect”. Thus we can have laws about curfew or loitering and only apply them against black people.
A multitude of laws really reflects a population that does not want to be responsible for its actions. It is possible to function with limited laws if people have the right motives. Thus we have the Ten Commandments. Very short and covering everything that really needs to be said. Or take the United Stated Constitution. It is only a few pages long. Compare it to the tax code of the IRS which fills up shelves.
So? In order to avoid sin, “seek ye first the kingdom of God”. And keep your mouth shut while you do it.
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Express Yourself
(Pro 9:13 KJV) A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
I have the feeling that Solomon had my granddaughter in mind when he wrote this. At least is seems that way in the NASB when it says “boisterous” (1993). She is quite willing to run shrieking through the house. It helps if someone is chasing her. She will try to sneak into my room and has a general enthusiasm with life that is exhausting to us old people. If you take the KJV with its “clamorous” you get the other side of this characteristic.
The KJV seems more in tune with how Proverbs uses the word. It is associated with rebellion, drunkenness and block parties. It is not generally something you want applied to you. And yet, like so many Biblical concepts, is channeled through a heart and mind transformed by the Holy Spirit, it can be a source of joy and encouragement to those around you.
So? God has given you a personality that approaches life in a unique way. Apply it with righteousness and be a blessing. Or just be clamorous.
I have the feeling that Solomon had my granddaughter in mind when he wrote this. At least is seems that way in the NASB when it says “boisterous” (1993). She is quite willing to run shrieking through the house. It helps if someone is chasing her. She will try to sneak into my room and has a general enthusiasm with life that is exhausting to us old people. If you take the KJV with its “clamorous” you get the other side of this characteristic.
The KJV seems more in tune with how Proverbs uses the word. It is associated with rebellion, drunkenness and block parties. It is not generally something you want applied to you. And yet, like so many Biblical concepts, is channeled through a heart and mind transformed by the Holy Spirit, it can be a source of joy and encouragement to those around you.
So? God has given you a personality that approaches life in a unique way. Apply it with righteousness and be a blessing. Or just be clamorous.
Saturday, February 8, 2020
It Just Fits
(Pro 8:23 KJV) I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Wisdom is a mystery and at the same time it is obvious. This verse reminds us that some things never change. They are eternal. They do not warp to fit culture or the mores of the day. They do not depend on how you feel or what the latest opinion pole tells us. This is a Biblical truth that is very much in conflict with our modern world. In reality it has always been in conflict with the thinking of any age.
Where we fail is in trying to stretch eternal truth to fit what we want for the day. I don’t know if you have any Tupperware in your home. I am sure you have some variation of it. There are times when you have two containers and two lids that are slightly different from each other. If you try to force the wrong lid on the container you have issues. With enough force you might get it to stay in place...for awhile. You know it isn’t right but you are going to be in charge.
So? Wisdom is like that. You can twist, tweak and pound. You can make it seem to fit but in your heart you will know that it is not right. Listen with honesty.
Wisdom is a mystery and at the same time it is obvious. This verse reminds us that some things never change. They are eternal. They do not warp to fit culture or the mores of the day. They do not depend on how you feel or what the latest opinion pole tells us. This is a Biblical truth that is very much in conflict with our modern world. In reality it has always been in conflict with the thinking of any age.
Where we fail is in trying to stretch eternal truth to fit what we want for the day. I don’t know if you have any Tupperware in your home. I am sure you have some variation of it. There are times when you have two containers and two lids that are slightly different from each other. If you try to force the wrong lid on the container you have issues. With enough force you might get it to stay in place...for awhile. You know it isn’t right but you are going to be in charge.
So? Wisdom is like that. You can twist, tweak and pound. You can make it seem to fit but in your heart you will know that it is not right. Listen with honesty.
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