Don’t Confuse Me with Sin

(Pro 14:9 KJV)  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

I hate to admit it but I am starting to listen to discussions on You Tube.  Some I only let go a few minutes before I tune out.  Others I listen to in segments.  I have a rather short attention span for talking heads.  One genre I get something from are apologists like Alicia Childers.  One of the current heresies they often refer to is called Progressive Christianity.  It is progressive in the sense that Margaret Sanger and Benito Mussolini were progressives.  They all have a goal of destroying from within.  

One of the questions that comes up is how so many mega-churches attract so many people with their false gospel.  It is because the “mock at sin” as this verse says it.  They deny the historical Jesus.  They say the physical resurrection did not happen.  They have a lot of explanations for why Jesus came but all of them avoid the issue of sin and the need for forgiveness.

They are fools.

So?  Don’t get sucked into the successful model of making people feel good about themselves.  We can do so but it must be based on the fact that Jesus has redeemed us.  That means we needed to be redeemed.  That requires humility.  It is an unpleasant truth. 

The Joy of Poverty

(Pro 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Both the translations I work from agree on the translation of “rebuke” (1606).  That seems to be the meaning of the Hebrew word.  It seemed a bit strange but when I looked through the translations I have I noticed that many of them took a different spin.  The International Standard Version gives a good sample of this.

(Pro 13:8 ISV) The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom, but whoever is poor receives no threats.

Think of it as an advantage of being poor.  If you are a thief are you going to break into the house of a poor man or a rich one?  To many this seems obvious.  I am not sure that people who live in poor neighborhoods would agree that it is that simple but you understand the concept.

So?  Should we rejoice that we are not worth robbing?  I think the idea is more that our focus is different and we benefit from it.  Remember what Jesus said about a rich man and the eye of a needle. 

Getting Physical

(Pro 12:14 KJV)  A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Other places the Bible deals with our though life and attitudes.  Here the emphasis has to do with the actions we take that are visible and audible to others.  The old chant about “sticks and stones” is not a well established Bible doctrine.  Salvation involves the words of our mouth.  We confess Jesus as Lord.  We speak truth and reject lies.  It also demands that we use our bodies in his service.  Remember the words of Paul,

(Rom 12:1 KJV)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

So?  Guard your mouth and your hands.  Both can be a source of blessing or evil.  Both are easy to misuse. 

Ignoring the Obvious

(Pro 11:5 KJV)  The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

For today I want you to ignore the different words used to describe how well this believer was doing the job of obedience.  What struck me today, starting in this verse, was the constant emphasis that we make choices in the direction our life will go.  The decisions are described in different ways but they all have the understanding that we have choices and we decide whether we are going to go God’s way or Satan’s way.  There is also the implication that the direction you chose has results in your life and the after life.

So?  If you are coasting and keep finding yourself saying, “Of well, I am saved by grace” then might I suggest that you do a little deeper reading about what the Christian life is all about.  I will not judge you.  Do it yourself.  Don’t get hung up on the letter of the law but ask yourself are you using Ephesian 2:8 as an excuse to ignore Ephesians 2:10. 

Cheap Lessons

(Pro 10:13 KJV)  In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

As I get older I find that I am getting more frequent in stupid moves.  About a year a go I fell twice in a week, or maybe I should say tripped.  There was nothing beyond my ability to deal with except I wasn’t paying attention.  I find that when I set a cup down I sometimes miss the coaster and knock things over with my gestures.  None of these things are different than when I was younger except for the frequency.  I think that the pain from hitting my head on a cupboard I left over or the embarrassment of spilling my soup down my shirt are probably ways in which God tries to apply the “rod” (7626) to us older folks.

Each event reminds me that I need to pay more attention.  I can’t do things on auto-pilot any more.  The parallel to our spiritual lives should be obvious.

So?  Be grateful for the kind of reminders that don’t do any real damage except to our ego and sense of being in control.  The learning never stops. 

Value of Repetition

(Pro 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

One of the benefits of reading through Proverbs every month is the repetition.  This verse is one that is often quoted and almost as often ignored.  It is one that would bear meditating on every day.  It reminds us of the fearsome, awesome, nature of the Lord.  

So?  Join me in enjoying a bit of reminder.

Me First Project

(Pro 8:16 KJV)  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

One of the most pointless topics of discussion is what is wrong with our country and what do we do about it.  This has been a focus of debate since at least the Tower of Babel.  There are many things that could be done.  There are exactly as many that will not be.  What is missing is wisdom.  Here we have mention of princes, nobles and judges.  None of them has a clue.  All think they have the answer.  Does it remind you of today?

So?  Do what you can to reform the world.  I would not want to dissuade you.  More important, while you are at it is to join me in the Me First Project.  That isn’t to get our goodies first but to start working on our own grasp of wisdom and ability to hear the direction of the Lord.