Spiritualizing

(Pro 18:14 KJV)  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

It always amazes me what some people can go through and still be pleasant to be around.  Recently on my other blog I had someone comment on the struggles she had gone through.  She did not get bitter and she came out in victory.  I think of friends who lost children, of parents who died young, of illness and infirmity.  

Some people remain positive because that spirit within them has an attitude that is not defeated by circumstances.  Others go down in bitter defeat.  I think much of it depends on the choices we make in our inner self.  I know that at times when I am starting to sink I have to make a choice.  So far I have not sunk so low that I cannot turn around.  Much of it for me comes down to whether I am going to revel in my suffering or trust in my Savior.  That is simplistic but still true.

So?  There is a good chance today will bring something that could be a tragedy.  The same thing could also be a blessing.  It depends on what spirit we have in charge of our lives.

Hope and Less

(Pro 17:11 KJV)  An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Are you into the promises of God?  Here is one that you may have overlooked.  It may come too late to improve your life.  In addition to that we are warned not to celebrate when our enemies suffer.  The promise could be summarized, “They will get theirs.”  It takes different forms.

Part of the message they will receive they may not even recognize.  At a recent service the pastor commented on not understanding how people could get through life without the Lord.  The answer is, “Not very well.”  People are good at covering up but the inner misery that comes from not having the assurance of God’s care are frustrating at best and crippling at worst.  And that is just in this life.  Keep in mind that the suffering will go on into eternity.

So?  Yes, persecution might be coming.  It can go from a simple thing like a flat tire to being locked up in a concentration camp.  In the midst of that is what both the Old and New Testaments call hope.  I wish all could be saved but it isn’t going to happen.  All I can do is be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in me. 

Don’t Raise Your Voice to Me, Young Man

(Pro 16:21 KJV)  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

If you compare this verse with the NASB you find a different emphasis.  One seems to imply that moderate speech will make you a better teacher.  The other goes with the idea that it will make it easier for the listener.  As with so many places in scripture it is a matter of both.  

Harsh speech will often overshadow what you want to say.  The attitude will limit you as a teacher in trying to communicate.  It is also almost impossible for some to listen to words when all they hear is an angry attitude.

So?  It is a consistent point throughout the Bible.  Think of the beginning of the definition of love with patience and kindness.  Think of the Beatitudes with the meek inheriting the earth.  It is a sound principle for almost all of our relationships and interactions.  Moderation in everything except your love for the Lord. 

Your Move

(Pro 15:3 KJV)  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

This verse should be either a reason for hope or a reason to panic.  God is “watching” (6822) all that we do.  Think about that for a moment.  I know we believe it but do we live it.  For people who are aware that they are saints only because they have trusted in the blood of Jesus to wash away their sin, this is a reminder that God is keeping an eye on them.  It might give them reason to relax or an encouragement to get more serious about how they live.

For those who are either rejecting God or thinking they can play games, it is a very real warning.  Yes, He is patient.  Yes, He wants us to come to Him, but, and it is a big but, there is a limit to how long He will withhold the thunderbolts or whatever has been designed just for you.  

So?  One of the blessings of grace is we won’t get what we deserve.  One of the curses of God’s holiness is that many will.  Now the daily decisions are up to us.

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.