(Pro 7:6 KJV) For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
I wonder if this picture is studied or accidental. It doesn’t tell us if the observer has been standing there a long time looking for something specific. He could have just glanced out and seen one young man who stood out. I imagine in life we will run into both.
It is good for us to look around us and be observant. When I read about people who are attacked or have problems it is amazing how often it is a result of being someplace they should have avoided. I live in Texas. We have quite a bug population including scorpions. Scorpions like to sit in out of the way places. Scorpions sting. Stings hurt. So I make it a practice not to pick up boxes in corners without looking.
Sometimes we need to simply be paying attention and we will see things. I don’t usually have any problem running into deer while I am walking across the yard. It does not take much for us to avoid each other.
So? Be alert and keep you brain in gear. God promises to guard us but it is amazing how often we are told to be alert in spite of that. He never promised to make all doors open in the direction we are going.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Beyond Skin Deep
(Pro 6:25 KJV) Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
I don’t know if we are ever going to win this one. God made creation beautiful and gave us the ability to appreciate it. That may be one of the differences in us that make up the image of God. I can’t imagine a cow on a hillside being entranced by the view across the valley. When your dog looks at you with puppy eyes I don’t think it is “beauty” (3308) he is seeing.
Maybe that is a lesson for us. Your dog doesn’t care if you have sox that match or if your hair is combed. He might care if you had a bath but I would not count on it. There is some deeper and more basic connection that he is making. We are all about culture and appreciation of the arts and knowing good coffee when we taste it. That ability is from God. So is the ability to look beyond the surface and make decisions based on more important values.
So? Are you beautiful? On the outside or the inside? One is more important than the other.
I don’t know if we are ever going to win this one. God made creation beautiful and gave us the ability to appreciate it. That may be one of the differences in us that make up the image of God. I can’t imagine a cow on a hillside being entranced by the view across the valley. When your dog looks at you with puppy eyes I don’t think it is “beauty” (3308) he is seeing.
Maybe that is a lesson for us. Your dog doesn’t care if you have sox that match or if your hair is combed. He might care if you had a bath but I would not count on it. There is some deeper and more basic connection that he is making. We are all about culture and appreciation of the arts and knowing good coffee when we taste it. That ability is from God. So is the ability to look beyond the surface and make decisions based on more important values.
So? Are you beautiful? On the outside or the inside? One is more important than the other.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Well Known Strangers
(Pro 5:17 KJV) Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
There are three concepts that get confused in translation. The word that brings this up is “strangers” (2114a). In this chapter it carries the idea of an adulteress which is another of the concepts and the third is foreigner. The point here, although rooted in a discussion of adultery, is that there are certain people whom you are not to trust. It does not mean that you can mistreat them or sin against them. It just means that they are outside of any covenant with you and thus do not live the way you do.
Or at least there should be a difference. The thing is that we are the ones who are supposed to be different. The ways of the stranger are the long established ways of the world. The ways of the believer are different. We look in horror at the revelations about the euphemism of “human trafficking”. We forget the age old terms of prostitution and child molestation and act like this is something new. No, it is not new. God’s people have always stood against it but as we have been conforming to the world it has become accepted.
So? We are to be holy. We are to reject the ways of the world whether it is updated with modern language or the simple old terms we have known for so long. Remember that the Greek word for church means “called out ones”.
There are three concepts that get confused in translation. The word that brings this up is “strangers” (2114a). In this chapter it carries the idea of an adulteress which is another of the concepts and the third is foreigner. The point here, although rooted in a discussion of adultery, is that there are certain people whom you are not to trust. It does not mean that you can mistreat them or sin against them. It just means that they are outside of any covenant with you and thus do not live the way you do.
Or at least there should be a difference. The thing is that we are the ones who are supposed to be different. The ways of the stranger are the long established ways of the world. The ways of the believer are different. We look in horror at the revelations about the euphemism of “human trafficking”. We forget the age old terms of prostitution and child molestation and act like this is something new. No, it is not new. God’s people have always stood against it but as we have been conforming to the world it has become accepted.
So? We are to be holy. We are to reject the ways of the world whether it is updated with modern language or the simple old terms we have known for so long. Remember that the Greek word for church means “called out ones”.
Friday, October 4, 2019
A Word Gone Dirty
(Pro 4:2 KJV) For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
One thing that puts my teeth on edge is the number of people who go around claiming to be followers of Jesus and rejecting the idea of doctrine. They say it is all about Jesus not doctrine. That is a totally unbiblical and unchristian attitude. The KJV uses “doctrine” (3498) while the NASB tries to avoid controversy by translating “teaching”. This simply begs the question which moves on to “What do you teach?” If you are part of the “Jesus Only” group then the question is, “What do you teach about Jesus?” Whether you teach what He taught or teach about Him you have moved into doctrine.
The New Testament is more clear on this issue. The word translated doctrine in the NT and the word translated teaching are almost always the same. Doctrine is not a dirty word. It is simply one of those words that the modern age has tried to avoid because it requires them to surrender some of their ego and self power. That sounds like a good thing.
So? Of course there is bad doctrine as well as good doctrine. The best way to know the difference is by reading the source of the doctrine and using your own mind under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Happy growing.
One thing that puts my teeth on edge is the number of people who go around claiming to be followers of Jesus and rejecting the idea of doctrine. They say it is all about Jesus not doctrine. That is a totally unbiblical and unchristian attitude. The KJV uses “doctrine” (3498) while the NASB tries to avoid controversy by translating “teaching”. This simply begs the question which moves on to “What do you teach?” If you are part of the “Jesus Only” group then the question is, “What do you teach about Jesus?” Whether you teach what He taught or teach about Him you have moved into doctrine.
The New Testament is more clear on this issue. The word translated doctrine in the NT and the word translated teaching are almost always the same. Doctrine is not a dirty word. It is simply one of those words that the modern age has tried to avoid because it requires them to surrender some of their ego and self power. That sounds like a good thing.
So? Of course there is bad doctrine as well as good doctrine. The best way to know the difference is by reading the source of the doctrine and using your own mind under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Happy growing.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Dealing with Raw Oats
(Pro 3:2 KJV) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
This is a promise that speaks to me today. I was ambushed this morning by some doom and gloom about the deep state and how they were controlling the weather and it seemed there was no hope. Woe is me. Then I read Proverbs 3 and the rock came up to meet my feet. The rock is not just a big boulder but the foundation of creation.
The important thing to include is that this is not an empty promise without context. You need to read around it and absorb the magic ingredients. Raw oats are a the promise of nutrition but it is an empty promise if they are not prepared. Oats require some kind of milling, a liquid to cook them in, a fire to heat the mixture and ideally a bit of salt and some sweetener. God’s promises are often like that.
So? It is a day to rejoice and a day to prepare for the next day’s rejoicing.
This is a promise that speaks to me today. I was ambushed this morning by some doom and gloom about the deep state and how they were controlling the weather and it seemed there was no hope. Woe is me. Then I read Proverbs 3 and the rock came up to meet my feet. The rock is not just a big boulder but the foundation of creation.
The important thing to include is that this is not an empty promise without context. You need to read around it and absorb the magic ingredients. Raw oats are a the promise of nutrition but it is an empty promise if they are not prepared. Oats require some kind of milling, a liquid to cook them in, a fire to heat the mixture and ideally a bit of salt and some sweetener. God’s promises are often like that.
So? It is a day to rejoice and a day to prepare for the next day’s rejoicing.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Deviation
(Pro 2:15 KJV) Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
The KJV again uses the English “froward” (3868) but there is a difference in this Hebrew word. That is why the NASB says “devious”. I think a better word would be sidetracked. It means to turn aside. It is a picture of someone who knows where they are supposed to be going and how to get there but decides to dally.
Sometimes the distraction is momentary and no issue but when we allow the pattern to set in it becomes a destructive habit. Have you ever missed an important appointment because you stopped to do one more thing on the way? It may have been important and a good thing to do but it kept you from something more important.
So? One appointment you don’t want to miss is with Jesus. Don’t let the good distract you from the best.
The KJV again uses the English “froward” (3868) but there is a difference in this Hebrew word. That is why the NASB says “devious”. I think a better word would be sidetracked. It means to turn aside. It is a picture of someone who knows where they are supposed to be going and how to get there but decides to dally.
Sometimes the distraction is momentary and no issue but when we allow the pattern to set in it becomes a destructive habit. Have you ever missed an important appointment because you stopped to do one more thing on the way? It may have been important and a good thing to do but it kept you from something more important.
So? One appointment you don’t want to miss is with Jesus. Don’t let the good distract you from the best.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Wayward
(Pro 1:31 KJV) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
What is the result of doing things our “way” (1870)? Can you think of a time when someone gave you a chore with specific directions and you did it your way instead? When it comes to taking out the garbage you may get away with it but shortcuts in cooking chicken can get you poisoned. The problem with being human is that we tend to see things from our perspective. We expect people to see us coming. As a result we often “eat” (398) it.
So? God did not give us the written word so that we would have a use for excess paper. It is there to share the wisdom of a better way. It is there to guide us to salvation and righteousness. It is something you cannot do your way.
What is the result of doing things our “way” (1870)? Can you think of a time when someone gave you a chore with specific directions and you did it your way instead? When it comes to taking out the garbage you may get away with it but shortcuts in cooking chicken can get you poisoned. The problem with being human is that we tend to see things from our perspective. We expect people to see us coming. As a result we often “eat” (398) it.
So? God did not give us the written word so that we would have a use for excess paper. It is there to share the wisdom of a better way. It is there to guide us to salvation and righteousness. It is something you cannot do your way.
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