June 30

Jun 30 -Today from Proverbs 30 we look at verses 15 & 16

"The leech has two daughters. 'Give! Give!' they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say 'Enough!': the grave, the barren womb, land which is never satisfied with water, and fire which never says, "Enough!"

Whoever Agur is (verse 1), he is a wise and learned man who teaches in a very Middle-Eastern fashion. He observes the world and then draws the students in to contemplate the lessons to be learned from these observations. "Three things . . . four" is a poetic way of indicating that the list is exemplary, but not complete. In this case, some commentators attempt to attach specific definition to the two daughters of the leech (e.g. Matthew Henry identifies them as cruelty and covetousness). But I think we can tend to limit Agur's goals by doing so. We can definitely identify the character of the leech - a parasite that lives by getting its nutrition through sucking the blood of a donor animal. The two daughters would be analogies likened to the characteristics of the parent, and open to discussion and interpretation of the student. Agur then gives his examples from observing nature. The lesson to be learned is the lesson of detecting and avoiding things that consume without giving return of any substance for life. In nature, the teacher observes the examples of:
the grave (Sheol, the place of the dead) - consumes every single person ever given over to death and never puts out a 'No Vacancy' sign
the barren womb - consumes every attempt to conceive a child and leaves the heart of the discouraged woman only longing
sandy soil - water seems to endlessly disappear. When you think you have it saturated, you can start all over again the next day
fire - as long as you feed it, it will continue to consume
Each example has its own peculiarity, yet each consumes. Okay students, what can we learn? Well, there are probably many lessons to be learned. But my mind goes to the practical lesson of stewardship here. Wisdom seeks to live a productive life, handling the resources which God provides in order to see God's plan for life prosper in the world. As stewards of God's gifts and resources, we need to learn what types of things might consume them without benefit, and then avoid those things. Recreation could be a very good example. God understands our need for recreation, and He has made provision for that in His plan. But when recreation (or any kind of pleasure), becomes a major value in life, it will consume our life resources as surely as a daughter of the leech will suck a donor's blood. In the end, it will leave us empty and wanting. Recognizing the 'daughters of the leech' in one's life takes discernment. I don't believe they are the same for every person, and I believe the text indicates there are always more than one. They are the things that gain priority over productive investments in life because values become misplaced. We are not to look for analogies in the examples. We are to learn the principle from the examples. There are things in life that will endlessly receive all the resources we care to put into them and will never benefit life as God intended it to be. How does one discern what these things might be in their own life?
Let God Lead . . . after all, the resources belong to Him.

June 29

Jun 29 - Today from Proverbs 29 we look at verse 11
"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (NIV)
"A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." (KJV)

This is a contrast of how two different people handle themselves in a provoking situation. One is a fool, the other is wise. What is the difference? One has learned that it is not prudent to give voice to your emotions when they are out of control.
What is a chief characteristic of a fool? It's a person who is self-absorbed. They can be fairly decent people to be around until you inconvenience them by interfering with their life the way they demand it to be, or you insult them by inferring that there may be things of higher priority than their particular preferences. When you do, they are very quick to let you know, and are prone to hurl curses as easily as they breathe. It is very difficult to reason with a fool. They become self-perpetuating victims of their own unpopular behavior. They also make very poor leaders. I know of some very bright business owners who are fortunate to have the foresight and to be gifted to have enough capital to hire a good PR person to deal with their clients. In such cases, the PR person essentially gets paid to take abuse from the owner so that the clients don't have to. There also may be a select few who have enough public talent to afford the luxury of being a public hot head. And from what I see of public figures who have earned such a reputation, they don't seem to be very happy people anyway. But most fools don't have enough money to hire a faithful whipping boy or enough popularity and/or talent to get away with abusing their public. Instead, they go through life being small people with attitudes that invite even more provocation.
What is the chief characteristic of a wise person? They seek to view life from God's perspective and to live life the way God meant it to be. There are two critically important factors involved; God's Word, and God's Spirit of Grace. Without them, one can never truly grow in wisdom. Granted, even wise people can tend to get angry when provoked. But a wise person has learned not to react in the heat of the moment. Our emotions can betray us, particularly when they are controlled by the flesh. Such anger can distort our perspective and cause us to do or say something that we might regret for a very long time. It's not easy living with regrets. It is wise to keep it in till afterwards. After what? After the flare of emotion has subsided and one is able to think more objectively about the situation. These are the kind of people who make good leaders. Notice the teacher says "keepeth it in till . . ." Until means to a point, and then after that point, you don't have to keep it in any more. Wisdom learns where that point is, and then what can be done about the situation after that point. That point would include recognizing that you are an ambassador of Christ, and you are responsible to represent His character in the matter (His character is found in the fruit of the Spirit). That point would include an attempt to take time and understand what the real issue or issues might be in the situation (surface issues are seldom the root of conflict). That point may even include praying in the time of temptation - when you are having difficulty controlling your own attitude. God gives grace to the humble. The wise learn to humble themselves when provoked. Then, whatever is needed to keep the situation under control, God will provide the sufficient grace.
Some psychiatrists say it's healthy to give full vent to your anger. Well, if you want to follow the counsel of the psychiatrists, grab a hammer and vent your anger on your automobile, or some other valuable inanimate object belonging to you. Then you will get an idea of the unseen damage done when you give full vent to your anger on people. It's pretty ugly. And remember, people are made in God's image! We're the people of God. We are called to honor Him. We do that by properly representing Him - even when we are provoked to anger.

June 28

Jun 28 - Today from Proverbs 28 we look at verse 5
" Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully." (NIV)
"Evil men understand not judgment but they that seek the Lord understand all things." (KJV)

I have included the KJV version of this verse because the text is more true to the original language. We generally think of justice as a noun. A good dictionary definition of justice is "The upholding of what is just fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law." In the verse at hand, the word translated 'justice' is a verb and indicates 'the formal pronouncement of judicial decree'. I believe it makes a difference if we are going to meditate on the verse. Okay . . . vocabulary class dismissed.
Justice is a divine attribute. Apart from God's revelation and decrees of moral law, there would be no basis for justice. Every man would do what is right in his own eyes. That's exactly what God says of His people as we watch Israel go through years of chaos in the book of Judges. And what did God do in the midst of this chaos? He raised up Judges in Israel. Did you ever wonder why they were called Judges instead of governors or kings? Because their specific purpose was not to ward of the oppressors and protect the people's rights. Their purpose was to make sound judgments - to stand in God's authority and decree God's moral law. The reason the Israelites were being oppressed is because they did not practice justice! They lost sight of it, and the Judges were appointed to get the nation refocused on fair treatment in accordance with honor, standards, and the law.
Evil men do not understand the just decrees of God. If they did, they would repent of their evil ways. Justice is a two-edged sword. Those who use it to establish fairness and equity, to reward goodness, and to bless their neighbor, find reward themselves. They live with a better attitude. They walk in favor with God and with men. They are sought after and entrusted. But justice also cuts the other way. Those who take advantage of and abuse others, who seek revenge against others, who live only to fulfill their own selfish desires, and who scorn moral boundaries, will taste the punishing edge of the sword of justice.
Even as believers, we are foolish to think that we have escaped the punishing edge of the sword because of the blood of Christ. God's justice prevails - forever. Jesus' blood secured our salvation (I simply cannot write this as a passing comment. Thank you Lord Jesus for your unspeakable mercy. . .), but that precious blood did not remove the punishing edge of the sword.
"But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." -Matthew 12:36, 37
"You then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." -Romans 14:10, 12
"(On that Day, each man's work) will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." -1 Cor. 3:13, 14
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account." -Hebrews 13:17
That's easily enough scripture on which to build a doctrine. There is much more to support it. Even as believers, we will not escape God's judgment. But, as the 1 Corinthians text shares, judgment is not negative. There is also reward in judgment. We are free-will agents. Unlike 'evil men', we can chose which side of the sword of justice we want to be judged from. Here's the key; "They that seek the Lord. . ." Not once, but continually. Seeking God is an act of abiding.
One more verse for today. It comes from Mica 6:8. If believers will seek to understand and follow its principles, we will be the church unblemished. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Men who set these principles before them never need to fear the punishing edge of the sword of justice.
Wisdom understands justice fully.

June 27

Jun 27 - Today from Proverbs 27 we look at verse 7
"He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet."

An insight on the paradox of human nature. One would think that a person who got everything he wanted when he wanted it would be a very grateful person indeed. And one would believe that a person who had just enough to live on would be bitter and ungrateful. But the truth is, that as a rule, just the opposite is true. It is a malady we have come to know as 'spoiled'. To spoil something is to impair its quality. "Oh, now you've spoiled the surprise." How many times have you heard that? Someone tipped off the recipient of the surprise, and it no longer had the intended impact - it was quality impaired.
One quality God desires in man is that of gratitude. Why would we think a loving God, who desires His people to be a quality people, would give us everything we want when we want it? Because we somehow equate that with love. But that's just not true. Love learns to withhold so that the object of love learns appreciation and gratitude. Wisdom prays the little prayer of Proverbs 30:7-9 often, because wisdom knows that when we have too much we 'disown' God and say "Who is the Lord?" We become ungrateful, spoiled brats.
Even wisdom stumbles when it is spoiled. The wisest natural man who ever lived was King Solomon. By his wisdom he attained great wealth and power. He had everything a man could possibly want, and more. Eventually he 'disowned God'. There was no gratitude, no awe for the God who gave him the gift of wisdom. He brought idols into the temple, and built other temples for the foreign gods his wives worshipped. Why? Because he could do anything he wanted. Solomon literally had all the wealth of the world at his disposal, and he became quality impaired.
I cannot point a finger at Solomon. I have to wrestle with my own heart. I have traveled to some of the most impoverished places in the world. I have seen people bow before me for giving them a bar of soap, or a box of crackers. I have seen people weep and kiss the Bible that I had just handed them as though it were the most precious thing in the world. I remember a trip to the slums of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. We witnessed a child picking up dog entrails out of the gutter to bring home for dinner (the better part of the dog was butchered by an older man). We saw and worked with people who lived on the edge of starvation. They were so poor - and so very grateful. On the flight home I picked up a copy of USA Today. The headlines were about the record gross receipts that the Batman movie had taken in that weekend. I suddenly held America in contempt. They were spending millions to see some Hollywood trash while children were eating dog entrails - or less. It takes awhile to work through cynicism after such an experience. I guess one never really gets over it. Eventually I acclimate myself back into my culture, and then I come to realize that I am quality impaired. I live far above the standard of living of most of the world. Yet, I can quickly complain about the most trivial matters. I become ungrateful. If I don't practice my disciplines, I can even build temples to the gods of this world.
Gratitude gives. Grateful people help other people. Grateful people are quality people. I want to be grateful.
"Thank you Father for not giving me everything I want. Forgive me for being so ungrateful. Grant me grace to be a blessing to the poor and disenfranchised. Help me to keep my values in order - not just in my knowing, but also in my doing. Amen"

June 26

Jun 26 - Today from Proverbs 26 we look at verses 4 & 5
"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."

The section of Proverbs starting at chapter 25 was collected by King Hezekiah's aids and were specifically directed toward the king and his leaders. This chapter clearly instructs leaders to be careful in their dealings with fools, sluggards and malicious people - particularly in entrusting them with areas of authority or responsibility. Proverbs are so practical.
The two verses we are looking at today seem to directly contradict each other. Even more curious is the fact that they follow one after the other, so there is no opposing context from which they can be interpreted. This is a big clue that the reader is being challenged to think through the text and make sense of it. There must be a solution.
Here's my solution: I believe the word 'folly' in verse 4 refers to the fool's attitude and approach. Is the fool coming from a position of pride? Is he challenging the leader with sarcasm, anger, or even malice? Is the fool baiting the leader, attempting to get a response that is unbecoming of a leader and thus relegating the leader to 'just another person with an attitude' in the eyes of the people? Like it or not, leaders and public figures are held to a higher standard, and they are responsible to live with integrity and to keep that image intact. Leaders are to be just that - examples for people to follow. The writer of this proverb is instructing the leader not to follow the example of the fool. If one reacts to the baited position of a fool, one has allowed the fool to set the example. "You will be like him yourself."
I believe the word 'folly' in verse 5 refers to the content of fool's position. If the leader does not challenge the content of the fools position, the fool will have claimed to be right and will have gained influence with others. This proverb is instructing the leader to disarm the fool's improper and probably dangerous position by bringing forth clear facts assembled in an understandable format. Even if the fool will not relent from his position, his folly will have been exposed to those who otherwise may be influenced by his position. If the leader does his research and presentation well, it is likely that the fool himself will lose his position and will find no basis for being "wise in his own eyes."
How can we practically apply this? I can give you one clear way. Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" The fool is getting a pretty strong position these days because the Christians aren't skilled at disarming their position. There are two challenges for us as Christians. First, we are not to respond to non-Christians in kind when they are snide, mean-spirited, and vicious against the Christian community. "Bless those who curse you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14). To bless means to speak well of. To curse means to speak ill of. We need grace to live in such a manner. Then secondly, we are to be able to defend our faith in an intelligent manner. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15). Every believer should be able to clearly articulate the means of salvation. Every believer should be able to give a clear and concise testimony regarding their own faith. As Christians, we are called to be leaders in that we set the example to the world - both in attitude and in faith. The sad thing about the fools setting the example is that they are leading people to a Christless eternity.
Wisdom knows how to properly answer a fool.

June 25

Jun 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verse 28
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control."

In the day these proverbs were written, city walls were very important. Not only were they a stronghold against enemies whose intention was to conquer, but they were also an effective means for the king (or the king's governor), to control the culture of the city. One clear example of this is found in Nehemiah 13:15-22. The city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes' ruling representative (governor) of the city. Nehemiah was also a Jew who honored God and His Law. We see in this passage that God's Law was being broken as merchants from all over the land were coming into the city on the Sabbath to ply their trade. Nehemiah was furious! The reason God allowed the city to be captured and destroyed over seven decades ago was because God's people had forsaken the Law of God and turned to the ways of the nations around them. Nehemiah effectively used the walls to correct this situation. He ordered the city gates closed on the eve of the Sabbath, and they were to remain closed until the Sabbath was over. Without walls, the greedy merchants could covertly enter the city at any point and probably never be detected. For Nehemiah, the walls protected the Jewish culture from deteriorating back into a pagan culture.
The lesson for us is clear. Some people view 'self control' as inhibiting. They like the adventure of 'living without boundaries'. But, God warns us in this verse, and in many other passages, that without self control a person exposes their spiritual integrity to constant danger. Danger from attacks of the powers of darkness, and danger from the erosion of the 'world merchants' who would lure us into compromising God's Law. Self control is our chief protection.
When a believer comes to understand that God's Law is meant to protect us and provide for us, self control becomes much more attractive. The spiritual lessons found in the book of Nehemiah are many and are profound. It is a handbook on leadership. The central theme of the book is the wall of Jerusalem. It was broken down. The people were scattered. They had all but lost their identity. They had no protection from the enemies who would control them. They were slaves in their own land. When news of the condition of his people reached Nehemiah, his heart was broken. His single burning ambition was to get the wall rebuilt as soon as possible and at all costs. Nehemiah's ambition wasn't to be governor of Jerusalem. His ambition was to see God's order restored in the lives of His people. Nehemiah was an Old Testament type of Christ. He knew the key to restoring order, identity, protection and liberty for His people was to get the city wall up and to effectively use the wall for God's glory and purposes. That's the priority we are to set on self control.
We really have no excuse for living without the boundaries of self control. It is a fruit of the Spirit. One sure way of maintaining our wall is to abide in Christ - to keep our relationship with Him vital. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine." (-Jesus, John 15:4)
Wisdom embraces the wall of self control, understanding the eternal values of the boundaries of life in Christ.

June 24

Jun 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we look at verses 17 & 18
"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from him."

God's wrath is righteous and just, but there is no pleasure involved. In the last Day many will endure the wrath of God, but it remains the will of His heart that none should perish. Ezekiel 33:11 could not make it more clear; "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live." We are not in harmony with the Father if we take delight in the misfortunes and death of our perceived enemies. Hatred is never a proper motivation for a war. Self-preservation and justice can be. When motivation is hatred and revenge, it becomes a force of evil and God withdraws His approval.
As individuals, Jesus calls for us to actually love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Then He gives the reason why, "That you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (5:45). A good son follows the proper examples set by his father. Jesus says, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9). Jesus prayed for those who persecuted Him - even from the very cross to which they nailed Him. When you love and pray for your enemies, it is very difficult to gloat and rejoice when they stumble and fall. If they do fall, it is to be a sovereign act of God's justice through whatever instrument He desires, and not an act of the revenge of His sons. James 1:20 says, "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." Conversely, we can say that the righteous life God desires was never intended to gratify the anger of man.
In regards to the implementation of justice, I would like to point out some principles from other verses of this chapter. Verses 24 and 25 indicate that justice is to be implemented by the governing authorities authorized to convict or release, and that they themselves will be judged according to their integrity in service of justice. Verse 29 makes it very clear that the individual and the unauthorized do not have permission or authority to take justice into his/their own hands. It is ludicrous to say to the governing authorities "Judge not." That is their responsibility before God (Romans 13:1-6), and they will give an accounting to God. When you see such admonitions and commands in the Bible, they are directed toward individuals. There is no peace or Godliness in a nation ruled by vigilantism and anarchy - "Every man doing that which is right in his own eyes." I do not want to live in such a nation.
As the church, we can easily apply these principles. God has ordained offices of authority in the church. They will stand before God one day and give an accounting for their actions (Hebrews 13:17). The members of the church will also give an accounting - as to how well they submitted to the authority of the leaders and did not take judgment into their own hands. Vigilantism in the church is far too common, and destroys the unity and the testimony of the church. As believers we are to pray for our enemies, bless those who persecute us, and leave judgment to God through His appointed instruments. We are to be in such close relationship with the Lord that we empathize with His passion for those who do not yet know Him. We should mourn for those who are headed for a Christless eternity, and not rejoice in their demise and misfortune. If and when possible, we are to offer them a 'cup of cold water', and minister to their needs. All of this is only possible in the power of the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of grace.

June 23

Jun 23 - Today from Proverbs 23 we look at verse 7
"He (the stingy man, verse 6), is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you."

I happen to know people like this. I knew one particular person quite intimately - myself. I wish I could tell you that I am now as generous as God would have me. I wish I could tell you that my faith is now perfect and my values never waiver. If I did, I would be lying to you. But, by the grace of God, I am so much further than I used to be. Perhaps one day I will able to be consistently generous without ever considering the cost.
It's confession day. I am going to reveal something of the person I was before I met and came to truly know the Lord Jesus. I didn't know it then, but I was stingy. I believed I was the master of my time. I often equated my money (and it wasn't that much), with the time it took me to earn it. My poor wife. After our children came, she devoted her time to being a mother and the keeper of our home. I could no longer equate any of our money with her time, so my attitude was that our money related to my time. (Please - this isn't easy. The Lord had a lot of work to do on this boy.) When we went out to a restaurant and the kids wouldn't finish their meal, I would calculate how many hours I had to work in order for us to have this wonderful time out together, and I would get a little attitude. The time ended up being not as wonderful as it could have been. When my wife went out and shopped for Christmas gifts for the boys, my mental calculator went into overdrive. "Do you realize how many hours I had to work for all of that stuff?" How could she be so reckless with my time? As the days approached April 15, it was unbearable to be in the same room with me. I would calculate how many months I worked for the government the past year, and I would seethe. I rarely verbalized it, but it clearly affected my attitude. It wasn't constant. I could enjoy myself. If you were picking up the tab, I could really enjoy our time together. If I were picking it up, I was as much fun as the man in our proverb today. "Go ahead and order whatever you want. It's my turn." But please, stay out of the entrees and stick with a sandwich. Do you know how long I would have to work to pay for a t-bone? That's the curse of stinginess. I still despise any residue of stinginess that may cling in the corners of my soul. It is so unbecoming of the generosity and graciousness of my Lord and Savior.
What changed me? I became a disciple of Christ. He changed me. He became my living example of ultimate generosity. He showed me what the real values in life are. He revealed to me that my time is not my own. He taught me kingdom principles. He showed me what real love is. One thing love is not - it's not stingy. Love is abundant and overflowing. Love loves to see others blessed. Love is obedience to the Author of love. Love is letting God lead in very area of your life. God is love. (1 John 4:8)
Before I became a true disciple, I thought I was doing pretty good by dropping a ten spot in the offering plate. If I was really feeling blessed, I might double it. (I just knew God was proud of me on those days!) Little did I know that I was bound by stinginess of soul. It was only after He taught me (us - my wife was being discipled right along side me), about the tithe that I realized how selfish and prideful I was toward God. We have tithed every penny we earned since that day, and God freed me from bondage to stinginess. I don't think about the cost any more. In fact, I cannot afford to think about the cost of being generous. If one understands kingdom principles - there really is no cost. You simply cannot out-give God.

June 22

Jun 22 - Today from Proverbs 22 we look at verse 15
"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him."

Let's quickly get one thing straight; this is not license for a frustrated and angry parent/disciplinarian to abusively beat a child. It is not a mandate for a cold-hearted legalistic parent/disciplinarian to beat the 'fear of God' into a child. One cannot know the heart of our Father in heaven and take such an approach to this verse. This verse contains two observations of life on this earth:
1. Folly literally means to be perverse. A typical child has a perverse view of the reality of life as God meant it. That perversity comes naturally. It stems from the fallen nature of mankind whereby he fell from a God-centered state and acquired a self-centered state. We are born into sin. I don't think this proverb is speaking of a particularly foolish child. I think it is stating the position that every child has folly bound up in their heart. Parents must not think that their child's self-centered stubbornness and behavior is some kind of cruel exception to the joy of having children. But they also must not believe that the child is to grow in such behavior.
This brings us to the second observation made by the teacher.
2. Folly can be unbound from the heart of a child. There is hope for parents. The key is discipline. The rod of discipline would be analogous of whatever tool the parent needs to administer discipline. One of the best known uses of this word in the entire Bible is found in Psalm 23:4 - "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." If the rod were a fearful tool of the threat of abuse and pain, it could never be a tool of comfort. The 'fear of God' does not send one to the corner cowering. The ideal tools for administering discipline begin with trust, respect and a nurturing relationship. Added to them are patience, kindness and self-control. That is a picture of our Heavenly Father. He has the same task with His children as we earthly parents do with our children - to unbind from our hearts the perversions of life the way He meant it to be. He didn't come at us with a big wooden stick to beat some sense into us. He came at us with a big wooden cross to prove His love to us and to show that He is worthy of our trust and respect.
Were there times when the Shepherd administered discipline with the rod? Yes, I believe there were. That was reserved for only the very most strong-willed sheep who threatened to disrupt and mislead others in the flock. Most always, this was a young animal. I have heard a teaching from a Pastor in East Europe, where shepherding is still a lifelong career for some today. He said that there were times when the shepherd would actually administer a very trained blow to the leg of such an animal. So concise was the blow that it would cause a clean break in the bone. But . . . that isn't the whole story. The shepherd would then carry the wounded animal on his shoulders until the leg healed. Day and night the former strong-willed young animal would be totally dependent upon the shepherd. Once the leg was strong enough, the shepherd would return the sheep to the flock - and it would often turn out to be one of the most devoted of the flock. It did not develop a fear of another broken leg. It developed a sense of trust and gratitude toward the shepherd. "Cruel," you say? It took a lot of patience and extra effort for the shepherd to create such a bond. It was done out of a deep love for the animal and for unity in the flock. This extreme measure was never administered in a fit of anger. It was done with a very calculated plan to protect and enrich the life of the sheep. We can always take comfort in the rod of the Good Shepherd - whether it is to ward off the attack of wild animals, or to bring us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. His motive is always love.
Discipline can come in many forms; from a teaching, to a strong corrective word, to the removal of privilege, to an administration of pain. The form and level of discipline depends on the temperament and teachability of the child. But one thing is sure, without clear boundaries, there can be no comfort in discipline. This brings us back to the familiar concept of integrity. A child needs to clearly learn the boundaries of moral principle and behavior as set forth by the parents. These boundaries must be consistent, and discipline must be consistent in accordance with the infractions. And, the parents must also honor the integrity of the boundaries. Telling children to behave one way while practicing behavior in another will only enhance the folly of a child. To be a good disciplinarian, one must first be self-disciplined.
Discipline is necessary in the process of being a disciple. But, proper discipline is always under the management of love.

June 21

Jun 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 21
"He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor."

I will start today's meditation with a question. A question that each believer needs to ask of themselves often. The answer has profound implications.
What comes first, the blessing or obedience?
Do you have the answer yet? Of course you do -- obedience comes first. Then why is it that we often seek the blessing first? I guess because we don't ask ourselves the question enough.
What is the task of the believer? Is it to keep the whole of the law? The Jews of Jesus' day committed themselves to this concept, and they missed the blessing. They did not understand the heart of God, thus they did not understand the spirit of the law. Jesus both taught and modeled what true obedience to the Father was to look like. It is pure in its simplicity. We tend to clutter it with religion, precepts of men, and traditions of men. In Luke 10 the expert in the law was in pursuit of life. He asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" I think he was pursuing the wrong thing. Jesus told him the story of the Good Samaritan and made a slight but critical correction in his pursuit. If you want to find life, you must pursue love. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." Great answer, but the teacher of the law was still a bit fuzzy. The precepts of men blurred his vision. He needed to move the Great Commandment about 18 inches -- from his head to his heart. "Who is my neighbor?" Now Jesus will bring the pursuit of love down to its simplest terms. The story of the Good Samaritan made it unmistakable; your neighbor is anyone in close proximity who could use your help. When you obey, you are pursuing love (unconditional grace), and righteousness (equity and justice). How difficult is that to understand?
As if this weren't enough, Jesus added a new commandment. That's right, it wasn't enough to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and your neighbor as yourself. In John 13:34 Jesus says to His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." There, the command of love is complete. The church gathers to worship God and express our love to Him. The church develops mission program to help and provide for their 'neighbors' in the community. Now Jesus says that there must be love for one another in the church itself. If the world cannot see expressions of God's love within the church, why should they believe our message of Christ's love? We do not need 10,000 or 1,000 or 100 or even 10 commandments if we will but honor God and keep the commandment of love. So supreme is this commandment that Jesus' brother James calls it "the royal law" in James 2:8. So clear was Jesus' teaching to his disciples that decades later His disciple John writes to the church, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us (righteousness), we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask (the blessing), because we obey His command and do what pleases Him (obedience). And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us (the command). Those who obey His commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us (the power). – 1 John 3:21-24, parentheses mine
Is your church blessed today? Does your church need a blessing? Then ask yourself this:
"What comes first, blessing or obedience?" Then seek the Lord to see in what area there might be room for improvement in obedience.
Love God, love your neighbor, love each other. Enjoy God's blessing of life, prosperity and honor. Be filled with the Spirit.

June 20

Jun 20 - Today from Proverbs 20 we look at verse 18
"Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance."

Today, we as a nation are involved in the second shooting war of the 21st century. The opinions, feelings and emotions of the people regarding the action cover the entire spectrum. I am not going to venture into the political arguments and ramifications of the action, but I am going to key on some spiritual principles. This is a time for God's people to be on their knees. Our nation is waging war (like it or not), and the first place we need to seek guidance is from almighty God, whose kingdom and authority rules over all.
"Make plans by seeking advice." I would not like being the President of the United States in these days, facing critical decisions which affect the lives of millions, the alliance of nations, and the course of history for generations. I am confident that President George W. Bush does not hastily make decisions. He seeks advice from his staff, his cabinet, from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from the directors of various intelligence agencies, from the heads of state of friendly allies, and I am sure from numerous other sources. I am extremely grateful that our President is a man of prayer and of the faith, and that he seeks counsel from our God. He certainly doesn't come to me for advice, and for good reason; because anything I have to offer would be pretty subjective, based on emotions with limited knowledge. He doesn't go to the movie stars either, for the same reasons. I have been praying, and continue to pray something like this; "Father, surround our President with people of wisdom and integrity. May they supply him with credible advice. I pray Father that in your divine providence, you will provide the President and his advisors with clear and correct information, and that you would grant them abundant wisdom in proper use of the information. Grant our President the ability to be objective in his focus and to serve with integrity."
Arm chair politicians, movie stars, and even the news commentators do not have the resources and information that the President and his advisors have (thank goodness!). We do well to stay on our knees and intercede for the entrance and the rule of God's kingdom into the affairs of men and nations. The Apostle Paul writes to young Pastor Timothy this instruction for the church, "I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Tim. 2:1, 2). Paul tells the church that prayer for our leaders is of first importance. I often pray these days while watching the events on the news.
Today we are at war. The strength and vitality of our nation are at poised the front lines, standing in harm's way. They are ready to serve to defend the values our forefathers died for. The men and women of the armed forces of the USA have shed their blood on every continent of this world to uphold liberty and human rights. They are ready to do the same for the people of Iraq. They need our prayers and our support. Pray for the chaplains of our armed forces. They serve as Pastors and spiritual counselors. They have attentive ears and hearts. People think differently when they are facing the possibility of death and the reality of eternity. May God use these circumstances to draw the hearts of our brave defenders in this sober hour.
Finally, pray for God's transcendent grace - that which is beyond counsel, advice and knowledge. This enters into the realm of spiritual warfare. There are powers of darkness seated over the nations in the Mid-East who are worshipped as god. They deceive and influence men to become instruments of murder, of terror and of brutality. As the church, we have Christ's authority to pray against these powers. I often pray that Father would send confusion into their midst, that He would confound and expose their evil plans and their evil deeds. We also need to pray for the people who are deceived by these gods. They are not the enemy. Paul writes in Eph. 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." Again Paul writes in 2 Cor. 4:3, 4, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." There is incredible fodder for intercessory prayer just in these two passages.
The church facilities across this land should be full of His people interceding in this critical hour - but they remain empty. They only seem to fill after the enemy has struck. The church needs to learn and practice preventative maintenance. It may be slightly out of context, but the principle of 2 Cor. 4:18 holds sure, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

June 19

Jun 19 - Today from Proverbs 19 we look at verse 17
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done."

To be 'kind' in this passage means 'to bend or to stoop in kindness to an inferior'. At first that didn't sound very Christian to me - using the word 'inferior'. But then I thought about the incarnation - and the cross. I am suddenly overwhelmed with the kindness of the Lord. He was not merely a peer who took my place on that cross; He was God, the eternal Son. He was not merely born into time; He entered into time from the glory of Heaven, from the right hand of His Father. He did not come into this world without choice; He chose to leave a place of unspeakable beauty and wonder to come into this sin-laden, hate-filled world to be misunderstood, betrayed, rejected, and crucified. He stooped in kindness toward me; an unlovable, unworthy inferior, if there ever was one. I guess there is not a more fitting act for a Christian than to be kind - to stoop in kindness toward an inferior.
In order to really appreciate what this proverb is saying about being kind, we must view it in light of the Savior's example. There must be an attitude of compassion in order for the act to be kindness. To stoop to the level of an inferior could also be the definition for 'condescend'. In the context of which we most often hear this word, it is accompanied by an attitude of pride and takes on a negative feel of 'patronizing'. Jesus did not patronize us with an "I'm better than you" attitude. Jesus came as an act of passion. He had a deep desire to redeem mankind and restore him back into fellowship with the Father. He came with an attitude of kindness. He stooped not as a King throwing crumbs to the peasants; rather He stooped to shoulder our burdens and to carry away our sin.
This causes us to stop and ponder: Who are the inferior among us? Not inferior in value, but inferior in quality of life. In what ways are their lives inferior, and how can we apply kindness in the passion of the Lord? So impassioned is the Lord's heart for those who suffer, that He seems to take it as a personal favor when we minister to them. "If you will show them kindness, I will reward you." I can hardly comprehend that! But even Jesus Himself taught this principle in Matthew 25. There we read the parable of the talents, where the good stewards of the resources that God had provided them were rewarded with increase for sowing into His kingdom. Then we read the parable of the sheep and goats, which details where good stewards invested in His kingdom; "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Here is the key to genuine compassion -- "Whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me." -- identifying with the disenfranchised. If you carefully read the parable, the motive of the 'sheep' was not reward. They didn't know what the Lord was talking about. "When did we ever see you in such circumstances?" That leaves us to conclude that their motive was the same as that of the Lord - passion. The 'sheep' were people of kindness, and that kindness was birthed in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. They simply abided in the vine, and the fruit of their lives was the natural result of that abiding.
I have received three words from the Lord during a fasting and praying. They were confirmed by a man whom I did not know, who himself was fasting and praying across the state. In His providence, the Lord got these words to me to encourage me in pursuing His desire. I share them with you here. I encourage you to listen for His voice in these words. It is the plea of a Father, and of a Savior who still has much to do . . . "Be the Church!"

June 18

Jun 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 14
"A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?"

The spirit of a man is actually that part of a man which is the essence of life. God formed man's body out of the earth and then breathed life into the body (Gen. 2:7). Thus man was created in God's image - God is Spirit. In John 6:63 Jesus says, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing." It is the spirit of man that gives animation and life to the body in which he lives. The spirit is not indebted to the body, nor is it to be controlled by the body (flesh). The body is to be under the authority and control of the spirit. Somehow, sin has changes all of that. Sin has made man self-serving and self-centered. Because sin is so sensual, self-centered man focuses on appealing to the senses, thus the physical (flesh) often becomes a greater value than the spiritual.
Today's proverb is practical evidence of this truth, and gives us great insight to Christian living and ministry. The Teacher observes that a person with a healthy spirit and a positive attitude actually fights physical infirmities - even life-threatening diseases. Medical studies have proven this time and again, and medical Doctors share the importance of "keeping your spirits up" in such critical circumstances. "But," the Teacher says, "when the spirit is crushed, where does one find strength then?" As Jesus pointed out, the flesh counts for nothing. The flesh cannot minister to a wounded or crushed spirit. People try it, only to make matters worse. We know these efforts as addictions, eating disorders, and abusive patterns. When one tries to 'heal' their spirit by satisfying fleshly desires, they only further hurt themselves.
As believers, there is only one place we can turn to find healing for a crushed spirit - and that is to the Holy Spirit. We need to learn that - over and over. A crushed spirit is a very complex thing. It comes by way of failed relationships with other people - people wound the spirits of people. A cheating spouse, an abusive parent or other role figure, insensitive peers, or a culture that honors and values qualities which one does not possess. Do you see the common denominator here? The wounding party is always coming from actions and attitudes related to the values of the flesh. A cheating spouse is looking for self-satisfaction or self-worth in a physical act with another. An abusive parent attempts to control (self-will) through improper actions that might subjugate the victim toward obedience. If the abuse isn't directly physical, it almost always alludes to the physical ("You stupid, fat cow! You'll never amount to anything.") Insensitive peers always pick on physical attributes of a beleaguered child; four-eyes (eye glasses), big ears, buck-teeth, skinny, fatty, stinky, acne -- the list is endless. Depending on the temperament of the child and the self-esteem the child is given in the home, any one of these can crush the spirit and wound for life. The same goes for the culture in which a person lives. When cultural values are based on the physical attributes or social levels of people, those who do not measure up are vulnerable to a spiritual crushing every time they venture out into society.
Where do non-believers turn to find healing for their crushed spirit? Without the intervention of the Holy Spirit, most turn to the same things that wounded then, and they become wounders themselves. Some turn to spiritual "things", but if it is not the Holy Spirit, they end up serving demons without even knowing it. So, how do we get them to turn to the Holy Spirit?
"YOU are the temple of the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph. 2:22). We are to be a vessel of the healing power of Christ in the world -- especially to those who are crushed in spirit because they are physically disenfranchised; the widow, the orphan, the sojourner (homeless), the poor, the imprisoned, the abused, the stuck in poverty, the lonely, the physically handicapped, the social outcasts -- the "them". The Jews of Jesus' day had a very defined "our kind" and "them" attitude. Jesus constantly attacked that attitude with both His words and His actions -- and He has called us to follow His example. He never had to go looking for "them". They came looking for Him. They came because He lived what He taught and preached. And when He healed their crushed spirits, He called them to be his witnesses. They will come to the church when we begin to live what we teach and preach. The church is to be a hospital for the spiritually crushed, not a country club for "our kind."
Let's be the church, not forgetting where the guidance and power comes from -- the Holy Spirit.

June 17

Jun 17 - Today from Proverbs 17 we look at verse 21
"To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool."

He sat in the silence of his heart trying to figure out why his son would do such a thing. "I guess I'm not surprised," he thought. "He never did use a whole lot of common sense." Still, it hurts. He remembered holding his little boy on his lap, trying to answer the riddles of the universe:
"Daddy, why don't spiders get stuck in their webs?"
"Daddy, why can't I stay up late like you and mommy?"
"Daddy, why is red called red? What if it was called blue?"
The mysteries of life eventually gave way to the lure of sports. Tee ball. Soccer. He even tried football for awhile. It seemed like a normal childhood. Where did things change? Who is this young man who just yelled at his father and called him a crusty narrow-minded old dinosaur? Once again he came to the house with a 'big plan'. Not a well thought out plan, but that never was a factor. Once again he needed a little seed money to make the plan work. Of course he never managed to save up any money of his own, so he needed to get the seed somewhere else. Once again he sat across the table from his dad and enthusiastically laid out the fool-proof plan that would set him on easy street. Dad had been in this position too many times over the past ten years. The first few times dad seeded the boy - knowing it would end in failure. But, he figured it would be worth the value in life's lessons. The trouble is, the boy never learned. Once again he had to explain to his son all of the weaknesses and risks hidden in the plan. Risks his son has skillfully tried to bury beneath optimism and enthusiasm. Once again he had to tell his son "No. Not this time. If you want to invest my money in your future, then you need to listen to my instruction and take my advice."
Once again the son blew up. He was very skilled in expressing his anger when he didn't get his way. It seemed to the dad that this was the only side of his son he knew these days - an angry young man trying to hit the jackpot of life and scorning any who stood in his way. If one listened very closely in that very quiet room at that very moment, they could have heard a loving father's heart break. How he longed for that bright little boy who so long ago sat on his lap seeking the answers of life.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God." -1 John 3:1
The amazing wonder of our sonship is that we were not 'natural born'. God wasn't obligated to be responsible for us. He chose us, and He adopted us to be full heirs of the riches of His grace. And He didn't simply do it as a benevolent gesture. He did it because He loved us. What did it cost God to adopt me? Everything. His own life. How can we look at the cross and not be moved by the immeasurable love of our Father? It is inconceivable that He would leave the glory of His supreme seat in heaven and come to this sin-laden world and give Himself over to death on a cross in order that I might become a joint heir - a child of God with full rights of sonship. But it is true, and by His marvelous grace I am a member of the household of God. Forever!
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." -Rev. 2:4
A broken-hearted Father spoke these words to His church. His children, whom He loved and adopted with the same incredible price. Perhaps the children felt that they outgrew the need to spend time with their Father and seek His counsel and wisdom. Perhaps they felt that now that they were heirs of His riches, they should have access to them for their own plans in life. Poorly thought out plans. Self-centered plans. Plans that were opposed to the greater plans of the family trust. Perhaps they only visited the Father when they thought they needed something and never bothered to stay and visit just for the sake of visiting. Perhaps they lost sight of the wonder of their position, and what it cost their Father to place them there. Even though they may have forgotten the former days when they delighted to be in their Father's presence, the Father remembers them well - and His heart breaks.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and him with me." -Rev. 3:20
A broken-hearted Father speaks these words to His church. That's right. These are not words spoken to unbelievers, they are spoken to His children. They are the words of a broken-hearted Father who longs to sit with His children and visit. To break bread and to talk about life. To be intimate. His love has not diminished one iota. He loves His children as much today as He did when He gave His life on a cross for them. He knew you then. He knows you now. He loves you.
How about it church; Have you forsaken your first love? Has Father been knocking on your door lately? Have you invited Him in just to spend some time knowing Him? He really, really, really loves you.
Let Him in and rekindle that special relationship that He initiated - and so longs to develop. He is your loving Father.

June 16

Jun 16 - Today from Proverbs 16 we look at verse 20
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord."

What a picture. Twelve four and five year old children sitting at their little tables working on a rather complex craft. There were various steps to be taken, and they had to be done correctly and in order or the end product wouldn't much resemble the example sitting on the teacher's desk. Can you see it? If you were ever a parent or a teacher, you can already begin to imagine . . .
We need to remove the thought of money from the terms prosper and prosperity if we are ever going to grow in our understanding of God's ways. Money is such a narrow and misleading definition. To prosper means to succeed. Prosperity is having all one needs in order to succeed. Success is properly accomplishing a task. It is much broader than mere money and finances. The world system has placed money and power as the ultimate level of prosperity, not God. God's goal is much higher. His example for us sets before Him.
The twelve children in the little illustration above have a task before them. In order to successfully accomplish the task, they must follow careful instruction from the teacher. They must carefully perform each step of the process in the proper sequence in order to prosper - that is, to produce something closely resembling the teacher's example. If they are an average group of four and five year olds, how many do you suppose will prosper? One? Maybe two? Oh, I am sure mom will love and adore whatever they take home from the class - mother's are like that. But to the rest of the world, the effort meant very little.
The value of the effort for the child is called experience. If the child has a desire to prosper in the tasks at hand, the child will grow to receive instruction. The better the child gets at this, the more the child will prosper in his education and abilities. But if the child remains to be too proud, too impatient or too distracted to receive instruction, he will be bringing junk home to mama all his life. A child might like to think they know how, to believe they can do it faster, to exercise their independence by doing it themselves - but they will never grow to their potential, they will never truly prosper, until they learn to humble themselves and receive instruction.
There is still some strong-willed child in each of us. There are some areas in our lives where we still believe we can succeed and prosper without God's instruction. We don't have to wait for Him to take us through the process. We can move ahead on our own because we know how to do it ourselves. I am convinced that when we first became believers, God was proud of some of the ‘junk’ we brought home to Him. We were enthusiastic about our relationship, and we wanted so badly to please Him. He was very patient with us, and He saw our potential. But how many years have we claimed to be walking with Him, and we are still taking ‘junk’ home? How many years have we been too proud, too impatient or too distracted to humble ourselves in His presence and patiently listen to His instruction and follow it step by step toward His goals for our lives? Toward the example sitting before Him?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jer. 29:11. Yes, God has a plan for each of us, and a part of that plan is to prosper us. That doesn't mean He wants to make us all monetarily wealthy. It means that He wants to see that we have everything we need to fulfill His purpose for us. Just as the teacher in the little illustration, God has set the example before us. His Name is Jesus. Jesus is the 'finished product', and step by step God wants us to be transformed into His image. That is prospering. How serious is He about this? Look at the cross. There you will see the fullness of His commitment to our success in life. Isn't He worth receiving instruction from?

June 15

Jun 15 -Today from Proverbs 15 we look at verse 1
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

While discussing the miracle of birth, a woman shared with the group that when giving birth to their first child she literally wanted to strangle her husband. During the excruciating moments before delivery her almost unbearable pain was turned into an incredible anger, and he became the focal point of that anger. Of course the anger and urge quickly passed as the pain gave way to their first child, but the experience was still firmly etched in her memory.
Although the poor husband certainly had much to do with the birth, there was little he could do about the pain of the moment. The pain was very harsh, but we still may think it a bit odd that it stirred his wife's anger toward him. In a strange way, this is very closely related to today's proverb. As a result of the introduction of sin into the world, God tells Eve in Genesis 3:16, "With pain you will give birth to children." The Hebrew word for pain in this text is the very same word that is translated harsh in today's proverb. A broader translation of the word means pang of body or mind. A pang is a sudden harsh pain. In Eve's case, and in the case of the woman who shared her experience with us, it was a pang of the body - birth pangs. In the case of today's proverb, it is a pang of the mind - sharp and cutting words. In both cases, they tend to stir anger - rational or not.
Pang stirs anger. Whether you hit your thumb with a hammer, or an irritated driver calls you an idiot - that sharp pang of the moment causes anger to flare within. In the former case, all you can do is curse yourself. In the latter case you have the option of sending some mental pang to the one who angered you. This brings us to the point of today's proverb. It refers to an answer. It is instruction as to our response to another's words or action - especially when it causes pang. We are to be God's agents of peace, and our words can be a tremendous tool for processes of peace. I heard it stated in a recent message that "Peace is not the absence of war, it is the absence of evil." The Lord strictly admonishes us in Romans 12:17 & 21 not to repay evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good. One of the most practical ways to do this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us to control our responses.
Finesse is an acquired and practiced art. Two different people can give the same person the same message in a response and get two entirely different results. One gets the desired results of peace because he has developed and applied the art of finesse. The other gets either ignored (at best), or more probable, a hostile reaction because his words caused a mental pang. We must note that gentle and harsh do not refer to the level of intensity, they refer to the level of pang. (I know people who are masters of pang as they smile and calmly make a very mean and painful counterpoint.) The higher the level of pang, the more likely the response of anger. We need to learn to discern our subject's areas and levels of sensitivity, and address them in a manner that does not cause mental pang. It's called speaking the truth in love. We are to overcome evil with good.
In all of this, we need grace. Ultimate grace is the gift of the Holy Spirit, given that we might overcome our natural tendencies. Jesus teaches in John 15 that we can experience a constant flow of this grace by abiding in Him. Spirit controlled finesse is one evidence of abiding. Every believer has the ability to attain and grow in it. It is a most valuable tool for the church to possess as we go forth as peacemakers in a world of mental pang.
Abide in the Prince of Peace. Yield your mental pangs to the Holy Spirit. Develop the art of finesse.

June 14

Jun 14 - Today from Proverbs 14 we look at verse 15
"A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."

Life must be processed. In this sin-laden and fallen world we often find ourselves plunged into less than acceptable situations that are not of our own making. All the wishing, lamenting, complaining and finger-pointing do absolutely nothing to get us out and move us on. Life must be processed. We are to be in a constant process of growing in our understanding of life's situations, growing in character as we deal with life's situations, and finding the correct path to take as we progress through life's situations. People who learn to accept the fact that 'life isn't fair' and that it is their responsibility to set a course through the unexpected shifts in life are people who generally posses a good attitude, and who approach life as an adventure. And when these same people learn to trust God and use His principles in finding direction through the shifts of life, they develop prudence.
Let's look at processing life in three steps again:

Growing in our understanding of life's situations. We can only ever truly understand life by seeing it from God's perspective. The Bible teaches that the fall of man has corrupted the entire creation with sin, and that currently Satan is the god of this world (system). Without that understanding, we somehow believe that life should be fair (at least to 'me'). People who carry such a notion are either always complaining and down, or they are always angry and trying to make things right for themselves. They do not process life well at all. By studying God's Word, we begin to understand the reality of the world (system) in which we live.

Growing in character as we deal with life's situations. Once we understand the reality of the world (system) in which we live, we understand why things are so unfair in life. As a follower of the true God, we understand that we can bring a witness of His ways by practicing justice and loving mercy in a system that would otherwise be in a constant state of social inequity and moral chaos. We are to grow in the character of Christ. We are called to be proactive in the face of injustice and social calamity, not reactive. When processing through the lean fields of life, we are to sow the seeds of the Kingdom of God, even when we are standing in the very middle of a barren land. If we don't, the land will remain barren, producing only weeds and thorns for future generations.

Finding the correct path to take as we process through life's situations. The path we are on leads to true life. We are sojourners in this fallen world (system), on our way to the eternal place that God has prepared for us through the shed blood of His own Son. It is a system that is fair and equitable - all the time - forever. It is a world without sin, and a world where the eternal King of Glory reigns forever. We are to constantly keep that in mind, for there is only one TRUE path. It is found in an ongoing relationship with the King of Glory as we process through the situations of this life. He has given us clear principles that are to be discovered and applied from His Word, and he has given us His own Spirit to comfort and to guide.

The simple man may see life as an adventure, but there is no clear goal for him. Whoever has the most adventurous story for the current situation becomes his leader. He goes from one situation to another, never developing character, never making significant contributions of change, and never growing in understanding. One day he will come to the end of whatever path he was wandering down on that particular day and discover that it led to a pit - one from which there is no path of escape. By then it will be too late.
The prudent are on a sure path. Even though the path leads through many unexpected shifts in life, it does bring the prudent into contact with the simple. It gives the prudent opportunities to share the TRUTH with the simple, so that the simple will not have to fall into the eternal pit. The prudent need to remember that someone came down that path and shared the TRUTH with them. That's how they got on the path in the first place.
Wisdom processes life in light of the TRUTH of God's Word, develops the character of Christ in the process, and stays in relationship with Christ as it processes. And, wisdom realizes that there is always room for one more on the path of LIFE.

June 13

Jun 13 - Today from Proverbs 13 we look at verse 24
"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."

"Come on Junior, let's put on your coat. It's time to go now."
"NO!" says the little two year old as he begins to run in the opposite direction.
Dad laughs. "Man, it just cracks me up the ways he sets his little jaw and takes off like that. The kid's got a mind of his own."
Cute. As Junior grows, dad thinks everything he does is cute. So cute, that dad could not possibly give the little guy a spanking. There is no way that anyone could say that dad hates his son. In fact, just the opposite is true - he loves that kid!
"Come on Spunky, let's get your coat on. It's time to go."
"NO!" says the little two year old as he turns to run.
Dad catches his arm and turns him. He makes Spunky look him straight in the eye. "What did daddy tell you about saying no?"
Spunky scowls and pulls away and tries to run again. Dad catches him again and gives him a firm swat on the behind.
Horror! How could a loving father swat his son for such a minor incident? Poor little guy. He's going to grow up scarred for life. He will never feel loved. His father shows more contempt for the child than he does love.
Could it be that this Proverb has been mis-translated? It just doesn't make sense to think that the father who doesn't spank hates his son. . . until we look at it from a different perspective. Let me re-word the proverb a bit, and see if it begins to make some sense: "He who spared the rod in the formative years will end up hating his son. He who loves his son in later years was careful to discipline him early." What do you think? Does that make more sense?
There is no such thing as effective passive discipline. There is no such thing as effective passive leadership. The old adage, "Let him go, he will eventually grow out of it'" applies well to a pair of blue jeans, but it just doesn't work on rebellious attitudes. If you let rebels get away with their behavior, you are reinforcing that behavior. Then, one day they will be adults. They will be out of the controls of your parental micro-management authority. They will be old enough, strong enough and free enough to make your life miserable. Their attitudes and activities will no longer be 'cute'. They will become odious to you. Spare the rod in the formative years, and you will end up hating their character and the affect that character has on your household.
Discipline applied with the right objective and a right attitude is an act of love. You are doing the child a favor, and you are doing yourself a favor. It isn't easy to physically discipline that cute little cherub - unless you are extremely angry. In that case, don't do it. . . yet. Get your emotions under control, set your mind to the purpose and value of discipline, and administer it in love, not rage. But, this also includes those times even when Junior is being 'cute'. Discipline needs to be administered when defiant, rebellious attitudes are displayed. It is applied to teach that such attitudes carry a consequence. Children who grow up without consequence to defiance are in all likelihood going to be defiant adolescents and defiant adults.
God spanks - especially those He loves. If you have an opportunity today, read Hebrews 12:4-11. Verse 11 says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful." That's the purpose of discipline. Spunky needs to know that defiance is unacceptable. The verse goes on to say, "Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." There's the goal. A future blessing for the disciplined, and a future blessing for the one who administers discipline.
Are you reading this and not a parent? Wondering if there is any application for you? There is. If you are in any sort of leadership position, you have a level of authority. That authority was given for the purpose of keeping order within the structure in which you serve. Whether you are a teacher, a team leader, a manager, or a corporate officer, do not be a passive leader hoping that your nicety will win the defiant over. It won't, and the defiant will continue to cause problems in your areas of responsibility. It is not hateful to properly administer discipline.
Wisdom learns the proper purpose of discipline, the proper method of discipline, and administers discipline in the proper spirit.

June 12

Jun 12 - Today from Proverbs 12 we look at verse 17
"A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies."

At first read this seems almost too elementary. I mean, if you are educated enough to read, this proverb should go without saying. It's like saying, "The sky is blue, but the grass is green." But, we must remember that this is the Word of God, and Proverbs are meant to impart wisdom. So, I think to myself that there must be more to it than just the surface meaning.
My attention is then drawn to the common element of the two contrasting thoughts here; a witness. What is the purpose of a witness? To bring objective evidence concerning a situation being investigated. So, this leads me to think that this proverb is speaking of objectivity. Wisdom seeks to be objective, and chooses witnesses who have proven to be reliable. One makes wise and discerning decisions by gathering as much objective information as possible. Even if that information goes against your hopes and desires, and even if that information comes from a source that you do not like. If the source has proven to provide reliable information on a consistent basis, it's a good bet that you can use the information in your evaluation or decision.
Objectivity needs to take precedence over loyalty. If we have a friend, or even a family member, who has proven to be untruthful in less critical situations, should we stand by their word when the situation is critical? Integrity is as strong as titanium when it is intact. But it is as fragile as a gossamer thread when one is caught in a critical lie. It should be a long time before anyone hangs a decision on the questionable integrity of such a person again. Yet, there are people who value loyalty above integrity.
Objectivity needs to take precedence over our own understanding. We can be very poor witnesses to ourselves when we want the outcome of a decision to fall in favor of how we wish or think it should be. We can tend to shut out the voices of witnesses who have shown integrity in favor of our own understanding of a situation. We have all been guilty of lying to ourselves.
As believers, our objective source of truth is the Word of God. It gives absolutely honest testimony, and is our rule for all faith and life. We are most foolish by acting subjectively when His objective truth is clear. The Holy Spirit is also an objective Witness of perfect integrity. But know that the Spirit and the Word are always in full agreement. Many people make subjective decisions and claim they are 'led of the Spirit'. But when the decision opposes the expressed will of God as revealed in His Word, you can know that it was not the Holy Spirit who prompted the decision.
Wise leaders must choose objectivity when making critical decisions. They must seek out truthful witnesses and gather as much correct information as they can. They must not select information in order to favor family, friends or self, but they must select information according to its accuracy. This proverb reveals a principle in gathering correct information; seek the information from truthful witnesses. Look at the record of the witnesses and try to determine their integrity. What is their source of objectivity? Is it based on the unchanging principles and values of God's Word? Or is it some philosophy fabricated from the limited knowledge of man? Do they have a reputation of telling the truth, no matter what? Or are they known to 'spin' information in order to support their own ulterior motives? Wisdom works from a base of truth, and truth must be objective.

June 11

Jun 11 - Today from Proverbs 11 we look at verse 25
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

I have (re)learned a profound truth this year. It is more clear to me now than it has ever been in my life. It has 'raised the bar' for me in my Christian walk. As I read the scriptures through this truth, I am able to better understand - it has been like a corrective lens for my spirit. What is this great truth? It is the purpose for which God had created man, and the place to which the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has restored me - I am a servant. God created me to live in a vital relationship with Himself, and to live out that relationship in service to my fellow man. I was born in sin, which had corrupted God's purpose for me. I was alienated from God, and I was self-serving. Only through the shed blood of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit was I able to be restored to my original purpose. Now God offers me mercy each day so that I do not have to live under the crushing burden of my failures, and grace each day that I might overcome the weaknesses of self and live in the strength of Christ.
In discovering anew that I am a servant, I have also rediscovered that I am a steward. I don't own anything, I only handle that which belongs to the Master. This is not oppressive - it is freeing. I am free to be generous - and the most refreshing way to be generous is by the leading of the Master. I readily confess, I still must battle self when it comes to service and giving. Self wants to be in charge, and to be generous first to self. This may be self-gratifying for the moment, but it is never refreshing. Refreshing comes from God, and we experience His refreshing when we are living out His purposes for us. When we are generous with His gifts under His guidance, we refresh others. We are being agents of His kingdom.
The generous man will prosper - but not necessarily by the definition self uses. Prosperity is not simply having a lot of money. I know some very wealthy people who are not prospering at all. Prosperity is a property of the soul. When a man prospers in his soul, he is content, he is fulfilled, and he is confident. It has little to do with material wealth. I also know a few wealthy men who are prospering. They are some of the most generous people I know. They are servants and stewards, and they have refreshed countless of others because they are prospering. They honor their Master.
One needs not be wealthy in order to be generous. Financial assistance is not the only thing people around us need. We can be generous with our time. Some shut-ins need a friend to talk to, or some kids need a mentor to help them, or some may need a skilled person to come and make some repairs. We need to look around and be sensitive to the Spirit. We can be generous with our gifts. Perhaps the church needs a Sunday School teacher or some other ministry position filled. Perhaps we need to open our home to some folks who are 'unattached'. Perhaps we can help some people get their finances straightened out by teaching them budgeting skills. Whatever your gifts - I can assure you, there are people out there who could be refreshed by them. We can be generous with our attitudes. A kind word, a cheerful greeting, a smile in the middle of a busy day - or what would happen if when a person shared a concern with you if you led them aside to a quiet place and you prayed for them?
There is one more observance found in this proverb - refreshing comes after generosity. That's just the way it is. Self enjoys the 'comfort zone'. Generosity moves us out of the comfort zone. The comfort zone is ordinary - even for 'extreme' people. It is ordinary for them to do 'extreme' things. Generosity is extraordinary. The Spirit prompts you out of the comfort zone, you obey and perform some extraordinary (for you) act of service, and you discover fulfillment, contentment and confidence. You were refreshed!
People who mature in the faith are people who have grasped this truth. How can a woman spend her entire adult life living amongst and giving of herself to the poorest and most destitute of the world? It would seem that her soul would be leeched and she would shrivel up and blow away. But instead she lived in the constant refreshing of God, and became known as one of the most extraordinary world figures in her day. You may argue with Mother Teresa's theology, but you can't argue with her servant attitude. In that respect, she looked just like her Master. So strong was her influence, that she moved many others out of their comfort zones, and even after her death she remains an inspiration to many.
You don't have to move to Calcutta to be generous today. Be aware of those around you, be aware of opportunities, and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. God is working all around you, and He invites you to join Him. Step out - and be refreshed!

June 10

Jun 10 - Today from Proverbs 10 we look at verse 17
"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

Influence. Because it is often subtle and indirect, we are often unaware of it. The little boy soon emulates the gait of his father. The little girl begins to repeat common phrases that her mother uses.
"Your little boy walks just like you."
"He does? I never noticed that.
"Now where did she ever pick that up?"
Are you kidding? You say it all the time."
Because influence is often subtle and indirect, we are never fully aware of how we are affecting people and events around us. We are constantly sending messages, even when we're not speaking. Our attitudes, our character, and our behavior probably have as much or more influence than do our words. It is certain that our words carry more influence when our attitudes, character and behavior support them. It's called integrity. Integrity is a morally positive word. It is derived from the Latin word integer, which means whole. You can be sure that people who display integrity are people of discipline. Discipline keeps self under control. When self insists on its own way, and indulges in everything self wants, it is self-destructive. It's one of the paradoxes of life.
Self-willed people ignore correction. Correction deprives self-indulgence because correction recognizes the rights of others. Allow me to touch on a couple of pet peeves:
The public has a right to a relatively peaceable atmosphere, void of offensive intrusion. Yet, self-indulging people insist on their right to drive around in their cars, windows cranked down, sound system cranked up, and force some of the most offensive 'music' on all the people within three blocks of them. The lyrics are offensive, the noise level is offensive, and the insensitivity for others is offensive. Does it lead others astray? Three blocks behind is the next one - just to make sure the public doesn't get used to sensible noise levels. Does it lead people of integrity astray? . . . Well, it is a temptation to make some creative adjustments on their sound system with a baseball bat, but fortunately, people of integrity have self-control.
Another intrusive self-indulgence foisted on the public is offensive language. One can hardly walk down the sidewalk or sit in a restaurant without hearing someone issue a profanity, or worse, take the Lord's Name in vain. ("Oh my God," has to be one of the most popular phrases in our nation, and it isn't reserved for praise and petition.) TV is full of profanity, but we can turn the TV off. How do we protect our children from the insensitive, self-indulgent loud-mouths in our society? Does it lead others astray? Where do you think its gaining its popularity from? Sadly, it's nothing today to hear profanity coming from an adolescent's mouth. In most cases you will discover that they first picked it up in the home. Now the public reinforces it.
As believers, it is our duty to recognize and respect the rights of others. Morals set protective boundaries. It takes discipline to stay within bounds, but in practicing a disciplined moral life we influence others to a life of respect. When people are able to observe the marked difference between a disciplined life and a self-indulgent life, they quite naturally see the benefits of the disciplined life. Even if they do not choose to immediately live such a life, they are being influenced by it. Who knows, they may eventually catch on and come around. I did.

June 9

Jun 9 - Today from Proverbs 9 we look at verse 1
"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars."

In the Bible, the number seven represents completeness and perfection. The Teacher is stating that wisdom lacks nothing. In chapter eight and verse 23, Wisdom personified says of herself, "I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began." Using the definition that wisdom is understanding life the way God meant it to be, we see that God has a perfect and complete plan, and nothing - not even sin - will change or altar that plan. God has no 'plan B'. God did not start out with a partial plan and then consider the options as the drama of creation played out. There are no options. Mankind will either eternally live out life the way God intended life to be, or man will be removed from the presence of God and the beauty of His grace.
Does that sound like God may be a demanding taskmaster? If that thought enters your mind, then you don't know Him very well. His wisdom is infinite, not confining. His mercies are new every day, He could easily leave us all condemned. His grace is beyond comprehension. He gives and gives and gives some more. He is fully committed to His relationship with man, so much so that He sent His Son to die in our stead that we might be restored to life the way He originally intended. He needn't do any of this. He does it unceasingly because He loves us. There is no cruelty in our God - only love. How wonderful that He pursued us and redeemed us from the curse of sin. How wonderful that in Christ Jesus we can now be restored to God's perfect plan for mankind. How wonderful that we can grow in wisdom through the gift of His Spirit. How wonderful is our God, there is none like Him. Hallelujah!
But today we still live in the corrupted world. We still live in time, and we still must confront a creation tainted by sin - including our own flesh. We are in a constant spiritual battle, and wisdom is our faithful ally. She will protect us from pitfalls. She will guide us through difficult times. She will maintain our integrity and our witness. She is perfect and complete, and she was appointed of God from eternity. She desires to be our constant companion until God's great plan comes to completion.
Listen to the wonderful truth of God's Word and be encouraged today:
"In Him (Jesus), we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." -Ephesians 1:7-10

June 8

Jun 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verse 4
"To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind."

This is a marvelous chapter. Beginning with verse four, the Teacher personifies wisdom in the first person. This is a literary style that enables us to understand the characteristics of an inanimate subject in new and unique ways. There is an added dimension when instead of a teacher of wisdom saying, "Wisdom is available to all mankind," we hear wisdom herself proclaiming, "Listen to my call, O men. My appeal is to all mankind." The first sounds like one more entree on the buffet table of 'What shall I do today?' The other is more like a sales pitch. It catches the student's attention and draws him in. "Okay, why should I stop and invest my time with you?"
"Well, let me tell you . . ." Wisdom says. And from verse five on to the end of the chapter she proceeds to unfold and reveal all of the wonder of her qualifications and her character. By the time the student has carefully investigated her claims and statements, he should be quite convinced that she is worth pursuing.
Yet, it seems that so many continue to ignore her call. They are too busy, or too preoccupied, or too lazy, or too impatient, or too ensnared by their own limited understanding and interests, or just plain too proud to stop and contemplate the order of the vastness of creation or the smallness of their thinking in light of it all. Wisdom says of herself, "If you will stop and seek to find that which I have to offer, I can help you to grow in understanding of the wonder and greatness of creation, and of your purpose and place in it." Now, I ask you, is that worth your effort today?
* The mocker is too proud.
* The fool is too distracted.
* The simple is too easily led
* The sluggard is too lazy

These are the four examples found in Proverbs of those who miss the call of wisdom. In one way or another they have convinced themselves that they can handle life as it comes - and in the process they miss life all together. It's not because wisdom hasn't called. It's just that so many are too . . . something. Let us seek to hear her voice today so that we can avoid having a 'too' day.
She is too valuable to ignore.

June 7

Jun 7 - Today from Proverbs 7 we look at verses 19 & 20
"My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."

Because Proverbs chapter seven is a story, we need to place this section within its context before we discuss the principle. As the story unfolds we see a simple young man, with no direction or intention, walking down the street. He encounters a seductress - a married woman looking for some sexual adventure. She approaches him and gives him a kiss, and tells him she has been waiting for him. His ego engages. Then she describes how inviting her bedroom is. He is all but hooked. There is one possible obstruction left; "What if your husband catches us?" This brings us to the passage for today.
Solomon had just taught his son (chapter 6), that there is little hope of calming the fury of a jealous husband who discovered that someone had been sleeping with his wife. Now Solomon sets up a scenario for his son in order to teach him all of the tricks of the seductress, and the chronological order of moving from aimlessness to being ensnared in the fatality of sin. The last hurdle to be crossed is the fear of being caught. The seductress covers that issue well. She assures the young man that he cannot possibly be caught; her husband is nowhere around, and he won't be for at least a month. She even throws in a little evidence, telling the young man that her husband took a full purse with him. In those days you didn't take any more money than needed when traveling, and to take a full purse meant that you are committed to be gone for awhile because you will need that much to cover traveling expenses.
Well, the narrative begins by describing the young man as simple (verse 7). This would indicate that the young man does not process well. He is satisfied that because the husband is not around, and it is a sure bet that he won't be around for quite some time, that he will not be caught. Verse 22 confirms that the young man has crossed the last mental hurdle and states, "All at once he followed her." Had he really thought through the situation, he would have pondered the fact that they were in the street, in full view of anyone watching. The husband didn't need to walk in on them to discover the evil deed. There are other eyes -- all around. There is also the matter of the loose tongue. Her tongue. His tongue. The tongue of any who may have seen them entering her house together. There is no guarantee that the woman does not have close friends with whom she shares her deepest and darkest secrets. She has already proved that she is untrustworthy by intentionally violating her marriage vows. How can the young man possibly trust that this will be 'just their little secret'? Or, how about the young man himself? He has proven that he is simple just by stopping to consider her invitation. Is he going to be able to contain his ego when he's among his comrades? Won't there be a weak moment when he is going to want to boast about his libido to make his fellow-adventurers jealous?
The world we live in is a veritable sieve. It is virtually impossible to contain truth. It leaks and seeps out from places we cannot even imagine. Even when the truth is damning, it is forever. You can count on the fact that somehow, somewhere, the truths that are intended to be kept hidden will seep out and the world will know. Jesus teaches us in Luke 12:2 & 3, "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs."
The principle in this lesson is broader than application for the adulterer. It applies to all situations of temptation. The seducer (Satan and whatever instrument he may be using to seduce with), will do his best to convince us that we will not be caught. He will give the best evidence he can find and then stir it with the prospect of the pleasure of the act. But he withholds some critical information. Instead of telling us, "Be sure your sin will find you out;" he tells us, "This is the exception - it's foolproof." He lies. It was tailor-made for the simple. Whether it is adultery, stealing, lying, gossip, conspiring against others, or whatever -- it will not remain hidden. If you cannot take the lesson from thousands of years of history, you can take the word of the Lord. "There is nothing hidden that will not be made known." Even in those very, very rare instances where it appears that a perpetrator went to their grave with their secret, there will come a day of reckoning. We will all stand before God one day and give an account. The Bible says that to Him, even the darkness is light - there is no hiding the truth from Him.
I cannot end our meditation without sharing a message of hope. The blood of Jesus removes our record of guilt - but only that for which we confess and repent of. Even as believers, there will be a day of accounting for the sins that we failed to confess and repent of. There will be loss of eternal rewards - although not our eternal salvation; "He will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Cor. 3:15) God has graciously provided a way for us to have our sins removed as far as the east is from the west. He clearly teaches throughout the Bible the act of confession and repentance - and even recompense when the situation calls for it. If we will learn and follow His teaching in these matters, we will be able to stand confidently in that day. Confident in the blood of Jesus, and confident that by it our record is clean.
Wisdom does not entertain the idea of sin without consequences. It is a lie of the tempter. And wisdom knows that the pain of the consequence will always be greater than the pleasure of the sin.