Monday, March 31, 2008

April 1

Apr 1 - Today from Proverbs 1 we look at verses 10 & 15
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths."

This seems so obvious that one wonders why the teacher even bothered to pen the words. Obvious? Yes. Simple? Well let's think about that for a moment. Is temptation (enticement) really that easy to resist? Wisdom must look to the end – even if it takes one through a trial. Temptation is usually a perceived shortcut to get what you want in life. When sinners entice you, they are most always appealing for you to join them in some venture that will expedite a desire or a goal in your life. The goal may even be proper; it's the process that can tend to trip one up. In the example the teacher sets forth in this chapter, the goal is to gain goods and wealth. This in itself is not improper if one is willing to learn a profession or trade, work at developing and increasing skill and ability, serve with integrity, and then be a wise steward of one's earnings. The enticement is to take a short cut to all of these time-consuming ways. The sinners in this proverb are those who do not follow God’s ways and want the victim to throw in with them to become a band of thieves and to take goods from others by ignoble means. This particular enticement may not be a great temptation in your life, but there is a principle involved for all of us. Beware of paths that offer shortcuts and stay on the path of moral integrity.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-12), he knew of Jesus' goal to redeem the kingdoms of this world, although he didn't know the process (1 Cor. 2:8). Satan, who the Bible refers to as 'the god of this world' (2 Cor. 4:4), enticed Jesus, who did know the process (Matthew 10:33, 34), to forgo the cruel cross. All Jesus had to do was bow His knee to Satan, and Satan would hand the kingdoms of this world over to Jesus. I am not sure we fully realize what a tremendous temptation this was to the Son of Man. Jesus was 30 years old at the time. Roman crucifixions were common enough that I am sure Jesus witnessed at least a few in his day. He knew exactly what He was facing in order to redeem the kingdoms of this world. Here He was faced with the choice of going through the crucifixion Himself, or simply bowing the knee just one time to Satan. We can all be eternally thankful that He chose God's way and not the shortcut being offered Him.
Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross." Some processes in life are very difficult, almost seeming unbearable at times. Wisdom must persevere and look to the end. What trial are you in today? What path lays before you that may seem enticing because it offers a shortcut in achieving a goal? Jesus endured the cross for the joy that lay beyond. He calls us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). When He hung on that cross, no one in the entire world - not even Satan himself - understood God's purpose in it. Perhaps God has a greater purpose for some trial you are in. If nothing else, He determines to form the character of Christ in you. The path of enticement is the offer of a short cut. "Do not set foot on their paths." Fix your eyes on Jesus. He will never leave you or forsake you. He promises.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

March 31

Mar 31 - Today we read from Proverbs 31 verses 3 & 10
"Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."

I would like to cite a few passages from the New Testament, which serve to challenge our thinking on these verses:
"But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." -Jesus, Mark 10:6-9
"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit." - 1 Cor. 6:15-17
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." - Eph. 5:32, 33
"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." - 1 Tim. 3:2, 3
By thinking through the content and truths of these passages, all from the New Testament, there is no 'wiggle room' for marital infidelity – including same-sex ‘marriages’. According to the scriptures, such activity is clearly in violation of God's moral law, His natural law, and His greater plans and purposes for humanity. On an even deeper level, any believer engaged in extra-marital sexual activity is actually guilty of engaging a member of Christ in an immoral act! Lord, have mercy! There is beauty and intimate pleasure in the sexual act, which goes beyond physical gratification. We can see from these passages that there is profound mystery attached to this activity which God meant to be kept in the confines of matrimony. When a person engages in sexual activity we actually use the term 'give yourself to another'. Once given, it cannot be taken back. When a man who has had sexual encounters with other women gets into bed with his wife, he takes every woman he has ever slept with into that bed with them - and visa-versa. What a sobering thought!
A wise and concerned mother wrote today’s proverb to her son, who was being groomed for kingship. She also wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom understands that sexual infidelity is a destructive force, and that finding the right mate for life is one of the most valuable choices a person can make in this life. Too bad that our generation today is so 'enlightened'. They are trading 'rubies' for momentary pleasures that will one day become regrets.
"Lord, grant our children wisdom in this area. And Lord, grant the parents wisdom to be a holy and desired example. Amen"

Saturday, March 29, 2008

March 30

Mar 30 - Today from Proverbs 30 we look at verses 32 & 33
"If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! For as churning milk produces butter, and twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife."

Verse 33 begins with the words "For as", connecting the verse to enhance the principle of verse 32. So we will begin by thinking through the reasoning of verse 33. The first thing that comes to mind is that churning milk and twisting a nose are both actions which require deliberate force from the person performing the action. Both actions produce an expected result. These two actions are presented as an analogy for the third action of stirring up anger. We know this from the "as-so" connection within the verse. The lesson: Any person who deliberately engages in behavior that will stir up anger should expect that the result will produce strife. The odd thing is that few people operate on this simple principle. They engage in behavior that any reasonable person would assume would stir up anger, and then they are surprised, shocked, regretful or offended when it does produce violent conflict and dissension. I know this because I am as guilty as anyone. I've been married for over thirty years. I have had plenty of experience in saying things that I should have known would anger my dear wife - but I went ahead and said them anyway because I thought it was important make my point. It is strange that even after so many years, I am still surprised at her angry reaction. "Why couldn't she see things my way in this matter JUST ONCE? She got angry the last twenty three times too. I guess she still doesn't get it." Why am I surprised? Ah-h-h-h, now we go back to verse 32. Because I played the fool! I should have just clapped my hand over my mouth, but my pride wouldn't allow it. I can say though, that after 30 years I have gained some wisdom. ‘Making my point’ isn’t nearly as important as it used to be. Some opinions are better left unsaid. My sons call it 'mellowing'. "Boy, dad is really mellowing in his old age." Call it what you like, but there is a lot less strife in our marriage and in other areas of my life. Oh, we still have our areas of disagreements. It's just that we have learned to approach them differently. There is much less churning and twisting and much more listening and reasoning.
I wish I had sought after wisdom much earlier in life. I'll bet my wife does too.

Friday, March 28, 2008

May 29

Mar 29 - Today from Proverbs 29 we consider verse 4
"By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down."

Justice. It rewards those who live honorable and moral lives and fairly punishes those who break moral civil law. Justice is morally pure. Justice seems such a rare quality in our world that when we do see it, we rejoice. Justice gives a country stability. The old saying goes, "Justice is blind." It does not depend upon the personal views or the mood of the magistrate. It does not depend on the social/economic status of the plaintiff. Justice will fairly determine the motive for, the execution of, the severity of and the fair penalty for an immoral act. Or, on the other hand, justice will determine the motive for, the execution of, the results of and the reward for an honorable act. Justice brings stability because it is no respecter of men and it is immutable (not subject to change). It kind of sounds like we're talking about God here, doesn't it? That's because all true justice is based upon His moral code of conduct. There is no 'relativism'. There are no 'situation ethics'. Justice is a scale, and its purpose is to bring balance to life. Sin and the immorality it perpetrates have brought tremendous inequity into this world. Justice serves to restore equity, to give every man who lives under her rule an equal opportunity in life. I like to think that our Pledge of Allegiance contains the vision statement for our nation; "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." When we remove the phrase "under God", the rest of it falls apart. Without acknowledging God, we have no basis for authentic truth, needed for defining justice. Without authentic truth, decisions on issues of moral code become subject to the personal interpretations of the magistrates. Without an objective moral compass, man can be influenced by numerous means and can justify his own actions. Greed enters in - greed for power, greed for advancement, greed for money, greed for advancing a personal agenda - and without realizing it, the legislators and magistrates are subject to bribes. Justice all but disappears. No wonder we are prone to rejoice when we observe justice. It seems so rare these days.
When God describes His attributes, justice is right there in the mix. "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." (Jer. 9:24). But thank God justice is not alone. He couples it with love and mercy. God is not unfeeling and blind. God operates in this marvelous, unfathomable trait known as grace. His justice says, "The wages of sin is death." You sin, you die. Period. His mercy says, "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23). His Grace says, "I will bear the penalty of sin in my own body. I will die that they might live." Through His grace, God remains just yet He can offer mercy. Can we ever tire of hearing it? Can we ever comprehend such love? There is no god like our God!
He calls us to be holy because He is holy. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) We are to practice justice with mercy. Jesus set the example. Our part in serving justice is to be on the side of living honorable and pure lives in such a manner that we seek to bring equity where there is inequity.
One day God will judge and will fully and eternally balance the scales. I don't know how, but I know He will. Through Christ I have received pardon and mercy, therefore I must be merciful. This is difficult at times. Once again He offers us His grace. He enables us if we will but open ourselves to Him.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

March 28

Mar 28 - Today from Proverbs 28 we consider verse 2
"When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order."

Today we are going to stop and consider politics. Even though the word is not found in our modern Bible, the root word is. Our word 'politic' comes directly from the Greek word 'polites' (pol-ee'-tace). This word is found in the modern Bible, but is translated 'citizen'. A citizen belongs to an organized people group that functions under some sort of governing system. Politics is the art or science of government or governing. It is a system ordained of God to maintain order. In the time the proverbs were written, there were no 'democratic republics'. Countries were ruled by kings. Chapters 25 through 31 were specifically directed toward kings and their counselors. Most of them contain some form of instruction for kings and governors on how to serve a people well.
A king could not possibly rule a country on his own. He needed wise and trusted governors to be his expressed extension into the various territories and cities within the kingdom. If the king were unable to keep his royal governors faithful to his rule, the governors would become ambitious and commit the resources of their particular territory to self-serving purposes, or perhaps even to overthrow the king. In such cases, instead of the king extending a sovereign rule, the land would end up with many rulers.
A king usually took one of two courses to avoid this disaster; he could rule as a tyrant and keep his governors and subjects in line with fear, or he could become a wise moral politician. In the first case, the king usually becomes paranoid. If he perceives anything that even appears to be rebellion in his eyes, he has the suspect and all of his associates executed. This wasn't just a reality in ancient kingdoms, it still happens today. Joseph Stalin had millions executed to keep his 'throne' secure. Nicholi Ceaucescu, the dictator of Communist Romania was ruthless in this manner. Saddam Hussein of Iraq was certainly such a person. For these nations, and many more like them, politics was and is a heavy and fearful force. There is no massive love and support for the king, only fear for one's self and their own loved ones. The last chapters of Proverbs continually warn rulers not to take this course of politics. In the end, there will be an accounting to God.
The other choice was to become a moral politician, a man of understanding and knowledge. He seeks to understand the ways of life as they should be through understanding God's order. He seeks to place the best interests of his subjects as his priority. He seeks to be just and to treat every subject with equal dignity and justice. His glory is a result of his ability to rule with compassion and justice.
There is practical application for us. First, we all have areas of leadership (influence). How do we handle that responsibility? By abusing any authority of leadership through demanding or manipulating allegiance? Or by using our authority to serve the needs of those under our influence. We have a choice, and we will ultimately give an accounting to God. Next, we are all under authority in various areas of our lives. Are we 'good citizens', properly submitting to the leadership in those areas? Do we submit our skills and abilities as best we can for the purpose of contributing to the greater whole? Any attempt to usurp proper authority is rebellion. Instead of lending definition to the bigger picture, the bigger picture becomes factioned. This is true in a household where children are in rebellion. This is true in the workplace where disgruntled employees work against productivity. This is true in a church structure where dissatisfied members form power bases. This is true in a nation when territorial governors rise up against the rule of the federal head (even our own nation has endured the costly pain of a civil war).
Our safest course is always to seek out God's order and the principles that govern His order, and then follow them. To do this, we must be dedicated students of His Word.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

March 27

Mar 27 - Today from Proverbs 27 we consider verse 22
"Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him."

Another verse on fools. It appears that it is quite important that leaders do not place fools in positions of authority and influence. Even though the subject of this verse is the fool, there is a greater principle involved.
I am sure you are all familiar with the mortar and pestle. The mortar is a small receptacle in which a substance is ground and the pestle is the instrument used for the grinding process. The subject places the material in the mortar and then uses the pestle to pulverize it into dust, usually for the purpose of mixing it proportionately with other materials. The procedure has not changed even from the days of Solomon. What the mortar and pestle is not used for is to separate elements out of a compound. No matter how much one pulverizes the product, all of the original elements remain a part of the powdered product.
What Solomon is teaching in this proverb is that you cannot separate one's actions (folly), from their character (fool), by attempting to break them down. Unless their character is changed, they will continue to produce folly. The greater principle here is that this is true of any characteristic, good or bad. If honesty is embedded in a person's character, you can depend on getting honest opinions and answers from them. If craftiness is embedded in a person's character, you can depend on the fact that they are working for themselves and will attempt to manipulate situations to go their way. If you know that one attempts to manipulate others, you can be sure that when the chips are down they will also attempt to manipulate you - even if they are currently your bosom friend. It's in their nature.
Good leaders look for good characteristics in the people they promote to positions of authority and influence. If one possesses the proper education and appears to have good skills but proves to be weak in character, it is doubtful that they will get far in their desired profession. They will produce out of their character and this proverb teaches that it is generally a waste of time and effort to attempt to separate their character from their actions.
How does one's character get refined? It's not in the mortar, but in the crucible where character is refined. Refiner's fire. A person needs to experience some of the hard places in life, and needs to discipline himself or herself to go through the hard places. If they learn integrity through these experiences, they will grow in character. If they learn to avoid, circumvent, or manipulate through these experiences, they will temper the undesirable characteristics they already possess.
I would not do proper service to our Lord Jesus without interjecting that the desired change in character comes by way of His grace. He desires to transform our character to His by the power of His Holy Spirit. This calls for us to be humble and submissive to Him even in our most testing times. It is in the valleys of life where our faith is strengthened. It is in the crucible where we discover the limitations of our abilities and the unlimited power of His grace.
As you read through the biographies of the great men and women of character in the Bible and in history, you will discover that they were indeed tempered in some very uncomfortable crucibles. But they came through with sterling character. Jesus' brother James wrote it this way in James 1:2-4; "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

March 26

Mar 26 - Today from Proverbs 26 we look at verses 13 & 15
"The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets! The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth."

A virtuous person is an industrious person. So what is a sluggard? If you were to look up the original Hebrew in Strong's, you would discover the root word means 'to lean'. A shovel leaning against a building is non-industrious. A man leaning on a shovel is non-industrious. Leaning brings to mind a picture of idleness, and the sluggard is the epitome of idleness.
Peter Putz was an adolescent who just couldn't get a break. Every time his parents got a lead on a job for him, the day Peter was to go for an interview there was 'a lion in the road' (vs. 13), and Peter couldn't venture out. Now everyone knew there was no lion in the road. Peter thought he was clever, but the only one he was fooling was himself. At one time or another, we all know a Peter Putz. They may not use the lion excuse, but their excuses are just as outrageous. They only fool themselves.
One day, one of those days when there was a lion in the road and he was confined to his home, Peter got hungry. He whined to his mother to feed him. Mother fixed him a dish of goulash and set it before him. Peter put his spoon into the meal, but he was so depressed about the lion in the road which he knew wasn't there, that he couldn't lift his hand to his mouth. He just sat and whined about how hungry he was. Poor Peter Putz. Life was so terribly unfair.
Opportunities are there for all. There are plenty of shovels leaning against buildings all over the landscape. All one needs is an industrious attitude. It is the same with our emotional and spiritual life. We have issues and conflicts which tend to emotionally drain us and right there on the desk, the coffee table, the night stand. . . lays our Bible. We bury our hand in it and never bring it back to our mouth. The Bible is of no value just in our hand. We must ingest it. We have to meditate on it and get the life-giving spiritual nutrition it holds into our hearts. We can spiritually starve to death with our hand buried in the bread of life. We need to be industrious in our relationship with God and our quest to better know and understand Him.
It's difficult to pity a sluggard. They have everything they need except the will to use it.

Monday, March 24, 2008

March 25

Mar 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verse 26
"Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked."

There are times when it is right to yield in a situation - even to the wicked. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that we are to offer the other cheek, to go the second mile. In a very strange way, that kind of yielding puts one in control of the situation. In Jesus' day, if a Roman soldier commanded a Jew to pick up an item and carry it, the law was that the Jew was required to carry it for up to a mile - but no more. (Simon of Cyrene had no choice but to carry Jesus' cross to Calvary.) For that first mile, the Roman soldier was in control. Jesus said, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5:41). By keeping a servant attitude, you are in control for the second mile. You have brought a witness to the Roman soldier that you not only respect the law of Caesar, but you regard an even higher law, the law of God. Such actions puzzle people who like to flaunt authority. It challenges their paradigm. Jesus was always doing things like that. He ushered in God's kingdom.
But, this proverb teaches that there are times when one is not to yield to the wicked. This proverb was addressed in particular to kings - or people in authority. People in authority are accountable to God for those whom God has placed them in authority over. Fresh springs and wells represent influence and effect, whether by word or by example. People in authority are keepers of the well. They are responsible to do their best to see that those they serve (that's what people in authority are to do), are getting life-giving water through their service - no matter what it is. When a spring is muddied or a well polluted, the people who drink from it are in danger of health problems - perhaps even untimely death. That's the picture God gives when a righteous man in authority compromises his standards of right and wrong and yields to the wicked. It brings sickness of soul to those he has been given charge over. It makes life situations unpalatable, and causes confusion where there should be clarity and purity. It causes untimely separation (death) of relationships.
People in authority have a bigger picture to deal with when making decisions. They have to consider, "How is this going to affect those whom I serve?" When a decision has been corrupted by compromise, people will suffer. Count on it. And know for certain that there will be an accounting before God.
And, don't overlook this fact, even you hold a position of authority. No man is an island. If you are an employer, a church officer, a spouse, a parent, a teacher, an assistant - whatever. You can be sure that you are somehow responsible for some flow of 'life's water' of which other people depend on being fresh and palatable. Don't compromise your moral sense of right and wrong in areas that influence and affect others. No one is helped, and it just isn't worth it. Ever.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

March 24

Mar 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we look at verse 16
"For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity."

The righteous man is not a self-righteous man. It is a person of moral integrity. It is a warning to us all that a righteous man can fall, and fall often. The reason he rises again is because of his integrity. King David was such a person. The Bible is very honest about the failures of this man after God's own heart. He was not a super-hero who never fell. But he had the integrity to humble himself in the presence of the God he loved, and then confess and genuinely repent of the sin that caused him to fall. As serious as some of the sins that David committed were, it seems he committed them only once. That is a sign of true repentance. According to the Biblical narrative, he committed adultery once. He committed murder once. In self-pride he numbered the people of his kingdom once. There was consequence to each of the actions, but the consequence was not that King David was brought down by calamity. He died in his castle at a ripe old age, just after seeing to it that the son of God's choice ascended to the throne.
The righteous rises again because God lifts the humble. Rising means we are forgiven and restored, but it does not necessarily mean that we rise above the consequences of the sin committed. A righteous man may look like he is beaten, like he is down for the long count, but if he is a man of integrity who will humble himself and confess and repent of his sin - he will rise again. It may be in a completely different way than ever expected or thought of, but God restores the righteous.
Sometimes there is no sin at all connected with a fall. Sometimes there are no answers as to why the righteous man is face down in the dirt. In such times, the righteous man holds to the truth that God is God, and he is to trust that one truth above all else. That is the story of a righteous man named Job. We cannot always see the greater purposes of God in the calamities of life. We are too finite and too close to the circumstances to be eternally objective. We simply have to trust the One that is.
Peter wrote his first epistle to the suffering church. They were scattered and undergoing persecution almost everywhere they settled. He addresses this very circumstance in chapter 5:10 when he says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
If you're down and your heart convicts you; confess, repent and throw yourself on the mercies of God. If your heart doesn't convict you, know that God called you to His eternal glory in Christ (perspective), and in due time He will cause you to rise again.
We serve a faithful God!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

March 23

Mar 23 - Today from Proverbs 23 we look at verses 6 & 7
"Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he 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."

It is not prudent to share all information one possesses. Some information is very sensitive, and can be mishandled or even abused by people with selfish motives. Such people are constantly on the lookout for information that will serve their personal interests, and have numerous ways of obtaining this information. Wisdom protects sensitive information.
The principle of this proverb has to do with being aware of people having ulterior motives. In the case of the example before us - we know this is a stingy man. This means his values are perverted in that his own material possessions are more important to him than his concern for the well being of others. Knowing this should automatically arouse suspicions as to why he would invite you to a meal of ‘delicacies’, which in the days of the Bible meant very expensive types of food. Think of what kind of staples you would keep on hand without refrigeration or preservatives (except for salt). That would be grain, dried fruits, such as dates, figs and raisins, perhaps some jerked meat (dried and salted). The common beverage was curdled milk. But, if you were invited to eat delicacies, you would be treated to fresh fruits and vegetables, roasted meats, sugared and spiced treats with origins from exotic places in Africa or the orient, along with fine wines, juices, etc. These types of food were very expensive, and rare for the common people of those days.
Now what would this stingy man have in mind by inviting you to eat his delicacies? He wants something from you. You can be quite confident that his intention is for you to compromise yourself in order to enjoy his costly foods.
Today, with refrigeration, modern preservatives, and fresh produce available from all over the world right in our local supermarket - it would be rare to be enticed to compromise merely by a good meal. But the principle is sound. Do not compromise yourself for the offer of something you desire from someone with ulterior motives. If it quite obvious where their values lie, and those values are self-serving, beware. If you haven't been on their 'most favored list' before, but suddenly you are the object of their interest, be very cautious. If you are being offered something quite rare or valuable, you can be reasonably sure there will be a cost extracted somewhere. It's not a negative attitude - it's wisdom.

Friday, March 21, 2008

March 22

Mar 22 - Today from Proverbs 22 we look at verses 24 & 25
"Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."

The principle here is quite clear, your choices in friends can indeed influence YOUR character.
Anger manifests itself in numerous ways. Be careful, because one of the subtlest ways is that of slander. We are too civilized and refined to openly advocate assassination. But, how easily we can be influenced to engage in character assassination. We need to be aware when one of our 'friends' gets angry with someone and they take it out by focusing on any and every negative characteristic trait of the person with whom they are angry. Their point is to make sure we and everyone else knows about them. It really doesn’t matter whose home you go into, when dirt is the only focus, you are bound to find some. If you hang around 'friends' like this for long, you will become apt at 'dirt-finding'.
God doesn't want us to be 'dirt-seeking character assassins'. He encourages us in this; "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Phil. 4:8)
It's also true that no matter whose home you go into, when beauty is the only focus, you are bound to find some. We are to be a people of joy. God has plenty to be angry about in this world, but if you carefully read the gospels, you will see that in the midst of it all – He seeks joy. We too have plenty to be angry about, but we must choose to live in His joy. As Jesus approached the end of His life, He was facing betrayal, desertion, and hateful false accusation. That’s more than enough to anger someone. But He reveals to His disciples His source of joy in John 15:9, "the Father has loved me . . ." Being a possessor of the authentic love of the Father transcended all of the negative circumstances in which He found Himself. This joy, He said, was to be the same power that would carry His disciples through similar situations. The full statement is found in verses 9-11, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain I my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
If one of your friends gets into a 'dirt-seeking' fit against someone, be a friend and help them find some joy. Show them the beauty of God’s love through your own attitude and actions (this is His command). If they refuse to change their focus - well, this Proverb speaks for itself.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

March 21

Mar 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we consider verse 5
"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Patience is a virtue. It is one of the characteristics of our Lord, listed in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:11, 12. Some of the synonyms for patience are "perseverance" and "long-suffering". James 1:2-4 teaches us that patience grows only in trial. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." For what other purpose would one need patience?
Everyone makes mistakes. But when you stop and think about it, the impatient seem to make the most - and the costliest. As a rule, adolescents make a lot more mistakes in life-issues than do mature adults. I certainly did. And to be perfectly honest with you, my adolescence lasted well beyond my teens. I never really even got a handle on patience until I met my Savior at the age of 30. That was only the beginning. I still didn't develop patience as quickly as I perhaps should have because I got into some theology that basically taught that you could bypass patience with faith. If you had enough faith, you didn't need too much patience. I guess that I didn't read James 1:2-4 well enough. The testing of faith doesn't bypass patience; it develops it - if one allows it to do its work.
On my second trip behind the iron curtain into Communist Romania in 1987, the Lord had finally gotten my attention on this whole issue of faith, prosperity. . . and patience. On that trip with my wife and our two sons I came face to face with some of the most prosperous people I had met up to that time, and they had very little of this world's goods. They were rich in faith, and I envied their intimacy with the Savior. I still do. The richness didn't come through faith formulas from faith preachers. Their richness came through patience in trials. It changed my outlook on faith. Since that time I have met many 'prosperous' people, both at home and abroad. They all had one thing in common; they allowed the trials of life to temper the character of Christ into their own character. It is a gift of God's grace, but like all gifts, it must be received and embraced in order to do any good.
Our proverb for today speaks practically about material matters. We must develop clear goals and clear plans to reach those goals - and then be diligent in our pursuit. This is fundamentally how successful people operate. It is reckless and immature to set a goal and then go after it without a plan; a clearly marked path of pursuit. There are too many pitfalls and distractions in this world, and the goals are seldom, if ever met. All the pursuer ends up with is wasted time, effort and resources. They either become burdened with regret at their own folly, or bitterness toward others who get blamed for the derailment. It is very difficult to derail a person who has a plan and the endurance to work it.
Our proverb also speaks of spiritual matters. Paul often referred to our relationship with God as a race (1 Cor. 9, Gal. 2 & 5, Phil. 2, 2 Tim. 4). Not to see how fast one could finish, but to be sure that one finished at all. His analogy never included speed. It always referred to perseverance - being diligent to follow the course laid out for us. The issue isn't losing one's salvation so much as not fulfilling God's higher calling and purposes in life. People who live in right relationship with God and persevere in the purposes of God are the richest, most prosperous people on the face of the earth. The key is not speed, but patience.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

March 20

Mar 20 - Today from Proverbs 20 we look at verse 14
"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase."

Here is a great observation about human nature. Bargaining and negotiating are as old as history itself. A person sees a commodity he wants or needs, and he wants to secure it for the very lowest price possible. One of the most popular ways is to point out any flaws he may find (or fabricate), in the commodity. Naturally, this lessens the potential value. The buyer on the other hand wants to get the most he can for the commodity. If he dwells in a culture where negotiating is the norm, he sets the price too high to begin with. When the two of them meet over the fate of the commodity, the action begins. The seller wants to move his product, that's why it's on the market. But he tries to convince the buyer that he's not all that anxious to sell. The buyer wants to purchase the product, that's why he is entering into negotiations. But he tries to convince the seller that he's not all that anxious to buy. The writer of this proverb takes the buyers side. During negotiations he implies that the commodity is all but worthless. Once the commodity is in his possession, he tells his friends what a great deal he got on this valuable commodity.
A fun little observation on human nature. But what is the purpose of this proverb? Is the writer attempting to teach us how to negotiate when purchasing goods? I don't think so. Like I said, this process is human nature. It's almost inherent in every person; it's just that some develop it to an art. Perhaps the writer is cautioning us to think a little deeper about human nature when we are engaged in all areas of social interchange. If we understand human nature in bargaining situations at the local market, why don't we take the time to understand it in other social structures? We know that when the buyer says "It's no good, it's no good!" he really doesn't mean it. He is working toward a goal. If you're the seller, you don't react to his initial engagement as his final opinion. You continue to talk, to investigate, and to work to a place of amiable agreement. You make your deal and he walks away feeling good about it. Why can't we learn to do that in all of life's situations? Why can't we take the time to listen to people rather than just hear them? Why can't we learn how to ask questions and work our way to the real need or issue which is being presented instead of reacting to the initial engagement?
When you read the gospels, watch Jesus. He knew how to get to the heart of people's needs. Watch Him with Nicodemus. Watch Him with the woman at the well. Watch Him as He mentors His disciples in all kinds of situations. He never took a person's initial action in an engagement as their final issue or position. He would 'negotiate' them to the place of their real issue or need, and He would address that need. And, if they were open to Him, they walked away feeling pretty good about their encounter with the Lord.
It is a developed art to learn how to negotiate. Especially in the areas of life itself. "Lord, teach us to look beyond faults, and search for the needs in others. Grant us grace to minister to those needs so that they can walk away feeling good about our encounters. Amen"

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

March 19

Mar 19 - Today we look at Proverbs 19 verse 6
"Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts."

One cannot escape the fact that in the economy of this world system, money is power. One of the aspects of that power is the power to influence. One can make friends with money. A somewhat corrupted example of this is our political lobbying system. Politicians are not necessarily 'bought', but they certainly are influenced in their decision-making processes by the huge sums of money controlled by the various lobbies.
But how can we make this proverb practical in our own lives? For starters, we can learn to be wise givers of gifts. Jesus had the very most critical message mankind could ever hear, and He needed to 'make friends' with the multitudes in order to get their attention and trust. He gave gifts. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12). The gift of healing. The gift of discerning of spirits and casting them out. The gift of faith. The gift of miraculous powers such as the ability to feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. Jesus had lots of friends, thousands of them, and they listened to His message. They didn't get His message at first, until He gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit Himself. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to quicken the teachings of Jesus to the hearts of the people, thousands came to salvation at the preaching of the first sermon. They then discovered that Jesus was a true Friend, one who does not leave or forsake His own. Of course Jesus' motivation to heal, to cast out demons, to feed, and even to raise the dead was not just to make friends with the people. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 13 that the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit means nothing unless they come through the pure motivation of love. That was Jesus' motivation for everything He did.
Jesus tells one of the most perplexing parables in Luke 16 about a devious steward (someone who handles the financial affairs of another). The steward stole from his master, and then when caught he used his limited remaining time to gain favor (make friends) with his masters debtors by greatly reducing their debts. Not a good role model at all. Yet the master commended the steward for his shrewdness (not his integrity of character). Jesus concluded that the people of this world system were more clever in using the system to further their own purposes than were the people of the light in using it for furthering God's kingdom. Jesus then says, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
Everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts. I remember when serving with our Christian relief and development organization that we were visiting a Moslem refugee camp in Zagreb, Croatia. Our sponsor distributor of relief goods in that area was a small Pentecostal Church. We would send them food, clothing and other goods and they would distribute it to the refugees. The Pastor's wife came with us to the camp. When we entered the grounds, dozens ran out to throw their arms around this woman of God and greet her. It was an amazing visit. As we were preparing to leave, a group of children were standing near the exit, pointing to the ground and jabbering in their native tongue. I stopped and asked our hostess to interpret. She listened to them and then turned to us with tears in her eyes. They are saying, "Thank you. We came with bare feet. Now we are wearing Christian shoes." They had gotten their shoes through the relief program and they knew we were the supplier. Some second-hand tennis shoes made friends and opened a door for these Moslem children to listen to our message.
The people of this world use the power of money for personal gain and influence. Jesus tells His church that we can learn a lesson from them.

March 18

Mar 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 19
"An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel."

Many of the proverbs appear to be little more than observations of life. For the wise, they are a stimulant to help process life in a manner that pleases the Lord. I believe that this particular proverb falls into this category. A simple person might read this proverb and say, "Boy, isn't that the truth." But, a person who seeks to understand the way of life as the Lord intends would say something like, "Lord, how then do I deal with an offended brother?" And the search is on.
At this point I could begin chapter one of a lengthy book. Numerous books have been written on how to deal with conflict. But, I don't have the time and you don't have the patience. So, we needn't follow that course. We will simply look at a couple of principles and leave the reader the option to continue if need be. The first observation is the unique Hebrew term, which is interpreted 'offended' in this verse. It's the only place in the Bible you will find it. All other forms of the word offend in the OT appear to have some attachment to the idea of guilt. In this instance, the term speaks of a breaking away. When coupled with the term 'brother', we get a clearer sense of the picture. This term 'brother' is used in the widest sense in reference to a personal relationship. So, I believe this proverb is speaking of a broken relationship.
That guy who passed me just in time to make a left turn in front of me offended me - but I didn't have any kind of relationship with him. I fumed for awhile, but it soon passed. The politician on the evening news who espoused views that offended me got my dander up. But I didn't have a relationship with him, so I turned the channel and quickly forgot about it. Life is too short to allow people who I really don't even know to get inside of my emotions and ruin my day. But, when it comes to relationships. . . well, that's a whole different story. We are intimately 'attached' to certain institutions in our lives where relationships are vital. The home, the church, school, the workplace, the neighborhood, etc. Because others are intimately attached to the same institution, it is important to develop and maintain relationships with those in close proximity. When an offense occurs which breaks a relationship, it deeply affects how we feel and function not only within that particular institution, but we drag it around with us into every area of our lives. The literal translation for forms of the word 'offend' in the NT means to snare or entrap. Once entered, your stuck and you can't get away from it. If there is an offense in the home, the entire atmosphere of the home changes. If one becomes offended in the church, the joy and security disappears and it is no longer the desirable place it once was. If a relationship is broken in school, you can hardly get the child out of bed in the morning. School is now a painful place to be. If there is an offense in the neighborhood, your home is no longer the haven of refuge it once seemed. This proverb is no longer just a passing observation to an offended brother, it is a perplexing reality. Where there was once a functioning relationship, there is now an insurmountable wall. A wall that the offender cannot penetrate with even the best of arguments and reasoning. Regardless of what the offense was, you can be sure that feelings were hurt, dignity was trampled, respect was minimized and trust was broken. The more the offender attempts to justify their action, the thicker the wall becomes. The offender is not simply dealing with a justified action, but with a person who feels that they have somehow been devalued. How does one begin to penetrate that wall?
Given the complexities of the myriad of possibilities, there is no formula - but there are principles. The greatest principle and the fundamental place to begin is that of love. Unconditional love. First Corinthians 13 love. God's love. I do not think we will ever plumb the depths of the number of ways in which we have offended Him, yet we have ample opportunity to be in an intimate relationship with Him. If we will but search out the ways of God's love, and apply them to our relationships with our brothers (not a gender term), we will learn how to remove walls of fortified cities and penetrate barred gates of citadels. It also works on the walls and gates we ourselves have put up. When God was offended, He didn't walk away. There is something very powerful in love. A power that needs to be released in a world of walled cities. It takes a cross to release that power. Jesus willingly went to His, and asks us to take ours up daily. When self dies, love lives.

Monday, March 17, 2008

March 17

Mar 17 - Today from Proverbs 17 we look at verse 16
"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"

Here is a rare form of a proverb. It is in the form of a simple question. Most proverbs challenge us to dig out a deeper meaning, or to solve a riddle hidden in a statement. This one challenges us to come up with an answer. Let's start with a definition for a fool. The question itself gives us the definition. A fool is one who has no desire to get wisdom. Wisdom is proper application of correct knowledge. Now we can extrapolate the question a bit to read: "Of what use is money in the hand of a person who has no desire to seek correct knowledge and apply that knowledge to life?" Are we any closer to the answer? What if we give some sort of simple definition to money? Perhaps that might help. Well, the dictionary might say something like "a transportable article of trade" (commodity). But I would like to put it in more practical terms. Let's say that money is a chief source of influence and power. Now, I ask you, "What good is it to give a person a chief source of power an influence when that person has no desire to seek correct knowledge and apply that knowledge to life?" In all probability, about the best one could say is that it might help stimulate the economy because the chances are the fool is going to spend the money on some extravagance for him or herself.
After serving with an international relief and development organization for ten years, I can truly see the practicality of this proverb. An organization such as ours serves in extremely economically depressed areas of the world where the human condition is misery. Emergency relief hedges off starvation and disease, but then we sought to look further and seek ways to develop economic stimulation and bring a higher standard of living to our project areas. Perhaps you have heard the old adage, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life." This was a basic philosophy in our relief and development service. Once any emergency relief action was under way, the next task was to seek out the 'wise' in the particular project area. Our organization sought to partner with local leaders and/or organizations who were willing to learn 'how to fish', and then teach others. It was important to be reasonably confident that when your back was turned that they would not run off and sell the fishing pole so they could simply buy a few fish for themselves. One would be surprised at how prevalent this is with relief organizations. It takes time and discernment to seek out the wise. Through years of experience our organization developed very effective methods in sorting out the fools from the wise. It's much more difficult than one would think when you are operating in a strange culture and there is so much suffering and need all around you.
I remember when we were in Armenia, a tiny Christian culture surrounded by hostile Muslim cultures and has their commerce effectively cut off from the world. You cannot believe the need and poverty there. While visiting with the pastor of a village church, one of the village leaders asked to see us. As we sat and talked with him, he laid out a plan for a relief project. He asked if we could supply him with several thousand chickens. He would develop a chicken farm and keep some of the fertile eggs for reproduction and sell the rest for income. When the chickens stopped laying, he could sell them for very little, or give them to the poor in the village and surrounding villages. He had what seemed to be a pretty well laid out plan with numbers and percentages. If you saw the hungry and desperate people, you would think this is a pretty good plan. We began to ask him some questions. Where will you keep the chickens? "I am sure I can get two or three neighbors to partner with me. We will use our small farms together." What will you keep the chicken in? "Oh. We must have some funds to build chicken houses. We can pay you back with our profits." What will you use to feed several thousand chickens? "We will have to buy feed for the first year, but we plan to grow our feed the next year." Where will you buy the feed? "We are hoping you can import some for us." How many people will this huge investment employ? Do you have a market for the eggs? How will you get them to market? (Few people had cars, and fuel was even more rare). What kind of bookkeeping system will you use? How will you stay accountable to our organization? By time we were done with our questions, it was obvious that this man was not a wise man. He was a fool with a plan that he thought would make him a big man in the community. We shook his hand in a friendly farewell and told him we would consider his proposal. When he left, we considered it for a couple of minutes and then thought of it no more.
Our first question to ourselves may not have been written as it is in today's proverb, but the principle is the same. We were entrusted with the funds and resources of others to help alleviate suffering and poverty in this world. We had to find wise people in those poverty areas to whom we could entrust it. We needed to find people who had a clear understanding of the situation, whose hearts were full of compassion for the condition of their people, who had a reputation of integrity, who would use the resources to better the condition of their fellow man and who were teachable partners. Jesus often taught about money and the proper attitude regarding its purpose. In Luke 16:10-12 He says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" It is a foolish person who believes that money (worldly wealth) is the source of true riches. That is not correct knowledge. Of what good is money in the hands of a person like that?

Saturday, March 15, 2008

March 16

Mar 16 - Today from Proverbs 16 we look at verse 4
"The Lord works out everything for His own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster."

Have you ever been angry with God? I have. I don't think it's such a terrible thing if one is willing to work through their anger with God. After all, you are to be in a relationship with God, and it is quite natural for misunderstandings to arise in the best of relationships. When that happens, Jesus gives sound counsel in Matthew 18:15, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you." Of course, God never sins. But the principle of this command is for us to be confrontational when we are offended. If you are upset with God, don't walk away from Him, don't rebel against Him, but go to Him and humbly lay your case before Him. And then be still. Search the scriptures and search your heart. God desires to reveal Himself and to lead us in truth. In some instances you may not get an answer that clarifies - but he promises that you will get an answer that gives peace. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phil. 4:6,7
I remember being angry with God when Communism in Romania fell. I was serving with the Christian relief organization Dorcas Aid. There, in far eastern Romania, we discovered some of the most heart-wrenching inhumane circumstances imaginable. It was an institution (we could not call it a hospital by any stretch of the imagination), in which AIDS babies were put away until their eventual death. They were kept in small steel-barred cubicles, lying on filthy mattresses and rags (their own filth), often two, three and even four to a 'crib'. The attendants dared not touch them for fear of the disease. These few words cannot begin to describe the horror of the scene. It shakes one to the core of your very soul. "God! If you are sovereign, and loving and caring, how can you possibly allow this to happen to innocent little babies and toddlers?" You wrestle with it for days. How can God be glorified in this? Textbook theology goes out the window. This is real, and it is not easily satisfied with the ramblings of theologians. If God is in complete control of everything that happens, then He is responsible for this!
Go to the scriptures, beginning with today's. "God works out everything for His own ends. . ." Or the very familiar Romans 8:28; "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. . ." Thus we enter into a mystery, and because mysteries cannot be explained or fully understood, we will never come to a full understanding of the 'whys' of such human tragedies. The answer lies in the mystery of God's sovereignty and of man's free will; of God's eternal being and man's mortal being. Man exists in time and space. God transcends time and space. Sinful man corrupts and perpetrates evil in this world. Sovereign God takes that which was meant for evil and turns it to good. It wasn't good when it happened, and God did not cause it to happen. But in His sovereignty and in His transcendent state, He will ultimately work it out for His purposes. Nothing will stop, or even hinder the plan of God. That is one of the many unique attributes of our God and Father. No other being can make such a claim, because there is none like Him!
As I said, we may never get an answer that clarifies. But we can know His peace. We can come to a place of absolute trust in the sovereignty and justice of God, and we can move on. What happened to the Children's AIDS institution? Dorcas Aid discovered again that this was an opportunity to glorify God. Working with a local church as a partner, and using three volunteer nurses from the Netherlands, it was turned into a real hospital. For the first time in their short lives the babies and toddlers were loved and cared for. New beds and bedding were brought in. Industrial washing machines were donated. Walls were painted, floors were scrubbed, toys and stuffed animal by the hundreds were given. Local volunteer staff members were trained not to fear, but to pick up the children, hug them, love them, and nurture them. The result was a miracle. The babies were transformed from frightened animals into loving, laughing little children. Some as young as three and four years old came to know and profess Jesus. Really! And when these precious little souls passed on from this life to eternity, there were people who genuinely mourned their passing. A true sign that they were loved. The church also gained respect in the community. Many were inclined to listen to their message. Many who were ashamed of what the world discovered in their back yard came forward to help, and they too found Jesus through the practical love displayed for these tiny social outcasts.
I suppose one never fully gets past the initial horror of such an experience. But by being honest with God, and by being faithful to His response, we can through patience and practical love see the power of God's love work out even the worst of situations for His glory.
How about you? What are you anxious about today? What might you be angry with God about? He’s waiting to hear from you. And, He's waiting to show you something if you will be still and listen. He wants to give you His peace. And then He wants you to be a part of the solution. God gives grace.

March 15

Mar 15 - Today from Proverbs 15 we look at verses 2 & 28
"The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, the mouth of the wicked gushes evil."

Do you know many 'gushers'? It seems there is a mechanism missing between their brain and their mouth. It appears that one important tenet of wisdom is "Think before you speak." For a few this is somewhat of a natural characteristic. For most it is a learned discipline. For too many it is a discipline never learned. I guess I shouldn't be too critical, looking back I used to be quite the 'gusher' myself. I used to have a reputation as being a 'smart aleck. There is an old adage that goes, ‘Nobody likes a smart aleck.’ I guess I didn’t believe it when I was young and foolish. But I see the wisdom of it now.
By God's grace I have pretty much gotten my gusher under control, but every once in awhile the 'living sacrifice' of self crawls off the altar and the gusher quickly opens up. My flesh goes for the 'laugh' at another's expense. God have mercy. My flesh goes for the 'cut' to bring someone down to size. God have mercy. My flesh goes for the 'manipulation' to move someone from there to here. God have mercy.
Each day we must come to the throne anew and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice and seek God's wisdom and righteousness. And each day we have the wonderful opportunity to come and receive mercy - it is new every morning.
One way the Proverbs are to be used is as a mirror - to check out how we really look. Looking in that mirror again today, I see the potential for a gusher right where my mouth is. There is a valve to control that gusher; it is called 'think'. Weigh those words before you let them loose in the world. Are they going to instruct, bless and edify? Or are they going to humiliate, cut and manipulate? Another old adage goes, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.’ People might guess that your silence in a given situation is the better portion of wisdom. Don’t open your mouth and prove them wrong. Proverb 17:28 says, "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent."
Think before you speak.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

March 14

Mar 14 - Today from Proverbs 14 we look at verses 20 & 21
"The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy."

These two thoughts definitely go together. The first thought is the reality of man's fallen nature in this world. The rich have many friends because many of their 'friends' either enjoy the material benefits of their relationship, or are looking on ways to capitalize on their friendship. The poor have nothing to offer. In fact the poor are bothersome to the conscience and it is easier to deal with them by ignoring them. This is the reality of the world in which we live.
Then the writer turns our attention to a greater reality: that of a sovereign God who has commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves - regardless of the state of the neighbor's circumstances. In fact, God has continually revealed that He has a tender heart for the poor in this world, and they are to be given consideration rather then be ignored. This is so very clear in Jesus' teaching when He was asked by an expert in the law to interpret the heart of the law (Luke 10:26). The expert replied, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus replied that this was indeed the correct answer. Then in verse 29 it says of the expert, "But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" I don't think he was prepared for the answer, for this is the place where Jesus teaches the parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story - a man walking the road was set upon by thieves, beaten and robbed and left for dead. The 'self-righteous' types walked by and passed to the other side of the road. They were busy accomplishing their own plans and there was nothing in it for them to stop and help this person who fell on misfortune. (I wonder if any of them uttered a prayer as they walked by.) Then a Samaritan came upon the scene. Samaritans were regarded as half-breed, second class people by the Jews. They believed that Samaritans were a stench in God's nostrils. But this Samaritan stopped and assisted the beaten man, got him medical attention, food and accommodations and even provided some extra funds for a recovery period. Then Jesus asked the expert in the law, which was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers.
The expert replied, "The one who had mercy on him." (Apparently he couldn't even bring himself to say the word Samaritan.)
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
My insurance company goes by the slogan; "Like a good neighbor, (we are) there." There have been a couple of instances where I really appreciated their fast and friendly service - but it wasn't because they were a good neighbor. It was because I paid substantial premiums. If hard times ever fell on me and I could no longer pay the premiums, our relationship would cease to exist. Then I would have to see if I really did have any good neighbors.
This little study is very convicting for me. How many victims of misfortune do I ‘walk by’ each day while I am processing my own plans? And which of them am I supposed to help? And how am I supposed to help them? We have responsibilities to our own family, we are in need of times of rest and recreation, we can only do so much. . . it takes wisdom, discernment and balance. That is why a vital relationship with Jesus is so important. We are to be led of His Spirit. There are times when it is obvious when an opportunity to be a good neighbor presents itself. We don't have to pray about it - we just pick the person up and apply the oil and the wine. But there are times when we need the prompting and leading of the Spirit. It's a maturing process that is developed through practice.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." -Galatians 6:9, 10

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

March 13

March 13 - Today from Proverbs 13 we look at verse 16
"Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly."

The question this proverb poses is, "On what do we base our actions?" There is a war going on inside of each of us every day. Even as believers, the sinful nature remains in us until that day when we are free of our corrupted flesh. When we came to a saving faith and accepted the reality of Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross as a payment for our personal sin, we were 'born again' of His Holy Spirit and were made new creatures in Christ Jesus. Our spirit man was fully pardoned and we were restored into fellowship with God. But, as long as we continue to live in this body, our old nature seeks to be in control. Paul writes of this in Galatians 5:16-18 where he says, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
The Old Testament saints had the law. The law and the prophets contained the knowledge of God. They revealed how God desired His people to conduct themselves in order for life to be lived as God meant it. The writer of this Proverb is telling his readers that it is prudent to act out of that knowledge. The operative word here is act. When the inner conflict wants to go the way of the sinful nature, one must believe God and exert their will to act out of the knowledge of God. That is an act of faith, and faith pleases God. This is not saving faith, but it is faith that God rewards. This is why it was so important for God's people to study and memorize scriptures. Their whole covenant was based upon their knowledge of and obedience to the scriptures. But, God promised a new covenant, a better covenant. The writer of Hebrews reveals the wonder of this covenant in chapter 8, verses 10 & 11 where he writes:
"I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God and they will be my people.
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest."
This is our covenant. Through the shed blood of Jesus our sin has been dealt with, He sent His Spirit to dwell in us, and we can know God through a relationship with Him. We not only have knowledge of Him through the scriptures, we know Him through the indwelling Spirit. This is why Paul wrote that if we are led of the Spirit, we are no longer under the law. We do well to become intimately acquainted with the Holy Spirit and learn to appropriate His grace and follow His lead in every situation. He will always lead in the knowledge of God -- He never conflicts with His Word. We are saved through the blood of Jesus. We are rewarded for our prudent actions. Our actions reveal who has the upper hand in our hearts, self or Jesus Christ.
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile." -Psalm 14:1
The fool acts on his own understanding and out of his own selfish ambitions. When he acts, his folly is exposed. Believers are not fools -- but they certainly can act foolish. The Spirit warns us in this passage; When we choose not to follow His lead, but rather to act on our own understanding, we are acting foolishly and our folly will be exposed. Remember dear saints, the Spirit never contradicts His Word! If your inclinations are to believe that the Spirit is leading you into an action that would violate the principles of His Word, it isn't the Holy Spirit.
As we continue to mature in our understanding and our actions, we can say with the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and I (my old nature) no longer live, but Christ lives in me (my new being). The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." -Galatians 2:20 (parentheses mine).
Paul learned to win the battle within by considering his old nature dead - crucified with Christ. By appropriating His grace given us through the gift of His Holy Spirit, we can do the same. Wisdom is led by the Spirit.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

March 12

Mar 12 - Today from Proverbs 12 we look at verse 18
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Did you ever think about the incredible ability God has given man to communicate? God created man in His image and then gave man a great responsibility on this earth. Man was to subdue the earth and rule over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:28). Man needed a more precise way to communicate than mere behavior, and God in His wisdom gave man the gift of intelligent speech. Once sin entered into the world, speech became perverted and the tongue became a powerful agent for sin. The book of James is considered by many to be the 'Proverbs of the New Testament'. In it James writes, "The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." (3:6). Wow! Strong words.
A sword is not a surgical instrument. It is an instrument of violence and wounding. When one stops and considers the consequences of being wounded by a sword thrust, today’s verse becomes a very sober picture. Even if it's not a mortal wound, a sword thrust leaves an open wound, which endangers the victim. The victim can suffer blood loss, which can leave one weakened for a long period. An open wound is an invitation to infections, which can cause misery and torment to the victim long after the wound was made. The wound can put the victim out of productive commission for a long period of time. The wound can cripple the victim for life. When we picture the reality of a sword wound, we shudder. God wants us to picture the same possibilities in the potential of a reckless tongue. Your tongue!
We can slash a person with a good tongue-lashing in the wink of an eye and walk away feeling clever - even justified. What we can't see is what God sees - a bleeding victim with an open wound that can complicate the life of that victim for a long time. We may feel justified in having lashed out, but in God's economy there is no justification. Love was not practiced. Instead of putting out a small flare-up with a word of grace, one sets the course of life on fire with the tongue.
The tongue of the wise brings healing. God's Word works. Regardless of insensitive or unjust thrusts made toward us, our responsibility is to be gracious.
I remember years ago when I was still an early disciple of Jesus, I was working in a retail business. While waiting on a customer, another customer interrupted and asked me to help him find an item. I pointed him in the proper direction and said I would join him as soon as I finished with the customer I was waiting on. I didn't know it at the time, but evidently someone had given this man a recent 'sword-thrust'. When I eventually got over to him he gave me a rather severe tongue-lashing. He said he had never been treated so brashly and that he would be talking to my boss to have me fired. I had the sense to quickly offer a silent prayer and ask for grace. Before I met Jesus, I had a very clever tongue and I could deliver a very stinging come-back. God gave me grace and I apologized and told him how sorry I was to treat him that way (what way, I still don't know). That kind of caught him off guard. He glowered and stormed out of the store. I said a silent prayer for him as the door closed behind him.
The next day he came in looking for me. Not knowing what to expect, I came up front and was surprised to be facing a very different personality. He apologized for his behavior the day before. He informed me that he had a bad experience before coming into our store and he was probably mad at the world right then. He said he was sorry that he gave me such a bad experience. He said that I was a better man than he was and that my reaction had shamed him. He said it was on his mind all day. I thanked him for making the effort to come back and share these things. I told him that as he was chewing me out, I asked the Lord to give me grace - and that's the only reason I behaved as I did. He parted as a friend that day. As you can well imagine, that incident is burned in my memory.
Not every encounter ends that way. But we need to at least do our part before God to be humble and offer words of wisdom and healing rather than wounding thrusts. God won't hold us responsible for the reaction of the other.

Monday, March 10, 2008

March 11

Mar 11 - Today from Proverbs 11 we look at verse 6
"The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires."

Righteousness remains to be one of the most elusive concepts of my faith. I guess the reason for it is because I keep getting it tangled up with the law. That's why the book of Galatians is so important for me. The entire church in the region of Galatia also struggled with the concept, so Paul wrote an epistle to help straighten out their thinking on the subject. It always has been, and continues to be, a concept with which the church struggles. The law was never given as a means to achieve righteousness, yet it seems we cannot help but place it into the equation somewhere. We want to have something we can do to take credit for our righteousness. Well, there is something, but it has nothing to do with the law.
Abraham is often spoken of as "The Father of Faith". He didn't even have the written law, and he certainly didn't set a perfect moral example for us. His righteousness came the same way ours does; "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Gen. 15:6, Gal. 3:6) Notice that the scriptures do not say that he "believed in God", but that he "believed God". There is a big difference. James 2:19 teaches on this subject by saying, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder." I guess believing in God is not the total answer.
But how about if you believe in God, and keep the moral law of God? Wouldn't that be righteousness? Galatians 3:10 teaches that "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse." We know that the righteous are not under a curse, so I guess that isn't the answer either. The law serves a very important purpose, but that purpose is not to provide us with righteousness. When we slip into that mode of thinking, all sorts of things begin to distort the gospel. We lose our joy. We begin to judge others. We enter into pride. We begin to replace true righteousness with self-righteousness. It broke Paul's heart to see the church of Galatia trading the freedom they had in Christ for a system that incorporated legalism into the gospel.
To believe God is a concept of absolute trust. It is the basis of saving faith. Galatians 3:22 states, "But scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe." Believe what? Believe God and what He has revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. Righteousness comes by faith in His promise, not by trying to keep His law. Again, Galatians 3:19 and 20 teach that the law came by way of a mediator but the promise came through God alone. A mediator tries to work out the differences between two parties. "If you do this, he will do that." When you read Deuteronomy, you will detect a lot of this language. Blessings and curses; "If you do this, I will bless you. If you do that, I will curse you." But the promise came from God alone. He swore on Himself. It didn't depend on man's behavior. The fulfillment of the promise was Jesus Christ. All we have to do to walk in righteousness is to believe God. This is true faith. If we truly believe God, and put our absolute trust in Him, we will obey Him. Faith is to have a higher priority than feelings. We are to believe God more than our own senses. Faith comes before action. We are free from the supervision of the written law because the spirit of the law now controls our heart.
This is a bit simplistic, but may help to understand the difference between legalism and true faith;
Legalism says, "I will obey so that God will watch over my best interests." (appeasement)
Faith says, "I trust that God puts my best interests first, therefore I will obey." (relationship)
It is a paradox, but those who continue to rely on observing the law as a means of righteousness are just as unfaithful as those who are in rebellion against the law. Both remain trapped by their evil desires. Only abiding faith in Christ can produce the righteousness which delivers us from evil desires.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." -Galatians 2:20

Sunday, March 9, 2008

March 10

Mar 10 - Today from Proverbs 10 we look at verse 20
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value."

This proverb reveals that the tongue and the heart are intricately connected, and that the fruit of the tongue is a reliable indicator of a person's standing with God. Jesus teaches the same principle in Luke 6:45 where He says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." A key word in this thought is the word overflow. It could also be translated surplus. Everyone is capable of pretentious speech, but neither our proverb nor the teaching of Christ is referring to pretentiousness. It refers to the raw overflow of the character of heart. If you observe a person long enough, particularly in candid situations, the tongue will reveal what is really in the heart.
What comes out of the mouth has value. This is not simply speaking of good advice, although that could be included. It speaks of integrity. It speaks of how much trust one can place in the character of the person speaking. If a person is abiding in the character of Christ (faith expressing itself through love), what comes from the heart through the mouth are expressions of love. Whether the expressions be comfort, edification, encouragement, instruction, or even correction, it can be received as valuable because of the integrity of the character from which it flows. If a person is living for him or herself, then what proceeds from the heart and through the mouth are selfish expressions, and selfishness promotes evil. Evil causes hurt.
I don't know about you, but I prefer to seek relationships with people whose speech has value. Value adds to life. I try to avoid relationships with people who are so self-focused that they often cause hurt in the lives of others. What 'little value' there is in their speech, it doesn't seem worth the time to separate it out of the worthlessness of the bulk of their verbiage.
Am I judging? I am not judging them to condemnation. God is the only judge who sits in that capacity. But I believe we are to make right judgments as to what influences we are willing endorse or enter into. Jesus teaches in John 7:24, "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." In our passage from Luke 6 He says in verse 44, "Each tree is recognized by its own fruit." Don't you suppose that we are to judge the quality of the fruit before we attempt to ingest it?
Our first reflection today should be to examine our own heart to see if we are adding value to those in our areas of influence. This means we are to die to our self-serving ways, and allow the character of Christ to guide our thoughts and words. Instead of being a part of the problem of hurt in this world, we need to become a part of the solution in Christ.
Our second reflection should be to examine the 'fruit' of the people we are tempted to allow to influence our lives. Whether they be friends, people in the workplace, sports stars or media personalities, we need to judge the fruit of their lives before we emulate or endorse their character. What exactly is the value of the word of a super-star millionaire who cheats on his wife or does drugs and endangers lives on the highways? Why would I want to listen to anything he has to say? Where are the role models for today's generation? We need to be careful that we do not judge by mere appearances. We need to make right judgments. You can pretty much trust in the words of a person of integrity. They do the right thing for the right reasons on a consistent basis.
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." -Galatians 5:6b

Saturday, March 8, 2008

March 9

Mar 9 - Today from Proverbs 9 we look at verse 17
"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious."

These are the alluring words of the woman Folly. Folly is the antithesis of Wisdom. Wisdom seeks to see life undistorted by the effects of sin. Folly seeks to live life as seen through the distortion of sin. The tragedy of the simple, those who court folly, is that they cannot (or will not) foresee the results of sin. Thus, they ever move forward towards the inevitable conclusion of such a life - death.
"But don't we all die? Don't we all end up in the grave sooner or later?"
Only the body goes to the grave. Wisdom is the ability to see that this organic lump of various earthly minerals combined with a huge amount of water, which we call our body, could not possibly reason, show emotions or enter into relationships with other similar bodies apart from something quite supernatural. The body is the organic home of something far more complex, something that does not stay confined to the earthly grave in which the worn out or defunct body is buried. Folly would have us believe that the best pleasures to be had in life are found in gratifying the cravings of this body in which we live. Wisdom tells us that the greatest pleasures to be had in life are discovering the One who gives us life. You've got to admit, wisdom makes much more sense.
Why is stolen water so sweet? And what makes food more delicious when eaten in secret? I believe that these are allegorical, just like the food and wine offered by Wisdom in verse five. In John chapter five Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever drinks of the water He offers will never thirst again. Rather, it will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Eternal life isn't something to be anticipated after our body rests in a cold grave. Eternal life is contained in Christ, and we can experience it now. We have eternal life in Christ Jesus. There is nothing further to thirst after. Stolen water, on the other hand, is the temporary gratification of sin, and promises to be its own reward. But the foolish victim will thirst again. The promise of food eaten in secret is a hollow promise. Even the darkness is light to God, and one day every unrighteous act will be exposed unless confessed and covered by the blood of Jesus.
Folly makes a lot of flashy noise, offering pleasures that never live up to her hype. Yet the simple continue to listen to her, believing that somehow they will one day be fulfilled. The truth is, they will never be fulfilled, and the simple will discover what true death is - even beyond the grave. To exist apart from Christ is to exist apart from Life itself. In the fifth chapter of 2 Corinthians Paul tells us as believers that one day we will move out of this temporary dwelling which we intimately know as our body, and we will move into a new residence. A residence that will not age or become corrupted. We will have a new body, but we will not have a new life. We have Him now. We have eternal life in Christ. There is no other way.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
-Jesus, John 14:6

March 8

Mar 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verses 10 & 11
"Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

Priorities. One can easily detect where another's heart is by observing their priorities. Priorities are directly related to values. This proverb reveals the greater value of wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge, which is basically correct information from God's eternal perspective. If wisdom is a priority, then gaining knowledge becomes a part of that priority. We gain knowledge through God's instruction.
'Values' asks the question, "What is most important to me?" Once a person determines the answer to that question, the priorities are set in place. If wealth and the accumulation material goods are of highest importance, that person becomes a slave to mammon. If wisdom is of highest importance, one becomes a student of the Word and a true servant of the living God. In Luke 16:13 Jesus taught that "No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money (mammon)." It appeared that one might be able to - for His teaching was somewhat directed at the Pharisees who publicly were some of the greatest ‘servants’ of God. But in their hearts they served mammon. By studying their attitudes and the fruit of their ways, it was unmistakable. When they heard Jesus say this, they sneered at Him. Then He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." (Luke 16:15).
Many today still convince themselves that you can serve two masters. But if they look into their hearts and weigh their values, they too will discover that there is only one that takes priority. Remember the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18? He was very serious about inheriting eternal life. Jesus listed some articles of the moral law and the young man confessed that he was indeed very moral. Then Jesus proceeded to reveal the real heart of the problem. It wasn't a moral problem, it was a matter of priorities. Jesus told the young man to give his treasure to the poor and to follow Him. Suddenly the moral young man who did his best to keep the moral law discovered that he might not get to heaven after all. He couldn't part with his real master, mammon. We do not know if he repented later on and became a believer or not. That's not the point of this story. The point is, "What is your priority?"
Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 7:12, "Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor."
Jesus may not have asked us to sell all of our possessions and give the money to the poor. But He asks us to look into our hearts to see what our priorities are. What exactly is our first love, and how do we bear evidence of it in our own lives?

Thursday, March 6, 2008

March 7

Mar 7 - Today from Proverbs 7 we look at verses 8 & 9
"He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in."

Here, in verses 6-23 of this chapter, we have a story of a ‘simple’ young man involved in a tragic outcome of a life event. As the storyteller observes him, the young man appears to have no specific direction or goals in life. He just walks along to see what opportunities might arise. Without seeking the Lord and His directives in life, one can be assured of what opportunities will arise – temptations that will ultimately ensnare him in tragedy.
The first oversight in the young man’s life is his aimlessness. The story doesn’t say whether he has a vision for his life or not, but one thing is sure, he has no plan. A vision without a plan is nothing more than a dream, and dreamers often come to the end of life with little more than regrets. The young man ambles along and wanders in the direction of an adulteress, just as the sun is setting. The adulteress is making her plans to come onto the street and seduce the first unsuspecting young man who comes along. This is the second oversight, walking into the darkness. The adulteress could represent any temptation, any moral weakness that a person might have. The tempter does her best work in the night. Evil works under the cover of darkness. This is not physical darkness, but covert darkness, out of the sight of the public eye. Those who have not been spiritually enlightened are the most susceptible to fall under the deadly spell of moral temptation. It is because they love the fruit of temptation more than they love truth. They do not understand that the fruit of temptation will ultimately bring misery and death. Jesus put it this way in John 3:19-21: "This is the verdict; Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hated the light, and will not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
The first step in moving from being simple to growing in wisdom is to come to the light and embrace the truth of God’s Word. That is also the first step in developing a plan for life. "Lord, lead me. I want to follow your plan for my life," is in itself a great plan. The Lord will not lead one into temptation. One of the petitions Jesus taught us to pray is, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matt. 6:13)
What we are to learn from today’s proverb is what not to do. One of the deceiver’s greatest deceptions is to get one to believe, "I am the exception. I am smart enough not to get ensnared." Once a person believes that, the guard is down and the rest is easy for the seducer. The only safe path is the path of light.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

March 6

Mar 6 - Today from Proverbs 6 we look at verse 16
"There are six things the Lord hates, seven things that are detestable to Him:"

By just a quick read, this proverb seems to go against everything we ever learned about God. He is perfect love. He loves with an everlasting love. He loves the world so much that He gave His only Son. Now we are confronted with the notion that God hates. How can that be?
As we begin to think deeper about God, we remember that He is a person, with a personality, and we are made in His image. We have a full range of emotions - we got them from God. Our emotions were corrupted, but that does not invalidate them. If there is love, then it stands to reason there must be hate. The hate that is being spoken of in this passage is better defined in the second half of the verse. It is not a hate with a destructive murderous intent. It is a hate that detests. The object of this kind of hate tends to be extremely offensive and disgusting. The writer of this passage is telling us that there are indeed things that are offensive and disgusting to our holy and loving God. "Six things . . . seven" is a poetic way of saying that the list is not complete. The list however is quite substantial. In reading through the list, one discovers that which God hates is not people, but various attitudes and behaviors that people display. We have all heard the phrase "God hates sin but loves the sinner." That is kind of the idea here. The lesson for the sinner is to separate himself from the sin, and be free of the wrath of God, which is coming to judge all sin.
How is that possible - to be separated from the record of the sin in our lives? There is a beautiful truth in one of the most profound Messianic passages in the Bible, found in Isaiah 53. Verse six says, "The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." There on the cross, Jesus Christ took the record of our sin and bore it in His own body. All that any individual needs to do is to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, confess their sin and repent, and receive the free gift of eternal life. Now we are free from God's eternal hate and wrath. Any who perish without making this decision have perished in their sin. Never having been separated from their sin by the shed blood of Jesus, they will be personally responsible to God for it. That is not a good place to be. God is light. God is love. Judgment is a place where there is darkness and agony.
The other lesson in this passage is that once we have received the gift of life in Christ Jesus, God purposes to transform us into His image. Now that we are His children, He wants us to bear the image of Christ so that others will be drawn to Him. Displaying improper attitudes and behaviors in His Name drives people away rather than draws them toward. God hates that. He hates it when His children hinder and incur emotional injury to others. When we learn what our Father hates, our love for Him is to compel us to stop any form of that attitude and behavior in our own life. And the amazing thing is, He even gives grace for that. All we need to do is ask - particularly in the time of temptation.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

March 5

Mar 5 - Today from Proverbs 5 we look at verses 1 & 2.
"My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge."

In chapter 2 verses 1-4 we discovered how one attains discretion. Chapter 5 verse 1 reveals how one maintains discretion. Well, would you look at that! One maintains much the same way one attains. Attaining takes a little more effort. There are four verses containing eight actions for attaining and only one verse containing two of those actions for maintaining; paying attention and listening well.
Maintenance is very important for any object one may value. Once the object is properly yours, you can be sure that it will not automatically continue to function as it should. It will take proper maintenance, and maintenance will take time and effort. When we talk maintenance, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the car. When you spend thousands on a nice auto, you don't want it turning into an oil-burning rusted-out hulk before it's paid for, so you invest some time, effort and expense to maintain your investment. Not nearly as much as the original investment, but enough to make it a discipline.
Let's take something less obvious but more important. How about a relationship? Have you ever thought about a relationship needing maintenance? A young couple invests a couple of years of valuable time getting to know each other. They invest a huge commitment to spend the rest of their lives together as they speak vows before their Creator. The knot is tied. Now they can just sit back, relax and let the relationship grow and bear fruit. HARDLY!!! That relationship will take a lot of maintenance in order to properly function and bear fruit. Statistics reveal that about half the couples who marry today (Christian as well as non-Christian), do not have the discipline to practice proper relationship maintenance and the marriage becomes an oil-burning rusted-out hulk in just a few years.
Ready to move it up one more notch? How about discretion? This is the object that protects your relationships and a whole lot more. It keeps you from shipwrecking your life. That's right. Our discretion requires discipline of maintenance. It involves the discipline of personal daily devotions. Quality time. Not just a quick prayer over an evening meal, and a cry for help in a tight spot. If one wants to have the mind of Christ, one must spend quality time with Him. Opening one's heart in prayer - constantly. Practice having Jesus as your constant companion - He wants to be. Carve out a block of quiet time each day to spend in the Word. Ask Him to reveal something profitable to your soul (that's not looking for a way for God to make you rich). It would include teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). That's right, a rebuke from one who loves and cares for you is very profitable. "It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools." (Ecc. 7:5). If He cares enough to die for us, we can trust His discretion when He wants to correct us.
Discretion is a very valuable asset in life. Well worth the discipline of maintenance. Let's commit to the Lord and to one another to work on it. We'll be glad we did.