Oct 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verse 18
"With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity."
The subject of this verse is wisdom - personified and speaking in the first person. The key word in this verse, in my opinion, is the word enduring. One needs some wisdom just to properly interpret this verse. If the focus were to be riches and wealth, it could tend to pervert the motive of the disciple in a pursuit of wisdom.
Let's take a Biblical look at endurance, and apply it to spiritual values.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (Jesus, Matt. 24:35).
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor. 4:18)
". . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater value than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine, and may result in praise glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6, 7).
It doesn't take a lot of commentary to develop a proper set of values by meditating on these passages. One of the greatest indicators of value is endurance. The riches of this world have an expiration date - even gold refined by fire will perish. They will not endure. When we set our hope on perishable things, we will perish with them. "Yeah, but at least in the meantime I am going to enjoy my perishable things." (sic) There is no wisdom in such a statement. A soap bubble can be as beautiful as a diamond, but who of us would trade a diamond for a soap bubble? People are doing it every day.
What enduring wealth and prosperity does wisdom then offer? Jesus reveals one - His words. They are alive and active, and hold the power of salvation and deliverance. Peter reveals that our faith endures. Our faith can see us through the most difficult of trials, and rather than diminish, it grows even stronger. Paul adds two more to faith in 1 Corinthians 13:13; "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Agape love. It is much different than the temporary love the world plays with. Agape love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person. That is how God loves me. That is how He loves you. That is how Jesus has called us to love one another. When one is the recipient of such enduring love, all the riches of this world pale in its significance.
Growing in wisdom is growing in our understanding of God's purposes. As we grow in our understanding, we accumulate and distribute the enduring riches of His word, of our faith, and above all, of His love. Everything else is going to perish.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
October 7
Oct 7 - Today from Proverbs 7 we look at verses 16-18 & 27
" 'I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!' . . . Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death."
Proverbs chapter seven contains a rather lengthy narrative of a simple young man who lacks moral conviction being seduced by a clever adulteress. Within the narrative we see two descriptions of the same house, found in today's verses. The first description is that which is experienced through the senses and is spoken by the seducing wife. The second can only be seen through the discerning heart of one who looks from an eternal perspective and is spoken by the Teacher. Although the two descriptions give quite a radical contrast, they are both accurate.
The first description is accurate in that it gives a physical description. It speaks of colors, scents and textures that arouse and please the senses. The simple - people without wisdom and discernment - are most often led by their senses. Thus, the seductress speaks a very sensual word-picture to her prey, enticing him to come and experience all she has up till now only described to him. The problem here is, that what she has just described is morally wrong. No matter how gratifying the temporary act is to the 'flesh' (where our senses are found), there are still consequences to moral failure.
The second description is accurate in that it gives a spiritual description. It speaks of death - separation and isolation. We would err if we were to apply the physical description to death (separation of spirit and body), when we are speaking of spiritual matters. The first spiritual separation that occurs when we give into moral failure is between ourselves and our God. It is not that He wants to be separated from the morally corrupt, it is more that the morally corrupt cannot abide in the presence of a Holy God any more than darkness can abide in the presence of light. It is a consequence, not a decision. God's decision is to love, and to find a way to restore the morally corrupt unto Himself - to remove the record of their failure that they may abide in His presence. Thus, the blood of the perfect sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through His blood that our stain is removed and we can come into the presence of God. His Holiness will not consume us as light consumes darkness because we are made light in Christ. As we continue to confess and repent of our failures, we continue to be perfected. When we choose to follow our sensual desires and yield to the seductions of the world, we become separated in our intimate relationship with God. . . even as born-again, heaven-bound believers.
Then, death and the grave continue their work in separation and isolation - in our relationships with others. Not sometimes. Not most of the time. All of the time. It is the very nature of sin. That is why God so hates sin. He created man to live in a serving community, in unbroken relationship with Himself and with one another. Sin fractures that community. There is no sin in colored sheets, pleasing fragrances and interesting textures. They are but sensual lures to entice a victim into an immoral act. The Teacher does not warn the student to avoid things pleasing to the senses, but to look at the deeper moral issues: What purpose do these sensual things serve? If they were to enhance the sensual relationship between a husband and wife, they would serve as an enrichment to a moral relationship. If they were to enhance the sensual relationship to anyone outside of a couple joined in a covenant relationship before God, they are but tools of separation and isolation - moral failure. There is no gray area here.
So it is with any sensual stimulus. If it is purposed for use within the bounds of moral conviction, it can serve to enhance God's purposes. If it is used to draw us away from moral behavior, it becomes a tool of separation and isolation. Moral corruption is not found in sensual things, but is found in the improper intent for which those things are being used.
Madison Avenue is synonymous with commercial advertising in our nation. Madison Avenue has perfected the art of sensual enticement. It does not sell a pair of blue jeans; it sells the sensuality of the person wearing the jeans. It does not sell a new car; it sells the sensuality of the person driving the car. It is a very strong force - and God's people must be a people of conviction and discernment in order to live in His purposes. He gives grace - we just have to learn how to live in that grace.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." -Galatians 5:24, 25
" 'I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!' . . . Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death."
Proverbs chapter seven contains a rather lengthy narrative of a simple young man who lacks moral conviction being seduced by a clever adulteress. Within the narrative we see two descriptions of the same house, found in today's verses. The first description is that which is experienced through the senses and is spoken by the seducing wife. The second can only be seen through the discerning heart of one who looks from an eternal perspective and is spoken by the Teacher. Although the two descriptions give quite a radical contrast, they are both accurate.
The first description is accurate in that it gives a physical description. It speaks of colors, scents and textures that arouse and please the senses. The simple - people without wisdom and discernment - are most often led by their senses. Thus, the seductress speaks a very sensual word-picture to her prey, enticing him to come and experience all she has up till now only described to him. The problem here is, that what she has just described is morally wrong. No matter how gratifying the temporary act is to the 'flesh' (where our senses are found), there are still consequences to moral failure.
The second description is accurate in that it gives a spiritual description. It speaks of death - separation and isolation. We would err if we were to apply the physical description to death (separation of spirit and body), when we are speaking of spiritual matters. The first spiritual separation that occurs when we give into moral failure is between ourselves and our God. It is not that He wants to be separated from the morally corrupt, it is more that the morally corrupt cannot abide in the presence of a Holy God any more than darkness can abide in the presence of light. It is a consequence, not a decision. God's decision is to love, and to find a way to restore the morally corrupt unto Himself - to remove the record of their failure that they may abide in His presence. Thus, the blood of the perfect sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through His blood that our stain is removed and we can come into the presence of God. His Holiness will not consume us as light consumes darkness because we are made light in Christ. As we continue to confess and repent of our failures, we continue to be perfected. When we choose to follow our sensual desires and yield to the seductions of the world, we become separated in our intimate relationship with God. . . even as born-again, heaven-bound believers.
Then, death and the grave continue their work in separation and isolation - in our relationships with others. Not sometimes. Not most of the time. All of the time. It is the very nature of sin. That is why God so hates sin. He created man to live in a serving community, in unbroken relationship with Himself and with one another. Sin fractures that community. There is no sin in colored sheets, pleasing fragrances and interesting textures. They are but sensual lures to entice a victim into an immoral act. The Teacher does not warn the student to avoid things pleasing to the senses, but to look at the deeper moral issues: What purpose do these sensual things serve? If they were to enhance the sensual relationship between a husband and wife, they would serve as an enrichment to a moral relationship. If they were to enhance the sensual relationship to anyone outside of a couple joined in a covenant relationship before God, they are but tools of separation and isolation - moral failure. There is no gray area here.
So it is with any sensual stimulus. If it is purposed for use within the bounds of moral conviction, it can serve to enhance God's purposes. If it is used to draw us away from moral behavior, it becomes a tool of separation and isolation. Moral corruption is not found in sensual things, but is found in the improper intent for which those things are being used.
Madison Avenue is synonymous with commercial advertising in our nation. Madison Avenue has perfected the art of sensual enticement. It does not sell a pair of blue jeans; it sells the sensuality of the person wearing the jeans. It does not sell a new car; it sells the sensuality of the person driving the car. It is a very strong force - and God's people must be a people of conviction and discernment in order to live in His purposes. He gives grace - we just have to learn how to live in that grace.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." -Galatians 5:24, 25
Sunday, October 5, 2008
October 6
Oct 6 - Today from Proverbs 6 we look at verse 34
"For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge."
The context of this verse is the indelible shame of adultery and the inescapable consequences born of a betrayed husband to the intruder of his marriage. In Proverbs, the Teacher never warns the adulteress. She seems to be introduced only as an object of extreme temptation with devastating consequences. The Teacher constantly warns the student to avoid her at all costs. Biblically, the man carries first responsibility in a marriage relationship. Not just the man in the marriage, but all other men outside of the marriage. Even in this day of 'equality among the sexes', men are the first to be held responsible before God for fidelity in the marriage.
Modern man has attempted to 'neutralize' gender in the Bible because gender has become politically incorrect. They claim that gender was emphasized in accordance with the strong cultural trends of the day in which it was written. I think that we as 'students of the Word' must be more careful in our attempts to make God's Word fit our strong cultural trends. Perhaps our culture is headed down a very wrong path - a path that might be corrected if we sought to make our trends more in line with God's Word. Listen to Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 5:22-24; "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Wow! Talk about politically incorrect!
"In Paul's day the women were not socially liberated at all." Yet, Paul gave an illustration that is absolute sound doctrine; the analogy of Christ and His church. Culture will never change that relationship. Good hermeneutics should tell us that culture is to never change the relationship of the husband and the wife in the marriage. The key focus in Paul's statement, and in the marriage, is this; "The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church." Christ did not subjugate the church, He liberated her. Christ did not force the church into a submissive posture, He loved her in that He gave His life for her and thus gave her the confidence to totally submit to Him. Christ never demanded that the church make herself presentable to Him, He accepted her unconditionally and He gave His all to make her presentable unto Himself. It is very clear who is the more responsible in this relationship - the Lord Jesus. He is responsible first to be worthy of the wife's submission. Her responsibility is then to reciprocate and submit out of trust and honor.
The man did not appoint himself as head of the marriage relationship - God appointed him. Man did not decide he would be the head of the marriage relationship, God gave him the responsibility. That responsibility means that he is to commit himself to one woman for life. That responsibility means he will commit himself to be the kind of man his wife would desire to submit to. That commitment means that he will spend the rest of his life keeping her, nourishing her, giving her freedom, and making himself worth 'being under'. If a man cannot make such a commitment, then he has no business getting married. And worse, he has no business involving himself in another man's marriage! It does not matter what the issues are in that marriage, man is responsible to STAY OUT! It is men who have the strongest tendencies to act pagan. It is our modern culture that is influencing men to become even more pagan. It is men who are more responsible for the moral decline in our culture - because our culture has 'neutralized' gender and taken moral responsibility away from the men. God never did.
"For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge."
The context of this verse is the indelible shame of adultery and the inescapable consequences born of a betrayed husband to the intruder of his marriage. In Proverbs, the Teacher never warns the adulteress. She seems to be introduced only as an object of extreme temptation with devastating consequences. The Teacher constantly warns the student to avoid her at all costs. Biblically, the man carries first responsibility in a marriage relationship. Not just the man in the marriage, but all other men outside of the marriage. Even in this day of 'equality among the sexes', men are the first to be held responsible before God for fidelity in the marriage.
Modern man has attempted to 'neutralize' gender in the Bible because gender has become politically incorrect. They claim that gender was emphasized in accordance with the strong cultural trends of the day in which it was written. I think that we as 'students of the Word' must be more careful in our attempts to make God's Word fit our strong cultural trends. Perhaps our culture is headed down a very wrong path - a path that might be corrected if we sought to make our trends more in line with God's Word. Listen to Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 5:22-24; "Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Wow! Talk about politically incorrect!
"In Paul's day the women were not socially liberated at all." Yet, Paul gave an illustration that is absolute sound doctrine; the analogy of Christ and His church. Culture will never change that relationship. Good hermeneutics should tell us that culture is to never change the relationship of the husband and the wife in the marriage. The key focus in Paul's statement, and in the marriage, is this; "The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church." Christ did not subjugate the church, He liberated her. Christ did not force the church into a submissive posture, He loved her in that He gave His life for her and thus gave her the confidence to totally submit to Him. Christ never demanded that the church make herself presentable to Him, He accepted her unconditionally and He gave His all to make her presentable unto Himself. It is very clear who is the more responsible in this relationship - the Lord Jesus. He is responsible first to be worthy of the wife's submission. Her responsibility is then to reciprocate and submit out of trust and honor.
The man did not appoint himself as head of the marriage relationship - God appointed him. Man did not decide he would be the head of the marriage relationship, God gave him the responsibility. That responsibility means that he is to commit himself to one woman for life. That responsibility means he will commit himself to be the kind of man his wife would desire to submit to. That commitment means that he will spend the rest of his life keeping her, nourishing her, giving her freedom, and making himself worth 'being under'. If a man cannot make such a commitment, then he has no business getting married. And worse, he has no business involving himself in another man's marriage! It does not matter what the issues are in that marriage, man is responsible to STAY OUT! It is men who have the strongest tendencies to act pagan. It is our modern culture that is influencing men to become even more pagan. It is men who are more responsible for the moral decline in our culture - because our culture has 'neutralized' gender and taken moral responsibility away from the men. God never did.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
October 5
Oct 5 - Today from Proverbs 5 we look at verse 20
"Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?"
Do you know why I think we as Christians get into so much trouble? I don't think we ask ourselves enough good questions - and then give honest answers to them. The Teacher asks two good questions of his disciples in this proverb.
"Why entertain an act on infidelity?"
"Why risk reputation, integrity, and all of the life-long benefits of such assets for an immoral act?"
The disciple can really give only one honest answer to both - "Self-gratification."
When the flesh is in control, it can rationalize that it is worth the risk to satisfy the urgent sensual need - whatever it may be. The size of consequence diminishes in the overwhelming need of the moment. "I just couldn't help myself!" We are not supposed to help self, we are to die to self. It was the curse of Esau (Gen. 25:29-34). His sensual need was hunger. The importance of his birthright diminished in the overwhelming craving of his appetite. He never stopped to ask himself good questions. He gave in to the flesh and traded his birthright for a meal. He was not a victim of his hunger - God held him responsible for his action.
We can hardly believe that Esau would actually trade his birthright for a meal - yet Christians are violating this principle every day. The birthright was an unseen abstract notion. The meal was a tangible object of desire. Tangible objects are identified through our senses - thus we use the term flesh. Things of the kingdom are identified in our spirit. When the flesh is in control, the things of the spirit diminish in the perception of reality. When the spirit is in control, the things of the flesh diminish in reality. Reality based on what is seen is only temporary. Reality based on Truth is eternal. Paul clearly articulates this concept in 2 Cor. 4:18 where he says - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Again, Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, 17 - "The (flesh) desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the (flesh). They are in conflict with each other." Then Paul goes on to say that the physical act of circumcision was a sign of putting off the flesh. The physical act has no spiritual significance - as believers we are to circumcise our hearts. Thus, every Christian is to live in the reality of being spiritually circumcised - men and women alike:
"In (Christ) you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the (flesh), not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your (flesh), God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin. . . nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2:11-15).
This is eternal reality because it is based on Truth. We can live in that reality if we will learn to ask ourselves good questions. When facing a decision that may contain a temptation, the question should not be "Why shouldn't I do this?" That question is formulated to produce an argumentative defense. The better question is "Why should I do this?" This question challenges us to set forth a reasonable answer. . . an honest answer. If we are truly honest, we will quickly come to the conclusion whether the situation involves a temptation of the flesh or not. If it does, we are to appropriate that which Christ has already provided in the cross, and circumcise the flesh - cutting it away. It's called walking in the spirit - or living by faith. It is the continual act of appropriating that which was secured for us in Christ.
When Christ's Church re-learns this great spiritual truth, we will once again be discernible from the world in which we live.
"Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?"
Do you know why I think we as Christians get into so much trouble? I don't think we ask ourselves enough good questions - and then give honest answers to them. The Teacher asks two good questions of his disciples in this proverb.
"Why entertain an act on infidelity?"
"Why risk reputation, integrity, and all of the life-long benefits of such assets for an immoral act?"
The disciple can really give only one honest answer to both - "Self-gratification."
When the flesh is in control, it can rationalize that it is worth the risk to satisfy the urgent sensual need - whatever it may be. The size of consequence diminishes in the overwhelming need of the moment. "I just couldn't help myself!" We are not supposed to help self, we are to die to self. It was the curse of Esau (Gen. 25:29-34). His sensual need was hunger. The importance of his birthright diminished in the overwhelming craving of his appetite. He never stopped to ask himself good questions. He gave in to the flesh and traded his birthright for a meal. He was not a victim of his hunger - God held him responsible for his action.
We can hardly believe that Esau would actually trade his birthright for a meal - yet Christians are violating this principle every day. The birthright was an unseen abstract notion. The meal was a tangible object of desire. Tangible objects are identified through our senses - thus we use the term flesh. Things of the kingdom are identified in our spirit. When the flesh is in control, the things of the spirit diminish in the perception of reality. When the spirit is in control, the things of the flesh diminish in reality. Reality based on what is seen is only temporary. Reality based on Truth is eternal. Paul clearly articulates this concept in 2 Cor. 4:18 where he says - "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Again, Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, 17 - "The (flesh) desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the (flesh). They are in conflict with each other." Then Paul goes on to say that the physical act of circumcision was a sign of putting off the flesh. The physical act has no spiritual significance - as believers we are to circumcise our hearts. Thus, every Christian is to live in the reality of being spiritually circumcised - men and women alike:
"In (Christ) you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the (flesh), not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your (flesh), God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sin. . . nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2:11-15).
This is eternal reality because it is based on Truth. We can live in that reality if we will learn to ask ourselves good questions. When facing a decision that may contain a temptation, the question should not be "Why shouldn't I do this?" That question is formulated to produce an argumentative defense. The better question is "Why should I do this?" This question challenges us to set forth a reasonable answer. . . an honest answer. If we are truly honest, we will quickly come to the conclusion whether the situation involves a temptation of the flesh or not. If it does, we are to appropriate that which Christ has already provided in the cross, and circumcise the flesh - cutting it away. It's called walking in the spirit - or living by faith. It is the continual act of appropriating that which was secured for us in Christ.
When Christ's Church re-learns this great spiritual truth, we will once again be discernible from the world in which we live.
Friday, October 3, 2008
October 4
Oct 4 - Today from Proverbs 4 we look at verse 26
"Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm." (NIV)
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." (KJV)
The Hebrew word for make level in the NIV and ponder in the KJV is 'palac'. The literal translation indeed means to roll flat as to prepare a road. The broader interpretation came to mean to mentally weigh something. Thus you get two different translations of the same verse which serves to add dimension to its meaning. It works well because the short verse serves as a sort of parable.
We cannot physically see the path of life on which we travel - but it is just as real as the road I drive on to get to work every day. That road is a physical plane that serves to get me from here to there. The path of life also serves to get me from here to there. Those who listen to the 'voice of wisdom' can pretty well determine where they are at in life and in what direction they need to go in order to mature in life. Because the path of life is not a physically tangible object, choosing the course can often pose a challenge to us. It becomes further complicated because our way may not always be the best route to get from here to there. In fact, I am convinced that our way is seldom the route God has determined. Wisdom may have revealed where we are, and wisdom may have determined where we are to go, but it is faith that determines the route. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
Often the path our Father determined leads us through pain, peril and perceived failure. That is not the path any person in their right mind would choose. We would think that the 'path of righteousness' would take us around and over such things. Yet Psalm 23 teaches that the Good Shepherd actually leads us through the valleys of the shadow of death. Why would He do such a thing? Because the path we are on is a path to spiritual maturity. God is not nearly as concerned for our career as He is our character.
We best learn and grow through adversity. We gain 'spiritual muscle' when we are placed in situations where we must exercise our faith. We may not always enjoy the school of life in which we find ourselves, but if we apply ourselves we will learn valuable lessons about ourselves and about God that we could never possibly learn if things always went the way we wanted. We learn about unconditional love; about patience; about perseverance; about trust; about compassion; about grace; about mercy - the list goes on and on. As we walk by faith down the path of life we begin to develop skills of pondering our steps. We learn from our perceived failures. Any failure we learn from has great value, for it has served to advance us in the way of maturity. People who have not yet greatly failed are people who have not yet greatly grown. When a more mature person wants to move from here to there, he realizes that what might first appear to be the most practical direct route may not be the proper route. He ponders the move. He factors in what was learned from past failures and makes any needed corrections in his processing. He waits to hear the Shepherd's voice, "Place your foot here, and carefully move ahead." As the obedient servant moves forward, step by step in a route he would never have personally chosen, he looks up one day and marvels at the place where he finds himself. 'There' is now 'here', and wisdom contemplates where the next 'there' is. That is the path of life. It is a marvelous journey of faith.
People who set and strive for their own goals in life miss life all together. They may find some temporary satisfaction in their self-serving accomplishments, but when they finally arrive at the 'there', they discover that there must be more. Seventy or eighty years seems like a long time from the first 'here', but it seems like nothing at all from the last 'there' - unless the last there is right where the Shepherd led you. From there He has prepared you for eternity. From there this life makes sense after all.
For those of you who are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about . . . seek to know and hear the Shepherd's voice today. He will set you on a path that will establish your life. It will not always be pleasant, but it will be worth every step. He even takes our failures and turns them to good. He is amazing!
"Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm." (NIV)
"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." (KJV)
The Hebrew word for make level in the NIV and ponder in the KJV is 'palac'. The literal translation indeed means to roll flat as to prepare a road. The broader interpretation came to mean to mentally weigh something. Thus you get two different translations of the same verse which serves to add dimension to its meaning. It works well because the short verse serves as a sort of parable.
We cannot physically see the path of life on which we travel - but it is just as real as the road I drive on to get to work every day. That road is a physical plane that serves to get me from here to there. The path of life also serves to get me from here to there. Those who listen to the 'voice of wisdom' can pretty well determine where they are at in life and in what direction they need to go in order to mature in life. Because the path of life is not a physically tangible object, choosing the course can often pose a challenge to us. It becomes further complicated because our way may not always be the best route to get from here to there. In fact, I am convinced that our way is seldom the route God has determined. Wisdom may have revealed where we are, and wisdom may have determined where we are to go, but it is faith that determines the route. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
Often the path our Father determined leads us through pain, peril and perceived failure. That is not the path any person in their right mind would choose. We would think that the 'path of righteousness' would take us around and over such things. Yet Psalm 23 teaches that the Good Shepherd actually leads us through the valleys of the shadow of death. Why would He do such a thing? Because the path we are on is a path to spiritual maturity. God is not nearly as concerned for our career as He is our character.
We best learn and grow through adversity. We gain 'spiritual muscle' when we are placed in situations where we must exercise our faith. We may not always enjoy the school of life in which we find ourselves, but if we apply ourselves we will learn valuable lessons about ourselves and about God that we could never possibly learn if things always went the way we wanted. We learn about unconditional love; about patience; about perseverance; about trust; about compassion; about grace; about mercy - the list goes on and on. As we walk by faith down the path of life we begin to develop skills of pondering our steps. We learn from our perceived failures. Any failure we learn from has great value, for it has served to advance us in the way of maturity. People who have not yet greatly failed are people who have not yet greatly grown. When a more mature person wants to move from here to there, he realizes that what might first appear to be the most practical direct route may not be the proper route. He ponders the move. He factors in what was learned from past failures and makes any needed corrections in his processing. He waits to hear the Shepherd's voice, "Place your foot here, and carefully move ahead." As the obedient servant moves forward, step by step in a route he would never have personally chosen, he looks up one day and marvels at the place where he finds himself. 'There' is now 'here', and wisdom contemplates where the next 'there' is. That is the path of life. It is a marvelous journey of faith.
People who set and strive for their own goals in life miss life all together. They may find some temporary satisfaction in their self-serving accomplishments, but when they finally arrive at the 'there', they discover that there must be more. Seventy or eighty years seems like a long time from the first 'here', but it seems like nothing at all from the last 'there' - unless the last there is right where the Shepherd led you. From there He has prepared you for eternity. From there this life makes sense after all.
For those of you who are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about . . . seek to know and hear the Shepherd's voice today. He will set you on a path that will establish your life. It will not always be pleasant, but it will be worth every step. He even takes our failures and turns them to good. He is amazing!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October 3
Oct 3 - Today from Proverbs 3 we look at verse 27
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
My attention is drawn to the word 'good'. It is such a common word in our vocabulary, yet it is very difficult to properly define. From the pure Biblical perspective, goodness is an attribute of God, and all that is good comes from God. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17). When the rich young man addressed Jesus as 'good Teacher', Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone." (Mark 10:18). When God created, He looked at His work and His Word declares, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." (Gen. 1:31). When we speak of doing 'good', we speak in the context of God's Word. To do good is to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. What He did was to constantly improve the quality of life for those around Him. His final act of His ministry on earth was to provide the ultimate improvement - and that was the gift of eternal life to all who would receive it.
Who deserves good? A question the Teachers of the Law discussed and debated for centuries. Jesus answered it in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Anyone created in God's image deserves humanitarian treatment. It is inherent. The parable immediately follows the explanation of God's original purpose for man - to worship God and to serve (do good unto), your fellow man. When am I obligated to do good? When it is in my power to act.
When God completed creating He saw that all was very good. When sin entered into His creation, it was no longer good. It was corrupted. He sent His Son to restore it to being very good. It is not yet fully restored, but the 'down payment' is with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. "Now it is God who made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Cor. 5:5). Until all things are restored, we are to be agents of God's goodness in this corrupt world, in the power of His Spirit. It is known as grace. It is our commitment to bring a witness of God's love through Jesus Christ - in word and in deed.
We cannot judge or argue who deserves good. If it were based on human righteousness, none of us would deserve good. We are to do good to all men when it is in our power to act because all men are created in God's image. It's just that some are so marred that it is all but impossible to see the image. I was - until I received the goodness of God's gift through Christ Jesus. Now people need to see God's goodness in me, in hopes that they too will be drawn to Him.
"Lord, give me grace today. Amen."
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."
My attention is drawn to the word 'good'. It is such a common word in our vocabulary, yet it is very difficult to properly define. From the pure Biblical perspective, goodness is an attribute of God, and all that is good comes from God. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17). When the rich young man addressed Jesus as 'good Teacher', Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone." (Mark 10:18). When God created, He looked at His work and His Word declares, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." (Gen. 1:31). When we speak of doing 'good', we speak in the context of God's Word. To do good is to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. What He did was to constantly improve the quality of life for those around Him. His final act of His ministry on earth was to provide the ultimate improvement - and that was the gift of eternal life to all who would receive it.
Who deserves good? A question the Teachers of the Law discussed and debated for centuries. Jesus answered it in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Anyone created in God's image deserves humanitarian treatment. It is inherent. The parable immediately follows the explanation of God's original purpose for man - to worship God and to serve (do good unto), your fellow man. When am I obligated to do good? When it is in my power to act.
When God completed creating He saw that all was very good. When sin entered into His creation, it was no longer good. It was corrupted. He sent His Son to restore it to being very good. It is not yet fully restored, but the 'down payment' is with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. "Now it is God who made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Cor. 5:5). Until all things are restored, we are to be agents of God's goodness in this corrupt world, in the power of His Spirit. It is known as grace. It is our commitment to bring a witness of God's love through Jesus Christ - in word and in deed.
We cannot judge or argue who deserves good. If it were based on human righteousness, none of us would deserve good. We are to do good to all men when it is in our power to act because all men are created in God's image. It's just that some are so marred that it is all but impossible to see the image. I was - until I received the goodness of God's gift through Christ Jesus. Now people need to see God's goodness in me, in hopes that they too will be drawn to Him.
"Lord, give me grace today. Amen."
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 2
Oct 2 - Today from Proverbs 2 we look at verse 8
"For He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones."
We are to be in a relationship with the Lord, but it's not meant to be a 50/50 mutual partnership. I think that sometimes we forget that He is God - the Supreme. Even if He never redeemed and restored us, we should live in servitude and obedience simply because of who He is. But, praise be to God He did redeem and restore us! We have tasted the goodness of His love, and we have been given evidence of the immeasurable depth of that love by what it cost Him to redeem and restore us. We can live confidently knowing that He is worthy of our servitude and obedience because He has a great and eternal plan - a plan that will not fail. And we have been privileged to serve with Him in that great and glorious plan. His plan, not ours. Wisdom is bound in growing in our understanding and participation in that plan. Wisdom plants our feet on the course of that plan. Wisdom guides us in the way of that plan. Because it's His plan, He constantly guards the course and protects the way. Our strength and assurance is that none will be able to ultimately thwart His purposes. We have been entrusted with a sure thing - if we will but trust Him, grow in wisdom, and walk by faith.
It's not a 50/50 proposition. It's not "I will do my best to 'keep Your list' if you will see to it that 'my list' is also fulfilled." This is not a relationship, it is the offer of a partnership, and not a very good one. If we have a proper relationship with the Lord, there should only be one plan - HIS! His is the course of the just. Faithful ones are those faithful to Him and His purposes. We can never properly say, "He failed me, I will no longer serve Him." He only 'fails us' (sic) when we are dictating what the plan should be. We can be following Him in a relationship where He may appear to fail, but our understanding is so limited that we cannot properly make that judgment. If failure of our expectations were God's failures were true, then the prophets of the Old Testament all failed and were let down by God. They were faithful to proclaim God's words of warning and call to repentance - often at a great personal cost to themselves - only to see the words rejected and the people pay a severe penalty. Jeremiah dearly loved his countrymen and preached his heart out to them, only to be persecuted, mocked, imprisoned and rejected. He was faithful, and he 'failed'. At least his plan failed. His plan appeared to be that if he were faithful to deliver such a hard word to his countrymen at such a personal cost to himself, that God would withhold His judgment and the people would be spared defeat and captivity by such a cruel power. For 40 years Jeremiah spoke, but nobody listened. Did Jeremiah fail God? No, he was faithful to God. Did God fail Jeremiah? No, it wasn't Jeremiah's plan to begin with, so there could be no failure.
God's greater plan always contains restoration. The O.T. pattern of Israel is disobedience, punishment, and restoration. In fact, that is the greater picture of God dealing with the whole of mankind from Genesis to Revelation. We walk such a tiny part of that path in this life that we cannot possibly make a judgment on failure or success. We have to trust God - just as Jeremiah and all of the other O.T. prophets did. We have an advantage over them; we live in the age of revelation (1 Peter 1:10-12). We see in the light what they could only see in the shadows. We see Jesus the Messiah - and His two appearances. The first appearance as the redeeming suffering servant. The second appearance as the conquering King who ultimately brings closure to God's plan in time and unites all things under God in eternity. It's awesome!
We fail when we stop seeking to know - and cease being faithful to - God's way. God never fails.
"For He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones."
We are to be in a relationship with the Lord, but it's not meant to be a 50/50 mutual partnership. I think that sometimes we forget that He is God - the Supreme. Even if He never redeemed and restored us, we should live in servitude and obedience simply because of who He is. But, praise be to God He did redeem and restore us! We have tasted the goodness of His love, and we have been given evidence of the immeasurable depth of that love by what it cost Him to redeem and restore us. We can live confidently knowing that He is worthy of our servitude and obedience because He has a great and eternal plan - a plan that will not fail. And we have been privileged to serve with Him in that great and glorious plan. His plan, not ours. Wisdom is bound in growing in our understanding and participation in that plan. Wisdom plants our feet on the course of that plan. Wisdom guides us in the way of that plan. Because it's His plan, He constantly guards the course and protects the way. Our strength and assurance is that none will be able to ultimately thwart His purposes. We have been entrusted with a sure thing - if we will but trust Him, grow in wisdom, and walk by faith.
It's not a 50/50 proposition. It's not "I will do my best to 'keep Your list' if you will see to it that 'my list' is also fulfilled." This is not a relationship, it is the offer of a partnership, and not a very good one. If we have a proper relationship with the Lord, there should only be one plan - HIS! His is the course of the just. Faithful ones are those faithful to Him and His purposes. We can never properly say, "He failed me, I will no longer serve Him." He only 'fails us' (sic) when we are dictating what the plan should be. We can be following Him in a relationship where He may appear to fail, but our understanding is so limited that we cannot properly make that judgment. If failure of our expectations were God's failures were true, then the prophets of the Old Testament all failed and were let down by God. They were faithful to proclaim God's words of warning and call to repentance - often at a great personal cost to themselves - only to see the words rejected and the people pay a severe penalty. Jeremiah dearly loved his countrymen and preached his heart out to them, only to be persecuted, mocked, imprisoned and rejected. He was faithful, and he 'failed'. At least his plan failed. His plan appeared to be that if he were faithful to deliver such a hard word to his countrymen at such a personal cost to himself, that God would withhold His judgment and the people would be spared defeat and captivity by such a cruel power. For 40 years Jeremiah spoke, but nobody listened. Did Jeremiah fail God? No, he was faithful to God. Did God fail Jeremiah? No, it wasn't Jeremiah's plan to begin with, so there could be no failure.
God's greater plan always contains restoration. The O.T. pattern of Israel is disobedience, punishment, and restoration. In fact, that is the greater picture of God dealing with the whole of mankind from Genesis to Revelation. We walk such a tiny part of that path in this life that we cannot possibly make a judgment on failure or success. We have to trust God - just as Jeremiah and all of the other O.T. prophets did. We have an advantage over them; we live in the age of revelation (1 Peter 1:10-12). We see in the light what they could only see in the shadows. We see Jesus the Messiah - and His two appearances. The first appearance as the redeeming suffering servant. The second appearance as the conquering King who ultimately brings closure to God's plan in time and unites all things under God in eternity. It's awesome!
We fail when we stop seeking to know - and cease being faithful to - God's way. God never fails.
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