Proverbs 1

Today, make sure to read Proverbs 1

Lessons to be learned from P1:

The proverbs are useful for gaining wisdom, for helping us understand words of insight. They are a guide for our lives.

Once we fear God, we begin our journey in the gaining of knowledge.

Children should listen to and heed the instruction of their parents.

Don’t make alliances with sinful people. Be aware that they will try to entice you with attractive things! But in the end, they (and you, if you go along with them) will lose their lives.

Wisdom is available to all who will sincerely seek it. In abundance!

Disaster, calamity, and distress await those who turn their backs on wisdom.

Those who turn their backs on wisdom will also find that they will reap the harvest of what they’ve sown. Evil seed yields evil crops and their destructive choices will, in the end, be their destruction.

Proverbs 31

Lessons to be learned from P31:

A wise son listens to and follows the counsel of a wise mom.

It is unbecoming of leaders and those in high positions to be subject to substances, people, or other things that will impair their wise judgment. Not only is this problematic for them but also for those who rely on them.

We should speak up for those with no voice, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.

This is what a good wife looks like:

He husband can fully trust her and his life is better because she is with him and for him.

She is creative, entrepreneurial, and industrious. And she is enthusiastic about all she does.

She tends to the matters of her home. She anticipates and prepares for the things to come. She considers how she may nurture the success of her household.

She is hospitable and philanthropic.

She presents herself to the world in a regal manner.

Because of her character, her husband gains respect.

Because of her strength and dignity, she has no worries about the future.

She is a woman of wisdom and makes it her business to invest in the lives of those who can benefit from her wisdom.

She’s not given to idleness. She knows it comes with trouble.

Because of her character, he children respect her. Her husband does also.  And they let her know that.

Her husband thinks she’s the best thing since sliced bread!  He’s seen the behavior and character of other women but he recognizes that she far exceeds them.

She is to be praised because she fears the Lord.

Proverbs 30

Today, make sure to read Proverbs 30

Lessons to be learned from P30:

With God, we can prevail.

We have no need to add or subtract from God’s word. In fact, we’d better not, lest harm should come to us.

We are fragile. When life’s circumstances get “outta whack”, either for the good or the bad, we are prone to lose it—unsure of how to manage.

Don’t be a trouble-maker and don’t attempt to exalt yourself. In the end, you will lose.

There are those who have malicious hearts-even toward those who love them. They are self-righteous and disdainful, they have sinister intentions, and they intentionally seek to destroy those who are in a weaker state. Have nothing to do with them. Their future is bleak.

Some things are unable to be fully understood.

Don’t despise or discount the wisdom of the seemingly simple. Learn from them.

Being bold and secure in the truth of who you are is a beautiful thing.

Proverbs 29

Some Christians are in the habit of periodically reading through the book of Proverbs, reading one chapter per day for a month. Because there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, this works out perfectly for about half of the year, but not all. February is one of those short months, but for all of February we will engage the book of Proverbs, one chapter at a time. And since that will only take us through 28 chapters, today I will begin our series with looking at chapter 29 of the book, tomorrow the 30^th, and the 31^st on the next day. Then we’ll start with chapter 1. Usually we don’t post any teaching on Saturday mornings, but for this series we’ll make an exception. J

When I read the proverbs, I often think that I’d love to compile the lessons into a parenting manual because it is rich with guidelines for how to raise our children—giving us insight into the character we should strive to develop within them. But whether we are young or old, the words contained in the book are perfect for guiding us in the path of righteousness.

May the Lord bless us as we dive into these words of wisdom.

Today, make sure to read Proverbs 29

Lessons to be learned from P29:

Being stubborn and resistant to wise counsel will bring about our destruction.

A honorable leader brings joy to those who are within his/her sphere of influence. They can relax and enjoy stability.

Those who behave wisely bring joy to the hearts of those who love and care for them and they gain favor wherever they go.

Wise and loving discipline at an early age is a gift to our children that sets them up for all manner of greatness.

People who are shifty and evil will get what’s coming to them. They can’t stand to be in the presence of the upright! It stirs up the murderous intent within them.

The upright will hate evil deeds.

Those who are righteous care about others and fight for justice.

The wise are not easily given to anger or sin and they do not allow themselves to be swayed by foolishness. They are restrained in their communication of discontent and they seek calm.

The gospel is an open vision, which displays Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Savior, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation. These are precious truths which keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing. (MH paraphrase)

It is better to be a fool than to be one who speaks in haste. That person is self-centered, pretentious, and hopeless.

Surprisingly, the one who is prideful will be brought down while the one who is humble will be exalted.

Being in agreement with those who commit dirty deeds will cause you stress and strain…and possibly worse.

Trust God. Look to Him for justice.

Being Used

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:13-15

Thoughts regarding being used by God:

- God has given us gifts: exhortation, administration, prophecy, discernment, faith, helps, etc.

- Some of these gifts have been exalted or elevated to a special status among believers. Somehow we’ve arrived at a point where the more “flashy” gifts are sought after and (in some extreme circumstances) imitated, in hopes that an individual will be more respected and admired. This should not be the case. Each gift has its usefulness in God’s design.

- The gifts that the Lord gives to us are to be used for His glory.

- The individual given the gift has a responsibility to steward that gift (*those gifts) soberly and to nurture them faithfully.

- When the gift is used properly, that takes place under the power of the Holy Spirit. It is God-inspired and God-directed, and the results are to be credited to God.

            For example: some people have the gift of healing. A person with this gift may be used to bring physical healing to another person. If this happens, the one with the gift need not think that they have done a great thing—no, they very well must know that the Lord has done a miraculous thing. Further, others must understand the same and the one with the gift must stand on this truth. You see, it is God who inspires the one with the gift to speak a word of healing or lay hands or whatever is done, and it is God who performs the healing. The gifted one is merely a vessel, a conduit, a servant, a slave...

“I would gladly give all to be a servant or a slave but I’m overwhelmed that You would call me ‘friend’” – Fred Hammond

Yet we see in the 15^th chapter of John that our Lord calls us His friends; not servants. It would be awesome just to be named as servants of the Most High God! But He who has died for us actually calls us His friends. And therein resides both the beauty and the call to service. He gave His life! And what does He ask from us? Simply to be fair, to love mercy, and to live humbly before Him; (Micah 6:8) He asks us to be living sacrifices! (Romans 12:1) So it is no longer us that live; it is Him living through us so that His kingdom may come and His will may be done on this earth. And it is our privilege to enjoy a front row seat when we set our personal agendas aside and allow Him to use us. 

PUSH!

Talking with one of my family members this afternoon, I was reminded of the acronym P.U.S.H.—Pray Until Something Happens. We were talking about the importance of not giving up when you’ve been waiting a long time for something the Lord has promised. We can get weary and sometimes even doubt that He will fulfill His promise. The fact is that He will. He is faithful and true. So today I’d like to remind you that if you are in the midst of waiting for a promise of God that seems like it will never come, don’t stop praying. Pray until you see His promise fulfilled.

So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.             Hebrews 10:35&36 (MSG)

I Can't Help It...or Can I?

We are products of our environment: the neighborhood we grew up in, the economic state we experienced, the school or church we attended, our family dynamics. These all influence who we become.

We are born with certain dispositions: joyful, pessimistic, daring, gritty. These all reside in us and can be nurtured and developed or hindered and suppressed.

Some people firmly believe that they cannot do anything about who and how they are because that was set in them through both nurture and nature. “My parents were horrible to me and now I have a problem with trusting others. I just can’t do it.” or “I know I can be harsh with people but this is how I am, I tell it like it is. I can’t change who I am.”

These are lies. You may have been raised or even abandoned by the worst of parents. You may very well be an aggressive communicator by nature. But this does not mean that you cannot trust and cannot learn to speak the truth with love. No matter what our circumstances were, we are now free to do the work of overcoming that truth and living out a new reality.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

When we accept Christ, we become new. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. We are not our past. We are new creatures who are blessed and highly favored. Further…

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

What are “all these things” that Paul is referring to? Glad you asked! His list includes trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword. Have you experienced any of these? I bet you have. I’m even willing to guess that you have experienced more than one. Just about anything that we could go through will fall into one of these categories. But what we learn here is that in Christ, we can conquer the effect of those things on our lives. We can conquer the anger that comes from abuse, the fear that comes from abandonment, the distrust from divorce – anything that comes from the terrible experiences we’ve endured. We can overcome and we can live triumphantly as the new creatures we are! Easy to do? NO! Not by a long-shot. But possible, with the power of the Holy Spirit on our side.

How do we begin this journey toward the realization of our newness? Pray—ask the Lord to walk and talk with you, and to show you what to do (Psalm 119:105). Seek wise counsel—there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11&15). This includes seeking professional help if needed. Surround yourself with godly people (Hebrews 10:25). And please, accept and believe that you are loved and forgiven and healed and new in Christ. You can be all that He designed you to be and live the abundant life that He promised (John 10:10).

 

If you don’t know Christ as your Savior and you are interested in learning how to become a new creature, follow this link: http://www.intouch.org/you/all-things-are-new/content/topic/how_do_i_accept_jesus_as_my_savior_all_things

 

Thy Kingdom Come...

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

This is a portion of what we have entitled “The Lord’s Prayer”. The whole prayer is found in the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 9 through 13. If you, like me, grew up in church reciting this prayer, likely you did so from the King James version, so you are used to the “Thy” way of speaking—at least in this context. J

Christ’s disciples had asked Him how to pray. He responded with these words. And although many of us recite it verbatim, it is better understood as a model for prayer. I will not break down all of the components of the prayer but would like to address this idea of the Lord’s kingdom coming and His will being done one earth.

“It was the Jews’ daily prayer to God, Let him make his kingdom reign, let his redemption flourish, and let his Messiah come and deliver His people. Dr. Whitby, ex Vitringa. ‘Let thy kingdom come, let the gospel be preached to all and embraced by all; let all be brought to subscribe to the record God has given in his word concerning his Son, and to embrace him as their Saviour and Sovereign. Let the bounds of the gospel-church be enlarged, the kingdom of the world be made Christ’s kingdom, and all men become subjects to it, and live as becomes their character.’” – Matthew Henry
The concept of the Lord’s kingdom coming to earth is well explained by Henry. Not only are we seeking the spread of the gospel so that the kingdom of God would expand; that the number of believers would increase, and that He would return for His people. But also for the reality of Spirit-led righteousness, peace, and joy (see Romans 14:17) to abound on this earth. I heard a preacher refer to this part of the prayer as not praying “loaves and fishes” types of prayers—meaning basic prayers for daily needs to be met—but praying for God’s supernatural movement to take place, which will yield supernatural results.
“Thy will be done…” Ok, this is deep. Weren’t these the very words of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane prior to the most horrific act known to man? Christ, knowing the torture He was about to undergo – from beatings to crucifixion to temporary separation from the Father – prayed to the Father, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42 I cannot imagine knowing the horror to come and being able to say those words. Can you? When we ask for the Lord’s will to be done, that means His will that is pleasing and enjoyable to us as well as His will that is less agreeable to us. Hebrews 12:1&2 says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus scorned, despised, and had contempt for the shame that surrounded His circumstances. This does not mean that He was upset or hurt by it, but that He dismissed it – He gave it no power – He diminished its supposed power in the situation.
This is important to us as we face our shameful, challenging, demeaning, circumstances. We must run our race fully embracing a “Thy will be done” attitude and then enduring, as Christ did, all of those circumstances, for the joy that is set before us! We must pray that the Lord’s will would be done in our lives for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28) Jesus modeled for us exactly how to do that. And remember:
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b

Taking Inventory

I used to work in a shoe store and periodically we had to take inventory. We would have to count how many of each shoe or accessory we had in the store. Based on what we’d received from the different manufacturers and what we had subsequently sold, we knew exactly the inventory that we should have on hand. And it was not enough to just know that we had 25 pairs of boot—we had to know that we had 5 of this style, 8 of the other, 6 of a third and 6 of a fourth (in two different colors).

Similarly, the Christian needs to periodically take inventory of his or her spiritual “stock room”. What have you received from the Lord over the last month? Mercy, grace, provision, wisdom? Are you holding onto those things or are you giving them away? Unlike with retain inventory, where an item sold represents depletion in inventory, when the Christian who is filled with the Spirit God gives of himself, the Lord not only will replenish what is given away but we are also blessed with other wonderful things. In fact, according to Jesus’ teaching on the mountain (recorded in Matthew 5), when we are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness, He makes a deposit into our spiritual inventory! The kingdom of heaven, comfort, an earthly inheritance, provision, mercy, intimacy with God, and sonship are among the “inventory deliveries” He makes. 

You see, as we grow deeper in relationship with the Lord, by His Spirit, He is able to deposit into us His will and way. We begin to reflect Christ in manner and thought. We begin to love others…we humble ourselves…we seek His will. And when we are postured to love God and others, He then is able to make wonderful things happen in and through us.

So take an inventory. What is in you? What has the Lord deposited there? Are you using what He has given for His glory?

One last thing, every now and again we would get a notice from the corporate office that a product had been discontinued and was to be sent back to the warehouse. They no longer wanted that item to be sold by our retail stores. Check your inventory. Is there anything that the Lord no longer wants “sold” by you? Bitterness? Resentment? Anger? Hurt? Greed? Out of control ambition? Make sure your inventory is approved by the “Corporate Office” and that you are offering God’s best to those whom He allows to cross your path. If there is anything in you that He does not want you to have, give it to Him. He cares for you and is well able to manage all that you put into His care—freeing you to be your best for Him.

Tenderness...

“Our identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.”    ~Brennan Manning

The Work of Tenderness

Yesterday I threw out the phrase “the work of tenderness”. I thought we’d explore that further today.

We all know what tenderness looks like: kindness…affection…gentleness. It’s the look in a father’s eyes as he holds his newborn baby girl for the first time. It’s the emotion emanating from the volunteer who serves the homeless and/or hungry on a weekly basis.

The work of tenderness refers to what is produced by tenderness—the results of operating from a stance of tenderness.  Here are four things to be considered:

1. When we allow tenderness to lead us, we are being led by the same Spirit that was in Christ.

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14

“Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’” Mark 1:41

“So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” Matthew 20:34

And when we are led by the Spirit, there is no limit to what can be accomplished!!!!

2. When we allow tenderness to lead us, we develop empathy; the ability to identifying with others. Having tenderness toward others causes us to slow down and be present, to hear, to take in what others are saying, to seek to identify with them, and then to respond graciously.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

3. When we allow tenderness to lead us, we allow the light of Christ to shine through us. And when we allow Christ’s light to shine through us, you know what happens, right? “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. When others see us being gracious, kind, and gentle in Jesus’ name, it glorifies God. It makes no difference if this happens in a long-term relationship or in a brief encounter. The principle works that same with family members as it does with your third customer in line at the bank. When we relate tenderly, gently, and with kindness to that frustrated client, the checker at the supermarket or the gas station attendant, we let our light shine. And the way we do that, is through a tenderness of heart toward others.
4. When we allow tenderness to lead us, it allows for a gentle tending of the soul. Here is where we return to Proverbs 15:1- “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Choosing gentleness affects both our soul and the soul of the other person. Have you ever had a conversation with a person that was seemingly innocuous so you really gave it no attention, but then you tell someone else about it and they get all stirred up and upset?  They tell you that the other person should not have treated you that way or that they were really trying to insult you. And then you get stirred up and upset!!!! And you start to tell yourself, “Yeah, she shouldn’t have said that to me!  Who does she think she is?!?” But originally, you’d given it no thought at all.

This is what happens when we get caught up in the negative, possibly self-righteous, or harsh responses to life circumstances. We can find ourselves upset and in turmoil when we dwell upon the negative. We do not build healthy relationships when we respond with harshness.  Rather, we stir up anger within ourselves and within the other person.

A gentle answer turns away wrath. In the midst of an argument and in the midst of everyday relating, a gentle answer can diffuse the tension and start you on the road to reconciliation, restoration, and cooperation.   

“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” Philippians 4:8

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18&21

“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness…knowledge…self-control…perseverance… godliness…mutual affection… [and] love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7

The work of tenderness is to allow the Holy Spirit to move in us so that we might impact the world for Christ, to nurture empathy within us, to glorify God, and to tend to our soul and the soul of our fellow man. It is a great work that I want to be a part of. How about you?

A Monday Prayer

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Father, as we re-enter the workplace or school or even as we continue in conversation with family today, please let our speech honor You. May the work of tenderness take place through us and through our words today—to the end that those we come in contact with will leave our presence with a rejuvenated spirit, that relationships may be reconciled, and that our own hearts are amiable and peaceful in You.

Amen

Happy Sunday!

Our Exceedingly Great Reward

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1

How many times have I started out one of these Bible studies saying how sweet I think the words of our Lord are? MANY TIMES!

Well, here it is again. My heart melts when I imagine our precious, heavenly Father telling Abram not to be afraid, that He is his very great reward. Don’t the words of the Father just touch your heart sometimes? How tender is this? This word came to Abram on the heels of rescuing Lot and others from captivity and a sketchy encounter with the king of Sodom. Abram and his “crew” had rescued the residents of Sodom who had been captured in a previous battle. The king of Sodom was beholden (in a sense) to Abram and made the offer to let Abram keep the spoils of the battle but return his people.  Abram refused that offer saying, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’” Likely Abram had vowed to the Lord that if he was successful in battle, he would take nothing for himself; satisfied with successfully being reunited with Lot.

When we move from chapter 14 to chapter 15, we see these opening words from the Lord: “Do not be afraid, Abram I am your shield, your very great reward.” Of this statement, Matthew Henry says, “He [God] called him by name—Abram, which was a great honour to him, and made his name great…He cautioned him against being disquieted and confounded: Fear not, Abram. Abram might fear lest the four kings he had routed should rally again, and fall upon him to his ruin: “No,” says God, "Fear not. Fear not their revenges, nor thy neighbour’s envy; I will take care of thee.” …It is the will of God that his people should not give way to prevailing fears, whatever happens…He assured him of safety and happiness, that he should for ever be…as safe as God himself could keep him [and] as happy as God himself could make him. Abram had generously refused the rewards which the king of Sodom offered him, and here God comes, and tells him he shall be no loser by it…The rewards of believing obedience and self-denial are exceedingly great, 1 Co. 2:9.”

                                                                                                                             

God’s precious words to Abram, recorded here, are fraught with fatherly love and assurances, insight, and tenderness—don’t be afraid, I won’t let harm come to you, I am your shield, I am your Rewarder AND your reward. You have forfeited the rewards of man and you will feel no lack as a result. Does not our Father say the very same things to us? Yes, indeed He does.

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5–6

 “‘No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Proverbs 30:5

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

“Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.”     Isaiah 3:10

Prayer

On the heels of talking about entitlement, I thought I’d share these thoughts regarding our prayers…
 

For the Christian, praying is like breathing. It is easier to do it than to not do it. We pray for a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38) and obeying Him. We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also. If He needed to pray to remain in the Father’s will, how much more do we need to pray?

Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).
We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means of discerning His will. If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside Jericho had not called out to Christ, he would have remained blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. In the same way, we will never see the results of answered prayer unless we pray.

A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of “plugging into” God's power, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.

- S. Michael Houdmann

Entitlement

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Many a Bible-believing Christian has quoted these and many other verses about what the Lord will do for His people. AND RIGHTLY SO! The Word tells us to meditate upon, memorize, and live with His Word on a daily basis (see Deuteronomy 6 and 11).

However, these wonderful promises of God are not statements of entitlement. Rather, they reveal the heart of a benevolent and gracious God. Yes, we are accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), but our blessed state is the result of God’s grace; not a reflection of our worthiness.

I was in a conversation with a friend relaying the fact that although I was in a particularly tough season of life, I did not feel like God had abandoned me. Rather, I was keenly aware of His presence in that season. I saw His movement all around me and in my circumstances. But I was baffled that while I knew the Lord was WELL ABLE to relieve me from the circumstances, He chose not to. My wise friend gently pointed out that I was expressing that emotion from a sense of entitlement—at some level I felt like I had a right to be relieved from what I was going through. He was transparent enough to admit that he too, at times, struggled with a sense of entitlement. Can you relate to that at all? You likely wouldn’t label it like that but let’s examine that thought a bit…

Maybe you tithe faithfully, maybe you feed the homeless, maybe you visit and minister to prisoners, maybe you volunteer with sick children or cancer patients, perhaps you serve the elderly in your community, support battered women, or maybe you intentionally live below your means just so that you have resources to give away to the needy. So now when the Lord takes away your loved one or afflicts you with a debilitating, degenerative disease, or you get laid-off, or your spouse betrays you do you ask “why?” Does it ever cross your mind to remind the Lord that you have been a faithful and committed person and you don’t know why He’d allow something so horrible to happen to you? Or maybe you have asked this on behalf of a loved one who you know is faithful and good. Do you ever say to Him, “I know you CAN do something Lord, but I don’t understand why you WON’T????”

That comes from place of…gulp…entitlement. I’m choking on the word even as I write it!  It sounds harsh and wrong to say that! And I don’t like it, to be quite frank with you. But somehow—and it might be at a very deep subconscious level—we think that good people shouldn’t have to deal with bad, unfair, evil, wrong, hurtful, devastating things.

But here’s another scripture: “…In this world you will have trouble…” John 16:33b UGH! These are the very words of Christ! So that presents us with a problem right off the bat!

Further, we know that “We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.” (Isaiah 53:6) and that “When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death.” (Romans 6:23a) But what God gives is His grace. It’s by God’s grace that we experience the amazing blessings that we experience; not because we have somehow earned these things. So it happens that we can experience the blessings of God AND also experience this trouble that Christ promised us, all at the same time. As believers, we are not exempt from trouble and we may not get the relief we desire in the timing we desire. But, thankfully, we do have the best trouble manager on our side.

In response to this truth, we would do well to humble ourselves and be thankful for all the wonderfulness that is a part of our lives, to lean on Him for strength to handle the trouble (Isaiah 40:29-31), and to be very careful not to think that we are somehow entitled to any good—but, rather, to marvel at and appreciate that God gives all of His blessings freely (2 Corinthians 9:8) because He loves us and has chosen us (Ephesians 1:4, John 15:16).

Be encouraged…

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:33

Giving and Receiving God's Good

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. Proverbs 12:14

Upon initial reading of this verse, I felt I had a good grasp on the concepts the writer of this proverb was communicating: When you speak well, you experience the good things of which you speak. And when you work, you gain what you have worked for. Pretty simple, and a wonderful concept. But there’s more. Let me share with you Matthew Henry’s exposition on the passage and then share what stood out to me.

“We are here assured, for our quickening to every good word and work, 1. That even good words will turn to a good account (v. 14): A man shall be satisfied with good (that is, he shall gain present comfort, that inward pleasure which is truly satisfying) by the fruit of his mouth, by the good he does with his pious discourse and prudent advice. While we are teaching others we may ourselves learn, and feed on the bread of life we break to others. [We are further assured] 2. That good works, much more, will be abundantly rewarded: The recompence of a man’s hands for all his work and labour of love, all he has done for the glory of God and the good of his generation, shall be  rendered unto him, and he shall reap as he has sown. Or it may be understood of the general rule of justice; God will render to every man according to his work, Rom. 2:6”

There is a nuance in Henry’s commentary that I did not initially understand: the good words that a man speaks to others; the good he does though his pious (reverent, worshipful, and devoted) communications and wise and thoughtful advice—this will come back to him as blessings. He is filled with good things because he, through his words, gives away good things. Henry gives example that as we teach others, we are able to partake in the very bread of life God imparts through us! When we speak words of life and truth to others, the Lord can use those very words to speak life to us.

This can be a word of comfort to pastors and teachers who can sometimes get weary as they continue to faithfully walk in their calling—always giving to others and frequently in need of rejuvenation. I pray that the Lord would encourage your heart today as you prepare that sermon, write that curriculum, prep for a conference or counseling session, or whatever you have coming next. If you find yourself in a season of weariness, that you would sense the Holy Spirit ministering to you even as you faithfully prepare to minister to others or as you are in the midst of counseling and conversations. I pray that you will be filled with God’s good things even as you seek to impart His good to others.

Blessings to you.

Wisdom...Insight

Proverbs 9:6 reads: Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.

Insight is defined as “the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing.”

I appreciate that the crafters of the NIV translation of the Bible have used this word “insight”. The author of this passage depicts wisdom as a woman who is encouraging the simple to follow her ways.  Wisdom is defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.” But this passage takes it even deeper to explain that the following of wisdom’s ways fosters the gaining of an accurate and deep intuitive understanding. This goes beyond head-knowledge to gut-level intuition.

I praise God that through reading His word, through the indwelling of His Spirit, and through embracing His wisdom we can gain an insight that will be deeply engrained—to lead us and guide us through this crazy thing called life.  

The Cry of My Heart

Here I am to worship.

Here I am to bow down.

Here I am to say that You’re my God.

You’re altogether lovely.

Altogether worthy.

Altogether wonderful to me.

- Tim Hughes

 

Today, may this be the cry of your heart and mine.

Focus

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” Proverbs 4:25

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

If you were to take a minute right now, I’m sure you could easily name 10 things that could be a distraction in this moment…not to mention the hundreds of things that distract us throughout our day. Distractions are inevitable. We need to learn to manage those. But the real problem with distractions is not when it is minor like the cats wanting to play while you are trying to write a Bible study (just a personal moment of transparency). The real problem is when the Lord has a calling on your life that you allow life circumstances to derail. You have a call to the ministry but you allow fear to get in the way—you’ve lost focus. Somehow you and your spouse are now living separate lives—you’ve lost focus. Ever since you and your brother had that heated disagreement back in June of ’12, you haven’t spoken to him—you’ve lost focus.

In the second chapter of the book of Philippians, we read “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ” (vss 6-8) Today’s Bible study is not about obedience—although it is a worthy topic. It is about staying the course when you have a call. And we all have a call…a purpose…a destiny. (see Ephesians 2:10) Christ, although God, when He came to earth, humbled Himself and through all the hatred and pain and wrong, obediently stayed the course. He had distractions that sought to take Him off course (see Matthew 4:1-11 for one example) but He did not succumb to them.

We have distractions. There’s no way to get around that. When they are minor, we learn to manage them. (maybe 10 minutes to play with the cats is just fine!) But when it comes to the major, life-altering distractions: let the same mind that was in Christ be in you. Recognize the distractions for what they are, don’t waiver, and be obedient to your call.

His Precious Face

There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8

Today may you rest in the peace of our Lord; the One who lifts up the light of His countenance upon us.

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Amen.

Good? Or Bad?

The Story of the Taoist Farmer

A farmer had only one horse, and one day the horse ran away. The farmer’s neighbors came to console him and said, “This is such a terrible tragedy.” The farmer said, “Is it?”

A month later, the horse returned and brought with it two beautiful wild horses. The neighbors were so happy for the farmer and exclaimed, “Your horse has returned and brought with him two more strong horses! What great fortune!” The farmer said, “Is it?”

Later, the farmer's son was thrown from one of the wild horses and broke his leg. All the neighbors were very distressed. “This is such bad luck” they said.  The farmer said, “Is it?”

A war came, and every able-bodied man was drafted and had to go to battle. Only the farmer's son, because he had a broken leg, could not go. The neighbors congratulated the farmer saying, “Your son has been spared! This is wonderful!”  The farmer said, “Is it?”

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I have heard and read this story told in a few different ways. While I am not attempting to promote Taoism, the Christian idea it illustrates is important: We do not always understand why events occur in our lives and we are not always able to accurately assess if what is happening is truly good or bad. The Word tells us that God’s ways are higher than ours—His thoughts are as well. (Isaiah 55:8&9) Our minds do not work like His and because we are not omniscient (all knowing) we do not have the ability to assess the events in our lives from an eternal perspective. Our understanding is finite. However, in all that we don’t know, there is something that we can know! We can know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) We can know that He understands why things are happening and how they fit into His grand plan for your life.

See, the events that make us feel good are typically labelled as good and the ones that make us feel bad are typically labelled as bad. For example: the unexpected lay-off. Definitely bad, right? As children of God, I think we would do well to approach this type of circumstance with an “Is it?” type of attitude. This may not be bad perhaps if you’ve been timid about starting your own business and the lay-off was the “inspiration” that you needed to get started on a wildly successful venture.

We may not understand why or what is truly happening in our lives. But we know that, in the midst, the Lord will not leave or forsake us. He’s got a plan. We can rest assured in Him when our circumstances are…questionable.  

Encouraging One Another

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” Hebrews 10:24

We run in a fast-paced world. Our days are filled with meetings, transporting kids, homework, housework, volunteer efforts, rehearsals, negotiations, car repairs, and hosting out-of-town visitors. Throughout our day, we may come in contact with hundreds or even thousands of people. But how many do we touch? How many do we really connect with? Make eye contact with? I’ll take it a step further. How many do we speak a word of encouragement to?

I have a friend who, in the midst of every one of our conversations, manages to speak a word of encouragement to me. A word of affirmation. A word of support. Without fail! Some of us express our love to others through the “Love Language” called Words of Affirmation. It comes naturally to us to verbally affirm those we care for. For others of us, we communicate our love in a different way. But we all need those words from our brothers and sisters in the faith to be inspired and strengthened to keep moving forward in love and good deeds.

Today, will you make it your intention to speak words of encouragement to someone? May I challenge you to actively seek out at least three persons? And if that is like a cake walk to you, then challenge yourself to encourage even more people.

And let me encourage you. I’m proud of you for reading this. I’m proud that you are seeking God. It is a beautiful sacrifice that you are making. And I know that He is so delighted with you!

 

You can learn more about the 5 Love Languages by following this link: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

The Proof is in the Promise

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her! Luke 1:45

This was part of Elizabeth’s declaration when Mary arrived at her home and as John leapt within her womb. The Spirit revealed to Elizabeth exactly what was happening with Mary. The Spirit also reveals to us that the Lord has wondrous plans for us! We may not know all the details yet…but God is surely moving on our behalf.

What promise has the Lord made to you? We know He promises never to leave us or forsake us. We know He will supply all of our needs. We know He is the one who saves us from the power of sin and death. And He declares, explicitly, that He has great plans for us! (see Jeremiah 29:11) But, what else? Has He given you a vision for a business…a ministry…a unique invention? Has the Lord spoken to you about your children and how He will care for them? Have you heard a promise from Him regarding your health? Are you waiting to see it come to pass?

A couple of days ago we talked about labor pains being the indicator that something is getting ready to be birthed. Well, Mary, at this point, is not in labor…she has no proof except for a promise from God. And Elizabeth prophetically declares that she is blessed because of her belief in the word of the Lord. Is God’s promise “proof” enough for you that what He promised will come to pass?

Blessed are you, precious one, as you also believe that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you.

Submission

I just listened to a fun forum discussion regarding wives and the biblical mandate to submit to our husbands. I will not discuss that here. But what I will share are my thoughts as I was listening to the discussion. God is calling wives to submit even if the plan is not perceived to be the best. Note: I’m saying “not the best”. I am not saying “illegal” or “immoral”. I’m talking about submission when we simply THINK it’s not best.

It is difficult to believe that you know what is best but to carry out a different plan. To KNOW what is best and to CHOOSE something else is tough. To be willing to lay down your life for Plan A but to, instead, have to lay down your life for Plan B--that’s a tall order! Can I get any more extreme? Submission is tough but that is what we are called to. Well…

SUBMISSION IS NOT JUST A WIFE THING! As followers of Christ, we are called to submit to Him. ("Not my will, but Yours…") This is cool…as long as what He wants makes sense to me. As long as I also think it is best, then it’s no problem. But when I “KNOW” what’s best and He wants something else? When I’m willing to sacrifice everything for Plan A but He wants Plan B? Then it gets real deep during prayer time. It can get downright raw during morning devotions when my heart does not want to submit. The spirit is willing, but the flesh…it gets weak. Thankfully, when we accepted Christ as our Savior, He gave us the Holy Spirit. And along with the Spirit comes His love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control). I praise God for this because if I am to submit, I may need to employ a few of these traits. :-)
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So, my dear ones, submit yourself to God because it truly is what’s best for you. Whatever that submission looks like – ultimately, it is unto God. And I know, because you are reading this, that honoring Him is important to you.

Submit and be blessed.

The Blessing of Labor Pains

“This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’”  Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

These verses have a very special place in my heart. A while back, in the midst of prayer and worship, the Lord spoke to me through these verses. In a very difficult season of my life, He encouraged me that a door which had recently closed did not represent an end (a death); but rather, the revealing of a new thing. It was the labor pains of birth. A new life was emerging! And in the face of this impending birth, I need not dwell on the past. I could, with excitement, look toward the future.

The wonder of seeing a clear path in the wilderness is as extraordinary as seeing water in the desert! But that is what God does – He makes a path where there is none and He provides life-sustaining substance in a place of lack. Our God is a wonder! And so it makes perfect sense that brother Paul reminds us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight—lest we miss the wondrous things God is doing!

Being Unequally Yoked...With a Believer

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14. The Word is quite clear about believers not being in close relationship with unbelievers. It makes no sense. There is no commonality. The righteous one is much more likely to be influenced by the unrighteous. There can be no foundational agreement amongst the two. The interests are divergent. The internal make-up of the two is contrary. The Word is very clear.

But what about the believer’s closeness (non-sexual intimacy) with another believer…one who is living in a manner that is significantly less than God’s best for them? I think a very similar principle applies. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul’s words encourage us “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” While this is commonly understood as referring to those who are non-believers, we can still take away the lesson: the children of God are not to keep intimate company with those who have turned their back on the righteousness of God: those who have chosen their own path over His—regardless of whether they profess to be followers of Christ or not.

This does not mean that we do not have any association with either non-believers or believers who are struggling (or comfortable) in their sin. This does not mean that we do not continue to love others and share the good news of Christ with anyone and everyone who will listen. We can still develop relationship with the non-believer. We can still develop relationship with the believer who has gone off into “left-field”. But this does mean that those we confide in, seek wise counsel from, draw strength from, engage spiritual conversation with, pray with—those with whom we are in intimate and transparent relationship, should be those who, like us, are trying their best to live a life that will honor God. (see Romans 12:1 & Philippians 3:14)

Please do not read the Corinthian passage as giving blanket permission for you to remove from your life anyone who isn’t “acting right”, so to speak. But you do have permission, even a command, to seek the communion found among the community of believers. To assemble together, to lean on one another, to walk together in faith. This will strengthen all other relational engagements you have. (Hebrews 10:24&25)

My encouragement to you is to “yoke-up” with some of those strong believers within your communities – at work, at church, at school, within your family – and be strengthened. This is God’s desire for us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s January 1 and some of us are saying, “Good riddance 2013!!!!” while some of us reflect on the last 365 days and would deem them to be some of the best days of our lives. What does 2014 hold for us? None of us know. But to His children, God says this: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. God has wonderful plans for our 2014. As we walk in faith with Him, He will show us His ways and His will, and He will begin to reveal to us His plans. Pretty exciting, isn’t it?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!