PROVERBS 10
Introduction of Solomon verse 1- 5
The Proverbs of Solomon
A wise son makes a glad father
BUT a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing
BUT the righteousness delivers from death
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish
BUT HE casts away the substance of the wicked
He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand
BUT the hand of the diligent makes rich
He that gathers in summer is a wise son
BUT he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame
Contrast between reputation of wise and wicked verse 6- 11
Blessings are upon the head of the just
BUT violence covers the mouth of the wicked
The memory of the just is blessed
BUT the name of the wicked shall rot
the wise in heart will receive commandments
BUT a prating fool shall fall
He that walks uprightly walks surely
BUT he that perverts his ways shall be known
He that winks with the eye causes sorrow
BUT a prating fool shall fall
the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life
BUT violence covers
the mouth of the wicked
Contrast between wealth and poverty verse 12- 17
Hatred stirs up strife
BUT love covers all sins
In the lips of him that has understanding wisdom is found
BUT a rod is for the back of him
that is void of understanding
Wise men lay up knowledge
BUT the mouth of the foolish is near destruction
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city
the destruction of the poor is their poverty
The labor of the righteous tends to life
the fruit of the wicked to sin
He is in the way of life that keeps instruction
BUT he that refuses reproof errs
Contrast between silence and speaking verse 18- 21
He that hides hatred with lying lips
and he that utters a slander is a fool
In the multitude of words there wants not sin
BUT he that refrains his lips is wise
The tongue of the just is as choice silver
the heart of the wicked is little worth
The lips of the righteous feed many
BUT fools die for want of wisdom
Contrast between work ethic and laziness verse 22- 26
The blessing of the LORD – it makes rich
and HE adds no sorrow with it
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief
BUT a man of understanding hath wisdom
The fear of the wicked – it shall come upon him
BUT the desire of the righteous shall be granted
As the whirlwind passes – so is the wicked no more
BUT the righteous is an everlasting foundation
As vinegar to the teeth – and as smoke to the eyes
so is the sluggard to them that send him
Contrast between long life and short life verse 27- 30
The fear of the LORD prolongs days
BUT the expectation of the wicked shall be shortened
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness
BUT the expectation of the wicked shall perish
The way of the LORD is strength to the upright
BUT destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity
The righteous shall never be removed
BUT the wicked shall not inhabit the earth
Contrast between proper speech and improper verse 31- 32
The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom
BUT the forward tongue shall be cut off
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable
BUT the mouth of the wicked speaks forwardness
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is heaviness of his mother. (8424 “heaviness” [tuwgah] means grief, sorrow, an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement, sadness, trouble, anguish, or depression of spirits).
DEVOTION: Parenting is not easy. Most parents love their children. Christian parents are supposed to love them and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. So we find that there is a difference between Christian parents and those who don’t claim Christ as their Savior. There is a different standard for each.
Those outside of Christ might have some standards that are almost the same as those found in the Bible. They could be good moral individuals but that is not the same as Biblical Christian parents.
A Biblical Christian set of parents would want their children to become a follower of Jesus Christ at an early age and teach them what the Bible says about life and how to live it. Biblical parents would TRY to set a good example at home regarding how a Christian should live their everyday life. Some succeed and other not so well.
When Christian parents fail while their children are young they need to make sure their children understand that even after becoming a believer adult still sin but can confess their sin and move on in their relationship with the LORD.
With that in mind we find that even while parents are setting a good example of what it means to be a follower of the LORD their children can decide not to follow the LORD or listen to them. This is what Solomon is trying to get across in this verse.
Parents can do their best and still fail with their children. If they are good followers of Christ it makes a father and mother glad. If they reject Jesus Christ then it causes them to have great sadness. It seems to imply in the verse that mothers feel this sadness more than fathers.
In Solomon’s day the mother was the one who trained at very early ages while the father trained later or there were others who trained the children. Today we have our children trained in day care centers, schools and other places regularly. Many of these individual don’t know Christ as their Savior while some do.
Our world today is more challenging then it was when I was raised. There are many religious people who are not genuine believers. There are many pastors and Sunday School teachers who are not teaching the good Biblical teaching to our children, even when we attend church.
The ultimate individuals who are training children are the parents in the home because they choose to spend time with them during the week where they can have daily devotions in the Word of God with them.
CHALLENGE: Each parent has to answer the question: Am I training my children to be wise in the LORD on a regular basis? If not, it is not too late to start now even if it is with the grandchildren.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich. (7423 “slack” [ramiyah] means treacherous, loose, negligently, the quality of being lax and neglectful, a letting down, indolence, fraud, laziness, or treacherous.)
DEVOTION: Once we become a genuine follower of the LORD we are not allowed to just sit, soak and sour until the LORD’S return. We are called to serve and that starts once we become a person who has made a commitment to the LORD.
We are to be about our Father’s business just like Jesus had to be about HIS Father’s business while he was on this earth. HE lived HIS thirty years on this earth in service to the LORD. HE died at a young age but HIS job was done and HE had appointed HIS disciples to be about the Father’s business after HIS death.
They traveled the world spreading the gospel to all who would listen to them. Most of them were killed for their teachings. John was the last who was sent to an island for the rest of his life for serving the LORD. He wrote many books of the New Testament but the book of Revelation is the one that gives us a better understanding of what is going to happen in the future.
The LORD wants us to deal diligently with the gifts that HE has given us. The riches we should seek is the riches of reaching others for the LORD with the gospel we preach. There is no time to stop or retire from this work that the LORD has given us.
We are not to be slack in our spreading of the Gospel to those we know and to the rest of the world through out gifts to those who spread the Good News of the Gospel.
All genuine believers are to be workers for the LORD. Our field of service is the world. We are not to stop until we have reached all that we can with the Good News of the gospel.
Sometime we think that we can only be rich if we have money in the bank or in our pockets. The riches we should seek should be in the form of souls we have reached with the Word of God.
Money gives us the ability to reach our world for the LORD. Our riches should be found in our reaching our world for the LORD while we are here. We are never called to sit, soak and sour while we are here. We are to work everyday to reach those we can with the Good News of the gospel.
CHALLENGE: Money is not was we should be working for but for the ability to reach others for the LORD. How rich will you be at the Judgment Seat of Christ when HE gives us our rewards for service to HIM during our lifetime?
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: 12 Hatred stirs up strife: but love covers all sin. (3680 “covereth” [kacah] means forgives, keeps hidden, conceal, or pardon.)
DEVOTION: It is easy to hate some individuals. They rub us the wrong way just by their looks. Some it takes observing their actions. Once someone has hurt us we can carry a grudge easily.
However, that is not what the LORD expects of HIS followers. HIS desire for us is that we end strife and help even individuals that rub us the wrong way. It is not easy but the Holy Spirit is there to help us with these individuals.
Now there are also individuals who are likeable. We have friends that need our assistance to grow in the LORD. They can also help us grow in the LORD. These individuals can do things that we would hate others if they did them to us but because they are friends we can put up with their comments or actions. It is not easy sometimes.
There needs to be confrontation when these comments and actions cross over a line. If they don’t we can forgive our friends most of the time. Our friends will appreciate our loving correction at times. There has to be love before there can be correction. People who don’t know that we love them will not listen to us.
One of the habits we have to not establish is gossip or grudges. This is not part of the life of a Christian. These two habits can stir up strife with fellow believers. Solomon informs his son that this is not what wise individuals do.
We need to be wise in our relationships with others. All individuals need our love. Some we can love better than others. Try with the help of the Holy Spirit to love all those who are followers of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Look over the last few weeks and think about whether you caused strife or showed love.)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks forwardness. (7522 “acceptable” [ratson] means delight, desire, good pleasure, will, goodwill, or favor. )
DEVOTION: This chapter is a chapter of contrasts. Solomon deals with the topics of money, laziness, mouth and love. He contrasts the difference in the actions of the wicked and the righteous.
The wicked are called fools many times in this chapter. The ones who are righteous are called just, men of understanding, upright, wise or those who fear the LORD.
This verse deals with the mouth of the righteous and the mouth of the wicked. The New Testament informs us that the tongue is a “fire, a world of iniquity … and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3: 6). Control of the tongue can make or break us.
We need to continually watch what we say to others and about others. What we say is very important to where we are spiritually. Our lips need to be watched.
Are we speaking what is pleasing to the LORD? Are we speaking words of encouragement to those who are followers of the LORD? Are we spreading the Gospel to those who are NOT followers of the LORD? Are we doing it in such a manner that they will listen to us? Sometimes we can use our mouths with destructive criticism instead of constructive criticism. Are we speaking as a righteous man or woman? Are we a delight to other and the LORD?
If you have a problem with your language, ask the LORD to give you strength to overcome vague language. If your language is sweet but your thought life is a problem ask the LORD for help.
CHALLENGE: We need to have delightful speech with everyone we meet. We can even correct an individual favorable speech. Practice makes perfect or at least close.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Proverb verse 1
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 3, 22, 27, 29
Blessing of the LORD verse 22
Fear of the LORD verse 27
Way of the LORD verse 29
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Wise son verse 1, 5
gathers in summer
Father verse 1
Foolish son verse 1
heaviness to his mother
Mother verse 1
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Foolish verse 1, 14, 18, 21, 23
Wickedness verse 2
Wicked verse 3, 6, 7, 11, 16, 20, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32
Slack hand verse 4
Sleeping in harvest verse 5
Causing shame verse 5
Violence verse 6
Mouth of wicked verse 6
Name of the wicked shall rot verse 7
Prating fool verse 8, 10
Pervert his way verse 9
Winking that causes sorrow verse 10
Mouth of wicked: violence verse 11
Hatred verse 12
Strife verse 12
Sins verse 12, 19
Void of understanding verse 13
rod for the back
Mouth of foolish: destruction verse 14
Fruit of wicked: sin verse 16
Refusing reproof verse 17
Hatred verse 18
Lying lips verse 18
Slander verse 18
Multitude of words verse 19
Heart of the wicked: little worth verse 20
Fools die for want of wisdom verse 21
Sport of a fool to do mischief verse 23
Fear of the wicked shall come upon him verse 24
Sluggard verse 26
Years of the wicked: shortened verse 27
Workers of iniquity: destruction verse 29
Forward tongue verse 31, 32
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Glad verse 1
Righteousness verse 2, 3, 11, 16, 21, 24, 25, 28, 30, 32
Deliverance verse 2
Provision of the LORD verse 3
Soul of the righteous verse 3
Diligent verse 4
Wise verse 5, 8, 13, 14, 19,
23, 31
Blessing verse 6, 22
Just verse 6, 7, 20, 31
Good memories verse 7
Obey commandments verse 8
Walk uprightly verse 9, 29
Mouth speaking well verse 11
Righteous verse 11, 16, 21, 25
Love verse 12
Understanding verse 13, 23
Knowledge verse 14
Worker verse 15, 16
Keeps instruction: way of life verse 17
Refrain lips verse 19
Tongue of just is as choice silver verse 20
Lips of the righteous feed many verse 21
Rich verse 22
No sorrow verse 22
Desire of righteous: granted verse 24
Everlasting foundation verse 25
Fear of the LORD: prolongs days verse 27
Prolonged life verse 27
Hope verse 28
Gladness verse 28
Way of the LORD verse 29
Strength verse 29
Never be removed verse 30
Mouth of the just brings forth wisdom verse 31
Know what is acceptable verse 32
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon verse 1- 32
Proverbs of Solomon
Advice to his son
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Death verse 2
Everlasting foundation for righteous verse 25
Wicked shall perish verse 28
Wicked shall not inhabit the earth verse 30
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QUOTES regarding passage
The primary meaning is a mental troubling resulting from affliction. yāgâ stresses mental sorrow in affliction. kāʾab accentuates the ’ pain. ʿānâ emphasizes humbling.
In Lam the root describes Jerusalem’s grief resulting from God’s judgment in 586 b.c. Jerusalem’s great iniquities occasioned this judgment which God desired not to bring. Israel will also suffer in the end-time judgments (Zeph 3:18). Such “sorrow” will ultimately be removed and placed upon Israel’s tormentors because of God’s faithfulness and compassionate restoration of Israel (Lam 3:32–33; Isa 51:11, 23; cf. yāgôn in Isa 35:10). (Alexander, R. H. (1999). 839 יָגָה. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 361). Chicago: Moody Press.)
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Verses 1b–5 form a collection marked off by the inclusion of “wise son/foolish son” (v. 1) and “wise son/disgraceful son” (v. 5). The theme of the collection is that a family will thrive if the children are diligent in their work but collapse if they are lazy or resort to crime.
10:1b, c Verse 1b, c forms a complete merismus, that is, all the parts interrelate. “Father” and “mother” are of course the parents of the household, and the proverb points out how much their happiness as a family depends on the child’s behavior. The collection emphasizes the economic aspect since sons were responsible for the care of parents in old age. They could either squander the family estate or build it up. This section forces the young man to face the economic responsibility he bears for the family. (Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 117). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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10:1. ‘… Bound up in the lad’s life’
It is the other side of the truth of 9:12. Your choice may be lonely; it cannot be private. This fact throws its own light on the problem of unmerited suffering, by its reminder that without the ties (at their best, the love) by which people are members of each other, life would be less painful but immeasurably poorer. (Kidner, D. (1964). Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 17, p. 80). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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In these words the key-note is struck, to be again and again referred to throughout the book, and returned to in the final chapter. The son who is characterized by wisdom, causes his father to rejoice as in the case of Solomon himself (1 Chron. 22:12; 2 Chron. 1:7–12). On the other hand it is the mother who feels most keenly the folly of her child. See Esau in Gen. 26:34, 35 and 27:46. (Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (p. 94). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Bros.)
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10:1 grief to his mother. See note on 23:15, 16. This parental grief is most deeply felt by the mother, who plays a more intimate role in raising a child. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Pr 10:1). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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1. The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
The former chapters have beautifully set forth in continuous discourse, the nature and value of heavenly wisdom, contrasted with the fascinations of sinful folly. We now come to what are more properly (not of course excluding the foregoing) the Proverbs of Solomon. They are for the most part unconnected sentences, remarkable for profound thought, and acute observation, expressed in an antithetical or illustrative form; the whole comprising a Divine system of morals of universal application. The previous chapters form a striking introduction to the book. The glorious description of the Great Counsellor commends to us his gracious instruction, as the principle of true happiness and practical godliness.
Perhaps this first sentence may have been placed in the front, to point to the value of a godly education in its personal, social, national influence, connected both with time and eternity. Do not we naturally look for rest in our children, as the choicest gift of God. Faith indeed may be tried—perhaps severely tried.3 But the child, watched, prayed over, instructed, and disciplined, shall in the Lord’s best time, choose wisdom’s paths, and be the gladness of his father’s heart.
Many a mother, alas! is chastened with the heaviness of a foolish son. In such cases—has not indulgence, instead of wholesome restraint—pleasure, instead of godliness—the world, instead of the Bible—educated the child? Want of early discipline; passing over trifles; yielding when we ought to command—how little do we think to what this may grow!7 God has laid down plain rules, plain duties, and plain consequences flowing from their observance or neglect.9 To forget a daily reference to them; to choose our own wisdom before God’s ;— can we wonder that the result should be heaviness? (Bridges, C. (1865). An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (pp. 79–80). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Jesus teaches on truth.
INSIGHT
By nature, we want absolute freedom. But such freedom is not possible. In fact, no such thing as absolute freedom exists. To be free to sail the seven seas, we must make ourselves a slave to the compass. This subservience irritates us.
All of life is a contrast between freedoms and corresponding bondages. We can be slaves to Jesus and free from the bondage of sin, or we can be free from Jesus and slaves to the bondage of sin. We can make ourselves slaves to truth, and the truth can set us free.
(QuietWalk)
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THE CROSS AND THE SOUL OF MAN
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:37
The cross expounds the truth that the soul of man is something that is very precious. You remember our Lord’s own teaching about this. He said: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). The cross talks about the soul of man; our Lord is on the cross because of the preciousness of a man’s immortal soul. So at once you see that the cross tells me something about myself and the nature of this manhood that God has given me. It tells me also about the whole purpose of life in this world. This is my soul; this is the thing that matters.
Now my body is important, and I must not despise it. Many other things are important, too, in this world. It is no part of the preaching of the gospel to depreciate legitimate things or to ridicule them. But I would say that it is the business of the Gospel to say that it is the soul of man that matters, that part of us that goes on even when we die—something imperishable, something that goes on into eternity. The cross puts tremendous emphasis upon that. He came there not in order that our bodies might be healed, not in order that we might be better fed or clothed or have more information and knowledge; no, He came to save the soul. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and what was lost is man’s soul.
Here is this tremendous statement, therefore, coming from the cross to us. Have you heard it—have you realized that the most important thing about you is this soul of yours?
A Thought to Ponder
Have you realized that the most important thing about you is this soul of yours?
(From The Cross, pp. 156-157, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Resurrection and the Believer
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)
The resurrection of Christ is no less crucial to the gospel than the death of Christ. If He did not rise from the dead, then we who believe in Him “are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Christ’s resurrection assures us, first of all, of our justification. Speaking of Abraham’s faith and the imputation of God’s righteousness to him, Paul writes, “For us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).
God imparts to us the power to serve Him effectively through the resurrection, “that [we] may know…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:18-20). As the passage continues, Paul declares that through the resurrection Christ is now “the head over all things to the church, which is His body” (vv. 22-23 and also in our text).
In His resurrected and glorified state, Christ continues His ministry to us. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens….Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14, 16).
Finally, Christ’s resurrection assures us that we too will one day be resurrected, if we should die before He returns. “He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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This Changes Everything
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20
Jaroslav Pelikan, longtime Yale professor considered one of “his generation’s preeminent authorities on Christian history,” was renowned for his extensive academic career. He published more than thirty books and won the esteemed Kluge Prize as a lifetime award for his voluminous writing. One of his students, however, recounted what he considered his teacher’s most important words, spoken from his deathbed: “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not—nothing else matters.”
Pelikan echoed Paul’s conviction: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). The apostle made such a bold statement because he knew that the resurrection was not merely a one-off miracle but rather the pinnacle of God’s redeeming work in human history. The promise of resurrection wasn’t only His assurance that Jesus would rise from the dead but His bold affirmation that other dead and ruined things (lives, neighborhoods, relationships) would also one day be brought back to life through Christ. If there’s no resurrection, however, Paul knew that we’re in deep trouble. If there’s no resurrection, then death and destruction win.
But, of course, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (v. 20). Destroyed by the Victor, death loses. And Jesus is the “firstfruits” of all the life that will follow. He conquered evil and death so that we could live bold and free. This changes everything.
(By Winn Collier – Our Daily Bread)
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Signs of the Day of the Lord, a day preceded by a vast “falling away,” show us we must stand fast.
INSIGHT
Unbelief is dangerous: It leads to deception, and deception leads to destruction. Jesus performed many miracles,convincing people of His identity so they could have a basis for believing in Him. Before His return, the Antichrist, empowered by Satan, will be loosed on the earth and a time of great deception and apostasy will occur. Those people who hate the truth will buy into this deception, precipitating their ultimate destruction. Meanwhile, believers must stand firm, holding tightly to the truth. In a world of falsehood and deliberate deception, we must always be on guard. (QuietWalk)
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THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES
…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
Ephesians 2:20
John’s whole purpose in writing his first epistle was to say to the early Christians, “Hold on to what I and the other apostles have told you.” You remember how he began. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1-2). He is referring to the apostles, and he says that he writes these things so that these Christians “may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3). Who are they? They are still the apostles.
Now this is something that is absolutely primary and fundamental. The claim of the New Testament is that it alone is authoritative in these matters. It teaches us that the apostles and prophets were the people to whom God, through the Holy Spirit, had revealed spiritual truth, and He meant them to teach it and to write it. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:20 that the Christian church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” All teaching must derive from them, and so you have this extraordinary claim in the New Testament. These men claimed a unique authority.
Listen to the apostle Paul putting it again in writing to the Galatians; he uses strong language like this: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (1:8). “What egotism!” says someone. No, it is not egotism; it is the claim of a man who has been commissioned by God. God has set him apart; God has given him the revelation. And he goes on to argue in so many of his letters that what he preached was also the message that was preached by the other apostles. This apostle and all the apostles did not hesitate to say that they exhorted these people to test every teaching by their teaching. And you and I are still committed to the same position.
A Thought to Ponder: The apostles and prophets were the people to whom God revealed spiritual truth. (From The Love of God, pp. 30-31, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Common Salvation
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation . . .” (Jude 1:3)
The description of our salvation as “common” does not mean that salvation is “ordinary” or “normal” but rather that salvation is available to anyone who wants it. The term is translated “unclean” several times in passages that speak of items that are accessible to everyone rather than specialized foods or ceremonies available to just a few (Acts 11:8;Romans 14:14; etc.).
Right after Pentecost, the Jerusalem church experienced a quick growth in converts, many of whom were poor and needed practical help. The bond of the new church was so strong that “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). That is the sense in which Jude speaks of a “common” salvation.
The salvation is available to all. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16). None are excluded from the possibility of salvation—except those who refuse to believe what God has provided through the substitutionary death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2).
But this salvation is also necessary for all. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It has become popular today to couch the gospel message in moderate terms, making the message appear optional or a “personal” belief system. No, it is the only salvation, even if it is “common.” “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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One Against None
That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love. COLOSSIANS 2:2
One of our favorite games that our children absolutely loved playing was Reverse Hide and Seek. We’d turn out all the lights in our house. Then, instead of having one person look for everyone else, one person hid and all the others would try to find him or her. When you located the hidden person, you would quietly slip into the same space to hide with him or her. The game would keep going until only one person was left seeking all the others in a pitch black, totally silent house.
It wasn’t easy being the last man standing. Swiftly, the house would become very quiet and still. All you could hear was the sound of your own panting and your appeals for everyone to show themselves. But usually, the giggles and snickers of seven people huddling in the bathtub or under a table would give away their location. When the last person finally joined the crowd, it was a huge relief—almost like a family reunion, full of laughter, hugs and silly recaps of the highlights.
What a picture of how marriage and family relationships ought to be.
Rather than allowing anyone to isolate himself or herself, we should seek each other out, huddle together and reconfirm the fact that we’re sharing life together. No one’s going it alone. Not in this house.
So I’m appointing you today to the office of Seeker. I challenge you to commit yourself to watching for signs of isolation in each other and in your children. Sure, there are times when we all need our space—the opportunity to pray and process things. But always stay sensitive to the first feelings of distance that creep into your relationship.
Don’t let it stay quiet for long. Go on the prowl. Look behind the curtains.
Pursue one another and God, together.
DISCUSS
Is there any hiding going on in your home? Any isolation? Talk about how you should seek out one another. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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