PROVERBS 14
Wisdom of Solomon verse 1-35
Wisdom and folly verse 1-9
Every WISE woman builds her house
BUT the FOOLISH plucks it down with her hands verse 1
WORK ETHIC
He that walks in his UPRIGHTNESS fears the LORD
BUT he that is PERVERSE in his ways despises HIM verse 2
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
In the mouth of the FOOLISH is a rod of pride
BUT the lips of the WISE shall preserve them verse 3
MOUTH
Where no oxen are – the crib is clean
BUT much increase is by the strength of the ox verse 4
WORK ETHIC
A FAITHFUL witness will not lie
BUT a FALSE witness will utter lies verse 5
MOUTH
A SCORNER seeks wisdom – and finds it not
BUT knowledge is easy unto him that understands verse 6
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
Go from the presence of a FOOLISH man
when you perceives not in him the lips of knowledge verse 7
MOUTH
The wisdom of the PRUDENT is to understand his way
BUT the folly of FOOLS is deceit verse 8
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
FOOLS make a mock at sin
BUT among the RIGHTEOUS there is favor verse 9
– WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
Inner person verse 10- 15
The heart knows his own bitterness
AND a stranger does not intermeddle with his joy verse 10
HEART
The house of the WICKED shall be overthrown
BUT the tabernacle of the UPRIGHT shall flourish verse 11
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
There is a way which seems right unto a man
BUT the end thereof are the ways of death verse 12
JUDGMENT
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful
AND the end of that mirth is heaviness verse 13
– HEART
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways
AND a good man shall be satisfied from himself verse 14
HEART
The SIMPLE believes every word
BUT the PRUDENT man looks well to his going verse 15
DISCERNMENT
Wisdom and Folly verse 16- 18
A WISE man fears – and departs from evil
BUT the FOOL rages – and is confident verse 16
JUDGMENT
He that is soon angry deals foolishly
and a man of WICKED devices is hated verse 17
ANGER
The SIMPLE inherit folly
BUT the PRUDENT are crowned with knowledge verse 18
JUDGMENT
Life in society verse 19- 35
The EVIL bow before the GOOD
AND the WICKED at the gates of the RIGHEOUS verse 19
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
The poor is hated even of his own neighbor
BUT the rich hath many friends verse 20
MONEY
He that despises his neighbor sins
BUT he that hath mercy on the poor – HAPPY is he verse 21
MONEY
Do they not err that devise EVIL?
BUT mercy and truth shall be to them that device GOOD verse 22
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
In all labor there is profit
BUT the talk of the lips tends only to penury verse 23
WORK ETHIC
The crown of the WISE is their riches
BUT the foolishness of FOOLS is folly verse 24
MONEY
A true witness delivers souls
BUT a deceitful witness speaks lies verse 25
MOUTH
In the FEAR OF THE LORD is strong confidence
AND his children shall have a place of refuge verse 26
RIGHTEOUS
The FEAR OF THE LORD is a fountain of life
to depart from the snares of death verse 27
RIGHTEOUS
In the multitude of people is the king’s honor
BUT in the want of people is the destruction of the prince verse 28
RIGHTEOUS
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding
BUT he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly verse 29
ANGER
A sound heart is the life of the flesh
BUT envy the rottenness of the bones verse 30
HEART
He that oppresses the poor reproaches his MAKER
BUT he that honors HIM hath mercy on the poor verse 31
MONEY
The WICKED is driven away in his wickedness
BUT the RIGHTEOUS hath hope in his death verse 32
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
Wisdom rests in the heart of him that hath understanding
BUT that which is in the midst of FOOLS is made known verse 33
HEART
Righteousness exalts a nation
BUT sin is a reproach to any people verse 34
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
The king’s favor is toward the WISE servant
BUT his wrath is against him that causes shame verse 35
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him. (3868 “perverse” [luwz] means forward, to go wrong, go crooked, devious, to characterized by insincerity or deceit, or wickedness.)
DEVOTION: There are only two paths that you can be walking in according to the Word of God. You can either be walking with the LORD or walking with the devil. There is no middle ground.
An individual can be walking in the way of the wicked but can change into the way of the righteous with a genuine commitment to Jesus Christ. This commitment is made on the basis of the message of salvation proclaimed by those who are believers in Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament it was revealed in the Law that the LORD gave the children of Israel in the wilderness that told them that they needed to be obedient to the commands of the LORD as found in the Ten Commandments. There had to be sacrifices if they disobeyed. There was a priesthood that proclaimed the truth of God to the people.
This message was to be presented to those who were of other nations when they came into the presence of the Children of Israel. They were to teach that there is only one way to heaven and it was through the belief in the commands of God to them.
The standard was set and if obeyed there was a promise of blessing while on this earth and a place with the LORD after death.
This is the promise that we have heard in the New Testament by the disciples that if a person genuinely becomes a follower of Jesus Christ they will have eternal life in heaven. The message is plain in both the Old Testament and the New Testament that those who are genuine followers of the LORD have to follow HIM with their while heart. The ones who continue to disobey HIM will spend eternity in a place called Hell. There is no middle ground.
CHALLENGE: We have to walk in uprightness as it is defined by the Word of God. Each of us has to answer the question of which way we are going. Are we walking uprightly according to the Word of God or are we walking in a perverse way.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. (2415 “rod” [choter] means a twig, shoot, family; 4294 [mattah] means staff, tribe, branch, family; 7626 [shebet] means a stick used to correct a child.)
DEVOTION: Our families today are in disarray with most marriages ending in divorce. Children in mixed families are becoming prevalent than ever before. Fathers are missing from the family structure. Society doesn’t have the answers. Churches don’t seem to agree on the answer. Families are left to themselves to figure out what will work. Children are disobedient because they are told they can be by teachers and other people in authority. Parent who want to discipline are afraid the wrong people are watching and they will be turned in for child abuse. It is a scary time to raise a family. Our words can make a world of difference in the lives of our children and grandchildren.
There are at least three words that are used for the word “rod” in the Old Testament. This first word seems to imply using our words as a gun to shoot down others. That is not our job. The second word is used to describe the staff Moses carried with him in the wilderness. The third use is used for correction of children.
This verse is concerned with the first use of the word. There are many people who use their words to shoot down people they don’t like. There is the implication that it can be a family trait that is passed on from one generation to another. There are many who use their words to speak lies about people they don’t like. If they get away with this type of treatment of others, they become proud in what they are doing.
The Bible describes these types of people as FOOLISH. These are individuals who lack understanding and don’t seek to have it. They are stubborn in their thinking.
Our responsibility as followers of the LORD is to help people to see what they can correct in their lives and help them do it. Our responsibility is to watch our lips. Our lips are to be used for encouragement. Our first responsibility is to present the gospel. Once someone becomes a follower of Christ we can train him/her in the Biblical way of living. Our mouths should be used for good.
CHALLENGE: Our words are powerful. We can preserve our family by using the right words at the right time. Ask the LORD what you should say before you say anything.
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: 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you perceive not in him the lips of knowledge. (1847 “knowledge” [da‘ath] means perception, skill, discernment, understanding, wisdom, focus on moral qualities and its application or ability)
DEVOTION: In our lifetime we will meet many different types of individuals. Here we find that one of the types of individuals we will meet are those who think they know it all and yet know nothing that will benefit our spiritual growth in the LORD.
We have to spend some time with those who are of this type to find out just what they are capable of learning. If they want nothing to do with our witness for the LORD we have to move on to someone else who is willing to at least listen to what we have to say with the ability to either accept or reject our Savior. This may take some time but this verse informs us that we will be able to discern whether there is any way this individual will listen to what we have to say and respond to the Gospel.
There are many individuals who know the LORD who can help us grow in the LORD and these individuals should be the ones that we spend the majority of our time with, so that, our faith can grow in a way that is pleasing to the LORD.
Solomon wants his children to discern who they should spend their time with to make it something that will profit them or the other individual. Wasting time with those who don’t want to know the LORD or even listen to what we have to say needs to be avoided. Our time on this earth is short.
CHALLENGE: Discernment is very important in the life of a believer. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us understand who we should be listening to on a regular basis.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his MAKER: but he that honors HIM hath mercy on the poor. (6231 “oppresses” [ashaq] means wrong, extort, exploit, abuse, crush, do violence or defraud.)
DEVOTION: There are people today who would steal everything someone has. It doesn’t matter if an individual is homeless or not. All people have a tendency to do others wrong. It is in our sin nature because we are selfish and lazy. We want to get all we can from anyone we can for as long as we can without working for it. That is what our old sin nature brings to the table when we are dealing with people.
God wants things to be different. The only ones who can be genuinely different are those who are genuine followers of the LORD. There are good people out there that help the poor who think they are earning their way to heaven by their actions. They are good actions but not saving actions.
The Bible states that we can’t earn our way into heaven. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. We can lead a good life. Sometimes it would seem that we can lead a better life than those who claim to know the LORD. That being said it is not true. It is through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that an individual can become a follower of Christ only.
Once a person is a genuine believer his actions with the correct motive can earn him crowns and rewards in heaven, NOT salvation. Our Maker has declared a right way and a wrong way in doing things. The right order is to become a follower of Christ through faith alone and then serve HIM with all our heart. Part of that service is to help the genuinely poor. The Bible starts with the widows who have no relatives and the orphans who have no parents. Once this group is cared for we can move on to others.
How should we help? Giving money to the poor doesn’t help them in the long run. They need skills. They need responsibility. They need education. Remember that you can give a poor person a fish or you can teach him how to fish. Our responsibility in helping those in need is to train them in a Biblical work ethic. If they are too old or handicapped that is a different issue.
Show mercy to those who are poor. Help them get on their feet. Not with handouts but with training. First needs to be training in the LORD. Volunteer at a city mission for a while and learn some of the tricks of those who claim poverty.
CHALLENGE: Get to know those you think need your help. Then help them the best way you can.)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Wisdom builds her home verse 1
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)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 26, 27
FEAR OF THE LORD verse 26, 27
Maker verse 31
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)
Woman verse 1
Foolish man verse 7
Stranger verse 10
Man verse 12, 14
Simple verse 15
Prudent man verse 15
Wise man verse 16
Poor are hated verse 20
Neighbor verse 20, 21
Rich have many friends verse 20
Poor verse 21, 31
Children verse 26
King verse 28, 35
Favor toward a wise servant
Wrath against him that causes shame
Prince verse 28
Wicked verse 32
Righteous verse 32
Nation verse 34
Servant verse 35
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Foolish verse 1, 3, 7-9, 17, 24
Mock at sin
Perverse verse 2
Despising the LORD verse 2
Pride verse 3
Lie verse 5, 25
False witness verse 5, 16, 33
Scorner – not find wisdom verse 6
Folly of fools is deceit verse 8
Mock at sin verse 9
Bitterness verse 10
Wicked verse 11, 17, 19, 32
Backslider verse 14
Simple verse 15, 18
Fool verse 16, 33
rages and is confident
no understanding
Soon angry verse 17
Wicked devices verse 17
Folly verse 18, 24
Evil verse 19, 22
Despises his neighbor is a sin verse 21
Laziness leads to poverty verse 23
Deceitful witness speaks lies verse 25
Hasty of spirit verse 29
Exalts folly verse 29
Envy verse 30
Oppresses the poor verse 31
Wickedness verse 32
Sin is a reproach to any people verse 34
Causing shame verse 35
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wise verse 1, 3, 16, 24,
33, 35
Walks in uprightness verse 2
Upright verse 2, 11
Fear of the LORD verse 2, 26, 27
Preserved by wisdom verse 3
Work ethic verse 4, 23
Faithful witness verse 5
Wisdom verse 6, 8
Understanding verse 6, 8, 29, 33
Perception of knowledge verse 7, 18
Prudent understands his way verse 8, 15, 18
Righteous verse 9, 19, 32, 34
Favor verse 9
Upright will flourish verse 11
Good verse 14, 19, 22
Fear of the LORD verse 16, 27
Departs from evil verse 16
Knowledge verse 18
Mercy on the poor verse 21, 22, 31
Truth verse 22
Devise good verse 22
Labor brings profit verse 23
True witness verse 25
Strong confidence verse 26
Place of refuge verse 26
Fountain of life verse 27
Slow to wrath verse 29
Sound heart verse 30
Mercy on the poor verse 31
Hope in death verse 32
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Righteousness exalts a nation verse 34
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Ways of death verse 12
Snares of death verse 27
Righteous has hope in his death verse 32
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DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
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QUOTES regarding passage
14:5–7 One should evaluate what a person says on the basis of his or her overall credibility (v. 5). Similarly, one should not expect to get sound advice from a person who shows no respect for the precepts of wisdom (vv. 6–7). In short, the character of the speaker serves as a warning about whether his or her words are true or wise. (Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 141). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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7 One cannot increase in knowledge by associating with a fool—nothing comes from nothing, as many can affirm. The first clause advises to go out from the presence of a fool. The second clause is problematic; it literally reads, “You did not know the lips of knowledge” (see Notes). The verse is teaching people to get away from fools because they did not receive knowledge from what the fools said. If you want to learn, seek out the wise.
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7 The MT has “you did not know lips of knowledge.” The Targum freely interprets this as “for there is no knowledge on his lips.” The LXX has several variations of the line, including “wise lips are weapons of discretion.” Toy wants to emend to “for his lips do not utter knowledge” as in 15:7 (p. 285). But the Hebrew line makes sense as it is, even though the construction (“know lips”) is not found elsewhere. (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 984). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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A foolish man, by his inconsiderate, slanderous, or bitter words, makes every one his enemy; a wise man uses his knowledge to good purposes; his words are the instruments by which he shows what he is. (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Proverbs (p. 269). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
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When it becomes evident that a man is bent on folly, with no concern about righteousness, it is best to leave him to himself. To argue or reason with such a one is useless. It is defiling to the wise, and but gratifying to the pride of the fool. “From such turn away.”
The prudent has wisdom given him to guide him aright. For this the fool has no desire. His heart is utterly false, and deceit is on his lips. At sin, and the offering for it, he mocks. He has never realized the heinousness of the one, nor the need of the other. Consequently it is in vain to try to turn him from his lawless course. The righteous find acceptance because they have judged themselves, and bowed to God’s just and holy sentence. Owning their true estate, they find a better one. Walking in obedience to God, they are acceptable to Him.
Let none gather from this that Scripture teaches that acceptance, in the sense of salvation, is on the ground of legal works. Far from it. Not until a man is justified by faith, as Abraham, does he do the works of righteousness. Good deeds are not the procuring cause of justification and new birth, but the result of these great and important blessings.
For an example of the fools who make a mock at sin, and refuse instruction, see Jer. 44:15–19, where the remnant in Egypt defy the word of the Lord spoken through His prophet. (Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (pp. 161–162). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Bros.)
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14:7. Verses 7–9 all include statements about fools. Verse 7 is the first imperative statement in the section beginning with 10:1. Also 14:7 is written in synthetic parallelism for the second line explains the first line. Since one’s associations can influence him for good or bad (cf. 13:20), he ought to steer clear of being with the foolish (kesîl) for they speak without knowledge. They cannot offer the young anything of value. (<![if !supportFootnotes]>[1]<![endif]> Buzzell, S. S. (1985). Proverbs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 935). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Fellowship with the ungodly is absolutely forbidden. And it is never safe to contradict a plain command. Let us labor to win their souls to Christ. But the rule of prudence directs—“Cast not your pearls before swine.” ‘Avoid’—says the holy Leighton—‘the mixture of an irreverent commonness of speaking of holy things indifferently in all companies.’ Therefore—when we perceive not in the foolish man the lips of knowledge—go from his presence. Some may be called to dispute with him. But take care that the call is clear. It is at least the safest path to despatch your business with him as in a shower of rain, and not to loiter in his society.
Sweet indeed is the glow of the Saviour’s name upon the young Christian’s lips. Its warmth may put elder Christians to shame. But we must warn him—Harm may be got in an imprudent endeavor to do good. Confess your Master, wherever he may open your door and your mouth. But better retreat from cavillers. You may be foiled by specious reasonings. Beware of tampering with your simplicity by the hazardous experiment how much poison your constitution may bear.3 If our Lord exposed himself to moral danger—yet think of the impenetrable cover of his sanctity—his perfect self-government—his rules of godly prudence. Do we feel secure in the strength of our Christian habits? None are so confirmed as to be safe in relaxation of watchfulness, and wanton rushing into danger. There is a perpetual warfare with the old principles of corruption. No dependence can be placed upon any habits, that do not produce right conduct, and right apprehension of present duty. The path of sin is much more easily avoided than relinquished. We can far more readily keep out of the course of the stream, than stem the torrent. Walk closely with God; and under his cover and shield bear a protest against the ungodly. Commune much with his people. The very sight of a man of God is refreshing. (Bridges, C. (1865). An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (pp. 153–154). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
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7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Some critics read the last clause—“For thou wilt not find lips of knowledge in him.” But the sense given in our English version seems to me more close to the original, which reads literally: “And thou hast not discerned lips of knowledge.” When, after a reasonable opportunity for knowing a man, you discern not the lips of knowledge, retire from his presence; withdraw from his society; desist from all efforts either to get wisdom from him or to impart wisdom to him. (Cowles, H. (1884). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, with Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical (p. 88). New York: D. Appleton and Company.)
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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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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Deuteronomy 30-31
Decisions! I heard on the radio yesterday that we make 35,000 decisions daily! This would mean we are confronted with multiple choices each day. From getting out of bed and brushing your teeth, to multi-million-dollar deals, decisions are made at every juncture of our day. How are you at making decisions?
Israel is standing on the precipice of a historic event. Moses had presented the people with a choice of blessings or curses. He anticipated the people’s eventual decision to reject the teachings of God and their punishment of exile to a foreign land (30:1). Moses calls upon them to understand the decisions and consequences for themselves, as well as the people they encounter.
Moses’ earlier decision of acting in anger prevents him from entering the land of promise. A new leader, Joshua, is commissioned to lead the people. Joshua had been a faithful and courageous leader during the wilderness journey and God had selected him to lead the people of Israel into the promised land.
Some decisions are made for us, and others we must make on our own. The selection of the new leader was made by God. The way the people would behave and follow the Lord as they occupied the land, was their decision.
Prudent steps can be taken in making wise decisions. Begin with prayer, gather as much information as possible, identify the alternatives, weigh the pros and cons, make a choice, and act upon that choice. Moses told Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them…” (31:7). The best decision we can make is to be obedient to the Lord’s word each moment of the day!
With an Expectant Hope,
Pastor Miller
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THE CROSS AND JUSTIFICATION
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
The cross is the door that leads to all blessings. Without it there is nothing. Without the cross and all it means we have no blessings from God at all. But the cross opens the possibility to all of the endless blessings of the glorious God.
What are they? The apostle Paul never got tired of saying these things. Read what he says in Romans. He puts it like this: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Justified by faith” means that the moment you believe in what happened on the cross and see that is God’s way of reconciling you unto Himself, you are immediately regarded as just, your sins are all forgiven and blotted out, and you are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
“Therefore,” says Paul, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” That is the first thing that comes out of this belief. There is no more important word in the letter of Paul than the word therefore. Note it. He always brings in this word “therefore” at a point of this kind. He has been laying down the doctrine, and especially the doctrine of the cross, and then he says, “therefore”—in the light of that, because of that, this is what follows.
And here is the first thing that follows. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.” Do you realize what that means? Do you realize that is the most important and most wonderful thing that can ever happen to you, that you are given peace and made at peace with God? All our troubles in this life as human beings are due to the fact that we are in the wrong relationship to God. It is as simple as that.
A Thought to Ponder
Being justified by faith means that the moment you believe in what happened on the cross, you are immediately regarded as just.
(From The Cross, pp. 178-179, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Joy in the Christian Life
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)
The word “fun” is never mentioned in the Bible, and “entertain” is used only in reference to being hospitable. Such activities as “reveling” and “playing” receive nothing except condemnation in the Scriptures (with the exception of little children at play).
Yet, there is growing emphasis today in many churches and parachurch organizations on providing “entertainment” and “fun times” for their members—especially for teenagers and young adults. This is the way to reach them and keep them for the Lord, so they say. Perhaps so, but one wonders why neither the Lord nor the apostles nor the prophets ever told us so. Is this a program kept in reserve by the Lord just for the young people of this generation?
Actually, Christians can have something far better, more effective, and more lasting than fun and entertainment. In Christ they can have heavenly joy! “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22), where the word for “merry” is more commonly translated as “joyful” or “rejoicing.”
While the Bible never mentions “fun,” it has many references to “joy” and “rejoicing.” Here are just a few. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
We must remind ourselves continually that the Lord Jesus daily, through His words, shares His joy with us, “that [our] joy might be full.”
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Word of the Day: Dhimmitude: Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-Muslim populations conquered through jihad. Specifically, it is the TAXING of non-Muslims in exchange for tolerating their presence AND as a coercive means of converting conquered remnants to Islam. Obama Care allows the establishment of Dhimmitude and Sharia Muslim diktat in the United States. Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance, and also from the penalty tax for being uninsured. Islam considers insurance to be “gambling”, “risk-taking”, and “usury” and is thus banned. Muslims are specifically granted exemption based on this.
How convenient. So I, as a Christian, will have crippling IRS liens placed against all of my assets, including real estate, cattle, and even accounts receivables, and will face hard prison time if I refuse to buy insurance or pay the penalty tax. Meanwhile, Louis Farrakhan will have no such penalty and will have 100% of his health needs paid for by the de facto government insurance. Non-Muslims will be paying a tax to subsidize Muslims. This is Dhimmitude. I recommend sending this onto your contacts. American citizens need to know about it.
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I’m challenging parents to embrace things like the following: •Radical selflessness—It’s time for every Christian parent to prayerfully ask, Am I dying to self so that I can be the parent God wants me to be in raising the next generation? •Radical objectives—Far too many parents are more concerned with their children’s IQ than their CQ—their character quotient. I’m convinced that the primary reason children depart from the faith of their parents is that many dads and moms don’t have this as their objective: to raise children who have a godly desire to love others and to live holy lives. •Radical modeling—Children are like tiny radar units. They lock on. They track. They observe. And they imitate. You cannot lie and then demand the truth from your kids. You cannot cheat and then discipline a cheater. •Radical involvement—This means getting down on the floor, hugging them, reading to them, affirming them. It also means initiating discussions with them about some of life’s most challenging subjects—human sexuality, modesty, temptations, relating to the opposite sex. •Radical expectations—Are you praying that your kids will grow up to become mature soldiers for Christ, godly men and women equipped for a Kingdom assignment? Are you challenging them with the Great Commandment (see Matthew 22:36-39) and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20)? (Dennis & Barbara Rainey, Moments with You)
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Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move and soothe.
4. God will still hear the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
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1 Timothy 4
The effective teaching of the truth in the Scriptures will benefit both the teacher and the hearers.
INSIGHT
Anyone who has tasted the maturity given from the Lord to those who serve Him over time will testify that it did not come quickly or easily. Paul writes that we should exercise ourselves to godliness; that “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (v. 8). Like an athlete, a Christian should rejoice with a rigorous course of training – knowing that the more demanding the training, the greater will be the spiritual prowess at the end. The present discomfort is fitting him or her for more victorious effort later. Present pain = later gain. This message is difficult to communicate and even more difficult to learn. But to this end we must labor (v. 10). (QuietWalk)
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“WE OUGHT ALSO…” Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11
The question is, what do you do about those people who seem to irritate you and are a problem to you and who really make things rather difficult? Here is John’s answer: “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” This means something like this: Instead of giving way to that instinctive feeling that I have, instead of speaking or acting or reacting at once, I stop and I talk to myself. I remind myself of the Christian truth that I believe, and I apply it to the whole situation. Now that is something that you and I have to do. This life of which the New Testament speaks is full of the intellectual aspect. It is not a feeling. You do not wait until you feel like loving other people: you make yourself love other people (“we ought”). According to the New Testament, Christians can make themselves love other Christians, and they are failing sadly if they do not do so.
How do they do it? They remind themselves of this truth: “If God so loved us.” In other words, this is the procedure. The first thing I do when I feel irritated and disturbed and bewildered and perhaps antagonistic is to look at myself. Now that is half the battle. We all know perfectly well from experience that in this kind of problem the whole difficulty is that we are always looking at the other person and never at ourselves. But if I start with myself; if God so loved me; what do I find?
But usually I instinctively feel that I am being wronged, that I am not being dealt with fairly. I feel it is the other person who is difficult. “One minute!” says the gospel; “stop for a moment and look at yourself and remind yourself of exactly what you are.” The gospel brings us immediately face to face with this self that is in us that is the cause of all these troubles.
A Thought to Ponder Christians can make themselves love other Christians. (From The Love of God, pp. 68-69, b Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Christ at Creation
“When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep.” (Proverbs 8:27-28)
This chapter contains a beautiful description of some of God’s works during the creation week when God, in Christ, was creating and making all things. Christ Himself, personified as the divine wisdom, the word of God, is speaking.
Verse 27 speaks of His pre-existence before the creation of the space/time universe itself. At first the “earth” matter was “without form,” with only a great “deep” of water. Then God “set a compass” on the face of the deep, activating the gravitational forces that brought it into spherical form. The Hebrew word for “compass” means “sphere,” the same word used in Isaiah 40:22, where it is said God “sitteth upon the circle [i.e., ‘sphere’] of the earth.”
Then God “established the clouds above.” The word for “clouds” means “thin mists,” undoubtedly referring to the great water canopy “above the firmament” (Genesis 1:7). Finally, He strengthened the fountains of the deep, locking them under the “foundations of the earth” (Proverbs 8:29). The same strong fountains of the deep would later be broken up at the time of the great Flood. When the earth was finished, He “rejoiced in the habitable part of his earth” (i.e., Proverbs 8:31).
In all these and the other mighty works of creating and making all things, the Lord Jesus Christ assures us “I was there!” That further assures us, of course, that through all the ages to come, He will be there.
This remarkable eighth chapter of Proverbs concludes with the following exhortation, more relevant today than ever: “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:35-36). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.
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