Matthew 8:29
Two demon possessed men knew who Jesus was, but the others around Jesus did not. Jesus did things and explained things that plainly showed who he was. When he healed the paralytic, he did it for the purpose of showing them he had the authority to forgive sins. The Pharisees’ statement, “who but God can forgive sins” is true, so we can know Jesus is God. Jesus uses the term "Son of Man" which refers to the second person of the Trinity, the one who became flesh and dwelt among us – the one who can forgive sins.
They found it difficult to believe what was right in front of them, and we also find it difficult. Maybe knowing this – that it is difficult - will help us to get along during our own times. Others, after all, have had difficulties grasping the truth that was plain before them. Knowing this, we can work a little harder, try harder, be a little more patient, dig a little deeper, look more closely, balancing the concept of eternity with the present time. We can also know, and not be distressed, at the existence of others who do not, cannot, will not, believe what is set before them. That others will insist on their own version of who God is in the face of what God shows them should not keep us from being locked onto the truth.
Monday, June 10, 2019
Friday, June 7, 2019
BEHIND THE LEADER
In the book of Matthew Jesus said, “follow me”. Jesus was the leader. Any time we see a leader we should also realize there is much involvement by those he leads to establish him as the leader. For example, as "the leader" he dined at Matthew’s house. While at Matthew’s house there must have been involvement of Matthew, his wife, his food, his servants, his table, his plates, etc. There would not have been a meal at Matthew’s house without a Matthew and the work and provision of the others.
We would prefer to take a back seat and let the leader do all the work. It is as if he were driving the car and we are the passengers. He does the driving, spending his gas and wearing out his tires. When Jesus is leading should it not be, he is like the foreman and we are like the ditch diggers? We should be getting sweaty, and sore. He tells us where, what direction, and how deep to dig from the ditch. We like to be ministered to but sometimes grudge the ministry tasks.
The centurion came to Jesus and was known for his great faith. This shows that gentiles have their place in the Kingdom of God. They will feast with Abraham and Jacob. Our place with God depends on our faith and commitment, not upon our people-group or status.
Someone said I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man does not have any place to lay his head." Jesus did not have a hole or a nest to sleep in. Lesser created beings, like birds and foxes, have “homes”, dwellings; but not the son of man. We should not over-worry about our physical sustenance. There is a cost and a giving up of some physical elements that must occur when we follow Jesus.
We say, “I will follow you first “but”. You say you will, but you must disengage yourself from entanglement of the world. Do not worry over the tangled affairs the world makes for itself. There are some elements of the world expected of us by the world that we must disengage ourselves from when we follow Jesus.
We would prefer to take a back seat and let the leader do all the work. It is as if he were driving the car and we are the passengers. He does the driving, spending his gas and wearing out his tires. When Jesus is leading should it not be, he is like the foreman and we are like the ditch diggers? We should be getting sweaty, and sore. He tells us where, what direction, and how deep to dig from the ditch. We like to be ministered to but sometimes grudge the ministry tasks.
The centurion came to Jesus and was known for his great faith. This shows that gentiles have their place in the Kingdom of God. They will feast with Abraham and Jacob. Our place with God depends on our faith and commitment, not upon our people-group or status.
Someone said I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man does not have any place to lay his head." Jesus did not have a hole or a nest to sleep in. Lesser created beings, like birds and foxes, have “homes”, dwellings; but not the son of man. We should not over-worry about our physical sustenance. There is a cost and a giving up of some physical elements that must occur when we follow Jesus.
We say, “I will follow you first “but”. You say you will, but you must disengage yourself from entanglement of the world. Do not worry over the tangled affairs the world makes for itself. There are some elements of the world expected of us by the world that we must disengage ourselves from when we follow Jesus.
Monday, June 3, 2019
DISCERNING PROPHETS
Speaking of the false prophets Jesus says “by their fruit you will recognize them.” Then he goes on to say that some that appear good will be rejected by him. Only the ones that do the will of the Father in heaven will be accepted.
If one has an experience, and the word says something that conflicts with the experience, which do we accept? The word of God, of course. But we know that some false prophets will have worked the same sort of miracles that Jesus worked, as in the casting out of demons. How is it then that we can tell them by their fruit?
If there is a person who we see casting out demons, or healing the sick, we must reserve our judgment about them until we can know more about the fruit of the rest of their life. Does not the warning “you will know if they are my prophets if what they say comes to pass” imply a wait-and-see attitude? When a foretold event comes to pass, then we will know the one who foretold it is a prophet. The warning “try the profits to see whether they be from God” and “by their fruits you shall know them” implies a waiting. We will wait, then we will judge the fruit, whether it is good or bad.
None of this suggests we go along with what is happening assuming it is good. If someone prophesizes we do not automatically assume it is from God. If someone is “slain in the spirit” we do not automatically assume God occupied them. We wait, we observe, we compare with what we already know about God. We compare with the word. We compare with those who we know from experience have good fruit. We compare with our own good fruit. We compare with the history (tradition) of men we have known to be good.
When we hear someone speaking what is supposed to be the word of God, or healing, or casting out demons, he is either a Daniel or a Balaam, a Jeremiah or a Hananiah. From our position and the situation at the time we will have to decide, or wait and see.
If one has an experience, and the word says something that conflicts with the experience, which do we accept? The word of God, of course. But we know that some false prophets will have worked the same sort of miracles that Jesus worked, as in the casting out of demons. How is it then that we can tell them by their fruit?
If there is a person who we see casting out demons, or healing the sick, we must reserve our judgment about them until we can know more about the fruit of the rest of their life. Does not the warning “you will know if they are my prophets if what they say comes to pass” imply a wait-and-see attitude? When a foretold event comes to pass, then we will know the one who foretold it is a prophet. The warning “try the profits to see whether they be from God” and “by their fruits you shall know them” implies a waiting. We will wait, then we will judge the fruit, whether it is good or bad.
None of this suggests we go along with what is happening assuming it is good. If someone prophesizes we do not automatically assume it is from God. If someone is “slain in the spirit” we do not automatically assume God occupied them. We wait, we observe, we compare with what we already know about God. We compare with the word. We compare with those who we know from experience have good fruit. We compare with our own good fruit. We compare with the history (tradition) of men we have known to be good.
When we hear someone speaking what is supposed to be the word of God, or healing, or casting out demons, he is either a Daniel or a Balaam, a Jeremiah or a Hananiah. From our position and the situation at the time we will have to decide, or wait and see.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
BUILDING A HOUSE
What proverbs 24 says about building a house:
- - We should know how all things work together for a house: how the house fits into God's Kingdom and how it will be used.
- - The site must be made fit or ready. Before we build the house, the site must be prepared; similar to clearing trees, providing drainage, leveling the foundation area, etc.
- - It is built by wisdom. We should know and appreciate what is important for every basic purpose and function of the house.
- - It is established by understanding. It is a place where we and others will live.
- - Its chambers are filled with knowledge. The rooms should ready for knowledge so the things acquired by knowledge will find their places in the rooms.
Whatever we think of a house (building) or a household (parents and family), the beginning, and most important aspects are: spiritual, mental, understanding, common knowledge, preparation.
How we live determines where we live.
- - We should know how all things work together for a house: how the house fits into God's Kingdom and how it will be used.
- - The site must be made fit or ready. Before we build the house, the site must be prepared; similar to clearing trees, providing drainage, leveling the foundation area, etc.
- - It is built by wisdom. We should know and appreciate what is important for every basic purpose and function of the house.
- - It is established by understanding. It is a place where we and others will live.
- - Its chambers are filled with knowledge. The rooms should ready for knowledge so the things acquired by knowledge will find their places in the rooms.
Whatever we think of a house (building) or a household (parents and family), the beginning, and most important aspects are: spiritual, mental, understanding, common knowledge, preparation.
How we live determines where we live.
Monday, May 27, 2019
THE WAY WE JUDGE
The way we judge others is the way that we will be judged. We are quick to judge others, never thinking of judging ourselves to see if fault maybe within us. We judge others knowing the barest of obvious facts. Sometimes our judgement is based upon nothing but suspicions originating only form our imaginations. We have no real evidence to on which to base our judgements. If we judge others from our own inward suspicions, how do we know the others are not judging us the same way? They will not form opinions based upon what we do, but upon feelings arising within themselves. We do not want them to do that, so we should not be that way.
God never does that.
God judges us, he knows even our most minor sins. Some of these sins we are not even aware of as being sin. Yet God is full of loving kindness and patience, he is long suffering. But there will be a day when his patience will end.
We are willing to correct others but will not try to correct ourselves. Before the Final Day comes let us use God’s help correcting our own errors.
God never does that.
God judges us, he knows even our most minor sins. Some of these sins we are not even aware of as being sin. Yet God is full of loving kindness and patience, he is long suffering. But there will be a day when his patience will end.
We are willing to correct others but will not try to correct ourselves. Before the Final Day comes let us use God’s help correcting our own errors.
Friday, May 24, 2019
FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE?
Jesus tells us to simply say “yes” and “no” rather than swear by oaths. In effect this means all our indications of intent should be as strong as if we were to put an oath to them. It is as if we were signing a contract.
Apparently, in the old days, something said did not take any real effect until the speaker put an oath to it. Did that mean you did not have to stand behind anything that you said without an oath?
James 1:6 says a wavering person “. . . is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed. . .” Waves develop because of the wind; they go where the wind goes. But one who does what God's word says goes where God's word directs: This direction may be against the waves. One driven by the wind is motivated, maybe even forced, from the outside. One driven by God is motivated from the inside. When we say yes or no today, we should intend that no one should ever doubt it.
Matthew 6:1-15: God not only cares about what we do “in secret” (what is done within our own person, that which cannot be seen by others) - he desires to be a part of it. He does not want us to keep unwanted things inside like sin and unforgiveness. Our personal activity is important to God. Our corporate activity (giving, going to church, how we work) is really governed by how we are inside.
Apparently, in the old days, something said did not take any real effect until the speaker put an oath to it. Did that mean you did not have to stand behind anything that you said without an oath?
James 1:6 says a wavering person “. . . is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed. . .” Waves develop because of the wind; they go where the wind goes. But one who does what God's word says goes where God's word directs: This direction may be against the waves. One driven by the wind is motivated, maybe even forced, from the outside. One driven by God is motivated from the inside. When we say yes or no today, we should intend that no one should ever doubt it.
Matthew 6:1-15: God not only cares about what we do “in secret” (what is done within our own person, that which cannot be seen by others) - he desires to be a part of it. He does not want us to keep unwanted things inside like sin and unforgiveness. Our personal activity is important to God. Our corporate activity (giving, going to church, how we work) is really governed by how we are inside.
Monday, May 20, 2019
FALSE JUDGES
Psalm 27:12 says, “for false witnesses have risen against me, an such as breathe out violence.” In the real world there are real people, accused and accusers, testifying before a judge. In these cases, real injustice is done. But inwardly these might represent elements of ourselves: the, the accused (us), accusers (false witnesses) and the judge (the decision renderer). Hence (in our imagination) the witnesses are presenting their case before a judge about us. Sometimes this whole judgmental system can be corrupt.
What if the “corrupt judge” is part of our inward selves? The part that is deciding what to do or think? Sometimes we sit a corrupt judge at the bench. What if these "false witnesses" are wicked forces trying to get us to think or to do bad things? The courtroom is our own mind and the verdict will be just or unjust according to what our inward judge decrees. The “false witnesses” are trying to move the judgment in their favor: “watch pornography”, “think that someone hates you (even though there is no evidence of it)”
We have set up false judicial systems that render the decisions we dictate and thus build up a violent society. The only hope is to be honest within ourselves, hire only upright lawyers, seek honest judges and put the false judges out on their ears.
What if the “corrupt judge” is part of our inward selves? The part that is deciding what to do or think? Sometimes we sit a corrupt judge at the bench. What if these "false witnesses" are wicked forces trying to get us to think or to do bad things? The courtroom is our own mind and the verdict will be just or unjust according to what our inward judge decrees. The “false witnesses” are trying to move the judgment in their favor: “watch pornography”, “think that someone hates you (even though there is no evidence of it)”
We have set up false judicial systems that render the decisions we dictate and thus build up a violent society. The only hope is to be honest within ourselves, hire only upright lawyers, seek honest judges and put the false judges out on their ears.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
THE FRIENDLY COMMANDER
The Lord does not need our help, but he does want our effort, company, attention, our requests, our dependence and presence. All these and more we do through reading, prayer, listening and being with people. I think of God as Jesus – the man with us, present with us. He is the one who said, “. . . you are my friends. . .”, “. . . a friend that sticks closer than a brother . . .” He wants to know what we need, what we want, what is troubling us.
Of course, he is also the one who created all, the one that sits on the throne, the one we bow down to. He is the severe but fair judge. We stand up at attention when he comes into the room. When he commands something, we do it. While we may question the purpose and timing, we do it.
He always appreciates thankfulness.
Of course, he is also the one who created all, the one that sits on the throne, the one we bow down to. He is the severe but fair judge. We stand up at attention when he comes into the room. When he commands something, we do it. While we may question the purpose and timing, we do it.
He always appreciates thankfulness.
GAINING GODLINESS
1 Timothy
Two verses from 1 Timothy have a similar meeting - 1:6: “. . .godliness is great gain" and 4:8: ". . . godliness is profitable onto all things". Godliness produces something worth having in life. It is well worth working for. How do we get it? It is easy to work for the things we can see (healthy body, more money) but it is elusive to work for things we cannot see (righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness) (1 Timothy 6:11)
We can attain godliness. Minimally we can read the Bible and pray. God wants us to do both. Although Timothy may have been somewhat reserved about expressing his faith (v8), I’m reasonably certain he did both. Timothy was also known for his unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1:5) that came into the family through women (Lois and Eunice). Timothy had a gift from God via the hands of Paul (v6). Timothy may not have been aware, but he was equipped. You may not be aware, but you are equipped,
We are not handy tools God found alongside the road that he could use. God called us out, not to take advantage of our self-developed natural talents, but for a purpose that he had in mind before the world was created (v9). This purpose is now made possible by the work of Jesus Christ (v10). Paul is an example of these sorts of God-gifts, for God was using him as a preacher, Apostle and a teacher of the gentiles (v11).
Timothy was to "hold fast the form of sound words”; to know and to be able to repeat the gospel and teachings (v13). And he was to keep his gift empowered through keeping in touch with the Holy Ghost (v14).
Two verses from 1 Timothy have a similar meeting - 1:6: “. . .godliness is great gain" and 4:8: ". . . godliness is profitable onto all things". Godliness produces something worth having in life. It is well worth working for. How do we get it? It is easy to work for the things we can see (healthy body, more money) but it is elusive to work for things we cannot see (righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness) (1 Timothy 6:11)
We can attain godliness. Minimally we can read the Bible and pray. God wants us to do both. Although Timothy may have been somewhat reserved about expressing his faith (v8), I’m reasonably certain he did both. Timothy was also known for his unfeigned faith (1 Timothy 1:5) that came into the family through women (Lois and Eunice). Timothy had a gift from God via the hands of Paul (v6). Timothy may not have been aware, but he was equipped. You may not be aware, but you are equipped,
We are not handy tools God found alongside the road that he could use. God called us out, not to take advantage of our self-developed natural talents, but for a purpose that he had in mind before the world was created (v9). This purpose is now made possible by the work of Jesus Christ (v10). Paul is an example of these sorts of God-gifts, for God was using him as a preacher, Apostle and a teacher of the gentiles (v11).
Timothy was to "hold fast the form of sound words”; to know and to be able to repeat the gospel and teachings (v13). And he was to keep his gift empowered through keeping in touch with the Holy Ghost (v14).
Monday, May 13, 2019
JUDGING IN A BIBLE STUDY
While sitting in a men’s study one night I felt some displeasure for the type of questions that seemed to originate too much in the world. They wondered why religious people are "judgmental" against such things as homosexuality. They didn’t seem to know the Bible specifically defines such acts as sin (along with adultery, fornication, stealing, murder, etc.). Why is any sin less wrong than another? All sins are wrong. All sins will be judged at the last. Why didn’t they know?
Maybe these men were at the beginning stages of a deeper journey with God. Maybe they had not yet read, or carefully considered God’s prohibitions. It is natural to love God’s mercy and forgiveness yet forget his severity. We overlook the consequences of sin. We perceive our own sins as somehow less serious.
It would be good to be in a fellowship where all brothers are those that we agree with an approve of. But we are not all the same. Some are less advanced and some are more advanced. Some are so "advanced" they have become hardened and crusty to the extent no one knows better than they. They have less room for forgiveness than God.
We “seasoned” Christians should never be that way. We ought to be available for example, teaching and consultation of the “less seasoned” Christians. Helping in their process of sanctification may be part of our own sanctification. What use is an “advanced position” if it is only to notice and annunciate the faults of others. Is not this “sitting in the seat of the scornful”? Let us be sources of direction, health, godliness and instruction in righteousness.
When making judgements we should remember, all of us are holding the position of “Learner”. We all have something to learn from another.
Maybe these men were at the beginning stages of a deeper journey with God. Maybe they had not yet read, or carefully considered God’s prohibitions. It is natural to love God’s mercy and forgiveness yet forget his severity. We overlook the consequences of sin. We perceive our own sins as somehow less serious.
It would be good to be in a fellowship where all brothers are those that we agree with an approve of. But we are not all the same. Some are less advanced and some are more advanced. Some are so "advanced" they have become hardened and crusty to the extent no one knows better than they. They have less room for forgiveness than God.
We “seasoned” Christians should never be that way. We ought to be available for example, teaching and consultation of the “less seasoned” Christians. Helping in their process of sanctification may be part of our own sanctification. What use is an “advanced position” if it is only to notice and annunciate the faults of others. Is not this “sitting in the seat of the scornful”? Let us be sources of direction, health, godliness and instruction in righteousness.
When making judgements we should remember, all of us are holding the position of “Learner”. We all have something to learn from another.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
THE CZAR OF PHONES
I would be the “Czar of Phones”. Many times I see parents walking with their children while they are looking at their phones. Today I saw a young woman interacting with her phone as she met her husband and walking with her child. The husband reached out and hugged the child but the woman continued to look at her phone. I wanted to reach over and grab her phone and say “Naughty girl! Pay attention to your daughter and your husband!”
As Czar of Phones I would have almost godlike power to control how people use their phones. They would not be allowed to pay attention to the device while in the presence of a living, breathing person. If they did, they would have their phone removed for two weeks while they meditate about how to relate to real people. If they were not associated with the person they are near they would not be permitted to use their phone in speaker mode.
People do not seem to realize a person you can actually touch has more immediate worth than a voice on a device.
As Czar of Phones I would have almost godlike power to control how people use their phones. They would not be allowed to pay attention to the device while in the presence of a living, breathing person. If they did, they would have their phone removed for two weeks while they meditate about how to relate to real people. If they were not associated with the person they are near they would not be permitted to use their phone in speaker mode.
People do not seem to realize a person you can actually touch has more immediate worth than a voice on a device.
Monday, May 6, 2019
A “TWIST” OF TRUTH
The verses of 1Timothy 6:5, 6 fit today where there are those people who seem thrive in a good argument. They want to have the high ground as victors over unfortunates who dare disagree with them. For example, they dispute the old ways in an attempt to prove that wealth and health show godliness. If a person is rich and wealthy God must be showing his approval. They use "questions and strifes about words” (v4) to pervert the meaning of scripture to prove their own point. They say "gain is godliness" (v5); but God says "godliness with contentment is great gain" We're supposed to withdraw ourselves from such people.
We need to be cautious. We shouldn’t pervert the meaning of scripture attempting to prove someone else wrong. Don't smugly think you are not one of those rich men who withholds from the poor. Maybe we are not giving enough. Let us remember we ARE rich. We never go hungry. We are air conditioned. We can always buy gasoline. We have an automobile. We dispose of our clothes before they become rags. We have jobs. We have education. We have. . .
Most important is we have the Word of God. If we read it, we have the true riches. And having the Word of God we have knowledge that can uplift others, not put them down. It is not knowledge for the purpose of achieving superiority, for demonstrating mastery. It is knowledge given us for our own security - - and to help others achieve the same security. It is not knowledge we twist to fit our own purposes.
We need to be cautious. We shouldn’t pervert the meaning of scripture attempting to prove someone else wrong. Don't smugly think you are not one of those rich men who withholds from the poor. Maybe we are not giving enough. Let us remember we ARE rich. We never go hungry. We are air conditioned. We can always buy gasoline. We have an automobile. We dispose of our clothes before they become rags. We have jobs. We have education. We have. . .
Most important is we have the Word of God. If we read it, we have the true riches. And having the Word of God we have knowledge that can uplift others, not put them down. It is not knowledge for the purpose of achieving superiority, for demonstrating mastery. It is knowledge given us for our own security - - and to help others achieve the same security. It is not knowledge we twist to fit our own purposes.
Monday, April 29, 2019
PROPER EXERCISE
1Timothy 4:8
"having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. . . . “ This is speaking of godliness not bodily exercise
When I think of exercise, I think of the benefits it will have for me in this life. Such as feeling better, more health, looking better, being more capable. When I think of godliness, I think of the benefits to come in heaven and for things that cannot be seen or touched. Somehow, I do not think of the useful benefit of godliness that comes by doing it in this present world. I feel guilty that I should be looking for a reward.
Yet this verse says that godliness, like exercise, has promises, or benefits, for the life that now is. I can do godliness, as I would do push-ups, or practice the drums, and expect benefits in this life.
I don't think I should read the Bible , or pray, thinking "this is good for me and it will improve me right now. When I pray, or read the Bible, or do a good work, I ought to think: "This is a building block. This will bring build something. This will benefit my heavenly father, but it will also benefit me and others around me.
"having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. . . . “ This is speaking of godliness not bodily exercise
When I think of exercise, I think of the benefits it will have for me in this life. Such as feeling better, more health, looking better, being more capable. When I think of godliness, I think of the benefits to come in heaven and for things that cannot be seen or touched. Somehow, I do not think of the useful benefit of godliness that comes by doing it in this present world. I feel guilty that I should be looking for a reward.
Yet this verse says that godliness, like exercise, has promises, or benefits, for the life that now is. I can do godliness, as I would do push-ups, or practice the drums, and expect benefits in this life.
I don't think I should read the Bible , or pray, thinking "this is good for me and it will improve me right now. When I pray, or read the Bible, or do a good work, I ought to think: "This is a building block. This will bring build something. This will benefit my heavenly father, but it will also benefit me and others around me.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
SHORTCUTS CAN MEAN SHORT CIRCUITS
Proverbs 9
Wisdom and Foolishness are personified as women in Proverbs. Both openly compete for the hearts and minds of mankind. Both call from their house and from the high places of the city.
A house is a place where you go, where she resides. It could be a school, a conference, a church, or any place where you can find her. It is a high place, a prominent place, a public place, a place of government.
Wisdom through, readily available, takes time to get. It’s obtained through persistence and discipline, in short: work.
By contrast the foolish woman promotes the shortcut. She calls the simple, those who lack understanding. They have not taken the time to increase their bank of knowledge nor are practiced in the use of it. They have the idea that “Stolen waters are sweet" for the stolen takes no labor to obtain. “Have it now, why should you wait? Don't wait to spend your labor on it. Besides, the stuff that is stolen and eaten in secret has a thrill which somehow makes it pleasant"
Why would anyone want to eat bread in secret unless you want no one to see you eat it? It must be bead you should not have. You want that pleasantness and will get it even if it is wrong. It's OK if someone else works for it and you take it. The ones who the foolish woman calls are those that want things that they have not earned, do not belong to them, should not have. But the foolish woman foolish woman's ways are the ways of death, her quickness and the easiness and the pleasantness lead to death.
Better the cottage of the Wise Woman than the mansion of the Foolish Woman.
Wisdom and Foolishness are personified as women in Proverbs. Both openly compete for the hearts and minds of mankind. Both call from their house and from the high places of the city.
A house is a place where you go, where she resides. It could be a school, a conference, a church, or any place where you can find her. It is a high place, a prominent place, a public place, a place of government.
Wisdom through, readily available, takes time to get. It’s obtained through persistence and discipline, in short: work.
By contrast the foolish woman promotes the shortcut. She calls the simple, those who lack understanding. They have not taken the time to increase their bank of knowledge nor are practiced in the use of it. They have the idea that “Stolen waters are sweet" for the stolen takes no labor to obtain. “Have it now, why should you wait? Don't wait to spend your labor on it. Besides, the stuff that is stolen and eaten in secret has a thrill which somehow makes it pleasant"
Why would anyone want to eat bread in secret unless you want no one to see you eat it? It must be bead you should not have. You want that pleasantness and will get it even if it is wrong. It's OK if someone else works for it and you take it. The ones who the foolish woman calls are those that want things that they have not earned, do not belong to them, should not have. But the foolish woman foolish woman's ways are the ways of death, her quickness and the easiness and the pleasantness lead to death.
Better the cottage of the Wise Woman than the mansion of the Foolish Woman.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
REWARD OF THE FOOLISH WOMAN
Proverbs 9
Wisdom and foolishness are personified as women in the Bible. They both have prepared their houses and both openly compete for mankind. They both call from the gates and the high places of the city.
Could a "house" mean a place where you can go, a sheltered place? where she resides? a school? Could a "high place" or “city gates” mean a prominent place, a public place, a place of government, a place of worship?
Wisdom for most people, through readily available, takes time to acquire, it takes persistence and discipline. In short: it comes by work.
By contrast foolishness, or the foolish woman promotes the shortcut. Verses 13 through 16 explain her well. She calls the simple, those who want (lack) understanding (v16). They have not taken the time to increase their bank of knowledge, nor are practiced in the use of it. There has been too much TV and too little books. The Foolish Woman says, "Stolen waters are sweet" (v17) That which is stolen takes no labor to obtain. She says, "Have it now, why should you wait? You don't want to spend labor on it."
"Bread eaten in secret is pleasant" she says. Why would anyone want to eat bread in secret unless you want none to see you eat it? It must be bread you should not have. Somehow the wrongness of taking it makes it “sweet”. She encourages you to want that pleasantness and to get it even if it is wrong. She makes it seem it's OK if someone else works for it and you take it.
The ones who the foolish woman calls, are those that want things that they have not earned, things that do not belong to them, things they should not have. But the foolish woman's ways are the ways of death. Verse 18 warns, “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” The quickness and the easiness and the pleasantness lead to death.
Wisdom and foolishness are personified as women in the Bible. They both have prepared their houses and both openly compete for mankind. They both call from the gates and the high places of the city.
Could a "house" mean a place where you can go, a sheltered place? where she resides? a school? Could a "high place" or “city gates” mean a prominent place, a public place, a place of government, a place of worship?
Wisdom for most people, through readily available, takes time to acquire, it takes persistence and discipline. In short: it comes by work.
By contrast foolishness, or the foolish woman promotes the shortcut. Verses 13 through 16 explain her well. She calls the simple, those who want (lack) understanding (v16). They have not taken the time to increase their bank of knowledge, nor are practiced in the use of it. There has been too much TV and too little books. The Foolish Woman says, "Stolen waters are sweet" (v17) That which is stolen takes no labor to obtain. She says, "Have it now, why should you wait? You don't want to spend labor on it."
"Bread eaten in secret is pleasant" she says. Why would anyone want to eat bread in secret unless you want none to see you eat it? It must be bread you should not have. Somehow the wrongness of taking it makes it “sweet”. She encourages you to want that pleasantness and to get it even if it is wrong. She makes it seem it's OK if someone else works for it and you take it.
The ones who the foolish woman calls, are those that want things that they have not earned, things that do not belong to them, things they should not have. But the foolish woman's ways are the ways of death. Verse 18 warns, “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” The quickness and the easiness and the pleasantness lead to death.
Monday, April 15, 2019
LOVE WRATH ENVY
Proverbs 27:1-6
Open rebuke is better than secret love. It is better to know where you stand, to know how someone feels than to not know it - even if that feeling is against you. However, unexpressed love is as if there was no love at all because there are no words or actions to demonstrate the love. But while there the words that come from a friend are faithful because they are intended for good; the kisses from the enemy are deceitful .because they are intended to disguise ill wishes.
"A stone is heavy, but a fool’s wrath is heavier". It is difficult and bothersome to carry around the oppression that comes from another. Wrath is difficult but envy is more dangerous. Who can stand against it - one can defend against wrath; you cannot defend against envy. Wrath you can answer with evidence and logic. Wrath has been expressed by words and actions. There is no evidence or logic in the expression of envy. It has to do with the inward personal state of the one who envies, rather than anything you did. How can you control what is in the mind of another?
Open rebuke is better than secret love. It is better to know where you stand, to know how someone feels than to not know it - even if that feeling is against you. However, unexpressed love is as if there was no love at all because there are no words or actions to demonstrate the love. But while there the words that come from a friend are faithful because they are intended for good; the kisses from the enemy are deceitful .because they are intended to disguise ill wishes.
"A stone is heavy, but a fool’s wrath is heavier". It is difficult and bothersome to carry around the oppression that comes from another. Wrath is difficult but envy is more dangerous. Who can stand against it - one can defend against wrath; you cannot defend against envy. Wrath you can answer with evidence and logic. Wrath has been expressed by words and actions. There is no evidence or logic in the expression of envy. It has to do with the inward personal state of the one who envies, rather than anything you did. How can you control what is in the mind of another?
Thursday, April 11, 2019
DECEIT FOR DOLLARS
Proverbs 12
The “The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood”. The person that lays in wait is more than just the mugger, he wants profit from the blood. The “profit” might the perverse joy of a bully who wants to dominate another, or it might be the wealth of the victim.
I think abortion providers are this type. They enjoy dominance over other humans’ lives: the Mother and child, but mostly they want the money. The murdering process is framed in euphemistic words and phrases such as “freedom of choice”. Such phrases comfortably insulate them from the eternal consequences of the act. When all is done, the practice provides a lucrative income.
There are also doctors who will recommend operations that are not needed to patients. Some of these patients stand a chance of dying. There is also the contractor that will shortchange safety for the sake of money, or schedule knowing that someone could be hurt. It is the person that takes advantage of refugees. So is one who steals the windows living by poor workmanship or unneeded jobs.
“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil”
The “The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood”. The person that lays in wait is more than just the mugger, he wants profit from the blood. The “profit” might the perverse joy of a bully who wants to dominate another, or it might be the wealth of the victim.
I think abortion providers are this type. They enjoy dominance over other humans’ lives: the Mother and child, but mostly they want the money. The murdering process is framed in euphemistic words and phrases such as “freedom of choice”. Such phrases comfortably insulate them from the eternal consequences of the act. When all is done, the practice provides a lucrative income.
There are also doctors who will recommend operations that are not needed to patients. Some of these patients stand a chance of dying. There is also the contractor that will shortchange safety for the sake of money, or schedule knowing that someone could be hurt. It is the person that takes advantage of refugees. So is one who steals the windows living by poor workmanship or unneeded jobs.
“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil”
Monday, April 8, 2019
OPEN TO CHANGE
Proverbs 9
Wisdom can be easily found for she is “in the gates”, the prominent places of exchange. Wisdom calls to the simple ones, to those who want, or lack, understanding. She has prepared everything for the transfer of wisdom. She has prepared her staff as it were, her space, her food, her drink and table settings. Wisdom calls to the ones who need to hear what she has to say. She invites specifically the ones who need wisdom, the simple ones. She cautions them to avoid foolish people.
We are told that the wise person is one who will be corrected (hear wisdom’s rebuke) and consequently increase in learning. There is never a point in our lives where we no longer must be open to the acquisition of knowledge, to change. The attitude of being ready to learn and to be corrected is a character trait of the wise.
She says that dealing with the scorners and wicked is a waste of time and, in fact, dangerous. We must be careful who we listen to because the foolish woman also calls to the simple. She calls to everyone who will listen and she too is “in the gates”.
Wisdom can be easily found for she is “in the gates”, the prominent places of exchange. Wisdom calls to the simple ones, to those who want, or lack, understanding. She has prepared everything for the transfer of wisdom. She has prepared her staff as it were, her space, her food, her drink and table settings. Wisdom calls to the ones who need to hear what she has to say. She invites specifically the ones who need wisdom, the simple ones. She cautions them to avoid foolish people.
We are told that the wise person is one who will be corrected (hear wisdom’s rebuke) and consequently increase in learning. There is never a point in our lives where we no longer must be open to the acquisition of knowledge, to change. The attitude of being ready to learn and to be corrected is a character trait of the wise.
She says that dealing with the scorners and wicked is a waste of time and, in fact, dangerous. We must be careful who we listen to because the foolish woman also calls to the simple. She calls to everyone who will listen and she too is “in the gates”.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
HONEY IS GOOD
PROV 25:16 It is good to eat honey, but not too much. You will vomit it if you eat too much. Verse 27: For men to search their own glory is like eating too much honey. It's ok to search (observe, acknowledge, inspect, inquire for) your glory some, but too much will cause you to vomit. Your soul will cast it out because it has become sick. Then that which was pleasant will have become unpleasant, even repulsive, not fit for any further use. Glory has been turned into repulsiveness. By our own wills we can either eat a little, or eat a lot; search a little glory, or search too much. If you find some glory, well, but do not dig and pry for it. Take what is sufficient
Monday, March 25, 2019
THE HEART OF KINGS
(Prov 25:3) The heart of kings is unsearchable.
In our day, when we speak of “kings”, we can substitute the word “leaders”, as in President, Senator, Congressman, County Commissioner, School Superintendent, etc. This verse applies to bad leaders as well as good. It means we should recognize the given authority of leaders (i.e. obey as necessary) without having to know the leader’s inward motivation. Whatever is his motivation we cannot get to it, it is unsearchable.
Is it then a waste of time to wonder why the present leader does the things he does? Is not it more effective to proceed by presenting our just causes, with their rationale, to the leader and his advisers, and pray God to get it to their hearts? Do we actually do that? Do we write letters? Do we make phone calls? Do we respond to surveys?
If we take away all the present leader’s bad advisors will he be established in righteousness? How do we keep the present leader from filling those posts again with other bad advisers? We can pray that God will place righteous advisors. We can pray God that he will show us how we can strip out the bed ones in replace them with good ones. What are those positions? Who is there now and who should be placed there? Does this country deserve a good righteous government, or do we deserve the one we have? We must believe and act on how we can change the heart of the nation. Leader by leader, voter by voter, citizen by citizen.
In our day, when we speak of “kings”, we can substitute the word “leaders”, as in President, Senator, Congressman, County Commissioner, School Superintendent, etc. This verse applies to bad leaders as well as good. It means we should recognize the given authority of leaders (i.e. obey as necessary) without having to know the leader’s inward motivation. Whatever is his motivation we cannot get to it, it is unsearchable.
Is it then a waste of time to wonder why the present leader does the things he does? Is not it more effective to proceed by presenting our just causes, with their rationale, to the leader and his advisers, and pray God to get it to their hearts? Do we actually do that? Do we write letters? Do we make phone calls? Do we respond to surveys?
If we take away all the present leader’s bad advisors will he be established in righteousness? How do we keep the present leader from filling those posts again with other bad advisers? We can pray that God will place righteous advisors. We can pray God that he will show us how we can strip out the bed ones in replace them with good ones. What are those positions? Who is there now and who should be placed there? Does this country deserve a good righteous government, or do we deserve the one we have? We must believe and act on how we can change the heart of the nation. Leader by leader, voter by voter, citizen by citizen.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
LABOR NOT TO BE RICH
Proverbs 23:23: "Buy the truth and sell it not, and instruction and understanding"
How empty it would be to get rich, to get to the top, to have all the “things” -yet - to have lost wives and children, mother and father, friends and family along the way. If you are fabulously rich and have lost all the other, are you really rich? What situation are you in? Are the others that are rich looking to steal from you? Who do you have to pay to protect you? Which is your friend and who just wants your money? Who will take care of you if you get sick if no one cares other than the ones you pay to do it?
Suppose you live in a small house, or a rented house, or a tent. Are you not rich if you have and appreciate wives and children, mother and father, friends and family? If you are “poor” and have these I say you are really rich. What situation are you in? If you are not rich in money and possessions others will look elsewhere to steal rather than stealing from you. The ones who love you and respect you will want to protect you. Your friend just wants you, not your money. The ones you take care of will take care of you if you get sick. They will take care for you even if you are not sick.
The only reason I could know that wisdom, understanding and instruction are better than riches is because God tells me so and that knowledge of itself is of immense value.
How empty it would be to get rich, to get to the top, to have all the “things” -yet - to have lost wives and children, mother and father, friends and family along the way. If you are fabulously rich and have lost all the other, are you really rich? What situation are you in? Are the others that are rich looking to steal from you? Who do you have to pay to protect you? Which is your friend and who just wants your money? Who will take care of you if you get sick if no one cares other than the ones you pay to do it?
Suppose you live in a small house, or a rented house, or a tent. Are you not rich if you have and appreciate wives and children, mother and father, friends and family? If you are “poor” and have these I say you are really rich. What situation are you in? If you are not rich in money and possessions others will look elsewhere to steal rather than stealing from you. The ones who love you and respect you will want to protect you. Your friend just wants you, not your money. The ones you take care of will take care of you if you get sick. They will take care for you even if you are not sick.
The only reason I could know that wisdom, understanding and instruction are better than riches is because God tells me so and that knowledge of itself is of immense value.
Monday, March 18, 2019
COMPULSIVE ISSUES
(PROV 23:35)
The problem with alcoholism – or any compulsive drive – is: "When shall I awake, I shall seek it yet again." The drunkard is not saying, "The purpose in my heart is that I will seek drunkenness again because I like it." (Although he may think that from time to time). He may really be saying, "When I awake from this time of drunkenness, will be ashamed again. I will not want to do it again, but I am afraid that I will, as I have done this time." This is likely true because he knows from experience he has been beaten and laying on "top of masts" (V34) as the Bible says. He has a history of it, he is suffering yet another time of regret.
There are many who have done things they should not have done. Many do not want to do it again. Drunks, who know they are drunks, do not generally want to be drunks. The warning at the front of all this is verse 31: "Look not upon the wine when is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moveth itself alright". Do not be in a place where you can look. You must stop at the beginning, before the first look, let alone the first drink, before drinking is even the issue. Or before the first pornographic link on the internet. Or before the first bit of gossip is passed on.
All compulsive issues are related. Stop. Keep to the right path before stepping onto the wrong one and turning back from it is too difficult. It would help when temptation nears to talk to yourself - out loud: “This is a good thing to do, this other thing is harmful for me.” Proverbs 5:8 says, “Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:” Step 1: "remove your way" (don’t take that path) because step 2, being "near the door of her house", makes staying away harder to achieve.
The problem with alcoholism – or any compulsive drive – is: "When shall I awake, I shall seek it yet again." The drunkard is not saying, "The purpose in my heart is that I will seek drunkenness again because I like it." (Although he may think that from time to time). He may really be saying, "When I awake from this time of drunkenness, will be ashamed again. I will not want to do it again, but I am afraid that I will, as I have done this time." This is likely true because he knows from experience he has been beaten and laying on "top of masts" (V34) as the Bible says. He has a history of it, he is suffering yet another time of regret.
There are many who have done things they should not have done. Many do not want to do it again. Drunks, who know they are drunks, do not generally want to be drunks. The warning at the front of all this is verse 31: "Look not upon the wine when is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moveth itself alright". Do not be in a place where you can look. You must stop at the beginning, before the first look, let alone the first drink, before drinking is even the issue. Or before the first pornographic link on the internet. Or before the first bit of gossip is passed on.
All compulsive issues are related. Stop. Keep to the right path before stepping onto the wrong one and turning back from it is too difficult. It would help when temptation nears to talk to yourself - out loud: “This is a good thing to do, this other thing is harmful for me.” Proverbs 5:8 says, “Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:” Step 1: "remove your way" (don’t take that path) because step 2, being "near the door of her house", makes staying away harder to achieve.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
REST AND LENGTH OF DAYS
(Proverbs 3)
Things that lead to rest and peace:
(V1,2) Remembering the law and keeping the commandments.
(V17) Paths of wisdom.
(V24) Keeping soundly wisdom and discretion.
Things that lead to length of days:
(V1, 2) Remembering the law and keeping commandments.
(V16) Finding and getting wisdom.
Length of days in the right hand, riches and honor in the left. If the right hand is the power of something, the part that is immediately available; then the left hand may be the part that is deferred, the part that does not come immediately but later, the result of keeping the commandments, sound wisdom and discretion.
If this is so, a person that applies wisdom can expect to add days to his life while riches and honor may follow later. Yet we seek first for riches and honor - and hope that wisdom will result. We have the process reversed. What happens if it actually works out this way? Will we be like the barn builder of Luke 12:16-21: the one who tore down his barns to build bigger ones? The one whose heart was not rich toward God. He did not live to enjoy his wealth.
The one who treasures first the knowledge of God and his laws and directions, has the pleasure and reward of living in them now, whether he be poor or rich. In fact, what is in his bank account really does not matter. No bank account or houses or lands can provide eternal contentment.
Things that lead to rest and peace:
(V1,2) Remembering the law and keeping the commandments.
(V17) Paths of wisdom.
(V24) Keeping soundly wisdom and discretion.
Things that lead to length of days:
(V1, 2) Remembering the law and keeping commandments.
(V16) Finding and getting wisdom.
Length of days in the right hand, riches and honor in the left. If the right hand is the power of something, the part that is immediately available; then the left hand may be the part that is deferred, the part that does not come immediately but later, the result of keeping the commandments, sound wisdom and discretion.
If this is so, a person that applies wisdom can expect to add days to his life while riches and honor may follow later. Yet we seek first for riches and honor - and hope that wisdom will result. We have the process reversed. What happens if it actually works out this way? Will we be like the barn builder of Luke 12:16-21: the one who tore down his barns to build bigger ones? The one whose heart was not rich toward God. He did not live to enjoy his wealth.
The one who treasures first the knowledge of God and his laws and directions, has the pleasure and reward of living in them now, whether he be poor or rich. In fact, what is in his bank account really does not matter. No bank account or houses or lands can provide eternal contentment.
Monday, March 11, 2019
GRIP ON WISDOM
(Proverbs 4)
(Vs 1-18, 18, 20-27) Proverbs four is re-emphasizing the need to take hold on wisdom and understanding. “How many times can I say this?” “Let me say this again.” It is so important to keep an open mind, a listening ear and an observant eye. We must “take fast hold on instruction for she is thy life”. If we are not learning, we are not growing, we are not living (V18). “. . . the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”.
Instruction is our life: observing God’s sayings as he speaks through the Scriptures, through our spirits - through other men.
I wonder if older people who are sharp are those that say, “now what am I going to learn from this?” We must always be active in listening, reading, hearing, learning from God.
(Vs 1-18, 18, 20-27) Proverbs four is re-emphasizing the need to take hold on wisdom and understanding. “How many times can I say this?” “Let me say this again.” It is so important to keep an open mind, a listening ear and an observant eye. We must “take fast hold on instruction for she is thy life”. If we are not learning, we are not growing, we are not living (V18). “. . . the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day”.
Instruction is our life: observing God’s sayings as he speaks through the Scriptures, through our spirits - through other men.
I wonder if older people who are sharp are those that say, “now what am I going to learn from this?” We must always be active in listening, reading, hearing, learning from God.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
SELF-CONTROL
Proverbs 30:9 “Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Consider the phrases: “Lest I be full . . . and deny; lest I be poor . . . and steal” Both of these conditions allow a man to overlook and go around God’s control in their life. The rich man does not have to wait on God because he can get what he wants now. The poor does not want to wait because he is under pressure and jumps to feed his belly rather than waiting for God. The rich, by his actions, says, “Who is God? I can do this for myself. I can make this come out my way.” The poor says, “God will not act for me. I must act.” Both are imposing their control on the situation. Neither waits for God.
(Verse 8) "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me . . ." By having the blessing of verse 8, truth and convenient provision, we can appropriate the opportunity of exercising self-control. I pray, “God, put me in situations where I will not fail at self-control. Fill me with your Spirit, one of the fruits of which is self-control.”
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(Verse 8) "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me . . ." By having the blessing of verse 8, truth and convenient provision, we can appropriate the opportunity of exercising self-control. I pray, “God, put me in situations where I will not fail at self-control. Fill me with your Spirit, one of the fruits of which is self-control.”
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Thursday, February 28, 2019
WHEN IT’S WRONG TO REJOICE
"When righteous men do rejoice there is great glory, but when the wicked rise a man is hidden." There is much openness and freedom when the righteous rejoice. There is no fear of anyone retaliating at them for celebrating, there are no double meanings in the air. Everyone is happy together.
When the wicked are empowered there is no openness or freedom. There is fear of reprisal if there is a perception of “unacceptable” (read “politically incorrect”) thoughts or actions during celebration. Indeed, the truly wrong thing, such as abortion, may be the thing celebrated. Who knows what the wicked really mean? Only the wicked are happy. One might say, "I will hide because I will not celebrate this thing. The wrong people are in power they may be seeking to hurt the righteous."
Psalm 28:5 "because they regard not the works of the lord nor the operation of his hands . . ."
This is an indictment of our land today. Many do not think the Lord exists or that what happens around them might be the work of his hands.
A person must continually adjust his thinking throughout life so that he thinks, "I am of the Lord, this has happened because of the Lord, I will do this as unto the Lord." Religion needs to be a consuming thing not a casual thing, a comfort thing, an intellectual thing or a safety tool, like a car jack.
When the wicked are empowered there is no openness or freedom. There is fear of reprisal if there is a perception of “unacceptable” (read “politically incorrect”) thoughts or actions during celebration. Indeed, the truly wrong thing, such as abortion, may be the thing celebrated. Who knows what the wicked really mean? Only the wicked are happy. One might say, "I will hide because I will not celebrate this thing. The wrong people are in power they may be seeking to hurt the righteous."
Psalm 28:5 "because they regard not the works of the lord nor the operation of his hands . . ."
This is an indictment of our land today. Many do not think the Lord exists or that what happens around them might be the work of his hands.
A person must continually adjust his thinking throughout life so that he thinks, "I am of the Lord, this has happened because of the Lord, I will do this as unto the Lord." Religion needs to be a consuming thing not a casual thing, a comfort thing, an intellectual thing or a safety tool, like a car jack.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
THE POWERFUL VOICE
(Psalm 29) . The voice of the lord is upon many waters. I’ve wondered if the waters equal the general world population. The voice of the lord is upon them. He thunders, his voice is loud and booming.
The voice of the lord breaks the cedars. If trees represent the structure of a national government: trunk and branches. The voice of the lord breaks them. The force for keeping the tree (government) from being broken does not come from within the tree. The power to keep all things entire comes from God.
The voice of the lord divides the fire. His communication is so clear that even ethereal changing subjects, like fire, can be expressed by him, and understood so that he can even separate, package, one tongue of fire from another.
(V8) The voice of the lord shakes the wilderness. No matter where anyone is, the voice of the lord shakes the remotest places.
(V9) The voice of the lord makes cows to give birth. His power and control is directly over even things we do not think of, like the conception, birth and preservation of cows.
The voice of the Lord gives glory, strength, worship; it is powerful, it has majesty; it breaks, skips, divides, shakes, births. He has all power forever. With all these things god gives strength to his people and controls his enemies.
The voice of the lord breaks the cedars. If trees represent the structure of a national government: trunk and branches. The voice of the lord breaks them. The force for keeping the tree (government) from being broken does not come from within the tree. The power to keep all things entire comes from God.
The voice of the lord divides the fire. His communication is so clear that even ethereal changing subjects, like fire, can be expressed by him, and understood so that he can even separate, package, one tongue of fire from another.
(V8) The voice of the lord shakes the wilderness. No matter where anyone is, the voice of the lord shakes the remotest places.
(V9) The voice of the lord makes cows to give birth. His power and control is directly over even things we do not think of, like the conception, birth and preservation of cows.
The voice of the Lord gives glory, strength, worship; it is powerful, it has majesty; it breaks, skips, divides, shakes, births. He has all power forever. With all these things god gives strength to his people and controls his enemies.
Monday, February 18, 2019
A BAD SCALE
"A false balance is abomination to the Lord". This shows that items in this life of flesh offend the Lord. Imagine he were walking in a market and saw a scale that was made to show false weights, weights heavier than actual. You and I would not know the scales read false, but the Lord would know. This very scale, and the one who uses it, is abomination to him. I would not like to stand next to that scale in a lightning storm. With every false ounce shown it thrusts the one using it further from God. The lying scale here will make the sin of adultery over there easy to do. The scale cheats money. The adultery will end the marriage, destroy the family, and scatter the possessions the false scale was meant to acquire.
The Lord finds the scale offensive. It was rude and inconsiderate to have it before him (not to mention degrading and dangerous.)
The wise the just scale is the Lord’s delight, it gives him pleasure. He is pleased when he walks by and sees it. It’s easy to please the Lord. Don’t stand close to a bad scale.
The Lord finds the scale offensive. It was rude and inconsiderate to have it before him (not to mention degrading and dangerous.)
The wise the just scale is the Lord’s delight, it gives him pleasure. He is pleased when he walks by and sees it. It’s easy to please the Lord. Don’t stand close to a bad scale.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
SHE LIES
Proverbs 7:19,20 . When the strange woman says, “The good man is gone a long journey and will not be back until the appointed time.” she is lying. He is in the house watching right then. God is never departed from us; his Holy Spirit is ever with us. We are compassed by a cloud of witnesses. When we do something sinful we are being watched. Our sin nature may like to think the "good man" has departed, but it is the deceitful flesh (the foolish woman) lying to us. When she says it is OK to watch the TV program with pornography in it, we must realize God is in the room watching us watch it. This is the battleground of the flesh. We must overcome our flesh that so easily deceives us. We naturally want to sin; it is hard to resist sin, to do wholesome things. The struggle is now, at this time.
We must realize the battle is not so hard to win. “Hearken unto me now, LET NOT thine heart DECLINE to her ways, go not astray in her paths.” "Decline" is a good word to describe the process.
Proverbs 5:8 says "remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house" . “Remove” is the important word. Once we are near the door of her house (the foolish or whorish woman’s house) we are closer to it and are more tempted to go in than if we had never entered her neighborhood. Keep away from the neighborhood and you will not be near the door. It’s far easier to choose the right path at the beginning of the journey than to change it once embarked.
We must realize the battle is not so hard to win. “Hearken unto me now, LET NOT thine heart DECLINE to her ways, go not astray in her paths.” "Decline" is a good word to describe the process.
Proverbs 5:8 says "remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house" . “Remove” is the important word. Once we are near the door of her house (the foolish or whorish woman’s house) we are closer to it and are more tempted to go in than if we had never entered her neighborhood. Keep away from the neighborhood and you will not be near the door. It’s far easier to choose the right path at the beginning of the journey than to change it once embarked.
Monday, February 11, 2019
UP THE MOUNTAIN
Psalm 121: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my help . . ."
When we look up the mountainside, we know our destination will require work to get there. We will have to climb up the hill, we will have to follow a path, there will be boulders in the way. It will take time. But remember, our help comes from the destination we want to get closer to. The source of all our help is coming from that place.
He is helping us on the way along the path. He will not suffer our foot to be moved: so one can push us away from the path, although we could willfully step in a different direction. It says the Lord is our shade from the sun, and maybe God will control the outward circumstances and events along the path.
Yet it is still for us to climb the trail, to sweat, to persist against difficulty
When we look up the mountainside, we know our destination will require work to get there. We will have to climb up the hill, we will have to follow a path, there will be boulders in the way. It will take time. But remember, our help comes from the destination we want to get closer to. The source of all our help is coming from that place.
He is helping us on the way along the path. He will not suffer our foot to be moved: so one can push us away from the path, although we could willfully step in a different direction. It says the Lord is our shade from the sun, and maybe God will control the outward circumstances and events along the path.
Yet it is still for us to climb the trail, to sweat, to persist against difficulty
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
CONTRASTING VIEWS
RIGHTEOUSNESS VS WICKEDNESS
PROVERBS 11
PROVERBS 11
RIGHTEOUSNESS (R) as opposed to WICKEDNESS (W)
================================================
(R) Leads to Integrity and is a guide
(W) Leads to perverseness and destroys
(R) Leads to health
(W) Riches prophet not
(R) Directs way
(W) Leads to a fall
(R) Gives deliverance
(W) Taken in naughtiness
(R) Delivered out of trouble
(W) Delivered into trouble
(R) Has a sure reward
(W) Works deceitful work
(R) Tends to life
(W) Pursues evil to own death
(R) Delivered
(W) Will not be unpunished
(R) Desires good
(W) Expects wrath
(R) Procures favor
(W) Seeks mischief
(R) Flourish as a branch
(W) His trusted riches fall
(R) Recompensed and earth
(W) Recompensed in earth more
When the wicked parish, as in the Mafia is killing each other, the city shouts because of the confusion, danger, and lawlessness.
When it goes well with the righteous, there is peace and prosperity so there can be times of rejoicing. When the upright bless the city, it is exalted. The upright with his mouth is making a proclamation of good.
But the works of the wicked can overthrow the city.
In other words, words are very powerful.
Monday, February 4, 2019
DELIGHTING
God delights in the prayer of the upright (Prov 15:8); he loves to hear it. Does this also mean he loves to answer it? The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous. Some prayers, however, he will not hear. For example, he is far from the wicked so he will not respond to their prayers. He will not answer some prayers right away because it is best answered at another time. Some prayers of the righteous are about good things, but these things may not be suitable for the person asking them. Maybe the prayers are for or about things that are reserved for other people. Maybe the person is asking for something they do not realize is not good for them.
We often put God in our shoes, we assume God is driven by the same emotions we have. We delight in something that is pleasant. Perhaps we push away some pleasant thing because some other thing is even more pleasant. Delighting is something we want to do. Does the Lord also want to delight? Does he long for it as we might? Does he stop some other things so that he can “take some time out” to delight? Does God get so crowded with pending tasks that delighting would mean that some other important thing would not get done?
“I love you Lord,
and I lift my voice
to worship you:
oh, my soul, rejoice!
Take joy, my king,
in what you hear.
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”
We sing this song, but what do we mean by it? Are we wishing for God to have a pleasant time, or are we just asking for his attention? Is what we want is more important than what he wants? Is this a wish from us for his well-being, or is it a request for our own sakes so that he will have favor on us?
Thursday, January 31, 2019
STANDARDS
The Bible says Justice and judgment are more acceptable than sacrifice. But you cannot have them without standards. For anyone to be able to do justice or judgment they must know the standards. There is no justice if there is no one correct standard because any way is as good as another. If no one thing is correct (right, truth) then all things are of relative value. When one way is the right way, the others are not right, or at least not as good as the right way.
The one who does justice makes sure the right way is done. There is no judgment if there is no one correct way to decide. Judgment chooses between two ways. The one who does justice and judgment knows God's ways and selects them.
We do not sacrifice animals today as they used to because Jesus is our sacrifice. The things we view as sacrifice these days are offerings or dedications or prayers. The one who is offering the sacrifices maybe doing the right outward thing with money or promises or prayers, but his heart may not know, or may not choose, the proper standards. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: because he is bringing it with a deceived or a wicked mind. His sacrifice is a payoff, or show, it is not a genuine offering. He is seeking a way around the standard.
The only way to know the standards I know of is to read the Bible.
The one who does justice makes sure the right way is done. There is no judgment if there is no one correct way to decide. Judgment chooses between two ways. The one who does justice and judgment knows God's ways and selects them.
We do not sacrifice animals today as they used to because Jesus is our sacrifice. The things we view as sacrifice these days are offerings or dedications or prayers. The one who is offering the sacrifices maybe doing the right outward thing with money or promises or prayers, but his heart may not know, or may not choose, the proper standards. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: because he is bringing it with a deceived or a wicked mind. His sacrifice is a payoff, or show, it is not a genuine offering. He is seeking a way around the standard.
The only way to know the standards I know of is to read the Bible.
Monday, January 28, 2019
HASTY STRIVING
“Go not fourth hastily to strive last thou no not what to do in the end thereoff when thy neighbor has put thee to shame.” (Prov 25:8)
Here is an example of where it is not good to strive, at least not without giving some thought before you do it. This must apply also to not letting the imagination rehearse angry confrontations that have not happened (such as a fist fight with the person driving the car in front of you, or imagining being sued in court for being wrongly jailed, or any other thing that is not likely to happen).
If you are fuming about something there is strife in your mind. It’s real strife and it’s really in your mind, raising your blood pressure and wasting your time. Is the object of this strife really worth the ill feelings? Is this a real battle to be fought? Is this a real war to die in? Are you being brave and noble?
I do this way too much. I wonder how much is a habit, or how much is suggestion and attack from the enemy. “Take away dross from the silver . . .” (Prov 25:4) Surely such thinking is dross in your mind. Best to keep the silver and toss the dross.
Here is an example of where it is not good to strive, at least not without giving some thought before you do it. This must apply also to not letting the imagination rehearse angry confrontations that have not happened (such as a fist fight with the person driving the car in front of you, or imagining being sued in court for being wrongly jailed, or any other thing that is not likely to happen).
If you are fuming about something there is strife in your mind. It’s real strife and it’s really in your mind, raising your blood pressure and wasting your time. Is the object of this strife really worth the ill feelings? Is this a real battle to be fought? Is this a real war to die in? Are you being brave and noble?
I do this way too much. I wonder how much is a habit, or how much is suggestion and attack from the enemy. “Take away dross from the silver . . .” (Prov 25:4) Surely such thinking is dross in your mind. Best to keep the silver and toss the dross.
Monday, January 21, 2019
MEDITATION
I do some yoga-like poses for exercises in the morning. I do them only for the exercise, not for the “spiritual” or meditation part. I understand “proper” yoga requires you to meditate and possibly say a sound (I’m not sure what they call it) like “OOOOOOM’ or something. Some say I’m supposed to meditate on “nothing”.
I have no idea what they mean by "meditate". I have no idea why saying any sound helps. maybe it’s supposed to help you do the exercises by taking your mind off how hard they are. Little skinny girls can hold the poses longer and better than I can. If they can do it I just think to myself "Man-up and get through with the thing!"
What does “meditate“ mean anyway? Is this supposed to be some prescribed thought that I’m to be thinking? Is it supposed to be some sort of pattern or way of thinking that I’m supposed to do? I don’t like the idea of taking on and eastern religion; I don’t want to empty my mind and think of “nothing” or “become one” with the universe. God made me unique; I am part of the universe among many other parts.
When I think of meditate, I rely on the English definition of the word: “think about carefully and at length”. To me it is thinking deeply and analyzing something to a deeper extent than I had previously thought about it; or in a way that is different from the way I had been thinking about it before. Perhaps to think of a contrasting way to give me perspective. Another word for it is “contemplation”.
What I need most to meditate about is the Bible. What does God say? Sometimes other man’s thoughts are helpful and should be considered, but the Bible is the preeminent source of wisdom and direction. I am a Christian and I will think like a Christian and hopefully act like a Christian.
I have no idea what they mean by "meditate". I have no idea why saying any sound helps. maybe it’s supposed to help you do the exercises by taking your mind off how hard they are. Little skinny girls can hold the poses longer and better than I can. If they can do it I just think to myself "Man-up and get through with the thing!"
What does “meditate“ mean anyway? Is this supposed to be some prescribed thought that I’m to be thinking? Is it supposed to be some sort of pattern or way of thinking that I’m supposed to do? I don’t like the idea of taking on and eastern religion; I don’t want to empty my mind and think of “nothing” or “become one” with the universe. God made me unique; I am part of the universe among many other parts.
When I think of meditate, I rely on the English definition of the word: “think about carefully and at length”. To me it is thinking deeply and analyzing something to a deeper extent than I had previously thought about it; or in a way that is different from the way I had been thinking about it before. Perhaps to think of a contrasting way to give me perspective. Another word for it is “contemplation”.
What I need most to meditate about is the Bible. What does God say? Sometimes other man’s thoughts are helpful and should be considered, but the Bible is the preeminent source of wisdom and direction. I am a Christian and I will think like a Christian and hopefully act like a Christian.
Monday, January 14, 2019
CORRECTION
Proverbs 15 verse 10: “Correction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way . . .” This can mean more than: the man does not feel comfortable with the correction. The man has gone outside of “the way”. He is either resolute about it and determined to precede in the wrong way, or he is repentant that he has gone wrong.
The resolute one resents the correction and resists it. It is irritating to him and he fights against the correction as one more element of struggle in his life. He does not consider, or does not care, that he has gone against God’s wishes. It is inconvenient, he does not want it, and he fights it.
The repentant one is sorry for his wrong way. He knows he has done wrong and accepts it. The trial is grievous for him because he caused it. It not only renders him hardship, but he knows it is also troubling to the Lord.
Or he may view the correction as a justified trial. It may be a sort of "pop quiz", an occasion to test his character or resolve. It is an opportunity to discover his weaknesses so he can see the need of improvement and attempt to modify his thinking or behavior.
For both correction is an unpleasant task to manage.
The resolute one resents the correction and resists it. It is irritating to him and he fights against the correction as one more element of struggle in his life. He does not consider, or does not care, that he has gone against God’s wishes. It is inconvenient, he does not want it, and he fights it.
The repentant one is sorry for his wrong way. He knows he has done wrong and accepts it. The trial is grievous for him because he caused it. It not only renders him hardship, but he knows it is also troubling to the Lord.
Or he may view the correction as a justified trial. It may be a sort of "pop quiz", an occasion to test his character or resolve. It is an opportunity to discover his weaknesses so he can see the need of improvement and attempt to modify his thinking or behavior.
For both correction is an unpleasant task to manage.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
NOT TOO BAD
Someone said to me, “Not too bad . . .” when he was responding to the question, “How are you?”. To say, “Not too bad” presupposes the whole idea of sin, sin being that which is not measuring up to the standard of “good”. For there to be “bad” there has to be “sin”. For something to be “bad” it is not being done “right”; it is not measuring up to the standard of “good”. Therefore, by definition, bad has to do with sin. When someone is saying, “not too bad” he is saying he is doing a degree of “bad”, but not a sufficient degree to matter to much - - it is not “altogether bad” or “very bad” or “somewhat more bad than I should be doing” - - just, “not too bad”.
A person ought to say, “not too good”. Then he means that, “I am not doing altogether good” or “Of all the good I could do, I am not doing all of it.” He is recognizing his sinfulness. He is saying, “I am a sinner and have done sin (not doing the right thing), therefore everything I have done is not ‘too good’, or, every bit of it has not been ‘entirely good’.”
The “too” is understood in both of the above (‘too bad”, ‘too good”) to mean “too much”. But if any sin is cause for separation from God, is the sin that causes this separation too much? If the result is separation from God, it is too much.
On the other hand, how can someone do “too much good”? If he has done the right, and not the wrong, he has done what he was supposed to do. It can not be “too much” - - but it is impossible. Hence the degree of correction in saying, “not too good”.
If I don’t stop now I’ll get myself into a position where I can not say anything. If I don’t say anything then I can not say anything "bad" ; however, not saying anything prevents me from saying "good" . If I should say good, and I do not, then I am being bad.
A person ought to say, “not too good”. Then he means that, “I am not doing altogether good” or “Of all the good I could do, I am not doing all of it.” He is recognizing his sinfulness. He is saying, “I am a sinner and have done sin (not doing the right thing), therefore everything I have done is not ‘too good’, or, every bit of it has not been ‘entirely good’.”
The “too” is understood in both of the above (‘too bad”, ‘too good”) to mean “too much”. But if any sin is cause for separation from God, is the sin that causes this separation too much? If the result is separation from God, it is too much.
On the other hand, how can someone do “too much good”? If he has done the right, and not the wrong, he has done what he was supposed to do. It can not be “too much” - - but it is impossible. Hence the degree of correction in saying, “not too good”.
If I don’t stop now I’ll get myself into a position where I can not say anything. If I don’t say anything then I can not say anything "bad" ; however, not saying anything prevents me from saying "good" . If I should say good, and I do not, then I am being bad.
Monday, December 31, 2018
ADVANTAGED BELIEVERS
One great advantage the believers have over non-believers is the law - - the written set of standards - - the unchangeable counsel of God. Without the standard, according to Proverbs 13, here is what the wicked get:
o Can’t hear correction (1)
o Contention (10)
o Destroyed, death (14)
o Hard way (15)
o Open folly (16)
o Mischief (17)
o Poverty and shame (18)
o Destroyed {20)
o Pursued by evil(21)
o Loss of inheritance (22)
o Hunger (25)
“Much food is in the tillage of the poor, but there is that is destroyed for want of judgement.” I’ve thought of this as meaning that the poor do not have judgement, so they destroy their own wealth. But someone else explained it as a second party not having judgement which results in making the poor unproductive, such as the government promoting big time agri-business over family farms. It happened also when the government set laws that prevented Fathers living in households that were collecting certain types of welfare. The intention was to keep truly indolent men from taking advantage of a "free ride", but it forced some truly well-intentioned men from caring for their families and made for many single parent households.
I prayed: "Lord, please foil all attempts to destroy the family. Family is your idea and I think you want them strong. Fill fathers and mothers and sons and daughters with your Spirit so they will see and avoid the snares of the enemy. Let the very things that were intended for harm prosper and strengthen families. Let the wicked devices fall back upon the heads of those that formed them."
o Can’t hear correction (1)
o Contention (10)
o Destroyed, death (14)
o Hard way (15)
o Open folly (16)
o Mischief (17)
o Poverty and shame (18)
o Destroyed {20)
o Pursued by evil(21)
o Loss of inheritance (22)
o Hunger (25)
“Much food is in the tillage of the poor, but there is that is destroyed for want of judgement.” I’ve thought of this as meaning that the poor do not have judgement, so they destroy their own wealth. But someone else explained it as a second party not having judgement which results in making the poor unproductive, such as the government promoting big time agri-business over family farms. It happened also when the government set laws that prevented Fathers living in households that were collecting certain types of welfare. The intention was to keep truly indolent men from taking advantage of a "free ride", but it forced some truly well-intentioned men from caring for their families and made for many single parent households.
I prayed: "Lord, please foil all attempts to destroy the family. Family is your idea and I think you want them strong. Fill fathers and mothers and sons and daughters with your Spirit so they will see and avoid the snares of the enemy. Let the very things that were intended for harm prosper and strengthen families. Let the wicked devices fall back upon the heads of those that formed them."
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
IS THE RIGHT LIFE WORTH IT?
We are often tempted to think, as we choose a Godly way over an ungodly way (not fornicating, for example), “Will this really pay out in the end? Is what God says true? Will I get to the end of life and never have had enough sex, money, power, fame?” Life seems to be a process of making that kind of decision over and over. All we can do is have faith that doing what God says will benefit us.
We also see those who have had the sex, money, etc., and who do not live following God’s word. They choose their own way and do not perceive themselves to be missing anything and do not think that they are in trouble in any way.
When we all get to the end of our physical life it will be up to God to show himself faithful. He will be faithful to his word. What his word says means something entirely different for us than for them.
But he shows himself faithful the godly in this life. My wife and I have enough to eat, we do not have the burden of broken relationships (caused by ourselves, at least), we have a measure of contentment.
Should the country fall to pieces we know that riches profit not in the day of wrath. God says righteousness delivers from death. We must believe what God says and trust he will give us the grace to be righteous (Christ is our righteousness) and to deliver us at that time. We know that riches would not help if we had them in the day of wrath. We may not have physical comfort, but we must have faithfulness, we must do the work of the Lord. God will be faithful.
We also see those who have had the sex, money, etc., and who do not live following God’s word. They choose their own way and do not perceive themselves to be missing anything and do not think that they are in trouble in any way.
When we all get to the end of our physical life it will be up to God to show himself faithful. He will be faithful to his word. What his word says means something entirely different for us than for them.
But he shows himself faithful the godly in this life. My wife and I have enough to eat, we do not have the burden of broken relationships (caused by ourselves, at least), we have a measure of contentment.
Should the country fall to pieces we know that riches profit not in the day of wrath. God says righteousness delivers from death. We must believe what God says and trust he will give us the grace to be righteous (Christ is our righteousness) and to deliver us at that time. We know that riches would not help if we had them in the day of wrath. We may not have physical comfort, but we must have faithfulness, we must do the work of the Lord. God will be faithful.
Monday, December 17, 2018
CONTRASTING THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED
In Proverbs 11 many verses contrast the outcome of a righteous life compared to a wicked one:
Verse RIGHTEOUS WICKED
4 Delivered from death Riches profit not
5 Way directed Fall by wickedness
6 Deliverance Taken
8 Out of trouble Into trouble
10 Exultation Overthrown
18 Sure reward Deceitful work
19 Tends to life Pursues death
21 Deliverance Punishment
23 Good desire Expects wrath
27 Gets favor Gets mischief
28 Flourish Fall (failing)
30 Tree of life - -
31 Reward in earth Reward in earth
Verse RIGHTEOUS WICKED
4 Delivered from death Riches profit not
5 Way directed Fall by wickedness
6 Deliverance Taken
8 Out of trouble Into trouble
10 Exultation Overthrown
18 Sure reward Deceitful work
19 Tends to life Pursues death
21 Deliverance Punishment
23 Good desire Expects wrath
27 Gets favor Gets mischief
28 Flourish Fall (failing)
30 Tree of life - -
31 Reward in earth Reward in earth
Monday, December 10, 2018
BAD SEED
In Matthew 13 Jesus tells the parable of an enemy planting bad seed. He said: “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares [bad seed] among the wheat, and went his way.” (24, 25) When asked about this the landowner said, “An enemy hath done this.”
The person that sows discord among brethren is repugnant to the Lord. The sowing may not result in an instant discord, but it is the very start of the discord. There is no stem of strife or root of bitterness until the seed of discord has been planted. We must be very careful never to sow this way: to intend to persuade the opinion of one brother against another. Why would we do this, to get ourselves allies as we oppose the one against whom we are talking?
We get ourselves allies, but we caused two relationships to be destroyed:
1) The one between ourselves and the one we talked against and
2) The one between the brother and brother.
How could this have been an advantage? The results are mistrust, bad feelings and strife where were none before. Is this an accomplishment of which to be proud? How can it be good to be an aggravator and destroyer? Better to choose to be a person of health and healing, a builder, not a destroyer.
The person that sows discord among brethren is repugnant to the Lord. The sowing may not result in an instant discord, but it is the very start of the discord. There is no stem of strife or root of bitterness until the seed of discord has been planted. We must be very careful never to sow this way: to intend to persuade the opinion of one brother against another. Why would we do this, to get ourselves allies as we oppose the one against whom we are talking?
We get ourselves allies, but we caused two relationships to be destroyed:
1) The one between ourselves and the one we talked against and
2) The one between the brother and brother.
How could this have been an advantage? The results are mistrust, bad feelings and strife where were none before. Is this an accomplishment of which to be proud? How can it be good to be an aggravator and destroyer? Better to choose to be a person of health and healing, a builder, not a destroyer.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
LIGHT FOR THE PATH
Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
What is a "Lamp", and what is a "Light"? A lamp is a portable or localized light source for seeing your way as you travel, or when you are reading a book. A light is the source of a lamp’s light, it is that which emanates from a flashlight or a table lamp. We could reason that a commandment is a lamp while the Law is the foundation for any commandment. A commandment is more focused and specific while the Law is all of God’s instructions for conduct, moral and otherwise, taken together. Commandments are components of the law, as in the Ten Commandments.
A lamp, or flashlight, illuminates s specific area for us, so does a commandment. One commandment shows “Thou shalt not kill”, , another shows “Thou shalt not seal”, another shows “Thou shalt have no other gods beside me”. As we walk the path of life, we need to remember and follow the commandments as the need arises.
As a light in a room shows all that is in the room, so the law is all of God’s desire for how we should conduct ourselves. In the Room of Life the light of Law shows us we must not kill and have no other god, etc.
The commandments help us to choose the path we should follow, the Law shows general condition of our present position
What is a "Lamp", and what is a "Light"? A lamp is a portable or localized light source for seeing your way as you travel, or when you are reading a book. A light is the source of a lamp’s light, it is that which emanates from a flashlight or a table lamp. We could reason that a commandment is a lamp while the Law is the foundation for any commandment. A commandment is more focused and specific while the Law is all of God’s instructions for conduct, moral and otherwise, taken together. Commandments are components of the law, as in the Ten Commandments.
A lamp, or flashlight, illuminates s specific area for us, so does a commandment. One commandment shows “Thou shalt not kill”, , another shows “Thou shalt not seal”, another shows “Thou shalt have no other gods beside me”. As we walk the path of life, we need to remember and follow the commandments as the need arises.
As a light in a room shows all that is in the room, so the law is all of God’s desire for how we should conduct ourselves. In the Room of Life the light of Law shows us we must not kill and have no other god, etc.
The commandments help us to choose the path we should follow, the Law shows general condition of our present position
Monday, November 26, 2018
QUESTIONING HIDDEN KNOWLEDGE
Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." Why is it a glory to God to conceal a thing? What is it that he conceals? Does not God show us all things?
Well, no. In the book of Revelation God sealed up what the 12 thunders said until after the judgement. No man knows the hour of the last day but the Father in heaven. (Mark 13:32) Even as we consider that God conceals some things, we know that what is to God’s advantage is also to our advantage.
Because God seals a thing up from one person does not mean he does not reveal it to any. While hiding a thing from one person he may reveal that thing to another. This is a reason the saved can understand the Bible but the unsaved cannot. Also, as a proficient teacher, God may keep a thing from a person who may be confused by that thing at an early point in his spiritual development to reveal it to him when he becomes ready for it. It shows his power . . . that mankind just can not know everything there is to know. It shows God’s involvement and concern with men. God keeps his precious things from the godless and controls who gets what
We ourselves do not reveal all. We conceal to hide something because the one seeking it should not have it. We conceal to control the timing of the revelation to the seeker, or to exercise the seeker. You don’t want him to find it, or you want him to have it at some later time, or you want him to exercise some character in the search for it.
Godless reasons to hide knowledge would be: you want what belongs to someone else but can’t have it yourself, so you hide it from the rightful owner. You hate the true owner and want to do them harm. It is to your advantage to delay the receipt of the thing. You don’t like the other and don’t want to be involved with him.
Well, no. In the book of Revelation God sealed up what the 12 thunders said until after the judgement. No man knows the hour of the last day but the Father in heaven. (Mark 13:32) Even as we consider that God conceals some things, we know that what is to God’s advantage is also to our advantage.
Because God seals a thing up from one person does not mean he does not reveal it to any. While hiding a thing from one person he may reveal that thing to another. This is a reason the saved can understand the Bible but the unsaved cannot. Also, as a proficient teacher, God may keep a thing from a person who may be confused by that thing at an early point in his spiritual development to reveal it to him when he becomes ready for it. It shows his power . . . that mankind just can not know everything there is to know. It shows God’s involvement and concern with men. God keeps his precious things from the godless and controls who gets what
We ourselves do not reveal all. We conceal to hide something because the one seeking it should not have it. We conceal to control the timing of the revelation to the seeker, or to exercise the seeker. You don’t want him to find it, or you want him to have it at some later time, or you want him to exercise some character in the search for it.
Godless reasons to hide knowledge would be: you want what belongs to someone else but can’t have it yourself, so you hide it from the rightful owner. You hate the true owner and want to do them harm. It is to your advantage to delay the receipt of the thing. You don’t like the other and don’t want to be involved with him.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
THINKING ABOUT THE HEART
Here is what we find in Proverbs 16:
V1 The preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
V2 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the lord
V9 A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps
V21 The wise in heart shall be called Prudent.
V23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips.
When we think of a person we often think of “body, soul and spirit”. We can also think of the essence of a person as “heart” of the person. That being said, we could consider the heart encompasses all of a person: body, soul and spirit.
What are the preparations of the heart? Someone, the Lord or the man, is doing something to the heart, getting it ready.
What is the heart? If it is the very innermost seat of a man’s being, that from which his thoughts emanate, it must originate in the man. It can be without God because it can be "proud" (V5). God is not proud. If a man can be proud in heart, he must not be regenerated by God because he is an abomination to God (as stated in verse 2. Yet in a regenerated man the heart must be something God uses because the preparations of it are from the Lord (V1). The heart comes before language and actions (VS 9, 23). Yet something of the Lord seems to be added to the speech and actions intended of the heart: “. . . is from the Lord” (V1), “. . . [God] directeth his steps” (V9).
• Is the heart thinking, or feeling, or both?
• Does a condition of the heart expressing itself to the outside influence the flesh to produce chemicals that lead to feelings such as joy or fear or even health or sickness?
• Is the joy or fear within the heart itself?
• Does the heart have emotion or are the emotions the result of something else or do they stand by themselves?
• The heart must be under ownership of the man because a Proud one in an abomination of the Lord. God does not make abominations. A man can direct his heart away from God and become an abomination.
• “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” shows that the heart can continue from birth through eternity, in this case an eternity in hell.
• So, the heart could be the decision-making seat of a person, the essence of the character of a person, the spiritual essence of a person, a sub-lingual, pre-action impetus.
Monday, November 12, 2018
THE FROWARD MAN
What is a “forward” man? To define the word: Fro = from, back; Ward = suffix, indicating direction, as in "toward", "backward", "afterward"
A forward man willfully goes away from; goes in a direction from; opposes what is being said or done, no matter what it is. A forward person is like a whetting agent that makes things separate away or from, like soap disperses oil and grease. The direction does not count, only that things go “from”.
In Proverbs 6 we see what the wicked man does when he:
• Walks with a forward mouth - - It is his manner to oppose everything.
• Winks with his eyes - - He may say one thing but indicates by a wink that he means something else
• Speaks with his feet - - You can tell what he really means by where his feet take him (which would be away from whatever is being discussed or done.)
• Teaches with his fingers - - Points or states his opposition “one by one”; makes careful arguments against. Maybe not even careful arguments, just arguments against.
• Frowardness is in his heart - - Is a problem rooted in his very nature and has nothing to do with the issue he is “going from”.
• Devises mischief continually - - He will invent ways to subvert the issue in question at all times. He is comfortable with being in opposition.
• Sows discord - - Gets people disagreeing with each other.
The Bible says he will be broken without remedy (v15)
A forward man willfully goes away from; goes in a direction from; opposes what is being said or done, no matter what it is. A forward person is like a whetting agent that makes things separate away or from, like soap disperses oil and grease. The direction does not count, only that things go “from”.
In Proverbs 6 we see what the wicked man does when he:
• Walks with a forward mouth - - It is his manner to oppose everything.
• Winks with his eyes - - He may say one thing but indicates by a wink that he means something else
• Speaks with his feet - - You can tell what he really means by where his feet take him (which would be away from whatever is being discussed or done.)
• Teaches with his fingers - - Points or states his opposition “one by one”; makes careful arguments against. Maybe not even careful arguments, just arguments against.
• Frowardness is in his heart - - Is a problem rooted in his very nature and has nothing to do with the issue he is “going from”.
• Devises mischief continually - - He will invent ways to subvert the issue in question at all times. He is comfortable with being in opposition.
• Sows discord - - Gets people disagreeing with each other.
The Bible says he will be broken without remedy (v15)
Monday, November 5, 2018
BC AND AFTER BC
Before I was a Christian, being in church really felt like a dead place. No wonder, since at that time I considered myself a Unitarian. I felt that way particularly about Catholic worship observing their rites, clerical apparel, bells and smells, etc. I have no idea why I, as an atheistic Unitarian, would have a clue, let alone a right, to judge any other religion as “dead”. I felt it was a peculiar waste of time, sort of like a Unitarian service. When people talked of their “love of God” it sounded like such a hard effort, full or various requirements, and ultimately a useless one.
But since I came to know Christ, I do not feel a deadness in my religion. I think there are people in every Christian church who understand who Christ is, what he did, and what he will do. These are the “Saved”. There are others who do not know, who are the “unsaved”. I think this is what the book of Romans describes. When we were in the law ritualistically performing only the rites, the actions and reciting the “proper” words, and in the flesh, we were dead. But now that we are in Christ (know who Christ is, what he did, and what he will do) we are alive. When I was not a Christian (BC) I was spiritually dead; now that I am a Christian (after BC) I am spiritually alive.
But since I came to know Christ, I do not feel a deadness in my religion. I think there are people in every Christian church who understand who Christ is, what he did, and what he will do. These are the “Saved”. There are others who do not know, who are the “unsaved”. I think this is what the book of Romans describes. When we were in the law ritualistically performing only the rites, the actions and reciting the “proper” words, and in the flesh, we were dead. But now that we are in Christ (know who Christ is, what he did, and what he will do) we are alive. When I was not a Christian (BC) I was spiritually dead; now that I am a Christian (after BC) I am spiritually alive.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
KEEPING TO THE ROAD
When God came to earth as Jesus he walked the road of righteousness and fellowship with us. The Nature of God is to have an open, giving hand; it is his heart to be in relationship with others; he is of action and came to live as an example for us and then to be a sinless sacrifice for our sins in our place and to take power and rise again for our forgiveness and benefit.
It is not God’s nature to be selfish; to keep in his own hands, to be unaffected in relationships with others; to refrain from action and to withhold his involvement.
(Prov 16:4) God made all things for himself - - even the wicked for the day of evil. I do not think that God made the wicked just to destroy them. I think they, the wicked, chose to walk in the wrong road, to make themselves evil. So, God was constrained to make a day of evil for them. A Day of Evil had already happened once before, as in the flood.
The wicked said to themselves, “We do not want to be this way. What we want is to close our hands, not open them. We want all relations to others to be for our benefit. We want things for ourselves and for situations to go our own ways. We want others to do what we want them to do, what is best for us. We do not want to do these things that God wants us to do.”
(Prov 18:17)
"The highway of the upright is to depart from evil"
The road stretches out ahead of us
Distant images shimmering in the heart
What are these distant images?
Jesus
Heaven’s Gates
A wholesome family
Useful ministry
A clean life
We are driving away from evil
This is the purpose for our being on this road
To leave evil behind.
Our mind should be, “I am leaving evil behind.”
Don’t turn off this road for
“he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.”
Keep to the road.
It is not God’s nature to be selfish; to keep in his own hands, to be unaffected in relationships with others; to refrain from action and to withhold his involvement.
(Prov 16:4) God made all things for himself - - even the wicked for the day of evil. I do not think that God made the wicked just to destroy them. I think they, the wicked, chose to walk in the wrong road, to make themselves evil. So, God was constrained to make a day of evil for them. A Day of Evil had already happened once before, as in the flood.
The wicked said to themselves, “We do not want to be this way. What we want is to close our hands, not open them. We want all relations to others to be for our benefit. We want things for ourselves and for situations to go our own ways. We want others to do what we want them to do, what is best for us. We do not want to do these things that God wants us to do.”
(Prov 18:17)
"The highway of the upright is to depart from evil"
The road stretches out ahead of us
Distant images shimmering in the heart
What are these distant images?
Jesus
Heaven’s Gates
A wholesome family
Useful ministry
A clean life
We are driving away from evil
This is the purpose for our being on this road
To leave evil behind.
Our mind should be, “I am leaving evil behind.”
Don’t turn off this road for
“he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.”
Keep to the road.
Monday, October 22, 2018
SCREENING OUT GOD’S LIGHT
People keep wanting to put something between themselves and God. God wanted them to go up to the maintain to hear his law; they said, “Moses, you go up for us.” God wanted them to follow his directions for themselves, listening directly to him: they said, “We want a king like all the other nations have.”
Using an idol a man built a screen
Blocking God’s law with a shadow
Hoping in shade that he would not be seen
But rot soaked his bones to the marrow
We also tend to put up idols in the place of God. Isiah 40 speaks of how God will come in power and glory. It then moves into how the whole earth is as nothing before him. It then moves into a place where one goes to build an image.
Maybe it is a “natural” thing for men, when faced with the power of God and man’s powerlessness, to want to create an image, something they can fashion and controll. This is another “something” between himself and God.
Yet how strange that man is so like Satan and seeks to climb “the sides of the North” and sit as gods. The intermediaries and idols become as screens. They block the light of God so we can be our own gods over what is in the shadow of the screen. We think God can not see. We really have only put on dark glasses. There is no screen.
Speaking of wisdom (and hence the only source of wisdom, God:) “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For he that findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:34)
I published a blog similar in subject in March 2017: “It’s the Middleman’s”.
Using an idol a man built a screen
Blocking God’s law with a shadow
Hoping in shade that he would not be seen
But rot soaked his bones to the marrow
We also tend to put up idols in the place of God. Isiah 40 speaks of how God will come in power and glory. It then moves into how the whole earth is as nothing before him. It then moves into a place where one goes to build an image.
Maybe it is a “natural” thing for men, when faced with the power of God and man’s powerlessness, to want to create an image, something they can fashion and controll. This is another “something” between himself and God.
Yet how strange that man is so like Satan and seeks to climb “the sides of the North” and sit as gods. The intermediaries and idols become as screens. They block the light of God so we can be our own gods over what is in the shadow of the screen. We think God can not see. We really have only put on dark glasses. There is no screen.
Speaking of wisdom (and hence the only source of wisdom, God:) “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For he that findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:34)
I published a blog similar in subject in March 2017: “It’s the Middleman’s”.
Monday, October 15, 2018
ELEMENTS FORM PSALM 50
As I consider Psalm 50 I realize: God will come and judge the earth. He will not be angry for the sacrifices we should have been offering (he owns everything anyway). He wants the stuff that is easy for us to give: to offer thanksgiving, keep our promises to hem, calling upon him for advice, for comfort, to request blessing (for others and ourselves), for protection, when in trouble etc (vs14, 15).
Why is it hard to ask God for help when I am in trouble, am angry, need money, don’t know what to do about the family? I think the Psalm shows God wants me to ask. When I am feeling the least godly is when God wants to be involved. He wants me to act to involve him in my life.
The psalm also speaks to what the wicked do: Although religious appearing people talk of his statutes and take God’s covenant with their mouth, they hate instruction by casting his words behind them; i.e. they do not act out the instructions. They see evil and consent with it. The commit adultery even if only with their eyes. They give mouth to evil. They frame deceit. They slander their brothers, both their fellows and family alike.
Why is it hard to ask God for help when I am in trouble, am angry, need money, don’t know what to do about the family? I think the Psalm shows God wants me to ask. When I am feeling the least godly is when God wants to be involved. He wants me to act to involve him in my life.
The psalm also speaks to what the wicked do: Although religious appearing people talk of his statutes and take God’s covenant with their mouth, they hate instruction by casting his words behind them; i.e. they do not act out the instructions. They see evil and consent with it. The commit adultery even if only with their eyes. They give mouth to evil. They frame deceit. They slander their brothers, both their fellows and family alike.
Monday, October 8, 2018
WISDOM VS FOOLISHNESS
We read from Proverbs 8 that wisdom cries so obviously and openly at the public places wanting to speak to all including the simple and fools. There is no wrong speech in Wisdom. It is right, truthful, excellent and plain to the understanding. It is not difficult. It seems right to those that find knowledge. They know that wickedness equals abomination. Wisdom has nothing forward or perverse.
The foolish woman also cries openly at the at the public places. The fool of Proverbs goes to her. She is the personification of the type of thinking that is without God. As wisdom calls to everyone from the gates, so does this foolish woman. Two women personifying two opposed ways of thinking: one thinking in the context of a God-directed world and the other thinking in the context of a world without God: Godly thinking and godless thinking.
There are two groups of people that can be unwise: the simple and the fools. The simple are those that, at this present time, do not yet have understanding or knowledge; but it is possible to make them have it. The fools are those that, for some reason, want to refuse the truth. Since they begin by refusing truth they can not be made understanding or wise.
It might be said that there is nothing that is inherently right or wrong; all things must be judged by the conditions and attitudes in which they are set. Things like sex, the taking of a human life and love can be right in some circumstances and wrong in others. It is important for us, then, to set what we find along life’s way into good conditions and attitudes. In these circumstances we must listen to the proper woman. We must listen to Wisdom and not Foolishness.
Monday, October 1, 2018
KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT GOD WANTS
The word of the Gospel has come unto us and brings forth fruit as it also does in the world. If it had not been that I got saved, I would have become a much different man. Possibly I would have been in jail by now. Certainly, I would have depressed myself into a stupor. A prayer of Apostle Paul for us, written to the Collisions, is that we have knowledge, walk in a right way, have might and be thankful.
- Knowledge of God: who he is, what he means, what he wants, what he does.
- Knowledge of us: what our place is, what we can do, what we should think,
- That we should walk worthy: doing the right things, pleasing god, bearing fruit, increasing our knowledge of God.
- That we should give thanks: to God who has given us all the physical things in our lives, shown us the right way to think, behave and made us fit to take a part of the inheritance of the Saints.
- That we have the might of God: his power working out knowledge, patience, long suffering, joyfulness. This is not usually what men want might for; they want it for dominance and for the fulfilling of their own lusts. They hardly think of “might” in connection with patience, long suffering, and least of all joyfulness. I seldom (if ever) think of it that way.
- Knowledge of God: who he is, what he means, what he wants, what he does.
- Knowledge of us: what our place is, what we can do, what we should think,
- That we should walk worthy: doing the right things, pleasing god, bearing fruit, increasing our knowledge of God.
- That we should give thanks: to God who has given us all the physical things in our lives, shown us the right way to think, behave and made us fit to take a part of the inheritance of the Saints.
- That we have the might of God: his power working out knowledge, patience, long suffering, joyfulness. This is not usually what men want might for; they want it for dominance and for the fulfilling of their own lusts. They hardly think of “might” in connection with patience, long suffering, and least of all joyfulness. I seldom (if ever) think of it that way.
Monday, September 24, 2018
SUFFERING
Mental and emotional suffering can arise in many ways. One is the suffering we experience from having committed sin; another is when we are being trained, exercised or otherwise undergoing a “learning opportunity” from God. When we sin, we experience the consequences of sin, the natural (if unwanted) products of our actions.
There could be many reasons that God allows or even instigates suffering in our lives. I think one is so we may become more proficient and competent to lead the type of life he wants us to lead. In other words, it is one of those “learning opportunities”. While we could ask, “Does God want us to suffer?” we can also ask, “Does God want us to be strengthened in character?” I submit God does not want us to suffer. I submit further that character building is not suffering. It is discipline and it is exercise, but it is not suffering. When exercise my body I willingly go through discomfort to gain an improved body. Likewise, I go through hours of instrument practice to someday be proficient at that instrument.
Sometimes character building seems like suffering because we do not want the element of character God seeks to build into us. When we do not want an element of character God wants us to have, it is sin. If we do not know we should seek to discover what character element God might be seeking and ask for his guidance during its development.
Mowing the lawn used to seem to our boys more like suffering, than character building but we, the parents, wanted our sons to know the value of work, the execution of home duties, the necessity to support and add value to the family, etc.
Christ suffered on the cross for our sin. The suffering we endure for character development bears no relation to his. Christ was perfect in character, we are not.
There could be many reasons that God allows or even instigates suffering in our lives. I think one is so we may become more proficient and competent to lead the type of life he wants us to lead. In other words, it is one of those “learning opportunities”. While we could ask, “Does God want us to suffer?” we can also ask, “Does God want us to be strengthened in character?” I submit God does not want us to suffer. I submit further that character building is not suffering. It is discipline and it is exercise, but it is not suffering. When exercise my body I willingly go through discomfort to gain an improved body. Likewise, I go through hours of instrument practice to someday be proficient at that instrument.
Sometimes character building seems like suffering because we do not want the element of character God seeks to build into us. When we do not want an element of character God wants us to have, it is sin. If we do not know we should seek to discover what character element God might be seeking and ask for his guidance during its development.
Mowing the lawn used to seem to our boys more like suffering, than character building but we, the parents, wanted our sons to know the value of work, the execution of home duties, the necessity to support and add value to the family, etc.
Christ suffered on the cross for our sin. The suffering we endure for character development bears no relation to his. Christ was perfect in character, we are not.
Monday, September 17, 2018
YOU BET YOUR LIFE
Years ago, while on a trip for work, I went to a Casino at Ledyard, CT. to see what it was like and see if there would be any entertainment there. I heard there was good food and entertainment at casinos. The place had a HUGE parking lot filled with cars (MA, RI, FL, CT, NJ, VT). On the plane to go to my worksite there was a man was flying in from Washington state to go the casino.
In the parking lot there were just common looking cars. The people walking in were common looking people. There were hundreds of different sorts of card tables, electronic slot machines, wheels of fortune and crap tables. It was NOISY.
I looked at the people, the workers, saw an Indian museum, looked at the paintings. There was no entertainment or food worth paying for. There was a place called “Casino Credit”. I imagine you could lose all your money, borrow more, lose it, and pay long after the excitement was gone. Why do they do it? Is it: “I must have it all, I must have it now, any other life is better than the one I have, I must get excitement, I need to be an important person”?
In the parking lot there were just common looking cars. The people walking in were common looking people. There were hundreds of different sorts of card tables, electronic slot machines, wheels of fortune and crap tables. It was NOISY.
I looked at the people, the workers, saw an Indian museum, looked at the paintings. There was no entertainment or food worth paying for. There was a place called “Casino Credit”. I imagine you could lose all your money, borrow more, lose it, and pay long after the excitement was gone. Why do they do it? Is it: “I must have it all, I must have it now, any other life is better than the one I have, I must get excitement, I need to be an important person”?
Monday, September 10, 2018
BUYING THE WRONG BOOK
While on a business trip years ago in Hawaii I bought a book called “Listening . . .” (I can’t remember the full name). I wanted to have a book that would teach me something about music. I selected it over another (I should have bought) because of a praise I read: “teaching the tone deaf how to sing”. I said to myself, “I want to be a great teacher”. When back at the McDonald’s off base I began to read it. I found it was very Hindu oriented. There ware long passages where he was speaking of his experience. In one place he spoke of where some sound could be his “mantra”. I thought, “On no, have I wasted my (Lizzie’s, the boys’, the Lord’s) money?”
I wondered, could I read this book, weeding out all the Hindu stuff? Would I be risking harm to myself? Maybe there are good ideas in there I should know and use.
The next morning during my morning reading I was asking the Lord to show me what he thought about the book. I read Psalm 52. It says: “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp razor, working deceitfully, thou lovest evil more than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness, thou lovest all devouring words, o thou deceitful tongue.” It says that God will destroy him (the man who is mischievous, in this case Doeg), take him away . . . root him out of the land”
I said, “Well, all right, I’ll rip up the book” and I did. How much do we refuse to hear what those of other religions have to say about things, specially things that seem to directly relate to spiritual things?
I want to learn, but not that which will separate me from my God. God can teach me the things he wants me to know without the input of the godless.
I wondered, could I read this book, weeding out all the Hindu stuff? Would I be risking harm to myself? Maybe there are good ideas in there I should know and use.
The next morning during my morning reading I was asking the Lord to show me what he thought about the book. I read Psalm 52. It says: “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs like a sharp razor, working deceitfully, thou lovest evil more than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness, thou lovest all devouring words, o thou deceitful tongue.” It says that God will destroy him (the man who is mischievous, in this case Doeg), take him away . . . root him out of the land”
I said, “Well, all right, I’ll rip up the book” and I did. How much do we refuse to hear what those of other religions have to say about things, specially things that seem to directly relate to spiritual things?
I want to learn, but not that which will separate me from my God. God can teach me the things he wants me to know without the input of the godless.
Monday, September 3, 2018
REACHING OUT
I once was having a poisonous turn of mind. Here is what I was thinking at the time:
When I was feeling bad I was thinking, “I am hurting and in need, yet I will not call out to people for help. People can help (and possibly would help) if I called to them. I do not call, and they do not reach out to me. I feel bad that they do not reach out to me. I feel they should reach out to me, but I know they will not if I don’t say anything. I know they have no special care for me (and why should they)? I feel as though we are all in a river, but I have been caught like a leaf on the side. The other leaves continue downstream as we all are supposed to do. I know if I do not call out I will be permanently stuck, and it will not be the other leaves fault, it will be my own fault – I could have called and possibly they would have helped.”
The big trick here is to realize that although you may want someone to reach for you (and perhaps they ought to reach for you) the greatest probability is that they will not reach for you. They do not think of you, they don’t have to. Even if God tells them to care for you people pretty much do as they wish, not as God wishes.
If there is reaching to be done, you must do it.
When you have reached, realize the scene will not play out as you imagined it in your mind. The play you imagined will be re written by the other because he holds the pen that writes his life. You only write your part, the other writes his. What you write together is how life turns out.
Some feel hurt when the leaders do not recognize them, but the leaders do not have to. The hurting will set stuck if they wait too long for the recognition to happen. Maybe it all means we must look to minister than to look for, or expect, ministering. All we can control is what we do and not what the others do.
Herein has God manifested his great love for us: in that when we were yet sinners he died for us, He came to minister not to be ministered to. What is God like? – he shows us by what he did and does. He ministers to us. If we are to be like God, we must minister.
When I was feeling bad I was thinking, “I am hurting and in need, yet I will not call out to people for help. People can help (and possibly would help) if I called to them. I do not call, and they do not reach out to me. I feel bad that they do not reach out to me. I feel they should reach out to me, but I know they will not if I don’t say anything. I know they have no special care for me (and why should they)? I feel as though we are all in a river, but I have been caught like a leaf on the side. The other leaves continue downstream as we all are supposed to do. I know if I do not call out I will be permanently stuck, and it will not be the other leaves fault, it will be my own fault – I could have called and possibly they would have helped.”
The big trick here is to realize that although you may want someone to reach for you (and perhaps they ought to reach for you) the greatest probability is that they will not reach for you. They do not think of you, they don’t have to. Even if God tells them to care for you people pretty much do as they wish, not as God wishes.
If there is reaching to be done, you must do it.
When you have reached, realize the scene will not play out as you imagined it in your mind. The play you imagined will be re written by the other because he holds the pen that writes his life. You only write your part, the other writes his. What you write together is how life turns out.
Some feel hurt when the leaders do not recognize them, but the leaders do not have to. The hurting will set stuck if they wait too long for the recognition to happen. Maybe it all means we must look to minister than to look for, or expect, ministering. All we can control is what we do and not what the others do.
Herein has God manifested his great love for us: in that when we were yet sinners he died for us, He came to minister not to be ministered to. What is God like? – he shows us by what he did and does. He ministers to us. If we are to be like God, we must minister.
Monday, August 27, 2018
DISCOVERING ROOTS
The psychologists say that you have to look within yourself to find the answers to problems, such as pornography. They say, if you can just understand why you do it, you will then be able to solve the problem. There is even the idea that once the root causers of the problem are known, the problem will automatically evaporate.
On the other hand, some things are sin and ought to be avoided just because they are sin. God defines them as sin, so they are sin. Sin is to be avoided. Since it is man’s nature is to sin it follows that a man will have some sort of difficulty avoiding the impulses of sin.
When you get all through with the psychological search for the roots of the “problem” behavior (which we know as sin), you still faced with the battle of doing away with the “problem”, except you have wasted time in searching, you have not been fighting.
Another danger is: if you identify some “roots of the problem” in hopes of ending the problem, and the problem does not go away as you hoped, you may think “These are roots, but the problem is still here. There must be more roots, I will keep searching.” Thereby you have the problem, keep the problem, continue the problem, while you search for more roots. This is all time wasted from fighting the sin. A man needs to say, “This is sin. God says it is sin. I must fight sin. With God’s Spirit and his help I will be victorious over this sin.” It may take years, or a life time. There may be total victory or only an advancing toward victory. But you don’t have to dig up roots before you start.
God is interested in victory over sin. He is interested in your victory. He came to destroy the works of the Devil. We are supposed to be holy as he is holy. If knowledge of roots is important God will show you the roots while you stat on your battle.
There is always the possibility that digging up roots is harmful. The process may divert true repentance from sin. At the least it may be a waste of time
One could also get the idea that he can excuse his sin, and continue in it, because of his discovery of roots: “I think too much about sex.” “My parents abused me.” “I am sick so I gamble.” Knowing you have roots of weeds in your soil does not excuse you from fighting the sin. Pull the weeds if you can, but fight the sin.
On the other hand, some things are sin and ought to be avoided just because they are sin. God defines them as sin, so they are sin. Sin is to be avoided. Since it is man’s nature is to sin it follows that a man will have some sort of difficulty avoiding the impulses of sin.
When you get all through with the psychological search for the roots of the “problem” behavior (which we know as sin), you still faced with the battle of doing away with the “problem”, except you have wasted time in searching, you have not been fighting.
Another danger is: if you identify some “roots of the problem” in hopes of ending the problem, and the problem does not go away as you hoped, you may think “These are roots, but the problem is still here. There must be more roots, I will keep searching.” Thereby you have the problem, keep the problem, continue the problem, while you search for more roots. This is all time wasted from fighting the sin. A man needs to say, “This is sin. God says it is sin. I must fight sin. With God’s Spirit and his help I will be victorious over this sin.” It may take years, or a life time. There may be total victory or only an advancing toward victory. But you don’t have to dig up roots before you start.
God is interested in victory over sin. He is interested in your victory. He came to destroy the works of the Devil. We are supposed to be holy as he is holy. If knowledge of roots is important God will show you the roots while you stat on your battle.
There is always the possibility that digging up roots is harmful. The process may divert true repentance from sin. At the least it may be a waste of time
One could also get the idea that he can excuse his sin, and continue in it, because of his discovery of roots: “I think too much about sex.” “My parents abused me.” “I am sick so I gamble.” Knowing you have roots of weeds in your soil does not excuse you from fighting the sin. Pull the weeds if you can, but fight the sin.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
ARROGANT BOASTING
Psalm 10 seems appropriate to discern arrogant, boasting people:
The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He says those with large homes with swimming pools are best. With pride on his face he will not seek God. He says it is good to dump the “old fashioned stifling religion”. God is not in his thoughts and thinks of those that regard God as childish and backward. God’s judgments are behind his back (or way over his head) and out of sight. He is not even aware of what they may be. He has said in his heart, “I will not have adversity.” He thinks that only his way is truth and safe, somehow eternal. He puffs at those he makes his enemies, either in laughing pride when with his friends, or like a puffer-fish when confronted by others. In his mouth is cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity.
He is deceived in his own mind and will resort to lies to convince others. Convincing others to him is to gain a status above others, and that status is more important than truth.
He is in the secret lurking places. When together in their exclusive cocktail parties he and his pals talk against, and may even plot against the righteous.
I know all this is true, for I used to be one, and the people I spent time with were too. God saved me from that.
The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He says those with large homes with swimming pools are best. With pride on his face he will not seek God. He says it is good to dump the “old fashioned stifling religion”. God is not in his thoughts and thinks of those that regard God as childish and backward. God’s judgments are behind his back (or way over his head) and out of sight. He is not even aware of what they may be. He has said in his heart, “I will not have adversity.” He thinks that only his way is truth and safe, somehow eternal. He puffs at those he makes his enemies, either in laughing pride when with his friends, or like a puffer-fish when confronted by others. In his mouth is cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity.
He is deceived in his own mind and will resort to lies to convince others. Convincing others to him is to gain a status above others, and that status is more important than truth.
He is in the secret lurking places. When together in their exclusive cocktail parties he and his pals talk against, and may even plot against the righteous.
I know all this is true, for I used to be one, and the people I spent time with were too. God saved me from that.
Monday, August 13, 2018
ARMOR OF GOD
Here are some questions to think about when we consider the Armor of God:
(Eph 6:17-20) Armor of God - - he equips us. We can take the elements of warfare, which he has provided, but we must take it and wear it. The Shield (of faith) and the Sword (of the Spirit [which is the word of God]) are implements which are not worn like the Helmet (of salvation) and breastplate (of righteousness). If we do not “take” and “wear” the armor will be useless to us.
We are supposed to pray “in the Spirit” for the saints, and for Paul that he may speak boldly to make known the mystery. Does this mean we are supposed to pray for those certain evangelists, or are we supposed to pray for evangelists in general and ourselves (the church) as well? Here it indicates the evangelists.
- - Armor takes effort to put on
- - Clothing stays on easier than hand-held implements.
- - Hand-held implements are more useful in warfare, both for attack and defense than that which is worn. (The breastplate protects you but you can not attack with it.)
- - The defense (breastplate and shield) is righteousness and faith, not the Spirit (sword - - word of God).
- - The attack is the Spirit - - not righteousness and faith.
- - (Although in the attack the shield gets the soldier in close and can be used to shove and push).
Why do we as believers use our weapons against each other: Christian against Christian, Baptist against Charismatic, and not against the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world?
(Eph 6:17-20) Armor of God - - he equips us. We can take the elements of warfare, which he has provided, but we must take it and wear it. The Shield (of faith) and the Sword (of the Spirit [which is the word of God]) are implements which are not worn like the Helmet (of salvation) and breastplate (of righteousness). If we do not “take” and “wear” the armor will be useless to us.
We are supposed to pray “in the Spirit” for the saints, and for Paul that he may speak boldly to make known the mystery. Does this mean we are supposed to pray for those certain evangelists, or are we supposed to pray for evangelists in general and ourselves (the church) as well? Here it indicates the evangelists.
- - Armor takes effort to put on
- - Clothing stays on easier than hand-held implements.
- - Hand-held implements are more useful in warfare, both for attack and defense than that which is worn. (The breastplate protects you but you can not attack with it.)
- - The defense (breastplate and shield) is righteousness and faith, not the Spirit (sword - - word of God).
- - The attack is the Spirit - - not righteousness and faith.
- - (Although in the attack the shield gets the soldier in close and can be used to shove and push).
Why do we as believers use our weapons against each other: Christian against Christian, Baptist against Charismatic, and not against the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world?
Monday, August 6, 2018
CONSULTING THE FOREMAN
(MATTHEW 9:38)
Jesus heart was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes, they fainted (tired and lay down) and they were scattered (as sheep with no shepherd). He described this as a harvest, and that the harvesters were few.
What does this mean for us? We, as harvesters or disciples or laborers, should look around and see that there is a need for a harvest and have a concern for the harvest, i.e. a need to reach the lost. We should train ourselves to have eyes to see a need and bring it to the attention of the foreman who would be Jesus. He who may be waiting for us to do so. The laborers part was to ask the harvest foreman for the harvesters. By this I mean not to get their for themselves more capacity to harvest (although this could be part of the Foreman's answer). It is not for my hands in the work but for other (more) hands in the work. It is that will be sent forth, given a charge to go to the harvest and that God will personally direct more people to the work. Presumably these harvesters will be equipped with harvest tools, scythes, rates, etc.
We can view it from both sides of the desk in the Foreman’s office:
Laborer – Gets the Work Order - - Foreman – Gives the Work Order
Laborer – hears “Go to the harvest” - - Foreman – Has the intent to assign
Laborer – needs the tools - - Foreman – Knows what tools to issue
Laborer – Perceives and reports the need - - Foreman – Hears and evaluates the report
Jesus heart was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes, they fainted (tired and lay down) and they were scattered (as sheep with no shepherd). He described this as a harvest, and that the harvesters were few.
What does this mean for us? We, as harvesters or disciples or laborers, should look around and see that there is a need for a harvest and have a concern for the harvest, i.e. a need to reach the lost. We should train ourselves to have eyes to see a need and bring it to the attention of the foreman who would be Jesus. He who may be waiting for us to do so. The laborers part was to ask the harvest foreman for the harvesters. By this I mean not to get their for themselves more capacity to harvest (although this could be part of the Foreman's answer). It is not for my hands in the work but for other (more) hands in the work. It is that will be sent forth, given a charge to go to the harvest and that God will personally direct more people to the work. Presumably these harvesters will be equipped with harvest tools, scythes, rates, etc.
We can view it from both sides of the desk in the Foreman’s office:
Laborer – Gets the Work Order - - Foreman – Gives the Work Order
Laborer – hears “Go to the harvest” - - Foreman – Has the intent to assign
Laborer – needs the tools - - Foreman – Knows what tools to issue
Laborer – Perceives and reports the need - - Foreman – Hears and evaluates the report
Monday, July 30, 2018
PREPARING THE COURTROOM
(Psalm 9:3) When my enemies are turned back they shall fall at God’s presence.
What a wonderful thing to know that the enemies fail because God is there at the judgment. The wicked will have to deal with his face, his hands, his words, his agents.
I think many of us will see good, experience fruitfulness and prosperity in our lifetime. But there are others who are not seeing it, and will not see it on this earth. These, like us, will see the justice of God. It may be, because of their tribulations in this present life, their cases will be placed first on the docket before ours.
(7) God has prepared his throne for judgment. He conceived of the idea of the throne; He had it built; He had it delivered; He had it set up; and he is making plans for the judgment that will take place while he is sitting on it. The crew of angel attorneys are preparing the papers.
Even if the country falls in economic ruin (18) and a swamp of lawlessness “. . . the needy shall not be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.”
What a wonderful thing to know that the enemies fail because God is there at the judgment. The wicked will have to deal with his face, his hands, his words, his agents.
I think many of us will see good, experience fruitfulness and prosperity in our lifetime. But there are others who are not seeing it, and will not see it on this earth. These, like us, will see the justice of God. It may be, because of their tribulations in this present life, their cases will be placed first on the docket before ours.
(7) God has prepared his throne for judgment. He conceived of the idea of the throne; He had it built; He had it delivered; He had it set up; and he is making plans for the judgment that will take place while he is sitting on it. The crew of angel attorneys are preparing the papers.
Even if the country falls in economic ruin (18) and a swamp of lawlessness “. . . the needy shall not be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.”
Monday, July 23, 2018
JESUS THE VENDING MACHINE
The religion of the vending machine is a cold thing. It asks God for actions by plugging the nickel in the slot and expecting the gumball out the bottom (the older of us will remember what gumball machines were – all others: Google it). As I sat in churches before I was saved it seemed to me people were carrying bags of nickles. They were plugging in $2.50 before God finally dropped the gumball. My thought then was: why spend $2.50 here when you can go to the store and buy a gumball for 5 cents?
We have to be careful not to deal with God in our thinking, becoming requisitioners seeking for stuff, and not being children talking to their father. We pay with nickles, we plead with nickles, we sweat with nickels when God just wants to give us the gum.
I can’t come at Scripture with preconceived ideas, imposing them on the word. Yet I can’t get so analytical that I won’t listen to the voice of God. For example, I came at Psalm 26 and said, “What are these words saying?” But I can get so argumentative about what this and that verse says that I don’t hear, or put away from me, what the Holy Spirit may be saying. “This verse shows that a man does this and expects God to do that.” “but God is not supposed to be that way.” “do not bring outside things to the Word, look at what the Word says.”
Maybe being in some other part of the Word than what is being taught in church is good because you are not likely to bring the pastor’s teaching to the Word. You are in the Word yourself and God can talk without (much) interference. To balance: hearing the viewpoint of others, particularly those practiced in the Word, can provide value you would not otherwise get.
We have to be careful not to deal with God in our thinking, becoming requisitioners seeking for stuff, and not being children talking to their father. We pay with nickles, we plead with nickles, we sweat with nickels when God just wants to give us the gum.
I can’t come at Scripture with preconceived ideas, imposing them on the word. Yet I can’t get so analytical that I won’t listen to the voice of God. For example, I came at Psalm 26 and said, “What are these words saying?” But I can get so argumentative about what this and that verse says that I don’t hear, or put away from me, what the Holy Spirit may be saying. “This verse shows that a man does this and expects God to do that.” “but God is not supposed to be that way.” “do not bring outside things to the Word, look at what the Word says.”
Maybe being in some other part of the Word than what is being taught in church is good because you are not likely to bring the pastor’s teaching to the Word. You are in the Word yourself and God can talk without (much) interference. To balance: hearing the viewpoint of others, particularly those practiced in the Word, can provide value you would not otherwise get.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
PERFORMING CHURCH MUSIC
While I was performing at a worship service one night I asked the Lord to help me, and he did. It seemed to me that the worship went well. When the Lord is in even one of the performers does not the Spirit use that to inspire the congregation? It is a powerful thing if one can depend on the Lord to do the reaching. But the performer has to want only the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, and not glory for himself.
Music seems like such a frivolous thing. We would peal away music from our lives before we would peal other things away (like clothing and food). Yet it is so enjoyable.
Perhaps it is like the way percussion is beneficial for music. Percussion would be one of the first to be pealed away. Melody and harmony are needed more. Yet percussion adds much of the spice to the musical presentation.
What is a life that is only food and shelter? It doesn’t seem if there were much enjoyment. Music may add some enhancement that makes the living enjoyable. Just as a life of legalism without the Spirit is dead, the Spirit through music can add the joy of the Lord to our worship.
I am not seeking God’s kingdom if:
- - I am concerned that the people react to with pleasure to my performance.
- - I am worried overmuch about my performance.
- - I am too casual about my performance, being lazy and expecting God to work through me.
- - I concentrate so much on the performance that I miss worship myself.
Music seems like such a frivolous thing. We would peal away music from our lives before we would peal other things away (like clothing and food). Yet it is so enjoyable.
Perhaps it is like the way percussion is beneficial for music. Percussion would be one of the first to be pealed away. Melody and harmony are needed more. Yet percussion adds much of the spice to the musical presentation.
What is a life that is only food and shelter? It doesn’t seem if there were much enjoyment. Music may add some enhancement that makes the living enjoyable. Just as a life of legalism without the Spirit is dead, the Spirit through music can add the joy of the Lord to our worship.
I am not seeking God’s kingdom if:
- - I am concerned that the people react to with pleasure to my performance.
- - I am worried overmuch about my performance.
- - I am too casual about my performance, being lazy and expecting God to work through me.
- - I concentrate so much on the performance that I miss worship myself.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
RICH AND POOR
I published this same post on 20 November 2017. I just read the book, Hillbilly Elegy by J.D, Vance which supports much of what is said below.
RICH: GET RICHER POOR: POOR GET POORER
RICH: Come from wealthy family POOR: Come from poor family
RICH: Taught how to handle money, assets POOR: Not taught how to handle money, assets.
RICH: Have education, specially advanced education POOR: No or little education.
RICH: Thinks of the future POOR: Thinks only in the present.
RICH: Has positive attitude POOR: Has negative attitude
RICH: Keeps good company (i.e moral and like-minded friends and associates) POOR: Keeps bad company (may not have a choice of the type of company).
RICH: Seeks competent advisers POOR: Does not seek advice.
RICH: Sees seeking advice as helpful POOR: Sees accepting advice as a sign of weakness.
RICH: Has supportive, uplifting family POOR: Has a non-supportive family, or adversarial family.
RICH: Comes from stable community POOR: Comes from unstable and possibly dangerous community.
RICH: Has some money or position from which to start and the vision to use it POOR: Has nothing to start with and no idea of how to change, or even that change is possible.
RICH: From a community that seeks to advance it’s own (there many good communities, but the Mafia would also qualify) POOR: From a community that seeks to keep it’s members at the same level.
RICH: Has been helped and is willing to help others POOR: Has not been helped and restrains self from offering help to others.
RICH: Willing to accept help POOR: Will not accept help; sees accepting help as sign of weakness.
RICH: Thinks about wealth a lot (perhaps to the exclusion of more important life/family issues) POOR: Gives no thought to wealth, or thinks it is not possible for people like him to obtain.
RICH: Time and chance: they were in the right place at the right time POOR: No luck - - not just the excuse, “I’m not lucky”, but actually is not in the right place at the right time.
RICH: Recognizes opportunity, taught what opportunities are possible POOR: Does not recognize an opportunity, does not believe any are available.
We, all of us, have the opportunity to change. It is sad some of us don't know it, or don't believe we can take it, or just won't do it.
RICH: GET RICHER POOR: POOR GET POORER
RICH: Come from wealthy family POOR: Come from poor family
RICH: Taught how to handle money, assets POOR: Not taught how to handle money, assets.
RICH: Have education, specially advanced education POOR: No or little education.
RICH: Thinks of the future POOR: Thinks only in the present.
RICH: Has positive attitude POOR: Has negative attitude
RICH: Keeps good company (i.e moral and like-minded friends and associates) POOR: Keeps bad company (may not have a choice of the type of company).
RICH: Seeks competent advisers POOR: Does not seek advice.
RICH: Sees seeking advice as helpful POOR: Sees accepting advice as a sign of weakness.
RICH: Has supportive, uplifting family POOR: Has a non-supportive family, or adversarial family.
RICH: Comes from stable community POOR: Comes from unstable and possibly dangerous community.
RICH: Has some money or position from which to start and the vision to use it POOR: Has nothing to start with and no idea of how to change, or even that change is possible.
RICH: From a community that seeks to advance it’s own (there many good communities, but the Mafia would also qualify) POOR: From a community that seeks to keep it’s members at the same level.
RICH: Has been helped and is willing to help others POOR: Has not been helped and restrains self from offering help to others.
RICH: Willing to accept help POOR: Will not accept help; sees accepting help as sign of weakness.
RICH: Thinks about wealth a lot (perhaps to the exclusion of more important life/family issues) POOR: Gives no thought to wealth, or thinks it is not possible for people like him to obtain.
RICH: Time and chance: they were in the right place at the right time POOR: No luck - - not just the excuse, “I’m not lucky”, but actually is not in the right place at the right time.
RICH: Recognizes opportunity, taught what opportunities are possible POOR: Does not recognize an opportunity, does not believe any are available.
We, all of us, have the opportunity to change. It is sad some of us don't know it, or don't believe we can take it, or just won't do it.
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