Wednesday Thought -- December 31, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.” (Proverbs 5:1-6)

Most people don’t choose the way of destruction because they rationally weigh the options and consider the outcomes and decide the path to hell is worth what is at its end. Instead, they are deceived by the smooth talk of wickedness. It sounds good when you start down that path. Wickedness offers pleasure, freedom, no restraints. But it is all a sweet-sounding lie!

Later, Solomon will write, “The way of the fool seems right to him.” (Proverbs 12:15) And, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25)

He’s repeating the thought he frames here. It looks good when a person starts down the path of wickedness, and most are shocked at what is at its end!

Consider that in your own life and recognize how easy it is for your own heart to be deceived. Follow the advice of the One who loves you and always knows what is right.

Consider that as you relate to others. They haven’t chosen the wrong path because they have made a rational choice, they are deceived. Look for opportunities to point them toward the wisdom of the Lord – you’ll be doing them an eternal favor!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 30, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

There are some things worth sacrificing for.

Solomon said, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

Really understanding life -- how it works, what it means, what’s important, what’s not important – that’s what wisdom is. Wisdom is worth sacrificing for!

Jesus told a couple of parables that made the same point.

The first is about a hidden treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44)

The second is about a pearl of great value. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Both parables say that there are some things -- at least one thing – worth sacrificing for, worth giving up everything to have.

The one thing is wisdom. Wisdom is knowing God, holding Him in awe, arranging our lives according to His plan.

That’s worth sacrificing everything to have!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- December 29, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:11-15)

As our girls were growing up there were many times when it was in their best interest that Claudia and I discipline them. They needed to learn something and the only way they would learn it was through discipline. Although it wasn’t always easy, we loved them enough to discipline them. We made a great many mistakes in our discipline. Sometimes we were too harsh. Sometimes we were too easy. Sometimes we disciplined in anger. Sometimes we disciplined for the wrong reason, in the wrong way, or at the wrong time. But the motivation was good, we loved the girls and wanted the best for them.

God loves those who are His children, too. He loves us enough to exercise discipline in our lives. There are times when the only way we can learn what we need to learn is through His discipline. Unlike Claudia and me, God is the perfect parent. His discipline is always right. That doesn’t mean we will always like it, often we don’t. Discipline is always painful. But God’s discipline will never be too harsh, and never be easier than it should be. He will never discipline in anger, always with right motives and in control. He will never discipline for the wrong reason, in the wrong way, or at the wrong time. His discipline will be perfectly designed for our benefit.

He disciplines us for our good. If He saw the problems in our lives and did not discipline, that would not be love. He loves us enough to do all He can to teach us.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- December 26, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Solomon learned this lesson from experience, the experience of following the opposite path. He ignored the Lord, took the direction of his life into his own hands, following his own wisdom, and suffered the painful consequences of those decisions. He messed up his life real good! He wrote these words to his son to encourage him not to follow the same path.

Do you believe that God knows what He is doing? Do you believe that God’s direction for your life will bring fulfillment and satisfaction and meet your needs? That’s what it means to trust Him. It means to take God at His word. It means when He says be faithful to your spouse, you trust that He knows what He is talking about and isn’t just out to rob you of pleasure. It means when He says to be honest and walk in integrity that you trust He knows what He is talking about and doesn’t just want to keep you from being prosperous. Whatever He says, you trust that it is best and right for your life.

You don’t second-guess God -- lean on your own understanding. That would be to put your own wisdom above God’s. I know many people who are willing to follow God’s instructions, as long as they agree with them. When they don’t agree with what God says they reject His plan and follow theirs. That puts their wisdom above the Lord’s.

Trust God and follow what He says and your life won’t be messed up.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought -- December 25, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

The second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel records three of the dozens of Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during His lifetime.

“Herod asked the priests and teachers of the law where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written.’” (Matthew 2:4-5)

“Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” (Matthew 2:17-18)

“He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’” (Matthew 2:23)

God carefully planned and divinely prearranged the coming of Jesus into the world. It wasn’t “plan B,” it was what He planned from the beginning of time, knowing since before the world was created that man would need salvation. It wasn’t a plan hastily thrown together, but carefully prearranged and announced in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) and through the prophets hundreds of years before His birth.

Then, “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son.” (Galatians 4:4) When all was just right, the plan unfolded and Jesus came.

God loves us enough that He carefully planned how He would save us. Then, at great cost to Him, He fully carried out His plan in Jesus. That’s the miracle of Christmas!

Remember to celebrate that this year.

Merry Christmas,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- December 24, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)

There are two things that Solomon teaches in this passage.

First, that wisdom has it source in God. There is a great deal of knowledge in the world. Man has researched every field and uncovered many of the secrets of how the world works. But that’s just knowledge. Wisdom is from the Lord. Wisdom is how to apply knowledge. It is how to use knowledge to accomplish what is good and what is right. That only comes from God.

Second, that wisdom must be sought. It won’t just come to us. God will allow us to walk in folly if that’s what we choose and will never forcefully thrust wisdom upon us. There are many who make that very choice. They follow the path of foolishness, thinking they are intelligent enough to know what is right by themselves and know what is best without seeking it from the Lord.

God invites each of us to seek wisdom from Him. When we ask God for wisdom, God promises to provide it. James promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

Remember wisdom’s source -- and ask Him for it!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- December 23, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fool's despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

We live in a society that is so arrogant because of our intelligence and knowledge. Generally speaking, the world thinks it can figure everything out on its own and take care of whatever problems arise. Christians face a good deal of ridicule because we believe in God and accept His Word as true.

When a crisis hits hard there is usually some turning to the Lord. The immediate response from many, perhaps even a majority, is to turn to prayer. But the seeking of God seems only shallow. Almost immediately America and Americans turn to resolve to rebuild what is destroyed and to restore peace and justice by conquering the threat.

No matter how serious the crisis, there has been no move toward national repentance, no soul-searching to determine if there are ways God would have our nation change. If God tries to use a crisis to stir our hearts toward Him we miss usually the point and rely instead on ourselves.

The fear of the Lord is reverence for Him, putting Him in His proper place, worshiping Him, seeking Him, listening to Him. That’s where wisdom and knowledge begin. It doesn’t begin in our own intelligence. It doesn’t begin in our resolve to do things ourselves. True wisdom and knowledge start with the Lord.

That’s true for nations -- and it’s true for individuals, too. I know we often think we have our lives all figured out. We know what we need to do to succeed. We know how to conquer our own problems and meet our own needs. I wonder, did we start in the right place? Did we start with turning to God, getting our lives right with Him, and listening to Him? If not, we’re not as smart as we think we are!

His, by Grace,

Steve