Happy Birthday, Mama
Today my mother would be 95 years old. I wish we could have grown old together, but we’ll have a lot to catch up on when we meet again.
I have to go directly to Proverbs 17:28,
8 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.
This verse speaks directly to the saying, It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and prove it. Once again we see multiple verses regarding the wisdom of holding our tongues. Can you imagine how much more peace we would live in if we were to follow this simple advice?
Prov 9 says he who covers an offense promotes love. Isn’t that what Christ did on the cross? Jesus covered the offenses of the world (sin) by giving Himself as a spotless lamb. Would that we could cover offenses of our fellow Christians thereby promoting love. I have seen churches split over the color of the carpet, a change in worship service, or a split in loyalty among the congregation. Can anyone believe this type of behavior is acceptable in the Church? If we could learn to sacrifice our opinions and our wants to those of others we would usher in an era of peace and love in our churches that would be unparalleled. Our focus should NEVER be on the minutiae of church administration, but instead on how we can better worship God, fellowship with Christ, and bring others to the Kingdom.
The plans of the Lord
For those of you reading this post who attend Asbury UMC, you should be amazed (as am I) at today’s scripture.
We at Asbury are in the midst of a possible life-changing event at the church as we seek God’s direction in the future of our church. I have spent more than 2 hours praying over the life of the church this morning, and then I opened my Bible to Proverbs 16 and found that the chapter begins with talking of man’s plans vs. God’s plans. Prov 16:1-3 says To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the lord comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Wow. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Father, as we seek your face through prayer and fasting may we truly commit ourselves, our plans, our church to you and may we succeed in bringing others into the Kingdom.
The chapter goes on to speak of pride and we all recognize Prov 16:18: pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. God, deliver us from pride, from haughtiness and save us from destruction.
Where is wisdom found?
We at Asbury UMC have begun meeting again on Wednesday nights for food, fellowship, Bible studies, and a special speaker each week addressing community and social needs. I am increasingly enjoying these Wednesday nights. I attend the series on Growing your Faith, which reveals to us the very foundations of the Christian faith. I find myself more and more drawn to the Standing Stones which stand as monuments to our faith, and am in awe that Jesus would use me as a Living Stone to mark the continuation of the faith.
Prov 15:1 begins by telling us that a gentle answer turns away wrath. Would that I could grasp that truth, meditate upon it, make it a part of my DNA. Instead, I tend to want to persuade others of my point of view, validating MY opinions and turning you from yours. God is saying repeatedly “Be gentle, be wise, speak words of healing, heed correction, be righteous, seek knowledge” and we continue on in our foolish ways.
Prov 15:8 warns that the Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked. When will we learn we cannot live any way we want, and then win God’s favor through meaningless sacrifices? When will we as individuals and as a nation drop to our knees before the Living God and plead for mercy that we might be spared the judgment sure to come?
Prov 15:13-15 talks about a cheerful heart. Do you know what makes my heart cheerful? Being immersed in God’s word brings joy bubbling up from the depths of my heart and literally bursts forth from my lips. Being with my children and grandchildren brings me joy, and makes my heart cheerful. Being among God’s people at Asbury makes my heart cheerful and strengthens my faith and my service.
If you find your heart is not cheerful, take a close look at your habits. Do you take the time to spend a part of the morning with the Lord before you begin your day? Are you in close contact with your family, friends, and church? If your circumstances are such that you can find no cheer in your daily living, then call your church or community organization and find somewhere you can volunteer. I guarantee you there are multitudes of people in worse shape than you. When you reach out to help others, Jesus will restore the joy to your heart–remember, Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last. Keeping your priorities in the right order will bring wisdom, healing and joy.
Right, left or straight at the crossroads?
How do we know which way to go when we come to a crossroad? Prov 14:12 is one of my favorite verses: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. So what do we do when the way before us seems right? How do we decide which way to go?
In the Bible decisions were often made by casting lots. The High Priest carried the Urim and Thummin in a pocket on his breastplate, and when consulted one of the stones would glow to signify God’s presence. One stone represented “no” while the other represented “yes.” Casting of lots was not a game of chance, such as drawing straws or tossing a coin. Instead, it was the Israelites’ way of consulting God.
We no longer cast lots to determine God’s will upon our lives. Instead, we read our Bibles for direction, spend time in prayer, sometimes asking that God would close the doors He does not want us to go through but open others so that we can be in His will. The key here is being still long enough to hear God’s voice, and talking with Him often enough so that we will know God’s voice.
V27 tells is that the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. Don’t you love that picture? Fear in this context does not mean we tremble before the Lord, and are afraid to enter His presence. On the contrary, fear means we are in awe of God, and are honored to be in His presence. And, the awe we feel before God becomes a fountain which spouts forth life. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…Praise God from whom all blessings flow…Come thou fount of many blessings…
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within…
Over the past 15 days I have become entrenched in the Scriptures, and what a difference it has made in my outlook. Has my life changed? No. Have my circumstances changed? No. What has changed is my response to my circumstances. When I am in pain and just want to stay home I try to get up and get moving and most times find I feel better for it. I am learning to praise God in all things. There is a joy bubbling up from deep within that I want to share with others.
Today we look at Proverbs 13 and find so many nuggets of wisdom and strength. Again the chapter makes use of the comparison of good vs evil and the rewards/punishments that each choice brings. V2 says “from the fruit of their words good persons eat good things.” What a great word picture that is! Our words bear fruit. This is one thing I love about the Bible. It does not matter how many times we read it, we will always find something we have never seen before. It is this one characteristic that makes the Bible the LIVING word of God, the ability to bring new life to the words and new life to your heart.
Fruit has many facets–it is good to look at, it has a pleasant aroma, it is sweet, and it is good for you. Think of a fruit tree. The first thing you notice are the pretty flowers that bud in the springtime, and soon after the fruit begins to grow. When the season is right the fruit is picked and consumed. When we break down the verse in this manner, we see that our words have an effect long after they are spoken. If the words are good they bear fruit in their own season. This is yet another reminder that words, once spoken, take on a life of their own. May our word bear sweet smelling fruit and not be crowded out by the thorns of unbelief.
V6 says that righteousness guards the upright, but I have to admit that there have been times in my life where I felt the righteous were punished while the wicked prospered. We must remember that the word of God is eternal, and the things of this world are temporal. Justice is not always of this world, but it will always prevail in the world to come.
V8 says wealth is a ransom for a person’s life. Is God against the righteous having wealth? No. But wealth can create entanglements that prevent us from living godly lives and that keep us tethered to the things of this world. I think of “A Christmas Carol” and Bob Marley who came to visit his partner Scrooge. Marley was wrapped in chains which he dragged along the floor behind him, chains of his own making because he cared more for money than for people. Our treasure is, indeed, where our heart is. (Matt 6:21)
V12 has always been poignant to me–“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Hope is a wonderful thing. However, if hope gives way to despair we do become heartsick. We all know that not all of our desires will be fulfilled. Can I give you a hint as to actualizing your desires? Ps 37:4 says if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. You might be saying that can’t be true–He has not given me the desires of my heart. If we delight ourselves in the Lord, and only the Lord, He will place the right desires in our heart, and they will be fulfilled.
V20 has good advice for companionship–“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” Choose your friends well, for they can impact the choices you make. Make all of your choices godly choices, and you will reap the rewards.
Seeking Holiness 