LIFE MEANING

 

LIFE MEANING

Eccl. 2:10-11 Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. NLT

What are you living for? What gives your life meaning? We spend our entire lives trying to give our lives meaning. Most will try to do good things. Many try to carve their niche out in the world. Many will seek fame, fortune or a following. Many put all their energy in their families. Many will rally around a cause they are passionate about. Many are working hard for the day in which they can retire and coast the rest of the days of their lives.

No matter what you are working for to give your life meaning, it is all meaningless if what you are living for is rooted in the world. There is nothing on earth that really gives life meaning. We live and then die. Whatever we live for dies with us. We can’t take anything on earth with us when we die. It is all so meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

It is only when we find our meaning in a relationship with Christ that we find something worth living for. Nothing on earth can promise us eternal life. Nothing can do us any good as far as keeping us out of hell. Our only hope of eternal life is to live life in Christ. Only Christ can assure us that what we are doing makes any difference at all.

Dear friend, take a careful and honest look at your life. What are you relying on to give your life meaning? If it is not a relationship with Christ, you are living in vain. You may be enjoying the fruit of your labors now, but it won’t last. Your purpose for life will die with you if you do not have Christ. If you know Christ, live like it. Put your heart into it. Make the Lord your number one priority in your life. It is only in Christ that you will find a hope that will not die.

If you don’t know that Christ is your Savior, today is the day you must get right with God. You don’t know if you will see the end of your day. Your life will take on a whole new meaning if you will let Him into your heart. You will find that there is indeed something worth living for. Christ will forgive you of your sins if you turn to Him, confess them, repent, and ask Him for forgiveness. What are you waiting for? Do it now. You will be glad you did.

THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN

 

THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN

Eccl. 1:9-11 History merely repeats itself; it has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn’t already exist long ago? We don’t remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. NLT

Things never change. The details may vary, but the things that are happening today are merely a repeat of what has happened before. Man’s nature is today what it was the day Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ushered in sin into the world. It has reared its ugly head in unimaginable ways, and it always will. Without Christ changing it, the heart remains desperately wicked.

You cannot read history without being exposed to the ugliness and destructive nature of sin. It is the cause of all the inhumane treatment that has plagued humanity. It is the cause of all the hatred amongst men. It is the cause of all the self-serving throughout history. We don’t have to live in the past to know that it is true. Secular and Biblical history are all the proof we need. As much as we would like to convince ourselves, there never has been an age of innocence since the time of the fall of man.

All the atrocities that have plagued man throughout history are not recorded. Because of the advent of modern technology, we have been exposed to some of the worst of what man can do to man, but we cannot say that it hasn’t been done before. The sin encrusted soul is capable of any form of evil that you could ever imagine. It will continue to be the way it us for as long as man is on the earth. As bad as things are and has been, we know that the worst is yet to come.

God has warned us of what to expect on earth after Jesus comes and takes the church out of it. Unimaginable horror will plague the earth. When God removes His hand of protection over the earth, evil will rule unbridled. It will be a time in which not only will man suffer from one another, but God will unleash the horrors of nature upon man as a result of his sins.

The future may be bleak, but you don’t have to be a victim of it. God gives us a way of escape, and it is Christ Jesus our Lord. God promises us a bright and glorious future if we put our trust and confidence in Him. We have nothing to fear when Jesus is our Savior and Lord. We can boldly face the future with our lives rooted and established in Christ. Is Jesus your Savior today?

HISTORY REPEATED

 

HISTORY REPEATED

Eccl. 1:9-11 History merely repeats itself; it has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn’t already exist long ago? We don’t remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. NLT

We are merely reliving the past. The way we live may be different than previous generations, but in essence, nothing has changed. We face the same battles that have been fought for generations and generations. There is a constant spiritual warfare that has plagued humanity since sin was first introduced on earth. All people make choices daily in whom they will serve, God or Satan. Sometimes we win battles and sometimes we lose them. It will continue to be that way until Jesus comes to send Satan into the depths of hell for eternity.

Life is lived in the moment. Not every moment of life is recorded to refer to. Be assured, over the course of history, whatever you are going through in life has already been lived. Your life is no different from anyone else’s. Others have fought and won your battles and you can too. History is full of a great cloud of witnesses that there is victory over your struggles. Satan wants you to believe that no one understands your struggles but you. He wants you to buckle underneath the load and not have any hope that there is a way out. He wants you to give up and not persevere until victory is found.

No one may remember you in future generations, but you can leave a great legacy for those who know you if you don’t cave in. You can show them that in Christ, all things are possible. You can show them that the Lord does not abandon His children. You can show them that there is indeed hope for them too in Jesus. How you live today may affect the lives of many for years to come. Stay strong in faith and let the Lord lead you step by step to the victory that is yours in Him.

A COMPASSIONATE HEART

 

A COMPASSIONATE HEART

Prov. 31:20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. NLT

I picked this verse because I believe it is something every child of God should have in his heart to do. If we have the love of Christ in us, we will have compassion for those who need it both physically and spiritually. We cannot help everyone who needs it, but we can help some.

We naturally are inclined to take care of ourselves and then if it is convenient and does not require too much from us, help others. Jesus changes us so that we become more balanced in our love. We love beyond ourselves because He loves beyond himself. His love purifies our love and moves us to reach out to each other and minister to one another’s needs.

We live in a soulless world, a world in which for the most part, people turn a deaf ear to the needs of others. The needy are often neglected or ignored. Most of the world lives in poverty conditions. Food, shelter, and clothing are deemed to be luxury items for a vast number of people. Many live in very unstable and oppressive conditions. Many live in abusive situations. Many live with addictions that make their lives miserable and unbearable. A multitude of people live in dire need and have no hope of a better life. Most people are lost and lonely, who have no one who cares enough to reach out to help them.

Most have great needs through no fault of their own. Most did not look at the worst side of living and make conscious and willful choices to live like they do.

What are you doing with what God has given you to help others in need?

AN AWESOME PRAYER

 

AN AWESOME PRAYER

Prov. 30:7-9 Oh God, I beg two favors from you before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. NLT

What an awesome prayer! Think about it. Would you dare ask the Lord to help you never to tell a lie? Do you ALWAYS tell the truth? Be honest with yourself. Do you? Do you always tell the truth when you are backed up into a corner with no way out, even if it cost you pain or discomfort? Do you justify not telling the truth when it may benefit you or perhaps someone else? How is it possible to ALWAYS tell the truth?

Truthfulness comes from the integrity of the heart before God. The only way we can always tell the truth is to always have a pure and holy heart before God. We must strive to keep the Lord first and foremost in our thinking. Is it possible? Yes. Is it easy? No. If we keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ we can do it, but we need His help to do that and that is why we pray and ask Him to help us.

The other thing we ought to pray for is contentment with what the Lord has provided us with. If we long for what we don’t have and make it our goal to obtain it, we can easily lose our grip on the Lord. Contentment is living in the Lord at the moment without concern for what might be or what was. It is living life to the fullest where you are at and letting the Lord take care of the rest. If you are not at peace with the Lord and yourself now, you will never be at peace with Him when you have more or less of what you have now.

TWO THINGS FROM GOD

 

TWO THINGS FROM GOD

Prov. 30:7-9 “O God, I beg two favors from you before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” NLT

If you were to be given two things from God before you die, what would you want them to be? What are the two things that you want more than anything else? What you would ask for says a lot about your heart.

The writer of this Proverb asked first for the integrity of his heart so he would never tell a lie. It was important to him that he would always tell the truth. It certainly is a noble thing to want from God. I wonder if we have the same kind of a desire for our souls. Are we concerned about the integrity of our hearts? From what I observe in the lives of many, I don’t think this is a priority. We seem to be content with mediocre living in Christ and not wanting to be more like Him as we should. Do you always tell the truth?

The second thing on the writer’s mind was contentment with his life situation. He wanted a heart that did not crave after the things of life. He understood the danger of relying on stuff for his satisfaction in life instead of God. He wanted no part of that. He valued his relationship with God and was determined to not let the riches of the world rob him of fellowship with God. It is something that we must all think about. Do we let our quest for “better living” get in the way of our relationship with God? He also was concerned about what affect not having enough would have on his soul. He didn’t want to be in a position where he felt he would be compelled to steal in order to survive in the world. He wanted enough to live on so that he could continue to live rightly before God and always honor His holy name.

The two things mentioned in today’s verses are indeed noble desires to have. May we too desire to always have hearts of integrity as we live in relationship with God. May we too always value our relationship with the Lord so much that we seek for His protection from anything that would get in the way of us having pure hearts before Him.

WHAT GOD SAYS

 

WHAT GOD SAYS

Prov. 30:5-6 Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.  NLT

      EVERY word of God proves true. There is not word of untruth in God’s Word. Just because we may not be able to explain everything away or fit it into the way we think doesn’t change the fact that what God has spoken is absolutely true in all things. To believe otherwise is to deny the absolute authority of the Word and its ability to speak to us on anything. The very basis of our belief in God hinges on first our belief in the whole truth of God’s Word.

       Every word of God is true. Therefore, we can believe and trust in God absolutely. He will do what He says He will do.

       However, a word of caution is in order. God will not do what He has not promised to do. Don’t put words into His mouth. Be sure that what you claim to be true is indeed what He has said and not what you think He has said or what you want Him to say. Many foolish things have been said and claimed about God and His activity in our lives that simply cannot be backed up by His Word. Many times, people will make God say what they want Him to say.

      God is truth and keeps His word absolutely. He cannot be manipulated to accommodate our whims. He protects those who stay true to Him and His Word and rebukes those who don’t.

       Before you claim to speak for God, bathe what you say in prayer and be sure it is backed up by God’s Word.  God holds us accountable for what we proclaim in His name, especially if it is misleading, causes someone to stray from the truth of the Gospel, and fail to embrace Christ as our wisdom, righteousness, and holiness from God.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE

 

II IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE

Prov. 30:5-6  Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.  NLT

       It would do well for every believer to know these verses.  There is a lot of liberty that people take with God’s Word.  We need to stop the nonsense and let God speak His mind instead of us trying to speak it for Him.

      Every word of God proves true.  It stands on its own merit.  Whatever God says is what is.  The past has happened just as God said it did.  Things are happening today just as God said it would.  And what is yet to come will happen just as God said it will.  No one can change the truthfulness of what God has said.  God’s Word is trustworthy because it comes from God.

     We must be very careful about this.  It is so easy to be led away from God’s truth.  Satan is very good at getting man to twist the Word to say what he wants it to say.  We must examine all that we read and hear carefully in light of what God says.  We must stay close to God so that it is His voice we hear and not someone else’s.  We must never get the idea that we have it all figured out and do not need to be taught anymore. 

      God says He will defend and protect you, and He will.  No one can take you away from the Lord if you stay in His fellowship.  No matter what man may be able to do physically to you, God will preserve your soul.  No matter what may be said about you, God will protect your soul.  Nothing in all of creation can harm you if you are living in the shelter of His love.

     Do not ignore what God says about you in His Word.  He has your life covered if you are living in fellowship with Him.  The Lord will never leave you or forsake you.  He is always vigilant and will never let you get away from Him.  He does not have a conditional clause on this truth.  Don’t let anyone lead you astray on this.  You are safe in Christ.  Heaven awaits those who live in Christ.  We don’t have to do enough or be good enough to be in the Lord’s protective care.  All we have to do is take responsibility for our sins, confess them to Him, accept His forgiveness, and live like we are forgiven.  The Lord is on the side of all who do this.

DESPISING THE WICKED AND GODLY

 

DESPISING THE WICKED AND GODLY

Prov. 29:27  The godly despise the wicked; the wicked despise the godly.  NLT

      I think for the most part, we only see this verse partially fulfilled.  There is no question about the wicked hating the godly.  It has always been evident.  Godliness is despised by the world.  It is true because ungodly people don’t like it when they are around others who are living better lives than they do.  They don’t like it when they are held to a higher standard that they cannot meet.  They don’t like it when they are told that they can’t make it to heaven on their own.  They don’t like it when they are told they are not the center of the universe.  They don’t want to hear about a place called hell.  They don’t want to be told that their “goodness” is not good enough to get them into heaven.  Wicked people want to do what they want to do whenever they want to do it and however they want to do it without being told there are consequences for their behavior. 

      But, let’s be honest about it.  Do the godly despise the wicked?  We say we do, but do we?  Do we get bothered by the things the wicked do?  How much wickedness do we justify in our lives?  Do we just shun the obvious things others may see in us and embrace other things in the privacy of our lives?  Are we really so righteous that we can say that we are not wicked to some degree in our lives?  What do we turn to for entertainment?  Where do we go to be entertained?  What do we watch and read?  What do we allow to give us pleasure in life?  How much of the world’s practices do we participate in, in order to get ahead in life?  How often do we stand up in the face of the wicked and denounce it and its messengers?

      As children of God, we should be standing guard over our souls and keep wickedness out.  We should care enough about Christ in us to keep wickedness away from Him.  We should take God’s command for our holiness seriously.  No, it’s not easy.  Yes, it will require much of us.  We will not be accepted by a lot of people in and outside of the church.  We will find that many will be cruel to us and want to take advantage of us.  We will not be widely accepted.  We will often be on the short end of justice.  We may be laughed at and scorned. 

       But I ask you, “Is it better to please God or man?  Is it better to be rejected by man or God?”  Daily you are making choices about whom you serve and associate with.  You will live eternally with the choices you make.  As for me, I will serve the Lord.  How about you?

OUR NEED FOR DISCIPLINE

 

OUR NEED FOR DISCIPLINE

Prov. 29:19,21  For a servant, mere words are not enough--discipline is needed.  For the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.  A servant who is pampered from childhood will later become a rebel.  NLT

        Everyone needs discipline in their life. We need a firm hand on us to keep us motivated to do what is right.  We need encouragement if we are going to come under submission to those over us and obey them.  Left alone most people will choose to do their own thing, which is usually the wrong thing to do.  No matter how much understanding we may have, if left to ourselves without any discipline, wrong choices will be made.

      God knows our nature.  He knows that his Word is not enough to make us obey Him.  He knows that there needs to be some authority exercised behind it.  He knows that application of truth is in reality more important than understanding truth.  Therefore, the Lord often will discipline us so that we might serve Him faithfully and sincerely.  He loves us and wants to protect us from all that is false and damaging to our souls. 

       The most effective form of discipline for God’s children is for us to experience the absence of His presence.  When we make wrong choices and wander into sin, we alienate ourselves from God.  His joy and peace elude us.  Guilt and shame take their place in our hearts.  There is nothing more miserable than to know that we are not right with God. 

      God disciplines His children.  He adapts the way He disciplines His children through the uniqueness of each of their lives.  He knows best what we will respond to.  Patiently and lovingly, He brings us to our knees in submission to Him.  We need God’s involvement.  We need to know that He won’t let us get away with self-destruction. 

      Discipline is a good thing.  Let us never shy away from it.

ACCEPT DIVINE GUIIDANCE

 

ACCEPT DIVINE GUIDANCE

Prov. 29:18  When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.  NLT

      God has clearly shown us how to live so that we don’t wander from Him and damage our souls.  He makes it clear how to live lives that please Him and produce godliness.  He shows us how to relate to others and the world we live in.  The Lord reveals himself to us in a wide variety of ways so that there is no excuse for not seeing or knowing Him. 

      When we ignore the Lord and choose to do our own thing, all kinds of ugly things begin to happen to us.  When we take control of our lives and stop following the Lord, we fall into sin.  We fall away from the Lord and lose our desire to do what is pleasing to Him.  The longer we reject the Lord’s guidance, the wilder we get.  Sin never satisfies and it urges us to do more things to try and be satisfied. 

       However, obeying the Lord brings us happiness.  There is a calmness that grips the soul.  There is peace and contentment for those who obey Him.  There is confidence that brings joy to those who follow the Lord. 

     We all have choices to make.  We can either choose to obey the Lord or we can choose to not accept His guidance and do our own thing.  Choose whichever path of life you want, but never forget, there is responsibility for the choices you make.  We will be held accountable to God for which path of life we choose. 

DISCIPLINE AND REPRIMAND

 

DISCIPLINE AND REPRIMAND

Prov.29:15 To discipline and reprimand a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. NLT

An undisciplined child is a very messed up child. We see the repercussions of it everywhere. Children who are not disciplined develop a sense of entitlement. They expect to get their way and when they don’t, they rebel. They lash out at people in authority and have very little respect for them. They tend to find trouble, and trouble finds them. They struggle to fit into the mainstream of society and are more than likely to be liberal in their thinking.

Whereas, disciplined children learn to respect authority and are far more likely to be successful in their endeavors. They are much more likely to live by the rules of society and in the workplace. They tend to have higher standards to live by and are less likely to be “problem children.”

It is true of children as a whole, and it is true spiritually as well. Children of God need discipline to help them be successful in their faith walk.

The goal of every believer ought to be to grow up to maturity in the faith. In order to do that, we need to be taken to the woodshed a few times, and for some, many times. We need to be reprimanded when we get out of line. We need God’s supervision at all times.

Just like a loving mother and father will discipline their children when it is needed, our Heavenly Father disciplines us when we need it.

Being disciplined is not usually a pleasant experience at the moment, but it does reap great rewards.

CRITICISM

 

CRITICISM

Prov. 29:1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair. NLT

We don’t like to be criticized. We don’t like it when someone points out to us our faults and failures. We like to think of ourselves as too good to be criticized. We want others to see us in our strengths and not our weaknesses. We take pride in ourselves and take it as a personal attack when someone criticizes us.

What we need to remind ourselves of is that criticism is not all bad for us. It is good to know what others see in us that is wrong. Otherwise, how can we know what we need to fix? We know we are far from being who we could or should be, so knowing what we need to work on is good for us.

Now granted, attitude is everything when criticisms are given. If it is done in love with the intent of helping, then it should be welcomed with open arms. We need help in order to grow into godliness. We need to spur one another on in faith. We need others to help us because sinful pride often keeps us from seeing ourselves as we should. If it is not done in love and received in love, criticism will create harsh feelings and a resistance to change.

Criticism should be handled with humility and thankfulness. Thank the Lord for those who love us enough to help us improve our lives before Him. Accept graciously what others are saying and ask the Lord to help you to do better.

And when it becomes necessary for you to do the criticizing, do it in love and with much grace. Ask the Lord to check your attitude to be sure you don’t do it with maliciousness. Ask Him for proper words and the proper timing. Let the Lord guide you so that in all you say, you will edify the other person to the glory and honor of His name.

Criticism is an essential part of healthy spiritual growth. No one gets it right all the time. We need to know how others perceive our walk with the Lord. Not being open to criticism hardens the soul and prevents the Lord from helping us to become holy and acceptable in His sight.

DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF

 

DO NOT TRUST YOURSELF

Prov. 28:26 Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe. NLT

We are our own worst enemy. We fail to see ourselves in a realistic or honest way. We tend to see ourselves in a positive light, especially as we compare ourselves with others. We try to convince ourselves that we are okay just the way we are. We sugarcoat our deficiencies. We seldom see ourselves as others see us. Being around us, others can see us in our weaknesses, but we usually don’t see them as others do. We convince ourselves that when Scripture speaks of sinful behavior and thoughts that it always applies to others and not ourselves. Let’s be honest, we struggle to be honest with ourselves about ourselves. Trusting ourselves is foolish because we are so easily convinced that we have it all together and don’t need help.

Those who know they are in need can be helped. In fact, unless we see ourselves as in need, we can’t have a living relationship with Christ. We do not need ourselves, we need Christ. We need His companionship, instruction and corrections. We need Him to humble us. We need Him to keep us aware of our shortcomings and sins. We need wisdom from God. We need Him to keep us needy.

Wisdom keeps us safe. Wisdom is knowing what is true and living it. It is understanding that when God reveals to us things about us that need changing, that we listen to God and change. It is reading the Scriptures with open hearts and looking for things that apply to us. It is being more concerned about seeing ourselves honestly. It is knowing we are in need before God. It is being aware of our sinfulness and repenting of it. It is knowing that we are far from being perfect. It is knowing that often we don’t get it right and need correction. It is being able to accept correction graciously.

Only those who have wisdom will be able to live rightly before God. It is foolish to trust one’s self instead of God. It is foolish for us to be so proud that we can’t be changed. It is foolish to not listen to others. It is foolish to ignore the instructions and chastisements of God. Examine your heart before God today and be wise. Surrender it all to Jesus and you will be wise.

BE FRANK

 

BE FRANK

Prov. 28:23 In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery. NLT

Flattery makes us feel good, for a little while. Everyone likes to have their ego stroked. We all want to be noticed and appreciated. We are geared to being liked. Some will go out of their way to be liked. Some will do drastic things in order to be liked. Some will even impose evil things on others in order to make themselves feel important in the eyes of others. Some people crave flattery so much that they are driven to portray a persona that they are not in order to be looked up.

However, no matter how much flattery a person may receive, it doesn’t last. No one always does things that are worthy of flattery. No one is so good all the time that others can sing their praises. In fact, feasting on flattery is damaging to the soul. It makes us feel good, but it cannot make us good. When all we hear is flattery, it goes to our heads. We get the delusional idea that what we hear is who we are. Away from the limelight, we know that we are not always what others seem to believe about us.

Frankness is far more beneficial to us than flattery. When others will tell us the truth about us, we can help ourselves to change. Frankness is needed. Everyone needs to be surrounded by people who are not impressed by them and are willing to honestly tell them what others either don’t see or won’t tell.

Being frank with someone is good, but it should always be done with love. The Lord wants us to help one another to grow and become instead of tearing each other down by the things we say or the way we say them. Whenever you are inclined to be frank with someone, pray before you speak. You should care enough to speak out when it is needed, but you should always do it with the desire to help and not hinder a person.

And when someone is loving enough to be frank with us, we should accept the truth with grace and love. We should never be so proud to think that we don’t need to be corrected and helped. We should never think of ourselves in a flattery, but false, way. We should accept what we hear with welcome hearts and ask the Lord to help us to do and be better children of God.

GETTING RID OF SIN

 

GETTING RID OF SIN

Prov. 28:13 People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy. NLT

The pathway to God is never a cover-up. You will never find your way to God by glossing over or covering up sin. Sin must be admitted and confessed before you will ever find peace with God. You must take responsibility for your sin before God will accept you. The Lord guarantees that he will forgive all those who come before Him humbly with a contrite heart. He will never turn anyone away.

You may think that you are alright doing things your way. You may think that sin is no big deal, and you ignore it. You may think that you are getting away with it and it doesn’t matter. But, God knows every sin and holds us accountable for every one of them. He will judge us for our sins. We have no chance of escaping His knowing eyes and we will be judged without mercy, if we don’t have Christ in our lives. Jesus is the only hope we have for us to receive mercy from God. Only Jesus can get rid of the sin problem we have. Only Jesus can forgive us and remove them from God’s sight.

Is Jesus your Savior today? Have you been trying to cover up your sins? Or, perhaps, you have tried pretending they don’t exist. Perhaps no one knows about your sins. God knows. He knows and invites you to come to Jesus right now so He can get rid of them. Will you let the Lord have His way with you?

And, just a word of caution. Don’t ever get the idea that you do not sin. You do. We are not God; we are not perfect. Be quiet before God and let Him show you things that are not right, and He will.

UNANSWERED PRAYERS

 

UNANSWERED PRAYERS

Prov. 28:9 The prayers of a person who ignores the law are despised. NLT

People everywhere pray. Most people believe in some kind of a god to whom they pray. In every culture, there are a multitude of people who pray. God instilled in the human soul the need to believe in God and pray. I can’t speak with authority on whether or not the prayers of people who have no understanding at all of Christ or God as He reveals himself to be in the Word are heard or answered by God. I will let those far more knowledgeable than I am decide that. I do know that God holds us accountable for what we do know and understand.

God knows the heart and those who are sincerely seeking to please Him. He knows those who desire to do what is right before Him but lack the knowledge and understanding to live by the Law. He is just and merciful and will respond to their prayers according to their righteousness and faith.

Our verse today addresses those who do have a knowledge and understanding of God’s laws and ignores them. These are people who do not consider it important to take what God says seriously. They have a head knowledge of the truth, but not a heart knowledge of it. They show by their living that they don’t respect who God is. They take for granted what God says and do not seek to live it.

God rejects the prayers of those who do not live by the Word of God. He does not hear those who ignore Him. It is serious business to know what God says and do nothing about it. All the prayers in the world will not be heard by God where sin, and not Christ, rules. God gives us His Word to make us holy and productive servants of Him. He demands that we submit to His authority over us. There is no mercy for those who ignore God’s Word.

If you are having problems with God answering your prayers, you need to look carefully into His Word to see if you are missing something there very important for you to apply to your life. You need to let the Spirit examine your heart and show you where you need to repent and change.

God hears and answers the prayers of those who are striving to live by His Word.

WHERE THERE IS MORAL ROT

 

WHERE THERE IS MORAL ROT

Prov. 28:2 Where there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability. NLT

Rotten to the core is how we can describe most countries today. Everywhere you turn you see evil glorified. You see people seemingly with no shame doing things in public that are immoral. You see blatant disregard for godly living. People are abused and used for personal pleasure and gain. Where there are restrictions on public behavior, there is often a disregard for human life or accepted mistreatment of women and children. No matter how it manifests itself, sin is everywhere.

Some try to legislate morality in an effort to keep peace and order in society. It doesn’t work. Moral laws cannot change the soul. You cannot mask evil hearts with laws. When those who are evil run governments, bad things happen and eventually governments fall and chaos reigns. Unstable people cannot produce a stable country.

On the other hand, where there are wise and knowledgeable leaders. there are stable governments. Such people are grounded by the truth. Wisdom comes from God. He is the source of all lasting truth. Only in God do we find that which works in life. Only in God do we find a way to live that ensures us of eternal life. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. It is taking the Word of God and applying it well to life.

Knowledge doesn’t just happen. It comes from honest and openhearted searching for truth. It is understanding that is gleaned from studying the Scriptures and from living by faith. It is an ever-expanding discovery of how to live a life pleasing to God.

Wise and knowledgeable leaders govern well and keep a country stable. They are people who respect life. They treat people well. They do what is good for the common good of the people. They live respectable lives, and they do not lord it over others.

Wise and knowledgeable people understand the dangers of power and do not let it go to their heads.

Pray that the Lord would raise up wise and knowledgeable people to lead you. Ask Him to intervene and move those over you to do what is right in His sight. Ask Him to keep those who rule over you humble. Pray for peace and stability.

DEATH, DESTRUCTION, DESIRES

 

DEATH, DESTRUCTION, DESIRES

Prov. 27:20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. NLT

There are some things in life you can count on, death is one of them. No one will escape death unless it’s those who are taken to heaven when the Lord returns. Death is no respecter of people. No matter what kind of life is lived, all will die. You will die. Knowing that death is going to happen, it ought to cause us to think about it and what God says about it. No one is guaranteed another day, another moment. You may not finish reading this devotional today. Are you at peace with what is going to happen to you when you die? Are you ready to face God and give an account for how and why you have lived like you do?

Destruction is another certain reality. Destruction is the natural by-product of sin. Sin destroys. It comes in various ways and times. It is unavoidable, but we don’t have to be victims of it. We can rise above the forces of destruction when we stay focused in Christ. Things may not go well for us, and we may suffer greatly, but in Christ we have victory over all things. We can handle whatever we face when Jesus is Lord of life.

Human desire is something else that never ends. God created us with natural desires that must be dealt with constantly. God gave us desires for the things that sustain us and keeps us going. Our desires are never satisfied because our needs never go away. It is true in every area of our lives. We are a needy people. The only time we will cease to have need is when we die. Our greatest need is our need for the Lord. If we know the Lord, we know just how much we constantly need Him. We need His constant presence and influence in our lives. If we lose grip on Him, we quickly fall into the cesspool of sin. A life of soul destruction is just a sin away. When we cave in and let sin into our souls, it soon grows and takes over. We must be diligent guardians of our souls. We need the Lord.

Have you gotten lax about your soul? Has sin crept in? Today is the day of repentance for you. You may not live long enough to have another chance to repent. The Lord guarantees forgiveness for all who come to Him humbly, confess their sins, and seek His forgiveness. Is your heart right with God today?

REFLECTIONS OF THE HEART

 

REFLECTION OF THE HEART

Prov. 27:19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person. NLT

No one can see what is in the heart, but we can get a fairly good idea by watching how a person lives. Our actions and words are determined by our relationship with God. The farther away from God we are, the more like the world we become. The closer we are to God, the more like Christ we become. The way we live reflects the condition of our souls.

Actions and words when repeated regularly begin to become habits to us. The more we repeat them, the more ingrained they become in our souls. Our hearts determine the habits we form.

What kind of habits have you formed in your life? Do your words and the things you say reflect the life of Christ in you? If they are questionable, then it is time to do a heart check-up. If your heart is right with the Lord, you will want to please him. You will want to avoid those things that you know displease him. You will not let unholy habits rule your life.

If your heart is right with God, it will show in what you do and say. Others will not be confused about who you are. You will reflect the righteousness and holiness of Christ. If your heart is right with God, you will have a hunger and thirst for Him in your life. You will be a consistent reader and student of God’s Word. You will consistently commune with Him in prayer. You will serve Him consistently in your life.

The character of your heart is reflected in how you live your life.

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART?

 

WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART?

Prov. 27:19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person. NLT

Here is a truth that we must always remember. What is in the heart matters. We may be able to put on a front and fool people, but who we really are is determined by the heart. Now there are a few things that we must consider about the heart.

The heart is the soul of man. It is the spirit of man. It is influenced and controlled by either Christ or Satan. There are no other choices. If the Lord is not leading the heart, Satan is. No one can escape this truth, and everyone chooses who will lead them.

The heart is directly connected to the mind. Whatever we allow to linger in our minds find their way into our hearts. The more we think about unholy things, the more we are influenced by them and the more likely we are to act them out. We become what we think about. If we ignore feeding our minds with godly things, sinful things begin to take over.

We are naturally born sinners and the only way we can control our sinful nature is for us to keep our minds focused on godly things. We must pursue God through His Word, the fellowship of His church and prayer. The more time we spend on godly things, the less time Satan has to get a foothold in our hearts. When we slack off in our pursuit of God, we give Satan the opening he is looking for. He will take full advantage of his opportunity and begin the process of leading us astray.

If you want to please the Lord and live a victorious life in Him, you must diligently guard your soul by protecting your mind. You must say no to sinful influences and thinking. It’s not easy to do and we all fail, but it is what we must strive to do. Fight the good fight for your soul and you will win the war through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BE SHARP; BE SHARPENED

 

BE SHARP; BE SHARPENED

Prov. 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. NLT

Friends are good to have. Friends are people that come into our lives that we can lean on. They support us. They encourage us. They help us when we need correction. They defend us against those who would attack us. They love us and try to help us be better people. They do not drag us down or lead us into temptation. Everybody needs friends in their lives.

Friends are necessary for fellowship. We need to be able to spend time with friends and feed off their lives. We need to be able to relax with people who will accept us for who we are and not for who they think we should be. We need people in our lives who make us feel good about being with them.

We should be careful on our selection of friends. We need to befriend those who have good character that we can trust, and it takes time to discern those whom we can really trust. Some people will appear to be our friends but will disappoint us when things go wrong. Some people will betray our trust in them. Some will forsake us when it best serves themselves.

Just as you need genuine, dependable friends in your life, others you know need you to be a friend to them. They need to know that you can be depended on to be a help and not a hindrance to their lives.

Are you good friend material? Only a heart that stays connected to Christ can be counted on to be a true-blue friend. Only Christ can help us to do what is right before God and right by others. A person who is taking care of his soul will take care of others. The Lord needs us to be the real deal. There are people you know who need a godly person in their lives. You will either sharpen or dull the life of others. Stay spiritually sharp, and you will sharpen others so that they in turn can sharpen others.

BE PREPARED

 

BE PREPARED

Prov. 27:12 A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. NLT

It is foolish to barrel full steam ahead without any idea what may lie before you. We don’t know the dangers that lie before us. Satan is a crafty and formidable foe, and he likes to lay traps for us. He doesn’t want us to get very far in our spiritual walk and will do all he can to hinder us or stop us altogether. What lies ahead for us could damage our souls severely.

Wise is he who tries to anticipate what may lie ahead. We obviously have no real idea what the future may hold for us, but we can take some precautionary steps today to better prepare us for whatever we may face.

It is imperative for the safety of our souls that we keep our eyes focused on Christ today. We must stay in close fellowship with Him. We must learn all we can about how to live in Him. We must consistently work to develop a healthy relationship with Him. In order to be ready for the future, we must be in the Word of God on a consistent basis. We must read it, think about it, and strive to apply it to life. We must spend time in prayer consistently. We must take the time in prayer to worship and develop the discipline of lingering there. We must be actively serving the Lord, doing all we can to bring Him honor among men. We must be witnesses for Him whenever we can.

When we live in Christ today, growing in grace and our knowledge of Him, we will be ready for whatever may lie before us in the future. If we don’t take care of our souls, the consequences may be severe. An unprepared soul may face the Lord unexpectedly and then it will be too late. Don’t go into your future blind. Be sure your heart is right with God. Today may very well be your last day on earth.

STARVE IT TO DEATH

 

STARVE IT TO DEATH

Prov. 26:20 Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. NLT

In order to keep a fire going, you have to keep feeding it. In order to keep an argument going, you have to keep feeding it. Quarrels are unavoidable. We have different opinions on a lot of things. We want our opinions to be heard and understood. We want to convince others that we are right, and they are wrong. We dig in our heels and refuse to back down. When no one gives ground, quarrels break down relationships. We allow our disagreements to keep us from getting along with others. We find ways to justify our position the longer the quarrel goes. We develop “reasons” why we are right, and others are wrong. We refuse to budge because we let it become an image issue. Whether we are right or wrong doesn’t matter. Pride makes us right in our own eyes.

The only way we can keep from allowing relationships from being broken is to see the bigger picture. When we are at odds with each other, we cannot be right with God. When we let quarrels keep us from acting in a loving way towards another, we are stopping the flow of God’s love through us to another. We are keeping the good that could happen between us and others from happening. It is going against God’s will for us, and it is sin.

When we find ourselves arguing with others, we need to humble ourselves and back off. We need to understand that severed relationships are never good. We need to stop the arguing and strive to live peacefully with others. We need to apologize where it is needed and move on. You may never agree with the other person on their stand, but that is not the issue. You can agree to disagree agreeably. You can set aside your differences and let the Lord help you to love each other.

If you are at odds with someone and it has broken your fellowship, don’t let your pride stand in the way of your reaching out and seeking reconciliation. Extend the hand of loving fellowship. Do the right thing before God, and He will give you peace. Don’t add fuel to the fire, let it die out. You will be glad you did.

IT'S NO JOKE

 

IT’S NO JOKE

Prov. 26:18-19 Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” NLT

Words matter. Truth matters. What you say affects others. When lies are spoken about another, great harm is done. False accusations can forever affect the way others are perceived. False information can forever affect what a person does or says. False accusations can forever affect relationships. No matter how you look at it, lies are bad and should never be spoken.

Lies when found out affect one’s reputation and reliability. There is no such thing as an insignificant lie. It affects the soul and when lies are spoken it sets off a progression of sin in the soul. When truth is compromised, God is not pleased and judges the soul. It is so easy to lie because it is convenient or self-serving to do so, but it is never appropriate or necessary. Truth must always be spoken if one is going to have a heart right with God.

If telling the truth would create problems, one must prayerfully consider whether or not it should be told. Silence is the only acceptable option to not telling the truth. It is better to not say anything than it is to lie about someone or something. The truth sometimes hurts, but sometimes it is a good thing to hurt. Telling the truth is necessary for needed change to take place.

Telling lies is no joking matter. It deeply affects one’s standing with God and with others. Lies cause great harm for all involved. Speak the truth always. Only a heart connection with Christ can keep one from telling lies. Keeping the soul in tune with the Lord moves the soul to always want to speak the truth. No matter how uncomfortable it may make you feel, always speak the truth in love. It is God’s way.

LIVING TO BE NOTICED

 

LIVING TO BE NOTICED

Prov. 25:27 Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve. NLT

We do it don’t we? We think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We get caught up in the thinking of the world and believe that we deserve attention and the accolades of others. We see ourselves as inherently good and deserving of notice. Some go out of their way to be noticed. Being noticed by others becomes their way of life. It is what defines them as a person.

It is not a good thing when we begin to focus our thoughts on ourselves. It always leads us into areas of pride over our self-worth or it destroys our self-worth because we believe the lie that we are not worth anything because we are not being noticed by anyone.

A much better way to deal with life is to see ourselves positioned in Christ. When we find our worth rooted in a relationship with God, we don’t need the recognition of man.

For the child of God, we live for God’s approval. Just to know that God is pleased with us and is waiting for us to go to heaven to be with Him is enough to make life worth the living. It is far better to be approved of by God than it is by man.

The honors received by man are so shallow and fleeting. You may be on the top of the world today and in the gutter tomorrow. The world admires those who rise to the top and stay there. The moment someone stumbles and falls, they are judged, discarded and forgotten. Success is everything to the world. It is what gives life meaning to most. Comparing one’s self to others is what the world does. The better one seems to be compared to others, the more self-worth one seems to have.

Keep your focus on pleasing God and you will not have to depend on man’s approval for meaning in life. You will discover how shallow and meaningless life is as it is lived by the world. Success will be measured by how you walk in Christ instead of how you walk in the world.

You will only find soul satisfaction and peace when you live your life in fellowship with Christ Jesus our Lord.

DO NOT COMPROMISE

 

DO NOT COMPROMISE

Prov. 25:26 If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring. NLT

A fountain that is muddy is not pleasing to the eye. It is something that no one wants to be around. It serves no real purpose and is turned off until the problem is fixed. A muddy spring is not good for anything. The soul is the same way. It has no real purpose or function if it is all muddied up with sin. The only way the soul can be refreshing and produce godly fruit is for it to be purified from the sin that muddies it. The only way anyone will be attracted to it is if it is pure.

If the pure in heart compromise their purity with the wicked, they muddy up the water of their soul. There are many different ways one can compromise their purity. Instead of taking a firm and strong stand against sin, some take the easy road and cave in to it. Instead of believing what God says is, some believe what man says is and fall into sin. Instead of speaking out against sin, some sit idly by and let sin have its way. Instead of sacrificing personal pleasure or gain for the sake of purity, some lower their standards so they can have what they want.

And yes, it is possible for godly people to compromise their godliness with sin. Sadly, it goes on all the time. Most of the time it happens when we lose sight of the importance of holiness in our lives. We believe the lies of Satan that it’s not that big of a deal. We question our own need to be holy. We believe that God will overlook it if we are not as holy as we should be. We deny the fact that holiness means we take a stand against sin and strive to keep it out of our hearts.

Let me ask you this. How much have you compromised your godliness? Are you as holy as you know you should be? Are you as concerned about it as you know you should be? Do you really think the Lord is pleased with how well you take a stand for that which is right in His sight? If you are uncomfortable with thinking about these things, you need to have a talk with the Lord about it right now.

God never compromises His Word or the truth, and neither should we. If we do, it is sin, and we will answer to God for it.