Blogger's Note: Somehow, yesterday in a moment of distraction, I got sidetracked from posting this journal entry. I most certainly completed it in my discipline of morning quiet times; but I just didn't get it posted, noting it this morning. So, on this one morning, I'll be posting yesterday's entry (11/3) and then today's
Passage of the Day: James 3: 13 … from the NIV … Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
James 3: 13 … from the NASB … Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
James 3: 13 …from the NKJV … Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
My Journal for Today: Okay, for those who’re following my devotional journal entries, we’re back for another day with the exhortation from James to find the wise among us. And we’ve seen that, according to the brother of Jesus, a wise Christian is one who behaves in a Godly manner, with actions consistent with God’s way of doing business in the world.
BUT (and this is not a small “but”), in the latter part of verse 13, we read that deeds done by the wise Christian should be those which exhibit “gentleness” or “meekness” of wisdom [see the NASB and NKJ versions above]. Having done a little study on this, I’m sharing three versions for this verse with you today because there are three different English terms used in these three translations of this Bible passage to describe the type of wisdom one should look for when observing the behavior of the Christian. The NIV is a scholarly translation; but in this instance, though I’m not a Bible scholar, I think that the NASB or the NKJV are closer in accurately interpreting the Greek meaning for what the NIV calls the “humility of wisdom.”
The Greek term used in this key part of James 3: 13 is “prautes,” which is from the root word “praos,” which Jesus used to describe Himself in Matt. 11: 29, … calling Himself, “meek” or “gentle.” So, the use of “gentleness” in the NASB or “meekness” in the NKJV to describe the character of the wisdom exhibited by Christians is a better rendering [I believe] than the use of the term “humility” in the NIV.
As I just made reference, MEEKNESS is one of the only adjectives ever used by Jesus to describe Himself (again – Matt. 11: 29). And Jesus also laid His blessing on anyone who showed meekness (see His blessing in the beatitude of Matt. 5: 5). All of these scriptural references to meekness, though they may be differing Greek words, “prautes, praotes, praus, and/or praos,” all express the same root meaning; and that is to place strength under control when living out our lives. When it applies to a Christian person, he/she could be one with great inner or outer strength, but that one would definitely be one who is willing to submit that strength to self-control in the pressure of the moment. We’d call that person “cool” today, wouldn’t we? And wasn’t Jesus just the “coolest” person ever? He had all power at His disposal [being 100% God], yet He willingly released that power during His walk as a Man for the glory of His Father (see Phil. 2: 5 – 11 - linked here for your reference).
So, James is saying in today’s verse that wisdom is exhibited by the Christian who can reign in his emotions, personal power or his desire for personal control, surrendering them to God’s Spirit, and exhibiting great restraint under the pressure of the world. What about it? Are we cool (i.e., gentle, meek, or restrained) under fire? Are we what James would call “wise” believers? Are we like Jesus under pressure?
Personally, I’ve got a [LONG!] way to go [or grow] on that one!
My Prayer Today: Help me to be meek, like You, Lord. Amen
Showing posts with label man's foolishness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label man's foolishness. Show all posts
Friday, November 04, 2011
Monday, May 17, 2010
2010 – May 17 – Wising Up, … the Hard Way
Study from God’s Word… Prov. 22: 17 – 21; Prov. 1: 1 – 7; Prov. 25: 1; Prov. 9: 10 – 12; Prov. 10: 27; Prov. 14: 2, 26-27; Prov. 15: 33; Prov. 29: 23; Prov. 28: 14; Prov. 3: 5 – 8; Prov. 14: 12 [16: 25]; Prov. 16: 3, 20; Prov. 18: 2, 4, 10; Prov. 19: 3; Prov. 20: 24; Prov. 21: 22; Prov. 26: 12; Prov. 28: 26; Prov. 29: 25; Prov. 15: 3; Prov. 16: 1, 4, 9, 33; Prov. 19: 21; Prov. 21: 30-31; Prov. 22: 12; Prov. 27: 1; Prov 13: 14; Prov. 15: 24; Prov. 16: 22: Prov. 17: 13; Prov. 24: 7, 13-14; Prov. 26: 4 – 11; Prov. 27: 22; Prov. 29: 9; Prov. 10: 13, 23; Prov. 13: 15; Prov. 14: 6, 8, 15, 33; Prov. 15: 21; Prov. 16: 16; Prov. 17: 24; Prov. 20: 5, 12; Prov. 10: 14; Prov. 13: 16; Prov. 14: 18; Prov. 15: 14; Prov. 18: 15; Prov. 19: 2; Prov. 20: 15; Prov. 21: 11; Prov. 23: 12; Prov. 24: 14 … Passage for Reflection: Proverbs 1: 7… NIV 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
My Journal for Today: The proverbs, which I read this morning and documented by number above, were pre-organized by Dr. Smith for the disciple’s study into various topics related to wisdom, … topics such as … The Purpose of the Proverbs, Fear of the Lord, Trust in God, Divine Providence, Wisdom Versus Folly, Dealing with Fools, Discernment and Understanding, and Knowledge. It would have taken me a long, long time to organize these proverbs into study topics like this; so I’m deeply indebted to the work F. LaGard Smith has done in his Daily Bible in Chronological Order so that seekers such as I can read through God’s Proverbs in topical order like this. It makes it so much easier to glean truth and personal application through such a study; and today’s highlight verse zeroes in on one truth which cannot – and must not – be ignored by disciples of Christ; and that is the connection between fear (i.e., “fear of the Lord”) and discipline.
Ugh! “Discipline!!!” That concept just seems to resonate with negative emotions, doesn’t it? We think of being afraid of our parents when we were naughty because of the “discipline” which might (and often did) result. Or we think of all that dedication and “discipline” an Olympic athlete, like a Michael Phelps, had to have to become a Gold Medal winner, … let alone one who wins eight of those suckers.
Yes, “discipline” seems such a hard thing to take; and the concept of “fear,” also found in today’s highlight passage, is another concept which resonates with negative. Yet, like “discipline,” the idea of fear can have enormously positive implications. It is fear of harm which keeps us from doing impulsive and foolish things, isn’t it (or shouldn’t it be)? And it is “fear” and “discipline” which, when applied to one’s life, leads one to excellence, as it did for Phelps swimming for all those gold medals.
So, the question becomes, “How do I apply the FEAR OF THE LORD to my life in a way that I will apply the DISCIPLINE I need to obey Him, serve Him, and glorify Him?” And that’s a matter of faith and belief, isn’t it? If we believe God’s word, which implies the discipline of knowing God’s truth from His word, we will do what God says; and that requires the discipline to read, learn, and apply the precepts found in the Bible to our lives. My challenge has always been CHOOSING to believe that the outcomes are worth the effort it takes to reverence my God – through His truth – enough to dig it out, interpret it for my life, and then to apply it to what I choose to do. And in that process I will become a worthy and effective DISCIPLE (the core of “discipline”) for Christ … OR NOT!!!
I can only pray that I believe and choose to live as a Proverbs 1: 7 disciple of Christ, making Him the Lord all I think, say, and do.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You know my heart; and I do fear You because I know how much You have loved me by dying for me. And oh, how my reverence leads me to know You more today than yesterday … and even more tomorrow than today. Amen
My Journal for Today: The proverbs, which I read this morning and documented by number above, were pre-organized by Dr. Smith for the disciple’s study into various topics related to wisdom, … topics such as … The Purpose of the Proverbs, Fear of the Lord, Trust in God, Divine Providence, Wisdom Versus Folly, Dealing with Fools, Discernment and Understanding, and Knowledge. It would have taken me a long, long time to organize these proverbs into study topics like this; so I’m deeply indebted to the work F. LaGard Smith has done in his Daily Bible in Chronological Order so that seekers such as I can read through God’s Proverbs in topical order like this. It makes it so much easier to glean truth and personal application through such a study; and today’s highlight verse zeroes in on one truth which cannot – and must not – be ignored by disciples of Christ; and that is the connection between fear (i.e., “fear of the Lord”) and discipline.
Ugh! “Discipline!!!” That concept just seems to resonate with negative emotions, doesn’t it? We think of being afraid of our parents when we were naughty because of the “discipline” which might (and often did) result. Or we think of all that dedication and “discipline” an Olympic athlete, like a Michael Phelps, had to have to become a Gold Medal winner, … let alone one who wins eight of those suckers.
Yes, “discipline” seems such a hard thing to take; and the concept of “fear,” also found in today’s highlight passage, is another concept which resonates with negative. Yet, like “discipline,” the idea of fear can have enormously positive implications. It is fear of harm which keeps us from doing impulsive and foolish things, isn’t it (or shouldn’t it be)? And it is “fear” and “discipline” which, when applied to one’s life, leads one to excellence, as it did for Phelps swimming for all those gold medals.
So, the question becomes, “How do I apply the FEAR OF THE LORD to my life in a way that I will apply the DISCIPLINE I need to obey Him, serve Him, and glorify Him?” And that’s a matter of faith and belief, isn’t it? If we believe God’s word, which implies the discipline of knowing God’s truth from His word, we will do what God says; and that requires the discipline to read, learn, and apply the precepts found in the Bible to our lives. My challenge has always been CHOOSING to believe that the outcomes are worth the effort it takes to reverence my God – through His truth – enough to dig it out, interpret it for my life, and then to apply it to what I choose to do. And in that process I will become a worthy and effective DISCIPLE (the core of “discipline”) for Christ … OR NOT!!!
I can only pray that I believe and choose to live as a Proverbs 1: 7 disciple of Christ, making Him the Lord all I think, say, and do.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You know my heart; and I do fear You because I know how much You have loved me by dying for me. And oh, how my reverence leads me to know You more today than yesterday … and even more tomorrow than today. Amen
Sunday, May 16, 2010
2010 – May 16 – Calling All Nincompoops
Study from God’s Word… Proverbs topically presented … WISDOM … Proverbs 8: 1 – 36; Prov. 9: 1 - 6; Prov. 2: 1 – 22; Prov. 3: 13 – 24; Prov. 1: 20 – 33; Prov. 9: 13 – 18; and Prov. 4: 1 – 27 … Passage for Reflection: Proverbs 9: 13 - 17… NIV 13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 16 "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. 17 "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!"
My Journal for Today: I must admit that I was drawn by curiosity to the title of today’s devotional entry by Dr. Smith as he takes his readers into the book of wisdom which we call PROVERBS. Ordering and editing these poetic reflections on life, mostly authored by Solomon, Smith uses topical divisions for the daily reading segments to help his readers focus on the wisdom being presented by the various proverbial authors. And he begins with probably one the major themes Solomon reflected on in these poems; and that was the essence of “wisdom,” hence today’s title which points, maybe too personally for me, to the opposite of the wise man … that of being what we humans often call … “The Nincompoop (aka, “the fool”).”
Smith helps us see that Solomon uses a word picture to depict a battle between two women, who personify “Wisdom” and “Folly” by his writings. These early proverbs I believe were written during a point of Godly discernment, early in Solomon’s life, when he had sons whom he needed to impart the wisdom God had given to him as king [and of course, as a father as well]. Later in his life, however, we read, for example in Ecclesiastes, how Solomon had become a very cynical man, one who had recognized himself becoming the fool he wrote about in Proverbs while trying to have his progeny avoid such foolishness. But here in Proverbs, inspired by God’s Spirit, we read Solomon writing about the woman, “Wisdom,” whom we are to pursue and the enchantress, “Folly,” whom his sons (and we) should avoid.
Wisdom, as Smith teaches, is the straight up teacher of truth, lauding Godly virtues and promoting knowledge and understanding Folly, on the other hand, is a cunning liar who makes wrong seem right. As Smith puts it, Folly “… knowing that if simpletons fall tor her ridiculous ploy, they will fall for anything.” And all you have to do is look into the headlines of today to see the battle between Wisdom and Folly being played out in our world.
The question becomes, “Who believes he (or she) is following Wisdom; and who is falling for Folly?” And Smith is right; it is the classic battle of life; truth versus falsehood, good versus evil, and right versus wrong. As Smith asks, “Why anyone would side with Folly is a mystery?” Maybe it’s because others can’t see that they fall for the con game of “Folly,” not being able to see the truth of “Wisdom.” And I’m afraid that lack of discernment will be with us into eternity, guided by those who ultimately have, by their choice of faith, received the Holy Spirit to allow the Godly wise to avoid the worldly folly.
But having made this choice in life and having been one who followed “folly” in my past, I can now see the fate of the “simple,” who cannot discern Folly from Wisdom. As Smith refers, we, who know Christ, and have the advantage of Godly discernment, might have weak moments of human follow. And too often we may make reference to those in the world who don’t get it, as being “simple-minded” as a “dimwit, dunce, dumbbell, ignoramus, moron, knucklehead or a nincompoop!” Hopefully we avoid such invective name calling; but I have to admit that what I see now as a Christian makes me rail with pain when I see so many falling for those, representing “Folly,” who spout untruth, selling it as truth. They are those which call bad, good and wrong, right; and people fall for it. My wife often says, “You just can cure dumb!” And she is so, so right.
For so many years I was one of those “nincompoops,” dumbly following “Folly” in the public arena of life; and being the gullible sort I am, I was a pretty easy prey for Satan and his minions, who were leading me so deftly and coyly down the path to eternal damnation. But so fortunately for me, the lady, “Wisdom,” came into my life, speaking the truth God had her to speak to me through other Christians who followed her truthful path. And I was slain by the Spirit of Christ, Who came after me as the Hound of Heaven, allowing me to see His Gospel Truth; … and allowing me to make the decision to see His truth wrapped in His lady, “Wisdom.” And from April 13, 1983 until the present I have been pursuing “Wisdom” rather than falling for “Folly.”
I pray that is your path as well.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, help me to continue to be able to see Your truth and avoid the world’s ways as I delve deeply into Your word, where I know I will always find Your will for my life, allowing me to follow Your light and to avoid the darkness of the world. Amen
My Journal for Today: I must admit that I was drawn by curiosity to the title of today’s devotional entry by Dr. Smith as he takes his readers into the book of wisdom which we call PROVERBS. Ordering and editing these poetic reflections on life, mostly authored by Solomon, Smith uses topical divisions for the daily reading segments to help his readers focus on the wisdom being presented by the various proverbial authors. And he begins with probably one the major themes Solomon reflected on in these poems; and that was the essence of “wisdom,” hence today’s title which points, maybe too personally for me, to the opposite of the wise man … that of being what we humans often call … “The Nincompoop (aka, “the fool”).”
Smith helps us see that Solomon uses a word picture to depict a battle between two women, who personify “Wisdom” and “Folly” by his writings. These early proverbs I believe were written during a point of Godly discernment, early in Solomon’s life, when he had sons whom he needed to impart the wisdom God had given to him as king [and of course, as a father as well]. Later in his life, however, we read, for example in Ecclesiastes, how Solomon had become a very cynical man, one who had recognized himself becoming the fool he wrote about in Proverbs while trying to have his progeny avoid such foolishness. But here in Proverbs, inspired by God’s Spirit, we read Solomon writing about the woman, “Wisdom,” whom we are to pursue and the enchantress, “Folly,” whom his sons (and we) should avoid.
Wisdom, as Smith teaches, is the straight up teacher of truth, lauding Godly virtues and promoting knowledge and understanding Folly, on the other hand, is a cunning liar who makes wrong seem right. As Smith puts it, Folly “… knowing that if simpletons fall tor her ridiculous ploy, they will fall for anything.” And all you have to do is look into the headlines of today to see the battle between Wisdom and Folly being played out in our world.
The question becomes, “Who believes he (or she) is following Wisdom; and who is falling for Folly?” And Smith is right; it is the classic battle of life; truth versus falsehood, good versus evil, and right versus wrong. As Smith asks, “Why anyone would side with Folly is a mystery?” Maybe it’s because others can’t see that they fall for the con game of “Folly,” not being able to see the truth of “Wisdom.” And I’m afraid that lack of discernment will be with us into eternity, guided by those who ultimately have, by their choice of faith, received the Holy Spirit to allow the Godly wise to avoid the worldly folly.
But having made this choice in life and having been one who followed “folly” in my past, I can now see the fate of the “simple,” who cannot discern Folly from Wisdom. As Smith refers, we, who know Christ, and have the advantage of Godly discernment, might have weak moments of human follow. And too often we may make reference to those in the world who don’t get it, as being “simple-minded” as a “dimwit, dunce, dumbbell, ignoramus, moron, knucklehead or a nincompoop!” Hopefully we avoid such invective name calling; but I have to admit that what I see now as a Christian makes me rail with pain when I see so many falling for those, representing “Folly,” who spout untruth, selling it as truth. They are those which call bad, good and wrong, right; and people fall for it. My wife often says, “You just can cure dumb!” And she is so, so right.
For so many years I was one of those “nincompoops,” dumbly following “Folly” in the public arena of life; and being the gullible sort I am, I was a pretty easy prey for Satan and his minions, who were leading me so deftly and coyly down the path to eternal damnation. But so fortunately for me, the lady, “Wisdom,” came into my life, speaking the truth God had her to speak to me through other Christians who followed her truthful path. And I was slain by the Spirit of Christ, Who came after me as the Hound of Heaven, allowing me to see His Gospel Truth; … and allowing me to make the decision to see His truth wrapped in His lady, “Wisdom.” And from April 13, 1983 until the present I have been pursuing “Wisdom” rather than falling for “Folly.”
I pray that is your path as well.
My Prayer for Today: Oh, Lord, help me to continue to be able to see Your truth and avoid the world’s ways as I delve deeply into Your word, where I know I will always find Your will for my life, allowing me to follow Your light and to avoid the darkness of the world. Amen
Saturday, May 15, 2010
2010 – May 15 – Not a Wise Move
Study from God’s Word… 1st Kings 7: 1 – 12; 1st Kings 9: 1-9 [2nd Chron. 7: 11-22]; 1st Kings 9: 10-14; 2nd Chron. 8: 1-3; 1st Kings 9: 17-19 [2nd Chron. 8: 4-6]; 1st Kings 9: 20-23, 15 [2nd Chron. 8: 7-10]; 1st Kings 9: 24 [2nd Chron. 8: 11]; 1st Kings 9: 26-28 and 10: 22 [2nd Chron. 8: 17, 18 and 9: 21]; 1st Kings 4: 29-34; 1st Kings 10: 14-21, 27, 23-25 [2nd Chron. 1: 15, 9: 13-20, 27, 22-24]; 1st Kings 4: 26, 10: 26, 28-29 [2nd Chron. 1: 14, 16-17; 9: 25, 28]; 1st Kings 4: 21, 24 [2nd Chron. 9: 26]; 1st Kings 4: 20, 25; 1st Kings 4: 1-19; 1st Kings 4: 22, 23-28; 1st Kings 10: 1-13 [2nd Chron. 9: 1-12]; Psalm 72: 1-19 … Passage for Reflection: 2nd Chronicles 8: 11 … NIV 11 Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the LORD has entered are holy."
My Journal for Today: As you can see above from the record of what I’ve read from the Old Testament today in The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, the record of Solomon’s accomplishments and his accumulation of wealth, worldly influence, and power were impressive, to say the least. And I’m so grateful for F. LaGard Smith’s editing of all of this from 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles, where it is all written for us to study in parallel reference. I would have never been able to see all of this in such concise space and time to appreciate all that Solomon did in his 20 year reign while the Temple and his palace were being built.
But as I read all of this during my devotional time this morning, especially being alerted by Dr. Smith’s highlight passage and his devotional entry for this date, I was stricken by the strange point/counterpoint of Solomon’s God-given wisdom and his human foolishness. And we see that coming into focus as he makes a worldly and politically “wise” move in marrying an Egyptian princess to solidify his security position with Egypt in those days. However, then he must, against God’s commands, bring this pagan wife into his palace. So, he builds her a separate quarter in the palace so that she will not pollute the holiness of the Arc of the Covenant. Go figure! Such a wise man being so foolish to think that he could bypass God’s will and The Lord’s commands. And this goes on, as I read in 1st Kings 4 and 10 of Solomon’s accumulation of horses and wealth and women, I couldn’t help but reflect on this man’s almost pathological denial of what he must’ve known were God’s commands for any man who became King of Israel. Solomon was mega-wise; and if so, as he accumulated all those horses, women, and wealth, he had to have been convicted by God’s rules for His Kings laid out in Deuteronomy 17.
So, did Solomon, this super-wise man, think that he was pulling the wool over God’s eyes? But knowing how foolish and prideful I can be – and have been – in my life, I empathize with Solomon’s degree of arrogant stupidity, pridefully wrapped up in a package of worldly wisdom, which God had imparted to this man who inherited the kingship from his father, David. Certainly like father, like son; because David knew of God’s commands; but his kingly arrogance was a model of foolhardy judgment in his interaction with the woman who was Solomon’s mother. Wow, Solomon certainly didn’t get this mixture of wisdom and arrogance from anybody strange, did he? As they say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
The whole thing is a clarion and glaring warning that NO ONE can bypass God’s commands. NO ONE is wise enough in our fallen humanity to think that he can get away with a departure from God’s way. And in this New Covenant dispensation, we Christians really have no excuse because we have God’s word – His absolute truth – to shine a light on our path. God, the Father, sent His Son to light that path; and all we have to do is be obedient to His word and follow His (the Son’s) way; and we will have all the wisdom we need to live in this life. That’s what Peter learned and espoused to believers in 2nd Peter 1: 3-4; and this being the truth, we need to realize that if we believe this and live by the truths of such passages as Psalm 119: 105, Prov. 3: 5-6, and Luke 9: 23, we’ll never let pride or denial or human foolishness bring us down as these sinful forces did for Solomon.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help us to believe in, follow, and live by these truths. For in doing so, we will glorify You. Amen
My Journal for Today: As you can see above from the record of what I’ve read from the Old Testament today in The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, the record of Solomon’s accomplishments and his accumulation of wealth, worldly influence, and power were impressive, to say the least. And I’m so grateful for F. LaGard Smith’s editing of all of this from 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles, where it is all written for us to study in parallel reference. I would have never been able to see all of this in such concise space and time to appreciate all that Solomon did in his 20 year reign while the Temple and his palace were being built.
But as I read all of this during my devotional time this morning, especially being alerted by Dr. Smith’s highlight passage and his devotional entry for this date, I was stricken by the strange point/counterpoint of Solomon’s God-given wisdom and his human foolishness. And we see that coming into focus as he makes a worldly and politically “wise” move in marrying an Egyptian princess to solidify his security position with Egypt in those days. However, then he must, against God’s commands, bring this pagan wife into his palace. So, he builds her a separate quarter in the palace so that she will not pollute the holiness of the Arc of the Covenant. Go figure! Such a wise man being so foolish to think that he could bypass God’s will and The Lord’s commands. And this goes on, as I read in 1st Kings 4 and 10 of Solomon’s accumulation of horses and wealth and women, I couldn’t help but reflect on this man’s almost pathological denial of what he must’ve known were God’s commands for any man who became King of Israel. Solomon was mega-wise; and if so, as he accumulated all those horses, women, and wealth, he had to have been convicted by God’s rules for His Kings laid out in Deuteronomy 17.
So, did Solomon, this super-wise man, think that he was pulling the wool over God’s eyes? But knowing how foolish and prideful I can be – and have been – in my life, I empathize with Solomon’s degree of arrogant stupidity, pridefully wrapped up in a package of worldly wisdom, which God had imparted to this man who inherited the kingship from his father, David. Certainly like father, like son; because David knew of God’s commands; but his kingly arrogance was a model of foolhardy judgment in his interaction with the woman who was Solomon’s mother. Wow, Solomon certainly didn’t get this mixture of wisdom and arrogance from anybody strange, did he? As they say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
The whole thing is a clarion and glaring warning that NO ONE can bypass God’s commands. NO ONE is wise enough in our fallen humanity to think that he can get away with a departure from God’s way. And in this New Covenant dispensation, we Christians really have no excuse because we have God’s word – His absolute truth – to shine a light on our path. God, the Father, sent His Son to light that path; and all we have to do is be obedient to His word and follow His (the Son’s) way; and we will have all the wisdom we need to live in this life. That’s what Peter learned and espoused to believers in 2nd Peter 1: 3-4; and this being the truth, we need to realize that if we believe this and live by the truths of such passages as Psalm 119: 105, Prov. 3: 5-6, and Luke 9: 23, we’ll never let pride or denial or human foolishness bring us down as these sinful forces did for Solomon.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help us to believe in, follow, and live by these truths. For in doing so, we will glorify You. Amen
Saturday, May 08, 2010
2010 – May 8 – Knowing the Limits of Knowing
Study from God’s Word… Psalms 111, 130, 131, 141, and 146 … Passage for Reflection: Psalm 131: 1 … NIV 1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
My Journal for Today: Dr. F. LaGard Smith has me reading more Psalms, extolling the virtue of faithfulness and the discipline of righteousness; and he has me reeling in the recognition of my own human weakness. And today’s highlight passage from Psalm 131: 1 declares the realization of our limits as well as the respect we should have for the God, Who has created the “…great matters or things too wonderful for me (to fully understand).”
It’s okay to seek after the understanding of God’s way and His will for our lives. He has given us that prerogative and even invited us to get to know Him and His ways deeply. However, we should never be so presumptuous and prideful to think that we’re ever going to be able to plumb the depths of His mind/heart. How often do I return to the humbling premise, ”God is God; and I am not!” And … right in this moment, having meditated on today’s passage, my memory of Scripture has bubbled up in my consciousness, allowing me to remember the words from God to God’s people through the Prophet in Isaiah 55: 8 – 9, which I charge you to go back and study [with the available link], if you don’t know it by heart.
As Smith states today, “… we are foolish to think that we humans could ever unravel the mystery of God Himself;” but even more foolish are those who think they can substitute their own theories or human understanding to posit answers for the unanswerable. And there are many atheists who dabble in such foolishness. At one time in my life I was one of those fools; and I now recognize that all I was doing by trying to substitute my interpretations of such phenomena as the origins of life was giving me an excuse to be my own “god,” not having to obey or live under the sovereignty of THE GOD. And that prideful foolishness got me nowhere in life, … only brokenness and pain.
But now I recognize that God has given me all I need to gain as much understanding about my God as I need to in this life; and that understanding, which is the fear of the Lord and the beginning of wisdom [see Psalm 111: 10], comes from – and ONLY comes from – His truth through His word. As Peter extolled believers in 2nd Peter 1: 3-4, I have enough from God’s truth and seeking His ways to live in this life; and all I have to do is trust my Lord; and he will lead me into and through the minefields of my life (see Prov. 3: 5-6). And that’s enough for me; as it should be enough for you as well.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You and Your word are enough knowledge for me. Amen
My Journal for Today: Dr. F. LaGard Smith has me reading more Psalms, extolling the virtue of faithfulness and the discipline of righteousness; and he has me reeling in the recognition of my own human weakness. And today’s highlight passage from Psalm 131: 1 declares the realization of our limits as well as the respect we should have for the God, Who has created the “…great matters or things too wonderful for me (to fully understand).”
It’s okay to seek after the understanding of God’s way and His will for our lives. He has given us that prerogative and even invited us to get to know Him and His ways deeply. However, we should never be so presumptuous and prideful to think that we’re ever going to be able to plumb the depths of His mind/heart. How often do I return to the humbling premise, ”God is God; and I am not!” And … right in this moment, having meditated on today’s passage, my memory of Scripture has bubbled up in my consciousness, allowing me to remember the words from God to God’s people through the Prophet in Isaiah 55: 8 – 9, which I charge you to go back and study [with the available link], if you don’t know it by heart.
As Smith states today, “… we are foolish to think that we humans could ever unravel the mystery of God Himself;” but even more foolish are those who think they can substitute their own theories or human understanding to posit answers for the unanswerable. And there are many atheists who dabble in such foolishness. At one time in my life I was one of those fools; and I now recognize that all I was doing by trying to substitute my interpretations of such phenomena as the origins of life was giving me an excuse to be my own “god,” not having to obey or live under the sovereignty of THE GOD. And that prideful foolishness got me nowhere in life, … only brokenness and pain.
But now I recognize that God has given me all I need to gain as much understanding about my God as I need to in this life; and that understanding, which is the fear of the Lord and the beginning of wisdom [see Psalm 111: 10], comes from – and ONLY comes from – His truth through His word. As Peter extolled believers in 2nd Peter 1: 3-4, I have enough from God’s truth and seeking His ways to live in this life; and all I have to do is trust my Lord; and he will lead me into and through the minefields of my life (see Prov. 3: 5-6). And that’s enough for me; as it should be enough for you as well.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, You and Your word are enough knowledge for me. Amen
Thursday, April 01, 2010
2010 – April 1 – If Jealousy Could Kill
Blogger's Note: I move into April, 2010, appropriately with a discussion of one of the ultimate April Fools of the Old Testament, ... King Saul; but I will continue on in this place journaling my daily thoughts as F. LaGard Smith, pastors me through God's word in a year, using The Daily Bible in Chronological Order. With that in mind, I move on >>>
===================
Study from God’s Word…1st Samuel: 18 – 19: 18; Psalm 59; 1st Samuel 19: 20 - 42 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Samuel 18: 8 – 9 … NIV 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain [the song of victory about David] galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
My Journal for Today: Somehow, though I’m not sure Dr. Smith planned it this way, April 1st seems to be the perfect day to be teaching about how Israel’s first King, Saul, became an absolute fool in his jealousy toward David, who intended nothing but good for his King. But the King went absolutely bonkers into a ballistic foolhardiness, trying to undo David and even to have the young servant killed – by his own hand or that of others.
And it shows us how, when we let the flesh rule over the Spirit of God in our lives [and we do have that choice, given to us by God through free-will], such feelings as jealousy can empower the evil side of our flesh to become April fools of the highest order. King Saul became THE April Fool of all time; and so could we if we try to pursue any feeling or attitude which feeds the flesh rather than God’s Spirit, Who is in the heart of anyone who truly believes in Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.
When we allow our sin nature to be fed by our flesh, it will become an absolute “April Fool” in our soul; and if we try to feed such attitudes as jealousy or covetousness by pursuing idols in our lives, we can become fools of the order of a King Saul. Like Saul, we have an evil spirit in us; and it is the spirit of fear. And it was this spirit, the one which was released in Saul to overcome him with jealousy, which can become strong and express itself in bazaar and foolish ways – yes, even in the lives of Christians - just like it did in the life of Saul.
I would assume – or at least, hope - that this is not what is desired by any who read me here today. I’m praying that all who read this desire to have this “spirit of fear” denounced and defeated in their lives; and that can – and will – be the case if we believe in and live by 2nd Tim. 1: 7, which says, this time in the NKJV, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, my friend, we don’t have to become April Fools, as did Saul, when he gave in to the spirit of fear in his soul, letting jealously loose to overwhelm his life. No, we, as Christians, can surrender to God, the Holy Spirit, Who resides in us, and receive the Spirit’s grace-released power to love ourselves and others as God, Himself, would have us release His power in our lives.
So, on this April Fool’s Day, I pray that all of us will become warriors for God, like David, and reject becoming fools for Satan, like Saul.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, release Your wisdom in and through me so that I may never be a fool, working for Satan; rather release me to be a wise warrior in Your Name. Amen
===================
Study from God’s Word…1st Samuel: 18 – 19: 18; Psalm 59; 1st Samuel 19: 20 - 42 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Samuel 18: 8 – 9 … NIV 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain [the song of victory about David] galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
My Journal for Today: Somehow, though I’m not sure Dr. Smith planned it this way, April 1st seems to be the perfect day to be teaching about how Israel’s first King, Saul, became an absolute fool in his jealousy toward David, who intended nothing but good for his King. But the King went absolutely bonkers into a ballistic foolhardiness, trying to undo David and even to have the young servant killed – by his own hand or that of others.
And it shows us how, when we let the flesh rule over the Spirit of God in our lives [and we do have that choice, given to us by God through free-will], such feelings as jealousy can empower the evil side of our flesh to become April fools of the highest order. King Saul became THE April Fool of all time; and so could we if we try to pursue any feeling or attitude which feeds the flesh rather than God’s Spirit, Who is in the heart of anyone who truly believes in Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.
When we allow our sin nature to be fed by our flesh, it will become an absolute “April Fool” in our soul; and if we try to feed such attitudes as jealousy or covetousness by pursuing idols in our lives, we can become fools of the order of a King Saul. Like Saul, we have an evil spirit in us; and it is the spirit of fear. And it was this spirit, the one which was released in Saul to overcome him with jealousy, which can become strong and express itself in bazaar and foolish ways – yes, even in the lives of Christians - just like it did in the life of Saul.
I would assume – or at least, hope - that this is not what is desired by any who read me here today. I’m praying that all who read this desire to have this “spirit of fear” denounced and defeated in their lives; and that can – and will – be the case if we believe in and live by 2nd Tim. 1: 7, which says, this time in the NKJV, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, my friend, we don’t have to become April Fools, as did Saul, when he gave in to the spirit of fear in his soul, letting jealously loose to overwhelm his life. No, we, as Christians, can surrender to God, the Holy Spirit, Who resides in us, and receive the Spirit’s grace-released power to love ourselves and others as God, Himself, would have us release His power in our lives.
So, on this April Fool’s Day, I pray that all of us will become warriors for God, like David, and reject becoming fools for Satan, like Saul.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, release Your wisdom in and through me so that I may never be a fool, working for Satan; rather release me to be a wise warrior in Your Name. Amen
Sunday, January 03, 2010
2010 – Day 3. Jan. 3 – A God With Feelings
Studying Genesis 6 – 9; Passage for Reflection: Genesis 6: 6 … NIV - The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.
My Journal for Today: I don’t think we, as fallible, ever failing humans can grasp the depth or height of God’s feelings when He either senses His creatures of grace living in sin to abase Him or living in sacrifice to honor Him. We’ve all been disappointed somewhere in our lives by disappointment when someone we love fails us. Maybe a wife learns that her husband has been unfaithful; or parents learn that their daughter is unexpectedly pregnant. Or a dad learns that his son is into drugs. Well, take those feelings of remorse and regret and magnify it by infinity to sense the extent of God’s anguish over seeing mankind’s extent of falling to reject the very God Whom had given them life.
God is both a God of justice and of mercy; and all of that is worked out in the Genesis account of Noah and the flood (i.e., Genesis 6 – 9) which I was led to study in my devotional time this morning. And by contemplating my wife’s feeling of anguish over the years of infidelity which I visited upon her over 30 years ago; and then, to think on the degree of her mercy, forgiveness, and patience to allow God to transform me from an agnostic fool into a loving and purposeful Christian husband gives me a picture, though only a reflection, of the feelings God must have had for mankind by allowing a remnant to live when man had so rejected God’s love in those centuries following the fall in the Garden.
F. LaGard Smith’s question at the end of his devotional today challenges me to reflect on God’s feelings about my sinfulness. He writes, ”When I repeatedly disappoint God, do I understand that I have genuinely and truly broken His heart?” But then, I need to add the other side of that coin of humanity. I need to understand just how much my God smiles with glee when any of His kids (and that certainly includes me) stands up for Godly righteousness or uses His enabling grace to overcome the temptations or tests which our spiritual enemies place in our lives. We have a God who feels for His created children; and we need to honor those feelings with choices which turn His anguish to joy.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I so desire to make You smile today and be filled with joy, not sorrow, as I honor You with my choices. Amen
My Journal for Today: I don’t think we, as fallible, ever failing humans can grasp the depth or height of God’s feelings when He either senses His creatures of grace living in sin to abase Him or living in sacrifice to honor Him. We’ve all been disappointed somewhere in our lives by disappointment when someone we love fails us. Maybe a wife learns that her husband has been unfaithful; or parents learn that their daughter is unexpectedly pregnant. Or a dad learns that his son is into drugs. Well, take those feelings of remorse and regret and magnify it by infinity to sense the extent of God’s anguish over seeing mankind’s extent of falling to reject the very God Whom had given them life.
God is both a God of justice and of mercy; and all of that is worked out in the Genesis account of Noah and the flood (i.e., Genesis 6 – 9) which I was led to study in my devotional time this morning. And by contemplating my wife’s feeling of anguish over the years of infidelity which I visited upon her over 30 years ago; and then, to think on the degree of her mercy, forgiveness, and patience to allow God to transform me from an agnostic fool into a loving and purposeful Christian husband gives me a picture, though only a reflection, of the feelings God must have had for mankind by allowing a remnant to live when man had so rejected God’s love in those centuries following the fall in the Garden.
F. LaGard Smith’s question at the end of his devotional today challenges me to reflect on God’s feelings about my sinfulness. He writes, ”When I repeatedly disappoint God, do I understand that I have genuinely and truly broken His heart?” But then, I need to add the other side of that coin of humanity. I need to understand just how much my God smiles with glee when any of His kids (and that certainly includes me) stands up for Godly righteousness or uses His enabling grace to overcome the temptations or tests which our spiritual enemies place in our lives. We have a God who feels for His created children; and we need to honor those feelings with choices which turn His anguish to joy.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I so desire to make You smile today and be filled with joy, not sorrow, as I honor You with my choices. Amen
Monday, December 28, 2009
2009 – Day 361.Dec 28 – Accountability
Passage for Study: 1st Samuel 13: 1 – 15 … 1st Sam. 13 linked for study …
My Journal for Today: Today’s text, which we’ve looked at in past days when we were studying David’s character, is an account of foolishness prevailing over faithfulness. It is an account of our sin nature not being checked by Godly accountability.
Saul failed in three areas. First, it was God’s way to prevent a Hebrew King from taking on the role of Priest and offering up sacrifices for the nation. That was God’s ordained role for only His anointed Priesthood. Secondly, Israel’s first king ignored his covenant with Samuel to wait until Samuel arrived before proceeding with preparation for battle with the Philistines. Saul panicked and rushed ahead, demonstrating his lack of faith and his desire to placate his own fears rather than to surrender to God’s will in this matter. And finally, Saul felt compelled to trust himself and to view the world horizontally, from a human viewpoint, rather than vertically, trusting in God for deliverance.
Saul saw his earthly army evaporating before his eyes; and he panicked. And this was like the Hebrew people who selfishly demanded a King to keep up with all those countries in the Middle East at the time who had kings who appeared so strong in their eyes. And these were God’s people who had forgotten their history of deliverance by God from their own sinfulness over and over and over again, from Moses delivering God’s people from Egypt down through all those times of deliverance from themselves which we read about in the Book of Judges.
How often are we like Saul, ignoring our accountability before God and going off on our own, trying to do things foolishly rather than faithfully following God and doing things in His will rather than our own? And my friend, do you have a “Samuel” in your life, one who helps you remain accountable to God and His will, faithfully confronting you when you have blown it or when you are being a selfish or sinful fool? We are human; and in our humanity, we need to be surrounded by strong and faithful accountability partners or groups, who help to see things from the vertical, Godly perspective, rather than the horizontal, selfish world view.
My friends, over the years, with the help of God’s word, a mentor, and other co-disciples, I have been fortunate to surround myself with a number of groups and individuals who will always keep me looking outward and upward rather than going inward, which is my default, human “M.O.” Without these accountability partners and groups, I’m convinced that I would not be able to resist my “Saulish” tendencies. And God has also brought some fellow believers into my life whom I can help in this way as well. We, as growing Christians all need a Samuel to follow; and prayerfully as maturing Christians, we also can be Samuels to others as well, … all of us working together to remain accountable to God’s will.
Dear one, we all must recognize that we’re vulnerable, as was Saul, to be impatient and selfish. It is our human heart and flesh operating (see Jer. 17: 9 -linked). Satan and his world are ever ready to pour gas on the flames of our fleshly desires, moving us to do things the way of the world rather than God’s way. So, we all need agents of ACCOUNTABILITY in our lives to help keep us on the path God would have us walk, that narrow path to glory that many fewer walk than that wider path to hell which is so popular in our world.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray for all who read here to follow Your Light and to walk in Your direction, ever following You to glory. Help us to help one anther be accountable to Your ways, the ways of truth spelled out in Your word. Amen
My Journal for Today: Today’s text, which we’ve looked at in past days when we were studying David’s character, is an account of foolishness prevailing over faithfulness. It is an account of our sin nature not being checked by Godly accountability.
Saul failed in three areas. First, it was God’s way to prevent a Hebrew King from taking on the role of Priest and offering up sacrifices for the nation. That was God’s ordained role for only His anointed Priesthood. Secondly, Israel’s first king ignored his covenant with Samuel to wait until Samuel arrived before proceeding with preparation for battle with the Philistines. Saul panicked and rushed ahead, demonstrating his lack of faith and his desire to placate his own fears rather than to surrender to God’s will in this matter. And finally, Saul felt compelled to trust himself and to view the world horizontally, from a human viewpoint, rather than vertically, trusting in God for deliverance.
Saul saw his earthly army evaporating before his eyes; and he panicked. And this was like the Hebrew people who selfishly demanded a King to keep up with all those countries in the Middle East at the time who had kings who appeared so strong in their eyes. And these were God’s people who had forgotten their history of deliverance by God from their own sinfulness over and over and over again, from Moses delivering God’s people from Egypt down through all those times of deliverance from themselves which we read about in the Book of Judges.
How often are we like Saul, ignoring our accountability before God and going off on our own, trying to do things foolishly rather than faithfully following God and doing things in His will rather than our own? And my friend, do you have a “Samuel” in your life, one who helps you remain accountable to God and His will, faithfully confronting you when you have blown it or when you are being a selfish or sinful fool? We are human; and in our humanity, we need to be surrounded by strong and faithful accountability partners or groups, who help to see things from the vertical, Godly perspective, rather than the horizontal, selfish world view.
My friends, over the years, with the help of God’s word, a mentor, and other co-disciples, I have been fortunate to surround myself with a number of groups and individuals who will always keep me looking outward and upward rather than going inward, which is my default, human “M.O.” Without these accountability partners and groups, I’m convinced that I would not be able to resist my “Saulish” tendencies. And God has also brought some fellow believers into my life whom I can help in this way as well. We, as growing Christians all need a Samuel to follow; and prayerfully as maturing Christians, we also can be Samuels to others as well, … all of us working together to remain accountable to God’s will.
Dear one, we all must recognize that we’re vulnerable, as was Saul, to be impatient and selfish. It is our human heart and flesh operating (see Jer. 17: 9 -linked). Satan and his world are ever ready to pour gas on the flames of our fleshly desires, moving us to do things the way of the world rather than God’s way. So, we all need agents of ACCOUNTABILITY in our lives to help keep us on the path God would have us walk, that narrow path to glory that many fewer walk than that wider path to hell which is so popular in our world.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I pray for all who read here to follow Your Light and to walk in Your direction, ever following You to glory. Help us to help one anther be accountable to Your ways, the ways of truth spelled out in Your word. Amen
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
2009 – Day 167.June 17 – No Doubt
2009 – Day 167.June 17 – No Doubt
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 18 … Passage linked here …
My Journal for Today: This is the great story of Elijah’s coming out party. Three years of drought is a long time to be without water in a land which can be dry and barren anyway. And now, as we read in verse 1 of 1st Kings 18, God was going to show up – BIGTIME! Elijah gets the word of God he had been waiting for; and the Prophet heads to the court of Ahab.
But note that in the intervening three years of the drought and famine, Elijah, even experiencing the same privation of the people, never wavered in his faith. This “man of God” was a true man of faith. And we see why God’s Spirit came upon this man who was to be God’s spokesperson in one of the great biblical confrontations between God’s goodness and man’s false and selfish beliefs.
As we read in this passage, God had set the stage for Elijah to show that the Prophet’s faithfulness was not misplaced. As Swindoll points out, any natural calamity has a tendency to bring mankind back into a seeking posture to find God’s will and His way. When God’s display of power in a hurricane or flood or earthquake or some other “natural” disaster comes upon man, he has a tendency to begin asking the “WHY” questions and seeking after answers. Therefore, what Elijah was about to show the court of Ahab’s soothsayers was being done in the context of God’s people seeking after the truth and most certainly seeking after relief from the drought of three years.
In my life, after years of brokenness and emotional pain, God brought me to a place where I was seeking after spiritual strength, recognizing that I needed some force beyond myself to deal with my inabilities and core weaknesses. And so, God set the table for me to come after Him, seeking after truth and THE WAY out of my pit of despair. And as with Elijah, God used a wondrous display of His moving in my life to break into my consciousness [long story for another time]. And on April 13th, 1983, God demonstrated clearly through a set of circumstances that His way was the only way for me to break free from my past patterns of habitual sin. And that’s what Elijah was all about, demonstrating God’s power to the court of Ahab.
I hope and pray that anyone who reads this has developed the realization, and preferably the deep and abiding faith, that God’s way is the only way. I pray that you have come to surrender to God’s Spirit, Who is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. Because if you haven’t or you don’t, one day, like the court of Ahab, you will bow your knee to the God of the only way in life.
My Prayer for Today: You, Lord, are the only Way, … the only Truth, … and most certainly, … the only Life. Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 18 … Passage linked here …
My Journal for Today: This is the great story of Elijah’s coming out party. Three years of drought is a long time to be without water in a land which can be dry and barren anyway. And now, as we read in verse 1 of 1st Kings 18, God was going to show up – BIGTIME! Elijah gets the word of God he had been waiting for; and the Prophet heads to the court of Ahab.
But note that in the intervening three years of the drought and famine, Elijah, even experiencing the same privation of the people, never wavered in his faith. This “man of God” was a true man of faith. And we see why God’s Spirit came upon this man who was to be God’s spokesperson in one of the great biblical confrontations between God’s goodness and man’s false and selfish beliefs.
As we read in this passage, God had set the stage for Elijah to show that the Prophet’s faithfulness was not misplaced. As Swindoll points out, any natural calamity has a tendency to bring mankind back into a seeking posture to find God’s will and His way. When God’s display of power in a hurricane or flood or earthquake or some other “natural” disaster comes upon man, he has a tendency to begin asking the “WHY” questions and seeking after answers. Therefore, what Elijah was about to show the court of Ahab’s soothsayers was being done in the context of God’s people seeking after the truth and most certainly seeking after relief from the drought of three years.
In my life, after years of brokenness and emotional pain, God brought me to a place where I was seeking after spiritual strength, recognizing that I needed some force beyond myself to deal with my inabilities and core weaknesses. And so, God set the table for me to come after Him, seeking after truth and THE WAY out of my pit of despair. And as with Elijah, God used a wondrous display of His moving in my life to break into my consciousness [long story for another time]. And on April 13th, 1983, God demonstrated clearly through a set of circumstances that His way was the only way for me to break free from my past patterns of habitual sin. And that’s what Elijah was all about, demonstrating God’s power to the court of Ahab.
I hope and pray that anyone who reads this has developed the realization, and preferably the deep and abiding faith, that God’s way is the only way. I pray that you have come to surrender to God’s Spirit, Who is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. Because if you haven’t or you don’t, one day, like the court of Ahab, you will bow your knee to the God of the only way in life.
My Prayer for Today: You, Lord, are the only Way, … the only Truth, … and most certainly, … the only Life. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
