Scripture - Proverbs 29

Observation-

V. 9 - Most of time the squeaky wheel gets the oil, but I have seen this verse in practice. A friend of mine was taken to court by a person who was simply trying to get money out of him. He remained calm and didn't react to what this person was saying and this person went on and on about how he was a bad person (which was funny because he is a pastor). When the time came he was allowed to speak and calmly told his side of the story... The judge listened to him and decided totally in his favor.

V. 11 - We all face anger in our day to day. I think my greatest struggle with anger is on the roads. This is a great verse for me to remember when I am driving down the road. There is no point in letting anger take control. There is no point in being angry about something so trivial as traffic. In fact when I get angry about something stupid like traffic I look like a fool. I have seen other people get angry and look foolish before but for some reason I have a hard time seeing that in the rearview mirror. A wise man keeps himself under control. How do you do that? I think that the best way to keep yourself under control is to keep perspective on what is going on. In the driving instance I really shouldn't allow myself to get angry over something so trivial, but what about other circumstances like work or home. How do I keep control in those areas of life? Perspective is everything when it comes to anger. I have found that when I can step back from a situation and ask myself, "In the grand scheme of things is my anger going to bring me closer to my wife? Or is it going to make me more productive at work?" probably not. In 2 Timothy 4:5 Paul tells Timothy regarding his work to keep his head in all situations. I think that is good advice. Don't let anger cloud your judgment.

V. 15, 17 - I don't have kids yet but this seems to be a pattern in Proverbs.

V. 20 - I have had to learn this the hard way over and over again. My personality is to talk before I think. This is one of those verses that I need to have tattooed to the tops of my hands or something to serve as a reminder to think first. This verse is especially challenging for me to weigh everything that comes out of my mouth because I don't want to be a fool.

Application -

This chapter had a lot to do with practical application. It seemed like each verse had such a practical bent to it. I personally like it when I can just grab a piece of scripture and ask myself, "How do I need to apply this?".  I think that the piece of scripture that I am going to apply this week is verse 11. I actually do struggle with getting angry in traffic. It drives me nuts and I constantly have to battle against the urge to get ticked off at someone. But the reality is when I get ticked it just makes me look like a fool and in turn makes Jesus look like a fool. I definitely don't want that. I am going to write this verse on an index card and tape it to the windshield of my car.

Prayer -

God I thank you  for the proverbs and ask that you would help me to take these little pieces of wisdom and apply them to my heart. I know that they can change my life if I let them. Please help me to allow You to change me through Your Word.

Tim Jones

S - 1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.

27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

O - Three verses of this chapter, yet again, warn against not mistreating, and in fact, helping the poor. So I got to pondering: How much of Proverbs promises prosperity and how much of it speaks of our obligation to the poor? And are the two mutually exclusive? After a two hour search, here are the data:

-14 verses assure us that if we work hard, patiently and honestly we will prosper materially

-19 verses warn us not to make wealth our top priority

-23 verses exhort us not to ignore the poor but in fact, help them for there are blessings awaiting those who do.

CONCLUSION: Work well, and you will be rewarded, but don't make it your life goal. Virtue is more important. And yes, when you have gathered wealth yo do have an obligation to the poor out there, whether you can see them or not. (See verse 27)

A - Verse 1 - A godly person should be more confident, because he knows he's in the right and God is with him. That doesn't mean we are. But we should be. If you're not sure you're doing right than you have good reason to be edgy.

Verse 23 - I certainly didn't like it at the time, but when friends have loved me enough to tell me I was wrong, they upgraded me for life, and I am grateful. Flattery does feel better at the moment, but which has the most enduring value?

Verse 27 - Most of us would never refuse to help if we saw someone starving, but in America it's easy to train yourself to NEVER see. "It's those people in them other countries", and unless I keep the Sally Struthers ad on, I never have to think about it. But they're out there and we can make a huge difference. Even the poor in this country we can write off by saying, "It's their own fault. If they lived better lives they wouldn't be in that situation" Even if that blanket generalization were true, Jesus helped people without concerning himself with whether it was their fault or not.

P - Father, remind us that we can be confident knowing you're behind us. Remind us to love each other enough to lovingly rebuke form time to time. And open our eyes to those in need around us.

It’s my birthday today! This chapter has some great insights and perspective as another year concludes and starts in my life.

Observations

So many things in this chapter seem to speak to me today about humility.

Application

Prayer

“God, don’t let me get ahead of myself in any area. Help me to work hard and pay close attention to details. Help me to not think I have to prove myself verbally. Help me to accept compliments with gratitude but not take too much stock in them. Help me to be a good friend. Through Jesus, Amen.”

Scripture: Proverbs 26

Observations:

v.2   Why?

v.3.  Don't be afraid to be tough with fools.  Don't expect they will listen (mockers don't listen); but, it is just and it may teach others.

Was Solomon thinking about how his father, David, didn't punish Amnon, and how it hurt the whole nation eventually?

vv. 4-5  Confusing.  Don't answer a fool according to his folly... answer a fool according to his folly, or he will think he's wise.  How does Solomon write those back to back?

Possibilities: 1) Don't become like a fool when responding to a fool. 

2) If a fool asks a foolish question, don't answer it according to his foolish assumptions, or you're argument will never rise above the level of folly.

3) However, Reply quickly to a fool, fittingly, in a way that exposes his folly, so that the fool is shown the folly of his thoughts.

v.10  Be careful who you hire (recruit, entrust).   One bad hire can hurt a lot of random people.  You can not fully anticipate all the damage that can be done by entrusting the wrong person with responsibility.

v.11  Why would a dog return to his vomit?  It's gross! (If a young preacher would create this kind of word-picture, he'd likely be chastised for it's vulgarity).

A dog's body naturally rejects what it vomited.  Yet...

Fools repeat folly despite the unattractiveness, ugliness, painfulness of the folly.  (Augustine, "I stole a pear.  I don't even like pears.")

Why do I eat more than I should even though I want to lose weight?

v.17  Stay out of other's quarrels.  They may be exiting and enticing (for some reason), but walk by.  (What would Solomon think of so many tv shows-political, sports, reality tv-that draw people in by their arguing?)

Should I avoid those quarrels, too?

v. 20  Gossip is more destructive than we imagine.  If quarrels don't die, it could be because someone's gossip keeps it alive.

v. 21 A quarrelsome person is always stroking the fires of strife.  Change the attitude or change the person.  Don't quarrel.  Don't be the person who strokes the fires of strife.

v.27  Whatever work you do will influence who you become.  Dig a ditch, you'll fall into it. Build a church, you'll fall into it.  Sell cars, you'll fall into it. 

Is digging a pit a bad thing?  Not always.

Is rolling a stone a bad thing?  No.

What you work on will hurt you.  Don't be surprised if you are owned by what you do. 

If you dig a pit or roll a stone for malevolent purposes, expect your trap will trap you.

Application:

1) Am I soft on "fools" when I need to be tough?  Am I afraid because I want people to like me? 

Best leaders aren't afraid to take a stand, be tough, and live with the consequences.  The consequences of "suffering fools" is greater than the consequences of being tough.

Q: Am I "sparing the rod" with my kids because I'm tired or just feeling passive?

2) Be very thoughtful about answering people.  Sometimes you need to answer.  Sometimes, you don't.  Always discern. 

Hear assumptions.  Always answer according to Godly, Biblical assumptions.  Question assumptions.

To do that, I need to listen more carefully and respond after giving plenty of thought (not just spontaneously or emotionally).

3) Guard your tongue.  It has greater power than you feel.  Avoid quarrels more.  Keep quiet more.  Don't entertain gossip (ratchet up the gossip sensitivity meter more). 

Don't encourage others to stoke the fires of strife by listening to gossip.  Don't encourage others to speak poorly of others.  (Respond with positives).

"Blessed are the peacemakers" may apply more to how I talk and listen than in any other way.

How can I guard my tong today?

Only speak positively and encouragingly.

Pause before speaking emotionally.

Filter negatives.

Be ready to agree, to encourage, to say something honoring.

Defend the one being criticized; don't join in with the criticizing just to please the critic.

Prayer:

Almighty God,

The more I read Proverbs, the more overwhelmed I feel with the danger of words.  I hear You saying, "Be careful with your words," and I see how I fail time and time again.  Yet, to know the Jesus never sinned in action or word... You are amazing, Lord!

As the ancients prayed, make me an instrument of You peace today.   Grant me Your wisdom to avoid unnecessary conflicts.  May my words be few.  When I speak, may I speak Your peaceful words. 

Lord, go to my heart.  May my words be right and peaceful because my heart is right and at peace with You.

I pray these things through Jesus, who is our peace, Amen.

One of the things that took me a long time to understand about the book of Proverbs is that they are principles and not promises.  When I finally took hold of that idea, it widened my perspective and brought these passages to a whole new light.

In our SOAP blog today on Proverbs 23, I want to point out 3 great parenting principles found in verses 12-16.

23:12 Remember what you are taught, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.

23:13 Don't fail to punish children. If you spank them, they won't die.

23:14 If you spank them, you will save them from death.

23:15 My child, if you are wise, then I will be happy.

23:16 I will be so pleased if you speak what is right.

1)     Here is a parent teaching their child

2)     Here is a parent correcting their child

3)     Here is a parent encouraging their child

It is so important that as parents we continually teach our children and remind them of our teaching.   Since we've moved to Northern Virginia, I've taken on a new appreciation for what that means.  My kids are taught all day long by many different sources;  TV, Radio, the computer (it's amazing how net savvy a 3 year old can be), books, friends, etc...all play a roll in teaching my children.  While that is not wrong by any means, after all God created them to live and experience life - I cannot, nor should I, keep them from that, it is my role to teach them words of knowledge in how to deal with the things they learn.

What makes it so difficult here, is that I do not see them as much.  It's not that life is busier here, it's just that it takes SO long to do anything and get anywhere.  Time that I used to spend with them, teaching them, guiding them, and learning with them is now spent waiting in traffic; which makes it even more important for me to be intentional in teaching and reminding when I am with them.

It is equally important that we correct our children.  I know there is a lot of cultural adversity towards disciplining a child in the way it speaks of here in Proverbs.  Undoubtedly some of you reading this have never nor would ever spank your children.  But it can be no mistake that God chose to include this style of disciplining a child 6 times in the Proverbs.  While I won't spend time arguing / defending / explaining the act of discipline, I do want to encourage parents that discipline, in whatever form, is important and vital to the growth and maturation process of a child.  The principle is simple, correct their course before it leads them to a cliff.

Finally, it is important for us as parents to encourage our children. They are fragile, learning is hard, and discipline hurts.  As men, we are strong, teaching comes natural, and discipline easy.  It is hard for me to encourage at times, but that encouragement is what makes the teaching memorable and the disciplining effective. 

To sum up the parenting principles in Proverbs 23, I would say that constant encouragement from both the father and mother, coupled with teaching our children what is right and true, and adding correction when they deviate from this, will allow our children to grow and mature into the men and women that God created them to be.

Prayer:

God, this day give me opportunities to teach my children well.  Give me the wisdom to teach them right, the courage and strength to discipline them out of love, and the ability and desire to encourage them in their walk with you.

2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.

Observation - There's a whole lot of contrasts in this chapter, i.e., This thing is "A", but that other thing is "B".  You have to think a little harder on this variety of proverb, but there's usually some gem buried in there if you dig.  You dig?  Here's three that leapt out at me:

Application - V. 2  The key word here is SEEM.  I am continually astounded at people's ability to justify whatever they want - perhaps Christians especially.  I want something badly that all logic, Scripture and godly advice warns against.  I pray about it, and afterwards, the same throbbing desire is still there - BINGO!  It must be God agreeing with me!  Or, circumstances occur that seem to provide the opportunity for me to go ahead with my foolish plan and I misread it as - Wow!  God's working things out for this to happen!  Or, I search until I've come up with some rickety sequence of logic that usually ends with "I know God wants me to be happy and this would make me happy" (Note: You being happy is not God's top priority.  You being godly is)  Anyway, if you want something bad enough, you can always cook up a rationale.  So beware.

V. 5 - A good summary of why some people handle money better than others:  Haste.  I don't feel like waiting to save up for something better, I don't want to wait for a rainy day, I want pleasure now.  Those who can wait, prosper.  To quote another Jewish writer:  Freud described maturity as the willingness to postpone gratification.  Good skill to learn.

V. 11 - Two ways to learn in life:  Listen to instruction (painless) or screw up and learn from your punishment (painful).  I've tried both ways.  I recommend the first.

Prayer - Father, help me to recognize my own selfishly crafted excuses for disobeying you.  Teach me the patience to wait for the better thing, because that's what faith is all about.  Help me to trust you the first time and not learn through trial and error.

I want to share three thoughts that are spinning through my mind out of Proverbs 20 this morning – but the three thoughts are found in four verses:

3 It is to a man's honor to avoid strife,
       but every fool is quick to quarrel.

10 Differing weights and differing measures—
       the LORD detests them both.

14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
       then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.

23 The LORD detests differing weights,
       and dishonest scales do not please him.

Observations

My Applications are simple:

Prayer

“God, is so easy to lose track of what’s important, to get caught up in reputation, in small steps of dishonesty. Cleanse me, God, and help me not to get in the way of others’ view of You. Help me not to get baited into arguments of foolish discussion. Help me to be wise. In Jesus. name, Amen.”

v.1-Being poor isn't the worst thing.  Better poor and pure than rich and not.  (e.g. Better to live in abject poverty than to be an immoral Hollywood celebrity.)

v.2-Not good to have "zeal without knowledge".  Passion without information.  Get facts, don't just get emotional. 

Ask questions.  Get details.  Not good to be hasty (decisive), and take a wrong turn, or miss the right turn.

v.3-Accept responsibility for your own mess.  Don't get angry with God because you made poor choices.

v.v. 5, 9-False witnesses will be punished-eventually.

v.v. 6-7-Wealth and power bring friends and supporters, but what quality?

v.11-Wisdom produces patience; listening; thinking; persevering.

"It is to his glory to overlook an offense."  It is honorable to look past.  Don't stew on it, try to fix the offender, or "set them straight."  (Why do I try? So they won't hurt someone/me, again?  That's Futility!)

Don't be so sensitive.  Overlook.  Ignore.  Let go.  Get beyond.  Rise above.

v.13-Solomon had to make points with his wives by writing this!

v.17-Kindness-esp. to the poor-is not merely a human interaction.  It is sacred work.  (Vice: Unkindness-esp. to the vulnerable-is an affront to God.)

God notices.  God will reward.  His promise is definite.

v.19-Not compassionate or wise to remove consequences from a hot-tempered man.  The consequences may be the only thing that keeps him from repeating the offense.

v.21-Plan.  Plan lots.  Care deeply for them, knowing that in the end God's purposes always triumph.

We plan.  God has purposes.  It is best when the two work together, but my hope is place in God's purposes not my plans.

v.25-Discipline and punishment of the guilty won't teach everybody, but it will teach some-esp. the simple.

v.27-Never stop learning.  Always be listening for more instruction.

Apply:

1) Biblical teaching on poverty is always counter-culture... counter my nature.  Naturally, wealth appeals because it appeals with the promise of freedom, flexibility, opportunity, no worries about having enough, power over the future (college, retirement, etc....).  v.1 says-being poor and pure is better than rich and not. 

Do I feel "poor without purity" is worse than "poor without $$"?

Am I as attracted to the benefits of purity (freedom, clear conscience, healthy relationships, peaceful heart...) as I am to the benefits of $$?

            Benefits of $$ last a season; benefits of purity, eternal.

            Benefits of $$ = selfish; benefits of purity = Godly.

2) Zeal is good, but dangerous without knowledge.

Not enough zeal in the world. But, replacing "no zeal" with "zeal without knowledge" just digs a bad hole deeper faster.  Building a bad house quicker.  And, it probably attracts more people to join (because people are drawn to zealousness).

God, give me knowledge... and zeal.  A passion for wisdom and a passion for results.    

3) Overlook offenses. 

Don't try to fix everyone.  Roll with the punches.  That's easy when the offense (cost) is small, or when the risk isn't great, or it doesn't involve my kids.  It demands more self-control (and awareness) when the offense carries significant consequences, or when it hurts my children. 

Never forget v.21.  People may plan bad stuff that offends, but God's purposes will win.

4) Make plans; God's purposes always prevail.

Is there ever a threat to God's ultimate purpose?  No. 

That means: my plans... relax, release to God's purposes.

That means: Other's plans... even when I don't agree, even when they are Hitlerian-levels of evil, God's purposes are never thwarted.

Prayer:

In Your Word today, I think I hear You whispering, "Trust Me." 

"When caring for the poor (for anyone who can't back in return), Trust Me that this is a reward and that I, God, am on notice."

In my emotional, passion-charged moments when I want to blast ahead without more information, I hear You say, "Slow down. Trust Me."

"When somebody offends-even deeply offends-you, overlook it...Trust Me!  I know."

"When your plans don't seem to be working out, when other's plans are... relax.  Trust Me.  My purposes will not be frustrated."

Oh God, I believe.  Help my unbelief!  Through Jesus, I pray, Amen.

Observation:

I always like the proverbs. They really are full of wisdom. You can tell someone had to go through some experiences in life to give the intelligent observations the writer gives us. There are 33 different proverbs here. Someone should make a calendar book with 1 proverb listed every day (and I am sure someone is profiting on this already). Especially anyone in the business world. What better words to read and to make us better as we deal with the people we are in contact with each day.

I could spend a moment on each one but want to focus on one.

Verse 7 - When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. In our everyday lives are we living a life that pleases God? Not a life of perfection, but are we following the will of God? Are we being a Christ-follower? What happens when we follow God? I believe the things around us begin to get better. Our lives become more than just our lives as people begin to notice there is something different about us. To the point of where others - even those who don't like us - begin to take notice. We aren't participating in their fight and that makes a difference. It almost follows the thought of keep your friends close and you enemies closer. Of course, this verse has a more positive reason than this other saying!

Application:

Am I a Christ-follower? And if so, am I living my life as one? The reason we do that isn't just for personal feelings of satisfaction it is because when we live Christ-like lives we impact those around us. Even our enemies. How am I treating others? Am I feeding into gossip at work? Am I bad mouthing people around me? Am I fueling the fire between myself and someone at work or home I don't really like? And if so, I need to be more loving, caring, honest, and more Christ-like.

Prayer:

God, help me to live a Christ-like life. Whatever my past has been like, whatever my reputation may have been in the past or even now, help me to change into someone who exemplifies Jesus. Help me be his disciple. Help me follow his teachings and his actions with everyone around me. Help me to love my enemies so much that peace comes to us. Amen.

Observation:

This proverb has two main themes the first is the contrast between righteousness and wickedness. The second is money management. The cool thing about this proverb is that it blends the two themes together several times.

V. 6 - The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.

This is an interesting verse when we look at our culture today. The perspective of culture today is that how big your house is or how decked out with the coolest toys your house is shows what you are worth. However this proverb says that the house of the righteous is Filled with great treasure. That is a subtle difference, but a big difference none-the-less. When we look at how we manage our income today do we think about our level of wealth based on what we have in the bank or what we have (i.e. nice cars, big expensive houses, the best name brand clothing...etc.). This Proverb says that the income of the wicked brings them trouble... the question is are you in a place where you're storing up wealth or are you investing in stuff? When you are using your income to justify what you can buy on a credit card or taking out a second mortgage I would say you are living in the second half of this verse. The righteous are the savers so that they have margin to invest in the things of God when those needs come along. The reason that I was thinking of this is because Lucy Martinez (director of Passion for Community) was telling me about a family that is in desperate need right now. The question that I began to ask myself was can I afford to help them... I want to manage my money in such a way that I can always help when a need arises.

V. 22 - Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

This really stuck out to me today, because I am so thankful for the people in my life that I have given the right to speak truth to me. I was thinking the other day how many stupid decisions that I would have made without some godly and wise people in my life. Just a reminder that I need to keep my life open to some people who I trust to speak truth into my life.

V. 32 - He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

It is really interesting to me to compare and contrast our culture today against these Proverbs. Here is the wisest man who has ever lived saying listen anyone who doesn't listen to correction actually doesn't like himself. Have you ever had an experience with someone who did what they knew would never fulfill them not because they believed it would but because they just didn't care about themselves anymore? I was talking with a friend of mine from out of town last week who is chasing a life style that he knows is not good for him because he doesn't feel worthy to come back to God. I asked him when he was going to begin to pursue God again and quit living this stupid lifestyle and his response was that he wasn't worthy to come to God.

Application:

I think that my biggest take away from this chapter is that I need to make sure that my life is open to some Godly individuals who can speak truth into my life. I also need to submit my whole life to God. One of the dangers that I see this Proverb exposing is the idea that we can be living righteously in one area of our life and then not in another. This one chapter addresses so many different aspects of life we need to make sure that we understand that our lives aren't compartmentalized they are one life.

Prayer:

God please help me to remember that I need to keep my life open to godly individuals and that my idea of righteousness needs to come from you.

 26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
       and for his children it will be a refuge.

 29 A patient man has great understanding,
       but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
       but envy rots the bones.

 31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
       but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Observations

You will find quite a lot of these little sayings are mind-numbingly obvious (e.g. A foolish man says foolish things but a wise man says wise things - Wow!  Ya think?)  But keep in mind that these are structured in Hebrew poetic form, which is much more beautiful in the original language.  They were also simple for Jewish kids to learn.

Here are some thoughts on the few that I thought weren't predictable.

Application

V. 26 - You can make the world a better place for your kids, not just for you, by doing things God's way.  Some kids are just born better off, because their parents lived  God's way.  It doesn't sound fair on one level, but it's part of the reward system that God promises parents.

V. 29 - The opposite of a hot temper is patience.  Does everyone realize this?  When we blow up, it's because we're not satisfied with the natural development of God's hand, and are trying to speed it up.

V. 30 - Right out of the pages of medical journals!  Some emotions actually make us physically sicker.  When we're at peace, thankful for what we have and content in the fact that God is working everything out, we're healthy.  When we're eternally dissatisfied and bitter at other people's situation, our whole system is sabotaged.

V. 31 - Do we pay attention enough to the needs of the poor?  When we write them off as being deserving of their lot or victims of their own stupidity, we dishonor God.   The Bible tells us hundreds of times to take care of the poor, but how much of our American thoughts and church budgeting goes to this cause?

Prayer

Dear Father, help us parents to remember that we are making a better life for our kids when we obey you.  Help us to remember to wait on your development of our situation and be satisfied and healthy.  And open our eyes to glaring needs of poverty around us and in the world.

In working through chapter 13 of Proverbs this morning, several of the Proverbs really jumped out at me. Here they are:

3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

10 Pride only breeds quarrels, wisdom is found in those who take advice.

20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, a companion of fools suffers harm.

18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, whoever heeds correction is honored.

24 He who spares the rod hates his son, he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Observations

Application

Prayer

“God, help me to strive for purity – help me to guard my lips, to not judge others by how much they do or don’t seem to have, help me to be an advice seeker, help me to intentionally walk with the wise, and help me to recoil at discipline. If I can do those things, I think I may continue to become the man you’ve called me to be. Thanks for loving me and continuing to teach what it means to love You. Through Jesus, Amen.”

Observations:

v.1-- Love discipline & be wise.          

            Lots of reason to hate discipline.  I love the results; don't like the process.  Need to learn to smile more in the process (James 1)

            "Hate Correction = stupid"  Need to learn to smile more when criticized, challenged, corrected.  "Problems are your friends."

v.2-Better to be good and naïve than crafty.

v.3-- People who gain through ungodly means build success on sand.  Don't admire them. 

v.4-Be thankful for a noble wife!  Some are proud of beauty.  Some of professional accomplishments or buying power of wife.  Be proud of Godly, respectable wife.  Are you proud of the right things?

v.5-Whose advice are you listening to?  Don't listen to everyone equally.  The wicked sound smart....

v.7-Remember the wise man and the foolish man?  How many people do well for a season (e.g. Ceasars, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin) but time reveals their mettle?  Who do I admire: the wise man or the foolish?

v.9-Don't pretend to be rich.  Don't pretend to be more than you are.  Don't pretend to be smarter than you are.  Don't pretend to be more capable than you are. 

Be authentic.

Don't be afraid to be who you are in God.

v.11-Better to work your reality than to chase your fantasy.  When you dream, work your realities.... Don't just dream.

Dream about the bigger farm, but work the real farm, be productive today, this year, this harvest.

v.15-Fools won't listen.  A fool is bold, confident, but not teachable.  He must look good for a while.  Wise man listens.

Listen more: Read more.  Meditate more (listen to God).

v.16-Don't be touchy!  Love is patient.  When annoyed, be prudent.  Don't show it.  It is not inauthentic to be self-controlled. 

v.18-Do your words cut like a sword or heal?

v. 20-Joy come to those who promote peace (blessed are the peacemakers... where's the war I'm making peace in?)

v.23-Control your tongue (again!).  Don't say everything that comes to mind.  A fool blurts out.  The wise restrain.

v.26-It's okay to be cautious in friendships.  Don't trust too soon.

v.27-Get it done NOW! Don't procrastinate!

v.28-When you don't know what to do, just do something good.

Application:

1. Love Discipline.  Be disciplined in speech. 

Always be honest.  Be careful to speak healing words.  Get rid of hurtful words (Watch sarcasm.  Watch words when frustrated. Watch how people respond to words.)

When tired, more discipline required!

Just because you have a smart thought doesn't mean other people want to hear it!  Wisdom restrains when folly talks.

2. Be Thankful for Laura today! 

3. Work Your Reality today, don't just dream about your fantasy.

Dreaming isn't bad, but you have to plow the field with what you have in your hand right now.  Wanting a bigger farm isn't bad, but you have to plant with the seed you have with the tools you have on the land you have right now. 

Better to do something with what you have than to keep hoping for the fantasy you don't have to come true.

Work the farm today and the dream may become reality in time.

4. Listen more!  Read-when am I going to read today?

            Meditate: find time to listen to God today (turn off radio; commit to quiet time; go to sleep and wake up meditating on God... set aside time to fast and listen.)

Prayer:

Almighty God,

            You are so good to us!  We don't have to guess what You're thinking; You've made it clear to us in Your Word!  Thanks!

            You are so patient with me!  I read Your Word over and over, learn the same stuff over and over... yet, still have to learn it, again.  Thanks for not losing patience with me, as I would with my kids!  Make me like You.

            Today, I want to focus on working Your fields, so You can bring in the fullest harvest You desire from my life.  I leave the fantasies to You.  I hear your call to go into the ALL the world and preach... (that's a fantasy!), and to stay in Jerusalem until Your Holy Spirit comes in power and moves.  I recommit to be your servant, not your dreamer. Yet, be my vision.

            Thank You, Jesus, for working the fields for 33 years, dying on a cross, confident that God's Will would be fully accomplished in His way, His time.  Lord, take my life today.  I am Yours. My hands.  My mind.  My lips.  My feet.  Yours.  Because of Jesus, through whom I pray, Amen.

Observation:

I'm not sure why, but this is the second week in a row I have gotten a reading that is all about wisdom. Is God talking to me? Could be. If he is, or isn't, here are some thoughts from Proverbs 9 that I connect with.

So is the writer having some woman issues? Or is he focused on sexual temptation?

In some cities - back in the day - on the highest point would be a temple. Usually not a temple to the God we worship but to gods of that city. And usually as a part of the temple there were prostitutes who hung out for the pleasure of anyone who would be willing to pay for services. This was the way you celebrated our gods and a way the temple paid for itself. Fun for the whole family!

And right in the middle of this scripture, there is this idea of fearing God brings about wisdom. There is a lot of truth in that. The wiser we become to the world around us and the more we fear God in our lives, the greater our chance to make wise decisions - especially when we talk about sexual temptations.

Application:

How am I protecting myself when it comes to temptation? How am I making sure I am being pure? How am I keeping away from the 'temple prostitutes' that may be hovering around me?
I - and you - need to make sure we are running from temptation when we can. When we are weak, the enemy is strong. But God is stronger. Keep reading scripture and learning, keep listening to wise sages in your life, keep praying for God's protection, and RUN when you feel the need!

Prayer:

God, protect me from my temptations - whether they are sexual, or some other area of weakness in my life. Allow me to have the wisdom I need to be who you called me to be. Open my ears to wise words, open my eyes to move in the direction opposite my weakness, and open my heart to you. Amen.

Observation:

This is a very interesting chapter. In this chapter wisdom is personified. This is another Proverb of Solomon and it is one that deals with only one thing: obtaining wisdom.  This chapter was really kind of weird for me. As I read through it I just felt like my observations were a little random. None the less here they are:

v.3 beside the gate leading into the city - this seems to imply that wisdom is available to anyone who would want it. In verse 4 wisdom "calls out" to all mankind. It is funny to think about the fact that wisdom is available to everyone. James says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God." I think that is a pretty important point to raise here. It is not just that wisdom is floating out there for anyone to catch and hoard. Wisdom comes from God. Wisdom is available to everyone because God is a generous God.

v. 7 "My mouth speaks what is true" have you ever noticed that people that tell the truth generally end up being more respected and loved in almost every arena of life. I feel like I have a tendency to want to cover up the truth if I have messed up- but wisdom tells me that owning my mistakes is the best path.

v. 13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil. This is a really interesting statement. Generally today when we think of fear we thing of being scared of something. But the actually meaning of this word here is respect or reverence. Simply being afraid of God isn't enough. It is realizing the reality of who God is. Understanding His awesome power and might. Seeing Him as God not as some object or abstract concept. Once you begin to see God for who He really is, when you see his power and Holiness, you will hate evil. Why? Because nothing compares to God. You could never stand in God's presence and want anything but more and more of Him.

v. 22-31 This is a really cool section of scripture. If you are not careful you might think that this text is talking about Jesus, however it is not. Here is how I know that: v. 22 says that the Lord brought wisdom forth as the first of His works. This means that wisdom is something that God created. Yet we know from the book of John that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." So we know that Jesus who is the Word was with God already in the beginning and that Jesus is God. I think that this section of scripture might be referring to the wisdom of God's plan of salvation, that God laid the foundation for redemption before anything else, that the Wisdom of God might be hidden from everyone until the proper time of exposing it. In 1 Corinthians 1:23 Paul talks about Jesus being crucified as, "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles," To think that God would die for us in order to redeem us is crazy. It doesn't make sense that a perfect being would die for imperfect beings. It doesn't make sense that redemption would come through death and yet it did. I think this is the wisdom that being talked about here in this chapter. That death would bring life. If it were up to me I wouldn't have planned it that way and yet it is better than anything I could have planned.

Application:

I think that the thing that I walk away from this chapter with is just the reminder that God is God. That I can lean on Him. That His way is better than my way. That no matter what is going on in my life He is in control.

Prayer:

God, please help me to remember that you are in control and that I can depend on you for everything! You wisdom is far greater than my plans or dreams. Thank you for redeeming me! Amen

OBSERVATIONS: Chapter 7 is a rarity in Proverbs in that it deals extensively with only one topic, and that topic is the adulterous woman.  Why is there no instruction on the adulterous man?  Because most all Scripture books were written for men.  (Sorry, ladies, but the prevailing belief even up to the last century was that women were incapable of grasping abstract truths.  So appreciate the radical actions of Jesus in discussing theology with a promiscuous, Samaritan woman in John 4).  Here is a laundry list of all the blunders adulterous people have used then and now

APPLICATIONS:

v. 8 - The dude is window shopping for sin.  He's not ready to do the deed, but he's hanging close.

v. 9 - Beware of night!  That which is stupid in the light of day becomes not so dumb at 10 pm, a good idea at midnight, and pure genius at 2am.

v. 14 - She feels justified because she just paid her dues to God.  I've heard that a statistically high number of sexual mistakes happen to Christians right after a spiritual "mountaintop"

v. 15 - "Oh, I just happened to run into you!  It's destiny!"  If you want something bad enough, you'll interpret the events to be falling into place for you, as if God is orchestrating it.  When in fact, YOU are.

v. 18 - Selfish acts of lust smell nicer when you call them LOVE, cause what's holier than love?  It's all about love, baby...(nausea)

v. 19 - "It's not her fault...her husband doesn't pay attention to her.  I must meet her needs".  No matter what the situation, God NEVER asks us to meet someone's needs sexually, unless we're married to them. 

REST of CHAPTER - A few moments of fun can wreck the rest of your life.  Learn to rise above the blind moments of lust or you're in for a steady parade of pain.

PRAYER:  Father, Be an ever present voice in my head when lust creeps in.  Remind me to not even get close to tempting situations and remind of the pain that will ensue if I give in.

Wow – this morning is a shift for the Haymarket campus! We’ve jumped off of the “strangers and aliens” theme from Peter back to the Old Testament to the book of Proverbs. Why? Proverbs’ focus is on wisdom – wise sayings – and truth that Solomon discovered (he was the guy who God said could have whatever he asked for, and Solomon asked for wisdom. The great thing about Proverbs is it has 31 chapters so you can read one chapter a day and read through the whole thing in a month (chapter 1 on May 1st, chapter 2 on May 2nd, etc. Today, on May 6th, we’re on chapter 6

Here we go with five general observations from Proverbs 6 (I think I’d need a lot more than 20 minutes to try to digest everything that’s in these 27 verses!).

Observations

Application

Prayer

“God, I want to live with integrity. Keep your word at the front of my mind. Help me to always work hard. Give me the courage to talk directly to people, but to be humble. Help me to trust you more each day. Through Jesus, Amen.”

Observation:

v.11-What we believe about end times is very practical. Leads to "what kind of person should I be?" 1 Peter 1 says, "Holy". 2 Peter 3 says "Godly".

v. 12-Always looking forward (like kids to summer vacation) to "the day of God". Our day is not fully "the day of God." What a day that will be....

That day = total destruction of the temporary, the shadow, the fallen.

"Elements" destroyed (all the environmental-friendly work in the world can not save a planet destined for destruction... it's like fighting old age)... but people who don't look forward to That Day resist/fight against evidence that the day is coming.

v.13 Good News: New Heaven, New Earth... more real. Permanent. Not decaying. New, lasting beauty. Characterized by "righteousness".

No more feeling messed, "something-isn't-right".

v.14-Peter assumes we'll look forward to THAT kind of place. "Make every effort" (work hard like an Olympic athlete in training or a grad student preparing for the bar) to be heaven-like (e.g. spotless, blameless, at peace with God).

What would it look like to "Make every effort..."?

v.15-Back to God's patience = Understand it means salvation-not passivity or apathy

v.v. 15-16-Some people misunderstand Paul-to their own destruction.

Paul isn't always easy to understand, but Peter expects us to understand him anyway ("make every effort").

vv. 17-18-"already know"-this is still just a reminder to stimulate wholesome thinking (cf. 2 Peter 3:1)

"Be on guard" watchful, alert, like a sentry.

Not carried away (in contrast to "on guard"-be alert or be carried away)...

Not carried away by the error of lawless men = their teaching is wrong because their character is wrong.... Yet, they are a real threat to people without a solid foundation of knowledge.

The threat: "fall away from secure position".

Position is secure. AND we can get "carried away" "fall away".

Antidote: Grow (2 Peter 1) in Grace and Knowledge... result-doxology.

Application:

1. End times beliefs are practical. How do I preach and teach them more?

2. What would it look like to really look forward to the Day of God and speed its coming?

Think about it through the day-every day. "Live like you were dying"...

Love Laura... knowing today is passing quickly.

Love/lead/teach my kids... knowing I'm preparing each for the Day.

Moral Purity= living for HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Respond to strangers= see as eternal. Pray more for lost people

More peace= trouble is temporary (this too shall pass)

More laughter= joy is in the morning.

3. What does it look like to "make every effort" to be spotless

Less tolerance for moral "close calls". No wasted time. All recreation time is truly about re-creation, not just "lazy" time.

Another mentor. Clearer goals.

4. What about NL people who have started well by "carried away" by "lawless people"? Lawless is popular culture. Not always easy to resist.

Discipleship! More Bible teaching. More leaders developed who are discipling others... so fewer are vulnerable...

More Bible reading emphasis.

Prayer:

Almighty, Eternal God,

When I consider Your eternal nature... Wow! God, I know, yet I don't. I worship, but I know You are worthy of more awe than I give. Your eternal nature, Your absolute righteousness amaze me... I feel speechless.

God, thanks that You don't just save me from eternal condemnation, promising an eternal home that's okay. But, You promise a "home of righteousness" that will never disappoint. Thanks that You are preparing a place that is worthy of 24 hour pre-occupation... that is worthy of every joy and hope I can muster.

Lord, transform my heart today in light of Your Home. My the question "What kind of people ought we to be?" transform my attitude toward You, my relationships with people today. May I love deeper, knowing my opportunities to love here are limited. May my peace be deeper, knowing eternity waits in the next room. May I be more joyful, confident of what You have in store. May I serve more like Jesus, knowing the joy set before me.

Above all, I thank You for being eternally faithful.

Through Jesus, I offer this prayer, Amen.

Observation:

v.v. 1-6: Solomon continues to laud love of wisdom ("philosophy").

"Pay attention"-focus. Seek. Put effort into. i.e. gaining wisdom demands intentional work.

Result of gaining wisdom:

a. I will be "discrete". We live in the generation of "indiscrete"... language, images, entertainment...

Discrete: knowing when to stop, to be silent, to speak.

b. I will not be deceived by anyone seducing me to be unfaithful....

Why is adultery the immediate application?

Sex is such a powerful force. People lose rationality in the emotion. It appeals to pride, anger, sexual desire.

Also, metaphorically, Israel "played the harlot" by chasing after false gods. Wisdom keeps me faithful... wise enough to "stay off the porch".

c. Wisdom sees long-term (v.5-6)... the end of unfaithfulness is trouble and death.

v.v.7-8: Don't toy with sin. Don't even go near, kidding yourself that you are strong enough to play with a snake and not get bitten.

v. 9: Warning: you only have so much strength. Why waste it on "others" - those who don't love you (and God does!), who don't want what's best for you (God does!), and won't deliver what they promise (God will!)

vv. 12-13: End of life, you'll realize the truth. See it now, or see it later.

vv. 16-17: Enjoy what God has given. Be thankful, faithful. Don't share your wife... was that a big problem then? Now?

v.v.18-19: Thankfulness for blessings today & now is the beginning of faithfulness. Enjoy God's blessings. Focus on how much good God gives today. It will guard your heart from envy & greed...

v.21: And, don't forget accountability. What you say, think, do is secret... is NOT. God examines all. Be aware.

Be strong knowing He knows!

Apply:

1. Lord, I need to learn DISCRETION. I need your wisdom to know when to speak and when to stop. Sometimes, I speak or act and now it wasn't wise-it was my emotion, my fear, my frustration. Discretion means always edifying. Always encouraging. First, agree. First build up. Quick to see and be positive.

Discretion means constant contact with God-pleasing God.

2. Life is short. Remember God. How can I enjoy God more today?

How can I be more delighted in the little things today?

God is with me to strengthen. His presence not only means "He knows to punish", but "He knows to care, to build up, to provide, to encourage." He knows me better than I.... such knowledge is too wonderful... Alpha. Omega.

He knows my tomorrow. He knows all I'm worried about. He knows, so I can be still and know that He is God.

Prayer:

Almighty God,

You are Wisdom. Thanks that You want to be known. How great that You aren't aloof Wisdom, but You are Wisdom who invites to be examined, known intimately, loved passionately.

God, remind me that You are Wisdom every time I'm tempted to be seduced by any evil. Grant me wisdom to see long-term, to look beyond the emotion of the moment.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

"Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?"

"Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?"

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

I like to think I am a good golfer, but there is always someone better. I like to think I know how to be a great husband, but there is always someone out there better than me. I like to think my kids are exceptionally intelligent, but I know there are other kids who are brighter than mine. I also like to think I am smarter than most people. The reality is I'm not that smart. No, really. I am not that smart. I know I have so much to learn in and about life. It is one of the reasons most time I pray I pray for wisdom.

Proverbs 2 is all about wisdom. Think about how much better your decisions would have been at 16 if you knew what you knew now at 36? There is something about wisdom - most of it learned through experience - that is so missing in our lives. What wisdom do you have that you can share with others? And if you share it, do you do it with a gracious heart?

This chapter reminds me of taking a walk down the road with my dad and him imparting wisdom about life to me. That actually never happened, but it would have been nice!

Application:
I need to share the wisdom I have with others - family, friends, my kids.

I need to listen and SEEK out wisdom from others - family and friends.

We can all only get better and make wiser decisions when we gain wisdom in life. In the end, our eternity could depend on it.

Prayer:
God, give me wisdom. Let me hear what I need to hear and do what I need to do based on the wisdom I gather from my own experiences and more importantly, those who are wiser than me. Amen.

Observation:

v.1- Both of Peter's letters are written as reminders to stimulate wholesome thinking. The Bible is written to stimulate more pure, healthy thoughts ("washed through the Word"). We need to be REMINDED more than instructed in new.... (educated beyond our obedience)

v.2- "recall" remember, reflect on what the OT prophets spoke in the past... & commands given by Jesus THROUGH apostles (i.e. when the apostles commanded, Jesus commanded.) Peter understood that his preaching and his writing were from Jesus (he knew he was writing Scripture)

v.3- Understand that scoffers will come - don't be surprised when they scoff. Their motivation: their own evil desires. (not motivated by truth or other's best interest). (2 Peter 1-"goodness" precedes "knowledge": motivation to do good precedes wisdom)

v.4- Scoffing about... 1) Deny the second coming of Jesus; 2) Deny God's involvement in history (i.e. view world as a closed system. Scoff at supernatural as superstition).

vv.5-6- They deliberately suppress the truth (cf. Romans 1:18-22) - that God has acted in history. (Denial of miracles, of God acting in creation-it's like Peter is predicting the Enlightenment and atheistic assumptions in evolution). Not because the facts are there... but because they apriori deny the truth.

v.7- In the same way... God is still acting/involved today. One day, His judgment will make that clear.

v.8- In the midst of today... its easy to forget God's perspective. He is beyond time. How many answers to my questions about God come back to this: God is beyond time?

v.9- Patience of God is easy to misinterpret. Bottom line: God's patience = mercy

v.10- But, there will come a day of reckoning that makes it all clear. God is very involved. God's patient, not passive.

1) That day will come like a thief. 2) Heavens will disappear with a roar. 3) Elements will be destroyed by fire. 4) Everything temporary will be burned (like purifying fire of 1 Peter 1?) All that's left will be spiritual. Real. Solid.

Application:

1) Don't be surprised or fooled by scoffers. They'll always come. Be prepared.

They will have fine-sounding arguments that will persuade weak people.

They will sound scientific, but will deny true science.

They will sound compassionate, but will tolerate that which destroys people.

They will make speak the wisdom of the generation, elevating themselves above the wisdom of those, like Peter & prophets, who wrote for God.

How do we prepare people to be ready?

2) Live in the reality of God's patience. God doesn't want anyone to perish.

God's "Patience season agenda" is to bring people to repentance-- how am I cooperating? Who am I praying for today to bring to repentance?

How am I reaching out? Who should I start a conversation with?

3) Live for eternity - means Joy - today. Hope - today. Purpose - today.

Prayer:

Almighty God,

Thanks that You are patient, wanting me to come to repentance. Thanks for Your Word that prepares me so I don't have to be fooled by scoffers and their fine sounding arguments. Thanks that I can look forward to the day when everything temporary is destroyed because my hope is fixed on Jesus and not on stuff destined to burn.

Lord, grant me Your eyes to reach out to people who are blind to Your patience. (They live today in the blessing of Your patience; yet, have no idea!) Open my eyes to the conversations You want me to start. I want to cooperate with your "Patience season" agenda. I want to reach out more boldly. I want to help teach people so they'll be prepared when they hear scoffers.

Above all, I want to live today in the full reality of eternity tomorrow. Thanks that my hope, joy and purpose are real and present because Jesus is real and present. Transform me to live that reality today... for Your honor. Because of Jesus, "whom to know aright is life eternal". Amen.

Observation:

I have intentionally focused on just a few verses from this chapter. Proverbs is the kind of book that you want to walk away from with one take away so that you can actually apply it.

V. 1-7

Solomon starts out by simply stating what these proverbs are good for. The list is long. My initial thought when I read this list was that Solomon was probably over promising, but if you have spent any time in Proverbs you know that so much wisdom is found in this book. I love this book because it is straight to the point and so very applicable. It is the kind of scripture I like because it is short and equation like. If you do X then Y will be the result.

At the end of this section Solomon comes down to the point. He has said all of the things that the book is good for and now he just says, listen, the bottom line is, of all the things I can teach you the fear of the Lord is the best because it is the beginning of knowledge.

V. 20-23

Solomon says wisdom is everywhere. It is not hard to figure out what the right thing to do is, and yet people still do the wrong thing. Wisdom is there, it is yours for the taking and yet people reject it. What does Solomon mean when he says that wisdom is everywhere? I think that he means the right way of doing things is all around us and yet it is much easier / more fun to choose the wrong way. This is especially true in America today. If you look only at our finances alone. Wisdom says save and yet commercials and advertizing say spend. Well which is better to be sitting on a good chunk of savings or to be in debt? Obviously it is better to have the savings. Yet it is easier to spend money, even money you don't really have. Solomon is saying listen before you run off and choose the easy way - "the simple way" think about what is best. That is easy to say and hard to do.

Application:

Here are the questions I asked myself after reading this passage today:

1. In what ways am I following "simple ways"?

2. What is "wisdom" saying to me about my simple ways?

3. What am I going to do differently?

I will give you one example: Wisdom says be generous. Simplicity says hord. As I look at my life how have I bought into simplicity? Why do I want stuff so much? My life isn't about stuff it is about people. I don't want my life to be about saving I want it to be about giving. How do I need to realign my life with wisdom? I need to find ways to give more. That is going to mean cutting back in other areas... having margin in my budget so that I can give to a need when I see it. One of my mentors said to me once when I get to heaven I want to look back on my life and see that I have invested way more in heaven than in anything I possessed on earth.

Prayer:

God please help me to seek out wisdom. I know that it is out there. That you have given me good common sense to be able to see it and hear it. I pray that you would help me to understand who you are because I know that is the beginning of living the life that you want me to.

Observation:

V. 11-12 - This chapter is really interesting. It starts out dealing with people who are teaching false doctrine. The very first question that I came up with when I read this chapter was: Who was Peter writing to and what was going on in that place? The author is obviously Peter and he is obviously motivated by something or someone who is teaching this false doctrines. The content of their false teaching obviously has something to do with angels. Peter is obviously pretty ticked off about this.

V. 13-16 - This piece of this passage was pretty scary for me. Peter is cracking down on these guys because they have wandered from the truth. That is a big deal. It shows me that God holds people accountable for what they teach... or even simply live. It means that I am accountable for what I say at life group, from the stage, and in general how I live. Peter is expressing God's distain for people who are in the faith for money! I think that goes beyond simply teaching and asking for money but all the way to the idea that God will bless me and make my life easy because I am a Christian.

V. 17-22 - I was blown away from this last part of the passage. God is really expressing his anger towards these false prophets. Here is my big take away from this section: they had made Jesus (Christianity) about something other than Jesus. In this case it was money... but I think that this rings true for everything... What have I made Jesus about that is not what Jesus is about?



Application:

Tagging off that last sentence for me as I read this I don't think that my problem is that I want everyone at New Life to give money so that I can be rich, but are there other things that I have made Jesus about that He isn't about?

Today as I think about that here is what I came to: there are times that I feel like I have made Jesus about my personal comfort - yet that is not what Jesus is about He calls me to take up my cross (in other words give up my life) and follow Him. Jesus is not about me having a middle class comfortable life with a house and two cars and a good income. Jesus is all about people. He wants me to live my life in such a way that people are drawn to Him. Do people meet Jesus when they meet me? Am I so caught up in the culture today that I don't realize or see the people around me that Jesus would be with?



Prayer:

Jesus, please help me to never make you about anything other than who you are! Let the message of my life show that you are all about people! Amen

4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.

OBSERVATIONS This is another Scriptural guideline for recognizing false teachers. (See also Matt. 7:15-23, 1 John 4:1-3, etc.) They never ever wear a sign around their neck that says "False Teacher". They are sneaky and clever. They will look righteous and earnest. They will sometimes look as clean and wholesome as Mom, apple pie, and the Fourth of July. They use "made up" stories that come from somewhere else besides the Bible. They deny the nature of who Jesus is: fully God and fully human. And their false teachings tend to gratify sinful urges.

APPLICATION We must be extremely careful about flinging the term "heretic" about. (Or for that matter, calling some group we don't like a "cult".) There will always be disagreement in the Church as to the particulars of Scriptural interpretation and how the principles of God play out in everyday morality. We need to allow a lot of wiggle room on this. But Peter says if they deny the true nature of Jesus (examples from history: He did not really have a physical body, he was just a human who became glorified, he's one of several good prophets, etc.) it's heresy. It usually gravitates in the direction of some sinful pleasure that, because of some new information outside of Scriptures, is now okay. Destruction will follow, just as surely as all these examples met with destruction.

PRAYER Lord, help me to recognize false doctrine which appeals to my craven desires. But help me to never give into the temptation of categorizing one of your followers as a heretic, just because I don't like them or disagree with one of their sincere views.

OBSERVATIONS

This is a chapter of "fours". "Wisdom" literature, very popular at this time in Israel's history, was a distinct genre, with stylistic oddities of it's own, like the bunching of things into four units. The writer speaks briefly on 15 topics, by my count, and 7 of them are quartets.

-A guy named Agur starts out writing but how far does he write? We don't know. His first thought is basically "I'm an idiot!". So why do we want to hear from him? Because only the wisest among us realize they still have SO much more to learn and SO much they still don't comprehend. The dumbest among us form all their conclusions by age 25, bronze them, polish them once a year, and think they know everything the rest of their lives.

7-9 Interesting prayer. Since I found out that Americans have their own variety of Christianity, with it's unique points of emphasis and accompanying blindnesses, (just like every culture) I've been making a point of noticing where ChurchUSA differs from Scripture. "May I never experience poverty OR riches" We would agree with half of that, believing that becoming wealthy is the American Dream and our legacy. But so many wealthy become arrogant, with few exceptions.

18-19 Often gets read at weddings. Main point: Romantic Love is mind-blowing.

33 Twisting/churning produces a result, be it butter, a bloody nose, or a room full of angry people. You can't tick people off then walk away. Anger does not evaporate over time. It just festers and gets worse

APPLICATIONS

-Be very suspicious if you believe yourself to be the final authority on every topic. You're not. Some things I believed absolutely 20 years ago, I now know I was wrong on. And I expect that in 20 years from now, I will look back on some things I know absolutely now and realize "What was I thinking?" There is too much of God to be fully grasped by a single human brain.

-Establish what "enough" is financially and with the excess be generous with projects and people. Don't assume you're the rare exception to the "Wealth Corrupts" pattern delineated in Scripture. (Matthew 19:24, 1 TIM. 6: 9,10,17)

-Revere Romantic Love as much as God does

- If you make people angry or stir up controversy, you're responsible for doing your part to try to resolve it (Matt. 5:23, 24 Rom. 12:18)

PRAYER

Father, Remind me to seek wisdom on every topic of life. Remove arrogance from me that tempts me to deify my conclusions, but be ever open to a tweeking of my views as you reveal it in you Scriptures.

Observations

Application

Prayer

"God, sometimes I want new truth, new understanding so badly that I miss what you've already given me. Help me to stay fresh. Help me to be guided by your Spirit in reminding others of that truth that come from you. Thanks that Jesus is real, that His story is true, that there is no need to be apologetic or defensive. Help me to be gracious but persistent as others take steps to understand and follow You. Through Jesus, Amen."

Wow – this morning is a shift! We’re jumping off of the whole “strangers and aliens” / practical Christian living stuff from Peter back to the Old Testament to the book of Proverbs. Why? Proverbs’ focus is on wisdom – wise sayings – and truth that Solomon discovered (he was the guy who God said could have whatever he asked for, and Solomon asked for wisdom. The great thing about Proverbs is it has 31 chapters so you can read one chapter a day and read through the whole thing in a month (chapter 1 on May 1st, chapter 2 on May 2nd, etc. Even starting in the middle, you can begin on chapter 29 on April 29th!

Here we go with five general observations from Proverbs 29 (I think I’d need a lot more than 20 minutes to try to digest everything that’s in these 27 verses!).

Observations

Application

Prayer

“God, make me a man of integrity. Give me an opportunity today to help bring justice to the poor. Help me to be teachable and wise. Above all, help me recognize that You are the source of life for all of us, and You love each one of us. Through Jesus, Amen.”

Observation:

v.11-What we believe about end times is very practical. Leads to "what kind of person should I be?" 1 Peter 1 says, "Holy". 2 Peter 3 says "Godly".

v. 12-Always looking forward (like kids to summer vacation) to "the day of God". Our day is not fully "the day of God." What a day that will be....

That day = total destruction of the temporary, the shadow, the fallen.

"Elements" destroyed (all the environmental-friendly work in the world can not save a planet destined for destruction... it's like fighting old age)... but people who don't look forward to That Day resist/fight against evidence that the day is coming.

v.13 Good News: New Heaven, New Earth... more real. Permanent. Not decaying. New, lasting beauty. Characterized by "righteousness".

No more feeling messed, "something-isn't-right".

v.14-Peter assumes we'll look forward to THAT kind of place. "Make every effort" (work hard like an Olympic athlete in training or a grad student preparing for the bar) to be heaven-like (e.g. spotless, blameless, at peace with God).

What would it look like to "Make every effort..."?

v.15-Back to God's patience = Understand it means salvation-not passivity or apathy

v.v. 15-16-Some people misunderstand Paul-to their own destruction.

Paul isn't always easy to understand, but Peter expects us to understand him anyway ("make every effort").

vv. 17-18-"already know"-this is still just a reminder to stimulate wholesome thinking (cf. 2 Peter 3:1)

"Be on guard" watchful, alert, like a sentry.

Not carried away (in contrast to "on guard"-be alert or be carried away)...

Not carried away by the error of lawless men = their teaching is wrong because their character is wrong.... Yet, they are a real threat to people without a solid foundation of knowledge.

The threat: "fall away from secure position".

Position is secure. AND we can get "carried away" "fall away".

Antidote: Grow (2 Peter 1) in Grace and Knowledge... result-doxology.

Application:

1. End times beliefs are practical. How do I preach and teach them more?

2. What would it look like to really look forward to the Day of God and speed its coming?

Think about it through the day-every day. "Live like you were dying"...

Love Laura... knowing today is passing quickly.

Love/lead/teach my kids... knowing I'm preparing each for the Day.

Moral Purity= living for HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Respond to strangers= see as eternal. Pray more for lost people

More peace= trouble is temporary (this too shall pass)

More laughter= joy is in the morning.

3. What does it look like to "make every effort" to be spotless

Less tolerance for moral "close calls". No wasted time. All recreation time is truly about re-creation, not just "lazy" time.

Another mentor. Clearer goals.

4. What about NL people who have started well by "carried away" by "lawless people"? Lawless is popular culture. Not always easy to resist.

Discipleship! More Bible teaching. More leaders developed who are discipling others... so fewer are vulnerable...

More Bible reading emphasis.

Prayer:

Almighty, Eternal God,

When I consider Your eternal nature... Wow! God, I know, yet I don't. I worship, but I know You are worthy of more awe than I give. Your eternal nature, Your absolute righteousness amaze me... I feel speechless.

God, thanks that You don't just save me from eternal condemnation, promising an eternal home that's okay. But, You promise a "home of righteousness" that will never disappoint. Thanks that You are preparing a place that is worthy of 24 hour pre-occupation... that is worthy of every joy and hope I can muster.

Lord, transform my heart today in light of Your Home. My the question "What kind of people ought we to be?" transform my attitude toward You, my relationships with people today. May I love deeper, knowing my opportunities to love here are limited. May my peace be deeper, knowing eternity waits in the next room. May I be more joyful, confident of what You have in store. May I serve more like Jesus, knowing the joy set before me.

Above all, I thank You for being eternally faithful.

Through Jesus, I offer this prayer, Amen.

Observation:

v.1 Peter, first identifies himself as a servant (his identity, his attitude); second, he identifies himself according to his mission and role (apostle, missionary, one sent).

The letter is sent to people who share "precious faith". Faith in Jesus isn't something to be taken lightly, for granted, as common, or something to be neglected. "Precious" like a diamond, a child... highly valued.

v.2 "Grace and peace... in abundance". Peter writes to people in turmoil. Promises grace AND peace in abundance (not just sometimes, not just a little) through knowledge of God. (Knowledge is a huge theme in 2 Peter)

v.3 We don't live in scarcity, but we have EVERYTHING we need through our knowledge of Him.

How? Can I be satisfied with Jesus' definition of "everything" I need?

v.4 Through these great and precious promises (given us by God Himself... hand delivered)... we may "participate in the Divine nature" Wow! We have the opportunity to participate in God's nature! And... escape the corrupt world... caused by evil desires (within me... not caused by the world, but by my base instincts).

v.5 "for this reason"... participation in God's nature and escaping corruption caused by evil desires... "add to".... Always growing...

(If we aren't growing, we're dying. Failure to take a next step is the first step to walking away from God...)

What do character next steps look like (becoming more like God)?

Faith + Goodness (do good, be good-focused!) + knowledge (good behavior sets up knowledge... bad behavior sets up ignorance... not vice-versa) + self-control + perseverance (toughness! Weak self-control, weak perseverance) + Godliness (Participate in the Divine nature!) + brotherly kindness (interesting placement of this virtue) + love.

v. 8 Increasing in these character qualities = effectiveness and productivity.

Someone needs to write a book on proven qualities of effectiveness and productivity... these 8 guarantee effectiveness and productivity (1 Cor. 13... "Love never fails").

"in the knowledge of Jesus" (again: "knowledge" is mentioned)

v. 9 by contrast, harsh condemnation for Christians who aren't increasing. (not very tolerant... we need to be careful what we tolerate... so we don't tolerate what makes God weep.)

v. 10-11 Again, these are preventative - "grow so you won't die!" Reward is worth it! Eternal reward - look forward. Always look forward! Press on!

Application:

1. Knowledge Matters - v. 2 "Grace and peace in abundance... through Knowledge of Jesus".

v.3 - Everything we need is "through knowledge of Jesus".

v.5 - Knowledge needs to be added.

v.8 - Increase in virtues so knowledge produces results!

Knowledge isn't the end, but it is a huge beginning and middle!

2. Brotherly Kindness Matters (v.7) - Normally, I see kindness as an easy, almost child-level virtue. (We teach our kids... "be kind to people"). On Peter's ladder of increasing virtues, he places it between Godliness and Love (the supreme virtue).

It is easy to be old in the faith and lose kindness.

People "mature" in faith often become increasingly unkind ("Love is patient. Love is kind.")... and find it tolerable in themselves.

I know lots of Bible... and find it too easy to be unkind with bad customer service, or when driving, or with....

What does kindness need to look like in me?

Listening. Thanking. Helping. Being silent. Speaking slowly. Assuming good motives. Letting others go first. Accepting "mistreatment". Killing entitlement to "customer service". Proactively... doing kind things.

Prayer:

Oh, Lord... I know You have given me everything I need for life and Godliness.... Everything I need to be satisfied.... I know.. and I need more knowledge of Jesus. Lord, help me to see You... and to know You (really know... experience... realize Your presence).

Lord, I'll never be kind on my own. Thanks for being the model of kindness. You are patient. You don't interrupt. You never return evil for evil or hurt for hurt. You have given me one blessing after another after another. Lord, I want to be like You to people around me...

I thank You that in Christ my sin is forgiven and my heart can be made new. Help me today to be more kind to my family, the people I work with, the stranger I run into, and the person who pushes my unkindness buttons!

I thank You that You promise Grace and Peace in abundance. May my eyes be open to Your abundant grace and peace today, so they can flow through me into the lives of others around me.

For Your glory. For Your honor. For Your name's sake. That Your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Through Jesus I offer this prayer. Amen.

Observation - When you write a letter the last part of it always says a ton to the reader. You write Sincerely, you usually mean you have little to no connection to the reader. You write I Love You, then there is something special about the reader. Your write See Ya Later Tonight XOXO, it better be a letter to your spouse! Peter is ending his letter to the reader and helping them understand he cares about them, loves them and encourages them.Why don't we write letters anymore?

Application - I need to write more letters! Really. There is nothing more powerful for someone than to get a handwritten letter. It is a lost art. Who do I need to write a letter to this week to encourage? We don't encourage enough in the church.

Prayer - God help me to encourage those around me in anyway possible.

Observation:

v.1- Both of Peter's letters are written as reminders to stimulate wholesome thinking. The Bible is written to stimulate more pure, healthy thoughts ("washed through the Word"). We need to be REMINDED more than instructed in new.... (educated beyond our obedience)

v.2- "recall" remember, reflect on what the OT prophets spoke in the past... & commands given by Jesus THROUGH apostles (i.e. when the apostles commanded, Jesus commanded.) Peter understood that his preaching and his writing were from Jesus (he knew he was writing Scripture)

v.3- Understand that scoffers will come - don't be surprised when they scoff. Their motivation: their own evil desires. (not motivated by truth or other's best interest). (2 Peter 1-"goodness" precedes "knowledge": motivation to do good precedes wisdom)

v.4- Scoffing about... 1) Deny the second coming of Jesus; 2) Deny God's involvement in history (i.e. view world as a closed system. Scoff at supernatural as superstition).

vv.5-6- They deliberately suppress the truth (cf. Romans 1:18-22) - that God has acted in history. (Denial of miracles, of God acting in creation-it's like Peter is predicting the Enlightenment and atheistic assumptions in evolution). Not because the facts are there... but because they apriori deny the truth.

v.7- In the same way... God is still acting/involved today. One day, His judgment will make that clear.

v.8- In the midst of today... its easy to forget God's perspective. He is beyond time. How many answers to my questions about God come back to this: God is beyond time?

v.9- Patience of God is easy to misinterpret. Bottom line: God's patience = mercy

v.10- But, there will come a day of reckoning that makes it all clear. God is very involved. God's patient, not passive.

1) That day will come like a thief. 2) Heavens will disappear with a roar. 3) Elements will be destroyed by fire. 4) Everything temporary will be burned (like purifying fire of 1 Peter 1?) All that's left will be spiritual. Real. Solid.

Application:

1) Don't be surprised or fooled by scoffers. They'll always come. Be prepared.

They will have fine-sounding arguments that will persuade weak people.

They will sound scientific, but will deny true science.

They will sound compassionate, but will tolerate that which destroys people.

They will make speak the wisdom of the generation, elevating themselves above the wisdom of those, like Peter & prophets, who wrote for God.

How do we prepare people to be ready?

2) Live in the reality of God's patience. God doesn't want anyone to perish.

God's "Patience season agenda" is to bring people to repentance-- how am I cooperating? Who am I praying for today to bring to repentance?

How am I reaching out? Who should I start a conversation with?

3) Live for eternity - means Joy - today. Hope - today. Purpose - today.

Prayer:

Almighty God,

Thanks that You are patient, wanting me to come to repentance. Thanks for Your Word that prepares me so I don't have to be fooled by scoffers and their fine sounding arguments. Thanks that I can look forward to the day when everything temporary is destroyed because my hope is fixed on Jesus and not on stuff destined to burn.

Lord, grant me Your eyes to reach out to people who are blind to Your patience. (They live today in the blessing of Your patience; yet, have no idea!) Open my eyes to the conversations You want me to start. I want to cooperate with your "Patience season" agenda. I want to reach out more boldly. I want to help teach people so they'll be prepared when they hear scoffers.

Above all, I want to live today in the full reality of eternity tomorrow. Thanks that my hope, joy and purpose are real and present because Jesus is real and present. Transform me to live that reality today... for Your honor. Because of Jesus, "whom to know aright is life eternal". Amen.

Observe:

v. 8 Continuing the "submissive theme" Peter began in 2:13.

Developing "living stones" theme, chosen people/strangers theme.
"Live in harmony" How do I create disharmony?
Choir harmony demands skill, practice, correction, lots of rehearsal.
"Lord, what skills do I need? How do I learn to live in harmony?"

v. 9 Harmony is not reacting when hurt/angry. Look to bless.

"To this you were called" (back to the "called", "chosen" theme)

v.11 "turn from evil; do good".

I can choose. Evil hits me in the face. I can turn and do good. Turn to bless. "Seek peace. Pursue peace." Effort. Proactive. Purpose in my heart to make peace.

Entropy is natural. Making peace is against nature.

v.12-Promise: God's watching/enjoying our righteousness. Then, He hears prayers.

"Attentive". Not just hearing. Almighty Eternal God is attentive (humans aren't always attentive. Creator God is. Wow!) But, when I choose evil, I'm on my own ("the face of the Lord is against").
"Lord, I don't want You to have to be against me because I make myself against You! Help!"

vv.13-15- Sometimes, we do right and suffer. Okay. "Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened." What do "they" fear?

Death. No vindication for suffering. No ultimate purpose in suffering/sacrifice. Defeat. Being alone in the battle.

v.15, Instead of fear, set apart Christ as Lord. Giving and answer begins with setting apart Christ as Lord-not just as Savior. So, my answers will be stronger if Jesus set apart as Lord in me is stronger.

"Always be prepared" good general truth. No one is always prepared for everything. I must always be prepared for the few things that matter.

Always prepared to give reason for hope.

What's it mean to ALWAYS be prepared to give reason for hope?

Am I? Not just hope for ultimate salvation, but hope because Jesus is hope today.....

Its easy to always be prepared to be negative and critical. Always prepared to share why life is hard.

Always be prepared to give reasons for hope....

v. 16-Keep clear conscious (echoes 2:15-16) Proactively: don't let it get unclean. Reactively: take action to clear.

v. 17-18-God's greatest purposes are accomplished via unfairness ("the righteous for the unrighteous")

v. 18-22-Still don't completely understand why Jesus proclaimed truth to this group...

Larger point: Peter reminds of baptism. It's a firm reminder of what's concrete. We were buried with Jesus in His death. We will rise with Him in His resurrection. We were saved by Jesus' resurrection. We are saved by the resurrection of Jesus in our suffering.

Jesus landed in heaven... i.e. it was worth it all.

Whatever we sacrifice/suffer in Jesus, for Jesus, it will be worth it all.

End picture: Angels and all authorities in submission to Jesus. That's reality. Everything else is under that reality. Less real? Less enduring.

Apply:

1. To overcome fear, remember: I am not like the "world". "If God be for us..." "The battle is the Lord's", "I will fight the battle for you...

Thank You, Lord, for being with me. Help me not to fear, knowing that You are with me today, & I am Yours today and forever. Help me to be strong in You in me.

2. "Always be prepared to share reason for hope..."

Lord, that would transform my heart. Rather than always being prepared to be sober, or afraid of being boastful or falsely optimistic, help me to always be prepared to be hopeful in You and to share with people REASON-solid reason-for my hope.

How can I always be prepared to have a reason...?

A. Look for hope. B. Look for how God is at work. C. Ask others for reasons for hope in God. D. Don't over-react to negative-see God at work at all time, in all things.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I thank You for being attentive to my prayers. You are Great in power, majesty, AND humility and love.

Help me to remember today that You are giving attention to every detail. Help me not to get sucked into the way of thinking that I'm on my own most of the time, but if I really, really need you that maybe, maybe, You'll be interested. I praise You for being an Attentive God.

Lord, it's easy for me to get bogged down in the reasons NOT to hope. Thanks You for giving abundant reason to hope. Time and time again in the past, You have provided, led, cared, and given refuge. That alone should be enough to give me hope in You for today. In Jesus. In my marriage. In my friends. In my Christian heritage. In every way I find reason to hope in You. Help me, Lord, to be the kind of person who gives others reason to hope, not reason for discouragement and pessimism.

Help me, Father, to always see you at work and to be at peace. If anything seems unfair or overwhelming or out of control today, turn my face to You. Help me to remember that You are always at work to do Your will. I trust You, Lord. Help my lack of trust.

I pray this through Jesus, who alone is my absolute sufficiency, Amen.

OBSERVATIONS: This is very odd to us, because it was written in another historical time and place foreign to us Americans: A society that openly persecuted Christians for what they believed. Today, if we feel the slightest fleck of infringement on our rights or discrimination for our faith, we can make a big scene and call in investigative reporters and the ACLU. Back then, you took it.

APPLICATIONS: I can connect with verse 12. Too many Christians believe that suffering will not happen to them or their loved ones, but if we know ahead of time that it's all part of the program, then we don't feel abandoned. Imagine how weird a coach's behavior would seem, screaming at you and making you do painful exercises, if you didn't know you were on the team? You'd feel violated. If you know you're on the team, then you feel like it's all part of the training.

Now, that being said, everything past v.12 doesn't connect with me. I believe it's all true, obviously. But, perhaps because I've never been in that position, I can't imagine how it's actually a comfort. If you're tossed into prison for being a Christian, does it lift your spirits to know that you're participating in Jesus' suffering? Maybe. I wouldn't know. How about v. 14? The spirit of glory rests on you? I don't even know what that means. Perhaps it showcases just how unfamiliar with suffering we American Christians are. If you're being tortured and tormented for your faith, you're suffering WITH Jesus, and a special glory rests on you. But you gotta make sure it's for your beliefs, and not because you're a bonehead.

PRAYER: Father, give me the strength to bear up under any persecution that comes my way. For that matter, may I show enough faith to elicit an angry response from those who oppose you. And THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU that we live in a land that, because of the sacrifices of our founders, allows freedom of faith. May we ever appreciate and keep the freedom alive. -AMEN

Observations

Application