"A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult." Proverbs 12:16
Why is it, that Proverbs can so quickly cut to the chase and identify a flaw or attribute so quickly, and often both? I think because it is by definition a Book of Wisdom is the main reason. That, and the fact that the Holy Spirit uses truth to help us see the light.
"A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely word." Proverbs 15:23
A subject I have addressed at least once before is on my mind again. Straight answers. Is this a political year or what? Everybody seems to be getting more and more apt at giving convoluted and complicated, circular reasoning type answers. Or should I just say "crooked" answers since that is the opposite of straight?
"He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:7-8
Luke shares with us at the beginning of the book of Acts, about the early church and a glimpse into a conversation that the Disciples had with Jesus when they were all meeting together. He had previously instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Holy Spirit. A little bewildered about the prospect of Him leaving, they asked Him the question that was uppermost in their minds. "Lord, are you going to, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?" This would fix everything. Jesus could be King of a new kingdom on Earth, the Roman oppressors would be overthrown, and peace, unity, and prosperity could be restored. They would all have a job helping Him do that and maintain that. Heaven on Earth.
"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him." Lamentations 3:19-24
This passage of Scripture, that Jeremiah pens aptly describes what often feel. It is not so much the details of what I remember or the specific issues that recycle within me that are important, but the similar process I go through every time.
"He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength"
Isaiah 40:29
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
"Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses." Romans 8:26
… Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets”
(He is simply naming men He called weak – all heroes)" Hebrews 11:32
These scriptures (and there are more) are a source of strength all by themselves, but the point of it all is that Christ has chosen the weak. (look at how weak the Apostles were, and they were eye-witnesses) Hebrews even names some of them, and had previously named Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses – all of whom had documented weaknesses.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
As 2011 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting back over my life, not only throughout this last year, but also throughout the last 13 years. There's a significance to that number, but before I go into that I wonder how many of you are where you thought you would be at this juncture of your life? If you turn behind you and look back into your past, did everything go according to how you planned to get you to where you are? Did you do all the things you thought you would leading up to this day? Did you do things in such a way that finds you happy today with where you are? Who, from your past, has made it into your present? Now, if you turn and face forward, do you see a future that is built from where you stand today or from where you stood yesterday? Are you doing everything you can today to take you into a brighter tomorrow? Who, from your today, will be with you in your tomorrow? What does your future's path look like? Is it surrounded by green meadows and clear streams? Or, is it covered in immovable boulders and barren trees? Do you even see your future at all?
"In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes--his own teeth will be set on edge "A time is coming", declares the Lord, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the House of Judah." Jeremiah 31:29-31
As I read in the prophet Jeremiah this morning, I cannot get these words out of my head. They mean something, something deeper than just the obvious promise of a covenant change between God and His people. We now know that change to be the Covenant of Grace, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We too, us non-Jews are part of that covenant promise of individual responsibility for sin. Each and every person now, answers for their sin.
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." Proverbs 3:27
More than a few times in my life, I have been put in a situation where I knew what I should do, was not at all what I wanted to do. As a matter of fact, just recently, I did everything in my power to avoid acting on what was in my power to do, simply because I did not want to get involved. I lined up all my reasons and excuses. I got some support from someone who agreed that I can't get involved in every single situation that comes along. Besides, I was not in a very good compassion mode at the time. I was in management mode and really enjoying being there. I was in a creative high-functioning gear and did not want, or need to stop. I was firing on all cylinders and was totally fighting the prompting of the Holy Spirit. My life, after all, is full of this kind of rescuing stuff, and I did not need any more on my plate. No thanks God, I appreciate your consideration of me being the one to get involved, but as you well know, I don't have a moment to spare.
Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Member, Gabby Botts:
"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!" Psalm 139:7
I feel compelled to write about the "dry seasons" that one will undoubtedly experience in life from time to time in the Christian walk. If anyone tries to seem "holier than thou" or whatnot and tell you that there aren’t such things as dry spells, and spout off some verse about how God is always with you (which is true by the way, but let me go on), they’re lying. I’m here to tell you there will be times when you don’t feel anything. There will be days, maybe weeks, months, etc, when you have doubts, when you just feel so dried up, and like God is busy with other things, other people, etc. Maybe you feel like you can’t be used. Maybe you’ll get so exasperated you feel like you’ve lost your beliefs. It’s okay.
Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Charlotte:
"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." Psalm 119:35-37
As you read the title of my devotional this week, I'm sure the thought may have entered your mind, "Oh yeah, then you don't know what's going on in my life". I can't tell you the countless number of times I have heard people use that expression, and I admit that I am guilty of having used it myself, trying to impart assurance to the person that they can get through whatever difficulty they're facing and that they are in fact much stronger than they think. However, the key lies not in that person thinking they're stronger than they feel, the real strength comes from releasing it to God, knowing that he's in control of it anyway.
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