Daily Devotions - Entries written by Jonathan Ziman

Today, you will fail. And so will I.

In ways big and small, we will all fall short of the glory of God. We want to start the day with prayer and Bible reading, but toss and turn so much during the night that we wake up exhausted and barely able to get out the door in time for work. We want to engage a co-worker in conversation in the hope of inviting them to church, but by the time we get done listening to voicemail and working through email, eating lunch alone is far more appealing than “working” at sharing Christ with someone else.

The list goes on and on. There are moments where our good intentions will be thwarted by poor planning, lack of judgment, or the unavoidable consequences of actions by other people. There are other times when, if we’re really honest, our intentions won’t be all that good to begin with. We are sinners walking the path of sanctification, slowly being purified by the power of the Holy Spirit, enduring all kinds of ups and downs as we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, ESV). Some days it’s slow going indeed.

Reading the Book of Proverbs can, if we’re not careful, lead us into a works-based mentality, where our standing before God becomes increasingly dependent upon our ability to follow through on all these little tidbits of advice about how to live wisely. The truth is that we can’t do half of it, and the rest we will do poorly or inconsistently. This doesn’t mean we’re on the path that leads to death. This doesn’t mean we’re lesser Christians, or failures in some way. It’s simply the reality of life as fallen creatures living in a fallen world.

So, as we work through the Book of Proverbs we need to continually keep an eye on the gospel. That is, we must remind ourselves daily that although we may be sinners, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die to pay the punishment for all those ways in which we fall so far short of the mark. Not only that, but as we put our trust in Him, we are counted as His children, beloved members of a royal family. So when we trip and fall and land flat on our face (again), there is hope for us after all.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4, NLT)

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception. (Proverbs 14:8)

When was the last time you gave thought to your ways? Everything about our lives is structured to keep us from ever slowing down or pausing long enough to reflect on who we are, what we are doing, or where we are going. If “life is a highway,” then it sometimes feels as if the rest areas are few and far between. We may grab odd moments here and there, late at night as we drift off to sleep, or first thing in the morning as we wait for the coffee to cool down enough to drink, but the rest of our days are filled with activity, and it’s non-stop.

The Book of Proverbs is packed with advice for living, covering topics ranging from parenting to finances to marriage to table manners. In fact, there are so many proverbs it can sometimes be hard to see the forest for the trees. The big picture, however, is clear. There are two potential paths we walk down in life: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness.

The way of wisdom leads to life. The way of foolishness eventually leads to death. We’re all walking down one path or the other. There is no sitting on the fence. “Not choosing” is, in fact, still a choice. We tend to give all our attention to the “big issues,” but the truth is that life is more like a series of little decisions that either bring us closer to God, or take us further away.

In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.
(Proverbs 12:28)     

There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
(Proverbs 14:12)     

Your day lies ahead of you. A hundred decisions need to be made, and however mundane they may seem, they add up to the totality of the content of your life. One path leads to life. The other leads to death. Which path are you on?

The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.(Proverbs 14:16-17)

Recently you may have seen people wearing t-shirts or drinking from coffee mugs bearing the phrase, “Keep Calm and Carry On” (or some witty or clever variation thereof). This was originally a piece of propaganda put out by the British government during World War II in order to encourage the general population to keep doing their work and not let the anxiety and fear of war become all-consuming.

How effective it was at the time is perhaps debatable, but it does serve very well to capture one aspect of our faith as followers of Christ. There are many times when our emotions can run wild, and our hearts can pull us in twelve different directions at once. We are emotional creatures, and retaining self-control and a sense of composure can be difficult during times of stress and anxiety. However, I love the simplicity of the following verse: “The wise fear the Lord and shun evil.”

How do we “keep calm and carry on” when it feels like we can’t control what our heart is doing? “Fear the Lord and shun evil.” That’s the bottom line. If we can re-calibrate around that core, we will always be able to find a way out of whatever mess we find ourselves in.

If we fear the Lord, we recognize that He is who He says He is. He is God. The God. He is the only One, omnipotent and omniscient. He is the God who holds all things together. He is the only uncreated being in existence. Try to wrap your head around that! Such a being deserves, not just respect (as we might give our grandfather or a teacher), but awe, reverence, worship, and absolute obedience. We should, to some extent, shudder at His raw power. Imagine the feeling of tininess and insignificance you get seeing the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, and then think about the God for whom those are just a drop in the ocean. And yet, despite our tininess, He loves us! We are made in His image! He delights to call us His children! When we fear the Lord we are floored both by God’s greatness and His grace. And that alone gives us the power to shun evil and choose instead the path that leads to life.

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
(Proverbs 21:17)     

Listen, my son, and be wise,
and set your heart on the right path:
Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
(Proverbs 23:19-21)  

God created us to experience pleasure. We have five senses that are highly attuned to the slightest changes in our environments. Moreover, we don’t “just” receive input through these senses, we interpret, analyze, classify and qualify that data. We make judgments and assessments. We have been given an aesthetic sensibility. We don’t just eat food for energy, we relish flavors and colors and smells, constantly looking for new and interesting combinations and varieties.

However, our senses, like everything else, have been corrupted by the fall and the corrosive influence of sin. The delight we take in delicious food can quickly slide into gluttony. The pursuit of beauty can damage relationships and lead us into temptation. Things that feel good can become obsessions that lead us away from God.

Pleasure by itself is not a bad thing. However, someone who is driven by the pursuit of pleasure is headed for disaster. As the author of the Book of Proverbs says, “whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.” Note that this is a heart issue more than anything else. Wine and olive oil by themselves are not bad. It’s our obsession for them that is bad.

As the author warns us, “Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path.” God is less concerned with giving us a long list of do’s and do not’s, and far more concerned with the state of our heart. We may focus on behaviors, but behind our actions lie a core set of beliefs, wants and desires that drive everything we do. Our heart is ultimately in the driving seat, and we can’t fix our behavior or alter our attitudes until our hearts are aligned with God.

What is your heart yearning most for right now? As you drive home in the evening, what are the things you feel “have” to be in place? What do you feel that you have a right to enjoy, whatever that may cost?

How might God be challenging some of your core beliefs and assumptions about what is right or appropriate in your pursuit of pleasure?

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD,

and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:33)

Humility is the fear of the LORD;

its wages are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

We’ve talked at length this week about the sin of pride and the dreadful impact it has on our lives and our communities. Today we talk about its polar opposite, humility. Pride comes before a fall, but “humility comes before honor.” Pride leads to judgment and destruction, but humility leads to “riches and honor and life.” Pride and humility are like spiritual oil and water.

But what is humility? Does it mean pretending we’re less than we are? Does it mean refusing any kind of compliment or accolade? Does it mean putting ourselves down in some way? Can only quiet introverts be humble? How should we respond when we do something good, or right, or noble, or successful?

To answer those questions we have to zoom out a bit first, because every situation is unique and each individual is a complex web of competing emotions, thoughts, feelings and intentions. According to the Bible, at least in the two proverbs above, it’s clear that humility is rooted in a fear of the Lord. Whatever else it is, however else it may play out in our lives, humility begins first and foremost with a heart that fears the Lord.

Humility, then, is as much an orientation towards God as it is anything else. Our hearts have to be right before God before we can even hope to live in right relationship with others. That takes a work of the Spirit in our lives. Something He delights to do as we turn to Him and humbly ask for His help.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

    but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

(1 Peter 5:5-7)

Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
(Proverbs 21:4)

“Haughty” is not a word that comes up very often in conversation these days. However, if you’ve ever seen an episode of Downton Abbey, you’ve probably witnessed some haughtiness in action. The British, it would seem, are experts at looking down their noses at other people. It’s that look of disdain associated with feelings of superiority. And all of this stems from a heart that has grown fat from feeding on pride.

It’s nothing earth-shattering or new to suggest that pride leads to sin. How can it not? The proud of heart no longer see other people as equals, but as enemies. The proud of heart no longer see other people as brothers and sisters in Christ, but stepping stones to achieving their goals and fulfilling their own personal desires, whatever the cost. Pride tears away at the fabric of community, pulling apart relationships and leaving ugliness and hurt in its wake.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
(Proverbs 11:2)

Pride leads to all kinds of sins, both visible and invisible, and often, ultimately, leads to disgrace. For this reason we should be carefully attuned to the warning signs of pride in our lives. How do we “see” other people? What are some ways in which we find ourselves sub-consciously “ranking” or “assessing” the people around us? God has given each of us unique gifts, abilities, and experiences to use for His glory and to expand His Kingdom. How are we perhaps using them more to further our own kingdom instead?

Speaking of pride, the author and theologian C.S. Lewis once wrote,

“There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Touchstone, 1996: 109)

C. S. Lewis goes on to assert that pride is “the great sin,” the one sin that lies behind all the others, the core sin at the heart of all our rebellion against God and others. Pride is an ugly twisted deceit that convinces us we are better than everyone else, even our Heavenly Father. As such, pride cannot help but cause severe damage wherever it raises its ugly head.  

This week we will explore what the Book of Proverbs can teach us about pride, and its opposite, humility. We start with the obvious. Pride separates us from God:

The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
(Proverbs 16:5)

This sounds extreme, but the truth is that all pride evokes judgment from God, and with good reason. A proud heart doesn’t just move God into the passenger seat, but sometimes tries to force Him out of the car altogether. “The proud of heart” look at the world and decide they know best. “The proud of heart” relegate God to the role of supporting character in the play of their lives, where they are now both the author, principle actor and director. “The proud of heart” live in opposition to God—a position that will never be tolerated.

That said, there is hope for all of us! Because Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sin, as we turn to Him in prayerful repentance He will lead us back onto the path of wisdom. The way out of this mess is not so much in trying to be less proud, but re-calibrating our hearts to worship the true King.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8)

The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
(Proverbs 12:15)

Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
May your father and mother rejoice;
 may she who gave you birth be joyful!
(Proverbs 23:22-25)

Every day is filled with opportunity. We know this. In fact, we’re used to being told to “seize the day,” and “make the most of every moment.” These are good ideals, but who is guiding us in the way in which we seize those moments? Corporations spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising designed to influence just about every decision we make, from what we wear to what we eat. They know exactly what moment they want us to seize, and how much we should spend in the process. It’s not just products they are selling, it’s an entire way of life. If we’re not careful, even the dreams and goals we set for ourselves can end up being derived more from what we see around us than what God would have for our lives.

Which is why the Bible puts such a heavy emphasis on finding good teachers to lead us in the way in which we should go.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
(Ephesians 4:11-16)

This is the system God has put in place to guide us as we grow in faith. While the Bible may be our ultimate guide, and the Holy Spirit the most intimate guide, God has also given us teachers to help us stay on track as we pursue Christ and His call on our lives.

“The wise listen to advice.” We may not always agree with it, we may not always like it, but we slow down and humble ourselves enough to listen and engage with what others would speak into our lives. We don’t know everything and can never do so. Which is why we are called to place ourselves under the teaching of others, who have been gifted and equipped to help us grow in our faith.

Whose advice are you listening to? 

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
 pay attention and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live. (Proverbs 4:1-4)

I love to read. My office is filled with books, my house is filled with books, and I have more books on my Kindle than I have time to read right now. I am naturally curious about the world around me, and I love to learn new things. Research comes naturally to me, and I have about a dozen half-finished books scattered all around my desk right now.

Learning is great, and it can be exhilarating to discover some new nugget of information, but if all I do is collect this information for myself, than over time it can become stale and unprofitable. While it can be fun to consume all this knowledge and information, if I never actually do anything with it, then ultimately it’s a waste of time.

It would be crazy to read a book about tying knots, but then never actually go out into the world and tie anything in a knot. Yet, we do that all the time when it comes to the wisdom God has revealed to us in the Bible. The Book of Proverbs, however, encourages a different way of life. Instead of simply consuming more and more for ourselves, we are encouraged to pass it on to others instead:

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
(Proverbs 9:9)

We have the Book of Proverbs because wisdom is meant to be shared. Parents are designed to teach their children. What we learn from God is supposed to be passed on to other people. Instead of being dead-end streets, we are called to be busy highways, teaching others what God has been teaching us, pointing people to Jesus, and helping them to walk with the Spirit as they read God’s Word and let it change their lives.

We spend a lot of time thinking about how we need to be spiritually “fed” ourselves, but who are we, in turn, taking the time to feed? Do all the sermons, books, Bible studies, prayer requests and devotionals end with you? Or are you passing on that rich heritage of faith to the next generation of believers (your children, grand-children, extended family members, neighbors, co-workers, or friends at church)?

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
(2 Timothy 2:2)

Paul’s charge to Timothy echoes loudly in our ears today. He poured his life into this young leader, and prayed fervently for his ministry to others. But all that energy and effort was meant to then be passed on to others as well. Paul’s end-goal wasn’t Timothy, it was us. Paul’s vision went far beyond what was in front of him, as he sought to see the gospel grow and bear fruit throughout the world and across all of time. Which raises a question for us today.

To whom are you entrusting the gospel? 

Americans excel at working hard. It’s part of the national psyche. There’s a can-do, pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps, anyone-can-make-it, rags-to-riches, frontier mentality that has traditionally driven one of the biggest economies in the world. We’re a nation of workaholics, logged in at all times, connected to email and our phones even when we’re supposed to be away on vacation. We have a tendency to look down our noses at those “lazy” Europeans with their short work-weeks and long siestas. We’re about Getting Things Done. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We love verses like these:

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
(Proverbs 20:13)     

All hard work brings a profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
(Proverbs 14:23)

Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
(Proverbs 10:4)       

Coffee is our fuel, and we use it to push ever onward and upward. We love to moan about long hours and bad bosses, but deep down we’re secretly addicted to the rush of it all. We want people to know just how hard we’re working. It’s a badge of honor.

Clearly, work is important. The Bible is crystal clear concerning the dangers of laziness, and condemns the idle for their failure to work. However, is it possible that perhaps our work ethic may not be quite as honoring to God as we think it is? God designed us for work, but He also designed us for rest. In fact, God Himself set the pattern for us to follow:

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
(Genesis 2:2-3)

This “seventh day” later became the “Sabbath” day, and keeping it was an integral part of the Law of Moses:

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
(Exodus 20:8-11)

We don’t have the space here to engage in a conversation about how we go about doing this today, in light of the New Covenant, but suffice it to say that rest is something God has built into the created order of things, and we would do well to consider taking His words more seriously than we generally do.

Disconnecting from our iPhones and laptops for a period of time doesn’t earn us favor with God, but it may earn us favor with our families. Resting from work is not a sign of weakness or even laziness, but a healthy way to bring balance back into our fast-paced lives. Taking a day off is a way of releasing control back to God, trusting that ultimately, despite all our efforts, He is the one truly at work in this world.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
 In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.
(Psalm 127)

Where do you need to begin building places of rest into your week?

Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
(Proverbs 28:19)     

Although it may sometimes be hard to believe, work is not some cosmic punishment for sin. We were not created for relaxation, but then somehow “fell” into work. Wrapped up in our God-given identity is the need to work, and the blessing of work. It’s who we were created to be, God’s plan from the very beginning of time.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
(Genesis 1:26-28)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
(Genesis 2:15)

The Fall didn’t introduce work into the world, it simply twisted it, turning something God-ordained and beautiful into something difficult and challenging. We were made to work, and we should do so with diligence and joy. In working we fulfill God’s will for our lives, and on occasion even get glimpses of the way things were originally supposed to be. Work has the power to bring dignity and wholeness into a world torn apart by sin.

Finally, all things being equal, hard work will usually result in material blessing.

It’s the way that God has planned for us to receive His provision in our lives. Work the ground and receive a harvest. Pour yourself into a business, and see it grow. There will always be setbacks and challenges--crops will fail and businesses will fold--but hard work is what we were made to do, and we bring glory to God when we do it well.

Does your work feel more like a blessing or a curse? Or a mixture of both? How can you best honor God in your current place of employment? Thinking broadly, what “soil” has God called you to work, and how hard are doing it? What fruit are you hoping to harvest as a result? 

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
(Proverbs 6:6-8)

There’s no doubting the industriousness of ants. Just the other day I stood mesmerized in my yard for a long time as a single tiny any slowly dragged an enormous dead bee all the way across our back patio and into its nest. His strength and tenacity were amazing. He never once stopped in boredom to look around for the nearest Starbucks (or whatever the ant equivalent may be). He never paused to consider the value or significance of the work he was doing. He didn’t get distracted and run off to research bee varieties, brands of honey, or the cheapest place to buy dead bee carcasses. He didn’t waste three hours researching the mystery of the ever-declining bee population (and his potential role in that potentially catastrophic collapse). No, he had a job to do and he did it.

The author of the Book of Proverbs looks at the tireless single-minded focus of the tiny ant and sees an important life lesson for us all. Hard work is part of life, and when we invest ourselves in the work God has appointed for us to do, we can rest in comfort later. However, when we reverse that order, the results can be disastrous.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
(Proverbs 6:6-11)

Rest is, of course, a God-ordained activity; a rhythm that He has built into the created order. However, sin has corrupted not just our work, making it significantly more challenging, but also our rest, making it significantly more enticing. The blessing of rest can so easily become the sin of laziness.

The temptation to sleep in, to avoid work, to put off until tomorrow what could (and should) be done today—these are all ways in which we can find ourselves drifting towards laziness. It may not seem like a big deal at the time, “it’s just a little sleep…a little folding of the hands,” but the Bible warns us that poverty can come upon us suddenly, like a thief, when we least expect it. Our tendency towards procrastination can bring us to ruin at any minute.

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
(Proverbs 21:25)

Now, certainly, we are not ants. God made us in His image, and He has blessed us with creative minds that are self-reflective, inquisitive and creative. We cannot, and should not, expect to work like an ant. However, the Bible is also very clear that we must resist strongly the alluring enticements towards idleness. May we never take God’s good gift of rest and let it linger too long into a lifestyle of laziness. 

It’s that awkward moment when you realize that the cashier at the grocery store didn’t ring up everything correctly. The transaction has already finished, your stuff is in bags in the cart, and they are already at work on the next customer in line. But as you look at the receipt you see the mistake and there’s that twinge of excitement and frustration and guilt all rolled into one. What do you do now?

A life of wisdom is built on a thousand little moments like this. We may never rob a bank or commit major acts of fraud or tax evasion, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore the Bible’s commands to live a life without reproach in matters of money and finance.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
(Proverbs 10:2)

Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
(Proverbs 16:8)

Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
(Proverbs 20:17)

 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
(Proverbs 21:6)

What I appreciate about the Bible is its honesty about the realities of life. We wish it were the case that only godly, honest people prospered, while wicked people perished. But the truth of the matter is that deceitful, lying cheats will quite often get ahead in this world, and get incredibly rich in the process. Moreover, being honest doesn’t always guarantee success. God calls us to be honest, and blesses honesty, but sin has so distorted this world that sometimes telling truth may lead to punishment instead of promotion.

The way of wisdom, the path set before us in the Book of Proverbs, involves doing the right thing regardless of the result. We are free from the burden of trying to earn our righteousness through the law, but with that freedom comes the responsibility of living in a way that honors God. Our salvation does not depend on our ability to try harder or to be better, more moral people. However, as “children of God” (John 1:12) we are committed to loving God and loving others as we love ourselves. Therefore, honoring our Heavenly Father will necessarily require us to be morally upright people.

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16

Contrary to popular thought, a recent study by two professors at the University of Michigan concluded that money does, in fact, make us happy. To some extent we really shouldn’t be surprised. Looked at from a purely materialistic point of view, there is undoubtedly some truth to this. Money provides access to all kinds of resources that are designed to improve our quality of life, from health care to education to retirement. It may not sound very spiritual, but the bottom line is that the more money you have, the more doors will open for you.

So how do we make sense of the following warning from the author of the Book of Proverbs?

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness. (Prov. 23:4)

Did he just not have access to the same kind of research that we have available to us today? Isn’t hard work highly praised throughout the Book of Proverbs, and laziness consistently condemned? So how could it be bad to work hard in order to gain more money?

The issue here is not money per se, but the attachment we place on our money. Working hard is a good thing. Trusting in our own cleverness to continually provide what ultimately comes from God alone is foolishness, and to be avoided. Wearing out ourselves in the pursuit of money is ultimately dishonoring to the God “from whom all blessings flow.” Consider the following:

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
(Proverbs 11:4)

Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
(Proverbs 11:7)       

Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
(Proverbs 11:28)

It’s hard not to put my trust in my wealth. After all, it’s my bank account which provides a financial safety net. It’s my job which pays for my health insurance. It’s my access to credit which allows me to buy a house. If I’m honest, it sometimes seems as if my faith in Christ, while obviously important, doesn’t provide much material security at all.

The pursuit of wisdom does, however, promise gifts that are far more valuable: 

With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
(Proverbs 8:18-19)

Wisdom brings benefits that far exceed the blessings of unlimited credit. We live in a world distorted by sin, and marred by evil. In the middle of that darkness wisdom shines brightly. In Christ we have been access to the light of the world, a living hope, the bread of life, and eternal rest. Walking in the way of wisdom will draw us closer to God and ensure that we remain on the path that leads to life.

Moreover, as we do walk in His ways, we place ourselves in a position of humble obedience to laws and precepts and guidelines which will quite often, though not always, lead to material blessings as well.

I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
(Proverbs 8:20-21)

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
(Prov. 17:17)            

We need other people. We were created for community and we slowly fall apart without it. Sometimes God blesses us with siblings or cousins who become our closest trusted confidantes. At other times God gives us friends outside the family who come alongside us at critical moments to bring comfort and reassurance. Either way, a trusted friend is like gold, and should be treated as such.

A friend, a good friend, “loves at all times.” When we’re crabby and irritable, when we’re sick and alone, or when we feel like there is nowhere else to turn, a real friend will always be there for us. A friend sits by your side long into the night as you grieve the death of a loved one. A friend comes to pick you up at the airport, and then waits for hours after your flight has been delayed. A friend does your laundry for you when you are too sick to move. A friend tells you when you’re being rude, selfish or just plain stupid. A friend encourages you when you are down and gives you hope when everything seems chaotic and out of control. We need good friends, and if you have one, you are incredibly blessed.

So how are you investing in your friendships right now? Do you take each other for granted? Do you assume the other person will always be there, and always take your call, even though you never reach out to support or care for them? Or consider your siblings. Certainly, not everyone feels close to their brother or sister, but how hard do you work to cultivate that relationship? Whether they rub you the wrong way or not, they are your flesh and blood, partners in life with you from now until the Lord calls one or both of you home. Do you treat your siblings like that? Or are those relationships running on the fumes of family obligation and duty?

Satan, our Enemy, the Accuser, has done an amazing job of convincing us that we don’t need anyone else, that we can and should go it alone in the world, that it’s nobler to be a loner, and a sign of weakness to involve other people in our lives. But Biblically speaking, the opposite is true. We need other people in our lives. We need friends and family. What are you doing to encourage those relationships?

Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
(Proverbs 12:25)

We live in a fast-paced world, filled with non-stop interruptions and constant activity. Emails and texts stream into our lives at an alarming rate, and there’s rarely a break from people who are clamoring for our attention or looking to us for a decision. Twitter, Facebook, CNN, Fox News all compete for attention, calling out to us with the latest moment-by-moment updates of everything that is going wrong in the world. There is no escape. We sleep with our phones by our beds, and if we forget to turn them off or silence them, alerts buzz us awake on and off all through the night.

When everything is moving at such a break-neck speed, it’s no wonder that so many people experience feelings of fear and anxiety. Anything could happen to anyone at anytime for any reason. We have no control. There is no pause button. We can’t undo anything. No wonder so many of us look for relief and release in television shows or wine or golf or eating.

Within certain parameters, there are all kinds of perfectly reasonable ways we can blow off steam and try to relax, but if we stop to look outside ourselves, God has also given us friends to encourage and support us in times of struggle. More specifically, He has given us brothers and sisters in Christ who can speak words of kindness into our lives to help raise our spirits.

It’s safe to assume that most of us are dealing with at least low levels of anxiety about one thing or another. So when was the last time you actually asked one of your close friends what that “something” is? How might God use you to bring words of healing into your friend’s life?

Looked at from the other perspective, how open are you really in your relationships with others? Does anyone else know how heavy-laden you feel right now? Who can you share that burden with today? God has designed Christian community such that we should in theory be caring for each other, ministering the gospel into the mess of each other’s lives. How can you work towards that goal this week?

Over the last couple of weeks we have focused our study of Proverbs on the most intimate relationships in our lives; our family. This week we expand that circle outwards a little bit to include our relationships with friends. What does the Book of Proverbs teach us about friendship? How does God’s wisdom govern relationships that are outside of the family unit?

A fundamental building block for all our relationships is found in the following proverb:

A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
(Proverbs 11:13)

Thankfully this verse doesn’t apply to any of us, right? We never talk behind someone’s back. We never betray a confidence. We never find ourselves sharing juicy information under the guise of looking for prayer.

If only that were true! Sadly, we can all remember times when we have failed to restrain our tongue, and eagerly shared things we wish we could take back later. Perhaps we have even lost friends as a result, or caused harm that has taken years to repair. The “restless evil” that is our tongue gets us into all kinds of trouble. It’s a reminder that we are all sinners in the process of being sanctified, and our friendships are often the crucible of testing for that slow and arduous process.

All relationships are built on trust, and friendships, lacking the tight bonds of family connectivity, are particularly susceptible to fracture under the stress of broken trust. If we can’t trust someone, there is a limit to what we will share, and if there is a limit to what we will share, then there is a corresponding limit to how intimately connected we will be as a result.

Trust is the foundation, the bedrock, of a solid friendship. Abuse that trust and the relationship will soon crumble. The solution is simple. Don’t gossip. If a friend has entrusted to you something precious, don’t demean that gift by passing it around for everyone to play with.

We can only do that, however, as we submit ourselves completely to the Spirit’s power working in and through us. We are not perfect. We are all works in progress. Simply trying to be better people will never get us very far. However, as we turn to God for help, and look for His strength to equip us, we will find ourselves slowly transformed more and more into the likeness of His Son. Pray for God’s strength to do that work in you today.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
(Proverbs 4:23)

If there is one lesson you want to teach your children, it’s this. Whoever has their heart, has their life. It’s that simple. Whoever or whatever captures the core of their being will ultimately also control the rest of their life. This is more than just emotions. Crushes come and go, likes and dislikes change over time, but our hearts are in the driving seat of our lives.

As such, it is so important that we guard our hearts from foreign influences. This will, in the end, mean different things to different people. How we go about guarding the hearts of our children is going to vary wildly from person to person. It might mean, for example, curtailing all television, or restricting it heavily, or watching it with your children and discussing as you go. The point here is that something needs to be done to actively guard and protect the heart from corrupting influences.

Remember, we can’t keep sin completely at bay, because we all have sin buried deep within us that will never be fully rooted out until Jesus takes us home. However, just because we can’t control all the variables involved doesn’t mean we should just throw in the towel.

Parents have an obligation to do everything they can to guide and lead their children into a relationship with Jesus. If the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with everything we have, then parents should work with all their might to instill that love at a young age, and continue to grow and encourage it as their children get older.

When it comes right down to is, who or what has your heart? How do you know? What needs to change in order to make the Lord the center of your life?

Fear is one of the more common emotions we experience as parents. Our children are the most precious gifts imaginable, and yet when it comes right down it, we have almost no control over what will happen to them as they grow older. Sure, we can stack the deck in their favor by teaching and training them, guiding and leading them, disciplining and discipling them, but ultimately there are too many variables in this world that our outside of our control, and at some point we have to let go. That is both a beautiful and a terrifying thing.

As a perfect example, just two hours after writing the paragraph above, my daughter slipped on the staircase at home and fell about nine feet over the banisters to the floor below. Terrifying! By the grace of God all she needed was a couple of staples to close up a bad gash on the back of her head, but this was a painful reminder that even in our own home, anything can happen. We like to think that we are in control, that we can protect our children from harm, and that if we work hard enough, we can keep suffering and pain at bay, but the truth is that we have no such power at all.

In fact, fears for our children are a daily reality that can, if we are not careful, become a consuming reality, dominating all our thoughts and actions. The Book of Proverbs, however, points us in another direction.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 (Proverbs 1:7)

A healthy fear of the Lord sees God for who He truly is—the omnipotent, almighty, Creator of everything and everyone in all of time and space, throughout eternity, from ages past and into an infinite future. He holds all things together and nothing happens outside of His divine control. A fear of the Lord leads to a life of wisdom and peace because it acknowledges that God has control over all things, especially the things we do not.

Perhaps more importantly, however, this same God also calls Himself our loving Father, a personal God who is present with us in the midst of every chaotic moment of our lives, especially in times of pain and suffering. He is not some abstract force off in the distance, but a tender, loving, patient parent Himself, quietly and consistently reaching out to us even when we turn against Him. His love for us is deeper than we can possibly imagine, and we can rest certain in the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

As parents, we will never be free from the sometimes crippling fear of bad things happening to our children. However, we can orient our hearts to focus our attention on the One who holds our hand through it all.

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
(Proverbs 17:22)

 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
   but a crushed spirit who can bear?
(Proverbs 18:14)

As we have discussed so much over the last several weeks, our words can have a powerful impact in the lives other people, both for good and for bad. Sadly, we can probably all remember times when we have lashed out in anger, crushing the spirit of someone we love dearly. The results can be devastating, and take a long time to repair.

Thankfully, however, the opposite is also true. “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” not just for us, but for our spouse as well. A kind or supportive word, spoken at just the right time, can actually rejuvenate a crushed spirit. Although those closest to us can sometimes be the ones who hurt us the most, they can also be the ones to heal us the most.

Humans can endure astonishing amounts of physical pain and suffering, but severe emotional trauma can be almost too much to bear. What can we do in the face of such suffering? Amazingly, our words, our care, our concern, our heart, can all work incredible healing into the lives of those we love and cherish the most. How are you building up your spouse today?

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
(Proverbs 13:12)

Young couples tend to enter marriage with incredibly high expectations. Filled with consuming love for each other, newly-weds are often convinced that they have found “the one” and that a happy ending is right around the corner. Rarely do they realize that a wedding is simply the starting point for the longest and perhaps most difficult race of their lives. Youthful exuberance and optimism can quickly fade as challenges surface and the troubles of life bring one hurdle after another.

Hopes and dreams that have to be shelved because of work challenges, physical difficulties, or emotional and relational struggles, can, and do, make “the heart sick.” Depression, anger, resentment, loneliness, and anxiety can bubble quickly to the surface as hopes and dreams slowly sink away.

In contrast, when our deepest longings are fulfilled, the impact can be incredible. Like a plant bursting into full bloom or a tree bearing rich fruit, so too can a “longing fulfilled” bring new life to a broken heart. Now, obviously this proverb is not trying to imply that waiting for something is bad, or that we should indulge every desire we have. We have to balance this one saying against the whole, and the Book of Proverbs is very clear about the value of hard work and the dangers of reckless self-centered consumption and laziness.

However, this proverb does raise some interesting questions for married couples. What hopes and dreams have been deferred in your relationship? What has been the impact on your heart? How can you personally support and encourage your spouse to achieve some of their deepest desires?

A big house and successful children may be nice for a while, but the real meat of a marriage that lasts is found as we create space in our relationship for open and honest sharing from the heart. Perhaps one of the deepest longings of the human heart is to be truly known. What steps are you taking to “know” your spouse at this level? How can you work together to fulfill those deepest longings and create a marriage that bears lasting fruit?

He who finds a wife finds what is good
    and receives favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22)

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord. (Proverbs 19:14)

I love my wife. There, I said it out loud! Although we’ve only been married for 15 years, I think I can say that she is a blessing beyond anything I could ever imagine. Her smile lights up the room and her joy is contagious. She is more than just “good”—she is the perfect match for me. Truly, I have received favor from the Lord.

Now, she would be the first to admit that she is not, in fact, perfect. And nor am I. Our marriage is not perfect either. It can’t be. Two sinful people living together in the same house day in, day out, with four young children who are equally imperfect, can create a whole world of stress and difficulty. We have our good days and our bad days. We battle frustrations and struggles like everyone else. But beneath it all God has bound us together in ways that even I don’t fully understand.

“He who finds a wife finds what is good.” My wife and I are not characters in a movie. There is nothing particularly special or unique about our marriage. It is special because God has infused it with the mysterious power of the Holy Spirit. Every day we have the opportunity to see His power at work in our lives, as we work through miscommunication or talk through disagreements.

If you happen to find yourself married, count yourself blessed beyond measure. God has connected you to another person in the deepest, most significant relationship imaginable. Unfortunately, over time it may lose its luster, or become something we take completely for granted. But the truth is that God has united you, body and soul, to another person, and you should rejoice over every day that you have the privilege to spend with someone who loves you that deeply and intimately.

Certainly there are many people who abuse the gift of marriage--using it to feed their own selfish desires, or abandoning their vows in order to give full reign to the sinful desires of their hearts. But the God-given potential for incredible joy and amazing blessing remains, and because of Jesus’ death on the cross, the possibility is always there for God to perform astonishing works of restoration and healing.

When was the last time you looked at your spouse as a blessing given to you directly from God? How can you treat them like that today?

12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
(Proverbs 10:12)

 Hatred is such an ugly emotion. Of course it stirs up conflict! It’s an awful sentiment; a terrible combination of jealousy and self-centeredness. It has the power to consume rational behavior and destroy our lives from the inside out. We should fear the hatred in our hearts as we might fear catching a deadly disease or awful virus. The moment it rears its head we should do everything in our power to drive it away, lest it take root deep within us and slowly erode our hearts.

 In contrast, “love covers over all wrongs.” Now, this does not mean that love acts as if nothing bad happened. Biblical love does not mean sweeping the dirt under the carpet and going on about your business. A robust love will recognize wrongs, but seek to work through them. A heart filled with love will be quick to forgive, and in so doing, work actively against the injurious actions of sin in our lives. As Peter wrote to the early church,

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1Peter 4:8)

Sadly, our own lives tend to be a mixture of love and hate, anger and joy, bitterness and forgiveness. We yearn for healing and restoration, but live with brokenness and pain. Even the best of our intentions can often end up falling flat as a result of unresolved sin in our hearts.

The good news, however, is that our own failures point to God’s perfection. The ultimate example of love covering up all wrong is right there on the cross. God saw all too clearly the hatred and rebellion in our hearts. He witnessed first hand the conflict and pain and separation which came as a result of our self-centered desires and greedy grabbings. Yet, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He paid the penalty on our behalf, and in doing so paved the way for us to receive new hearts and new life in the Spirit.

We may be wonderful Church-going believers who tithe regularly and help the poor and needy, but as long as we live on this planet hatred will always simmer quietly under the surface, just out of view and just out of reach. So when those explosions do inevitably come, may God’s grace encourage you in repentance and lead you forward in hope. 

18 Like a maniac shooting
 flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!” (Proverbs 26:18-19)

Our lives revolve around a never-ending stream of communication with other people. We’re relational creatures, and our words bind us together in all kinds of ways. However, with so many words flying around, clearly not all of them can be somber, serious and carefully chosen. God gave us a sense of humor, and jokes can often be used as an appropriate way to release tension and see events from a more light-hearted angle.

That said, sometimes our attempts at humor can fall short of the mark, and our desire to be funny can cause more harm than good. Looked at from this perspective, perhaps the most dangerous form of communication we can use is sarcasm.

Now, I should admit up front that I come from a long and distinguished line of sarcastic people. Irony and satire have been long-time members of our family. It takes practice and skill to know how and when to best apply these weapons for maximum impact. As such, I’ve always prided myself on my abilities in this area and looked for opportunities to exercise my wit.

Yet, I find myself increasingly aware of just how painful these jabs can be. I’ve read through Proverbs many, many times before, but it feels as if this is the first time I’ve ever read this verse. 

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!” (Proverbs 26:18-19)

We often think of humor as a harmless “social lubricant,” greasing the wheels of conversation and helping us to talk our way through awkward moments and uncomfortable silences. However, although God is not opposed to humor, when we cross that line into sarcasm, the Bible warns us that the damage can be akin to “a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death.”

That’s pretty extreme language! Shocking, even. Looked at in such a light, should there ever be a place for such a way of speaking in our most treasured relationships? Why would I want to shoot “flaming arrows of death” at my spouse? Or my children? Or my brothers and sisters in Christ? Or anyone for that matter?

How are you using your words? When does your humor slip into biting sarcasm? Who have you damaged with such stinging comments, and how can you reach out to restore those relationships today?

1 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
 keep themselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)

1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,
    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)

Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, and I am apt to believe Him. So, it goes without saying that however careful we may be to “guard [our] mouths,” suffering, struggle and persecution will continue to come our way. However, those who fear the Lord and follow the path of wisdom will have hearts that are being slowly transformed into the likeness of their King. And in the process the words that come out of their heart will begin to reflect more and more the Lord whom they claim to follow. Suffering may still come as a result of situations that are outside of their control. However, they are increasingly less likely to bring that suffering on themselves as a result of their own foolish words or actions.   

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,” and so does a wise daughter. While our earthly parents may not be ideal role models, our Heavenly Father provides the perfect path for us to walk down. Indeed, we have an entire book containing His instructions for our lives, and we would do well to study it and put it into action on a more regular basis. 

We end this week with the same advice we have been receiving almost every day. “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives.” Your words can cut more deeply than any sword, and bring forth life in ways that might truly astonish you. Our words have an incredible amount of power. They are a resource we take for granted, but the Bible implies that our very lives are at stake depending on how we use them. What is your prayer for help today? How is God calling you to modify the way you use your words in the lives of others? “Those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” How can we be sure to avoid such a fate? 

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
    and how good is a timely word! (Proverbs 15:22-23)
28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28)

Is God opening this door or closing it? Is this challenge coming from God as a way to test my faith? Or is this Satan’s attempt to keep me from following God down a tough path? Is this a road-block the Holy Spirit is using to guide me in a different direction? Or is this an obstacle God wants me to overcome through faith and trust in Him? Which way should I turn? What should I do next?

Sadly there is no magic eight-ball we can turn to for such specific answers to specific prayers. However, God does communicate to us in many different ways, and one of those is through the leading and encouragement of other believers.

Note that I did not say, “other people.” Certainly there is good advice that can come from people who are not Christians. However, the kind of wisdom that leads to life can only come from people who are themselves filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s the only way we can access Godly wisdom. Biblical knowledge is nice and common sense is helpful, but when I am looking for direction and guidance on the biggest issues I face in life, I am going to turn to someone who confesses Christ as their Lord.

Does this guarantee perfect results? No. We are all sinners in a state of ongoing sanctification. We get things wrong all the time. But by submitting my plans to the wisdom and input of other believers I’m placing myself in a much better situation than simply “going with my gut.”

However, am I ready and willing to open up my life to the wisdom of other people? Am I living in a community of believers who are looking out for my best interests? Do I trust other people to redirect my steps when they see me wandering in the wrong direction?

Whose advice are you listening to?

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
   but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:11)

 19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
   but the prudent hold their tongues.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
    but fools die for lack of sense. (Proverbs 10:19-21) 

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
    but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:31-32)

 The Book of Proverbs is packed with practical advice on any number of different topics, but talks at length about the power of our words to influence others. As the author of the Book of Proverbs points out; “the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” The righteous person (someone who fears the Lord and walks in the way of wisdom) has the ability to bring great blessings into the lives of other people through their words.

However, the opposite is also true; “the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” Those who have chosen to reject God and follow their own hearts are on a path that leads to death. Whatever their words may sound like, violence lies hidden underneath.

Whether for good or for bad, words can be powerful. Although wicked people may indeed be able to offer kind or supporting words, ultimately on the words of a righteous person have the power to truly nourish others, for they are themselves “the fruit of wisdom.” Even an atheist may be able to give good advice, but in the end only true wisdom can beget true wisdom. We all have the power to bring life-giving nourishment to others through our words. How are you using yours?

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

"Lord, Help us to be one, as you and the Father are one. Help us to be like-minded, of one spirit and one mind. We are painfully aware of how self-centered and selfish we can be, and yet you call us to live without selfish ambition or vain conceit. We can’t do that without your help. Please guide us today, so that we would not look to our own interests but honestly and truly value others above ourselves. Amen."

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

"No condemnation...Lord, I cannot get my head completely wrapped around this promise. Why would you not forsake me? Why would you not cast me to one side? Why would you still look in my direction? Why would you not strike me down? Lord, I am so thankful that you have given me life instead of death; that you have given me freedom instead of leaving me trapped in bondage. Father, I thank you for sending your own son as an offering to pay the penalty for my sin. Most days I cannot fathom it, but I stake my life on it nonetheless. I have no other ground to stand on. My own righteousness is like filthy rags. But in you all the requirements of the law have been fully met. Lord fill me with your Spirit and help me to do your will today. Amen."

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 

32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:27-54)

When Jesus died, the world was changed forever. Nothing would ever be the same.

We talk all the time about Jesus dying for our sins. This is the moment when we remember just what that involved.

This is the day when we are forced to look fully at our own depravity, and the awful lengths to which Jesus went to buy us back. This is the day when all pretense is stripped away and our hearts are laid bare before our King. This is the day when we should grieve deeply over the sin that sent Him to the cross, and weep over the sins that we continue to battle to this day.

Today is a day of reflection.

This is a day of humble, gut-wrenching, absolute honesty. It is a day of reckoning. This is a day of confession, of contrition, of repentance. This is a day to turn away from our self-centered desire to elevate ourselves and to embrace instead the role of servant to our King.

This is a day of deep thankfulness. It is a day to look to the cross and realize that all our debts have been paid and we have been set free.

This is a day that God has made. And we should rejoice and be glad in it.

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9)

What a waste of money—beautiful, expensive perfume dripping off Jesus’ head and falling to the floor. An entire bottle completely emptied in one go. Good money, a year’s wages, wasted in one extravagant moment of excess. What was she thinking?

The woman who anointed Jesus was clearly overwhelmed to be in the presence of Jesus. Undoubtedly she had some prior experience with Him, and was returning to express thankfulness and adoration to the man who had saved her. Where is our passion? Our thankfulness? Our adoration?

I have a hard time recalling the emotions I felt when I first experienced God’s regenerating power bringing me to life. I know in my head that there was joy, and thankfulness, and grieving over sin, but I can’t bring those emotions back to life anymore. They exist in name only; memories frozen in time. I know in my head that I, too, in that moment, would have given anything and everything to my new King, but I can’t stir up quite that same intensity of emotion anymore.

But perhaps that’s the wrong goal. Perhaps the challenge is not to reflect so deeply on what happened once upon a time, a long time ago. Perhaps instead I am called to reflect on the grace that Jesus continues to extend into my life each and every day. Perhaps instead I should be spending more time gazing on the holiness of God, awed by His perfection and humbled by my own uncleanliness. Perhaps I should be worried, not about re-creating a stale emotion from the past, but about failing to see myself any longer as a weak and desperate sinner who is desperately in need of a savior.

Paul declared, “15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). It concerns me that I battle to see this as a present reality in my own life. And yet, if I could, then maybe I could stand along with Paul, confident in the power of the gospel, and able to say, “16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

As we draw ever nearer to Easter, will you join with me in humbling yourself before the Lord, admitting your need, so that He “might display his immense patience” in and through us, as a witness to the world of His glory?

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-18)

Despite all the excitement and joy of Palm Sunday, come Monday morning we always find ourselves back in the same broken-down world we’ve always lived in. Surrounded by sin, frustrated with the fact that nothing is the way it is supposed to be, we muddle through, yearning for a day when Jesus will come and make everything right.

But don’t you sometimes long for Jesus to bring a little righteous anger into this fallen world? Just look at the way our culture seems to be headed. Isn’t it high time Jesus came back to overturn some tables and make a big scene? Even within the Church, don’t you sometimes find yourself wishing for Jesus to come and drive out all those who have turned His house into “a den of robbers”? If Jesus could come and clean up just a little bit, life would be so much easier, wouldn’t it?

It’s a powerful temptation—the allure of casting the first stone, of pointing the finger at all those wicked sinners “out there.” Time and time again, my own sinful nature wants to pull me in that direction—pointing, judging, condemning. In those moments of awful blindness I’ve managed to set myself apart from the world, apart from my brothers and sisters. I’ve let myself be led astray by the lie that I am somehow different, or less sinful, than the next person.

Left unchecked, my thirst for judgment denies the gospel and completely negates everything Christ did on the cross on my behalf.

So instead, I find that I must pray for the Spirit to come and cleanse my heart, my life. If I am honest I have to admit that I continually take this body, which Paul called a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and turn it into “a den of robbers.” As such, I desperately need His help to come and clean up the mess that I have made. I can’t do it by myself.

As we take our first step towards Easter, will you join with me in a time of confession and repentance? And then look to the cross for healing and grace and the reminder that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34)

Psalm 145

I will exalt you, my God the King;
 I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

 3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
 his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

 8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
   slow to anger and rich in love.

 9 The Lord is good to all;
   he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

 The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
   and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
   and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
   Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever. (Psalm 145)

For whom are you praying? How are you preparing? Who are you going to invite?

Psalm 135

1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord;
    praise him, you servants of the Lord,
2 you who minister in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.

 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
   sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own,
    Israel to be his treasured possession.

 5 I know that the Lord is great,
   that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The Lord does whatever pleases him,
    in the heavens and on the earth,
    in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
    he sends lightning with the rain
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

 8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
   the firstborn of people and animals.
9 He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
    Og king of Bashan,
    and all the kings of Canaan—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,
    an inheritance to his people Israel.

 13 Your name, Lord, endures forever,
   your renown, Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.

 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

 19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
   house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
    you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,
    to him who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord. (Psalm 135)

Two weeks from today we will be preparing to celebrate Good Friday. As you reflect on all that that day means for you personally, who do you know who also needs to hear that all their sins have been paid for once and for all on the cross?

Proverbs 7 contains an incredibly vivid description of a man being led astray by an adulterous woman. It reads almost like a script for a movie or television show, and is written in such a way that we can all too easily visualize what is going on.

Now remember, as I wrote on Monday, although the original text here describes a woman leading a man astray, the underlying principle applies just as much to women as it does to men. So if you are a woman, re-envision this passage as a man leading a young woman astray (something which does, in fact, happen quite frequently).

6 At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

 10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
   dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:

 14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
   and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
    with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

 21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
   she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
23     till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.

 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
   pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7:1-27)

 As I read this passage, my first thought is “No! Don’t do it! Turn away!” But of course, it’s too late, and his failure is almost inevitable. My second thought, however, is fear at the incredible power of sin to lead us astray. The woman is so aggressive in her pursuit of him that he seems almost powerless to prevent her advances. One can almost imagine him saying later, “I don’t know what happened. One minute everything was fine, but before I knew it…” Sin exerts a powerful pull on our lives and it will take everything we have to resist it.

That said, the sad truth is that many have experimented with sexual immorality and found that most of the negative consequences are not readily apparent at all. In fact, instead of feeling like “an arrow has pierced their liver,” they feel more alive, filled with an adrenaline rush from the excitement. It satisfies, albeit only temporarily, some very real and powerful needs. God doesn’t strike them down. They don’t get a terrible disease or find themselves pregnant. They may even excel at keeping it all a secret for years and years.

So how is it that the Bible can assert with such authority that something that feels so good will in fact “cost him his life” (Proverbs 7:23)? Or, as the father concludes to his son, “Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:26-27). Maybe that’s not always the obvious result—then what?

The imagery to keep in mind here is the idea of a “path” or “road” that we find ourselves walking down. There is a straight path that leads to life and peace, and there is the crooked path that leads to suffering and death. Both roads are long. Even if we are walking on path of life, in the short-term we may not experience immediate blessing from God (think of Job as an extreme example of this). Likewise, if we find ourselves walking on the crooked path that leads to death, in the short-term there may not be any obvious consequences (think of the observations of Ecclesiastes; that wicked men prosper and the rich just get richer).

However, we are constantly moving in either one direction or the other. There is no neutral territory. If you’re not moving towards God, you are moving away from Him. And the further away you get, the more hardened your heart becomes, and the harder it can be to turn back. This is why, ultimately, “her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”

Which path are you on? 

Pray. Prepare. Invite. Pray today for those in our community who are far from God right now, and desperately in need of God’s grace and forgiveness in their lives.

The simple fact of life is that sooner or later we will all stumble and fall. Failure is not something we like or want to contemplate. However, in one form or another, it will happen to us all. Believers may be saved, but we are still works in progress. We’ve been made new, but there’s still a lot of rough edges to be smoothed out.

With that in mind, we can now come to the father’s stern words to his son regarding sexual temptation:

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23 For lack of discipline they will die,
    led astray by their own great folly. (Proverbs 5:21-23)

Ultimately, the reason to flee sexual sin is not because of the threat of personal ruin, but the threat of spiritual ruin. God sees everything, and “the evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them.” God is holy and just and sin will not go unpunished. Often there are consequences in this life, sometimes immediately, sometimes many years later.

But it’s not just sexual sin that separates us from God and leads to death. All sin separates us from the Lord, and we should be careful not to revile those caught up in sexual immorality, as if to say that they are the worst kind of sinners. As Paul notes in his letter to the Romans, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We should fear the awful impact of all kinds of sin in both our own lives and in the lives of others.

However, we should also remember that since the time of Jesus Christ, separation and death tell only half of the story, “For all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Moreover, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That’s the best news we could ever hear. It’s especially what anyone caught up in sexual sin needs to hear.

So when we do fail, when we do fall short, when temptation grabs a hold of us and we feel ourselves slipping over the brink, we can rest assured that if we turn and look to Christ He can and will rescue us from disaster.

As the Puritan preacher Thomas Wilcox said, “Christ drank up all the Father's wrath at one draught; and nothing but salvation is left for you.”

Pray. Prepare. Invite. It’s hard to believe, but Easter is almost upon us. In fact, starting next Monday we’ll begin a special two-week devotional series preparing our hearts specifically for Easter. The clocks have launched us one hour closer to Spring, and time is marching forward. Who are you going to invite to celebrate Easter with you this year?

Although Easter is coming up quickly, we turn our attention back to Proverbs this week as we consider the wealth of material in chapters 5, 6 and 7. This entire section is captured quite concisely in the author’s opening remarks for Proverbs 5:

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
 turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion
    and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
    and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
    sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
    her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it. (Proverbs 5:1-6)

Much of the material we’ll be looking at this week involves advice given by a father to his son about fleeing temptation and avoiding sexual immorality. There are several problems we therefore need to address up front before we begin.

First, it’s possible you may be tempted to “check out” a little bit in this discussion. Perhaps you feel that sexual immorality is not a significant temptation for you, and that really much of these chapters is intended for young single men only. However, while some temptations may exert a stronger pull on us than others, let us never fall into the trap of thinking that somehow we are immune from danger in this area of personal holiness. The danger here is not passive, it’s active. The “adulterous woman” seeks out the young man and pursues him aggressively. It’s one thing to avoid obvious sin “out there” in the world, but how will we respond when sin actively seeks us out? How firm do we think our resolve will be when the temptation is so sweet, so delectable, so promising, and so determined?

Second, you may experience guilt and condemnation as you read these chapters. Perhaps you were not able to resist temptation and let yourself be led astray. Perhaps you are caught up right now in an adulterous or otherwise inappropriate relationship, and as you read this passage all you feel is judgment for your failure. Don’t let that keep you from these words of wisdom. There is still time to get out! Because Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins on the cross, we can indeed be forgiven and restored in relationship both with God and with others. But the first step is to reach out for help today.

Third, if you are a woman, you may be tempted to skip over this section entirely as stuff that only applies to men. However, these warnings to flee temptation apply just as much to women as they do to men. There are plenty of adulterous men in this world whose lips “drip honey” and whose “speech is smoother than oil.” The clear command of Scripture (as a whole) is that both men and women are to maintain lives of holiness and purity before the Lord. So, although this was originally written from a father to a son, the advice applies to all believers everywhere. In our over-sexualized culture the temptations are just as strong for women now as they are for men.

Spend some time today reading through Proverbs 5, and keep in mind Paul’s words to the church in Corinth:

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

 7 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.”

 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:1-9)

 There are so many things happening in so many places around the world that it can sometimes be hard to keep up with it all. It’s wonderful to hear that there are missionaries called to go on all these grand adventures, but what about the rest of us, the ones left behind? What if we have children and jobs and no inkling or calling to go overseas? What if we’re barely making ends meet as it is, and trying to raise money to go on a missions trip seems not just improbable but impossible? How should we respond when we already feel stretched thin, but a call is extended inviting us to get even more involved?

Jesus never called us to a life of “do more and try harder.” The Christian life is not meant to be a life of ever-increasing burden. We have been saved by grace, we serve by grace and we persevere by grace. It is His Spirit at work within us, not the other way around. Although we sometimes get this back to front, God is the One growing and expanding His Kingdom, not us.

That said, the call to make disciples is extended to all believers everywhere. It’s a call God makes to mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, lawyers and bankers, doctors and teachers, the young and inexperienced as well as the old and wise. As long as we have breath in our lungs God wants to work in and through us to see others draw closer to Christ. It may seem fool-hardy and inefficient for God to work in such a messy manner, but that’s the plan He has set in motion.

If you have children still living at home, then whatever else you are doing, you need to be praying for them and with them and looking for ways to help them grow up in the gospel. If you have family members living with you, or nearby, God’s call on your life is the same, although the way you share Christ will of necessity look quite different.

Indeed, before worrying about the fact that God hasn’t called you to go to China, consider the fact that God has placed a vast number of people around you right here, and He wants to work through you to see them transformed and renewed and restored in relationship with Him.

Don’t get me wrong. My life is incredibly busy. Our family is involved in probably one too many different activities, and sharing the gospel with the people around me, seems hard enough, let alone also trying to serve the poor, the broken, the hurting and the needy. But God is calling you, and me, to do something. Pick one person, one project, one activity. Serve one person, one mission, one ministry. And then trust in the Lord to empower you by His Spirit to be His witness.

You don’t have to wait until March to start talking about Easter with people. Pray for an opportunity to engage your friends in spiritual conversations today.

We talked at length yesterday about the danger of sin and the importance of fleeing any and all temptation. The father’s advice could be summed up pretty simply: Just don’t go there! Today we turn in the other direction and look at what we should be doing instead.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:20-27) 

There is no spirit-body distinction in the Book of Proverbs. That is, there is no room for us to speak of our spiritual lives as if they were somehow separate from our physical lives. For the author of these proverbs, there is no place for someone who might consider their worship of God as something separate and distinct from the rest of their life.

Wisdom, as he indicates here, is something we vigorously pursue with every part of ourselves. We don’t need to closet ourselves off in some ivory tower, nor do we find wisdom in a blissful trance-like state of meditation. Rather, it’s learned and lived out in the very real messiness and physicality of our day-to-day lives, involving all our senses.

Wisdom impacts what we say (Proverbs 4:24). Wisdom controls what we see (Proverbs 4:25), and it determines what we think, feel and do (Proverbs 4:26-27). Wisdom is acquired as we seek greater integration between our knowledge of God and our living in this world. It’s found as we let God’s Words drive our thinking, influence our relationships, and motivate our actions.

Every moment of every day is filled with opportunity to let God’s Spirit work within us. How will you respond? 

Before you do anything else today, pray for the Spirit to move in the hearts of the people you are hoping to invite to celebrate Easter with you this year.

Have you ever noticed how suddenly life can change? One minute you’re driving along in the beautiful sun, and the next thing you know there’s an airbag exploding in your face because someone ran a red light and knocked your car out of the road. One day you’re enjoying the wonderful peace of having all your children out of the house, and the next thing you know the doctor is telling you the scan indicates you have a malignant tumor. One day you’re working hard at your job, and the next thing you know the HR representative is giving you the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech as they cut up your company card and erase your computer before escorting you out of the building.

And yet, despite all evidence to the contrary, when we read Proverbs we come across statements like this:

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life. (Proverbs 4:10-13)

Good Christian men and women dying of cancer are listening hard and accepting with all their might what Solomon says, and yet they are also facing the fact that the years of their life will not, in fact, be many at all. In fact, sooner or later we will all stumble and fall. Evil people will hamper our paths. Our lives will be struck down at the most inopportune times. In dark moments it will all seem horribly unfair.

However, the deeper truth is that when we look beyond the physical ruin of this world we discover that God’s Spirit is nevertheless leading us on the straight path that leads to life. It may be strewn with disease and disaster, but do not let go! His Spirit is life, and He will walk us through it all. In fact, He is the only One who can walk us through any of it.

So as the world piles up it’s sufferings in your life, don’t ignore wisdom or give up on pursuing understanding. Take heart, because we serve a mighty God who will never let us go.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Today, pray for yourself. Pray that God would give you boldness and courage in asking people to join you at church for Easter.

Although the majority of the promised benefits of the pursuit of wisdom are personal in nature, wisdom is not something that is for our benefit alone.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
    when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
    who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
    or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse
    but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
    but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
    but fools get only shame. (Proverbs 3:27-35)

We are surrounded by people every day whom we have the power and opportunity to help. Consider the people who live next door, or work in the cubicle just across from us, or sit next to us on the train on the way downtown. If you have the ability to help someone and the opportunity comes up to do so, what’s holding you back? 

Have you made a list yet of people you are praying to invite to Easter this year?

A few weeks ago Pastor Rob noted that proverbs are guidelines, not promises. Today we come to a great example of that principle.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Experience should be enough proof for us that this is a general principle and not an absolute statement of fact. God is not, after all, a cosmic vending machine waiting to distribute abundant blessing as soon as we deposit our ten percent. So, when we see someone who appears to be blessed beyond measure, it doesn’t necessarily follow that they are truly honoring God with their wealth. Similarly, when we see someone whose “barns” seem to be empty, we cannot conclude that they are being disobedient to God with their money.

That said, all other things being equal, it is good for us to honor the Lord with “the firstfruits” of all that we have. In doing so we put into action what we claim to believe—that the God we serve is truly the Lord of everything. He is the one who gives us jobs, blesses us with income, and provides for us in abundance. All that we have is His to begin with anyway. When we return a small portion of that to Him, we affirm that He is indeed our King, and that we love and trust Him deeply.

How can you best honor God with your wealth? 

Pastor Rob has encouraged each of us to be in prayer daily throughout this month as we consider whom we can invite to celebrate Easter with us. So take a moment and pray for those people right now.

What’s one thing you would never consider leaving home without? Your wallet perhaps? Or your keys? Maybe your phone? Have you ever arrived at school or work and realized you left one of those things at home? It’s a disorienting feeling, isn’t it? Like something is not quite right.

The author of the Book of Proverbs talks of the commands of God as something that we should make an integral part of our lives, binding them around our necks and writing them on the tablets of our hearts.

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.
 (Proverbs 3:1-4)

This is all well and good, but how, specifically, do I go about doing this? Pastor Rob noted yesterday morning in church that we “store up” God’s commands by reading God’s words. And in order to do that, we have to be disciplined in setting aside a regular time and place for reading our Bibles. As Pastor Rob said, this was true even for a great leader like Joshua, and it should likewise be true for us as well.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

So, how’s it going? Feeling worn down and behind already? Frustrated because you keep struggling to find the time? I don’t usually link to other people’s blogs here, but the following article was very helpful to me and I encourage you to read it and be encouraged as well. As we seek to pursue wisdom, let us never give up but keep pressing on, whatever challenges we may face along the way.

“How’s Your Bible Reading Going?” http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/02/06/hows-your-bible-reading-going/

How should women read and interpret the sections of Proverbs that seem to be so specifically and directly written from a father to his son? What are they to make of the repeated warnings to flee from the “adulterous woman”?

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life. (Proverbs 2:16-19)

Clearly this is a rather stern exhortation for young men to flee temptation. The “father” here reminds his “son” that however alluring and appealing “the wayward woman” may appear to be, the reality is that choosing to walk down that path will surely lead to death.

This message is directed first and foremost to men. Indeed, if more of us followed through on this simple command, the positive impact on our families, churches and culture as a whole would be enormous.

But there is something here for women as well, for the broader context is a call to choose which path we are going to walk down in life. Will we courageously pursue wisdom, a narrow path that leads to life? Or will we let ourselves be swept away in the broad crush of people drifting slowly but inevitably towards death?

Both men and women alike are driven by powerful physical and emotional needs. These have been corrupted by sin and often lead us into all kinds of trouble. The warning is the same for women as it is for men. Do not let those needs and wants and desires become the controlling forces in your life. Do not let an immediate need become an ultimate need. If something, anything, even a good thing, has become a consuming force in your life, then it has supplanted God and you are at risk of being led off the path and into thickets that may keep you tied up for years.

Wisdom will save us from all of this. How will you commit this week to re-structure your spiritual life in such a way that you can resist the many incredibly appealing temptations of life?

For many of us there is often a huge gap between what we know and what we do. Indeed, like Paul, we may frequently have days when we do do the things we don’t want to do, and don’t do the things we do want to do (Romans 7:18-25). The resulting ebbs and flows in our spiritual life can be frustrating and sometimes even demoralizing.

However, come what may, don’t let the enemy use those ups and downs to discourage you in your walk with God. If we continue to diligently pursue God,

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you. (Proverbs 2:9-11)

The pursuit of wisdom is about developing a new set of spiritual taste buds. In our natural state we tend to gravitate towards the easy path; the way of least resistance; the way that generally feels right in the moment.

But here in Proverbs 2 we read that when we turn our ear to wisdom and apply our heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2-4) then something starts to change within us. “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul” (Proverbs 2:10).

I desperately need this kind of change in my life. Not only do I want wisdom itself, but I want to want it more than anything else this world has to offer. I want to want the good path that leads to life, so that I might be more inclined to pursue God and all the riches that He has to offer.

What steps are you taking to pursue the wisdom of God today?

Read Proverbs 5

As we move through this series on Proverbs, Satan is going to attack you spiritually. He will look for ways to undermine your faith and challenge your obedience to God. He will send temptations and look for subtle ways to lead you astray. If the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, and wisdom brings life, then our enemy wants to do everything he can to keep you away.

Do not let that happen.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)

There are great battles ahead. The closer you draw to God, the more intensely the war will rage. But do not forsake God’s word. Do not turn away from Wisdom. Do not let the accuser draw you away.

10        My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.

11        If they say, “Come along with us;
                let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
        let’s ambush some harmless soul;

12        let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
 and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13        we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;

14        cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—

15        my son, do not go along with them,
 do not set foot on their paths;

16        for their feet rush into evil,
 they are swift to shed blood.

17        How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!

18        These men lie in wait for their own blood;
 they ambush only themselves!

19        Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
 it takes away the life of those who get it. (Proverbs 1:10-19)

Read Proverbs 3

Generally speaking, fear is not something we try to seek out. In fact, it’s usually something we try to avoid. Fear is most often a bad thing we try to hide from and minimize in our life. So how do we make sense of the following statement?

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
 but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:1-7)

Now, the word “fear” can mean simply respect, in the way we respect our elders, or those who are wiser than us. But in a large number of cases the word really does seem to carry with it a much stronger sense of awe and perhaps even good old-fashioned fear.

And, amazingly, this is apparently a good thing, something we should be seeking out. In fact, for the Book of Proverbs, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” There may be lots of smart people in the world, but true wisdom begins with an honest assessment of who we are and who God is.

How can we hope to really make sense of this world if we continue to reject the knowledge and awareness of the One who made it? Alternatively, what kind of arrogant pride has consumed us when we claim to believe in God, and yet treat him as if He was just another piece in the jigsaw puzzle of our lives?

Here’s the thing. God exists. He created everything. And we should stand in absolute awe and borderline terror before such mind-blowing power and authority. Our Heavenly Father is not one god among many, but one God over everything. All things owe their existence to Him, and all things are sustained by Him.

So if I want to truly grow and develop in wisdom, then that has to begin with a fear of the Lord--a deep awareness of just who it is that I am approaching so boldly. May the Lord help you to grow in your fear of Him today.

Today we begin a journey into the heart of Biblical wisdom as we start our exploration of the Book of Proverbs. Over the coming months we’ll discover what this portion of the Old Testament has to say about money, work, relationships, parenting and everything in-between.

Many of you may already have a Bible reading plan that you are using, but if not, may I suggest that you start today by reading one chapter of Proverbs, five days a week. There are 31 chapters total, and having the weekends off will allow you to “catch up” if you find yourself getting behind.

Today we start with Proverbs 1, and in particular, the first seven verses:

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;

    for understanding words of insight;

3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

    doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,

    knowledge and discretion to the young—

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

    and let the discerning get guidance—

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,

    the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:1-7)

These verses function as a form of purpose statement for the book, giving a summary of the contents. The proverbs, the writer says, are given in order to train us in both right thinking and right acting. Whoever we may be, the Book of Proverbs has words of wisdom to offer.

What’s your relationship to wisdom? In what areas are you looking for guidance and direction? How are you hoping that God will speak to you through this series? Spend some today in prayer asking for God to reveal Himself to you through this series. 

Love, patience, kindness and gentleness are all wonderful qualities to exhibit in our relationships with those far from God. However, such well-intended graciousness may ultimately fall short in helping us to move people one step closer to Jesus. In fact, we may find that over time it is easier to make a close friend than it is to share the gospel. If we never move the conversational ball outside our comfort zone to include discussions about the gospel, or sin, or salvation, or God, or Jesus, or anything spiritual at all, it may eventually become almost impossible to do so.

The Apostle Paul says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:2-6). Our grace-filled conversations should never become so wishy-washy that they are devoid of any challenging elements at all. All of our relationships with “outsiders” should contain a healthy seasoning of truth. As disciples of Jesus we have been commissioned to participate together with God in the expansion of His Kingdom. You would never know this from the way we live and act, but the truth is that the stakes could not be higher.

Eternal life is on the line. Endless conversations about football or gun control or siding or iPhones or colleges or travelling teams or tv shows or wine or anything else will never communicate to someone the life-giving water that Jesus offers in Himself. The people around you are desperately thirsty for meaning, significance, and hope. They want to believe that maybe, just maybe, there really is something more than all this. They want to experience rest from the endless work of trying to be better people. They want to enjoy the peace that comes from knowing that their “mistakes” have been completely forgiven. The fields are indeed ripe for harvest and we’ve been given good news they really do need and want to hear.

But will we do it? Will we take our relationships to that next level? Will we risk a little awkwardness in order to potentially engage someone in a deeper conversation about Jesus? I want to say that I will, and I want to hope that you will too, but the reality is that in those moments our good intentions so often fall short of the mark.

So in those moments, instead of losing hope, may we then encourage each other in prayer, support each other in accountability, and stand firm together in firm resolve. May we press on in spite of ourselves, refusing to settle any longer for what has always been the norm, and striving instead to become a community that helps each other in this challenging work of making disciples of all nations. 

All it takes is a funeral to make you realize how precious each and every moment really is. Because we’ve enjoyed so many “moments” already, we buy into the false assumption that there’s an endless number of “moments” in front of us as well. And yet, the truth is that the clock may be stopped at any moment. Our time is bounded, limited, finite. We are clothed in perishable bodies. We are mortal, frail; prone to illness, weakness, and death.

We can dwell on all this and get despondent, or recognize that the finish line could be around any corner and live in such a way that honors the gift of time that God has given us to use. In other words, as Paul says, may we “make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5). But how?

First, we should recognize that most of the time we really don’t live as if every day actually mattered. Most of us sail through life as if we have an endless supply of time available to us. We continually put off until tomorrow the things we know God is calling us to do today.

That neighbor you’ve been meaning to invite over for dinner—how many months have drifted by since God first planted that seed in your head? The woman at work you often have lunch with—how many more times does the Spirit have to tweak your conscience before you try directing the conversation towards spiritual matters? Your children at home—has it really been a year since you made that resolution to pray and read the Bible with them more regularly?

Where is our sense of urgency? Why does everything else in life seem to be so much more important than sharing the Living Hope with those who are eternally lost? It’s time for us to rouse ourselves from our slumber and redeem the moments left before us. When the Spirit prompts, leads, guides, convicts or even just nudges, may we respond immediately, courageously, and whole-heartedly. And may God get the glory for the lives that will be forever changed as a result.

Which does God prefer--long prayers or short prayers? Prayers in Latin, or prayers in English? Eloquent prayers that have been carefully crafted, or sloppy prayers that come out all wrong?

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:18-20)

Certainly, Jesus gave us a model to follow when we pray (the “Lord’s Prayer”) and we would do well to follow that template more often than we do. Certainly we are to approach God with reverence for who He is and respect for what we are doing by engaging in prayer. There’s no room for glibness in prayer. That said, we are also called to pray “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

On some occasions our prayers may be short and to the point. In times of extreme distress it may be that all we can say is, “Help!” At other times a long and beautiful prayer may come flowing out of us almost quite unexpectedly. In both cases God is glorified, our prayer lives enriched, and we shouldn’t be worried about the length or style of what we said.

Jesus told his disciples not go on babbling like the pagans do (Matthew 6:7). Meaning, not that God is displeased when we pray with hesitant awkwardness, but that we shouldn’t approach prayer as if God is an idol we have to manipulate by saying certain words or phrases, or repeating things over and over.

Just pray. Pray as the Spirit leads you. Pray as God made you to pray. Pray using your words, your images, your language. Prayer is not about impressing others or even impressing God. Prayer is the primary way we connect with our Father, and we do that by being as absolutely genuine as possible. He knows us better than we know ourselves, so it’s ridiculous to try and dress up our prayers for God.

What Paul doesn’t allow room for is a lack of prayer. God covers our failures, and His grace makes up for our shortcomings, but a willful resistance to prayer, or a heart that no longer sees the point or purpose of prayer is outside the realm of Paul’s vision for what a follower of Christ looks like. “Dry seasons” are understandable, and God walks with us even when we don’t know what to say, but let us never confuse genuine spiritual struggle with spiritual apathy or just downright laziness.

Devote yourself to prayer, in whatever format that looks like for you. Just do it.

Every year, we make a big hullabaloo about giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day (as we busily make plans to buy lots of stuff the very next day). It’s a good and important thing to do, but the Bible calls us to live our lives in a state of continual thankfulness. In fact, thankfulness is a key component of prayer. It is often the case that if we have stalled out in our prayer lives it is because we have stopped being thankful.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul expands a little on what it means to “devote” oneself to prayer by explaining that believers should be “watchful and thankful.” This calls to mind Paul’s words to the Philippians concerning prayer:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

The groundwork for a life of prayer begins with a sense of joy. In fact, it’s such a crucial piece of the puzzle that Paul says it twice. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” When things are going well in our lives, this seems obvious. Of course I can rejoice when my health is restored, I get a pay raise, and live in a huge house. But what about when I lose my job, the lab tests come back indicating cancer, or I’m facing foreclosure?

Leaning again on the author Paul Miller and his excellent book, A Praying Life, we have two choices when we face disappointment, pain or suffering. We can either thank God for the many “touches of grace” in our lives, or give in to bitterness and cynicism. This kind of rejoicing does not mean putting on a fake, shiny happy face. What it does mean is seeing the world and our lives as they really are--completely dependent on God, both in times of plenty and in times of want (Paul Miller, A Praying Life, p. 89).

One of my personal goals for this New Year is to be far more faithful and consistent in prayer. It’s one of those simple things that shouldn’t be hard, and yet causes so much struggle. Prayer is, at least in theory, one of the easiest things we can be doing. After all, there’s nothing to buy, no translations to sort through, nothing to write, and we don’t even have to open our eyes or mouths if we don’t want to. However, how many of us start every New Year with the same resolution, only to find ourselves slowly slipping back into old habits of silence and self-reliance?

 So I find myself getting frustrated when I forget to pray, or don’t pray enough, or don’t seem to be praying “well enough,” whatever that means. I hear about the prayer lives of other people and I can’t help but compare myself, feeling guilty when I come up short, or don’t seem to be “pulling my weight” spiritually.

 We all know we should be praying more. The Bible is filled with admonitions to pray. The Apostle Paul told the Romans they should be “faithful in prayer,” (Romans 12:12) and he told the Colossians to “devote” themselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2). Even Jesus prayed, so shouldn’t we also?

 But perhaps the key is not in trying harder, but coming at the issue from a different perspective entirely. Author and speaker Paul Miller puts it this way,

 “You don’t need self-discipline to pray continuously; you just need to be poor in spirit.” (A Praying Life, 65).

 His point is that we will learn to develop a better prayer life when we begin to realize just how desperately needy we are. When we see how poor in spirit we are, how totally reliant we are on God for everything, then we will begin to turn more frequently to our Father for help and assistance. However, as long as we continue to live with the mistaken belief that for the most part we have things under control, then prayer does indeed become rather pointless.

 As we begin this New Year, as we consider God’s grace in our lives, and as we look for ways to extend that same grace into the lives of other people, may we be people who strip away the façade and admit to ourselves and to God just how helpless we are without His intervention in our lives. And may that admission of spiritual poverty begin to revitalize our stumbling efforts at prayer.

Today we turn to Psalm 4:

1 Answer me when I call to you,

    my righteous God.

Give me relief from my distress;

    have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?

    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?

3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;

    the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin;

    when you are on your beds,

    search your hearts and be silent.

5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous

    and trust in the Lord.

6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”

    Let the light of your face shine on us.

7 Fill my heart with joy

    when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,

    for you alone, Lord,

    make me dwell in safety.

How has God displayed His grace in providing for you over the last year?

Today, we move on to Psalm 2:

1 Why do the nations conspire

    and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth rise up

    and the rulers band together

    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

3 “Let us break their chains

    and throw off their shackles.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

    the Lord scoffs at them.

5 He rebukes them in his anger

    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6 “I have installed my king

    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

 

He said to me, “You are my son;

    today I have become your father.

8 Ask me,

    and I will make the nations your inheritance,

    the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of iron;

    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;

    be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear

    and celebrate his rule with trembling.

12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry

    and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

How has God displayed His grace in your job over the last year?

Here’s my struggle with grace. It’s often just not that amazing to me. I mean, I know I was saved by grace, but that was 16 years ago. Why do I still need it now?

Of course, I really only think that way on my “good” days, when I’ve spent a lot of time praying and reading my Bible and I feel in some way as if I’m in God’s good books. Now, while praying and Bible reading are extremely important, if I start resting my salvation on those actions, then I’m drifting towards self-righteousness and I’ve lost sight of God’s gracious gift to me.

So it’s on my “bad” days that I am most keenly aware of God’s provision for me. The Apostle Paul describes something similar when he speaks of his thorn in the flesh:

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

What that “thorn” was is irrelevant. We don’t know and it’s fruitless speculating. However, Paul is clear that it served to remind him of the sufficiency of God’s grace and the extent of his power in our lives. The thorn was meant to reveal to Paul on a regular basis, not how bad a person he was, but how dependent a person he was. 

Ultimately, then, I think that’s the issue I find myself struggling most keenly with. It’s not a matter of whether I am being “good” or “bad,” but whether I’m being “dependent” or “independent.” Am I relying on myself and my strength? Have I reduced Christianity to a religion that revolves around my spiritual activities? Or am I relying on God and the power of His Holy Spirit to be at work in and through me, warts and all? When I get to the place of admitting, not just that I am weak, but that He is strong, then I begin to get a taste for the amazing grace He has lavished upon us in and through Jesus Christ.

As we march into the New Year, these first few days are a good time to pause for a moment and reflect on who we are and where we’ve come from. On the one hand we may want to put the last year behind us and pretend like it didn’t happen. However, there’s a value to looking back and reflecting on what has happened, since it enables us to see the hand of God at work in our lives. As the Apostle Paul says: 

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:3-8)

Now, we should remember that before Paul was converted he had been a Pharisee. He lived with exacting standards and obeyed the law down to the very tiniest detail. He was, for all intents and purposes, a very good man indeed. Nobody could have found fault with him from a human perspective. And yet Paul looked back at that life and realized that all of his good works merely served to cover up the darkness and sin that lay deep within his heart. Paul is not describing a life of wanton debauchery, but a life of self-centered religiosity.

What saved Paul from this misguided way of life? The grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ, who “saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” This applies both to murderous thieves and decent law-abiding citizens. God’s grace is extended to all and desperately needed by all. Indeed, outside of the “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” we have no hope at all.

This is, however, the greatest news we can ever receive. Think about it. If it were not for the grace of God, your salvation would depend on your ability to keep all those resolutions you make every year. There would be no room for error and no possibility of a do-over. A single mis-spoken word or negative thought would be enough to condemn you. But God’s economy is different. He extends to us the opportunity to be reconciled with Him regardless of how good or bad we seem to be. He frees us from a life of striving and makes us instead “heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

This is God’s grace in action, and it’s the most reassuring way for all of us to start this New Year. Whatever you have or haven’t done, you can take comfort in the fact that Jesus paid for it all, your debts have been paid, and you have been set free.

All around the world there will be much jubilation tonight as we turn the page over and enter a new year. Crystal balls will drop, fireworks will explode, and champagne will flow freely as people ring in the New Year with excitement and anticipation. On the one hand, this is a purely symbolic moment, with no larger significance in the bigger scheme of things at all. Nothing actually changes just because our calendars now say 2013.

However, symbols can exert a powerful influence on our lives and so New Year’s Eve is for many of us a turning point—an opportunity to formally close the books on everything that has happened in the last twelve months, and to start over with a fresh clean slate tomorrow.

Whether this last year for you has been good, bad or indifferent, the Bible is clear that God is the one whose mighty works we should be celebrating, whatever the circumstances of our lives. So may we keep Him front and center in our celebrations tonight.

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

    shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

    the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

    peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

    the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

    sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

    sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

    God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

    as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God;

    he is greatly exalted.

(Psalm 47)

Why do you need Jesus in your life? What purpose does He serve? If you’re a good person, morally upright, and conversant in the religious language and customs of Christian culture, why is Jesus still important?

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

(Luke 5:27-32)

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were good people. Compared to most of the people around them, they didn’t commit any obvious or egregious sins, and they were careful to obey everything they perceived God wanted them to do. And yet, something was missing. Their experiences with Jesus were incredibly confusing. Instead of praising them for their faithfulness, he criticized them for their self-righteousness. Instead of spending all His time hanging out with the religious elite, Jesus chose to mingle with “tax collectors and sinners.”

Why? Because, as Jesus noted, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus did not “come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This was what Isaiah had prophesied 700 years earlier--God’s anointed servant would come to set the captives free and release them from darkness. Levi experienced this first-hand and was overwhelmed with joy as a result. He was painfully aware of the jail he was trapped inside and when Jesus came to set Him free, he was eager to get out.

What about us? Do we even see the bars on our prison cell any more? When Isaiah said the Messiah would “proclaim good news to the poor” do we realize that includes us? Do we see ourselves as captives that need to be set free? 

Are we the healthy who no longer need or want a doctor, or the sick--desperately looking for help? Ultimately the good news prophesied by Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus is only good for those who grasp how badly they need to hear it. Do you?

May God bless you richly today as you celebrate our Savior’s birth.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

(Psalm 100)