What comes to mind when you read this verse?
Proverbs 17:15
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
The first think that popped into my mind, I am sad to say, is our government. It seems that are getting very good along with many judges at justifing wickedness such as the practice of homosexuality and then condemning the just such as the right to life for the unborn. These are just a sample of things that God's Word teaches but our society, our government, and our judicial system think they know more than God are becoming as the rest of this verse says an abomination to the Lord. Our nation is losing favor with God as the people and the leaders continue to turn away fro what God's word teaches.
So this morning let us make sure we are not a part of the problem but a part of the solution by being faithful followers of God's Word! Don't justify wrongs, and condemn rights as you see God does not like that!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Put the fire out!
Once again God gives us some practicle advice:
Proverbs 17:14
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Talk about hitting the nail on the head! The best way to handle an arguement is to stop it before it starts. Husbands, wives, moms, dads, children, bosses, employees, and the list can go on. Listen to what the Word of God is saying! All of us have been in situations where we could stop an arguement before it got out of hand. It then becomes our choice of if we want to throw gas to the fire or put water on it! So this morning listen to what God is saying and avoid the fight!
Simple but yet important!
Tom
Proverbs 17:14
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Talk about hitting the nail on the head! The best way to handle an arguement is to stop it before it starts. Husbands, wives, moms, dads, children, bosses, employees, and the list can go on. Listen to what the Word of God is saying! All of us have been in situations where we could stop an arguement before it got out of hand. It then becomes our choice of if we want to throw gas to the fire or put water on it! So this morning listen to what God is saying and avoid the fight!
Simple but yet important!
Tom
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Do good to others!
So many ways one could go with this verse!
Proverbs 17:13
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
Two ways come to mind to learn from this verse. Let's start out with our parents. I remember many times when mom or dad would try to teach me something for my own benefit and I would mumble and grumble about it and sometimes mess it up on purpose. I would return evil for good. When we do this I believe we pay the consequences from God. Does this ring any bells with you? I was so smart at 15, at least I thought I was. Now at age 40 I realize how dumb I really was. God's Word makes it clear we are to obey our parents, when we don't it is evil.
The second way I see this verse is this. How many times do we hear about someone trying to help someone else only to take advantage of them. Recently I had a friend who was helping a neighbor man out who had come on hard times. My friend was giving the man odd jobs to do around the house to make some money. My friend even let this man stay at their house while they went on vacation to take care of the dog and watch their place. This man stole some checks from them and some equipment out of the barn to sell to get some drugs! Talk about returning evil for good!!! This man now is in jail and has asked for forgiveness in a letter to the family. According to this verse this man has evil in house that will be there until one thing happens. He asks for forgiveness from Jesus Christ. Only then will this evil depart!
So my friends let us do good not evil not only to those who help us but to all!
Tom
Proverbs 17:13
13 Whoever rewards evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
Two ways come to mind to learn from this verse. Let's start out with our parents. I remember many times when mom or dad would try to teach me something for my own benefit and I would mumble and grumble about it and sometimes mess it up on purpose. I would return evil for good. When we do this I believe we pay the consequences from God. Does this ring any bells with you? I was so smart at 15, at least I thought I was. Now at age 40 I realize how dumb I really was. God's Word makes it clear we are to obey our parents, when we don't it is evil.
The second way I see this verse is this. How many times do we hear about someone trying to help someone else only to take advantage of them. Recently I had a friend who was helping a neighbor man out who had come on hard times. My friend was giving the man odd jobs to do around the house to make some money. My friend even let this man stay at their house while they went on vacation to take care of the dog and watch their place. This man stole some checks from them and some equipment out of the barn to sell to get some drugs! Talk about returning evil for good!!! This man now is in jail and has asked for forgiveness in a letter to the family. According to this verse this man has evil in house that will be there until one thing happens. He asks for forgiveness from Jesus Christ. Only then will this evil depart!
So my friends let us do good not evil not only to those who help us but to all!
Tom
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Don't be foolish!
When I read this verse this morning it reminded me of something I seen at Cades Cove outside of Gatlinburg. We were making the loop and seen a group of folks gathered around so we of course got out to see what was going on. Well there was a momma bear and two cubs roaming around and everyone was taking pictures. As a lady was taking pictures she got in between the momma and the cubs and I told her very plainly not to do that because she puts herself in danger of momma attacking her in defense of her cubs. The lady just kind of looked at me and walked away! Now think about that as you read this verse.
Proverbs 17:12
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
God is giving us a clear warning to stay away from foolish man. It can be very dangerous for our spiritual lives to hang aroung those who are foolish in their walk with God. When we spend a great amount of time around folks like this they will influence us to make foolish mistakes in our spiritual lives!
So let us make sure on this Tuesday, we are wise not foolish in our walks with the Lord!
Tom
Proverbs 17:12
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
God is giving us a clear warning to stay away from foolish man. It can be very dangerous for our spiritual lives to hang aroung those who are foolish in their walk with God. When we spend a great amount of time around folks like this they will influence us to make foolish mistakes in our spiritual lives!
So let us make sure on this Tuesday, we are wise not foolish in our walks with the Lord!
Tom
Friday, September 3, 2010
Are you wise?
Short and simple on this Friday!
Proverbs 17:10
10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man ,
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
Do you listen when you are being corrected? It is so much eaiser on you and the one who is correcting you if you take the information and apply it to your life and don't make the mistake again. On the other hand for some they have to be corrected over and over. For a stubborn fool even beatings don't seem to get through. This brings back a thought from my younger years. I wonder how many of us didn't take words from dad to heart the first time but when the whipping came on the second time we listened much more closely!!! For some of us we may even have been the fool and it took several whippins!
So this morning are you wise or do you play the fool? With God we had better be wise for He will also correct us!
Have a great Labor Day Weekend...be safe!
Tom
Proverbs 17:10
10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man ,
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
Do you listen when you are being corrected? It is so much eaiser on you and the one who is correcting you if you take the information and apply it to your life and don't make the mistake again. On the other hand for some they have to be corrected over and over. For a stubborn fool even beatings don't seem to get through. This brings back a thought from my younger years. I wonder how many of us didn't take words from dad to heart the first time but when the whipping came on the second time we listened much more closely!!! For some of us we may even have been the fool and it took several whippins!
So this morning are you wise or do you play the fool? With God we had better be wise for He will also correct us!
Have a great Labor Day Weekend...be safe!
Tom
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gossip!
A friend who reads these devotions has requested a devotion on gossip and it's effects. So what I want to do is list several scriptures that deal with gossip and make a few comments. I am a believer that God's Word pretty well says it best so that is what we will concentrate on!
Let's start in the old testament:
Leviticus 19:16
16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people;
nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
A talebearer is a gossiper. God makes it abundandtly clear to his people, not to be one of these type of people. One of the main reasons for this is it destroys unity among the people.
Proverbs 16:28
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
God even tells us here that a person who sows strife or gossips is perverse! Wow think about that! Then God tells us in the second part of the verse that speaking behind someone's back will break friendships even among best friends...that should really make us think before we open our lips!
Proverbs 20:19
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Here is a straight forward warning from God to stay away from gossipers! I am a firm believer that in a church if one has a problem with spreading gossip it needs to be addressed with love. Because it will tear apart a church if allowed.
Proverbs 11:13
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
God tells us here that if we are faithful we will conceal things not spread things....so maybe we better check our faith if we are not able to keep our mouths shut!
Now a couple from the New Testament:
1 Timothy 5:13
13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house,
and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies,
saying things which they ought not.
As usual Paul is straight to the point. Saying things we ought not to...gossiping. I want you also to catch the first part of the verse...they learn to be idle! If folks would stay busy serving the Lord, we wouldn't have time to talk about others!
Romans 1:28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
This should grab out attention! This verse ie referring to gentiles. You and I! Look at the sins listed here. Do you see backbiters and whisperers? Gossiping is a serious thing....sin! Read the whole verse again and catch the consequences and what God thinks about this sin!
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
Paul is warning the Corinthian church here that he hopes he does not find these things when he visits...so will Christ find these things in our church when he returns???
I hope this speaks to you as it has me. Share it with your church...gossip is sin and will destroy if allowed to do so. It really comes down to what Christ commands us to do....love one another not talk about one another!
Tom
Let's start in the old testament:
Leviticus 19:16
16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people;
nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
A talebearer is a gossiper. God makes it abundandtly clear to his people, not to be one of these type of people. One of the main reasons for this is it destroys unity among the people.
Proverbs 16:28
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
God even tells us here that a person who sows strife or gossips is perverse! Wow think about that! Then God tells us in the second part of the verse that speaking behind someone's back will break friendships even among best friends...that should really make us think before we open our lips!
Proverbs 20:19
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
Here is a straight forward warning from God to stay away from gossipers! I am a firm believer that in a church if one has a problem with spreading gossip it needs to be addressed with love. Because it will tear apart a church if allowed.
Proverbs 11:13
13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
God tells us here that if we are faithful we will conceal things not spread things....so maybe we better check our faith if we are not able to keep our mouths shut!
Now a couple from the New Testament:
1 Timothy 5:13
13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house,
and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies,
saying things which they ought not.
As usual Paul is straight to the point. Saying things we ought not to...gossiping. I want you also to catch the first part of the verse...they learn to be idle! If folks would stay busy serving the Lord, we wouldn't have time to talk about others!
Romans 1:28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
This should grab out attention! This verse ie referring to gentiles. You and I! Look at the sins listed here. Do you see backbiters and whisperers? Gossiping is a serious thing....sin! Read the whole verse again and catch the consequences and what God thinks about this sin!
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;
Paul is warning the Corinthian church here that he hopes he does not find these things when he visits...so will Christ find these things in our church when he returns???
I hope this speaks to you as it has me. Share it with your church...gossip is sin and will destroy if allowed to do so. It really comes down to what Christ commands us to do....love one another not talk about one another!
Tom
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Don't do it again!
A great practicle verse for today.
Proverbs 17:9
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
If you love somebody you are sorry for doing them wrong. So you go to that person and tell them you are sorry. Then we are hopeful that they will forgive us and we can move on in our relationship. Sounds so very simple but many times can be very hard. Depending on what the wrong was. For forgiveness to happen love must be showed on both sides. We need to see more love shown in this world of ours by both the offender and the one who was wronged.
Let us look carefully at the second part of this verse. You can tell someone you are sorry for doing them wrong but if you do it again you won't be friends for very long. To truly be sorry we must not do the offense again. So let us be true and faithful to our word and not do the same offense again! Also think about this with our heavenly Father. When we fall short and sin and then ask for forgivness...let us be true to our word and repeat that sin again. For when we do this it hurts our relationship with God! When we repent of our sins, we are saying we are turning from that sin and walking in the opposite direction! Let us not take advantage of God's mercy and grace!
God bless you all!
Tom
Proverbs 17:9
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
If you love somebody you are sorry for doing them wrong. So you go to that person and tell them you are sorry. Then we are hopeful that they will forgive us and we can move on in our relationship. Sounds so very simple but many times can be very hard. Depending on what the wrong was. For forgiveness to happen love must be showed on both sides. We need to see more love shown in this world of ours by both the offender and the one who was wronged.
Let us look carefully at the second part of this verse. You can tell someone you are sorry for doing them wrong but if you do it again you won't be friends for very long. To truly be sorry we must not do the offense again. So let us be true and faithful to our word and not do the same offense again! Also think about this with our heavenly Father. When we fall short and sin and then ask for forgivness...let us be true to our word and repeat that sin again. For when we do this it hurts our relationship with God! When we repent of our sins, we are saying we are turning from that sin and walking in the opposite direction! Let us not take advantage of God's mercy and grace!
God bless you all!
Tom
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