Great verse to head into the weekend thinking about:
Proverbs 28:26
26Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Ever noticed we are not as smart as we think we are? How many decisions in life were your sure of the answer to only find out over time you made a dumb decision. I have found out the hard way that when ever I do not consult the ONE who invented wisdom on any decision I tend to be wrong. This verse tells us when we trust our own mind we are fools! These verses help us see this more clearly:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
The second part of proverbs 28:26 tells us to walk in wisdom and we get that wisdom from God. We will always be delivered when we are following God's wisdom and not our own weak minds!
So this morning who's mind are you trusting? The mind of God or yours?
Tom
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
This may hurt!
Read these verses:
Proverbs 28:23
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
When I read this verse the thought that came to mind was this. Doing the work of the Lord can be very difficult at times. When we tell folks they are doing wrong according to God's Word many times it hurts the person we are telling. We must rebuke in love but even so many times they will get hurt and angry with us. Often though after the one who was rebuked has time to think and pray about what was said in love they will come back and thank you for being a friend who cares and who was obedient to God's leading. Thus you have found favor with them. Now there are some who just smile and laugh at the sin in peoples life. Flattering them with their tongue but in the end they have done the sinner wrong because they have allowed them to stray form the Word of God.
Being faithful to God can be very rewarding but it also can hurt but we must be faithful to Him at all costs!
Tom
Proverbs 28:23
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
When I read this verse the thought that came to mind was this. Doing the work of the Lord can be very difficult at times. When we tell folks they are doing wrong according to God's Word many times it hurts the person we are telling. We must rebuke in love but even so many times they will get hurt and angry with us. Often though after the one who was rebuked has time to think and pray about what was said in love they will come back and thank you for being a friend who cares and who was obedient to God's leading. Thus you have found favor with them. Now there are some who just smile and laugh at the sin in peoples life. Flattering them with their tongue but in the end they have done the sinner wrong because they have allowed them to stray form the Word of God.
Being faithful to God can be very rewarding but it also can hurt but we must be faithful to Him at all costs!
Tom
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
How can I be happy?
Proverbs 28:14
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
First let us define reverent: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe;
So how do we find happiness? It all boils down to our attitude toward God. When we have God in the proper place in our life, which is number one on our list, we will be happy. How can I say that? Won't we still have problems? Yes we will but when our lives are so in tune with God and our eyes are on heaven our problems will be insignificant. When I look at the problems in my life and then I see what God has done for me in sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins it automatically brings me to happiness and I praise my awesome God! Now on the other hand if we turn from God and not not hold him in the proper place out hearts become hard and our problems seem much worse because we do not have the peace that only God can give.
So are you happy? You can be if your trust is in Christ!
Tom
14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
First let us define reverent: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe;
So how do we find happiness? It all boils down to our attitude toward God. When we have God in the proper place in our life, which is number one on our list, we will be happy. How can I say that? Won't we still have problems? Yes we will but when our lives are so in tune with God and our eyes are on heaven our problems will be insignificant. When I look at the problems in my life and then I see what God has done for me in sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins it automatically brings me to happiness and I praise my awesome God! Now on the other hand if we turn from God and not not hold him in the proper place out hearts become hard and our problems seem much worse because we do not have the peace that only God can give.
So are you happy? You can be if your trust is in Christ!
Tom
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Confess!!!
A straight forward, practical verse from God's Word this morning.
Proverbs 28:13
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Why is sin so hard to confess? Is it shame, is it pride, is it we like the sin or what? God makes it clear that if we try to cover our sin and choose not to confess it we will have problems. Many years ago a friend explained it to me like this: For a christian when we sin it is like placing the first brick in a wall between you and God. The more you sin and don't confess it the more bricks you put in the wall between you and God. Soon you have a wall between you and God and your relationship suffers because of it. BUT if you confess your sin to God, the wall is knocked down and your relationship is back to where it needs to be...fresh! Look at this verse:
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That pretty well says what the little story says that i just told doesn't it? I am so thankful for the mercy God gives us as told in proverbs 28:13. So this morning we may need to spend some time on our faces before God getting ourselves confessed up before the Almighty God. He desires humble people and when we confess our sins to Him, it is a sure sign of humility in our lives!
Tom
Proverbs 28:13
13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Why is sin so hard to confess? Is it shame, is it pride, is it we like the sin or what? God makes it clear that if we try to cover our sin and choose not to confess it we will have problems. Many years ago a friend explained it to me like this: For a christian when we sin it is like placing the first brick in a wall between you and God. The more you sin and don't confess it the more bricks you put in the wall between you and God. Soon you have a wall between you and God and your relationship suffers because of it. BUT if you confess your sin to God, the wall is knocked down and your relationship is back to where it needs to be...fresh! Look at this verse:
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That pretty well says what the little story says that i just told doesn't it? I am so thankful for the mercy God gives us as told in proverbs 28:13. So this morning we may need to spend some time on our faces before God getting ourselves confessed up before the Almighty God. He desires humble people and when we confess our sins to Him, it is a sure sign of humility in our lives!
Tom
Monday, February 7, 2011
Better be in God's Word!
Great verse to remind us how important God's Word is to us!
Proverbs 28:9
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
There are two ways one can turn his ear away from the (law) God's Word. The first is the most obvious. Intentionally staying away from the Bible because you do not believe the Bible is God's Word. So that person has no desire to follow God in the first place. You would be surprised though at how many will still lift their petitions to God but He is not listening to anything from them until they cry out for salvation. The second way folks turn away from hearing God's word is less obvious but is happening quit often. This is when those who call themselves Christians but they do not read their Bibles and thus have very little knowledge at what God's Word says. Sadly the church has many of these folks who fill the pews. When we are not reading God's Word we are turning our ear from the hearing of the law! We are missing out on the main way God speaks to us! Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and the whole thing is about the importance of God's Word....coincidence? I think not. I believe without reservation if we don't have enough time or feel it is important enough to read and study God's Word than God doesn't feel our prayers to Him are important either. Reread this verse! What do you think?
This devotion should give you something to think about on this Monday! God bless and pick up that Bible!
Tom
Proverbs 28:9
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
There are two ways one can turn his ear away from the (law) God's Word. The first is the most obvious. Intentionally staying away from the Bible because you do not believe the Bible is God's Word. So that person has no desire to follow God in the first place. You would be surprised though at how many will still lift their petitions to God but He is not listening to anything from them until they cry out for salvation. The second way folks turn away from hearing God's word is less obvious but is happening quit often. This is when those who call themselves Christians but they do not read their Bibles and thus have very little knowledge at what God's Word says. Sadly the church has many of these folks who fill the pews. When we are not reading God's Word we are turning our ear from the hearing of the law! We are missing out on the main way God speaks to us! Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and the whole thing is about the importance of God's Word....coincidence? I think not. I believe without reservation if we don't have enough time or feel it is important enough to read and study God's Word than God doesn't feel our prayers to Him are important either. Reread this verse! What do you think?
This devotion should give you something to think about on this Monday! God bless and pick up that Bible!
Tom
Friday, February 4, 2011
Understanding justice.
May God speak to our hearts this morning.
Proverbs 28:5
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all.
To really understand this verse we need to make sure we understand the meaning of justice...so here is the definition from the dictionary:
jus·tice
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
It becomes very obvious that evil men do not understand justice when we know the meaning. Evil men are not just. They have no righteousness in them. Equitableness can be defined as fairness. Evil folks are not concerned with being fair. Of course if they have thrown all these other qualities to the side we know evil people have no moral rightness.
Now on the other hand before we get to feeling to good about ourselves we are are followers of Christ, let me remind you we are all evil until we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not become just, righteous, fair, and moral by our own doing, it is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we seek the Lord with all our hearts, mind, body and strength we understand justice.
So do you understand justice this morning? If you are seeking God you can!
Tom
Proverbs 28:5
5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD understand all.
To really understand this verse we need to make sure we understand the meaning of justice...so here is the definition from the dictionary:
jus·tice
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
It becomes very obvious that evil men do not understand justice when we know the meaning. Evil men are not just. They have no righteousness in them. Equitableness can be defined as fairness. Evil folks are not concerned with being fair. Of course if they have thrown all these other qualities to the side we know evil people have no moral rightness.
Now on the other hand before we get to feeling to good about ourselves we are are followers of Christ, let me remind you we are all evil until we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We do not become just, righteous, fair, and moral by our own doing, it is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When we seek the Lord with all our hearts, mind, body and strength we understand justice.
So do you understand justice this morning? If you are seeking God you can!
Tom
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Are you a Lion?
Please read the verse below:
Proverbs 28:1
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
When one is wicked they must always be looking behind their back for those who are seeking revenge. So in a sense they are always running and scared even if at the time no one pursues them. However when one is in the Lord and made righteous by shed blood of Jesus Christ they have no one to fear. He can stand strong in the arms of Christ no matter what life may bring.
God tells us what he brings into our life in this verse:
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is not of God but of the devil. Through the Holy Spirit God has given us power to stand strong, love to care for others, and a sound mind to make good decisions that HE will be pleased with! Praise God this morning!!!
So this morning are you a Lion in Christ or a mouse in the devil?
Tom
Proverbs 28:1
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
When one is wicked they must always be looking behind their back for those who are seeking revenge. So in a sense they are always running and scared even if at the time no one pursues them. However when one is in the Lord and made righteous by shed blood of Jesus Christ they have no one to fear. He can stand strong in the arms of Christ no matter what life may bring.
God tells us what he brings into our life in this verse:
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is not of God but of the devil. Through the Holy Spirit God has given us power to stand strong, love to care for others, and a sound mind to make good decisions that HE will be pleased with! Praise God this morning!!!
So this morning are you a Lion in Christ or a mouse in the devil?
Tom
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