Maranatha Grace Church

Today we start our second challenge of the Book of Proverbs. Please read the chapter that corresponds to the day of the month. Chapter 1, on October 1; chapter 2, on October 2 ....

May the Lord richly bless you.
 

Thanks to everyone for your interest in taking the Book of Proverbs Challenge. Two key disciplines for the Christian to grow spiritually are  "Prayer and Bible Reading", so it is with great joy that I see so many of us are taking the challenge to read the book of Proverbs this month. To listen to a sermon on Sunday is not enough, to get a few daily devotional verses from a preacher is not enough. When we serioulsy get in the Word of God, we  position ourselves for great blessings.

I sat down today and I quickly read the whole book of Proverbs in one sitting. Reading the 31 chapters at once allowed me to get the big picture of the book. I encourage you to do the same tomorrow after church, having the big picture in your mind will help you to digest the book during the challenge month. 

Don't forget the motto of the book of Proverbs, "Proverbs 1:7, The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Hello:

Today is day 4 of our challenge to read the Book of Proverbs. C'est en mangeant que l'appetit vient", It's by eating that appetite comes, we used to say back home. Don't feel discourage, keep on readings.  I include below an outline of the book of Proverbs from the Tyndale Commentary Series so you can get the big picture of the book.

OUTLINE

TITLE, INTRODUCTION AND MOTTO(1:1-7).

1: 1. The title.

1 : 2-6. The introduction: the benefits of the book.

1: 7. The motto.

I. A FATHER'S PRAISE OF WISDOM(1:8 - 9:18).

1: 8-19. 'If sinners entice-thee ... ' ,.

1: 20-33. Wisdom's impassioned appeal.

2 2: 1-22. Wisdom as treasure and safeguard.

3: 1-35· The whole-hearted disciple.

4: 1-27. The lifelong pilgrimage.

5: 1-23. Wisdom about marriage.

6: 1-35. Pitfalls for the unwary.

7: 1-27. Simpleton and seductress.

8: 1-36. Wisdom's apologia.

9: I-18. The rival feasts.

II.  PROVERBS OF SOLOMON(10:1 - 22:16).

IIIa. WORDS OF WISE MEN (22:17 - 24:22).

IIIb. FURTHER WORDS OF WISE MEN (24:23-34).

IV. FURTHER PROVERBS OF SOLOMON

 (HEZEKIAH'SCOLLECTION)(25:1 - 29:27).

V. WORDS OF AGUR (30:r-33).

VI. WORDS OF KING LEMUEL (31:r-g).

VII. AN ALPHABET OF WIFELY EXCELLENCE (31:10-31).

 

Every word of the Bible is for our own good, even when it seems difficult as in our reading of Proverbs 7 for day 7. God is a faithful God, who always keeps his promises to his people. So God wants us to keep our promises to our spouses, he is  opposed to the breaking of the vows of marriage for both men and women (see Malachi 2:15-16). Be careful.

Hello:

The NIV (New International Version) title for Proverbs 9 is: “Invitations of Wisdom and Folly.” These two invitations are on-going invitations. We are compelled to accept one of the two invitations, if we choose one we cannot choose the other. Just as the Lord Jesus said in in Mathew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” We cannot be neutral, we must choose. Deuteronomy 30:19 states this forcefully, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”. The question is, which way we will choose? Which invitation will we accept, Wisdom's invitation or Folly's invitation.

The wise choice is choosing in view of eternity, to choose God’s way. The foolish choice is choosing for temporal things, to choose the world’s way. The sad reality is that most often we can be choosing foolishly thinking that we are choosing wisely. I would like to share with you an open secret: only a choice that pleases God is a wise choice, anything else is foolishness.  

Often time God will ask us to do something that doesn’t seem to make any sense at all, but we need to remember “… the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:26)”, and  “… the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness (1 Corinthians 3:19)”. Choose wisdom, choose life.

Hello:

It is already Day 10 – Chapter 10 of our Challenge to read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs.

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. in his book, “Wisdom That Works” presents a recap (p125) of the first eight chapters of the book of Proverbs that I have found very helpful as an aid to remember what the actual proverbs from chapter 10-31 teach us. I tabulate below the summary from “Wisdom That Works” to help us stay focus during the rest of the Challenge.

Proverbs chapter 1: Wisdom preserves us from violent people.

Proverbs chapter 2: Wisdom enter our hearts with peace of conscience.

Proverbs chapter 3: Wisdom improves us financially.

Proverbs chapter 4:  Wisdom elevates our status in society.

Proverbs chapter 5:  Wisdom makes sex better.

Proverbs chapter 6: Wisdom gets us up off the sofa and successfully accomplishing worthy goals.

Proverbs chapter 7: Wisdom protects us in temptation.

Proverbs chapter 8:  Wisdom opens our eyes to the joyous creation in which we live.

(My addition for chapter 9)

Proverbs chapter 9: Wisdom is free for the asking (if one just asks).

There are so many interesting proverbs  to ponder on Chapter 10 that one can feel overwhelmed reading them all. But it is  good to read them all, and then pick a theme to investigate further. One the topics of Chapter 10 is Wealth. For further investigation we may ask ourselves,  “how does God address Wealth in the book of Proverbs, or at least from the chapters that we have read?”

Proverbs 3:9, 10
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Proverbs 8:18-21
I [wisdom] have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

People can hurt themselves by trying to get wealth outside of the blessing of God. Surely people can get very wealthy through their own smart, hard work, connection, and  etc....  But Proverbs 10:22 tells us the only way to get wealth with no string attached, no sorrow that follows is to receive it as a blessing of the Lord. The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. You can easily determine where you think you wealth comes from, through the Lord’s favor or through your own wisdom and strength. The test is: "Do I honor the Lord with the best part of my wealth by giving some of it  for the proclamation of the Gospel?" Easy test, but very hard to put in practice. This issomething to serioulsy think about because using your wealth for the Lord's work will have an earthly reward and more importantly an eternal reward. 

 

Hello:

Day 11 – Chapter 11 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

It is said that when a Roman emperor achieved a great military victory he would parade into town in an elaborate procession called a triumph. He would assign a slave to ride on the chariot with him to whisper into his ear:  "Respica te, hominem te memento" ("Look behind you, remember you are only a man") and "Memento mori" ("Remember (that you are) mortal"). This reminder was to keep him from becoming prideful because they understood that pride is a very destructive force.

There are two verses from Proverbs that I believe every Christian should memorize, young and old, so that they may meditate on the two verse often. The first verse is Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” The second verse is Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” I have seen so many Christians and churches start with humility, complete dependence on God to finish with carnality as a consequence of pride because of some very big victories or great spiritual gifts that the Lord had given them. This is a tragedy, to start with God and to finish with self.

We must always remember that all our blessings, spiritual or physical such as health, wealth, education and everything else of value that we have come from the grace of God. God is the source of all of our blessings, in ourselves we cannot do anything. To stay humble and grateful is the key for continuous blessings and victories.

Hello:

Someone told me that he wishes that he could remember more of the proverbs, there are so many of them, and a lot of them speak directly to him, what is my advice? My advice is to continue to read, try to remember as many proverbs as you can but, don’t get stuck on remembering them all. Please remember that the best place to store the Word of God is in your heart, not in your head. When the Word is in our heart, obeying God becomes an automatic process. The Psalmist says in Psalms 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” How do you move the Word from the head to the heart? By reading it daily and meditating on it.

I was deeply moved by the second verse of Proverbs 13, “From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things (Proverbs 13:2).” You can change your life by changing your speech. You can change the lives of your children by speaking words of faith to them. You can change your relationship by speaking words of truth to it. Don’t be too realistic, faith is more powerful than mere physical reality. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”(The Message Translation). So speak the truth, speak the promises of God and enjoy good things.

Hello:

Day 15 - Chapter 15 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

This morning I counted the word “fear of the Lord” in the book of Proverbs. It is founded there fourteen (14) times. Why did the author insist so much on that idea? When God insists on an idea in the Bible, it is to tell us to pay attention.

“The fear of the Lord” is repeated twice in the Proverbs 15, our chapter for today. Proverbs 15:16, “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” And Proverbs 15:33, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Most modern preachers who comment on the concept of the fear of the Lord claim that “The fear of the Lord, doesn’t mean being afraid of God".  They proceed to say, "God is our Father  that always loves and forgives us.”  I agree in part with that statement.  I also believe that one very important point is missing; a father is not only there to love and forgive his children, he is also there to train and to discipline them. Hebrews 12:6 makes it clear that the “Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

You may disagree with me, but I sincerely believe that one important attitude that is missing in our society, in our homes, and even our churches, is a healthy dose of the “fear of the Lord”.  I wish that everyone alive on this planet had the fear of the Lord in their hearts. As a result we would see a drastic reduction of the ills of society, such as crime, divorce, division, war etc.. We must constantlty remind ourselves that the  Lord is a loving God, but he is also  the righteous judge that must be feared. Jesus warns us about being too complacent about the fear of the Lord, he told his disciples in Luke 16:4-5, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Dear beloved brothers and sisters don't overlook the fear of the Lord,  it  is better than great treasure of this world.

Hello:

Day 16 - Chapter 16 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

We have passed the mid-month mark on our Book of Proverbs Challenge. We are on Day 16 – Chapter 16, I congratulate us all. We have learned a great deal about the Wisdom that comes from God. One very important truth that we have learned is that there is a key to God’s treasure.  God’s treasure is ours, but we must have the key to access it. Do you know what the key is, and very important do you have the key?

When I was very young living in Cabaret, Haiti, we woke up one morning to find the whole town in a state of excitement, a crew of white people had come to the Habitation Torcelle, half a mile from my house for a movie shoot. This is what we were told. Machinery was put in place, flood lights, dogs, cameras everything was set up for that movie shoot. They gave us children candies, music was playing, and it was a festival atmosphere. They hired a few of the locals to start digging in a few spots. Around midnight everybody was told to go home, and to come back in the morning. We could hardly slept that night waiting for the following day. We arrived early in the morning to find that there was nothing there, no trace of the crew, everything was dismantled only a few big holes were left on the ground.

Until this day no one ever knew for sure what had happened, but the rumor continues to be that those “white people” had a map dated back to colonial time, they used that map to find a treasure that was buried on that habitation. The treasure was there all the time for the taking, but we locals needed to know first that there was a treasure on that Habitation, and second to have the map to locate it.

The book of Proverbs had been telling us all along that God has a treasure for us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! (Proverbs 16:16). And fortunately for us, Isaiah 33:6 tells us what the key to that treasure is: “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” Here you have it.

Thank you Lord for being so good and so gracious to us.

Hello:

Day 17 - Chapter 17 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

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

I love very much the song “Quel ami fidele et tendre nous avons en Jesus Christ”, “What a friend we have in Jesus”. I really love that song. When I sing it sometimes, it is with, like we used to say in Haiti, “c’est avec un coeur rempli de joie et de tristesse.“ Good friends we had, good friends we’ve lost along the way.

To have a friend is one of the greatest blessings in life. Proverbs 17:17 bundles friendship and love in one basket, “A friend loves at all times.” The vows of marriage that are recited during the wedding ceremony are indeed vows  of a lifetime of friendship. “I take you in good time and a bad time, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth.” Only true friends can pronounce those words in all sincerity. A friend loves at all times.

Are you a friend? Would you like to be one? Will your love be deep enough that you can take the risk to hurt in order to help? “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6).” Can you distinguish between a friend and an enemy?  A friend does not take pleasure in seeing people get hurt. In all time his goal is to see the other reach his full potential. “Iron sharpen iron; and one man sharpens another ( Proverbs 27:17).”

One can be a brother without being a friend,  but a true friend is a brother born for a time of adversity. I have seen this played out multiple times in the context of the Church, the Body of Christ. We called each other brothers and sisters because we recognize that the relationship that we have in Christ goes beyond the temporal. It is a relationship for eternity. Jesus valued friendship very much, at the end of his earthly ministry he transitioned his relationship to his disciples from servants to friends.  Jesus told them, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15)”.

If you don’t have friends, you can ask God to give a few good friends, but always remember that you already have one friend, you have a friend in Jesus.

Hello:

Day 18 - Chapter 18 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). 

Where do you run for security? In Haiti when I was growing up, I had a seen the following scene many times; a hen would issue a call, and all of the sudden all her little chicks would come running under her wings for safety such as in the case of a sudden rain. That is security from a natural threat. Other times, she will gather her chicks under her wings when a “malfini” hovers up in the air eyeing her little chicks. That is security from an enemy. Psalm 91, gives us a picture of ourselves like little chicks running for safety and protection under God’s wings: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler (v. 4). All of our security needs can be found in God. The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10).

 

In the Bible, God reveals himself to mankind under multiple names depending on the needs for a special situation. What is your need? God is able to fulfill it. Let me list below a few of the names of God in the Bible to allow you to see that God is indeed the solution to all of your problems, in him alone you can find true security and protection.

 

El-Elyon designates God as the highest, the most high (Ps. 78:35).
El-Shaddai: the Almighty God (Gen. 17:1)
Jehovah or Yahweh is the personal name par excellence of Israel's God. (Exod.  6:2f. ; cf. 3:13-16).
Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide (Gen. 22:14).
Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that heals (Exod. 15:26).
Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner (Exod.. 17:15).
Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our peace (Judg. 6:24).
Jehovah-Raah, the Lord my shepherd (Ps. 23:1).
Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is present (Ezek. 48:35)
Jehovah-Sabaoth, the God of Jacob is our fortress Ps 46:7
Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24)
The Alpha and the Omega (Rev. 1:8)
Who is and who was and who is to come (Rev. 1:4).
The first and the last (Rev. 2:8).
The beginning and the end (Rev. 21:6).

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). 

Hello:

Day 20 - Chapter 20 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)

Is it wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol occasionally in a social context? This question was asked of me not long ago by a young person in our church. My answer to the youth contained two parts. The first part of my answer was that the Bible does not completely forbid the consumption of alcohol, so I believe the Christian is left with his conscience and his wisdom to make the right choice when it comes to social  drinking.  The second part of my answer was a personal one: because I am a Christian, I don’t drink alcoholic beverage (wine/beer).  I would strongly recommended my position to all Christians. I will not consume alcohol because I don’t want my behavior to be a spiritual stumbling block for myself, for other Christians and non-Christians alike.

Christians are held to a very high standard by the Holy Spirit, and also by the world. There is a certain behavior that younger Christians and non-Christians do not expect from a Christian, one such behavior is alcohol drinking.  “Abstain from all appearance of evil”, the Word of God  tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22.  And Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14:13 “We must make up our minds not to do anything that will make another Christian sin.” As Christians our Christian life is a call to holiness, being separated for God. And whenever we go against that expectation of holiness, we do a huge disservice to the cause of the Gospel.

Drinking does not promote Christian love.  The kind of love that God desires from us "does not dishonor others, and it is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5).” Considering all the potential for destructions of alcohol, by example abusive relationships, drunk driving, disease and death, it doesn't make sense for Christians to consume alcohol either socially or privately. Jesus told his disciples in Luke  17:1-3, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones". Those are very strong words of warning from the Master. We need to consider not only our well-being but also the well-being of others.

I leave you with one of the best advices that is found in the Bible regarding alcohol consumption: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).”

Hello:

Day 22- Chapter 22 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6).

Today is day twenty two of our Challenge, congratulations since you have formed the very healthy habit of daily Bible reading. According to Dr. Maxwell Maltz, author of the best seller Psycho-Cybernetics, it takes a minimum of twenty one (21) days to form a healthy habit. You have been reading the Bible by yourself for over twenty one days now, again congratulations. What better habit to form than the habit of daily reading the Word of God!  Great habits require sacrifice, bad habits require no effort. Highly successful people have learned to develop good habits, and it takes discipline, courage and hard work on a daily basis to keep those habits in place.

Both teachers (the parents) and students (the children) may wish that training for success was an easy endeavor, but this is not at all the case. Thomas Elva Edison said: “Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.”  If we need our training to last we need to be aware that there are three main stages in the training process. First there is the "honeymoon stage," where everything is easy. Second, there is the "fight through stage", where competing interests tend to make us give up our good habits. In that stage parents need to become vision’s projectors, to keep in front of their children a clear vision of their callings. Finally, there is the "second nature stage," this is where all parents and all children need to be, a heart completely devoted to the Lord. Obedience to the Lord becomes automatic.

Proverbs 22:6 is one verse in the Bible that has caused more anguish for parents than any other verses. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6). What about the child who was raised in a Christian family with godly parents, with solid training but end up on the wrong path? What could have gone wrong? When a child later in life turns to an ungodly lifestyle, their Christian parents tend to ask themselves why the promise of Proverbs 22:6 did not become a reality for them. A feeling of shame and of guilt most of the time results. But parents need to understand that their children are individuals who ultimately must make their own choices.

Before all else fails and if all else fails there is one thing that all parents can do: pray. For nothing will be  impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

Hello:

Day 23- Chapter 23 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a)

Proverbs 23:7 is a classic. It tells us everything that we need to know about ourselves. It also gives us one of the greatest secrets of life: Change your thinking, change your life. Very simple, but very hard to do. It doesn’t matter how difficult that task can be, but it must be done. You must change your thinking in order to change your lives.

There is a battle going on all the time around us for our minds. Our thoughts determine our actions, as the French adage says, “ Ce sont nos pensees qui deviennent actes.” In order for us to be victorious we need to heed the recommendation of Apostle Paul given in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Every one of our thoughts need to be entertained only in the context of our obedience to Christ.

Christians are not free to think any thought that cross their minds. Philippians 4:8 gives us the key to right thinking. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things ( Philippians 4:8).

One sure way to change our thinking is to saturate it with the Word of God. Because the Psalmist kept his mind focus on God’s Word, he could declare confidently in Psalms 119:99, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.” When we think the thoughts of God after him, the result is that we become wiser than the wise of this world.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” It may not be easy to get rid of all your negatives thoughts at once, but you can keep them from occupying a central place on your mind.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a). Now that you know this truth, how are you going to integrate it in your life. Be patient with yourself, ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome all ungodly thouhgts. This is serious business. Your thinking determines your life.

Proverbes, 24:17 - Ne te réjouis pas de la chute de ton ennemi, Et que ton coeur ne soit pas dans l`allégresse quand il chancelle, Ce que je peux tirer dans ce verset c' est que la bible nous dit clairement de ne pas se rejouir du malheur, des problemes et les souffrances de ennemis. Mais tout au contraire Dieu nous demande de nous aimez les uns les autres. Et encore plus loin il nous dit de prier pour nos ennemis. Mais il faut faire beaucoup attentions. Etant Chretien lorsqu'on prie on ne va pas lui demander de les detruire mais au contraire de changer leurs cœurs. Dieu est extraordinaire. Parfois il(Dieu) utilise nos ennemis pour nous deliver. Dieu nous a tous crée(justes et mechants) Proverbes, 24:18 - De peur que l`Éternel ne le voie, que cela ne lui déplaise, Et qu`il ne détourne de lui sa colère. Nous devons nous effocer à rester dans la paix et le silence. Exode, 14:14 - L`Éternel combattra pour vous; et vous, gardez le silence. Nous devons avoir de la compassion et le pardon pour ceux qui nous haïs et nous faire le mal. Sachez que nous n`avons pas à lutter contre la chair et le sang, mais contre les dominations, contre les autorités, contre les princes de ce monde de ténèbres, contre les esprits méchants dans les lieux célestes. Ephesians 6:12.

Hello:

Day 25 - Chapter 25 (Book of Proverbs Challenge) 

 

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
 if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
 and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22

 

Without the reference, very few people would have guessed correctly that the above passage is from the Old Testament since their idea of human interaction in the Old Testament is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. This concept of justice sounds fine to the human mind, but this was never the ideal of the Law of God.  God knows very well that revenge and punition are not always the ultimum form of justice. If you want to turn an enemy into a friend, you must attack him with love.

There is a story in the Bible which shows that indeed applying the principle of being kind to your enemy can be the best policy, especially if you can couple it with true spiritual understanding. In 2 Kings 6, the Prophet Elisha had the Aramean army which came to capture him encircled inside Samaria. The normal punishment such circumstances invading army being inside an enemy world would have been complete annihilation of the invading army. “ ²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? I will kill them.” ²² Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”23 So he prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders did not come into Israel’s land again.”(2 Kings 6:21-23)

The end of the story shows how God rewarded the King for demonstrating kindness to his enemies. “The Aramean raiders did not come into Israel’s land again,” the Bible tells us. Isn’t it the outcome that we need in dealing with any enemy, to leave us alone? When we show love toward our enemies we receive great reward from the Lord. Once such great reward is Peace, the peace that only comes from the knowledge that we are in the center of the will of God.

Hello:

Day 25 – Chapter 25 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
 if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
 and the Lord will reward you.(Proverbs 25:21-22)

The best way to win a fight is to avoid it in the first place. In a fight is not a question who wins the most, but rather who loses the least since both sides in the conflict loses. Even in the Old Testament with its retributive justice “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, it was recognized that the best life strategy is to avoid losing the eye in the first place. If your eye is destroyed and you destroy the eye of the enemy what good does that do to you? The inspired words of Proverbs recognizes that the wise way to behave toward an enemy is to treat him kindly. If he is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

One of the rewards that God gives us when we behave kindly toward our enemy is that he forces the enemy to leave us alone.  In 2 Kings 6, we read that the king of Aram was at war with Israel (v. 8). The Arameans army was the attacking army. In one instance an elite commando team of that army raided Israel in order to capture the prophet of God, Elisha. God miraculously delivered that group into the hands of the King of Israel. The Arameans were supernaturally blinded by God and they found themselves defenseless in the capital city of Samaria.

^“21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”

²² “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” ²³ So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory. (2 Kings 6:21-23)”

A lot of times God allows some very difficult people to come into our lives in order to help us grow spiritually. If we learn our lesson well and treat them with the compassion and the love of Christ, as a reward God may change their hearts toward us or cause them to stop bothering us. “So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory,” what a great reward from the Lord! Complete cessation of hostility. Peace.

Hello:

Day 26 – Chapter 26 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
 if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them. (Proverbs 26:27)

Proverbs 26:27 is a strong warning for all people, men and women, young and old, to be careful regarding their negative actions. In the New Testament, the warnings are as severe as in the OT, Galatians 6:7 put it bluntly, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” “Qui seme le vent recoltera la tempete.” There is a spiritual law of sowing and reaping.

But often times we see people, without the “fear of the Lord”, living their lives as if they were above the universal spiritual law of sowing and reaping. They don’t believe that if they dig a pit, they will fall into it. However, whether they believe the warnings of the Bible or not, their unbelief and indifference have no bearing as to the certainty of the penalty they will incur by going against a spiritual law clearly stated in the Word of God.  Don’t dig a pit if you don’t want to fall into it; don’t roll a stone, if you don’t want it to crush you. Anyone who goes against God’s word will suffer the consequences of their rebellion either in this life or in the life beyond.

We dig a pit sometimes by our careless words. Jesus told his disciples, “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. (Matthew 12:36)”. We dig a pit sometimes by our careless thoughts. We dig a pit sometimes by our careless actions.

This is where the beauty of the Gospel comes into play. The Gospel is indeed good news. We can repent, turn to God, put our trust in Jesus and avoid the consequence of our sins. We don’t have to fall into our own pits. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, God changes our past. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)”

Aren't you very happy that through the sacrifice of Jesus all your debts have been paid? I am very happy and grateful for all that Jesus has done for me. All the pits that I have dug in the past had been filled up by Christ Jesus, so I don't have to fall into them. You can have the same assurance of forgiveness, and reconciliation with God. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household (Acts 16:31).”

Hello:

Day 27 – Chapter 27 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

 

The NIV translation of Proverbs 27:19 has two versions:

First version, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

Second version, “As water reflects the face, so others reflect your heart back to you.”

Are we completely responsible for the outcome of our life? Are we in really charge? According to Proverbs 27:19, the answer seems to be a resounding yes. The condition of our lives is a reflection of the condition of our hearts.  Good heart, good life. To the extreme, the second version of Proverbs 27:19 would imply that how people treat us depends on the condition of our hearts. Good heart, good treatment. This is a big burden to carry if we do accept the full implication of that verse. It would mean we don’t have anyone to blame, but ourselves. We cannot blame our family upbringing, our environment, our race, even the person who mistreats us. This is a position of no excuse. At any point in time the only thing that really matter is the condition of one’s heart.

The most difficult task in life is to change one’s heart. This task can seem to be almost impossible.  That is why in humility we go to the source that can change our heart. That source is God. It is not health that we need, it is not fame that we need. We need God. We need things that are eternal. Jesus knew it and told us what to really search for, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).”

First, we are convinced of our need of the Savior. Second, we repent of our self-willed and rebellious life. Third, we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Fourth, we receive the Holy Spirit, and we yield our will to the Holy Spirit which is in our life. Fifth, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and gives us a brand new heart filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Humility, and Temperance. Sixth, we made ourselves available for a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the body of Christ, his church. We thus become an instrument in God’s hand reflecting the life of Jesus in our own lives.

  Search me, God, and know my heart;
 test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
 and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24)

Hello:

Day 29 – Chapter 29 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
 but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

According to Napoleon Hill, the author of the best-seller “Think and Grow Rich,” the second worst fear that human experiences after the “Fear of Poverty” is the “Fear of Criticism.” Fear of man is not often the fear that people will physically harm us, rather we fear that they will criticism us. And because of that fear many people never grow to be what God intended them to be.

Most Christians do not share their testimonies about Jesus to their friends because of the fear of losing a friendship. Yet the Lord Jesus explicitly gave the great commission to his church and to each individual Christian in Matthew 28, “¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)”. Would we rather please man than to obey God?

Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:10 wrote that his priority was to please God, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Our priority also should be to please God. Anything else can become a snare to us. By example many minority students deliberately underperform in their studies, refuse to speak proper English because they fear of being criticized by their peers, they fear of being labeled nerds.  They are in fact sabotaging their future because of the fear of man. This is not a wise approach to life.

The remedy to the fear of man is in the fear of God. Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. The two verses that bracket the Great commission should give us  enough reassurance to free us from all apprehension in life. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Why would we be still afraid of man when we realize that there is no real authority except the authority of Christ, and that Christ is always with us?

Don’t be afraid, trust God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Hello:

Day 31 – Chapter 31 (Book of Proverbs Challenge)

It is not for kings, Lemuel—
 it is not for kings to drink wine,
 not for rulers to crave beer, (Proverbs 31:4)

A few weeks ago the headlines on TV and on the Internet screamed: “For Pregnant Women, Absolutely No Drinking, Docs Say”. “There is no amount of alcohol that is safe to drink during any trimester of pregnancy, advises a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. And all forms of alcohol — including beer, wine and liquor — pose a similar risk to the developing fetus, according to the report from the nation's largest group of pediatricians.”

I was a bit surprised that this news was such a big news after all. What pregnant women in their right minds would drink alcohol? I was mistaken, obviously some women do drink during pregnancy, considering the strong warning from the American Academy of Pediatrics. I was also surprised to hear that young Christians, both young men and young women, drink alcohol socially. Why would they do such a thing?

 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge we read in Hosea 4:6. Sadly, most of the time the information is already given but it is just overlooked. We need to understand that the spiritual directives of the Bible are also beneficial for our physical well-being even when we do don’t understand the reason for them. Take by example the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Every student of the Bible would understand that women should not consume alcoholic beverage when they are pregnant, and even before they are pregnant.  Way before the scientific discovery of our time regarding drinking during pregnancy, in Judges 13 the angel of the Lord forbad the future mother of Samson to drink. “The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.  Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean (Judges 13:3-4).” She probably did not understand why, but God knew why; that was for her protection and the protection of her yet to be born child.

Drinking alcoholic beverage is not necessarily a sin. But it can lead to sin and all kind of destructions: destruction of marriage, career, family, life, and it can even harm the unborn child. Why take the risk at all? I believe that Proverbs 31:4 is talking directly to us, Christians. Who are we?  We are kings and priests according to Revelation 1:6, “And [Jesus Christ] hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, kings and queens, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).”