Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
One who is full loathes honey,
but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:1-9
From today's QT, there are three verses, and two major themes that stand out to me. The first is found in verses one and two where the author attacks two common boasts (praise in verse 2 is from the same word as boast in verse 1). We are prone to boast in what the future holds for us (especially young whipper snappers like myself) and in the accomplishments we have already achieved. Scripture DOES encourage us to always look back and remember what God has done for us and to plan for the future, but we MUST be committed to serving Him now! When Christ comes back I want to be found busy working for him. I don't want to caught up in reminiscing about the good ole' days, or day dreaming about the future! How AWESOME would it be to be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them and then BOOM the two of you instantly in the clouds with Him???
So the question to ask ourselves is am I committed to actively serving
God right now (are you a part of a Bible believing church, and are you
serving in it? Hint: if you are saying/thinking "I don't have the time",
the answer is no).
The second part that stood out to me is verse 5 - Better is open rebuke than hidden love. We need to be a people that love others enough to openly rebuke them when we see a problem, and wise enough to accept criticism and rebuke. Keeping quiet when we ought not to is a sign of selfishness not love, and not accepting correction is a clear sign of foolishness!
Now, I cannot get too far without bringing a qualification on rebuking others, because there are those like myself that tend to take this verse and start shooting from the hip at everyone that walks through the door. To help in this (and ALL manners of communication) the Apostle Paul gives us the "Four Rules of Communication" in Ephesians chapter 4 - 1) Be Honest v25 2) Keep Current v26-27 3) Attack the problem not the person v 29-30 & 4) Act, Don't react v31-32.
How do you handle correcting others? Do you love them enough to point them toward the truth? (Notice them emphasis is loving them, not loving being right) How do you handle being corrected by others?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
King Comfort???
Thursday morning, as our Senior Pastor was half way through a day of work, I sluggishly rolled out of bed and prepared for training at Mid-America National bank. This makes the fourth new job I've started in just over a year (not including the roofing, siding, and subbing jobs I did for the first times as well). You know that feeling that you get when you start to understand the ends and outs of a job and feel you are doing well? Just about that time I quit Hy-vee and was let go by TNT communications! I can barely remember what it's like to be on a schedule, although it seems that sleep used to bring rest! I used to be nervous training for a new job, but now it just seems normal.
In the midst of all these changes one thing comes naturaly...to complain. Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life I begin to feel that I'm missing out on something that everyone else has, that I'm entitled to live a comfortable life (as if everyone else does!).
The thing is, I have a feeling I'm not the only one with this problem! One of the lies that we buy into is that we deserve a comfortable life.I am not denying that God has told us in His Word that He is our comforter, and our ever-present help in time of need, but we have really left reality in our understanding of hardships and affliction. In his first letter, Peter wrote to "those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood" (1 Peter 1b-2). Jesus warned would-be followers that "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it...Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Luke 9:23-24&58). Do these verses fit in our understanding of following Jesus Christ today? How are passages like this evident in the way we raise our children?
Is it possible that our understanding of comfort is just a well disguised idol of the heart rooted in covetousness? More closely examined, our problem stems not from a lack of comforts, but a lack of contentment.In a life of true trials, tribulations, afflictions, and ailments the Apostle Paul penned these words "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:10-13).
So what was Paul's secret? Why was he able to endure so much hardship and retain such a good attitude? Paul was able to leave us this great example because 1) rather that looking at the circumstances he focused on the Savior. He said I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me. He didn't try to tackle the stuff of life on his own, instead he turned to Jesus in order to grow closer to Him. I love the way James MacDonald says it "God has made no provision for you to live the Christian life on your own.. Christian life is Christ in you, in the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)". 2) Paul understood that "there is great gain in godliness with contentment" ( 1 Timothy 6:6). Do we really believe that??? Yes, but do our lives prove it? If not, why? We need to daily remind ourselves of all that God has done and is doing for us. What is great gain? Comfort, no. Godliness with contentment is great gain. We will never understand this and be able to claim it as our own until we get our eyes off of our circumstances, until we quit living life in our own strength and look to Him the source of our strength, the author and finisher of our faith.
In the midst of all these changes one thing comes naturaly...to complain. Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of everyday life I begin to feel that I'm missing out on something that everyone else has, that I'm entitled to live a comfortable life (as if everyone else does!).
The thing is, I have a feeling I'm not the only one with this problem! One of the lies that we buy into is that we deserve a comfortable life.I am not denying that God has told us in His Word that He is our comforter, and our ever-present help in time of need, but we have really left reality in our understanding of hardships and affliction. In his first letter, Peter wrote to "those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood" (1 Peter 1b-2). Jesus warned would-be followers that "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it...Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Luke 9:23-24&58). Do these verses fit in our understanding of following Jesus Christ today? How are passages like this evident in the way we raise our children?
Is it possible that our understanding of comfort is just a well disguised idol of the heart rooted in covetousness? More closely examined, our problem stems not from a lack of comforts, but a lack of contentment.In a life of true trials, tribulations, afflictions, and ailments the Apostle Paul penned these words "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:10-13).
So what was Paul's secret? Why was he able to endure so much hardship and retain such a good attitude? Paul was able to leave us this great example because 1) rather that looking at the circumstances he focused on the Savior. He said I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me. He didn't try to tackle the stuff of life on his own, instead he turned to Jesus in order to grow closer to Him. I love the way James MacDonald says it "God has made no provision for you to live the Christian life on your own.. Christian life is Christ in you, in the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)". 2) Paul understood that "there is great gain in godliness with contentment" ( 1 Timothy 6:6). Do we really believe that??? Yes, but do our lives prove it? If not, why? We need to daily remind ourselves of all that God has done and is doing for us. What is great gain? Comfort, no. Godliness with contentment is great gain. We will never understand this and be able to claim it as our own until we get our eyes off of our circumstances, until we quit living life in our own strength and look to Him the source of our strength, the author and finisher of our faith.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
El numero uno bloggo
Hey everybody! This is my first official post, and I have no idea what to say. If I was smart I would just copy and paste the stuff from http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/ that guy always has something interesting to say! I'm not sure what I'll write about, but I love God, my family, my church, the Bible, food, and DA BEARS, so I'd expect a little of that from time to time. Well I have to get back to work now, anything you wanna know, just ask!
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