The Enemy of Righteousness

Devotional for 8.8.11

Let’s page to Proverbs chapter 6 as we continue to focus on this season’s GEMS theme, Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold!

THE ENEMY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man (woman) who stirs up dissension among brothers (sisters).

Proverbs 6:16-19

“It’ll just be a minute,” I tell my family as I close the car door and walk to my sister’s front door to drop something off. They know better. A minute with my sister is never a minute. It was never a minute when my mom stopped at my Aunt Sharon’s home. It’s never been a minute when I stop at my sister Lori. It’s simply understood in these circumstances that “a minute” means “more.”

The same is true of the numerical list in Proverbs 6 that names the things that God hates. The six things – make that seven things ­ – that are detestable to Him are not intended to be an exhaustive list. It’s simply understood in these verses that “six and seven” means “more.”

Proverbs 6:16-19 is not a stand-alone list. Instead it reinforces God’s attitude toward unrepentant sin:

God hates haughty eyes  (v. 17a). A scoundrel and villain, who winks with his (her) eye (v. 12 a, 13a). Dear daughter, keep your Father’s commands: Be completely humble (Ephesians 4:2).

God hates a lying tongue (v. 17b). A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth (v. 12). Child of God, choose righteousness: Be truthful (Proverbs 12:19).

God hates hands that shed innocent blood (v. 17c). ). A scoundrel and villain, who plots evil with deceit in his (her) heart  – he (she) always stirs up dissension (v. 12a, 14). Beloved of God, we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God hates a heart that devises wicked schemes (v. 18a). A scoundrel and villain, who motions with his (her) fingers (v. 12a, 13c). Sister in Jesus, be a woman of integrity (Proverbs 10:9).

God hates feet that are quick to rush into evil (v. 18a). A scoundrel and villain, who signals with his (her) feet (v. 12a, 13b). Child of God, be wise: in the way of righteousness there is life (Proverbs 12:28).

God hates a false witness who pours out lies (v. 19a). A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth (v. 12). Daughter of the King, walk the highway of the upright: Give honest testimony (Proverbs 12:17).

God’s hatred of unrepentant sin is not a mild irritation. He loathes it. Sin is an intense outrage in His sight! God is holy and perfect and cannot allow sin to be in His presence. That’s why we need Jesus and the forgiveness that He graces us through the cross.

Wisdom Step: Hate what God hates so you can love the way God loves.

The change is radical-

it gives us new natures,

it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved,

it sets us in a new road;

it makes our habits different,

it makes our thoughts different,

it makes us different in private,

and different in public.

C. H. Spurgeon  (on conversion)

Obedience is God's Love Language

Devotional for 8.1.11

Let’s page to Proverbs chapter 5 as we continue to focus on this season’s GEMS theme, Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold!

OBEDIENCE IS GOD’S LOVE LANGUAGE

For your ways are in full view of the LORD,

and he examines all your paths.

Proverbs 5:21

In one of Anne Graham Lotz’s books I recall a story that she told about her mother’s cleaning spree in preparation for a TV interview that was taking place in Billy and Ruth’s home. Ruth scrubbed, dusted, and vacuumed every nook and cranny until their home was spotless. All was squeaky-clean and ready by interview day. At least that’s what Ruth thought. It was lights, camera, horror! Ruth was shocked and dismayed when the intensity of the camera crew’s lights revealed a haze of dust and cobwebs in her seemingly immaculate home. What was hidden in natural lighting was made visible under the scrutiny of the penetrating lights.

When it comes to sin, we can deceive ourselves into thinking that our lives look pretty good, even squeaky-clean when compared to some. Like the Proverbs 5 adulteress whose words drip honey and whose speech is smoother than oil (v. 3), we can smooth and soften sin by calling lying, a slight exaggeration, by calling gossip, a prayer request, by labeling murder, the right to choose, calling immodesty, fashion, dubbing flirtatiousness, as being friendly, and naming greed, entitlement.

The sin we rationalize, excuse, downgrade, justify, overlook, tolerate, and even defend is not hidden from God. For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths (Proverbs 5:21). “The word ‘paths’ refers literally to the ruts worn by repeated travel of wagons over a roadway” (John A. Kitchen, Proverbs A Mentor Commentary). Is there a repeated, habitual sin that is part of your and my life? Has it become such an everyday rut in our life’s path that it doesn’t feel like it’s really that big of a deal?

At the GEMS Counselors’ Leadership Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado, Ray Vander Laan pointedly and passionately taught us from God’s Word that God’s love language is obedience. Make no mistake; we are saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8), but it’s through obedience that we tell God, “I love You!” This is love for God: to obey his commands (1 John 5:3). Obedience shows love to God; obedience is God’s love language!

Wisdom Prayer: Heavenly Father, our ways are in full view of You – the blatant sin, and the sin we think no one else knows about. Test us, O LORD, and try us, examine our hearts and our minds. Reveal the ruts and potholes of our paths. Shine the penetrating light of Your Word and Spirit into our lives so we can clearly recognize sin’s addictive and destructive nature. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Teach us to pay attention to Your wisdom, and to listen well to Your words of insight, so that we will maintain discretion and our lips may preserve knowledge. We love You. We will obey Your commands. In Jesus’ name, Amen (Proverbs 5:21, Psalm 26:2, Matthew 6:12, Proverbs 5:1-2, I John 5:3).

 To escape the error of salvation by works we have fallen into the opposite error of salvation without obedience.

 
A. W. Tozer

Passing on Life Learning

Devotional for 7.25.11

Let’s again hone in on Proverbs chapter 4 as we continue to focus on this season’s GEMS theme, Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold!

PASSING ON LIFE LEARNING

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27

In Bible times when people headed out on a long journey by foot they choose a traveling companion that would look out for them and a well-traveled path that would keep them safe. They fixed their eyes on their destination and their feet toward the goal. The same holds true on the faith journey which parents, grandparents, GEMS counselors, and every member of the body of Christ takes with children.  

Be a traveling companion that passes on wisdom. In Proverbs 4 Solomon instructs his son to pay attention and gain understanding (Proverbs 4:1a). He then points to the learning that he received as a child. When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live” (Proverbs 4:3-4). From generation to generation we must pass on the baton of faith by guiding children in the way of wisdom and leading them along straight paths (Proverbs 4:11). What children are you intentionally mentoring right now? Will you grab hold of the opportunity to guide more?

Choose level paths. Safe and level paths protect us from bad choices that almost always come with painful consequences. The safety of firm paths doesn’t guarantee that we’ll never be bruised and battered by hardships. A Proverbs commentator wrote, “Wise living does not bring about the good life. Rather, it keeps one from getting lost. It points out the folly of choosing evil as though it were some path to gain and instead reveals it for what it is, a true loss of life and character.”

Let go. There is a time and season to walk this faith journey hand in hand with children within our home and in our clubs, knowing there will be a time and season when they set out on their own path and are fully responsible for the decisions they make. When they leave the nest or our clubs encourage them to keep God’s word and wisdom in their sight and within their heart (Proverbs 4:21). Remind them of their responsibility to choose well and wisely. In the same way that Paul cheered on Timothy, encourage them to pass on the life learning they’ve received! “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT).

Wisdom Step: Be intentional each time your path intersects with children. Pass on His wisdom to a child today.

Discipleship is like the generation gap between parents and children: We often tell kids to grow up. They can’t grow up. They need mentoring. They can’t grow up because they’ve never been there before. We as parents [and mentors] have been there. The goal is not for them to grow up but for us to become like them and show them how. That’s what Jesus did. He became like them to show them how.

Dan Riemenschneider

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Guard Your Heart

Devotional for 7.18.11

We’re up to Proverbs chapter 4 as we continue to focus on this season’s GEMS theme, Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold!

GUARD YOUR HEART

Above all else, guard your heart,

For it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23

The children’s song, O Be Careful, Little Eyes, wisely instructs children of all ages to be careful what their eyes see, what their ears hear, what their hands do, and where their feet go. According to Proverbs 4:23, it’s missing a verse:

Oh be careful little heart what you keep.

Oh be careful little heart what you keep.

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little heart what you keep.

What we keep within our heart, to a great extent determines how we live. That’s why Solomon gives the command to guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23, NLT).  

In my high school basketball days I was a scrappy guard. I had zero comprehension of what to do on offense, but had an innate understanding that on defense I was to guard the basket at all costs. The context of this verse isn’t a guarding that keeps a basketball from the hoop, or a hockey puck or soccer ball from the net. This verse’s primary focus is not so much to guard our heart by keeping the bad stuff out, but by keeping the good stuff of God’s teachings, commands, and wisdom in!

The verses that precede the instruction to guard our heart reiterate the importance of keeping a vigilant watch over what we keep within. My son (daughter), pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart (Proverbs 4:20-21). Deuteronomy 4:9 says, Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children (and your GEMS!) and to the children after them.

Our heart houses our motives, thoughts, and emotions. What we keep within the control center of our heart will guide the choices we make and the paths that we take. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble (Proverbs 4:18-19).  

Wisdom Step: Do a heart check. What is your greatest affection and treasure? Is it God and His Word? Your family? Your agenda? Work? Money? Weekends? Travel? What you treasure will determine the course of your life. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

God be in my head, and in my understanding;

God be in my eyes, and in my looking;

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at my end, and at my departing.

Old Sarum Primer, 1558

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New devotional coming to this page on Monday as we turn our focus to next year's theme -- Get Wisdom: Go Beyond the Gold!
Have a blessed week!

Devotional 3/14/11

DON’T MISS HIS SIGNS

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.”

Exodus 10:1-2

Last winter my husband and I were driving in a city that we weren’t familiar with. As we made our way from the motel parking lot to a service road we stopped, but didn’t see a sign. Nor did we see traffic, which would’ve immediately clued us in to determining if this was a one way or two way street.

“I think it’s a one way,” Mike said.

I disagreed. “I think it’s a two way. Just take a left then we’ll be closest to the exit we need.”

He should know better than to listen to me when it comes to directions. He took a left and we met a semi in our supposed lane. Thankfully it was a slow moving semi. The driver simultaneously swerved and wailed on his horn letting us know that it was indeed a one- way street. Oops. I missed the sign.

God performed multiple signs for the Israelites before the exodus – a river of blood, frogs in kneading bowls, dust to gnats, swarms of flies, dead livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of firstborn so that they would know that He is the LORD (Exodus 10:1-2). On their way to the Promised Land, the signs continued – a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night, a walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, manna, quail and so much more (Exodus 13:22, 14:22, 16:13-14). Yet they missed the signs!

The spies that were sent to explore the land of Canaan returned with a large cluster of grapes, pomegranates and figs, all signs that what God said about the Promised Land was true. It is a rich, fertile, and bountiful land! Sadly, the people were so blinded by the stories of giants that they missed His signs.

The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (Numbers 14:11). Only because God is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion were they spared from plague and destruction (Numbers 14:12- 20).

Does He say to you and me, “How long will she refuse to trust Me and believe in Me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed for her?”

PASSION Step: Don’t let the giants of disaster, disease, or other distressing circumstances blind you and cause you to miss seeing His signs.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus takes work. If we can’t find a window to see Him through, find a knothole.
Bob Goff

Devotional 3/7/11

During the month of March our GEMS are focusing on “Notice God in the Ordinary” in their Sparkle and SHINE brightly! Bible lessons. Let’s get in the Word with them.



NOTICE GOD IN THE ORDINARY


You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13



The Psalms contain a number of cries and pleas that God not hide His face from His people. How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever/ How long will you hide your face from me? Do not hide your face from me. When you hid your face, I was dismayed. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly (Psalm 13:1, 27:9a, 30:7b, 69:17, 88:14, 102:2).

Horror of horrors if God turns His face from us or sets His face against us! Yet, how many times have we turned our face from Him, or shut our eyes to His works and wonders, our ears to His Word and Spirit, or failed to notice Him in the ordinary?

The Psalmists acknowledged and understood that we need God’s face to shine on us so that we may be saved and restored (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19). They also gave the repeated reminder that we must seek God’s face!

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. My hearts says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek (Psalm 105:4, 27:8).

To seek God with all our heart means that we passionately look for Him. It’s a fervent, zealous search for God that doesn’t hope to see Him, but firmly expects to see evidence that He is near! We seek God when we read the Bible, when we listen to God the Holy Spirit and His promptings in our mind and heart, when we open our eyes to His presence and spot Him at work in our lives and the world around us.

During this season at GEMS we’re calling our seeking after God Noticing God in the Ordinary. Some call it God-Sightings, others call it God STOPs (Savor The Observable Presence of God), and still others have termed it going on a God Hunt. Regardless of what expression you use, it’s the daily practice of being on watch for God. And when we go on a wide-eyed, wholehearted search, we will see Him! You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Noticing God in the ordinary feeds the fire in our hearts because we see Him making Himself known to us, and we take note of all the tender ways He cares for us.

PASSION Step: At the end of the day ask: Where did I see God at work? Repeat daily for the rest of your life. Record it in a journal as a spiritual act of worship.

The lesson I learned early on [from my mother] was to remember to look for God in my day (what I once heard someone call “God sightings”). She explained that God shows up every day; however, we don’t always recognize Him.
Marilyn Hontz