"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5
Who else wishes getting Wisdom would be easy? I thought all I had to do was ask for it. Well, I do, but I have to give my attention; incline my heart; call out, raising my voice; and seek and search for it to find it. That seems like a lot more work that I expected.
We live in a world full of opinions, human wisdom. We hear and see it in all sorts of places from our TV screens, computer screens, newspaper pages, schools and universities, and even from pulpits. There are so many, well-meaning, slightly distorted words out there that are claimed to be wisdom, but there are not. They are full of half-truths and even flat out lies, and we are assaulted with them on a daily basis. So it'll take action to give my attention to true Wisdom. The other voices will not go away, so I must pay attention to the real Voice of Wisdom.
More worrisome that the outside voices, is my heart. It wants to have more of God and be more like Him, but I also wants what I wants. My heart can be stubborn, selfish, and willful. God must increase in me so those things decrease. Less of them can help my heart incline to understanding, but they don't have to be completely gone. If I needed to wait for then, I would never get Wisdom. I can pray that God will help my heart to lean more and more toward Him and toward understanding.
Thankfully, God doesn't expect me, or you, to be perfect, or to live in such a way to be isolated from all other influences. He knows there will always be other voices, images, and even our own hearts to distract us. He asks us to look and pay attention, and we don't need to be perfect to do that.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Sunday, July 29, 2018
She Warned Us
"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefor they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." Proverbs 1:29-31
"I told you so!" Have you ever used those words, or a paraphrase of them? If you haven't, I'm sure that you've heard them. As a teacher, I let me students sit on chairs, stability balls, cushions, etc. so they are comfortable and ready to learn. But I warn them of the ways not to sit on them. Don't tilt back on two legs of the chair, or forward. Don't try to sit crossed leg on the ball. Don't sit for too long with your legs bent under you on the cushion. Why do I tell them these things? Because every year someone falls. I have the student will tilted forward on two legs of the chair an end up with his chin hitting the desk when the legs didn't hold him. I've had the stability ball daredevils who try contortionists positions on the ball, just to have it roll out from under them. There is always at least one, who sat too long with their legs bent who complains of the pain of trying to get the blood flowing and the creaks out of their legs. Listen, I've had kids fall out of the chairs for no apparent reasons. It seemed that gravity just gave them an extra pull to make everyone first react with shock and then to give us a good laugh. Almost all of these instances end with something like, "you should have believed me when I told you that would happen."
Wisdom has promised a, "I told you so!" to those who refuse to listen. In the verses preceding these that calamity will fall on them and they will call for her but won't find her. Remember, she hasn't quietly stood off to the side and said, "now, I don't think that is a good idea." No, she calls out in the street and tells anyone who has the fear of the Lord, to listen, turn from their ways, and they will have knowledge and become wise.
At some point, I had to just watch the kid sit up on his toes with the chair tilted on two, or even one leg, and let him or her fall. Why? Not because I am mean or get any thrill from watching them cause themselves injury, but rather because some won't learn not to until they do and feel the consequences of trying to defy gravity. We can't continue to try to defy Wisdom and expect no consequences. She has called out, warned them to listen, but at some point people need to eat the fruit of doing things their own way.
The decision for us is simple, but not easy. It's simple because Wisdom is telling us what is good and right. All we have to do is listen. It is not easy, because hers is not the only voice we hear. There is our own voices of pride and doubt that we listen to. There is the voice of others who think they are wise, or know they are foolish and don't care. We hear them too. Satan would like nothing better than for us to listen to him and his lies. He would much rather see us left to our own devices. It's not easy to listen and follow the words of Wisdom, because of the other voices we hear. My prayer is that God will help me to know His voice, whether it's the still small voice or the one calling in the streets. Help me to distinguish between the thoughts of what I want and what He is directing me to do. Help me to ignore the fear. Help me stop second, and third, and sometimes more, guessing what I heard that came from Wisdom. Let me choose to fear the Lord, and listen and have His spirit poured out to me.
"I told you so!" Have you ever used those words, or a paraphrase of them? If you haven't, I'm sure that you've heard them. As a teacher, I let me students sit on chairs, stability balls, cushions, etc. so they are comfortable and ready to learn. But I warn them of the ways not to sit on them. Don't tilt back on two legs of the chair, or forward. Don't try to sit crossed leg on the ball. Don't sit for too long with your legs bent under you on the cushion. Why do I tell them these things? Because every year someone falls. I have the student will tilted forward on two legs of the chair an end up with his chin hitting the desk when the legs didn't hold him. I've had the stability ball daredevils who try contortionists positions on the ball, just to have it roll out from under them. There is always at least one, who sat too long with their legs bent who complains of the pain of trying to get the blood flowing and the creaks out of their legs. Listen, I've had kids fall out of the chairs for no apparent reasons. It seemed that gravity just gave them an extra pull to make everyone first react with shock and then to give us a good laugh. Almost all of these instances end with something like, "you should have believed me when I told you that would happen."
Wisdom has promised a, "I told you so!" to those who refuse to listen. In the verses preceding these that calamity will fall on them and they will call for her but won't find her. Remember, she hasn't quietly stood off to the side and said, "now, I don't think that is a good idea." No, she calls out in the street and tells anyone who has the fear of the Lord, to listen, turn from their ways, and they will have knowledge and become wise.
At some point, I had to just watch the kid sit up on his toes with the chair tilted on two, or even one leg, and let him or her fall. Why? Not because I am mean or get any thrill from watching them cause themselves injury, but rather because some won't learn not to until they do and feel the consequences of trying to defy gravity. We can't continue to try to defy Wisdom and expect no consequences. She has called out, warned them to listen, but at some point people need to eat the fruit of doing things their own way.
The decision for us is simple, but not easy. It's simple because Wisdom is telling us what is good and right. All we have to do is listen. It is not easy, because hers is not the only voice we hear. There is our own voices of pride and doubt that we listen to. There is the voice of others who think they are wise, or know they are foolish and don't care. We hear them too. Satan would like nothing better than for us to listen to him and his lies. He would much rather see us left to our own devices. It's not easy to listen and follow the words of Wisdom, because of the other voices we hear. My prayer is that God will help me to know His voice, whether it's the still small voice or the one calling in the streets. Help me to distinguish between the thoughts of what I want and what He is directing me to do. Help me to ignore the fear. Help me stop second, and third, and sometimes more, guessing what I heard that came from Wisdom. Let me choose to fear the Lord, and listen and have His spirit poured out to me.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Wisdom is No Shy, Timid Girl in the Corner
"Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 'How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words know to you.' " Proverbs 1:20-23
Wisdom isn't a still small voice. Wisdom isn't aloof. Wisdom isn't evasive. She cried out in a raise voice. She goes to the streets and cries out. We know that Jesus often speaks to us in a "still small voice", but Wisdom seems to be the opposite. She is begging someone to listen, someone to take head of her words.
Honestly, I've read these verses many times, but the reminder that He is a still small voice, always made me think it would difficult to hear, but here we are being told, "nope, I am yelling it in the streets!"
So how do I know that the voice I hear is Wisdom and not just my simpleness? Verse 23 gives me a clue: turn at my reproof. In my own knowledge I am rarely wrong. I think my thoughts and ideas are right and good. I just plow ahead, whistle while I work, and wave at my neighbor as Wisdom shakes her head and calls out to me. She tells me that my way is not the right one. She tells to turn to her when she shows me the error of my thinking. She will pour out her spirit on me and make her words know to me. I won't have to just keep moving along, wondering if I going the right way or doing the right thing. She makes it known.
But even though she is calling out in the streets, most don't hear her. There are many simple ones, who just love being simple. I choose to not be simple. I choose to listen for her voice. I choose to listen and turn from my simple ways. Will I get stuck in my simpleness sometimes? Yes. Will I miss hearing Wisdom calling? Yes. Even though my simple might be showing, Wisdom, the Holy Spirit continues to guide and speak, and eventually, hopefully, I will listen and know what is being spoken to me.
Disclaimer: In case you are wondering if you missed a post, you didn't. I wish I had all insight and could write about every verse in Proverbs, but I'm certainly do not have that. I can only write about the ones that He reveals to me at this time.
Wisdom isn't a still small voice. Wisdom isn't aloof. Wisdom isn't evasive. She cried out in a raise voice. She goes to the streets and cries out. We know that Jesus often speaks to us in a "still small voice", but Wisdom seems to be the opposite. She is begging someone to listen, someone to take head of her words.
Honestly, I've read these verses many times, but the reminder that He is a still small voice, always made me think it would difficult to hear, but here we are being told, "nope, I am yelling it in the streets!"
So how do I know that the voice I hear is Wisdom and not just my simpleness? Verse 23 gives me a clue: turn at my reproof. In my own knowledge I am rarely wrong. I think my thoughts and ideas are right and good. I just plow ahead, whistle while I work, and wave at my neighbor as Wisdom shakes her head and calls out to me. She tells me that my way is not the right one. She tells to turn to her when she shows me the error of my thinking. She will pour out her spirit on me and make her words know to me. I won't have to just keep moving along, wondering if I going the right way or doing the right thing. She makes it known.
But even though she is calling out in the streets, most don't hear her. There are many simple ones, who just love being simple. I choose to not be simple. I choose to listen for her voice. I choose to listen and turn from my simple ways. Will I get stuck in my simpleness sometimes? Yes. Will I miss hearing Wisdom calling? Yes. Even though my simple might be showing, Wisdom, the Holy Spirit continues to guide and speak, and eventually, hopefully, I will listen and know what is being spoken to me.
Disclaimer: In case you are wondering if you missed a post, you didn't. I wish I had all insight and could write about every verse in Proverbs, but I'm certainly do not have that. I can only write about the ones that He reveals to me at this time.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Do I Really Need to Listen to Them?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendent for your neck." Proverbs 1:7-9
When I read these verses, I always think, "what if the parents are fools?" I work in a field where I see wise parents, but also a considerable number of foolish ones. Turn on the news and you'll hear stories of parents who do unwise things with and to their children, criminal things, unthinkable things. So should those children follow the words of Proverbs 1:8 and 9? As a child, will one even know if there parents' instruction and teaching are wise or not? That leads me to think about one of the commandments, "honor thy father and mother". Once again, I wonder how to do this when a parent or both parents aren't good people and it's hard to honor that which is not good.
The only answer I have is found in verse 7, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Our earthy parents will let us down; they will give bad instruction; and some will not be worthy of being listened to or honored. But God will always be there and gives us His instructions. He tells us to honor them, regardless of if they are terrible. He already knows every bad parent who lived, lives, and will live. We have to find a way to honor them anyway. We can listen to them, but check the Word to see if what they instruct is right. God knows that some children will have to follow their parents' instruction or risk serious punishment. I believe it grieves His heart to have any child or adult treated badly, but He does promise reward for faithfulness. He looks at our hearts and He knows the child who doesn't want to follow their parents' way, but as a child, he or she has little choice in the matter.
Not all parents are horrible, of course, but they are human and make mistakes. We still need to listen and hope that God shows them the error of their thinking. Parents who fear the Lord, will listen to Him, and they will hopefully come to a point where they realize the error of their instruction and speak to their children about it. I have no children of my own, but as I work with them. There is not many things more powerful than to apologize to them. There have been times when I have done the wrong thing, either purposely or unintentionally, and I have realized it and apologized. It's like a weight is lifted off of me and my students. They always accept, at least verbally they do, and I notice they become more aware of when they need to apologize to others. I take my role as an influential adult in their lives very seriously.
If you are a parent, make sure that your instruction lines up with God's Word, so you don't steer your children wrong. All of us our some one's child, even if you didn't know your parent, forgive the mistakes they made raising you, the bad advice given, and find ways to honor them in your heart.
When I read these verses, I always think, "what if the parents are fools?" I work in a field where I see wise parents, but also a considerable number of foolish ones. Turn on the news and you'll hear stories of parents who do unwise things with and to their children, criminal things, unthinkable things. So should those children follow the words of Proverbs 1:8 and 9? As a child, will one even know if there parents' instruction and teaching are wise or not? That leads me to think about one of the commandments, "honor thy father and mother". Once again, I wonder how to do this when a parent or both parents aren't good people and it's hard to honor that which is not good.
The only answer I have is found in verse 7, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Our earthy parents will let us down; they will give bad instruction; and some will not be worthy of being listened to or honored. But God will always be there and gives us His instructions. He tells us to honor them, regardless of if they are terrible. He already knows every bad parent who lived, lives, and will live. We have to find a way to honor them anyway. We can listen to them, but check the Word to see if what they instruct is right. God knows that some children will have to follow their parents' instruction or risk serious punishment. I believe it grieves His heart to have any child or adult treated badly, but He does promise reward for faithfulness. He looks at our hearts and He knows the child who doesn't want to follow their parents' way, but as a child, he or she has little choice in the matter.
Not all parents are horrible, of course, but they are human and make mistakes. We still need to listen and hope that God shows them the error of their thinking. Parents who fear the Lord, will listen to Him, and they will hopefully come to a point where they realize the error of their instruction and speak to their children about it. I have no children of my own, but as I work with them. There is not many things more powerful than to apologize to them. There have been times when I have done the wrong thing, either purposely or unintentionally, and I have realized it and apologized. It's like a weight is lifted off of me and my students. They always accept, at least verbally they do, and I notice they become more aware of when they need to apologize to others. I take my role as an influential adult in their lives very seriously.
If you are a parent, make sure that your instruction lines up with God's Word, so you don't steer your children wrong. All of us our some one's child, even if you didn't know your parent, forgive the mistakes they made raising you, the bad advice given, and find ways to honor them in your heart.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
The Beginning of Wisdom
I have taken a bit of a journey over the last 10 or so months, of going straight through books of the Bible and posting a paragraph or so at a time on Facebook. It was election time, and my news feed was full of negative posts, comments, videos, and memes, and it was getting to a point of not wanting to even go on there. Then, I felt the Lord speak into my heart and tell me to post His Word. I started in Romans and finished the New Testament. I made only two or three comments throughout. It wasn't to be about me and my thoughts, but just His Word speaking. Many people like the posts or make comments, but even more tell me in person "thank you" for posting Scripture each day. So I continue to do that. Right now it's about halfway through John. Did you know that each of the books of the Gospel were written to different audiences? Well, John was written to those who were not part of the Jewish faith, ones who knew little or anything of the One True God. That's why I chose that Gospel to share first, because many of my Facebook friends are not believers. All this to say, that I have badly neglected blogging during this time. I knew that I would, because I felt then and now, that that needed to be my focus. Yet, I have come to a place where I need to be refreshed and even though I read and post Scripture daily, I need some dig into time. I need some wisdom, so I thought that I would do my devotions right here through the book of Proverbs. I hope that whoever reads these devotions gains the wisdom that you search for too.
"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Proverbs 1:2-6
How many nights have I laid awake worrying over a decision or regretting a choice? I can't even begin to count! In those moments, of tossing and turning, I feel like the least wise person who has ever lived. I can't get passed the worry of making the wrong decision or the worry of the results of making poor decisions. The cats hate me because I'm disturbing their sleep with my kicking the covers off and pulling them back on; my turning from one side to the others; and my sighs and groans. Usually they go right back to sleep while I lay there wide awake. I am sure that I am not the only one.
At some point during my worrying gymnastics routine, a name pops into my head. Jesus. It's like a light bulb goes off, again, that His name can calm me and help me to listen to Wisdom. My mind starts to rest, although there is usually a kick start or two of over thinking before I truly let His name flow over my worry and regret. In those moments, I often think, "I need more time with You. I need more time in Your Word." I don't think those because I'll have no decisions that may cause me to worry. Rather, I think it because I know that when I do I'll remember more quickly that He is with me, even when I make a bad choice.
The introduction to the book of Proverbs sums it all up. 31 chapters were written to help the reader understand words of insight; to receive instructions, to hear and increase in learning; to obtain guidance; and to understand the words of the wise. There doesn't feel like there are a lot of Solomons anymore, but we don't need them. They are nice to have around, someone to ask advice from or just to listen to like the crowds listened to Jesus. We don't need them because when we accepted Christ, we got the direct connect to Wisdom, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He speaks directly into our hearts and minds and other times He uses Scripture to penetrate into us. Sometimes He uses the few Solomons to speak to us the Truth of Wisdom. Pastors and preachers and priests are great, but they aren't all Solomons. If that was true than Solomon wouldn't have been needed at all, as the Jews had plenty of priests. Seek out those who speak Wisdom and if you find no person, no worry, because the Holy Spirit was sent to bring us comfort and wisdom.
I look forward to journeying through the book of Proverbs and hope to become wiser as I do so.
"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Proverbs 1:2-6
How many nights have I laid awake worrying over a decision or regretting a choice? I can't even begin to count! In those moments, of tossing and turning, I feel like the least wise person who has ever lived. I can't get passed the worry of making the wrong decision or the worry of the results of making poor decisions. The cats hate me because I'm disturbing their sleep with my kicking the covers off and pulling them back on; my turning from one side to the others; and my sighs and groans. Usually they go right back to sleep while I lay there wide awake. I am sure that I am not the only one.
At some point during my worrying gymnastics routine, a name pops into my head. Jesus. It's like a light bulb goes off, again, that His name can calm me and help me to listen to Wisdom. My mind starts to rest, although there is usually a kick start or two of over thinking before I truly let His name flow over my worry and regret. In those moments, I often think, "I need more time with You. I need more time in Your Word." I don't think those because I'll have no decisions that may cause me to worry. Rather, I think it because I know that when I do I'll remember more quickly that He is with me, even when I make a bad choice.
The introduction to the book of Proverbs sums it all up. 31 chapters were written to help the reader understand words of insight; to receive instructions, to hear and increase in learning; to obtain guidance; and to understand the words of the wise. There doesn't feel like there are a lot of Solomons anymore, but we don't need them. They are nice to have around, someone to ask advice from or just to listen to like the crowds listened to Jesus. We don't need them because when we accepted Christ, we got the direct connect to Wisdom, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He speaks directly into our hearts and minds and other times He uses Scripture to penetrate into us. Sometimes He uses the few Solomons to speak to us the Truth of Wisdom. Pastors and preachers and priests are great, but they aren't all Solomons. If that was true than Solomon wouldn't have been needed at all, as the Jews had plenty of priests. Seek out those who speak Wisdom and if you find no person, no worry, because the Holy Spirit was sent to bring us comfort and wisdom.
I look forward to journeying through the book of Proverbs and hope to become wiser as I do so.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Everything Bitter is Sweet
"One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet." Proverbs 27:7
This verse has been rolling around in my mind for the last few days. Well, the second part has. The verse is about food, but that's not where my thoughts have been taking it. I'm not sure this post should even be a devotional, but here it goes.
The World is hungry! It seeks satisfaction for that hunger, so it will try everything. Money or at least pursuing money seems sweet, but ultimately it doesn't satisfy that hunger Recognition feels good for it's "fifteen minutes of fame" but it;s fleeting, so it doesn't satisfy. Some fame lasts longer, but with that fame comes a loss of privacy, of just being yourself. How can it be sweet to have your every bad hair day spread across the Internet. That certainly isn't sweet. Sex with anyone may seem like freedom, but since it is constantly seeking more sounds more like bondage than freedom. How about good things like friends. Friends are good right? In this social media society where Internet friend counts are so important, one has to wonder how many friends will it take to make it sweet enough? Friends can be great, don't misunderstand, but the lust for more friends, even people you barely know is unfulfilling. Then there are real life friends, as opposed to just Facebook friends. Do these people bring out the best in you or corrupt you? If they bring out the best, that is sweet, but if they don't it usually leads to trouble.The World is always seeking.
We, Christians, use the words "The World" a lot. Put as I was mulling over this verse I realized that I tend to forget the obvious fact that "The World" is people, individuals. People all around us are seeking to fill their hunger. As I sit at red lights, I often look at the others around me. I've caught cars full of people, who aren't saying a word to each other, and looking sullen. I've seen people wipe tears fro their eyes. I've seen the weary and the worried. I often will send up a quick prayer for them. I'm amazed at the fact that I know only a brief moment in their lives, but God knows them intimately. He knows if they are just having a bad day, or if their heart is eating bitter things in the hope that it will sweeten their lives. The World is full of people who know that the things they use to fill their hunger are really bitter, but it's better than nothing. The World is also full of people who seek and seek and seek but are never satisfied. Both these groups need to be filled. They need to know what truly is sweet, or rather Who is.
As Christians we do not need to stand on street corners declaring the Lord, but sometimes He will ask us to. Billy Sunday, one of the influential Christians of the early 20th century was converted by listening to the gospel being preached on a street corner. If the Lord, wishes you to speak on a street corner, then do it. You don't know how many Billy Sundays will hear and find the only One that satisfies that hunger. Living our daily lives brings people to Christ as well. It might only feel like seeds being sown, with someone else harvesting, but these seeds are needed to help fill the hunger. Show people what it means to be filled with something truly sweet. Stop complaining, stop gossiping, and stop publicly worrying about everything. (Yes, ask for prayer from others, but watch how much worry you show to those who are seeking.) Don't seek the things you know don't bring the filling. Seek Him and others will see that, wonder, and hopefully seek out you to find out how you are being made full.
The World is hunger. People are starving for true satisfaction for their hunger. Listen to how God wants you to show them the One who satisfies that longing. Then follow Him into the way that He wants you to show them Him. Whether it's preaching to the masses or preaching their your everyday words and actions, lets point them to the One who is truly satisfies.
This verse has been rolling around in my mind for the last few days. Well, the second part has. The verse is about food, but that's not where my thoughts have been taking it. I'm not sure this post should even be a devotional, but here it goes.
The World is hungry! It seeks satisfaction for that hunger, so it will try everything. Money or at least pursuing money seems sweet, but ultimately it doesn't satisfy that hunger Recognition feels good for it's "fifteen minutes of fame" but it;s fleeting, so it doesn't satisfy. Some fame lasts longer, but with that fame comes a loss of privacy, of just being yourself. How can it be sweet to have your every bad hair day spread across the Internet. That certainly isn't sweet. Sex with anyone may seem like freedom, but since it is constantly seeking more sounds more like bondage than freedom. How about good things like friends. Friends are good right? In this social media society where Internet friend counts are so important, one has to wonder how many friends will it take to make it sweet enough? Friends can be great, don't misunderstand, but the lust for more friends, even people you barely know is unfulfilling. Then there are real life friends, as opposed to just Facebook friends. Do these people bring out the best in you or corrupt you? If they bring out the best, that is sweet, but if they don't it usually leads to trouble.The World is always seeking.
We, Christians, use the words "The World" a lot. Put as I was mulling over this verse I realized that I tend to forget the obvious fact that "The World" is people, individuals. People all around us are seeking to fill their hunger. As I sit at red lights, I often look at the others around me. I've caught cars full of people, who aren't saying a word to each other, and looking sullen. I've seen people wipe tears fro their eyes. I've seen the weary and the worried. I often will send up a quick prayer for them. I'm amazed at the fact that I know only a brief moment in their lives, but God knows them intimately. He knows if they are just having a bad day, or if their heart is eating bitter things in the hope that it will sweeten their lives. The World is full of people who know that the things they use to fill their hunger are really bitter, but it's better than nothing. The World is also full of people who seek and seek and seek but are never satisfied. Both these groups need to be filled. They need to know what truly is sweet, or rather Who is.
As Christians we do not need to stand on street corners declaring the Lord, but sometimes He will ask us to. Billy Sunday, one of the influential Christians of the early 20th century was converted by listening to the gospel being preached on a street corner. If the Lord, wishes you to speak on a street corner, then do it. You don't know how many Billy Sundays will hear and find the only One that satisfies that hunger. Living our daily lives brings people to Christ as well. It might only feel like seeds being sown, with someone else harvesting, but these seeds are needed to help fill the hunger. Show people what it means to be filled with something truly sweet. Stop complaining, stop gossiping, and stop publicly worrying about everything. (Yes, ask for prayer from others, but watch how much worry you show to those who are seeking.) Don't seek the things you know don't bring the filling. Seek Him and others will see that, wonder, and hopefully seek out you to find out how you are being made full.
The World is hunger. People are starving for true satisfaction for their hunger. Listen to how God wants you to show them the One who satisfies that longing. Then follow Him into the way that He wants you to show them Him. Whether it's preaching to the masses or preaching their your everyday words and actions, lets point them to the One who is truly satisfies.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Heaping Coals
"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will be heaping coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22
For the longest time I couldn't understand why heaping coals on someone's head was seen as a good thing. There is nothing in my experience that says, "place some hot, burning stones on someone and they'll be happy". It just seemed to be one of those confusing Scriptures that I would never really understand. Then it was explained to me, the history behind the words.
Many people of that day were travelers, whether temporary ones who were traveling for festivals; caravans that brought goods from one far away place to another; or nomads who moved with their flocks for greener grasses. It took a long time to get anywhere, and nightly camps needed to be set up. One thing that they did was carry hot coals from the previous night's fire with them to make the process go more quickly. In the morning, they would take some coals and place them in a container, and someone carried this upon their head. Another way that people would need such coals, was if their fire went out at home. People would bank their fires until they need to start a new one. This would keep the coals hot enough to start a new fire when needed each day. Sometimes a fire would go out, and they would go to a neighbor to request a coal to start their fire. The coal was placed in a box, basket, or pottery and carried in a similar way on one's head.
When someone needed coals, it was a kindness to place some of your coals into their box. It's equivalent to feeding the needy, as this proverb states, because it was life giving. Someone needed food or water, a true neighbor would share. But these verses aren't about being neighborly. These verses are talking about your enemy. If the one who is mean to you, ridicules you, or abandoned you is in need we are to give to meet their need. That's a different story! Why should I give to someone who has caused me grief or shame? Why should I give to someone who would never give to me? Because we are told to. That doesn't make it easy. It's one of the hardest things we are asked to do. Sometimes I have no idea how to give to my enemy, so I pray that God will heap coals upon their heads. He knows what they need, and when I pray that I believe He will provide what that person needs. I do not pray those words easily. They are usually pushed out through gritted teeth, at least in the beginning. As I continue to pray for my enemies I find it easier to ask that God provides for them, and even if they still see me as their enemy I see them less and less as mine.
Feeding, or giving drink, or heaping burning coals, or praying for my enemies I think is more about me than it is about them. Yes, it gives them what they need. It is also me letting go of my hurt or my anger and giving something undeserved to someone else. Hopefully it will have a changing effect on them, but I can't know for sure that it will. However, I do know that it will have a changing effect on me.
For the longest time I couldn't understand why heaping coals on someone's head was seen as a good thing. There is nothing in my experience that says, "place some hot, burning stones on someone and they'll be happy". It just seemed to be one of those confusing Scriptures that I would never really understand. Then it was explained to me, the history behind the words.
Many people of that day were travelers, whether temporary ones who were traveling for festivals; caravans that brought goods from one far away place to another; or nomads who moved with their flocks for greener grasses. It took a long time to get anywhere, and nightly camps needed to be set up. One thing that they did was carry hot coals from the previous night's fire with them to make the process go more quickly. In the morning, they would take some coals and place them in a container, and someone carried this upon their head. Another way that people would need such coals, was if their fire went out at home. People would bank their fires until they need to start a new one. This would keep the coals hot enough to start a new fire when needed each day. Sometimes a fire would go out, and they would go to a neighbor to request a coal to start their fire. The coal was placed in a box, basket, or pottery and carried in a similar way on one's head.
When someone needed coals, it was a kindness to place some of your coals into their box. It's equivalent to feeding the needy, as this proverb states, because it was life giving. Someone needed food or water, a true neighbor would share. But these verses aren't about being neighborly. These verses are talking about your enemy. If the one who is mean to you, ridicules you, or abandoned you is in need we are to give to meet their need. That's a different story! Why should I give to someone who has caused me grief or shame? Why should I give to someone who would never give to me? Because we are told to. That doesn't make it easy. It's one of the hardest things we are asked to do. Sometimes I have no idea how to give to my enemy, so I pray that God will heap coals upon their heads. He knows what they need, and when I pray that I believe He will provide what that person needs. I do not pray those words easily. They are usually pushed out through gritted teeth, at least in the beginning. As I continue to pray for my enemies I find it easier to ask that God provides for them, and even if they still see me as their enemy I see them less and less as mine.
Feeding, or giving drink, or heaping burning coals, or praying for my enemies I think is more about me than it is about them. Yes, it gives them what they need. It is also me letting go of my hurt or my anger and giving something undeserved to someone else. Hopefully it will have a changing effect on them, but I can't know for sure that it will. However, I do know that it will have a changing effect on me.
http://www.theasian.asia/archives/17194
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