Gift to Young Men

The Book Of Proverbs is King Solomon’s gift to young men.  Among other things, he talks about work ethic, avoiding the wrong crowd, wisdom, good sense, and why being a faithful husband is important, but the first step is to trust and reverence the Lord.

Proverbs 1:4-9 (TLB)  4 …...“I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. 5-6 I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.” 7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!  

1/27/2019

Following God's Law

God’s law is woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong.  Worldwide there are those who do not know the Bible but follow God’s law, more or less by instinct, without knowing why.

Romans 2:14-15 (MSG)  4-15 When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong.

1/20/2019

Knowledge of God

Knowing God develops a different knowledge than that based on concrete facts, such as botany, math or engineering. It involves experience and relationship, backed by Biblical truth. Together they form faith. This is what is meant by we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)  7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

1/16/2019

Listening to Others

In 1 Samuel 1:12-17 Hannah is pouring her heart out to the Lord. The priest Eli thought she was drunk. Has clergy insulted you? A church member? Have you acted too critically toward another? Be like Hannah and Eli - listen to each other and stand corrected if necessary.

1 Samuel:12-17 (NIV)  12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

1/13/2019

Our Fallen Nature

It is out of a person’s heart that evil thoughts come.  Each person, given the right conditions, is a school shooter, abusive spouse, terrorist or addict.  You learn God’s ways to move away from these inherent tendencies to trust and align with God each day.

Mark 7:20-23 (NIV)  20 ...What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.

1/6/2019