29 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Watch Out for Snakes" Psalm 58

29 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Watch Out for Snakes" Psalm 58

The other morning I was starring out the window when something
interupted my gaze. It wiggled on the deck beneath the outdoor
furniture. It caught my dog's attention also, who scratched at the
double doors beside me, whimpering excitedly. She darted beneath
the table and pawed at the thing and then jumped back nervously. Only
then could I tell what this "thing" was- a small grass snake had slithered
over the deck in an attempt to find a place to sun himself. Mandy,
a brown and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, began to bark and jump
excitedly around the snake. I thought I might try to kill it, but the grass
snake moved quickly into the grass and down into the ditch never to be seen again.
It was a harmless little snake, I thought, so I did not bother with it any more.

Not all such snakes are as harmless. Poisonous snakes are rare on
the continent where we live- but in our native Virginia and North Carolina
in America poisonous Cottonmouths, Rattle snakes and Copperheads abound.
Still, there is another variety of serpent that David
describes in Psalm 58. He speaks of "the wicked who are estranged from
the womb; they go astray, as soon as they are born, speaking lies."
(verse 3). "Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are
like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, which will not heed the voice
of charmers, charming ever so skillfully." (Verses 4-5).

David had countless entertainers at court. The snake charmer has
been a delight to audiences since ancient times. Apparantly David saw
such a feat that did not go as planned. The venom of the cobra is
one of the deadliest and kills within minutes. If the cobra is
especially aggressive, the skill of the snake charmer is wasted on him.
The snake will be relentless in his pursuit of death, no matter how
skillful the charmer may be. This is because he "stops his ear."

David observed that some people are like that. They not only spread
vicious lies, but they tell them so much that they actually believe
these lies themselves. They will not listen, not even to the most
persuasive person around. They hear only what they want to hear and do
not want to listen to reason. Their minds are only bent on destruction.
In a situation like this, nothing can be done except call upon the
intervention of God to stop the flow of venom, "Break their teeth in
their mouth, O God!" Verse 6.

It would be a good thing altogether to avoid contact with such people.
However, many times it cannot be helped. There are those times when
we are so close to them, we do not notice them or what they are doing-
like when I was starring obliviously from my window. If that snake
had been a cobra or a viper, no doubt my precious Mandy would be gone by now.
Such is the danger that earthly snakes can do. But there is a deadly
venom that such wickedness brings with the variety of snakes
which walk on two legs. Be very careful and cautious. There is no
use to try to reason with such a one or else you may be bitten yourself.
Call upon the Lord to deal with the person and withdraw altogether if
you can.

Prayer: Dear Lord help me to watch my way as dangerous snakes as those
that seek my demise are all about me. Help me be mindful of their
dangers. Most of all, keep me from being one myself.

May the Lord give you a blessed day!

(from August 9, 2000)

28 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Peace With Your Enemies" Proverbs 12:7-9

 
 

^{7 When a man's ways please the LORD,}

      He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

       8 Better is a little with righteousness,

      Than vast revenues without justice.

       9 A man's heart plans his way,

      But the LORD directs his steps.

Proverbs 12:7-9

 
 

President Abraham Lincoln could usually get along well with everyone. But one individual who constantly berated the President and criticized him was his Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Stanton was not only critical, but rude and disrespectful of the President. Overhearing such a remark that Stanton had made of the President while in his presence, one of Lincoln's staff members complained "Mr. President, if I were in your position I would do everything in my power to destroy that man as I do all my enemies." To which President Lincoln replied, "Do I not destroy my enemies, when I make them my friends?"

 
 

Do you have those folks in your life that you don't get along with very well? You know the kind I am talking about- the ones who like to irritate you, or "get under your skin?" We all have them. They may be rivals, those with whom we do not "hit it off with." Call it bad chemistry, not clicking, bad communication or whatever you will, the writer of this proverb rolls them all up into a term we may or may not use to describe those folks whom we sometimes consider as the bane of our existence: Enemies.

 
 

 
 

 
 

Personally, I do not like the term enemy. When I think of an enemy I think of a national adversary who is trying to destroy the nation in which I live- and probably me with it. I think of an enemy whom would like nothing better than to read of my demise in the obituaries. As Christians we do not like to admit that we have enemies, but we do. The great enemy of our souls, Satan, is always stalking us as a raging lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). He's constantly on the look out seeking opportunities where he may win victories over us. Sometimes he sends out people, or orchestrates situations between people, in which conflict is inevitable. Our adversaries may not like us because we have conflicting life purposes and philosophies. Sometimes they are our enemies because they have the same purposes and philosophies- its just that they are in competition with us because they are jealous of the opportunities we may have to express them. Perhaps our enemies may feel threatened by us because we seem to have the means to succeed where they do not. They may secretly be jealous of the families, opportunities, and apparent success we seem to enjoy. Every word we say is measured and twisted by our enemies to ensure a communication battle or struggle. They cast aspersions upon every sentence, they malign every nuance of every statement or body language. Most of the time, however, if we reached out to our enemies we would find that they often want the same thing for themselves as we want. When you can reach out to them and love them the way Christ does, you will destroy your enemy the way Lincoln did- by making him your friend.

 
 

The Scripture we read tells us that though we might not be inviting our enemy over for supper right away, that when our actions please the Lord, our enemies will be at peace with us. How do we do this? When we refuse to retaliate against a wrong done to us, we please the Lord. When we refuse to play their games of superiority and competition, we please the Lord. When we refuse to slight or diminish our enemy- especially in the presence of others, but instead give them the credit and honor due to them, we please God. Indeed our actions may cause our adversaries to be ashamed as Paul tells us in Romans 12:20: "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."

 
 

You may not totally eliminate your enemies in this way, but they may keep their distance from you when you show them the grace of God working in your heart. Do all that you can in this way to reach out to them in this way.

 
 

Prayer: Dear God the fact that I may have enemies reflects on the fact that before I came to know You, I was at enmity with You. Help me Lord to get along with those with whom I do not get on well, and make it a challenge to uphold the grace to which You have imparted in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 
 

 
 

Have a blessed day!

26 October 2009 Devotion for Today "It is What it is" Proverbs 14:12-18

^{12 There is a way that seems right to a man,}

       but in the end it leads to death.

 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,

       and joy may end in grief.

 14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,

       and the good man rewarded for his.

 15 A simple man believes anything,

       but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

 16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil,

       but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

 17 A quick-tempered man does foolish things,

       and a crafty man is hated.

 18 The simple inherit folly,

       but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

(Proverbs 14:12-18)

 
 

Several times over the course of the past few months I have had people use the expression found in the title of today's devotion: "It is what it is!" Usually the statement is made as an excuse for why it isn't what it ought to be- as though it was perfectly acceptable for the state of whatever it is to be as it is. Instead of being ashamed or embarrassed to be as it is- whatever it is-is elevated to a new level of respectability if not honor. No longer does whatever it is feel the pressure to change. Now I must live under the pressure of accepting it as it is and living with it whether I like it or not.

 
 

Do you have those "It is What It is" situations in your life? Its seems like not only are they here to stay, but It is What It is have intruded into our world with a whole new system of values which now we are obliged to accept. We can't seem to do anything about "what it is" except to grit our teeth, hold our nose, and swallow what it is they insist that we accept.

 
 

Solomon, however, dealt with those people and situations all the time. One of them in verse 12 "There is a way that seems right to a man." First of all , this kind of person does not believe in absolute truth, but believes that his own way is better than your way or even God's way. He may even lead you to accept it by saying that while it may not be right for you, it is right for him. Without any way to be objective about the way he has taken, he will not listen to you when you try to tell him that he has taken the wrong road. Sadly, his way is the way of death like so many millions who chose no absolute truth and "It is What it is" over salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. He is heading for a sheer drop off from which he will never recover. I wonder if he will say, "It is What it is", then?

 
 

Satan has tried to feed us the lie that all the roads lead up the same mountain. They do not. Some might begin at the bottom of the same mountain we are on, only to lead to a lead end or over the edge of a cliff. We cannot afford the luxury of hoping and wondering if we are on the right road anymore. We need to know it before we ever get on it. Christ has provided that certainly beyond any doubt. God's Word has also said, in I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." When you get on that road, you will never have to say, "It is what it is" or even "is this all that there is," but "This is it and I'm glad!"

 
 

Prayer: Thank you God for the confidence and the assurance to see Your truth in the midst of other things in this world that clamor for my time and attention. Thank You for Jesus Christ who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

 
 

Have a blessed day!

 
 

 
 

21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "What is Lacking" I Thess 3:8-10

21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "What is Lacking" I Thess 3:8-10

 
 

Have you ever left to go on a trip, having packed rather hurriedly,and then sensed that somewhere along the way that something was missingor that you had forgotten to do something?  About ten years ago, my lovely wife surprised me with a birthday trip to Philadelphia by train from Union Station in Washington, D.C.  The day arrived and we

packed and made our way to the station.  When we arrived at the platform, the conductor asked to see our tickets.  I reached into my jacket pocket to retrieve them, only to discover that they were not there. Robin searched her purse to no avail. Frantic, we searched our luggage-still no train tickets.  The train was due to leave in about thirty minutes.  "What do we do?" We asked the conductor.  The conductor smiled, "Happens all the time!  If you have a reservation, the ticket agent will be happy to produce new tickets if you can verify ID."  We thanked him for his help and were able to secure new tickets for the journey, and boarded the train just in time.

 
 

We found the lost tickets when we returned home. They were sitting on the coffee table next to the telephone.  We had called someone about the care of our children and were discussing the travel arrangements and pulled them out of the luggage to look at them. We had just forgotten to put them back.

 
 

Of course, such a time of panic might well have been avoided had we made certain that we had the tickets before we left the house.  But this happens, sometimes.  We were just glad we had what we needed to get new ones made.  In life, we may not always be able to take time to

be sure that we have what we need, only to discover ourselves severely short of resources at a crucial time. 

 

Our faith is like this as well. Many do not take the time to build their faith and personal relationship with God because they are hurriedly going about the pace of life.  Its not that they feel its important, but the focus of other things crowds out the essentials. 

 
 

But then the "big trip" comes.  Suddenly people find themselves having crossed over death's threshold before they realize what has happened. And Christ asks for the credentials to enter into Heaven and these same people realize that they have left it sitting on the coffee table-

the plan of salvation inside their Bibles which they never took time to read and make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. 

 
 

The Apostle Paul commends the church in Thessaloniki because of their faith and love (verse 6).  He was concerned that because he had to leave in such a hurry that he might have forgotten to lay the sufficient ground-work for their effective growth in commitment to Jesus Christ:

"For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.  For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"

 
 

There are others who have just what they need to take them to Heaven, but there are things lacking to give them the joy and hope needed to sustain them in this life.  May the Lord help you to search your heart to see what is lacking.  Perhaps you lack discipline, or courage, or

maybe you continually fall into temptation.  Is there a lack of love

there to point others to the Savior?  Is peace lacking to help you combat worry and frustration?  May the Lord help you check your spiritual baggage today, so that there is nothing lacking.  Have a blessed day.

 (from 10 April 2001)

21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "That Lived-in Look" Proverbs 14:1-6

21 October 2009 Devotion for Today "That Lived-in Look" Proverbs 14:1-6


1 The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
2 He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but he whose ways are devious despises him.
3 A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
5 A truthful witness does not deceive,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

(Proverbs 14:1-6)

I seldom read this passage without thinking about my parents. They not only loved us but they showed that love for my siblings and I by making our home welcome to our friends. My mother was and still is an excellent housekeeper, but a picture of our home would never have graced the cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine. It had that "lived-in look." First of all, she had two messy teenagers. Secondly, at the time we were teenagers, she also had an extremely active toddler to care for. Thirdly, there was hardly an afternoon or an evening that there were not two or three other teenagers "hanging out" at our home doing homework, enjoying dinner and snacks, and watching television. To some parents this might have seemed an intrusion- but never to my parents; my mother especially. She never made them worry about tracking dirt on her carpet, or leaving empty drink glasses on the coffee table or messing up the kitchen like my friends' parents did, nor did she make them feel like intruders. By making her home available, her heart full of love was available as well. She had as much influence over my friends as she did her own children. When other people's children feel comfortable in your home, you have accomplished something wonderful. You have not only reached your child but their friends as well.

Solomon says in verse 4 of this Proverb that "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty. But from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest." At face value this proverb may sound like a statement of the obvious. But upon closer reflection it much more revealing than that. We don't often see oxen or the barns they live in anymore. Oxen, or cattle live in barns and barnyards. The purpose of a barn is a place to house such animals and to feed them. The manger is symbolic of that. If cattle are living in the barn, it will be dirty. Few will think about how dirty the barn is if it is fulfilling its purpose. Yes, a barn will also stink if it is doing what it is designed to do- to nurture and raise cattle. It might be cleaned up once and a while, but it will not stay that way.

Where am I going with this? If a home is doing its job it may not be pristine- it will have that "lived-in look." But there will be joy and love found there. The same is true of churches. Many churches spend millions of dollars to make their churches appear to be museums than places of love. A church is doing its job not by the stained glass windows it boasts but by the sinners in it who are being transformed by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. I have been in churches where the rules of going into this place or that have actually kept people away, not drawn them in. I have been in churches that were completely unprepared for their bus ministries because of the hordes of unkempt and unsupervised children that tramped through their polished facilities. When they did away with those ministries, they were probably relieved. Their buildings were cleaner, but they ceased to have the magnitude of witnessing power they once had.

Don’t get me wrong. We ought to try to make God's House as attractive as possible. But I think even He would be more comfortable with that "lived-in look." If sinners are comfortable and find there a respite to find Christ, we need to tolerate a little bit of dirt that goes along with the job that we do. We offset this by showing a little more love in proportion to the sinners we have in it. If your church attracts a lot of sinners or un-churched people, consider that as a badge of honor. You are doing your job as a church. By God's grace you have more influence and will transform them into the people God desires them to be.

May God give us the grace to allow our churches, our homes, and our lives to have that "lived-in look." God gives out awards not by how nice and impressive we can make ourselves appear, but by the love by which we reach others.

Prayer: "Dear God help my home and my church acquire that "lived-in look" by making me available to meet the needs of other people. May my table at my home always have extra feet beneath them. Give me grace to tolerate a little more dirt so that I may have a little more love to share." Amen.

20 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Heart Sick" Proverbs 13:12-15

20 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Heart Sick" Proverbs 13:12-15


12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
(Proverbs 13:12-15)

Have you ever been sick at heart? I have been occasionally. It’s the awful, sinking feeling of extreme disappointment that comes the moment that one realizes that after months or even years of hard work and anticipation, the thing which one earnestly seeks or labors is not going to materialize. Many of those reading today can relate. When we lose sight of our hope, life just becomes a process of just settling for second best. A hard worker gives in to the rat race. A teacher gives in to the feeling that he or she is no longer making a difference in the lives of children. A father no longer sees the purpose for caring for his family and gives up. The youthful idealism blows out and he becomes jaded and embraces the status quo. Mediocrity begins to seep in everywhere because It is just easier to get by rather than to do ones' best. We begin to exist in a shell of a life instead of seeing ourselves as a part of a greater purpose. People like this feel like they are "finished" and turn to just existing rather than living.

One of the reasons why people's hopes have been crushed is because they have built their lives around the wrong hope. When their hopes are deferred or crushed, their life's purpose is crushed along with it.
Sometimes people simply lose sight of their hope and sell out to the distractions of life around them. When the distractions become the motivating force in their lives, then their purpose fades when their distractions fizzle out.

But as Christians, we have a greater hope- like the song says, "a hope that is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. " This is a hope that will never fade. When we see things fading, it means we need to get back to the source of our hope. Perhaps we need to go back and take another look at what God had in mind when He made us. We may not be living for His purpose, and realize that we will only be satisfied when we rest in Him. He did not make us to live someone else's life. He made us to live in Him. The reasons we have hopes and dreams is that God made us a certain way that is unique to us. You can settle for second best purpose and be satisfied for a time, but only in His purpose will we really feel satisfied.

Another thing is, God can use our disappointment to develop our character. He uses times like these to get us to refocus our minds upon Him instead of what we were looking toward when the things for which we placed our hope began to fade away. I have to admit that the times I grew the most in life were the times that I was between churches or when I was looking for employment.

Are your hopes beginning to fade-are they starting to slip away? Behind the clouds, the "Son" is shining. Look beyond them and you will see your greatest hope of all. Get back to the "fountain of life" once again.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I must admit at times I get myself distracted by the most meaningless things when I fail to keep focusing upon You. Help me not to settle for mediocrity or just getting by and enable me to live for Your purpose. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Have a blessed day!

16 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Be Kind to Animals" Proverbs 12:10-16

16 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Be Kind to Animals" Proverbs 12:10-16

Friday, October 16, 2009

11:55 AM

^{10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,}

       but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

 11 He who works his land will have abundant food,

       but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

 12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,

       but the root of the righteous flourishes.

 13 An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,

       but a righteous man escapes trouble.

 14 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things

       as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

 15 The way of a fool seems right to him,

       but a wise man listens to advice.

 16 A fool shows his annoyance at once,

       but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

(Proverbs 12:10-16)

 
 

About three and a half years ago my wife prevailed upon me to buy one of our children a puppy. This was not just to be any puppy, but a Labrador puppy. A teacher colleague of hers announced to the faculty that his dog had recently given birth to a large litter of chocolate-brown Lab pups. My first retort was no! First of all, we already owned a dog- a small Cavalier named Mandy who would feel heartbroken and supplanted by another animal intruder. This certainly turned out to be true. Secondly, I knew that I would likely have to care for the dog most of the time. This turned out to be true as well. Thirdly, Lab puppies will not be puppies for very long. Soon they would grow and eat a lot. The initial purchase would a relatively minor cost in comparison to the food and vet bills. This certainly turned out to be true. But I could not resist the joy on my son's face when we brought him home to live with us and all three of my prophesies turned out to be true.

 
 

At first I was resentful that the prevailing opinion of whether we should own another dog or not turned against me. I really did not want the time and the expense of having another animal around; especially one like Buddy, the dog we purchased. But it did not take long for Buddy to endear himself to me. The love he has given me far surpassed the huge expense in terms of food and vet bills. He was struck by a car and nearly killed last spring. Plunking down nearly two-thousand dollars I reckoned that Buddy was worth it as we carried him home from the animal hospital. When Jared went away to basic training and then into the Coast Guard, Buddy has been a constant companion to me, assuaging the pain of separation since my two oldest children left our home. Buddy also helps me keep in shape. Actually I have helped him out as well since he was hurt it damaged his lung capacity. But since Buddy has become my running companion not only has he helped me lose almost twenty pounds by this writing, but his lung capacity has doubled and now both of us have more endurance.

 
 

You may be curious about the title of this day's devotional: "Be Kind to Animals." What does animals have to do with anything I am facing today? Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those folks who put the needs of animals, particularly their pets, above those of people. The extent to which some people go to exalt pets above people can be ridiculous at times- like the woman I read about this morning who left her entire estate to her cat. On the other hand, a news story this morning was equally disturbing; how a woman in Virginia Beach was arrested for neglecting 100 dogs and cats in her small home. Several died and fossilized over time. The home was filled by unbelievable filth and decay. The stench was horrific. She allowed this to happen because her desire to get strays off the street overwhelmed her to the point she could not afford to care for them properly. This may be an extreme case, but no less horrifying is the way some people will be cruel to animals. I've known people to abuse their pets physically when their owners are in an ill tempered mood, or beat their pets for no reason.

 
 

Solomon basically tells us that that one can tell much about a person in the way that he treats pets and other animals. If he is loving and kind to them, they will certainly love him. If an animal responds easily to someone its because they like and trust them. If you cannot get an animal to trust you, it is also likely that people may not trust you, either. I have heard it said that animals, like children, are windows into our souls.

 
 

One word of warning however. This does not mean that all animals are equally responsive. Some pets, for example, take longer to warm up to us. They may have been abused in the past by previous owners and bring the horrible memory of their trauma into new relationships. This is where our kindness will pay off. Just because God has given people the privilege of having dominion over the animal kingdom gives us no license for cruelty. Others will judge us by the way we care for animals, and note that they may treat people the same way they treat their pets. They have many lessons to teach us about loyalty, forgiveness, sacrifice, and most of all, unconditional love. I realize that at the end of the day, our pets are just animals. But God has given them to us to love and comfort us, and to teach us also to realize that as they depend upon us and trust us for caring for them, we must trust our Heavenly Master to care for us.

 
 

Remember that God will never treat us the way some humans treat their animals. We are never more like God when we treat our pets with the love and grace that He showers upon us every day.

 
 

Have a blessed day.

15 October 2009 Devotion for Today "He Who Wins Souls" Proverbs 11: 30-31

^{30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,}

       and he who wins souls is wise.

 31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,

       how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Proverbs 11:30-31

 
 

As I am writing this devotional, there is a pandemic of a virus going around called the Swine Flu, or as it is known scientifically, H1N1. It is potentially deadly- many have died from it already though most who have contracted it are made very uncomfortable for several days. Thankfully, there is an antiviral serum that is being manufactured and is now available in small doses. Currently there is enough of this serum available to inoculate health care workers so that they can treat other patients when the time comes. We are grateful to them and the research which made this treatment possible, and thank God for them sharing it with us.

 
 

What if they had decided not to release this serum? What if the researchers and the pharmaceutical manufacturers determined that it would be too costly to produce? What if they had decided that there would not be able to make any money on the serum and decided not to release it? From a strictly business standpoint, this would not make sense. Certainly they may stand to lose money initially. But to produce and release this serum only makes sense because if the H1N1 virus wipes out a significant number of our population the way that the Spanish Flu did in 1918, not only would the pharmaceutical companies be responsible for the deaths of millions, but they would discover a significant portion of their lucrative market destroyed virtually overnight. It is not only in the population's best interest- but it is also in the best interest of those who research and manufacture these drugs.

 
 

The motive for self-preservation is strong in all of us, but never to the point of selfishness. Throughout this proverb Solomon discusses how important it is to be generous and not to hold back from sharing what we have with others. Most of all, Solomon says that "he who wins souls is wise" (v. 30). I know that many Christians fear sharing about what Christ has done with them. They are afraid of rejection and fear consequences of losing a friendship. Its true sometimes friendships are lost and Christians do get rejected- in the same way sometimes people have adverse reactions to serums and medications. Its possible that they may even die. But the deaths of a few are a relatively minor consequence compared to the saving of millions of lives. The same is true about sharing your faith in Christ. I've had a few doors slammed in my face over the years. Only one came close to hurting me when I was physically ushered off his property when trying to share Christ with him. But God showed how profitable that was when two months later this entire family who rejected my witness to them showed up at church and came down the aisle to be saved. The man who caused me to bump my head on the door of my car apologized with tears in his eyes and asked for forgiveness. I told him a minor bump on the head was worth many times what I was now seeing: him coming to Christ as well as his whole family.

 
 

It simply does not make sense if we do not continue to win souls. Not only will millions of people go to a Christless eternity in hell, but the church will die out in our own generation unless we get serious about soul winning. Not only does Christ demand this of us, but so does our own self-preservation. Our selfishness may not desire to do it, but our survival instinct ought to insure that we do.

 
 

Prayer: Lord God help me see the wisdom of winning souls to Christ, but let me apply this wisdom in practical ways today. I am not persuasive enough or forward enough in myself- I need to trust You to speak through me. Help me to trust You to do this in Jesus Name, Amen

 
 

Have a blessed day!

14 October 2009 Devotion for Today "A Fountain of Life" Proverbs 10:8-17

14 October 2009 Devotion for Today "A Fountain of Life" Proverbs 10:8-17

8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
10 He who winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.
17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Proverbs 10: 8-17

Pasted from


One of my children recently visited Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. He was particularly fascinated by "Old Faithful", one our nation's most famous geysers. Every half an hour, a blast of volcanic steam and water spews high into the air. It does this for several seconds and then settles back down again- waiting its turn to erupt again in another thirty minutes. Everyone rushes over to it to take pictures. Jared talked about a number of similar sights at the park, including the bubbling mud bogs that churn and gurgle; emitting a noxious sulfur smell. He said it attracts a lot of attention, but you cannot stand there and look for very long before the "rotten-egg" smell drives you away.

Today I want to share with you from one of my favorite proverbs of Solomon. In this passage he contrasts the wicked and the righteous, the fool and the wise, the man of integrity and the crooked, the hater and the lover, the rich and the poor, the disciplined and the ignorant. One would think that the positive or negative traits the author contrasts are synonymous; they are not. While some, for example, like the wise and the righteous share some commonalities, they are not always one in the same. In my opinion, the most appealing character is found in verse 11- "The mouth of the righteous." Solomon says that they are "a fountain of life." Indeed they are. One can tell much about a person in how they speak and by what they say. They are refreshing to be around- like a breath of fresh air. You find yourself going back to them again and again. Its not just that they are positive or even popular- but they are focusing on you. Like Old Faithful, you can always count on them to be timely with their encouragement, helpfulness, consideration and generosity. By generous I don't just mean that they are always giving you money as helpful as that might be. But they are generous in sharing their love and time with you. They bring the best out in you- and help you to reach your goals. They don't feel they have to compete with you. They are not jealous of you or what you have. Like a gushing fountain, their waters enable everything around them to green up and blossom.

Conversely, the wicked poisons the stream that flows past them to everyone it reaches. All the venom and vinegar of their soul pollutes the precious sources from which they and others drink. All you ever hear from them is bile and criticism. Like a bubbling bog, they too attract a lot of attention, but you can't stand to be around them for very long. The stench of their souls drive you from them. Nothing is ever right and they always paint others in a critical light. Particularly politicians. I don't always (sometimes, if ever) agree with what our politicians are doing or saying. But what amazes me more are the Christians I know who spend more time tearing down politicians (particularly our nation's President) than they spend in sharing their witness of Christ. Like the righteous and the wicked- having a conservatively political view is not the same thing as being a born-again, saved-by-grace Christ-follower. While they might be for some of the same things, we as believers have a higher calling. To be focused on harping on politicians is, in my mind, the same as being focused on this world's system that will one day be destroyed. If it isn't destroyed when Jesus comes again, no doubt we will find a way to destroy it ourselves.

Don't get me wrong, Christians have a place for bringing about change in this same system. And we all certainly reserve the right to express our opinions. But the greatest influence we can have over it is to gush that fountain of life higher and broader so that as many different people as possible want to drink out of our stream or warm up to the flow that is emitted from the depths of our souls. If Jesus Christ has indeed changed our heart, then we will be a fountain of life and blessing to others. You can well up a fountain of everlasting life to others.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I must admit that sometimes I don't well up to life much at all. In fact, bile and stench erupts from me more than I would like to see. Father help me to be a fountain of life, instead of a fountain of death to all whom I come in contact today.

Have a blessed day!

13 October 2009 Devotion for Today “What Part of No?” James 5:9-12

13 October 2009 Devotion for Today “What Part of No?” James 5:9-12

I heard a statement someone made not too long ago. I didn’t eavesdrop on the conversation, so I don’t know exactly what was said. All I remember was the response in utter frustration, directed toward the other, “What part of “no” don’t you understand?” I think the one making the statement was trying to get a persistent salesman off the telephone- someone who would not take “no” for an answer.
Most of us do not like to hear no. Even more people do not like to say no. No is not a popular word, and if we want to be popular, we try to do everything we can to keep from saying it. We will even say “yes” when we mean “no.” At any other time in civilization, saying “yes” when we mean “no” would have been lying- telling a deliberate falsehood to manipulate or to deceive people. But in the twenty-first century, saying yes to say no is actually considered polite, - preferable to the “N” word. It has become a fine art, and many have become masterful at being able to smile with a glazed look in their eye and tell you “yes- they will be happy to come to church on Sunday, what time should I be there?” and then you look for them and they are not there. I have had someone tell me yes they will refund the money to my account and for over a month it has not shown up. Yes means you can also back out of a commitment at the last minute when more pressing business or if a more entertaining offer comes your way. When we hear yes it means that someone is not bound to fulfill a commitment if it does not work out, and when we discover that things do not work out as we were told they would be, we are now obliged to keep silent about it and not challenge the yes-sayer lest we commit another unforgivable sin making them uncomfortable. Yes is a distrustful word. It has become a convenient way to dispose of something inconvenient without looking like a mean, nasty person. These days, being considered a liar is much more respectable, much preferred to being thought of as blunt, rude or impolite. So we now have to learn to read body language and be much more discerning to listen to the certain spin someone puts on the “yes.” Today the word “yes” really means nothing at all.
Apparently ours is not the only century that struggled with this problem. James meets this lack of sincerity and trustworthiness head on when he wrote in James 5:9-12

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”

Much of this passage has to do with patience, which I discussed yesterday. Its interesting, however, that the admonition to have patience is used in the same passage as the call for honesty in our speech and promises that we make. The ancient Essenes had a saying that went something like this, “If you have to invoke the name of God to give your statements credibility, you have already discredited yourself.” In other words, your words ought to be able to stand by themselves without having to pull God down with you.
What about commitments that we are unable to follow through on? I realize that it is an uncomfortable place to be. We have all been there, and it is embarrassing to be at the root of disappointment. But it is better to say “no” than “yes” and not mean it or have any intention of doing it at the moment someone asks us. Its best to be honest- even at the risk of being seen as impolite or boorish, than to say sweet nothings. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.

Have a blessed

12 October 2009 Devotion for Today “Poor Communications” James 1:19-20

12 October 2009 Devotion for Today “Poor Communications” James 1:19-20

Poor communication can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings;
A rather old fashioned lady, was planning a couple of weeks vacation in Florida. She also was quite delicate and elegant with her language. She wrote a letter to a particular campground and asked for reservations. She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped but didn’t know quite how to ask about the "toilet" facilities. She just couldn’t bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old fashioned term "Bathroom Commode," but when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being too forward. So she started all over again; rewrote the entire letter and referred to the Bathroom Commode" simply as the "B.C.". Does the campground have its own "B.C.?" is what she actually wrote.

Well, the campground owner wasn’t old fashioned at all, and then he got the letter, he couldn’t figure out what the lady was talking about. That "B.C." really stumped him. After worrying about it for several days, he showed the letter to other campers, but they couldn’t figure out what the lady meant either. The campground owner finally came to the conclusion that the lady was and must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church.

So he sat down and wrote the following reply: "Dear Madam: I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take pleasure of informing in that the "B.C." is located nine miles north of the camp site and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along, and make a day of it..... They usually arrive early and stay late. The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now, there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats.....They plan to hold the supper in the middle of the B.C., so everyone can watch and talk about this great event.....I would like to say it pains me very much, not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely not for lack of desire on my part....As we grow older, it seems to be more and more of an effort, particularly in cold weather..... If you decide to come down to the campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time you go...sit with you...and introduce you to all the other folks..... This is really a very friendly community.....”

Now that is some very poor communication. We do not have such in the Word of God. God’s Word is perfect communication. One reason that people are such poor communicators is that they won’t listen to what is being said- but are thinking about what they want to say before they hear what the other is saying. That is why James 1:19-20 has such an important communication for us today:

19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Are you getting your point across today? It might be helpful first to listen to the point God is trying to communicate to you.

Have a blessed day!

09 October 2009 Devotion for Today “Go With the Flow?” I Kings 1:17-21

Devotion for Today “Go With the Flow?” I Kings 1:17-21

Have you ever been told, “Just go with the flow?” Similar phrases, such as “just ride with it,” “just go along,” and “don’t rock the boat” suggest that flexibility is required of those to whom the phrase is addressed whenever something unplanned or unexpected is imposed upon the situation. Not to go with the flow means that a very difficult situation should be expected. Many times flexibility is required if we all want to get along with others. It may be a small price to pay to keep the good will of others. However, there are times when “going with the flow” is not only inappropriate, but wrong or sinful. If someone, for example, is being mistreated and we are too afraid to say something about it for fear that we might become the subject of abuse- this is sinful. If we fail to speak up when injustice is going on, going with the flow will only aggravate the injustice and make us the cause of it. If we don’t want to makes waves when there is information that is important for us to share, but withhold it because we don’t want any one to be embarrassed or upset that we shared it; then we unwittingly participate in the undesirable outcome. Our spiritual leadership is required in situation
s where we would prefer to be silent.

We see this situation from the outset of this new devotional series from the First Book of the Kings. David, the mighty king of Israel, is very feeble and frail in the first chapter. Some would say that dementia or some other debilitating condition has overcome him. It meets him early in life because many of his contemporaries are still living and serving. At age seventy, the years of battle, weariness in administration, and court intrigues have not been good to David. A young concubine has been given to David to help keep him warm. One of David’s sons by his wife Haggith, Adonijah, sees an opportunity to exploit his father’s feeble condition and tries to assume the throne. David either feels powerless to do anything about it, or a lapse has caused him not to be aware of it. Not even David’s loyal supporters like Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan seem to be able to stop it. It would have been easier to allow Adonijah to become king rather than to stand up to it and correct it.

However, David’s wife Bathsheba first approaches Nathan the prophet and then approaches her husband the king and demands that they do the right thing. “15 So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) 16 And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?”17 Then she said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. (I Kings 1:15-18 NKJV).

To stand up and be counted is often a fearful thing, especially when everyone else is jumping on another bandwagon. But the cost of not doing what would please God is much higher than any amount of embarrassment or pressure to do what others want us to do. Are you facing such pressure today? Are you pressured to keep quiet and to “go with the flow?” It may seem like a small stream, but that stream may well rise over your head in a swift current to drown you. You have the right, as well as the responsibility, not to allow this to happen. You also have God on your side.

Have a blessed day!

6 Forsake foolishness and live,
      And go in the way of understanding.
       7 “ He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
      And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
       8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
      Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
       9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
      Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
       10 “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
      And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
       11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
      And years of life will be added to you.
       12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
      And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
(Proverbs 9:6-12)

Once again we are in the Book of Proverbs and we uncover another character to whom Solomon refers as "the scoffer." This is an unusual term. It sounds a lot like "cougher"- the kind of person who interrupts my sermons with their constant hacking. It also sounds a little bit like "scuffer"- the kind of person who wears black-soled shoes and walks over a newly waxed floor in the grocery store. How I used to hate that all the time when I worked at the Food Lion grocery chain off of Tidewater Drive in Norfolk, Virginia back about 1980. I would buff the floor all night and by the same time the next day, "scuffers" would make long black lines in my shining white floor. However, a scoffer will do about the spiritual equivalent on my heart if I'm not careful.

One dictionary defines the scoffer as
1. an expression of mocking contempt, scorn, or derision; jeer
2. an object of mocking contempt, scorn, etc.

The scoffer will usually enjoy making fun and mocking what you believe. This is especially true if you desire to live a life that pleases the Lord. Scoffers will come out at this time to try to discourage you- to poke fun of you and for what you believe. They have disdain for your lifestyle. Why? Because when they look at your life, they see purity and a desire for holy living. This cries out against them because they are under conviction by the Holy Spirit. Yet their rebellious heart will not accept this. They value no one else's opinion but their own. With ridicule and dismissively they will reject the wisdom you try to impart to them with contempt. You try to tell them what is right and all they will do is try to throw it back in your face. When you try to correct the scoffer you can expect him to abuse you in some way. This is because the scoffer is right in his own eyes and he will always, in his own pride, try to find a way to justify himself. A wise man will not do so. He will take what you tell him, even if it is not all that accurate, and find something in it in which he can benefit. If you show a wise man where he is wrong, he will love you and not hate you for it. He will not get defensive, angry, or take what you said to him as an affront.

Granted, there is a way to talk to people- and the wisdom and attitude in which you dole out criticism will greatly determine the type of reception that you get. Only don't expect much when you try to talk to the scoffer. Jesus called it "casting pearls before swine" who had no appreciation for what you are telling them. You may as well just save your breath because their heart is just not ready to change. In fact don't be surprised if the scoffer should want to retaliate with brute force. There is no reasoning with the scoffer.

Have you ever encountered a scoffer? Are you dealing with one right now? Can you do anything about them? You can probably do little more for them but to pray. Even scoffers are not beyond hope. One scoffer who stands out in my mind played in the same section in the high school band that I did. We were asked to play for an anniversary service at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, near Fort Story. I must admit it was not the most exciting venues we were ever asked to attend, but most of us sat patiently while a very dry, formal religious service was being conducted. The whole time, however, a young man next to me scoffed at the gestures and gyrations of the priests doing the service. He mocked them under his breath with curse words and obscenities- not loud enough for them to hear, but clearly loud enough for those in my section to know his utter contempt for religious things. He even raised his hand in the direction of the platform, and made an obscene gesture. In his scorn, he got several on my row to snicker and make jokes. Apparently, our band director began to hear what was going on, and he snapped his head around and made a scowl of disapproval in our direction. Finally I told the kid something like, "Will you shut up!" That was when he started in on me. "What, you one of these Jesus freaks? A holy Joe or something why don't you go up there and join in with their hocus-pocus?" Finally the point came where we had to play our song, and the derisive kid said no more. I understood the truth of what Solomon meant in this proverb.

Jump ahead thirty years later and I got an email from this one-time scoffer. Like a bolt out of the blue he recognized me on Facebook and told me of his conversion experience twenty some years before, and how God had called him in the ministry. He serves as a staff member of a large church where he lives. He is a brilliant apologist and contender for the faith. He said in his message, "I remember when you tried to point out my being disrespectful and I was rude to you. Thanks for standing up to my foolishness with your boldness in Christ. I have never forgotten it." I tell you this story to tell you that scoffers are not beyond hope, but they need our prayers that God will change their hearts so that they may be won to the Savior.

Prayer: Dear God, if I have ever been a scoffer, please forgive me. Help me repent of my scornful arrogance that I would never cause anyone to stumble because of my attitude. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Have a blessed day!

06 October 2009 Devotion for Today "More Precious Than Silver" Proverbs 8:1-13

^{1 Does not wisdom call out?}

       Does not understanding raise her voice?

 2 On the heights along the way,

       where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

 3 beside the gates leading into the city,

       at the entrances, she cries aloud:

 4 "To you, O men, I call out;

       I raise my voice to all mankind.

 5 You who are simple, gain prudence;

       you who are foolish, gain understanding.

 6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;

       I open my lips to speak what is right.

 7 My mouth speaks what is true,

       for my lips detest wickedness.

 8 All the words of my mouth are just;

       none of them is crooked or perverse.

 9 To the discerning all of them are right;

       they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

 10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,

       knowledge rather than choice gold,

 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

       and nothing you desire can compare with her.

 12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

       I possess knowledge and discretion.

 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

       I hate pride and arrogance,

       evil behavior and perverse speech.

 
 

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+8&version=NIV>

 
 

 
 

Someone once asked a discipleship group I was in many years ago- "If your home suddenly caught fire and you only had time to retrieve one item before evacuating your house, what would you try to save from the flames?" Different ones said family members, but the leader said, "they got out already- I'm talking about material things." So we thought again. Many said they would save pictures- photographs of family members especially those who were deceased. Others said family heirlooms or pieces of china, silver tea sets. Some said their Bible. Others said love letters that their spouses had written to one another. One said he would make sure he found his fire insurance policy! Apart from that, most everyone stated they would save items which, in terms of value in dollars and cents, did not add up to very much. They were determined to save the things they valued which could not be replaced. The cost of developing a roll of film (this was 1985) was $2.50 a roll. But its value was priceless, because the picture that was developed was their child's kindergarten picture, his high school graduation, a wedding, pictures of grandchildren. These photos while they did not cost much to take and to develop were priceless.

 
 

The leader then went into a lesson about the wisdom of God. And in the passage we read today, we see just how priceless that wisdom is. If this wisdom were tangible in terms of it taking material form, we would probably go to retrieve it from a fire once we know its value to us. Solomon tells us to choose wisdom's instruction rather than silver and God's knowledge rather than gold. Wisdom is more precious than rubies, he says, for nothing we can desire can compare with it. (verses 10-11). With God's wisdom we will have the ability to replace anything of material value, but without it we have nothing. God's wisdom calls out to us- "come and take me, I'm free!" A college education will cost (based upon my son's last tuition payment) at least $100,000. But its value is scant without God's wisdom to go along with it. May God give us His wisdom and learn to value what it teaches us. If we do, we will have an asset to which no one can ascribe a value.

 
 

Prayer: Dear God, help me to value Your wisdom, especially that which I find in Your Word. Help me apply it to my heart that all my know what I value most in this life. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 
 

Have a blessed day!

05 October 2009 Devotion for Today "The Apple Of Your Eye" Proverbs 7:1-5

My son, keep my words,

      And treasure my commands within you.

       2 Keep my commands and live,

      And my law as the apple of your eye.

       3 Bind them on your fingers;

      Write them on the tablet of your heart.

       4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

      And call understanding your nearest kin,

       5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,

      From the seductress who flatters with her words.

 
 

Pasted from <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%207&version=NKJV>

 
 

Who is the "Apple of your Eye?" The expression that Solomon uses in this passage speaks of the favor one has for something or someone. It is virtually the same expression we use today. Sometimes you hear of grandparents or elderly relatives describing a younger person or a child in this way. When they say, "he or she is the apple of my eye" they are not trying to play favorites, but are letting you know that the person they are describing is very dear and special to them. Do you have or know anyone like this? The person who is the Apple of my Eye is the one who impresses me with their character - particularly their devotion to Christ and their work ethic. People who work hard impress me and get that kind of attention from me.

 
 

Solomon says that he values the commands of the Lord are treasures, and the law is the apple of his eye. They are to be kept as close to us as binding them on our fingers so that we may always see them, or writing them on the tablet of our hearts. In fact, we are to regard the wisdom and understanding we receive from God like we would our closest relatives- like people that we love, and show them the most attention possible.

 
 

When we regard God's Word this way, it will keep us from what he calls the "immoral woman and the seductress." These characters may be considered literally- but like Solomon is also referring to the worldly ways that seduce us a believers back into the world. Its been my observation that it does not take much for this to happen. Sometimes we get interested in some innocent but worldly thing that gets exciting. Once my children and I were into playing paintball and had some fun with that. Eventually we got out of it because it consumed a lot of our time and a lot of my money. But another reason we got out of it was another family in our church began enjoying the game a little too much. They played rounds with us quite often and we enjoyed it. However, they began playing paintball to the point that they started going "professional". Eventually, the whole family stopped coming to church as they devoted every weekend to paintball tournaments; going on the road and spending a lot of money. Five years later they are hallow, spiritually empty, and broke. It hurt to see them turn from Christ who had once been the apple of their eye to the worldly pursuits of playing a meaningless game. What hurt the worst was knowing that it was our family that got them so enthusiastic about the game.

 
 

Sometimes the apple of our eyes needs a bit of "spit and polish" to keep it bright and interesting so that the attractions of the world will not supplant them. Keep focused upon the Apple of your Eye, Jesus Christ as the center of your life and your world.

 
 

Prayer: Lord God please help me to keep Christ the Apple of my Eye today. I must admit that the allurements of the world look very enticing and interesting. But they have very little to offer in terms of real value. Keep me from the seductress of worldliness who seeks to drag me down to following after her. In Jesus name, Amen.

 
 

Have a blessed day!

01 October 2009 Devotion for Today “Things God Hates” Proverbs 6:16-19

01 October 2009 Devotion for Today "Things God Hates" Proverbs 6:16-19

¹⁶ These six things the LORD hates,
      Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
       ¹⁷ A proud look,
      A lying tongue,
      Hands that shed innocent blood,
       ¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
      Feet that are swift in running to evil,
       ¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
      And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Can you imagine God hating anything? Our God, who is so full of love and goodwill, actually hates something? The words God and hate hardly seem appropriate to be mentioned in the same sentence. Can it be true? Yes it is true- in fact the writer of Proverbs tells us there are indeed seven things for which God reserves the right to have the fullest expression of His antipathy.

1) Pride. God hates the proud look. He must hate it the most because Solomon mentions it first. It comes from the words haughty eyes. Haughty eyes are those who look snobbily down on others or who think they are better than everyone else. They hold others in contempt or disdain when they are just as sinful as everybody else, yet their gaze is blind because they cannot see how wicked and sinful they truly are.

2) Lies. God hates lies. Jesus said that the Devil was the father of lies. A lie is a falsehood or even a half-truth told in order to mislead or to deceive others. The book The Day America Told the Truth says that 91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely about matters they consider trivial, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses. Lies are usually accepted by those who tell them because no one wants to confront the liar for fear that the liar will expose them. Indeed the ones who most easily discern lies recognize them because they are liars themselves. It takes a thief to catch a thief, it takes a liar to catch one.

3) Hands that shed innocent blood. The blood of which I write this morning is the senseless murder of the unborn: abortion. This is America's greatest sin for which we shall surely account. Part of the reason for the troubles we are in today is because in 1973 we started murdering some of our countries' best and most gifted statesmen and women, artisans, teachers, tradesmen and professionals. Instead of survival of the fittest, we have insured the survival of the mediocre at the expense of the brightest and best our nation has to offer- 60 million of them are gone- the price we are beginning to pay now but will increase exponentially the longer we continue to murder babies through abortion.

4) A heart that devises wicked plans. At the beginning of a radio program long ago, the announcer would say, "Who knows what evil lies in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" God knows most of all. What makes these plans so wicked? Because they do not acknowledge God in them.

5) Feet that are swift in running to mischief. This is a premeditated act of sin based upon the wicked plans mentioned above. Without stopping to pray or at least consider the fallout of which these plans will hurt, they are swiftly executed with the greatest destruction possible.

6) False witnesses. Again, lies are utilized but this is done to inflict hurt upon the innocent to gain advantage over them or to destroy them. Jesus was crucified because of the testimony of false witnesses. God will hold a false witness to account even if no one else suspects him, you can be sure of that!

7) Sowers of discord. In short, a troublemaker. This is the kind of person who cannot celebrate the joy of accomplishment in others. Instead they have to "stir the pot." Those who created troubled waters are themselves the most troubled people. They create dissention by gossip, lies, and spread it usually by the telephone. They plant suspicious thoughts into people's minds who would have never thought them, otherwise. They cannot stand for anything to succeed.

Let me be clear to say that although God hates these things, He loves those who come to Him in repentance over them. All of us have been guilty of some of these things Solomon mentioned- especially the lies. May God help us to demonstrate behavior that God loves, instead of hates.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I fasten around my waist the belt of truth. I know that you hate lies and the other sins You mentioned in Your Word today. Guard my lips from speaking evil, and keep my feet under control so that they will not be swift in spreading it. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Have a blessed day!