today's meditation (Pr.19) Staying Calm

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 19:1-29) 

1   Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity 
     Than a person who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
2   Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
     And one who hurries his footsteps errs.
3   The foolishness of a person ruins his way,
     And his heart rages against the Lord.
4   Wealth adds many friends,
     But a poor person is separated from his friend.
5   A false witness will not go unpunished,
     And one who declares lies will not escape.
6   Many will seek the favor of a generous person,
     And every person is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7   All the brothers of a poor person hate him;
     How much more do his friends abandon him!
     He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
8   One who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
     One who keeps understanding will find good.
9   A false witness will not go unpunished,
     And one who declares lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
     Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
     And it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 A king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
     But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is destruction to his father,
     And the quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
     But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
     And a lazy person will suffer hunger.
16 One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
     But one who is careless of conduct will die.
17 One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord,
     And He will repay him for his good deed.
18 Discipline your son while there is hope,
     And do not desire his death.
19 A person of great anger will suffer the penalty,
     For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
     So that you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 Many plans are in a person’s heart,
     But the advice of the Lord will stand.
22 What is desirable in a person is his kindness,
     And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
     So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
24 The lazy one buries his hand in the dish,
     But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever,
     But rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away 
     Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Stop listening, my son, to discipline,
     And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,
     And the mouth of the wicked swallows wrongdoing.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
     And beatings for the backs of fools.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 11 jumped out at me today.  The world around us appears to be very volatile on so many levels, and a lot of it is due to misunderstandings.  And as we ourselves go through stressful struggles, we are more likely to overreact.  None of us are perfect, and so we will all make mistakes.  Even in our assumptions as we try to read someone else's actions or reactions, we can in turn have incorrect or disproportionate reactions.  All this does is escalate a situation from bad to worse. 

Something to always keep in mind is to stay calm, patient and loving even when something seems amiss.  Then, calmly, patiently and lovingly go to that particular person (in private) and ask about it.  Be humble and ready to apologize if we have erred in any way.  And be forgiving, not just to reconcile and keep a relationship peaceful, but to facilitate God's healing benefits within ourselves.  Being kind and level-headed goes a long way towards demonstrating God's power and sharing God's love.

today's meditation (Pr.18) Humbly Running to the Lord

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 18:1-24)

1   One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
     He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2   A fool does not delight in understanding,
     But in revealing his own mind.
3   When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
     And with dishonor comes taunting.
4   The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;
     The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5   To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
     Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.
6   A fool’s lips bring strife,
     And his mouth invites beatings.
7   A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
     And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8   The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
     And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9   He also who is lax in his work
     Is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
     The righteous runs into it and is safe.
11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
     And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
     But humility goes before honor.
13 One who gives an answer before he hears,
     It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
     But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
     And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s gift makes room for him 
     And brings him before great people.
17 The first to plead his case seems right,
     Until another comes and examines him.
18 The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,
     And decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
     And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
     He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
     And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing 
     And obtains favor from the Lord.
23 A poor person utters pleadings,
     But a rich person answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to ruin,
     But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

People can put their faith in their own wealth, strength and wisdom, thinking that this will save them, OR - we can humbly run to the Lord as our guaranteed strong tower of refuge.  Salvation is only through Jesus Christ.  In humility we will receive His blessings.  And even though we will stumble in our walk with God, as verse 14 says, our salvation is secure.  And even though we will struggle, our desire should be to serve God and others with the gifts that God has given us.

God gives each believer a spiritual gift to use, which gives us purpose in life.  And in using our gifts, God will use us in building His kingdom.  Even if we think our service is inconsequential, it can be, or it can become much bigger than we could ever imagine.  Just our consistent and faithful efforts will be a living testimony to the gospel message, as well as a demonstration of God's riches, strength, grace, love, peace and joy.

today's meditation (Pr.17) Asking and Allowing

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 17:1-28)

1   Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it 
     Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2   A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
     And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3   The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
     But the Lord tests hearts.
4   An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
     A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5   One who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
     One who rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
6   Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
     And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7   Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
     Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8   A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
     Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9   One who conceals an offense seeks love,
     But one who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding 
     Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
     So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
     Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who returns evil for good,
     Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
     So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
     Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
     When he has no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times,
     And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in sense shakes hands 
     And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who loves wrongdoing loves strife;
     One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good,
     And one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
     And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
     But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket 
     To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
     But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
     And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to fine the righteous,
     Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who withholds his words has knowledge,
     And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
     When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Very simply put, as believers gain wisdom, we will understand that in order to live in God's will and have a fulfilling, peaceful and joyful life here on earth, all we have to do is ask and allow God to work in and through us.  Then when we get to heaven, our good deeds will be put through the fire.  For those things that do not burn up, we will be rewarded.  In order for anything to not be burned up, they have to be done with pure motives.  The only way something can be done with pure motives is if we do them in the Lord's strength and love, for His glory... asking and allowing God to work in and through us!

today's meditation (Pr.16) Making Plans

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 16:1-33)

1  The plans of the heart belong to a person,
     But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2   All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
     But the Lord examines the motives.
3   Commit your works to the Lord,
     And your plans will be established.
4   The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
     Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5   Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
     Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6   By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
     And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7   When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
     He causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8   Better is a little with righteousness 
     Than great income with injustice.
9   The mind of a person plans his way,
     But the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine verdict is on the lips of the king;
     His mouth should not err in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
     All the weights of the bag are His concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
     Because a throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
     And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
     But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
     And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
     And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
     One who watches his way protects his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
     And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy 
     Than to divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will find good,
     And blessed is one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
     And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
     But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth 
     And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
     Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a person,
     But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
     For his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil,
     While his words are like scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
     And a slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person of violence entices his neighbor 
     And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
     He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
     It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
     And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
     But its every decision is from the Lord.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Everyone makes plans, even the wicked.  And because not even Christians are perfect (yet), there are times we rush into things without consulting God.  Fortunately, God forgives everyone who humbly and sincerely goes to Him for salvation and confession.  And God is bigger than all our inappropriate or misguided intentions and attempts.  While He gives us a free will with freedom to choose, even when we make mistakes, or people do evil things, God is still in control and His plan will be accomplished! 

There is nothing wrong with having ideas or plans, but it is always wise to consult the Lord and wait for His answer.  Even if something seems good or right, God knows our hearts and the reasons why or why not we should proceed with anything.  As verse 3 points out, we could have very good ideas and plans, but we need to make sure that the timing and our attitudes and motives are correct.  If they are wrong, we need to change them.   And as we give our plans, desires and ideas to God, and it is in His will, He will see to it that it gets done!  

Everything we do and say should be done in God's love and strength, and to His glory.

today's meditation (Pr.15) Being Secure

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 15:1-33)

1   A gentle answer turns away wrath,
     But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2   The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant,
     But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
3   The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
     Watching the evil and the good.
4   A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
     But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5   A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
     But he who complies with rebuke is sensible.
6   Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
     But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7   The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
     But the hearts of fools are not so.
8   The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9   The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
     But He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
10 There is severe punishment for one who abandons the way;
     One who hates a rebuke will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,
     How much more the hearts of mankind!
12 A scoffer does not love one who rebukes him;
     He will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
     But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
     But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15 All the days of the needy are bad,
     But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord 
     Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure.
17 Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love,
     Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up strife,
     But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
19 The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns,
     But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
     But a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Foolishness is joy to one who lacks sense,
     But a person of understanding walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
     But with many counselors they succeed.
23 A person has joy in an apt answer,
     And how delightful is a timely word!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise,
     So that he may keep away from Sheol below.
25 The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,
     But He will set the boundary of the widow.
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
     But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
     But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
     But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
     But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes gladden the heart;
     Good news refreshes the bones.
31 One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke 
     Will stay among the wise.
32 One who neglects discipline rejects himself,
     But one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
     And before honor comes humility.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verse 10 is not talking about anyone losing their salvation.  It is about those who hear the gospel message and reject it.  Once we are a believer, we cannot lose our salvation.  Yes, verse 9 tells us we are to live our lives in obedience to God's will, but this does not mean in order to "keep our salvation."  To strive in steadfastness is for our benefit.  Verse 10 says that the way of life is a highway, with easier and smoother traveling as we can keep moving forward.

Verses 24 and 25 reminds us that the path of life leads upward, and the Lord sets boundaries of protection.  We need His grace because we are not perfect yet, and to get into heaven, we must be holy.  This is only possible through Christ's salvation!  So we have to think - as He knows we will still make mistakes - why would He bother to save us at all?  Therefore to seal us, and help guide us, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, so our lives can be fulfilling, purposeful, peaceful, hopeful and joyful right now!  

(Ephesians 1:13-14)  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

today's meditation (Pr.14) Working Wisely

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 14:1-35)

1   The wise woman builds her house,
     But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2   One who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
     But one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3   In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
     But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4   Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean;
     But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5   A trustworthy witness will not lie,
     But a false witness declares lies.
6   A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
     But knowledge is easy for one who has understanding.
7   Leave the presence of a fool,
     Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8   The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
     But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9   Fools mock at sin,
     But among the upright there is goodwill.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
     And a stranger does not share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
     But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a person,
     But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
     And the end of joy may be grief.
14 One with a wayward heart will have his fill of his own ways,
     But a good person will be satisfied with his.
15 The naive believes everything,
     But the sensible person considers his steps.
16 A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil,
     But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered person acts foolishly,
     And a person of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness,
     But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow down before the good,
     And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
     But those who love the rich are many.
21 One who despises his neighbor sins,
     But one who is gracious to the poor is blessed.
22 Will they who devise evil not go astray?
     But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
     But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
     But the foolishness of fools is simply foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
     But one who declares lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
     And his children will have refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
     By which one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
     But in the scarcity of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 One who is slow to anger has great understanding;
     But one who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
     But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.
31 One who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
     But one who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his own wrongdoing,
     But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
     But among fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
     But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
     But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Verses 10 to 15 should be enlightening.  Even though things might seem right, and one is having fun and getting and earning the things they desire, this will come to an end.  I've heard so many people say, "It just feels right!" regarding things that are wrong.  Or they think that their way is "easier."  Regarding Christianity, there are those who think that it's too much work, and there are those who think that it just sounds too easy.

Verse 4 sticks out to me as very interesting.  We need to consider the blessings, benefits and the rewards of everything to make sure something is worth it.  Everything in life involves work.  Even the lazy person who "doesn't work" has to work very hard at manipulating others or figuring out ways to scam and steal.  There is also the very hardworking person who is only spinning their wheels because the end result will be futility.  Whatever we physically earn or get here on earth, we cannot take with us.

Our entire purpose comes down to the spiritual matter of reconciling with God.  No one can work their way into heaven.  It is by faith alone!  Having faith in Jesus and trusting in His word.  So in His strength and guidance, a person can work with purpose and security, knowing that there is an amazing guaranteed outcome with treasures in heaven, as well as benefits and blessings here on earth.

today's meditation (Pr.13) Understanding Wealth

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 13:1-25)
1   A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
     But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2   From the fruit of a person’s mouth he enjoys good,
     But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3   One who guards his mouth protects his life;
     One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4   The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing,
     But the soul of the diligent is made prosperous.
5   A righteous person hates a false statement,
     But a wicked person acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6   Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
     But wickedness brings the sinner to ruin.
7   There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing;
     Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8   The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth,
     But the poor hears no rebuke.
9   The light of the righteous rejoices,
     But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 Through overconfidence comes nothing but strife,
     But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11 Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles,
     But one who gathers by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
     But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 One who despises the word will do badly,
     But one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
     To turn aside from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding produces favor,
     But the way of the treacherous is their own disaster.
16 Every prudent person acts with knowledge,
     But a fool displays foolishness.
17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
     But a faithful messenger brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame will come to one who neglects discipline,
     But one who complies with rebuke will be honored.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
     But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 One who walks with wise people will be wise,
     But a companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Adversity pursues sinners,
     But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,
     And the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 Abundant food is in the uncultivated ground of the poor,
     But it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son,
     But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
     But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The person who relies on their own means to get rich, and relies on their own righteousness to save themselves, will lose everything after they die.  The person who is lazy and wants other people to do everything for them will be poor, physically and/or spiritually.  But the person who humbles themselves (who becomes poor in spirit), realizing their need for Jesus and His salvation and His righteousness, has riches waiting for them in heaven.  

Meanwhile, God blesses the righteous here on earth.  It may or may not be with monetary wealth, but the person who has given everything to God to manage will understand that life is not about having physical wealth.  That person will be very thankful and content with whatever God does give them, because they understand - as they trust Him - God will see to their every need!