Fools, Folly and Failures

Proverbs 26-28, 1 Thesalonians 3

It’s about an hour until showtime.  The show is the Presidential debate.  Both candidates would be wise to listen to Proverbs 26:4.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

How did they do?  Were they in control?  Did they let their emotions take over?  That, according to Proverbs is the mark of a fool.  Maybe they did better.  Verse 5 gives us a picture of what a proper response looks like.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

 Do you know who did this well?  Ted Lasso.  Maybe you remember.  In season 1, he was called out by the famous reporter, Trent Crimm.  Trent attempted to goad him with talk of his inexperience, and inability to lead.  He cited, factually, the losing record.  Lasso knew he was right.

Most of us would respond to such an attack foolishly, allowing anger and emotion to take over.  Not Lasso.  He responds humbly.  He acknowledges his lack of experience and highlights the real goal. “I’m going to do the best job I can, helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field,” he says.  Lasso’s wise response defuses the situation, replacing Crimm’s criticism with curiosity.

Love Like Jesus

Today’s readings are Proverbs 24-25, Psalm 41, and 1 Thessalonians 2.

Do you have enemies? I think most of us would likely say we don’t. When I think of an enemy, I usually think of someone who is really out to get me and maybe even is trying to cause me physical harm. However, some may say yes. Possibly it is an ex-significant other or spouse who is really making it difficult to move on and may even to be trying to keep new relationships from happening or trying to strain relationships with your children. Maybe it’s someone who is telling untrue things about you to others which could prevent you from a promotion at work or again is straining other relationships.

What is your posture towards these people when you see them? What are you thinking when you see their social media posts about their life, their family, and their successes? At a minimum you are likely not cheering them on to victories in their life and maybe even are ok with seeing them stumble a little bit. If you are like me, grace and forgiveness is difficult to those who have hurt you and pulling for them to succeed is an even higher bar that is very challenging for me to get to..and maybe even I’m ok with the ball not bouncing their way in full transparency.

The book of Proverbs is very clear though on the posture and behavior we should have towards our enemies…

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

lest the Lord see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from him.”

Proverbs 24:17

 This verse says God’s anger turns away from that person when you rejoice in their stumbling and although it doesn’t explicitly state God’s anger turns to you…one can almost infer that. Jesus explicitly warns in Matthew 7:3-5 that it is wrong to find a speck in someone else’s eye because you are ignoring the plank in yours. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus also talks about a Pharisee who said he was glad he was not like other sinners, including the tax collector near him. The last verse, Luke 18:14 says, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” How can I love my enemies more? I can start by noticing the grime and yuck of my sin and the grace and forgiveness Jesus has given me when I don’t deserve it.

The next chapter in Proverbs has another verse about our enemies which says we shouldn’t stop at giving them grace and forgiveness.

“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for your will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.”

 Proverbs 25:21-22

 Blessing someone who has wronged me is another level of grace and forgiveness which can seem nearly impossible for me to get to. As I reflect though, isn’t that what Jesus did for me?

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Encouragement

When was the last time you received a letter of encouragement? Actually, when was the last time you received a hand written letter in the mail? With the onslaught of technology (email, text, and dm’s) we do not take the time to actually sit down and write someone an encouraging letter anymore. As I read 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 today, I wondered…how would I feel and respond if this was a letter actually written to me?

1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy- To (your name) the people of the church in (your town) Thessalonica, who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be yours.
2 We always thank God for you (your name) all and mention you in our prayers.
3 For we remember before our God and Father how you (your name) put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.
4 Our friends, (your name), we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.
5 For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.
6 You imitated us and the Lord; and even though you suffered much, you received the message with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.
7 So (your name) you became an example to all believers in (your town) Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For not only did the message about the Lord go out from you throughout (your town) Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing the that we need to say.
9 All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idol to God, to serve the true and living God
10 and to wait for his Son to come from heaven- his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God’s anger that is coming.

Read the above 10 verses and personalise it with your name and town. How do you respond if this passage was written to you and about you? I felt encouraged and blessed. I don’t think we look at our spiritual life often enough and reflect on how we impact others. It is easy to look at it negatively and realise we do not do enough. But, I think these verses made me stop and take a look at what people might see and how I impact them when I am putting my trust in God in all circumstances.

I have the ability to reflect God to others when I am facing challenging things in my life. They see how I act and respond to hard situations. This passage in 1 Thessalonians emphasises how the early believers imitated their leaders and the Lord himself. It tells of their power to endure, to choose joy and to hold onto hope when the world around them was dark. This is no different than our world today. We have the choice to take hold of our faith and show those around us that our faith is rooted in the power of God himself.

We all need encouragement to walk daily through this life on earth. Take a moment and read this passage with your name inserted. Let the words encourage you and bless you today. May they give you strength to keep seeking God in all your circumstances and sharing His love with all you encounter.

God’s Path for Us

I am excited to post today as these are two of my favorite books in the Bible. Proverbs 16-18 and Romans 15 share several key themes and similarities, despite being from the Old and New Testament.  I enjoy seeing the consistency of message in. God’s Word throughout scriptures.

Key Themes

  1. Righteousness and Wisdom:

– Proverbs 16-18: These chapters emphasize the importance of living a righteous life and seeking wisdom. They discuss how wisdom leads to a good life, prosperity, and favor with God.

– Romans 15: Paul encourages believers to act righteously, be wise in their conduct, and build each other up. He emphasizes the importance of living in harmony and being wise in dealing with others.

  1. God’s Sovereignty and Guidance:

– Proverbs 16: This chapter particularly highlights that humans may make plans, but ultimately it is God who directs their steps (Proverbs 16:9).

– Romans 15: Paul speaks of God’s sovereignty in the mission of the church, guiding the believers in their mission to spread the gospel and live in accordance with God’s will.

  1. Humility and Humble Living:

– Proverbs 16-18: These chapters contain numerous admonitions about the dangers of pride and the virtue of humility (Proverbs 16:18, 18:12).

– Romans 15: Paul urges believers to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please themselves, but to act in humility and support each other (Romans 15:1-2).

  1. Speech and Words:

– Proverbs 16-18: There is significant focus on the power of words, the importance of speaking truthfully, and the consequences of deceit and harsh speech (Proverbs 16:24, 17:27, 18:21).

– Romans 15: While not as central as in Proverbs, Paul emphasizes the importance of encouraging one another with words and building each other up (Romans 15:5-6)

  1. Community and Unity:

– Proverbs 16-18: These chapters stress the value of good relationships, the harm of strife, and the benefits of harmony within a community (Proverbs 16:28, 17:9, 18:19).

– Romans 15: Paul strongly encourages unity among believers, asking them to accept one another just as Christ accepted them, to bring glory to God (Romans 15:5-7).

  1. Justice and Fairness:

– Proverbs 16-18: These chapters speak to the importance of justice, fairness, and integrity in dealings with others (Proverbs 16:11, 17:15, 18:5).

– Romans 15: Paul discusses how believers should act justly, especially in their treatment of one another, and uphold each other’s needs and weaknesses (Romans 15:2).

God’s Word is clear.  Our lives will be infinitely better following scripture, as we will live more fulfilling lives.  When the tough times come, which they will, we can lean on the Word of God to deal with the pain.  As humans, we are allowed to make our own choices and we frequently choose the easy path, which is not God’s recommended path.

My prayer is that God’s path becomes clearer to each of us each day.

How are you really doing?

Recently a colleague, friend, and brother in Christ asked me how I was doing so I gave him an immediate shallow response of “all good” (I lied). He then asked with a warmer sentiment, “How are you really doing my brother?” I paused briefly to decide whether or not to let my guard down, knowing that a real conversation would likely result in me having tears. Many thoughts rushed through my brain as I mentally spun the roulette wheel to decide which emotional compartment to open. Do I open up about my mom, my dad, changes at work, our pending relocation, something else, or keep holding it all in?

What did I have to lose by being vulnerable? Was it pride holding me back? Life is too short to mask our emotions so I took a chance and let it all out.

Don’t let the sin of pride get in the way of being vulnerable. We were made to have relationships with other humans and most importantly, with our creator. Open your heart, and let His love pour in. From the conversations that followed, my spirit felt renewed. The Holy Spirit was and is at work.

13 A glad heart makes a happy face;
    a broken heart crushes the spirit.

15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble;
    for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
    good news makes for good health. (Proverbs 15:13, 15, 30)

Today’s reading: Proverbs 14-15; Romans 14

When I Look At Your Heavens

Proverbs 11-13, Psalms 8, Romans 13

My calendar is packed.  It has to be.  There are problems to solve, deadlines to meet and profits to make.  I analyze spreadsheets, time-tables, work orders, and service lists, followed by invoices, purchase orders, receivables and balance sheets.  Then, I see the need for more sales, so I consider our database touches, marketing campaigns, call schedules and missed opportunities.

“That’s life,” I think.  It has been that way forever and it will always be.  “Suck it up.  Here, have a drink.  Relax”. But God says otherwise.

In an instant, God gives me perspective.  The sun shining through the trees, the sunset over the water, the stars in the sky, and the heat of the sun.  When i focus on it, I am gripped with wonder.

How does a sequoia grow so tall, or the mountains so massive?  Who set the moon, added the stars and brings the rain?  “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,” says the Psalmist (Psalms 8:3).

I know who.

The Psalmist declares him. “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,” he says (Psalms 8:3).

It is our Lord.  Our God!

With that remembrance, with that celebration of his majesty, I find my rightful place in this world.  My heart is full and the world is right.  Our Lord, our God makes it so.

My mom and dad were married multiple times before having me and my two younger sisters.  They would go on to separate from each other, and both went their separate ways when I was in 4th grade.  I can think of various memories that included making adulterous and lustful decisions along the way.  This is what we knew as kids.  As I grew older, I would make the same mistakes with young relationships.  I’m sure there are multiple labels you could give to these poor choices growing up.  I vowed not to be like this but still struggled.

This sinful behavior changed when I started an honest and genuine walk with the Lord. I had already felt the consequences of my decisions and knew that God has bigger plans for us when we choose to follow.

Today’s passages are Proverbs 6-7,  Psalm 6, and Romans 11

As I read through the verses of the day, I thought about how Proverbs can provide a written description of purity, take a young, misguided boy, and help him keep them as a treasure to lean on when struggling.

Proverbs 6

16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,

The prescription for our life of sin is to know and obey the words of God. Take His words and cherish them as if He were speaking personally to each one of us face to face. We need to keep His word closer than any of our pride possessions. Even though our sins are forgiven only through Him, we can feel the impact of scare tissue from the sin.  Making sinful choices ignores tomorrow’s consequences by emphasizing today’s delights.  I pray for us all and remember His closeness when we are tempted by sin today.

Have a blessed and obedient day!

Consistency is the key

Today’s Reading :  Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10  

As a parent, manager, or a leader, one of the most important things that you can do is be consistent.  When you are consistent and your people understand who you are then they are more apt to follow and commit to you. 

As a parent,  we have to guide our children to make the best decisions with the resources they have available.   Being a dad is sometimes really challenging. I try to give and show my love to my children hourly, if not daily.  I am continually letting them know how much I love them and cherish them.  I also have to make the hard decisions that are not always joyful or happy, such as leading them and directing them with chores or consequences for their actions.  This is what a dad is about… loving and guiding my children consistently and lovingly to become responsible adults.  

The challenge is being consistent.  In my early years and sometimes now I will give so many directions that it can create confusion and anxiety with the kids.  I had to take a step back and distill the information into three to four main points and then be consistent with the delivery.  I also found that a little reward or sweetness to the interaction goes a long way.  

In the passages that we have today, is a great blueprint for being consistent. In Proverbs we have Solomon, speaking to his son.  In Romans, Paul is giving the Romans the same instructions of being consistent with the spreading of the gospel.  Many times we believe that if we do it once, it would be sufficient.  But these examples show us that we must be consistent and gentle with our communications with each other. 

 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you…

 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof…

 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭11‬, ‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭10‬, ‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding…

 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth…

 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬, ‭7‬, ‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

Romans 10:14-16

 

Let us be consistent in all that we do. Be Blessed. 

 

The Stumbling Stone

1 Kings 4, Proverbs 1-2, Psalm 43, Romans 9

“I need a win.”

How many times have I said that?  I’ve prayed for it.  “Just give me a win, Lord.”  Many times.  What does it mean?  It means that I am trying hard, working diligently, yet I am failing.  Things are blocking my way.  When I need a win, my conversations are colored with complaint.  I think only of all the bad things going on in my life and it comes out through my mouth.  Others can also see it in my body.  “You look tired,” they say.

“God, give me a win,” I pray.

The prayer is answered quickly.  “I am your win.”  But, I instantly reject it.  That is too corny for me.  Too cliché.  “That’s too easy,” I quip.  I want a real win.  A victory that is recognizable, one that others will see too.

Gathering myself, I attempt to respond more thoughtfully.  “Thanks for the reassurance God, but Ive got this.  I will try harder.  I’ll be smarter.  I’ll work longer.  I will be more organized, and more caring.  I’ll set bigger goals and keep them in front of me all the time.  I will win.  Then, you can be proud.  Then, I will be worthy.”

Thats when God confronts me with Scripture.  His word says that I, like the Israelites, have stumbled over the stumbling stone.   Romans 9 says it like this, “they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works.  They have stumbled over the stumbling stone.” (Romans 9:32).

What does it look like to pursue it by faith?  Faith remembers that today, I am winning because he comes here, for me.  He does not see a liar, a cheat, or a failure.  He sees his son, great and glorious.  He ses the purity of my heart, not because I am good, but because Jesus has made me good.  I am covered in his blood, the one and only true sacrifice.  All of my failure is taken away.  Now, I am here with God, separated from my sin.  I have already won.

Nothing Can Separate Us…

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 42, and Romans 8. The chapters in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles cover Solomon asking God for wisdom and God granting it and then some. I would encourage you to read them, but our focus primarily here is Romans 8.

Last week, a tragic and horrific event occurred in our community in what appears to be a murder-suicide leaving 3 young boys without a mother and a father. What those boys are going through is unimaginable and to say my heart and the hearts of others ache for them would be an understatement. How and what does one even pray for them…peace, hope, strength, comfort? Yes..but somehow all these and really anything else we could seem to pray for just doesn’t seem to be enough.

The one thing I just keep coming back to in my prayer is that somehow and in some way, they know now and in the future that their Heavenly Father loves them and always will and is always there for them. This is the essence of what Romans 8 describes.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:31-32

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39

I am blessed to have an earthly Father who has shown me love and gives me a window into my Heavenly Father’s love making it easier to understand and fathom. Without that, it must be much more difficult to comprehend God’s love for these boys and others, but we also know the Bible tells us nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26). And we are told here in Romans 8:37-39 that absolutely nothing can separate us from His love.

Will you please join me in praying for these boys that the Holy Spirit will work through those around them now and throughout their entire life so that they will be comforted by knowing the love of their Heavenly Father and Jesus which is told to us in God’s Word here in Romans 8 and throughout the entire Bible and ultimately evident through His sacrifice on the cross?

As you pray for them, please also consider praying for others in your life who may have experienced tragedy or past events which makes it difficult to know and comprehend the love God has for them.