A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid, you are more valuable to God than I whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31 Continue reading
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. […] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. James 3:2, 7-10
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Jeremiah 33:8 Continue reading
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2
Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the Earth you have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. Psalm 8:1,3-4. Continue reading
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Commentary: How is it possible to obey this instruction to give thanks in all circumstances, especially when our circumstances are defined by discouragement that seems to surround us? What fuels thanksgiving when life seems to herald darkness? There is only one way, and Jesus tells us — I am the way and the truth and the life… John 14:6. Continue reading
He Is Your Life — So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. Colossians 3:1-4 The Message
Commentary: In Colossians 3, Paul begins a section where he focuses on practical Christian living, with a clear understanding that practical Christian living is built on the foundation of theological truth. Because we believe in the Resurrection, the FACT of the Resurrection, and we identify with Him. In that divine security we can step forward in confidence. ‘Come, follow Me’.
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23-42
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 Continue reading
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So, they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. Mark 10:46-52 Continue reading
10 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and i know how to abound. 11I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself in. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; 13 for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. Philippians 4:11-13. Living Bible Continue reading
1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-11 Continue reading
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48 Continue reading
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:35-40 Continue reading
God’s Megaphone
This will be a different kind of Watchword, drawn from the writings of Solomon in Proverbs 1-3, the meaning of a homily I heard sometime ago, and informed by experience, yours and mine.
This morning I heard the voice of God. It came to me in recalling circumstances I experienced over the years, but only now realize those events, those happenings were the voices, directions, and wisdom of God, which I chose to ignore. I believe that if you, the reader, were honest you would probably make a similar discovery. Little detours that opened up a different vista, some unexpected learning, or perhaps you met someone along that new way.
Too often when we think of the nudges or the murmurs of the Holy Spirit within, we think in terms of words, vocal renderings of some kind, we don’t think of our circumstances so much, or the voice of a friend, or the choices made by others close to us, that have become detours in the road. I think these are all ways in which God speaks to us and guides us on our own individual life paths.
We know that Proverbs is one of the Bible books of wisdom. We may read them with some curiosity, we may look up a verse just to make a point, but if these are truly God’s words of wisdom, I wonder if we take them seriously enough and apply them day in and day out?
Proverbs 1:1-6
These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king— Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.
The reality is we don’t always take the word of God seriously, into our everyday lives, and let it guide us in our making even some of the most practical decisions. Did you register the word “seasoned” as applied to you and I. We’ll want to remember that when someone throws a number at us like it was a label or a cognitive judgment of some kind. “I’m not [ ? ] (fill in the blank), I’m simply well seasoned.
We know that being a Christian is not always easy. When we look at verses 20-23 we are told that wisdom comes from divergent sources, pay attention:
Wisdom shouts from the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls echos from the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate. How long will you fools hate knowledge?
One is to be a good learner of what God is telling us which means we need to pay attention to the wisdom that comes to us in so many different forms. I remember clearly the solid advice given to me by my friend and former pastor and his wife, advice I agreed with, but until recently had a really hard time following. The voice of God sounding very much like old friends who care.
Proverbs 1:23-26
Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
Here’s the problem and how this impacts us. When God speaks to us, regardless of what form it takes, and we choose to ignore it, versus 23-26 tells us clearly that if we had responded to His voice, His nudges, he would have poured out into our hearts clear direction. But He goes on to tell us since we rejected Him and ignored His advice and would not accept His correction or His direction then we’ve got problems, right here in River City.
Proverbs 1:29-32
Because you hated knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, because you wouldn’t take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it; you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it? Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons?
Now that may seem harsh, coming from God, but it’s true, isn’t it? We make decisions and then we’re stuck with them, or we benefit by them, but either way we must live with them. We discover the benefits of following the Lord’s leading, his nudges, his “voice” after we do. That is a choice we must make and live with. Read on, it gets better.
Proverbs 1:33-2:4, 9-11
Whoever listens to me will live. Accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
I can’t change the voice of God I ignored in the past. I cannot change what has happened during my life, because of choices made. But I can redirect my next steps with prayerful awareness of what God is telling me and make what comes next a following of His advice and counsel. That’s probably true for all of us. Can’t change the past but we can affect what comes next.
The Book of Proverbs can help inform us; it’s wisdom can help us make choices. But we must sharpen our listening and our awareness of the many voices that conveys God’s Word. Lord, grant me acuity to “hear” your “voice” and follow your will. Amen. May it be so with you.
We’ll close this devotional with a proclamation/prayer from Proverbs 3.
I’m learning to trust in the Lord with all my heart and to lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways I acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight.
I choose not to be wise in my own eyes; to fear the Lord and shun evil. God will bring health to my body and nourishment to my bones.
I will honor the Lord with my wealth, with the first fruits of all I have; then my barns will be filled to overflowing, and my vats will brim over with new wine. Amen.
