Category Archives: Sin

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 17

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

This proverb his my right square in my heart.

I spent the bulk of my childhood being the butt of many jokes, and made fun of quite mercilessly. I was beat up and often bullied. The bruises faded and broken glasses were replaced, but the scars — physical and emotional — remain.

This is one of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher. Throughout those years of being bullied, there were a handful that took notice, but most, for whatever reason, were oblivious or chalked it up to that’s just the way kids are. If you have never been treated like this (or were on the giving side of these sorts of encounters rather than the receiving), you do not know what a relief it is when someone notices and helps you. Carrie Mack and Linda Bumpers at Willa Wilson Elementary were blessings from God that helped me see my value despite the efforts of bus riders and drivers who were glad to see it stomped out. These ladies still to this day look for and out for me and are encouragements in my life. Seeing either of them today fills my heart with joy and encouragement and reminds me of light in the midst of darkness.

In middle school, I know teachers saw me being bullied. The example that first comes to mind is Mike Miles. He knew what I was going through without being told. He went and had my schedule changed so that I would be out of the study hall where my misery was always the subject of study to his study hall. He taught me how to play chess. He encouraged me to read books if that’s what I liked to do. In fact, that was the gist of what he taught me (other than the math he was tasked with): he taught me to be who God had made me to be and not let others diminish that. When I see him even today, I never hesitate to tell him how thankful I am that God used him to save my life — that when others worked to convince me my life had no value, God used him to remind me who and Whose I was.

There was one particular memory that came to mind when I read this verse that convicts me still to this day. When I think of this particular memory, I am filled with nauseating guilt even though it has been over twenty years ago.

In sixth grade, Carolyn Swanson saw that I had been bullied and mistreated as well. She also noticed other students who endured the same. Sixth grade back then meant mandatory PE a few days a week (some days library or music). For me, that was like painting a giant bullseye because that meant either getting picked last for teams or not at all (this was the 1990s; participation was not mandatory, and exclusion/mockery were allowed). Even though I did not want to be picked because that would mean I could go up into the stands and read rather than embarrassing myself athletically in a very public way, I really wanted to be picked. Well, I really wanted to belong.

One particular day, a group of the more popular guys approached me and pointed out one of my classmates. Me and this other guy were basically tied for least popular in the sixth grade as well as in who could be made fun of more. Neither of us were athletic. Neither of us came from families with much money. Both of us were quiet and clothed differently than others. The guys convinced me that the surest way to be one of them — to get picked for teams and get to hang out with them — was to make fun of the other guy. He had just gotten some new boots that he was proud of and had worn them to school. It made me sick to my stomach to think of doing that to someone else, but this could have meant that I got bumped up a level and got a reprieve from being made fun of. So, right there in the middle school gym, I let the other guy have it. I was ugly. It was shameful. He cried. And then the other guys started in — on me.

Their plan all along was to embarrass me and show that I was fake. They knew I professed to be a Christian and saw this as an opportunity to cast aspersions on that profession of faith. They gave me every bit of what I gave the other guy and worse. I cried, too, but not so much for what I was receiving but that I had allowed myself to do to the other guy what I knew was terrible.

Mrs. Swanson somehow found out about this, and I can remember what she said to me about it like it was yesterday. She told me that it was worse for me to do that than the others because I truly knew what it felt like to be treated like that. This was not a means for her to belittle me but to invest in me. She fussed at me, and I deserved it. She told me that she expected more out of me and knew that I would learn from this and grow into the man she knew I could be — despite my failure and because I would learn from it.

I am ashamed to say that it took months for me to get the courage to apologize to the other guy, and before I could, he moved away. It took nearly twenty years to get in contact with him again. I won’t tell you a story of apology and reconciliation here because I do not want to paint myself as a good guy for any of this. I want to help you understand Proverbs 17:5.

Everyone you come into contact with is made in the image of God. He created them and formed them in their mother’s womb. Each of us is unique, with unique features and personalities. Some of us, like myself, are more different than societal norms than others. And it is all too easy to make fun rather than to show care and respect.

This is not wrong merely for the human life you did not respect. It is a slap in the face of their “Maker”.

If someone is going through a tough time — some “calamity” — whether it is their fault, someone else’s fault, or nobody’s fault, it is not a time for mockery. Even if you think someone is getting the “calamity” they deserve, it is not a time to mock and make fun; we sure don’t enjoy it when calamities of our own making find us.

I guess this is really a plea to be kind to others and recognize that the same God who made you made them. There is never a time to mock or insult. There is always time to show love and care.

For me, this drove me to become a teacher. The examples of those who took up for me influence how I interact with kids — all of them I have and all that I can — on a daily basis. The example of the one who saw me becoming like the others and intervened has a daily impact, too, on the man God made me to be as well as in ways that I can watch out for others as well. I pray that this little bit of testimony helps you along the way, whether you are the bully, the bullied, or the bystander. Let us look out for others and look to God for how He would have us to treat folks.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 16

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Today’s proverb is another example of how we can see the gospel clearly pictured in the proverbs. This shows the beauty of God’s wisdom showing us how to come to Him and the danger of the anti-wisdom of the world that leads us away from Him.

We have looked at the “fear of the LORD” in most every chapter of Proverbs so far. To understand the “fear of the LORD” in the context of the gospel is especially important in present-day America when many preachers use fear as a means for convincing people to walk an aisle and make a decision for Jesus. This sort of fear-driven invitation time leads can lead to confusion and false conversion — and people wanting to be “re-saved” every time they sin and find themselves afraid of God’s wrath. When it comes to Biblical “fear of the LORD”, this definitely ain’t that!

The “fear of the LORD” described in the Bible (Proverbs 1:29, 2:4-6, 3:7, 8:13, 9:10, 14:26-27, 15:33, 16:6; Job 28:28; Psalm 34:11; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Acts 9:31) is best described as having deep respect, admiration, and awe for God. It is the basis for truly understanding and knowing Him and comes from having a relationship with Him because He saved and redeemed you. It changes your life and is fueled by having His Spirit within you and seeing Him influence your desires, attitudes, choices, feelings, actions, and goals. Knowing Him this way understands that He has a frightening level of power and wrath, but you do not have to live in fear of Him because He cares for you and His Son bore His wrath on your behalf.

This “fear of the LORD” gives us a desire to turn “away from evil” because you see Him and “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus [as] Lord” (Philippians 3:8). This “fear of the LORD” is fueled by His “steadfast love and faithfulness” despite our “iniquity”, knowing that He atones for sin for those He saves.

For those who do not turn to Him, those who reject Him and put their trust in themselves, there is much to fear, in the traditional, literal sense of fear, but this fear does not see people turn from their sin. People may curb their behaviors or hide their desires because of fear, but no real change happens. The change God brings in people through His steadfast love and faithful salvation brings real change, from the inside out.

What about you?

Do you fear the Lord in the Biblical sense, or are you merely scared of His wrath?

Is He the God of the universe or some vengeful and distant deity?

One is the God who saves as presented in the Bible. His name is Jesus.

It is my prayer that you see Him for who He is, confess Him as Lord, and believe in Him.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 14

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Today’s proverb is such a beautiful picture of what what Paul describes as being found in Christ, “not having a righteousness of [our] own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9).

So often, talk of the righteousness and wickedness fuels complaints about religious people thinking they are better than others or even fuels the self-righteousness of some church folks. I wish I could say this never has applied to me, but as I wrote in the #DailyWisdomChallenge post for Proverb 11, it is too easy to forget we are all sinners — all wicked, as many of the Proverbs say.

If it were not for Jesus saving me, I would have no righteousness to speak of (Romans 3:10); all I would have is my sin and the death that my sin has earned (Romans 6:23). To clarify, I am not a righteous man. My heart is wicked. And, well, not to be a downer, but yours is too. All of us sin and “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). He is righteous. He is perfect. He is sinless. The rest of us are not.

There will come a day when I will stand before this righteous, perfect, sinless God and be faced with my wickedness and sin. Everything I have ever done will be evidence of that. Everything I have ever said will make the case for my guilt. The Bible tells us that Satan is the Accuser — one who accuses us day and night “before our God” (Revelation 12:10). He is bringing to God’s attention, and not having to lie despite his great knack for deception, our sin and failures. And, scarier still, none of this is news to God, because He knew all that we would do and all that we would say before the foundation of the world.

For those who have been saved, however, a “guilt offering” has been made on our behalf. Those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in His resurrection are saved (Romans 10:9), and God places our sin and guilt on Jesus, His sinless Son, in order that we can be made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus paid our sin debt “by cancelling the record…that stood against us with its legal demands” by “nailing it to the cross” — by allowing the sinless Savior to be nailed to the cross that we deserved (Colossians 2:14).

That’s good news!

What’s more is that God did not merely satisfy some legal demand. He did not issue some writ or declaration that can be passed to the accuser who is trying to prosecute us and shame God with our failures. No, the Bible tells us that we have an “advocate” who has taken our case, and his name and credentials are “Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2:1)! Think of every dramatic courtroom drama you have ever watched or read about, and know that they pale in comparison to the rich finality with which Jesus handles the case of those He has saved. When the accuser taunts and mocks, reminding us of sin and failure, Jesus answers with His own righteousness! He declares that by His blood and sacrifice — and the fact that He died and is now living and interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34) — our sin has been removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) and “cast…into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19)!

Before the Accuser can plead his case any further, God smacks the gavel with finality and declares innocent based on the righteousness of Christ!

Proverbs say that fools “mock the guilt offering”. One thing I can surely testify to here today is that I “enjoy” God’s “acceptance” BECAUSE I know how serious my sin is and how eternally grateful I am that He would save a wretch such as me.

How about you?

Do you see Jesus’s death and resurrection as necessary, or do you find it silly and unnecessary?

Do you think you will stand before God and have acceptance through any other means — wealth, prosperity, good works?

Let me plead with you today to look to Jesus to save you!

And, if you have, rejoice in the acceptance that will never be taken away, and do not fear the accuser. He knows “his time is short” and is lashing out in anger, trying to hurt those God has saved and thereby hurt Him (Revelation 12:12). Be encouraged and fear not, because the same proclamation that brings news of the accuser also proclaims God’s victory and Satan’s doom:

“Now the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers HAS BEEN THROWN DOWN, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have CONQUERED him BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb!

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 10

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Today’s passage, like yesterday’s, gives us two contrasting groups. In Proverbs 9:8, we looked at the scoffers and the wise. Today, we have a comparison of the righteous and the wicked.

We need to make an important distinction here so that I can make sure we are on the same page: “none is righteous, no not one” (Psalm 14:3, 53:3; Romans 3:10). Any discussion of the righteous and the wicked needs the understanding — almost like a disclaimer — that none of us are righteous outside of “faith in Christ”, “the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9).

Sometimes we get sideways on this and talk about righteous as if we are inherently good. The Bible makes it clear that all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). The sin that plagues our lives cannot be blamed solely on outside forces, either; our temptations often come from within when we are “lured and enticed by [our] own desire” (James 1:14). So, any appeal of an us v. them argument on this puts our “us” on the side of the wicked — and makes it an us v. HIM (Jesus Christ the Righteous — 1 John 2:1)!

The only way we can be made righteous is to trust in Jesus. I love the clarity of 2 Corinthians 5:21 on this subject. We’ll break it down phrase by phrase to help us get it (or as I tell my school kiddos, to pick up what I’m laying down).

For our sake. Jesus offers salvation because we need it. We are sinners, as we have seen above, and He is the only Savior. Sometimes we are offended when confronted with this truth, but it is good news — the God who stands holy and righteous offers an opportunity to be saved by grace through faith in His Son Jesus rather than having to receive His wrath reserved for sin.

He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin. We deserve the wrath of God because He is the righteous and perfect Creator, and we have gone against His standard. This is not a popular view point. But, here’s the good news: Jesus becoming sin for us means that He willingly took the wrath of God for those He saves! Jesus, the only sinless One — God’s righteous standard in human flesh, pays the sin debt of those who trust in Him by grace through faith by the price of His own blood (Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:24).

So that in Him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God. The only way for us — sinners or “wicked” “evildoers” as Proverbs 10:27-29 puts it — to be righteous before God is to have Jesus’s righteous covering our sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 shows us a glimpse of this great exchange between Jesus and those He saves where He takes their sin and exchanges it for His righteousness. 1 John 2:1-2 gives the picture a little clearer: Jesus Christ the righteous is our advocate and stands before God as our atoning sacrifice, His blood paying for our sin and covering us with His righteousness.

That’s good news! It’s tough and raw and infinitely unfair, but it is a picture of God’s love for His people in Jesus. It’s a picture of grace. It’s a picture of mercy. It’s a picture of Proverbs 10:27-29.

Biblical wisdom is knowing that we can do nothing to prolong our life and being well-aquainted with the reality of the wages of our sin being death (Romans 6:23). The hope of those who fear the LORD is Jesus, and from Him and the life He gives there is joy (Proverbs 10:28); any expectation other than what we can have in Jesus perishes when we do.

And, don’t miss this, Jesus came to seek and save the lost — to give His life as a ransom for the wicked, for people like me who confess Him as LORD and believe in Him. That’s good news for me and all who put their faith in Him. That news represents the “stronghold” I have in Him — not that I am “blameless” but that He is, but that news represents “destruction to evildoers” who do not put their faith in Him (Proverbs 10:29).

What about you? Where do you stand in the great exchange? Has Jesus taken your sin and counted you blameless, or are you banking on your own righteousness?

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 9

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Our verse today presents us with two scenarios that involve reproving – or correcting – someone. One goes well, and the other, well, doesn’t.

The first category we see in Proverbs 9:8 is the “scoffer”. This word is most often translated as “scoffer” (Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 1:22, 9:7, 13:1, 14:6, 15:12, 19:25, 19:29, 21:11, 21:24, 22:10, 24:9; Isaiah 29:20), but it is also translated as “mocker” (Proverbs 20:1) and “scorners” (Proverbs 3:34). Even though “scoffer” is an English word, it is not one that is used often, so we need a little help (along with what “mocker” and “scorners” gives us) understanding what exactly a scoffer is and does. This is someone who makes rude or mocking comments loudly, someone who treats people with contempt or calls people out rudely because of dislike or hatred.[1]

The second category is the “wise man”. And since we are studying taking the #DailyWisdomChallenge by seeking God’s wisdom through the Proverbs, this is the one we should imitate in our lives – the way God intends for us to live according to His wisdom.

The whole section of Proverbs 9:7-12 deals with these two people. When a “scoffer” is corrected, he or she abuses the one trying to help them (Proverbs 9:7) and bear the consequences of the sin alone – those same sins that someone who loved them tried to help them correct (Proverbs 8:12). The “wise ” gets wiser when corrected and increases in his or her knowledge of the Lord (Proverbs 9:9, also Colossians 1:9). This wise person’s wisdom and knowledge is rooted in the “fear of the LORD” and learns and gains “insight” from “the knowledge of the Holy One” (Proverbs 9:10). The willful ignorance of the scoffer is rooted in his or her desire to do and say what they want as a means of satisfying their own wicked desires. One comes from God and serves Him; the other comes from wicked hearts and serves themselves.

The reason I picked Proverbs 9:8 specifically is the difference in the responses to the correction given. The important thing to remember is that correction is a good thing – when done correct, when done biblically. We are supposed to “speak the truth in love” to brothers and sisters in Christ (Ephesians 4:15) and put away “falsehood” by letting each of us “speak the truth with [our] neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). It is part of Jesus’s intentions for His body gathering together; we should “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). And, as Proverbs 9:8 tells us, the wise person who fears the LORD will love you for it. This doesn’t mean the correction is enjoyable, but it means that the person filled with the wisdom of the LORD and His Spirit will appreciate that someone cared enough about them to protect them from their sin.

The scoffer in Proverbs 9:8 is a whole different scenario. They won’t love you for correcting them. They will hate you. In the context of Proverbs 9:7-12, the scoffer does not appear to be a brother or sister (or neighbor in that sense). This reminds me of something we say often at Christ Community. We do not try to teach people how to act but rather preach the gospel and point people to Jesus (who by His Spirit changes people’s lives after He saves them). If we teach people how to act, they may act saved, fooling themselves and others into thinking they are safe from the wrath of God due their sin. So, rather than heaping condemnation on a “scoffer” who will stand before Jesus and making him or her hate you, point them to Jesus – the God who saves and loves them, and let Him change their lives!

[1] The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 6

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

This #DailyWisdomChallenge is tough. As I said in the writing for Proverbs 5, it is meant to be. But this one hit me right square in my mind and heart.

I had intended on helping you understand how we should not be a part of things that God hates. And at least as I means of giving clarity and “the sense” of the passage to help people understand the reading (Nehemiah 8:8), I will.

God hates “haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17) — eyes lifted up in arrogance. This is not so much the eyes but rather the way that thinking you are above or better than someone is an attitude of the heart, an attitude of self-righteousness.

God hates “a lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17) — mouths telling lies and bearing false witness rather than speaking the truth. Again, this is representative of the heart rather than one’s tongue and shows a refusal to acknowledge right and wrong but instead rearrange the truth into what suits and/or benefits you the most.

God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17) — the extinguishing of a human life, especially one innocent of any guilt or crime, without cause. This is murder and is rooted in the hands of the guilty and the violence and hate in their hearts.

God hates “a heart that devises wicked plans” (Proverbs 6:18) — coming up with whatever evil their wicked hearts can desire or devise. This is the root of these things that God says He hates. It shows the fruit of what is in the heart being planned more than merely impulse.

God hates “feet that make haste to run to evil” (Proverbs 6:18) — doing wrong and sinning enthusiastically. There is a contrast here that shows a desire to do the wrong one wants to do quickly rather than rushing to do good.

God hates “a false witness who breathes out lies” (Proverbs 6:19) — the second mention of lying in this list with specific difference. The lying mentioned above is generic whereas this one is specifically tearing someone down with lies, injuring their character and reputation. This shows a regard for what one wants themselves and a willingness to treat others and their lives and/or reputations as expendable.

God hates “one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:19) — one who purposefully divides brothers and creates animosity where there was unity.

The English teacher part of me wants to show you how most of those — the first five, specifically — are examples of metonymy, which means the parts represent the whole. The eyes, tongue, hands, heart, and feet represent the whole person, indicating that the sin is not merely the byproduct of bodily functions but the body carrying out our sin. But the last two are not metonymy. They are the whole. A “false witness” and “one who sows discord” are sins that define the person.

It was at this point that I intended to wrap the writing by saying that we need to make sure that we are not about or doing the things that God says He hates but rather to be about spreading His gospel and thereby His love. And that is definitely true. What I did not intend was to be caught up in desiring to do some of the things God hates myself on the very day of the reading.

I won’t go into detail, but I was reminded yesterday how easy it is to get caught up in anger or aggravation and decide on a course of action that feels right. In that flash of anger, I could hear the Holy Spirit reminding me of the six things that God hates, namely the seventh that is an abomination to Him. I could see clearly how I was willing to devise a wicked plan that would sow discord. God stopped me. His Word stopped me. His Spirit stopped me.

I am thankful God humbled me before I showed myself to be a fool. This wisdom does God’s work within us.

That’s good news.

Lord, help me to hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Help me to remember who You are growing me to be and to be about what You told me to do rather than what I want to do. Thank you for letting me see that I was about to do something You hate, and show my brothers and sisters that, too. Amen.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 5

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Proverbs 5 is tough — as it should be, because there is real danger and wickedness in the world that actively seeks to lead us astray.

Right there in Proverbs 5:1, we see the same call to attentiveness to “wisdom” in order to gain “insight” (Proverbs 4:1) and “understanding” as in our last post. The specific nature of the wisdom offered in Proverbs 5 is about the temptation of adultery, and it uses the illustration of the words (anti-wisdom, if you will) that come from the “lips of a forbidden woman” (Proverbs 5:3).

I chose Proverbs 5:18 as the focus verse because it very clearly illustrates a few things about the way that God’s plan and wisdom unfold.

First, God is not some cosmic killjoy trying to keep us from having fun and enjoyment. We need to be attentive to God’s wisdom because He knows best, and especially because He knows and sees beyond what we can. We might get caught up in listening to the anti-wisdom and think it’s “honey” because its rhetoric is “smoother than oil” (Proverbs 5:3), but in reality, that honey is laced with “wormwood” (poison) and seeks to cut us down as with a “two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:4).

Second, God’s ways are not empty of enjoyment. Proverbs 5:18 gives contrast to the poison anti-wisdom and allure of adultery by reminding that there is rejoicing in one’s own wife, one’s own spouse. Furthermore (and not something I am going into here), the following verses show that all of the enjoyment promised by the forbidden woman (without the danger and death) can be more truly and completely found in one’s own marriage! In fact, that’s God’s design. Read on in Proverbs 5 and be attentive to see what I’m talking about.

Lastly, following God’s design and heeding His wise counsel leads to life. The forbidden woman “does not ponder the path of life” (Proverbs 5:6) and “her steps follow the path to Sheol” (Proverbs 5:5). Let me translate that for you: she doesn’t care that the wages of sin is death because she’s on the broad road that leads to destruction, to Hell (Romans 6:23, Matthew 7:13). You may not know it, but there is more going on than someone tempting spouses to cheat; as Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. Be attentive to the wisdom of God and not tempted by the smooth honey poison of the devil and this world.

To sum all this up, and especially if you are married, God’s ways are best and the husband or wife He has given you is where you are to find your delight.

Lord, help us enjoy our marriage and be attentive to your wisdom and ways. Protect our marriages and strengthen them in you. Shield us from the evil attacks around us and keep our attention and ears tuned into what You have for us.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 3

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

Trust is difficult, especially in times when you feel like there is no one you can trust. In the case of today’s Scripture, it is you — your own heart — that you cannot trust.

We can, however, trust in the LORD!

What we have here is an either/or situation. We are either trusting in the Lord or we are trusting in ourselves. Everything in the world tells us to listen to our hearts and follow our hearts and be true to ourselves and so on and so forth. All of that has us doing what we want when we want it. It sounds pretty good, at least on the surface. The issue is that we often want the wrong things.

Take for instance what I want right now. As I sit here writing this, I want a double cheeseburger and some crunchy tater tots. I want to wash it down with an full-sugar green Mt. Dew. For good measure, a couple of Little Debbie snacks could top me off and leave me sitting fat and happy. That flies in the face of the hard work I have done the last several months of trying to eat healthier and live healthier so as to honor the Lord with my body and be healthy enough to be the husband, father, pastor, and teacher I have been called to be. My wanter is broken.

The things I want are wrong for me. Yes, they satisfy whatever whims I come up with, but left to myself, I will never want to make healthy choices — or in the context of Proverbs, wise choices. Yes, sometimes we want to be dumb; it’s called willful ignorance. So, how can we trust ourselves if our desires long for sin and stupidity? We can’t. We need someone trustworthy to keep us on track.

If you are saved and follow the Lord, you know that you can trust in Him and not lean on your own understanding. You can put yourself fully in His hands and trust that He will take care of you. You can trust that God the Father knows best and has your best interests at heart. When your understanding calls for the contrary, you can trust Him when He leads you in His ways.

When it says “in all your ways acknowledge Him”, it means give Him control in all of your ways. That is, after all, what it means for Him to be Lord. He calls the shots. You follow in the way He directs. He will “make straight your paths” and keep you going where He leads!

So, what will you do: trust in the Lord or go your own way?

Lord, help us to follow you. You know we want things that are bad for us. You know the sin we struggle with is the sin we desire. Please fix our hearts and help us to want what You have for us and to understand that Your ways are better. Help us to trust You with our lives and live it according to Your wisdom rather than the wisdom of the world. Amen.

Daily Wisdom Challenge — Proverbs 1

For the month of October, we are answering the challenge John Goldwater, pastor of Christ Community Church in Grenada, MS, laid out — the #DailyWisdomChallenge. Each day, we are going to read through a chapter of Proverbs corresponding to the day of the month.

This fits with what we have studied in Colossians, specifically Colossians 3:1-2, namely that we should seek “the things that are above, where Christ is” and set our minds like a thermostat “on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”. Imagine what a month meditating on God’s Word daily can do for us.

Won’t you join us on this #DailyWisdomChallenge and set your minds on Christ?

As we endeavor to seek the Lord in His Word, Proverb 1:23 is good guidance, especially for the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. We all sin, and we all need “reproof” — we all need correction. The problem is that we do not always receive correction well.

I guess this really begs the question: why do I read God’s Word?

The answer to that question really drives how we respond to correction, because if we are reading it to check off some religious checklist, there are passages that may let us feel good about ourselves or feel righteous. That definitely won’t let us read the whole Bible, though. What if you decided to read it to grow closer to the Lord and to see Jesus impact your every day life by His Spirit. In that case, you would need to open yourself up to reproof.

That’s what this verse is talking about. In Proverbs 1:20-22, Wisdom personified is preaching in the streets and crying out over the noise of earthly wisdom and teaching asking whether we will choose to be willfully ignorant of the things of God and whether or not we will scoff at God’s Wisdom like the rest or the world, being fools who hate knowledge.

Proverbs 1:23 gives a picture of what responding to the Lord and receiving His Wisdom looks like: turning (repenting) at His reproof. He corrects; we repent. He leads; we follow. Turning from foolishness toward wisdom sees one filled with the Spirit of God and receiving His Word. It makes a difference in everyday life.

In Proverbs 1:24-33, however, we see the contrast of the person who receives correction well by getting a picture of the one who refuses to listen to correction. These elevate themselves to a position that they think is over God and decides to have none of His reproof or correction. They think they know better and that they can set their own path. The Bible tells us that rather than receiving God’s Word and His Spirit, these who refuse to turn and repent will reap calamity and terror. They want their own way bad enough, and they will keep it when they get their just comeuppance.

What about you?

Will you hear the Word of the Lord and turn? Or do you want to forge your own path based on your own understanding?

I can tell you from experience that I never knew as much as I thought I did in those situations. God’s ways are higher. He knows what I need.

Lord, grant us repentance and give us a yearning and desire to follow You in the paths you have laid out rather than get carried away by the sinful currents of this world. Amen.

Songs for Sunday, September 22, 2024 @ Christ Community Church

Lord, send revival!

Tomorrow morning, our sister church — The Foundry in Winona — is beginning revival services, and we are, too, by proxy. This is a good thing.

Revival services do not bring revival because revival can only come from the Lord. There is nothing magical about them. No, these services are us seeking the Lord and asking Him to bring revival — asking Him to wake us up and renew us — asking Him to revive the Life He put in us and fan the flames of His Spirit within us.

Being saved is not a religious thing; it is God moving us from dead in sin to alive in Him (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). It is a transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17). It brings us to life in Christ in the midst of a fallen and dying world (John 5:24; Philippians 2:15). It makes us different, more and more like Him (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18), and the world grates against that—our flesh and sinful nature grates against it (Galatians 5:17; 1 John 2:15-17). But we need to remember that the One who saves us is the One who is going to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

In light of this, especially in thinking about revival, I am reminded of Isaiah 57:15:

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

In this passage, we see God Himself, Him whose “name is Holy”, talk about what it is to be revived. This is a big deal and a challenge to us for how we need to proceed in seeking the God of revival to revive us. God is holy and above us. He is perfect. He is all-powerful. He is wholly something else, nothing like us or this world. Yet He has decided to be with those who are “contrite” and “lowly”.

The word “contrite” here is like humble, but it is more in the past tense. It means to be humbled—brought low by the reality of our sin and pursuing the God who saves, forgives, and redeems (Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 57:15). This is why we are “lowly”; we understand our position in relation to God. He deservedly is “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1; Psalm 99:2). In fact, He is God Most High—the Almighty (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 91:1). This is the position of seeking revival: we know that He has given us new life in Him (Ephesians 2:4-5); we know that we need to continually repent and seek Him because our hearts and desires are sinful (Jeremiah 17:9; James 4:8-10); and we pursue Him, seeking His face and His Spirit’s strength and guidance to live the life He has given us (Psalm 51:10; Galatians 5:16).

So, I challenge you, Christ Community and Foundry faith families. Humble yourself before the Lord (James 4:10). Repent of the sin that we so foolishly cling to and run to the Savior (Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 John 1:9). Ask Him to give you His strength and empower you to serve Him (Isaiah 40:29-31; Philippians 4:13). Ask Him to revive you—to renew your spirit (Psalm 51:10) and to plug you into His Kingdom work (Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 2:10).

Tomorrow is Sunday. I’m excited. But I need more than a church service. I need God Most High to revive me and meet with me. I need Him to wake me up and grant repentance. I need His strength to live this life He has given me.

I need Him.

Won’t you pray with me?

Tomorrow, Bro. Wayne Hudson is going to open God’s Word and challenge us to turn to and trust the Lord. Our pastor, John Goldwater, has been proclaiming the Word to us and challenging us in preparation for this. Our praise teams are going to lead us in reading and singing the Word.

Won’t you gather with us and seek the Lord?

Everyone is welcome! Come and gather with us as we seek the Lord — and seek Him yourself!

Here are our Scriptures and songs:

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.