Proverbs - Delivering Messages

Proverbs 13:17

 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

Messengers must be careful when delivering the words or intentions of another.  We are warned that if we are not faithful messengers we will find ourselves suddenly in some trouble.  When we repeat something to our children that their father has said, are we accurately representing him?  If we repeat a matter to a friend are we sure that we aren’t slanting things in our favor or with some sort of mischievous intent behind it?  When we don’t deliver a message in its accuracy, both in content and tone, we can end up in all kinds of conflict and trouble.  This verse says that we will fall into it.  Falling implies a sudden loss of footing and becoming entrapped in a place beneath a stable surface.  Ladies, we don’t want this kind of unnecessary entrapment.  We want to be faithful ambassadors - faithful to our managers, husbands, friends and the Lord.  When we deliver some sort of message let us be slow to speak and seek to be as gracious and accurate as possible.  If we are not sure about something, we should go back to the one who sent us and then deliver the message.  Let us never fill in the blanks just to get something done.  This way we can walk steadily and bring health to those who hear us without dealing unnecessarily with mischief caused by our own laziness or wickedness. 

Knowing God - He Gives Understanding

2 Tim 2:7

 Consider what I say; and the Lord

 give thee understanding in all things.

The Lord Gives Understanding

Paul is writing to young Timothy and giving him God’s advice as a new pastor.  There is a lot in both of these letters and a young person may feel quite overwhelmed by warnings and instruction.  This particular verse reminds Timothy to consider what Paul is saying but to remember that the Lord will give Him understanding in all things. We may have mentors.  We may have excellent pastors and teachers.  There may be super anointed books full of wisdom and instruction.  We may feel overwhelmed at times wondering if we can remember or understand it all.  It is so relieving to know that the Lord gives us understanding in all things.  We can cry out to Him in specific situations and trust that He will bring clarity and understanding.  Mentors are helpful but God gives understanding.

Words from people

May strike a chord,

But understanding

Is from the Lord.

Proverbs - Prudence and Knowledge

Proverbs 13:16

 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

The book of Proverbs refers to a good wife as a prudent wife.  Any time we see this description we ought to take heed to it and what the Lord considers as prudent.  Here we see that prudence is associated with a person who conducts themselves with knowledge.  This knowledge is that which one knows to be true and not conjecture or feelings.  A prudent woman is one that doesn’t jump to conclusions or fills in the blanks based upon her own mood or reaction to a given situation.  We must be women who are able to deal with our husbands, children, co-workers, finances and other relationships with knowledge.  We know the balance in our accounts and what financial obligations are in the near future.  We know a person’s track record and their general intentions in matters.  We gain understanding about a conflict or a child’s lack of responsibility in order to deal with the situation with knowledge.  We ask questions and hope for the best before labeling someone or handing out consequences to our children that might be too harsh or too lenient depending on the lack of knowledge.  A foolish woman just lays out her folly.  She speaks rashly and all she feels.  She pours out all of her ideas and assumptions without any regard for understanding and knowledge.  A foolish woman tears down her home.  Lord, help us.  Send us knowledge that will help us deal with things in a way that honors you and produces the decisions you want for our lives.

Knowing God - He Gives Understanding

2 Tim 2:7

 Consider what I say; and the Lord

 give thee understanding in all things.

The Lord Gives Understanding

Paul is writing to young Timothy and giving him God’s advice as a new pastor.  There is a lot in both of these letters and a young person may feel quite overwhelmed by warnings and instruction.  This particular verse reminds Timothy to consider what Paul is saying but to remember that the Lord will give Him understanding in all things.

We may have mentors.  We may have excellent pastors and teachers.  There may be super anointed books full of wisdom and instruction.  We may feel overwhelmed at times wondering if we can remember or understand it all.  It is so relieving to know that the Lord gives us understanding in all things.  We can cry out to Him in specific situations and trust that He will bring clarity and understanding.  Mentors are helpful but God gives understanding.

Words from people

May strike a chord,

But understanding

Is from the Lord.

Proverbs - The Law of the Wise

Proverbs 13:13-15

 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed:

but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

                                                                                           

Our attitude towards God’s Word is the very beginning of wisdom.  Do we esteem Him to be right in all matters of life?  Do we ever allow our own understanding to be esteemed a better source of guidance than the very Words of God?  Despising the Word of God is not just summed up in some sort of hatred or loathing; it is an attitude of indifference and neglect.  If we are given some sort of tremendous financial gift and then turn around and live off of others’ support we are despising this gift.  The same is true for the commandments of God.  The Lord has given us His judgment on matters of our lives.  He has preserved His Word for us to be able to discover our Maker’s intent and law on how we should conduct ourselves and understand our existence.  When we have a high regard for His law, our lives spring forth with times of refreshing and life.  When we despise his word we will end up being destroyed.  Understanding things based upon His Word will grant us favor and bless our relationships and pursuits.  If we violate, disregard or transgress His law our path becomes unnecessarily difficult and hard.  Perhaps it is a good time to stop and ask the Lord to give you a proper fear and respect for His commandments expecting to be rewarded as this reverence becomes part of who you are.

Proverbs - Hope Deferred

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:

but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

                                                                                        

Our nature is to want and get something immediately.  Something within us tells us that we deserve it and we deserve it now.   When we have a hope or wish for something and it just isn’t coming right when we can taste it, we can feel rather unsettled, agitated or disturbed.  Our culture has developed things like credit to attempt to cure this sickness of the heart not having its desires met in the timing it desires.  The option of stealing is another remedy for this sickness.  Whining and complaining to our husbands or parents might also be another anecdote for this sickness of the heart.  The Lord knows that our fleshly nature wants things and it wants them now.  The problem is that our old man is kind of like a child in the store demanding the candy bar because he wants it and he wants it now.  Just as if we give in to the tantrums of a child, if we give ourselves everything we crave when we want them, we create a self-centered, impatient and even more demanding character.  When we desire something, we can present this before the Lord who satisfies the soul of every living thing.  Our Father can determine when or if this desire is a good thing for us. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  We bring these desires before Him, trusting His wisdom and love.  He is a good Father.  We seek Him for wisdom and a plan if the desire is out of our reach financially.  We give Him control to build our lives as He sees best.  We surrender our ‘bratty’ nature to the control of the wisdom and providence of our God.  Then, if that desire is met, we find ourselves closer to Him and glorifying Him more than the desire itself.  Our Father reveals Himself as our Provider and the one who blesses and the desire becomes a tree of life inviting everyone to know the God who so perfectly and graciously provided for us.  Let us delight ourselves in Him and allow Him the opportunity to give us the desires of our hearts.

Knowing God - Power Over the Demonic World

Mark 5:13

 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

He Has Power Over the Demonic World

This man in the story was possessed by many demons.  These demons were tormenting this man and making his life unlivable.  When Jesus confronted these demons, He had a conversation with them.  The demons asked Jesus if they could be sent into the swine.  Jesus gave them leave.  He gave them permission and decided where they would go.  When we pray and ask Jesus for help from the enemy’s tactics and maneuvers, we can be confident that Jesus has the final authority over the hosts of wickedness.  Our prayers are not token prayers meant to appease our fears and silence our anxieties due to some sort of meditative exercise in order to escape a vague evil presence.  Our prayers are directed to the One who decides and commands demons as to where they must go and where they must leave.  All things were created by Him and all things were created for Him.  He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings!