Proverbs - Retaliation is Foolish

Proverbs 24:28-29

Be not a witness against thy neighbor

 without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:

I will render to the man according to his work.

There might be a time where you might be tempted to come against someone because of a desire to retaliate.  We must not do to others as they have done unto us.  We don’t render to other people according to their work.  We should deal with others the way the Lord has dealt with us.  If we are born again, the Lord has extended grace and favor upon us even though we deserve judgment and rejection.  Let us extend this favor upon others regardless of how they treat us.  This is what makes us different.  Everyone loves those who love them.  Our credentials are wrapped up in how we treat people who do not love us or in fact have sinned against us. Don’t even speak with your lips what you want to do to pay someone back.  Use your lips to cry out to God for a forgiving heart and hope all things.  Then, you will truly shine as a child of God.

Knowing God - In Him is NO Darkness

1 John 1:5

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is light.  He is not hiding things from you and me. There is not darkness at all in our God.  There are not secret temple rituals He wants us to be in.  There are no lost books with secrets only a few have discovered.  In Him, there is NO darkness AT ALL!  He doesn’t make it difficult for us to see Him and His ways.  He is plain and clear and to make it the most clear He sent His own Son in tangible flesh for us to know Him.  Our God is not toying with us with hidden messages that only the few can discern.  He isn’t shadowing that which He has clearly revealed.  He is light.  If something involves deceit and doing things in a way that is shrouded in secrecy, it most likely is not of God.  Oh, believer, enjoy His marvelous light today!  Know that your God, the Dayspring has shined on us in these days and enjoy taking steps on a well lit path He has made for you!

Proverbs - Prepare BEFORE

Proverbs 24:27

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field;

and afterwards build thine house.

The Lord is telling us that a source of income is of higher priority than what we can buy with that income.  Most people like what money can buy but not the work to make the money to spend.  This is a twisted and confused way to conduct our lives.  Credit works like this.  It promises us the ability to purchase something before we prepare the fields. Credit promises us comforts before we actually have the buying power to get them.  We must first get our fields ready and then consider our living quarters.  Work is a better pursuit than comfort and diligence than quick fun.  What a contrast to our society that is leaving families without houses because they are tying to create their own kingdom immediately without first stabilizing their income and work history.  There is nothing wrong with building our homes but there is an order to this.  We would be wise women to encourage our husbands in their jobs rather than focus on spending all that comes in.

Knowing God - He Sends Angels Because of Our Words

Dan 10:12-13

“…..I have come because of your words.”

An angel of God came to Daniel under God’s directive.   This angel had to fight a demonic angel to get to him.  The angels are servants of the Lord.  Here we learn that the angel was sent because of Daniel’s words.  The Lord hears our words and our words will have an effect on the Lord’s directives.  So many times we have not because we have not asked.  Sometimes prayer seems like we are just speaking in a venting sort of way for our own clearing of our thoughts.  This is not all that is happening.   When Daniel prayed, the Lord sent an angel BECAUSE of Daniel’s words.  This shows that our words mean so much to the Lord.  Our words are heard and our words are used by the Lord to bring about His purposes.  Have you talked with Him today?  Have you grasped that every time you speak to Him, He listens?  This angel came because of Daniel’s words.  What sort of spiritual warfare is looking for your words to bring about such a warring angel’s involvement?  Don’t underestimate the impact of your words before our God!

Proverbs - Good Friendships

Proverbs 24:26

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

People enjoy being around people who have wisdom.  It is great to be around someone who wants us to know what the right thing to do is.  This kind of friendship is one that flourishes because it is not based on human loyalties and favoritism but on a desire to please God.  This assures us that our friends are trying to give us the right answers not just the answer that they think we want to hear.  When a friend is seeking to help us do the right thing we can be confident they are praying for us and looking to the Lord to give us something that will be genuinely helpful and not necessarily what is comfortable.  Our lives will be built like a house upon a rock and we can have relationships with safety and consistency.  Oh that we would be slow to speak and quick to listen - quick to listen not only to our friend, but quick to listen and give a right answer.    

Knowing God - He Sends People Before Him

Luke 10:1

 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

The Lord appointed people and sent them ahead to all the places He himself would come.   This is an interesting fact.  The Lord will send His disciples before Him into people’s lives that He is intending to touch and come to.  Oftentimes we may have some sort of encounter with someone and wonder what that was all about.  Perhaps the Lord is about to get involved in their lives very soon and is sending us to make straight the way of the Lord.  Whenever we end up connecting with an unbeliever it might be good to tell them that we are sure that the Lord is reaching out to them because that is why He has sent us into their lives.  He is willing that none should perish but all should come to eternal life.  Our relationships are not random but ordained by the One who has come to seek and save that which is lost.

Proverbs - Rebuke Unto Blessing

Proverbs 24:23-25

These things also belong to the wise.

 It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Our judgment of character must be based on God’s standard of character and not upon our loyalty to the relationship.  We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  We should never condone sin and call it righteousness.  Oftentimes on the news or entertainment coverage, sin is exalted and declared as noble.  To avoid this we must stay close to God’s Word and make sure that if we need to give a rebuke we do in faithfulness to God’s standards.  It may be difficult at first but it shall be a delight.  Our consciences will be clear and a good blessing shall come upon us.