Knowing God - He is Not Moved by Analysis

Mark 3:2

 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

The people were watching Jesus to see if He would heal a man on the Sabbath.  They were not watching to see if this man would be blessed.  They were not watching in order to see the power of God.  They were watching that they might accuse him.  Jesus continued doing what He was called to do regardless of what the people around Him were going to do in response.  Jesus wasn’t steered by the motivations or judgments of others.  Jesus was focused on pleasing the Father and loving people.  He was not concerned about His reputation in the light of those who were figuring Him out.  The Lord was focused on doing what the Father led Him to do and would not allow the judgments and opinions of others to change His course or actions.  Our God is firm and focused.  He is not threatened by theological analysis.  He is not shaken by hermeneutical scrutiny.  He is not interrupted by the general sway of public opinion.  Our God is a rock.  He is a God who has done what He has done, is doing what He is doing and will do what He will do.  We have a God who is firmly focused and faithful.

Proverbs - The Blueness of a Wound

Proverbs 20:30

The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:

so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Wounds hurt.  We don’t particularly like to be wounded but wounds help our priorities.  We can become rather insensitive and distracted when we don’t feel things.  Even feeling pain, keeps us tender and open to others’ affliction and often cleanses away those things that are unimportant and temporal.  We read of the psalmist’s declaration that “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” (Ps.119:71)  When we are hurting we cry out to the Lord and we set our eyes on Him.  Our intentions become more pure and our heart is not divided between a multitude of pursuits.  We need to let the afflictions we face work a cleansing work within us.  We should bring our wounds to the Lord and ask Him to use them to do a redeeming work in us.  “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” (Ps 119:67)

Knowing God - He Receives Us

Ps 49:15

 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Grave has a power – the power of death, but God will redeem our souls from the power of the grave.  Death is an enemy that comes and tries to conquer.  It looms over every human in an intimidating and threatening way.  Our God is not intimidated by death.  He, Himself, went through death and conquered it on our behalf to show us that even death, is no match for our God.  How does God redeem us from the power of the grave?  He does this by receiving us.  He awaits us on the other side of the door which has a sign over it that says ‘death’.  The door itself is quite unattractive.  It stands as an unknown path to all of us, but the Lord stands on the other side ready to receive us.  If someone you love is facing death, if God is their God, if they are in Christ, they will be received. They will be redeemed from the power of the grave, for God will receive them.

Proverbs - Young and Old

Proverbs 20:29

The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

There is a time and a season for every purpose under heaven.  There are things God wants to do through us when we are young and there are things He wants to do with us when we are old.  Here, young men are told that their strength is to be used for and by the Lord.  It is their glory.  Helping someone move, cleaning up after a church event or some other feat involving strength are always needed in the body of Christ.  Being able to stay up late with someone going through a crisis or praying late into the evening are both physically straining and the young can often carry this much better than the older.  Yet, the older have their own beauty.  The Lord tells us it is the gray head.  Gray hair implies experience.  Years lived are a valuable commodity.  To sit and glean perspective from someone who has traveled before us is beautiful.  We can hear of mistakes, successes, regrets and joys.  From these things people can avoid disasters, stop and enjoy things they might have otherwise missed and grow through their beauty.  Are you young?  Use your strength.  Are you older?  Use your years.  

Knowing God - God Grieves

Gen 6:6

                                                                                     

 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth,

and it grieved him at his heart.

The Lord is grieved by the wickedness we may do.  He is not just an impartial judge but a God who loves us and cares for us.  He watches us and when we choose to do things in ways that are contrary to His loving boundaries, it grieves Him in His heart.  This is not a God who, like a police officer, is just monitoring violations and handing out citations in an indifferent and impersonal way.  This is a God whose heart of love is the motivation for every law and commandment He gives.  We might start to confess our sins, not only as legitimate offenses deserving judgment, but also as those things that grieve our God.  Tell Him how sorry you are and that you want your love for Him to motivate you to keep His commandments.  God has a heart for us, let us bring Him delight.

Proverbs - Mercy and Leadership

Proverbs 20:28

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Mercy and truth are companions that should always accompany each other when we are in the place of authority.  When we are placed in a position of authority we need mercy and truth.  We must be sure to not only deal with the truth of the matter but we must be sure to have mercy as well.  Our position will be preserved by mercy and truth.  By looking at a situation in its truth and giving consequences with mercy we will be able to love those we rule over.  Mercy extends compassion and an understanding heart of how someone my have failed.  Mercy is the heart of God. When our children rebel or disobey it is our responsibility to give consequences to teach truth but as we give those with a smile and compassion our children can understand that our acceptance of them is not rooted in their works but our relationship with them.  Sisters, can you take your pride out of the situation and administer truth with mercy?  This will help you as mothers and friends and wives.  Truth and mercy will preserve you and any position of influence and authority will be upheld by mercy.

Knowing God - He is the Guide of Our Youth

Jer 3:4

Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me,

My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

The Lord asks His people will they, from now on, cry unto Him.  Will they not call Him their personal father and their guide in their youth?  The Lord is reminding us that we need a Father at all ages.  He wants us to call Him “MY Father”.  The Lord wants us to remember how He guided us when we were young.  Because He is our Father and has been our guide, we need to cry unto Him as a Father and as our guide.  We can take the time today to address Him in this way and watch ourselves rest as His children.  As we tell Him how He has guided us when we were young, we can be confident that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  The same God who guided us in the past, is the same God who will guide us today.  He is my father and the guide of my youth.