Like A Mountain Stream

October 16, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:11-13 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever been near a cool mountain stream? The snow that has fallen on the mountaintop slowly melts in the heat of the noonday sun. The result is a flow of cold clear water that streams down to the valleys below. That water is as crystal clear as a pane of transparent glass. Not only is it clear, but it is also refreshingly cold. To someone who may be working hard at the base of the mountain on that day, this cool clear water is like a blessing from God for a hard day’s work. One would almost need to be careful so as not to drink too much of it and become bloated. Nevertheless, it just tastes so cool, so good, and so refreshing. 

    Our verses today tell of the same goodness. Just as the refreshing, invigorating and thirst-quenching cold water that comes from the snow on a mountaintop to the workers in the valley below, so refreshing is a messenger who brings faithful truth to comfort our very soul.

    The truth of God’s Word and His saving grace is, as the verses say, like apples of gold in a silver bowl, and fine jewels to the wearer. Like a cool, refreshing, drink of water on a hot day. The good news, or the Gospel as it is called, is so valuable and refreshing to the soul burdened down under the sin of today. Wouldn’t you like to be God’s faithful refreshing messenger of this good news today?

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Not only can the message be a comfort, but also look at those verses again. They say the messenger refresheth the one who sent them. Oh, dear child of God, don’t you want to be that for the Lord today. To be refreshing to Him as we deliver His message. Like a cool glass of water to a dry and thirsty world, and an obedient child to our God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 16, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 6 – 7     /   Proverbs 25:11-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 49-52           /     1 Thess. 1-2

Living In His Word Ministries

Think It Through

October 15, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:8-10 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are all good things to have, when they are kept under control and used in the right places. In our verses today, Solomon is warning his son of the problem of acting too quickly on a matter without thinking it through.

    Thinking it through does not mean discussing it with everyone who comes by. We often tend to alter, or exaggerate facts to make others like our point of view. We will also gravitate toward those who will agree with us. If the matter has to do with someone else, handling a matter between two believers should remain between two believers unless others are directly involved.

    Our wisdom must come from God. To make a better decision on handling a matter it is always best to take time to speak with God, allowing Him to direct your paths. Quite often God will handle the matter for you before you even have to say or do anything. Deciding to “Deal With A Problem,” as we may like to call it, without taking time to pray over it is like going into battle with no clear directive. You go with your mind made up as to what you want and what you feel is best for you. However, as believers we must ask first, what does God want? What might be God’s priorities in this situation or decision? How can God use you in what has happening?

    Passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are great. However, our passion and zeal must be to do the work of our Father, which is in Heaven. If this is our goal, God will be glorified, not horrified.


    THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    A few easy rules in conflict resolution are given here.

       (1) Sleep on it if at all possible. Do not be too hasty and rush to judgment.

     (2) Talk it out with the person alone. Not everything needs to be brought into a public arena.

     (3) Guard your testimony and that of the person you are dealing with. Remember, both testimonies are important in lifting up God. The world is watching us. 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 15, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 3 – 5    / Proverbs 25:8-10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 45-48   /   Col. 4

Come Up, Put Down

October 14, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:4-7 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever been embarrassed? If we were honest, we would all have to say we have been embarrassed about something at one time or another. What is the cause of embarrassment in the first place? Do we get embarrassed when we are alone and we sing a wrong note, or spill our coffee? Do we get embarrassed when we are by ourselves and we make a bad stroke in golf or trip over the edge of a rug? No, normally the emotion felt at those times would not be called embarrassment. If anything, we get angry with our self or frustrated, but not embarrassed. Why is that? It is because there is no one there by which to be embarrassed. 

    So, what then is it that causes us to get embarrassed? It must be we do not want people to think less of us, to find us incompetent, or goofy in some way. It is sort of a pride issue. We all take pride in being good at what we do. Embarrassment comes when we mess up at what may seem then to others to be a simple thing. Nevertheless, eventually we all mess up.

    One thing we do not have to mess up at is arrogant pride. That type of pride which says, “Hey look at me.” That boastful, bragging, self-elevating pride that drives people away. Nobody wants to be around a bragger for too long. Today’s passage says it’s better to have someone else recognize you and your abilities and say, “come up hither,” than to be embarrassed or  “put lower” in front of everyone else.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    1 Peter 5:6,7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” As Christians, we must let God be the one to exalt us in His own way and in His own time.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 14, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 1 – 2     /   Proverbs 25:4-7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 42-44           /     Col. 3

Living In His Word Ministries

I Will Tell You Later

October 13, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:1-3 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “Mommy, why does the dog bark?” “Daddy, why does the rain disappear the next day?” “Mommy, why is my hair brown?” “Daddy, why did the neighbor call you a weirdo?” Ok, so maybe you can answer the last one, but we don’t have all the answers.

    Sometimes children will bring us questions we are not at all prepared to answer. Occasionally it is not because we do not know the answer, but rather we are afraid they would not understand. The answer that we would give them might cause them to be more confused than if they were just left with the question. Have you ever had to say, “Ask me in a few years and I will tell you, but for now you have to trust I am right.”

     Sometimes God treats us in this same way. It is within His right, and by His wisdom that He does not tell us everything. For example, if people knew exactly when they would die, some would live a sin filled life like the world until that day, and then expect to get everything straightened out just before they died. The outcome would be people living like the devil and then wanting God to forgive that behavior at the end of life. Living that way not only robs that person of God’s love and blessings, but may also cause others watching you, who might have accepted Christ, to ignore God’s saving grace as well.

     God wants us to love Him and live for Him all of our days. Living like the devil will cause us to miss all the blessings that God has planned for us now in this life. So, in God’s wisdom He sometimes says, “Wait child, I’ll tell you later.”

    
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     It is an honor for any leader, or parent, when they find the truth of God, and are able to give it to someone else. It is then that they experience the joy in serving God for them self. What a joy to hear someone say, “Thanks for sharing Jesus with me, you really made a difference.” When in reality it was God who made the difference in their life, we just shared Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 13, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Mark 14 – 16    / Proverbs 25:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 40-41   /   Col. 2

Living In His Word Ministries

By Their Fruit

October 12, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “A penny saved is a penny earned.” “A stitch in time saves nine.” “Make hay while the sun shines.” What do all these statements have in common? They all instruct us to be diligent with our time and treasures. Using what God has given us to the absolute best of our ability.

    In today’s verses Solomon says he went by the field of the slothful and the vineyard of the man void of understanding. Simply put, he visited a place where the owner was either lazy, or an extremely poor manager of his time and treasures. What did he see? He saw a place that was not taken care of. It was a place broken down and falling to pieces because of lack of attention by the occupant. Does it say he saw the man, NO! Did he observe him being lazy, NO! So how does he know he is slothful and lacks understanding? He drew his conclusion based on the evidence of what this person’s life had produced.

    When we as Christians are not good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, the world not only looks at us in a negative way, but our poor stewardship also reflects on our God. The Bible, in identifying believers says, “Ye shall know them by their fruit.” The world thinks so too. They will not care what we say if it does not match how we live. 

    This can also be applied to our life in general. Our outward living should display an inward change. If the outside does not match the inside, then something is wrong.

    
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    What do people see when they look at us? Is the life we live filled with the sinful weeds of the world? Are there unkempt walls of resistance to sin? Or do they see Jesus in us? What they see in us reflects on the image of our God. The bible says in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 12, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Mark 10 – 13    / Proverbs 24:30-34

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 37-39   /    Col. 1