Your Friends Make A Good Mirror

January 10, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 1:15-17
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

       As a young boy, my father would give me wise counsel. Although as a young boy, I didn’t count it as wise counsel. At that young age, I looked at it as if some old guy didn’t want me to have fun and was trying to talk bad about my friends. Friends who I felt, he didn’t even know. He would say things like, “Who you hang around with, is who you’ll become.” Or, “People judge you, not by who you are, but by who you hang out with.” Did I believe him? Not really. Was he right? ABSOLUTELY!

        My friends did not seem so bad to me at the time, and my dad really did not know them well. However, what he did know was that they were heading in the wrong direction in life. Their lives had little, if any direction, and they had absolutely no Biblical desires. If they did, they sure did not show it. What he knew was, if I continued with them, others would judge me to be just like them. Worse than that, he knew that after a while, I would become just like them. He was right, and I did.

       Had it not been for the grace of God, and His life changing salvation, I might be where many of them are today. Broken, unhappy, addicted, mean spirited, and some, dead. However, because of Godly parents’ prayers, the visitation program of a few churches, and a revival speaker, God got hold of my life. I now serve God, and not self. I now have joy immeasurable. I’m no longer addicted to the drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, which once ruled my life. I now have a different set of friends, who are godly friends. In addition, Jesus is now my best friend.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    People still judge me by my friends, and I’m proud to be associated with those people. They pray for me, and keep me accountable to God. What are people thinking of you today? Do you want to know? Simply look at your friends. That’s who people think you are. Your friends make a good mirror.

GOD TALKING TO ME:

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  January 10, 2020        Genesis 19  –  Genesis 22          Proverbs 1:15-17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  January 10, 2020       Genesis 27-28       Matthew 9:18-38    

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Success At Any Cost

January 9, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 1:10-14
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can, and poison the rest. This appears to be the world’s philosophy. To get everything you can possibly get. Then when you get it, hold on to it. Don’t share it with anyone, keep it. You worked hard for it. You earned it. You deserve it. Don’t worry about whom you may hurt along the way. It’s all just part of life, right. WRONG!

       There are thousands of men, women, and children, just in the United States, who lives in cars, under bridges, and in cardboard boxes, because of this very way of thinking. Many are victims of consumer greed. At Christmas, the better off toss a dollar in the Salvation Army kettle for “poor homeless people,” feeling as if they’ve done their part. Not realizing how the greed of today’s consumer mentality has caused much of this economic sorrow. For many businesses, making another dollar has become more important than the people they employ. While some will die during the winter months from exposure to the freezing cold, and many families go without food or shelter, Corporate Executives fill their houses with the spoils, and consume the livelihood of someone else. All for what? To make one more dollar they really don’t need. Did someone mean for this to happen? Probably not. However, decisions based on the bottom line only, often hurt people who depend on them. Not all people suffer because of self-indulgence. Some are there by their own poor choices. However, what if your family was homeless because of thoughtless greed? Would it matter then?

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God’s not against success. However, He’s very concerned with how we measure success. Mark 8:36 asks; “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Greed often causes social blindness and misses Calvary’s love for man. Pray for loving, humble hearts.

GOD TALKING TO ME:

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  January 9, 2020        Genesis 14  –  Genesis 18          Proverbs 1:10-14

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  January 9, 2020       Genesis 25-26        Matthew 9:1-17     

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Just Give Me Good Directions

January 8, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 1:7- 9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     If I said, “to go from Virginia, to California you need to go straight west,” this would be a true statement. Therefore, is the statement, “to go to California you must go straight west,” always correct? NO! The statement “to get to California from Virginia you must head west” is correct. However, if you begin in Florida and head west, you will end up in Mexico. Does that make the instructions wrong? NO! But, it sure makes your starting place very important.

     It’s the same with these Proverbs. If you try to apply them to an immoral heart, they will not always work. In fact, they will not always make sense. Our heart tells us, “Live for Me, Get All I Can, Enjoy Every Moment No Matter the Cost.” The Bible tells us, Live for God, He will supply all you need, and your joy will not be for a moment, but for eternity.

     The beginning of understanding any of these proverbs, is to understand and believe in the Author of the Proverbs. It involves having a personal, love relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you begin in the right place, you’ll end up in the right place.

     Begin with Jesus. Submit, or resubmit yourself to Him. The beginning of knowledge is to have a relationship with God.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     If you have never accepted Christ, agree with Him that you are a sinner, and need a Saviour. Understand, He died for all your sin. Believe that His death, burial, and resurrection paid the price in full for your sin debt. Ask Him to come into your life forever. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Are you beginning this journey from the right location?

GOD TALKING TO ME:

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  January 8, 2020        Genesis 9  –  Genesis 13          Proverbs 1:7-9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  January 8, 2020       Genesis 24        Matthew 8     

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Memories

January 7, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 1:4-6 
To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Over the holidays, and at various times of the year, the schools in most areas close for seasonal breaks. Children play and have a great time. Then comes the dreaded day when the vacation is over and School resumes its sessions. It’s not really school which is dreaded, as much as it is the idea of having to study and learn something. That takes work and time. It means having to memorize some things. Of which we hear young and old alike all make the same claim. “I am not good at memorizing things.” Well that’s just not true. Let’s think for a second. Where do you live? What is the address? What is your phone number? How do you get to work? What’s your favorite food? You have all the answers to these questions buried in your mind. You memorized them. Why? Because knowing each of these facts are very important to your daily life.

     The book of Proverbs is also important for your daily living. I am not asking you to memorize the book of Proverbs. However, what do today’s verses tell us? “A wise man will hear”, and not just hear, but will also dig deep, to find the dark sayings. Simply put it’s not just reading the words, but understanding the depth of their meaning. Not just readers and hearers, but doers also.  

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

      What will be your choice? Will you be someone who reads the words, walks away, and never think of them? Or even worse, one who never even reads the words at all. Or will you be the wise person who says in your heart, I will read, learn, understand, and apply the wise counsel of the wisest one of all times. Are we talking of Solomon as the wisest? Absolutely not. The wisest is God. God simply used Solomon to share the wisdom and truth that He has for you.

GOD TALKING TO ME:

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
January 7, 2020     Genesis 5 – Genesis 8     Proverbs 1:4 -7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
January 7, 2020     Genesis 21-23                  Matthew 7    

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

He’s A Wise Guy

January 6, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 1:1-3
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      Wouldn’t it have been great, if today when you woke up you had all the answers to everything? Everyone would come to you for advice on how to do this or that. In addition, because you’re so wise, everyone would listen to you. Oh to be so wise.

      Problem is, often those who are very smart, will trust their wisdom to get them through life. Instead of relying on God, they choose to trust their judgments and mind power. Sadly, that wisdom will one day fail them, and they’ll end up hurt. With wisdom comes a responsibility to use what is known wisely. It’s not just wisdom, but also instruction, or a way to use wisdom.

      God told Solomon he would be the wisest man who ever lived. However, a lot of Solomon’s wisdom, which we have for our benefit, came from years of his trials and errors that we read about in Ecclesiastes. Fortunately, we don’t have to make those same mistakes to learn the instruction of wisdom, if we will simply listen to the words of God, through Solomon.

     Proverbs is a collection of wise statements about the deductions of life. This book contains wisdom, instruction, and help in gaining a true understanding of the ways of life. It will help us judge what’s fair, what’s just, and to know what God see’s as right. Do you really want to know what the right choices are in life? Then pray today for a clear understanding of what God has to say to us through Solomon this year, as we go through the book of Proverbs.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

      I’m sorry you didn’t wake up today with all the answers to the every area of life. However, you did wake up today with the ability to find it. It’s written out for you in the pages of the Bible. Take time everyday to spend with God. He creates every day to spend with you.

What will the two of you talk about today?

GOD TALKING TO ME:

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS

  January 6, 2020        Genesis 1  –  Genesis 4          Proverbs 1:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

  January 6, 2020       Genesis 18-20        Matthew 6:16-34     

Living In His Word Ministries
       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12