The Controlling Nature Of Sin 

February 28, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:21-23 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     In the world today, we see the promises of today’s verses played out in both our political, and religious communities. I heard a “so-called” pastor on TV trying to defend homosexuality as a choice given by God, while at the same time government agencies were trying to deny it by condemning Gay Marriage. The freedom to commit this sin has gone on so long; religious communities are divided as to whether it’s a life choice, or sin.

     Pornography is one of societies leading moneymakers. It’s as destructive as a runaway train. Yet businesses make billions, and our government takes in millions on the taxes paid on the sales of its products. I fear that soon today’s culture will embrace it, and simply add a sin tax to it like they do tobacco, and booze. It’s the idea, if you can’t wipe it out, tax it.

     Gambling, once considered to be sinful, is now accepted everywhere. Much of it owned, and promoted by government.

     Sin, left alone long enough will bind you. The Bible says we’ll be trapped “with the cords of his sins.” Sadly, millions today are caught in this trap. No matter our viewpoint on these sins, we are bound by the views of the majority. Don’t be mistaken, the majority will ultimately choose sin. As it says in Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” No matter how hard we try to tell them of what’s right, and point them to the Bible, they will die without receiving its instruction. Why? It’s because sin has become more important than obedience to God. Sex, drugs, pornography, alcohol, you name it. The world no longer control their sins, their sins now control them.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Dear friend, pray for our homes, our nation, this world, and help a new generation turn to Christ. Their understanding of God is our nation’s only hope.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 28, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 30 – 32     /     Proverbs 5:21-23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 8-9     /   Mark 8:1-21

WAIT! It’s Worth It

February 27, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:17- 20 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     With so many broken homes today, we see the devastation of not waiting for true love before marriage. Multitudes of children are born to parents who are not married, and not committed to each other. If we cannot commit to one another, how can we possibly believe we are committed to raising a child together? This lack of forethought isn’t the child’s fault. This sweet innocent miracle from God comes into the world with their eyes wide open, and an expectation from the very first moment, that someone here loves them, wants them, really cares, and has thought about their life. However, many children are born with very little, if any thought by the parents of a child’s needs, or their future. Some children are looked upon as problems, instead of the blessings they really are.

     Finding the right person in life is so important. It’s not about physical attraction only, but the spiritual compatibility as well. You need to be attracted to a person; however, you need to know who they are. For example, if they believe in one form of religious practices, and you another, there is a problem. In addition, if you change your beliefs for another person, either you never held any conviction to your beliefs, or you probably had no biblical reason for changing those beliefs. So later in life, when raising a child, you’ll begin to wonder which belief truly is the right way to teach your child. Finding a mate for life takes time, prayer, and patience, but is so, so worth it. Your devotion to the children will be united. Your decisions to help them will be the same. Find God’s person for you, and you’ll have found the person to help you raise the miracles God places in your home. 


THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Children are meant to be a blessing in our home. They deserve a mother and father who love them, and will help them in this long road of life. What a blessing it is to see them grown up, and to serve God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 27, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 26 – 29     /     Proverbs 5:17- 20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 7     /     Mark 7

God’s Designs Are Best

February 26, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:14-16 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What is a cistern? It’s a place water can flow into, to be controlled. What is a well? It’s a certain place from which to draw water. What about a fountain? Fountains spray water around for everyone to see, yet keeps all the water for itself. How about a river? A river directs water from one place to another and keeps it within its banks.

     At the time of the writing of this passage of scripture, water was very scarce and valuable. Solomon is using word pictures to help us understand the value of an intimate relationship. In the previous verses, he had just finished warning us about sinful sexual relations. A person might read this and wonder, is a physical relationship always sinful? Therefore, he takes the time to tell us, in the right framework, it defiantly is not.

     The wife here is referred to as a Cistern, and Well. This shows her great value, as she has within her the ability to bring great joy to her husband like no other. Water is a picture of that passionate, loving relationship. It is so valuable to a marriage. Many believe when today’s verses speak of the water in the streets, it’s referring to the children produced from this intimate monogamous relationship. How they might bring honor in the place where you live.

     Think of what happens if a fountain cracks, and begins to leak, or a river overflows its banks. This is a serious problem, which can destroy, and take lives. So it is with untamed love.

     Love is precious, and designed to be very special, and personal. Solomon wants his son to know, marital relationships are not to be lived without the joys of the passionate love which God created. However, it is always meant to stay within the boundaries of marriage relationship.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     An intimate relationship between a husband and wife, is one of the closest bonds a couple might experience. God knew this when he designed it. Enjoying life together with our mate was God’s desire, and design. God’s designs are always the best.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 26, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 22-25      /     Proverbs 5:14-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 4-6     /   Mark 6:32-56

What’s Really COOL?

February 25, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:10-13 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Do you remember back to the day you graduated from High School? I remember most of my classmates saying things like; “I’m Free… I’m Finally Free,” and, “No more people telling me what to do!” However, reality sets in not too long after the graduation is done. There is no more school for some, but there will always be someone telling you what needs to be done.

     Yet with graduation, there is a sense of being your own person, an independence that seems liberating. The sad fact was, some of those who graduated from my class, had already messed up a good share of their life. Some guys had gotten their girlfriends pregnant, and now had to support a family, or pay child support. Generally, it turned out to be those who thought they were the big shots on campus. Mr. and Miss, “I’m too cool for most of you.” You know them. However, the image they wanted to portray as being so COOL, caused them to try to be something they should not have been. When they should have been enjoying the life of a teen, they were trying too hard to be an adult. Then, when they ended up as parents before school was out, they appeared as if they had lost a lot of the “COOL” that was so important to them. They now heard people say things like, “Man you have messed up your life,” Or “What a waste, they had so much going for them.”

     That’s exactly what today’s scripture says. If you play with sin, you lose. You lose honor, possibilities slip by, and often you end up paying court fees, child support, or doctor bills. Some have serious health issues, and others lost their life. Looking back, they most likely wonder, why didn’t I just wait? The short time playing in sin wasn’t worth it. Not so “COOL” after all.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Is it worth it? Is sin really worth it? Is it worth the shame, and ridicule? Is it worth the disappointment you experience later? Is it worth dishonoring God? Is it worth the rest of your life? The best answer to all these questions is, absolutely NOT.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 25, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 18-21      /     Proverbs 5:10-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 1-3     /   Mark 6:1-31

Stay Clear Of The Scary House

February 24, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 5:6-9 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Over the years, I have heard so many people tell of a house in his, or her neighborhood, that seemed spooky. For some it was an old abandon house, and as the story goes, it’s said that people lost their life there, and the house was now filled with ghosts. For others, it was a house where an elderly couple lived. Somehow, they seemed angry, and upset most of the time. (Could it possibly have been because of all of the annoying neighborhood kids?) Nevertheless, stories start to go around of how they are mean old people who will do you harm if you go near the house. For whatever reason there always seemed to be, in every neighborhood, a house kids did not want to go near. Although the stories of these places were most likely made up, and highly exaggerated, the fear of these houses was very real. No one had to beg children to get away from there; they just did not go there. The fear of what might happen was all it took to keep them away.

     Solomon once again begs his son not to turn away from his sayings. Unlike the stories of the haunted houses, and mean older people, these sayings are not made up. These are life’s tried, and true words of wisdom. Solomon wanted his son, and all who read these words, to have that same type of childlike fear, when it came to the ways of sin. Stay away from it. Let the fear of what might happen keep you from it. Because, behind every door of sin there lies in waiting disappointment, dishonor, disease, despair, and even doom. You’ll not go inside the place of sin, if you never go near sin’s door. 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Knock knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you did not fall for sins tricks. Ok, so it’s a bad joke. However, it’s a joy to be right. Right with man, and right with God. RIGHT?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 24, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Numbers 15 – 17      /     Proverbs 5:6-9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 26 – 27      /     Mark 5