Someone once said "The heart is an idol factory".
In Proverbs 7, there are warnings again, as in in Proverbs 5 & 6, for the young man to keep from the forbidden woman, the adulteress.
In the New Testament, our relationship with Jesus is compared to that of a husband and wife. In fact the Bible says that we are the Bride of Christ, and we are to remain faithful to Him, not going after any other god, but only after the one, true Creator God. We are to only worship Him.
So, it's good to think of Proverbs 7 as not only a warning against adultery, but as a reminder to all followers of Jesus not to wander into "heart" idolatry. "You are to have no other gods before Me," God says.
The one who does not fear God, who "lacks sense," does indeed worship, but does not worship our Creator. An American folk singer once sang, "It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but everybody's gotta serve somebody." Even the atheist, at heart, must place something as #1 in his or her life, and more often than not, we are on our own personal thrones. We pridefully place ourselves above all others, serving and worshiping ourselves.
And even you, one who belongs to Jesus, can have a wandering heart.
Don't be lazy in your thoughts and in your emotions/heart. Be on guard. Remember Kind David, who let down his guard, allowing his heart to wander from God one afternoon, and committed adultery, murder, and experienced the painful consequences of sin in the death of his child.
The heart is an idol factory, so by the power of Jesus, whose Spirit lives in you, be filled with His Spirit, and continually worship Him only in all that you think, do and say. Would you pray something like this? "God, give me grace every moment today to yield the throne of my heart to You, my Master and King!"
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thoughts for My Kids - Ants at Work [Proverbs 6]
As young kids, you seemed to really enjoy watching ants crawl around on the ground, especially in some of the places where we lived, where there was not that much else to do outside!
Read Proverbs 6:6-11. Note especially verse 6, which says, "Got to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise." The ant does exactly what God created the ant to do; He works very hard without anyone telling him to work. Ants simply work hard to provide food and shelter for themselves.
In relation to work, as you read the Bible, it's very clear that God expects you to work and not be lazy. No honorable work is too "low" for you, provided that it is pleasing to God, that it can be done in faith and for His glory, and is not against His Word in any way.
Consider Jesus, who did the dirty job of washing His disciples' feet. Take joy in doing your work well, no matter what kind of job it is, and whether you "enjoy" it or not. The Word tells you to do all to the glory of God.
Finally, there are two more points your father would like you to remember about work. First, Paul tells the church members in Thessalonica, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." Trust God to provide for your needs, and be obedient to joyfully labor in the work He provides for you this day. And, point two is this: if you are not faithful in the small things, how can God trust you with the big things?
This second point deserves some more comment. Let God be the one to promote you to more and greater responsibilities, if that be His will. But remember, regardless of whether or not you receive great responsibility in this life, the Scripture seems to indicate from Revelation 20:6 that we will one day "reign with Him." Yes, there will be no more pain, no sorrow, no tears in Heaven. But there will be something to DO in eternity with God. It will be perfect work, unlike any work on earth, I believe. It will not be work that is "dreadful" and tedious. I cannot help but think that this work, this "partnering with God" and living in His presence, will be something like the work that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the garden before the Fall. This "reigning" will be the pure joy of reigning with Jesus as His Bride throughout eternity, and no one here on this earth can fully understand, nor describe, what that mystery of reigning will be.
This work will be very special - the work and the reigning that He has trained you for in your lifetime on earth. So, be His faithful servant in the here and now, and you may be fully prepared for and enjoy His special plan and purpose for you in eternity.
Read Proverbs 6:6-11. Note especially verse 6, which says, "Got to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise." The ant does exactly what God created the ant to do; He works very hard without anyone telling him to work. Ants simply work hard to provide food and shelter for themselves.
In relation to work, as you read the Bible, it's very clear that God expects you to work and not be lazy. No honorable work is too "low" for you, provided that it is pleasing to God, that it can be done in faith and for His glory, and is not against His Word in any way.
Consider Jesus, who did the dirty job of washing His disciples' feet. Take joy in doing your work well, no matter what kind of job it is, and whether you "enjoy" it or not. The Word tells you to do all to the glory of God.
Finally, there are two more points your father would like you to remember about work. First, Paul tells the church members in Thessalonica, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." Trust God to provide for your needs, and be obedient to joyfully labor in the work He provides for you this day. And, point two is this: if you are not faithful in the small things, how can God trust you with the big things?
This second point deserves some more comment. Let God be the one to promote you to more and greater responsibilities, if that be His will. But remember, regardless of whether or not you receive great responsibility in this life, the Scripture seems to indicate from Revelation 20:6 that we will one day "reign with Him." Yes, there will be no more pain, no sorrow, no tears in Heaven. But there will be something to DO in eternity with God. It will be perfect work, unlike any work on earth, I believe. It will not be work that is "dreadful" and tedious. I cannot help but think that this work, this "partnering with God" and living in His presence, will be something like the work that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the garden before the Fall. This "reigning" will be the pure joy of reigning with Jesus as His Bride throughout eternity, and no one here on this earth can fully understand, nor describe, what that mystery of reigning will be.
This work will be very special - the work and the reigning that He has trained you for in your lifetime on earth. So, be His faithful servant in the here and now, and you may be fully prepared for and enjoy His special plan and purpose for you in eternity.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Thought for My Kids - For dudes only (Proverbs 5)
Okay, sorry girls, but this one is for the guys, and for you, son, in particular.
If you can learn this lesson while you're young, it can save you years of heartache later in life.
(5:3) - So, who is this strange, forbidden woman that you are being warned about in Proverbs 5? This group of wise sayings is a warning to not be involved with any girl or woman who is not your wife.
You are to treat all women respectfully. We see many examples of how Jesus treated women, even those women whom others considered "bad", with dignity and respect. Remember the woman at the well in Samaria? (see John 4), and also the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8? And for those who are followers of Jesus, the Bible tells you that you are to treat younger women as you would sisters, and older women as you would mothers (I Timothy 5:2).
But there is only one woman that you are to relate to in an intimate, sexual way, and that is your wife. Any other woman for you is to be considered a "forbidden" woman. You are to (5:8) "keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house."
Jesus goes further in Matthew 5:27-30 - "everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Why is this? Is to even wrong to look at an attractive female?
The human body is good. God said so. In Genesis, we see that God looked at His creation and said it was good. So, a woman's body is good. Our bodies are not "evil". But you are not to look at a "forbidden" woman's body (and this must include our imaginations, as we are able to bring up these pictures in our "mind's eye", as some have called it.) because that woman is NOT your wife. This sexual intimacy is reserved by God for pro-creation and for enjoyment between you and your one and only life partner and helper, your wife.
Sex is also good and beautiful, as God designed it to be, within the boundary of the marriage relationship. To see the devastating results of going outside this God-ordained, God-designed boundary, you need only look at the remaining verses of Proverbs 5, and the second half of Proverbs 6.
But think again about the beginning. What one thing did our Creator God say was NOT good? It was not good that man was alone, and did not have a good helper for him. Then He made woman, and brought her to man.
God is our Provider (5:17-18). He is always faithful, son, and in His grace to you, He will provide one of two things: 1. Grace to live a pure life, staying far away from sexual sins, and focusing your best efforts on following Him. In this you may greatly rejoice, as you are able to give full attention to Him in your life as a single, not being hindered in any way by the need to provide for and give attention to a wife's needs [see I Cor. 7:32]. Or, 2. He will provide for you a suitable help-mate, as He did Adam, and then you may "rejoice in the wife of your youth," as we read in Proverbs 5.
If you can learn this lesson while you're young, it can save you years of heartache later in life.
(5:3) - So, who is this strange, forbidden woman that you are being warned about in Proverbs 5? This group of wise sayings is a warning to not be involved with any girl or woman who is not your wife.
You are to treat all women respectfully. We see many examples of how Jesus treated women, even those women whom others considered "bad", with dignity and respect. Remember the woman at the well in Samaria? (see John 4), and also the woman caught in adultery in John chapter 8? And for those who are followers of Jesus, the Bible tells you that you are to treat younger women as you would sisters, and older women as you would mothers (I Timothy 5:2).
But there is only one woman that you are to relate to in an intimate, sexual way, and that is your wife. Any other woman for you is to be considered a "forbidden" woman. You are to (5:8) "keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house."
Jesus goes further in Matthew 5:27-30 - "everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Why is this? Is to even wrong to look at an attractive female?
The human body is good. God said so. In Genesis, we see that God looked at His creation and said it was good. So, a woman's body is good. Our bodies are not "evil". But you are not to look at a "forbidden" woman's body (and this must include our imaginations, as we are able to bring up these pictures in our "mind's eye", as some have called it.) because that woman is NOT your wife. This sexual intimacy is reserved by God for pro-creation and for enjoyment between you and your one and only life partner and helper, your wife.
Sex is also good and beautiful, as God designed it to be, within the boundary of the marriage relationship. To see the devastating results of going outside this God-ordained, God-designed boundary, you need only look at the remaining verses of Proverbs 5, and the second half of Proverbs 6.
But think again about the beginning. What one thing did our Creator God say was NOT good? It was not good that man was alone, and did not have a good helper for him. Then He made woman, and brought her to man.
God is our Provider (5:17-18). He is always faithful, son, and in His grace to you, He will provide one of two things: 1. Grace to live a pure life, staying far away from sexual sins, and focusing your best efforts on following Him. In this you may greatly rejoice, as you are able to give full attention to Him in your life as a single, not being hindered in any way by the need to provide for and give attention to a wife's needs [see I Cor. 7:32]. Or, 2. He will provide for you a suitable help-mate, as He did Adam, and then you may "rejoice in the wife of your youth," as we read in Proverbs 5.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thoughts for My Kids - Keep your eye on the ball [Proverbs 4]
Think about the times someone pitched a baseball to you. What would have happened had you been blindfolded? Or what happens when you simply fail to watch the ball closely? The same can be said for someone trying to hit a golf ball. You must see/watch the ball, and, in golf, you must keep your head down!
(4:4-5) You must hold fast to the Creator God's Truth. "Get wisdom; get insight." This is just like that baseball or golf ball.
All of your life, from inside you and from the outside of you, forces will be exerted upon you that will attempt to distract you and pull you away from knowing and trusting God and obeying His truth. Namely, from the New Testament, these influences are summed up in three words:
1. The world - This is the same as the "fools" mentioned in Proverbs, and the pervasive system of thought on planet earth today...any "world-view" that is a non-Biblical worldview. 2. Your flesh - your old, pre-Christian ways and thoughts that are still present in your life, for the time being (until heaven!) that still exert an influence upon you. 3. The devil - Satan, your enemy, who is real and wants to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you, but whose only power over you is in trying to make you believe in his lies. He is the father of lies and can only lie.
(4:25-27) "Let your eyes look directly forward. Do not swerve..." God has given, is giving, and will continue to give you everything you need to please Him and glorify Him.
It's easy, because this victory is all by His power. Remember Jesus' words, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." and the scripture, "Greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world." And, again, as Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
To please and glorify God by yielding in obedience to His word, even in the middle of distraction, temptation, and the attacks of the enemy, is possible. It is the normal way for you, Jesus' disciple, as long as you are taking advantage of the grace He gives you to FOCUS. So, don't be distracted - not even in a single moment of a single day - do not swerve to the right or to the left, obey Jesus, and keep your eye on the ball!
(4:4-5) You must hold fast to the Creator God's Truth. "Get wisdom; get insight." This is just like that baseball or golf ball.
All of your life, from inside you and from the outside of you, forces will be exerted upon you that will attempt to distract you and pull you away from knowing and trusting God and obeying His truth. Namely, from the New Testament, these influences are summed up in three words:
1. The world - This is the same as the "fools" mentioned in Proverbs, and the pervasive system of thought on planet earth today...any "world-view" that is a non-Biblical worldview. 2. Your flesh - your old, pre-Christian ways and thoughts that are still present in your life, for the time being (until heaven!) that still exert an influence upon you. 3. The devil - Satan, your enemy, who is real and wants to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you, but whose only power over you is in trying to make you believe in his lies. He is the father of lies and can only lie.
(4:25-27) "Let your eyes look directly forward. Do not swerve..." God has given, is giving, and will continue to give you everything you need to please Him and glorify Him.
It's easy, because this victory is all by His power. Remember Jesus' words, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." and the scripture, "Greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world." And, again, as Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
To please and glorify God by yielding in obedience to His word, even in the middle of distraction, temptation, and the attacks of the enemy, is possible. It is the normal way for you, Jesus' disciple, as long as you are taking advantage of the grace He gives you to FOCUS. So, don't be distracted - not even in a single moment of a single day - do not swerve to the right or to the left, obey Jesus, and keep your eye on the ball!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Thoughts for My Kids - Learn the Word! [Proverbs 3]
(3:1) Do not forget God's Word, the Bible. Keep, obey, trust in, live by God's command. We are not supposed to do good in order to be noticed by others. This is pride. We are prideful when we our desire is to appear before others as "good", and/or when we want to think of ourselves as better than others.
But, "let your HEART keep My commandments". This is the desire of the one who fears God. Your obey God's Word because that is what you want to do more than anything else in the world; this desire only comes from God, and has nothing to do with how good you are. Praise and give glory to God, if this is the desire of your heart, because this is His gift to you.
(3:3) God's Word is proof of His "steadfast love" and "faithfulness". He has shown how much He loves us by revealing Himself to us in His Word.
So, now what? We have this gift - In His steadfast love and faithfulness, God's given us faith and a genuine desire to keep His Word. What do we do? Do things to remind yourself of God's Word, of the Scripture. Memorize and meditate on Bible verses. In the Old Testament, in the book of Deuteronomy (see chapter 6), it seems that the Israelites, God's chosen people, somehow tied copies of God's law to their hands, and they even marked the doorposts of their homes with written portions of God's Word.
(3:4) This is why your Mom and Dad continually talk about, teach and remind you of the Truth of God found in the Bible. Remember Jesus. The Bible says that He increased in wisdom, and in stature (He grew up from a child to a man), and in favor with God and man. This same Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, lives inside of you and will work in you, so that you may live a life that is pleasing to Him.
But, "let your HEART keep My commandments". This is the desire of the one who fears God. Your obey God's Word because that is what you want to do more than anything else in the world; this desire only comes from God, and has nothing to do with how good you are. Praise and give glory to God, if this is the desire of your heart, because this is His gift to you.
(3:3) God's Word is proof of His "steadfast love" and "faithfulness". He has shown how much He loves us by revealing Himself to us in His Word.
So, now what? We have this gift - In His steadfast love and faithfulness, God's given us faith and a genuine desire to keep His Word. What do we do? Do things to remind yourself of God's Word, of the Scripture. Memorize and meditate on Bible verses. In the Old Testament, in the book of Deuteronomy (see chapter 6), it seems that the Israelites, God's chosen people, somehow tied copies of God's law to their hands, and they even marked the doorposts of their homes with written portions of God's Word.
(3:4) This is why your Mom and Dad continually talk about, teach and remind you of the Truth of God found in the Bible. Remember Jesus. The Bible says that He increased in wisdom, and in stature (He grew up from a child to a man), and in favor with God and man. This same Jesus, by His Holy Spirit, lives inside of you and will work in you, so that you may live a life that is pleasing to Him.
Thoughts for My Kids - Take up your shield! [Proverbs 2]
(2:4) What are we to seek? People strive daily, spending their time, money and best efforts going after fame, recognition, a life of ease, and more money. But we who love and fear God are to call out for insight and understanding, for God's wisdom. This should be what you desire to seek after.
God's Spirit lives in you, if you are a child of God, and your desires will - supernaturally - be different from the desires of those who do not know and love our Creator God.
(2:7) Your faith should match up with your works. What you say you believe - God's Truth - and your actions should match up. This is living a life of integrity. This is opposite of what we call hypocrisy. If you are living a life of integrity, then you must be leave the results of this to God.
"He is a shield to those who walk in integrity". There will be times when you obey Jesus, yet not be rewarded for it, at least it may not appear this way to yourself or others. In fact, all may seemingly go "wrong" for you in this life, in the world's view. Think of Jesus and how our Lord was falsely accused, enduring great shame and injustice on His way to and during his suffering for us on the cross. And you, too, may suffer and die.
But God is your shield. You are saved, you are being saved, and you will be saved because of Jesus. Your life is hidden, as the Bible says, with Christ in God. As you seek God, loving and fearing Him alone and not fearing people, your body may suffer and be killed, but the real you lives eternally with Him, your shield. Remember Paul's words, "to live is Christ, to die is gain."
God's Spirit lives in you, if you are a child of God, and your desires will - supernaturally - be different from the desires of those who do not know and love our Creator God.
(2:7) Your faith should match up with your works. What you say you believe - God's Truth - and your actions should match up. This is living a life of integrity. This is opposite of what we call hypocrisy. If you are living a life of integrity, then you must be leave the results of this to God.
"He is a shield to those who walk in integrity". There will be times when you obey Jesus, yet not be rewarded for it, at least it may not appear this way to yourself or others. In fact, all may seemingly go "wrong" for you in this life, in the world's view. Think of Jesus and how our Lord was falsely accused, enduring great shame and injustice on His way to and during his suffering for us on the cross. And you, too, may suffer and die.
But God is your shield. You are saved, you are being saved, and you will be saved because of Jesus. Your life is hidden, as the Bible says, with Christ in God. As you seek God, loving and fearing Him alone and not fearing people, your body may suffer and be killed, but the real you lives eternally with Him, your shield. Remember Paul's words, "to live is Christ, to die is gain."
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Thoughts for My Kids from Proverbs - What will you be when you grow up? [Proverbs 1]
The purpose behind the wise sayings recorded in Proverbs is to help you live life in a way that is pleasing to your Creator, to live life the way He designed for you to live it. All else is loss, vain, foolish, or, as Paul says in Philippians when talking about knowing and loving Jesus, all else is "rubbish".
Ecclesiastes says to remember your Creator, while you are young. Don't waste your life, realizing so late Who IS your life. Proverbs 1:7 - Most people in the world do not fear the one true Creator God. Just because someone chooses not to acknowledge God does not mean, of course, that God does not exist (man is not a creation of God!), nor does it mean that He doesn't know these people or what they do. He knows all, and will judge all of us.
The most intelligent scientist in the world is nothing if he/she does not fear God. In fact, many of the problems we have today come from foolish decisions made by very talented, knowledgeable people. Who or what guides the scientist or inventor in their decision-making? Who or what is to prevent them from devising harmful theories and products? Genetically modifying wheat, for example, has led to horrible health problems for those today whose bodies cannot tolerate the hundred-fold increase in gluten in store-bought breads.
What about the lawmakers who pass legislation that goes against the clear teachings of the Word of God? What about the Most Valuable Player in sports who is a failure in his family life?
Fools do not want to honor God or His instruction; they would rather continue in their sin. Pride says, "I know best. I can decide what I want. I have the right to do what I want to do." This attitude is not of God and shows that a person is a slave of sin and not one who fears or loves God.
Whatever you do, do for God's glory. Who are you going to be when you grow up? Usually we ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" but the better question, is "WHO?" My heart's desire and prayer for you is that whatever God leads you to do... whether you're a teacher, nurse, firefighter, scientist, musician, etc., that you will do it for His glory, and you will continually know and fear and love your Creator God.
Ecclesiastes says to remember your Creator, while you are young. Don't waste your life, realizing so late Who IS your life. Proverbs 1:7 - Most people in the world do not fear the one true Creator God. Just because someone chooses not to acknowledge God does not mean, of course, that God does not exist (man is not a creation of God!), nor does it mean that He doesn't know these people or what they do. He knows all, and will judge all of us.
The most intelligent scientist in the world is nothing if he/she does not fear God. In fact, many of the problems we have today come from foolish decisions made by very talented, knowledgeable people. Who or what guides the scientist or inventor in their decision-making? Who or what is to prevent them from devising harmful theories and products? Genetically modifying wheat, for example, has led to horrible health problems for those today whose bodies cannot tolerate the hundred-fold increase in gluten in store-bought breads.
What about the lawmakers who pass legislation that goes against the clear teachings of the Word of God? What about the Most Valuable Player in sports who is a failure in his family life?
Fools do not want to honor God or His instruction; they would rather continue in their sin. Pride says, "I know best. I can decide what I want. I have the right to do what I want to do." This attitude is not of God and shows that a person is a slave of sin and not one who fears or loves God.
Whatever you do, do for God's glory. Who are you going to be when you grow up? Usually we ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" but the better question, is "WHO?" My heart's desire and prayer for you is that whatever God leads you to do... whether you're a teacher, nurse, firefighter, scientist, musician, etc., that you will do it for His glory, and you will continually know and fear and love your Creator God.
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