getting smart.

[Proverbs 14:15-16]

“Hey Mister, I'll bet you $5 I know where you got your shoes!”

One of the funniest street cons I ever saw while living in New Orleans goes something like this --

Young street con, walking up to a wide-eyed tourist: “I bet you $5 I know where you got your shoes!”

Tourist, scratching his head: “There’s no way you could know where I got these! What do you mean?”

Young street con: “I DO know where you got them, I bet you $5 I know where you got them.”

Tourist, confused but taking the bait: “Ok, I’ll take the bet. So, where did I get these shoes from?”

Young street con: “That's easy, Mister, you got your shoes ON YOUR FEET!”

Tourist shakes his head, smiles and gives up his 5 bucks.

Jesus loves people. One look at the cross reminds us that He, quite literally, loves us to death. A look at Peter reminds us that He is a giver of second chances. And we remember from looking again at the “love chapter” in I Corinthians 13 that “love believes all things”.

But from Scripture we also see that there were definitely times when Jesus did not put His trust in people, because He knew exactly what was in their hearts.

The reason Jesus came to us was to get to the Cross to save us from our own sinful hearts. Ironically, in order to accomplish His mission, we see occasions where He walked right past the people He came to save.

God wants to do His mission through you. Love people, as He loved people. But be aware that He may whisper to you, on occasion, that you need to walk right past people who want to trick you or do you harm.

We often think of Jesus being all-wise, holy, all-knowing, unconditional in His love, all-powerful. But, as one writer has put it, how often do we think of Jesus as being smart?

God, help us to be smart in our interactions with people, give us Your wisdom to know how to love people in a way that glorifies You.

[references - John 2:24; I Corinthians 13:7]

Fine Lines: Should we have friends who don't love Jesus? [Proverbs 13]

Proverbs 13:20 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

I had a couple of friends in high school who really didn’t love Jesus. Oh, if you asked them, they might say they were Christians, they might even say that they loved God. But their words and actions proved otherwise.

While they were my friends, and we enjoyed laughing and hanging out together, I invariably found myself in situations with them where I felt pressure to do something that I knew was un-Godly, un-Christlike. I hated those crucial moments, those "Crossroads". I did not always make the wisest decisions in those moments, rejecting the truth of God, and choosing, rather, to sin with them. I'm thankful that God let me experience His conviction in times like those, and that He didn't just give up on me. I'm also so grateful for the grace He so often gave to respond in Godly ways to the pressure, and to walk away from those situations that would have saddened His heart.

Is it wrong to have friends like that?

Two truths we find in God’s Word related to relationships call for wisdom in practical application. Living daily in these truths can often feel like walking a tightrope.

Yes, we need to hangout with people who are lost without Jesus. Isn’t that what we see our Master doing, as He walked (literally) from place to place, healing and teaching, rebuking and preaching? Did He not stop to hang out with broken, sinful people, eating with them and conversing with them? Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Two ways we can do that is by loving Him more than anyone or anything, and by loving people enough to make them followers of Jesus, as well. This means God wants us to be with people, all kinds of people.

It is also true that we are not to walk in the ways of the world. The Bible talks a lot about walking. I’ve had brothers in Christ ask me, “How’s your walk with the Lord?” What’s the deal with “walking”? When we are walking with someone, it means that we are going in the same direction together. In life, it’s impossible for us to partner with a rebel of Jesus (we are all rebels against God before He saves us) without suffering harm, without becoming foolish and losing our way, without being sucked into worldly, ungodly ways.

A couple of practical suggestions: First, when you spend time with your non-Christian friends, make sure you’re not the only believer; make it a point of having at least one or two Christian friends with you. This makes it easier for you not to go along with something your unbelieving friends want to do that you know would be disappointing to God. It also provides more opportunity for you to more naturally converse about the things that are important to you, which, of course, includes your relationship with Jesus.

Second, don’t let yourself get interested in a person of the opposite sex who is not a whole-hearted follower of Jesus. Remember that the most discouraging moments of loneliness you may feel as a single are nothing compared to the isolation, frustration, suffering and regret you will experience if you choose to marry a person who does not love Jesus.

During high school and college, I would sometimes listen to the music of Wayne Watson. Great voice, great songwriter. Below, I’ve cut and pasted portions of the lyrics from a song he wrote called “The Fine Line” that kind of help illustrate what I’m talking about.

I pray that God will bless you with His wisdom today, as you walk the fine lines.

The Fine Line

by Wayne Watson

There's a fine line
Between taking bread with a lost man
And being consumed by his way
While reaching out in love
Temptation's right at your door
Guard what you're thinkin' of
It's a fine line

[Chorus]

So where do I walk, Where is my place
The straight and the narrow
The road of grace
Holdin' fast to You, Walkin' at Your pace
Walkin' on the fine line
Walkin' on the fine line
Walkin' on the fine line

When I hide my eyes
From the darkest of our life's insanity
From the worst of the world's profanity
I've gotta be careful
I don't miss anyone in need of me
It's a fine line--Oh yes, it's a fine line

Do dogs go to Heaven? [Proverbs 12]

It must be dozens of times that I've heard you ask me about what Heaven is going to be like, and very often, you've asked about animals and whether or not they will spend eternity with us.

All I can tell you is that we humans are created in the image of God. We're different from animals. There's nothing I've read in the Bible that seems to show that animals and pets will be in Heaven.

But that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be any animals there, either.

Usually, when you've asked, I think my answer to you included a statement something like this: Heaven is going to be so wonderful that even if your pets and animals you love are not there, it won't matter at all to you, because whatever you are going to experience in Heaven will be infinitely more enjoyable than anything you've experienced on earth, including your love for and enjoyment of animals.

But there's another question that I think God would say is more important that "do dogs go to Heaven?" Proverbs 12:10 says, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast." Right now, in this life, how do you treat animals?

More than likely, the background here in 12:10 is farming. Does a man take care of the ox, or his donkey, which labors for him in the fields, or helps him get from his home to the market? Does he feed and water his animals? Does he abuse them, strike them unnecessarily?

I don’t think this applies to hunting. When you kill an animal, a deer for example, for food, that’s not being cruel to the animal. This is God’s provision for man. Hunters are more often the best conservationists and usually more appreciative of animals and their habitats than non-hunters.

Thankfully, I’ve observed all three of you being very kind to animals. That’s not true of everyone.

We went to a cookout at our neighbor’s house one day. I was out in the yard, helping the dad grill some burgers. His dog did something that the dad really didn’t like. I don’t really remember what it was, but I know for certain the dog did nothing worthy of a hard kick to his backside, but that’s exactly what my friend did. He kicked his dog really hard near the dogs hind legs and then said something to me like this: “You know, I think a dog is just a dog, and every now and then you gotta just kick ‘em.”

The way you treat animals can be an indication of how close you are to God. It shows whether or not you are allowing His righteousness to rule, or your own self-will, emotions and/or understanding.

So, no, I’m afraid that I cannot answer the question about doggies and heaven. But I would say enjoy your animals today; be kind to them. I think that Heaven will be more enjoyable for you as a result, wonderful beyond imagination, with or without animals.

When you're confused...Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11

There is a place in Scripture which says that God is not the author of confusion. In other words, if you are feeling confused, frustrated, burdened about not knowing what is the best way to go, you can be assured that this is not coming from God.

"The integrity of the upright guides them..." (11:2) With "integrity", I believe we get the picture of someone who is a child of the Creator God, who has been given the righteousness of
God. This person is not confused or bewildered, is not overcome by feelings of not knowing what to do, because there is always and forever only one thing to do, or better, only one thing to be.

"Be" the person God has re-created you to be, through the Cross of Christ. He loves you unconditionally, and you belong to Him.

"Do" the will of God, which He has clearly revealed, and continues to reveal to you, by His Word. He has put His Spirit in you to remind you, at this and any other moment, of His wisdom and His ways.

The tongue of the "Me monster" (Proverbs 10)

Three times here in Proverbs 10 we find the words, "a babbling fool will come to ruin."

As disciples of Jesus, we are owned by our Creator. We have been purchased by and through His blood. Through the supernatural work of the Cross, we are now able to yield all that we are to Him; this includes allowing Him to control what we say, or don't say.

Sometimes, we fall short of His glory in this area because we fear what someone might think, and we keep our mouths shut when we should be unashamedly sharing about who Jesus is and what He's done for us. Or, perhaps, we are so self-focused on a given day that we forget about giving a word of encouragement or comfort to a brother or sister who really needs it.

But very often we sin by saying too much, by speaking at all when we should remain silent, instead of babbling on and on.

Our family was recently watching a comedian who illustrated this last point beautifully. He used the phrase, "Me Monster" to describe that monster inside of him who wants to assert himself into every conversation, always talking about "me, me me." Unfortunately, I could totally relate to what he was saying.

My Me Monster looks something like this: A friend is relating his experience to me, and I have no clue as to what he's saying because I want to blurt out what the all-important "I" have to say. I wait impatiently for my friend to take a breath, so I can jump in. I want him to think highly of me, to know that my experience is bigger and better than his, and that I am capable and wise.

But, at that moment, quite the opposite is true. At that moment, I am letting that old man who still exists inside of me to have his way. At that moment, far from being wise, I'm a babbling fool, not far from ruin.

God's Spirit in us is greater; greater than our Adversary, greater than this foolish, selfish Me generation that we live in, and greater than the presence of the old sinful nature that still, at least for a time, remains with us.

If in such moments I will yield my heart to Him, then my tongue will follow. My out-of-control tongue is symptomatic of my underlying heart condition ("for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" Luke 6:45). But, if I ask Him, God will give wisdom to my foolish heart (see James 1:5 and also chapter 3. Actually, just read the whole book of James!).

God's mercy reigns, His wisdom prevails. I'm free to listen to my friend. I can hear God's Spirit. I know that I am accepted by Him, that I don't have to prove myself to my friend, frantically trying to "one-up" what he's telling me because I think I'm better than he is. Pride goes out the window, I can rest, God's grace is evident in the conversation, His presence felt, He is magnified.

God, let our hearts rest in Your goodness, and help us yield to You in what we say or don't say.

Proverbs 9 - Attitude check

How do you respond to the person who corrects you?

I confess that, initially, I have a tendency to reject correction. I sometimes think, "What right do YOU have telling me what I should or should not do? Or how I should/should not be?"

If I allow this attitude to prevail, according to verses 7-9, then I am a scoffer, a wicked man.

The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin and, at times, may do this through the gentle correction of a brother or sister.

Thank God that because of Christ and His cross, we are able to be humbly grateful to the one who corrects us. "Reprove a wise man and he will love you."

God, we ask for grace today to have a teachable spirit and for wisdom to love those who correct us. Help us to repent and move forward in our walk with You.

Thoughts for my kids: The Deep Wisdom of God (Proverbs 8)

Today, July 8, 2010, your mom and I, along with your Granny and Pawpaw, took you children to Blue Springs in Jackson County, Florida. You guys were 6, 10 and 12-years-old; do you remember this day? The waters were crystal clear and stinging cold!

We got to Blue Springs Recreational Park early, and had to wait almost an hour for the park to open. Even though it was mid-morning, you three were already wilting from the heat, and you were bothered by the gnats that were continually flying around your eyes and ears. But, you forgot all about the gnats and the heat when you slid down that long slide into the icy blue water. The shock of cold took your breath away!

A huge raft was anchored in the middle of the swimming area, and do you remember the diving board? Directly beneath that board, about 15-20 feet to the bottom, was the mouth of a huge underwater cave from which the spring flowed, about 64 million gallons of fresh water per day, we learned.

I watched you plunge from the diving board into the blue, directly above that black hole of a cave, still far beneath you (at least two of you did; my middle child was not in a diving mood on this day!).

I watched from beneath you with my swim goggles on, and I was amazed at the enormity of the cave and the gushing current it generated from the depths of the earth beneath Blue Springs Park.

Proverbs 8 tells us that God's wisdom was there when he created the heavens, and "established the fountains of the deep" (8:28). In fact, long before there were "springs abounding with water" (8:24), God's wisdom had already been brought forth.

Kids, if this time has not already come for you, there will soon be, I believe, a time when your faith in Christ will be seriously challenged by those who do not have faith in God. They will use clever-sounding arguments to try to prove to you what a fool you are for following Jesus. You'll also find these arguments on television, in books and magazines, movies and perhaps in your college/university classroom, depending on where you go to school (if God leads you to go to college one day).

Proverbs 8:4 says, "To you, O men, I [the wisdom of God] call, and my cry is to the children of man." You will be saved from MUCH heartache, much confusion, much time-wasting and evil doing, if you will only listen to and carefully heed God's wisdom. All you have need of, you will find in Him. If there is something or someone you think you need, and God does not provide it for you, then understand that He knows that you are requesting something from Him that you do not need at all.

If you are uncertain about what to do, ask God for His wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).

I pray as you see and experience God's creation, you will understand better how much He loves you. And I pray that if you ever swim in Blue Springs again, or when you think about the ocean depths, or see the lakes and rivers around you, you will let yourself meditate on the ancient, perfect, true and deep wisdom of your all-wise, all-knowing, ever-present God.