The Folly of Fools.

Proverbs 10

Doing wrong is fun for a fool, while wise conduct is a pleasure to the wise. ­– Proverbs 10:23 NLT

"I pity the fool…!" Those are the memorable words of "Clubber" Lang, the character played by Mr. T in the film classic, Rocky III. Okay, so I'm being a tad bit sarcastic. Any movie that features Mr. T in a starring role is destined for a life in the discount bins at the video rental store. But the line itself is a classic. And I think Solomon himself would have thoroughly agreed with it. In fact, Solomon did pity the fool and spent a great deal of time and energy addressing this particular individual. What he had to say about the fool was far from flattering, but it was driven by a concern for his well-being. It seems that Solomon understood that each and every one of us comes into this world a full-blow, card-carrying fool. The problem is, many of us never grow out of it. Our children, like us, are born fools. They lack wisdom, insight, understanding, and knowledge. So we spend countless hours trying to fill them with all four. And according to Solomon, we have our work cut out for us. Listen to how he describes the average fool:

… a foolish child brings grief to a mother – Vs 1

… babbling fools fall flat on their faces – Vs 8

… fools will be punished with a rod – Vs 13

… the babbling of a fool invites trouble – Vs 14

… to slander is to be a fool – Vs 18

… the heart of a fool is worthless – Vs 20

… fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense – Vs 21

… Doing wrong is fun for a fool – Vs 23

Fools are directly associated with the wicked, the evil and the lazy. The Proverbs tell us that the person who denies, ignores, or neglects God is not only acting foolishly, but is characterized by a kind of godlessness. They act as if God does not exist – even while claiming to believe in Him. The fool has certain unmistakable characteristics:

He is thoughtless: not applying his thoughts about God; not thinking through the truth about God

He is dull: not being sharp in his thoughts about God. He is being sleepy-minded, slow, and sluggish toward God.

He is senseless: not using good common sense about God. He is acting contrary to good common sense. He is deficient in his thoughts about God.

He is without understanding: he does not grasp or comprehend God; he does not have the right ideas or thoughts about God.

He is ignorant of God: he does not know God. He has not learned God – has not looked at, thought about, studied, nor met, walked and fellowshipped with God.

He is unwise: he is acting contrary to wisdom; he is acting dangerously and foolishly.

But how do you know if you are a fool? How do we recognize the characteristics of a fool in the lives of our children, friends, work associates? Here are a few probing questions that might give us some insight. If the answers to any of these is "Yes," then they may be pointing to someone who is exhibiting fool-like symptoms. Go ahead, take the test yourself. And remember, if you score high, the solution is to seek wisdom. And you can find it right in the Word of God.

1.  Do you feel like your life is characterized more by righteousness or unrighteousness?

2.  Do you feel your life has been characterized by wisdom or a lack of wisdom?

3.  Do you feel you are realistic…about yourself?…about business?…about life?…about relationships?

4.  Do you consider yourself as highly disciplined or undisciplined?

5.  Do you have a temper?

6.  How does your temper manifest itself?

7.  Are you reliable…in your work?…with your words?

8.  Are you teachable?

9.  Do you struggle with any sexual sins?

10.  Would you say you are truthful?

11.  Do you tend to repeat past mistakes?

Father, sometimes we laugh at the foolishness we see around us. Rather than pity the fool, we smile about their behavior. Give us a desire to see our children move from foolishness to wisdom. Help us to recognize the characteristics of foolishness in our own lives, then come to You for wisdom. Father, foolishness is no laughing matter to You. Give us the same soberness of mind so that we might take it seriously and deal with it soberly. Amen





Wise Enough To Know Better.

Proverbs 8-9

All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech. ­– Proverbs 8:13 NLT

Do you hate what God hates? Do the things that cause Him to become angry stir you up as well? Solomon says that the wisdom that God offers us causes us to despise the things that God despises. As we gain wisdom from God, it provides us with insight and discernment, and diminishes the foolishness and gullibility that plagues most of mankind. We end up seeing more clearly the truth about God's plan and the lies of the enemy. We begin to understand that our own pride, arrogance and self-absorption are actually evil. Our constant focus on us is wrong. It keeps us from loving God because we are too busy loving ourselves. Only wisdom gives us the ability to see that. Without the wisdom of God, we are blinded to the destructive nature of our own pride, instead thinking that our self-interest is some kind of self-preservation. Wisdom helps us see the truth. It shows us that the way of evil is the wrong way. The New Living Translation renders this phrase into a single word, "corruption." But in the Hebrew is it actually two words and they can be translated "the evil way," "the wrong way of life," "evil behavior," or "a life marked by wrong choices." Wisdom helps us learn to despise the kind of life that the world offers up as normal. We are able to see that what the world tries to convince us of as good and acceptable behavior is actually wrong and destructive. It leads to no good. It offers up pleasure, but delivers misery. It sounds and looks so good, but in the end only disappoints. Wisdom alone can help us see this. Otherwise we end up buying the lie and experiencing the pain and suffering that comes from a life marked by wrong choices. Wisdom says, "those who miss me have injured themselves" (Proverbs 8:36 NLT).

Wisdom also gives us a healthy hatred for "perverted speech." The word rendered "perverted" here comes from another Hebrew word that conveys the idea of twisted or turned around. It is convoluted, backwards, confusing, saying what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. It is not just referring to inappropriate speech or using bad words. This has more to do with words that confuse the truth and cause us to go against the Word of God. They allows us to justify our behavior and rationalize our actions. The prophet Isaiah described it this way, "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter" (Isaiah 5:20 NLT). The Psalmist put it this way, "You love evil more than good, you call black white" (Psalm 52:3 MSG). Wisdom gives us the ability to see the twisted words and upside down thinking that pervades our culture, bombarding us with lies from the radio and TV, through music, movies and the media. We learn to discern that it is really twisting the truth of God and rejecting His way for another one. And we learn to hate it.

Wisdom hates all these things, because wisdom is of God. As we grow closer in our relationship to God, we see what He sees, we hate what He hates, we see truth more clearly with each passing day. The wisdom God offers cries out to me. It pleads with me to "Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise" (Proverbs 9:6 NLT). It's calling to you too. Do you hear it?

Father, I want to really live. I want to see with Your eyes, hear with Your ears, understand with Your mind. Give me Your wisdom Father. Help me to seek it like a lost treasure, to value it more than anything else in the world. I know that it is available to me if I search for it in Your Word. You will not just hand it to me. I must pursue it. Give me the determination and discipline to do so. Amen





The Complexities of Simplemindedness.

Proverbs 7

I was looking out the window of my house one day and saw a simpleminded young man who lacked common sense. ­– Proverbs 7:6-7 NLT

The character described in this Proverb is a familiar one. We can all think of someone just like him. Naive and simple, unaware of the danger that lurks around him, highly gullible and easily tempted to give in to the temptations of life. He's like the character you watch in a movie that is about to open a door, behind which lurks certain death, but he is oblivious that any danger exists. You want to scream at the TV, warning him to run. You wonder how he could be so unaware of what is really going on, when you see it so clearly.

But if the truth were known, there are times in every day where we take on the same characteristics. We become simpleminded. Open-minded. Naive. Gullible. The word used by Solomon to describe this young man is from a root word that means "spacious, open, wide." You might say it means "empty-headed" – someone lacking in sense, or to use a more up-to-date term, an airhead. He is easily enticed into danger, because he is oblivious to the danger surrounding him. He lacks the discernment to see that what looks so tempting and enticing is really deadly. Like a fish drawn to a tempting lure, this young man is drawn to the seductive appeal of a woman. She paints a highly attractive picture of the pleasure he can have if he will only give in to her message. Everything sounds so attractive. She appeals to his senses. She takes advantage of his unbridled sexual drive. She calls to his base, animal instincts. She is an expert at what she does. She knows exactly how to get to this young man. But her offer is all pleasure with no pain. Like Satan, she only presents the promise of satisfaction and enjoyment. She fails to give the young man the bad news. But Solomon knows the other side to this story. "He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:22-23 NLT). This was not going to turn out well. Sin seldom does. The lies of the enemy never deliver what they promise. They disappoint and destroy. They damage lives, reputations, and relationships. They leave behind a wake of regrets, guilt, and shame. They harden the heart and soften the resolve of men so that it becomes increasingly harder to say no the next time.

So Solomon calls out. He cries out. He warns this young man and generations of other men to come, that this danger is a reality. It is out there for all of us. We face it every day of our lives. And it is so easy to approach life in the same simpleminded manner. We reject the warnings of Scripture. We ignore the reality of an enemy who is out to destroy us. We think we can handle the temptations of life on our own. We listen to the seductive calls of the enemy and the world, hearing only what we want to hear – the tempting offers of pleasure with no pain, satisfaction at no cost. And in the end, we pay the price. Simplemindedness is costly and wisdom is the cure. The wisdom that God offers through His Word. Discernment comes from one source – God. And He makes it available to each and every one of us through the pages of the Bible.

Father, drive me to Your Word so that I am not so easily driven by my desires. Give me discernment so that I am not so easily susceptible to the temptations of life. Help me reject the life of the simpleminded and live the life of the wise. Amen





Lessons Learned the Hard Way.

Proverbs 5-6

How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way! ­– Proverbs 5:12 NLT

They say hindsight is 20-20. There is something powerful about the ability to look back at our mistakes and learn from them. Those lessons can be extremely clear in retrospect. As we look back on decisions we have made and see the trail of consequences, we tend to learn valuable lessons. We see our mistakes with greater clarity than we did living them out in real time. In the heat of the moment, we thought our decisions made sense. They felt right at the moment we made them. Our plan sounded so good. We just knew that everything was going to turn out well. Then given enough time, distance and pain, we discover the reality of blunder. "How I hated discipline! If only I had not demanded my own way!" It's in looking back that we see just how stubborn we had been. We refused to do things God's way, and instead determined that our way was better. We demanded to follow our own counsel and rejected God's. And the results were less than perfect.

So Solomon warns his son, and us, to learn from his mistakes. He begs us to listen to his counsel and not go through the same painful lessons. Yet those of us who have kids know that our children have this unique ability to refuse our advice. What we say seems to go in one ear and out the other. They roll their eyes and shake their heads, patiently putting up with our sage wisdom, but rejecting it in the end as antiquated, illogical, and out-of-touch with reality. They determine that they know better. They don't need our advice. And so they refuse to listen to our counsel, making their own decisions, living life on their own terms. And they learn the hard way.

As I read these Proverbs again, I can't help but hear the voice of God calling to me, begging me to listen to Him, to heed His counsel. He wants me to seek His wisdom and to pursue His understanding like a priceless treasure. But I refuse to listen. Like a stubborn teenager, I convince myself that I know best. My way is better than God's. And it is only in hindsight that I learn the folly of my ways. God patiently and lovingly allows me to reject His will for my own. He lets me learn from my mistakes. And as I grow older, the lessons finally begin to sink in. I start to learn that obedience is a lot less painful. Doing it His way really does work better. Learning doesn't have to hurt! God's way is the best way. I can trust Him on that.

Father, thank You for all the times You have patiently allowed me to do things my way. You have let me make my decisions and reap the results. But You have always been there to pick me up and set me back on my feet. You have never walked away from me in disgust, but have continue to patiently love me and instruct me, waiting for me to wake up and realize that Your way really is the best way. May I grow increasingly more aware of the truth of that reality. Amen





Wisdom at any Cost!

Proverbs 4

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. ­– Proverbs 4:5 NASB

What kinds of things do we spend our money on? Movies and music, the latest electronic gadgets, lattes and lunches, golf clubs and hunting rifles, handbags and hairstyling – the list goes on and on. The bottom line for most of us is if we want something bad enough, we figure out a way to get our hands on it. Even if it means going in debt to do it. Which makes the verse above so interesting. Here Solomon tells his son to acquire wisdom and understanding. That word can actually be translated "buy" or "purchase." It seems to carry the thought, "to possess at any cost." He is telling his son, and us, to make it our mission to get our hands on wisdom and understanding. They are both that valuable. He's not saying, "Son, you have got to have the latest iPhone or iPad." He is not telling his son to "acquire stock" in some Fortune 500 company. He is not telling him to spend his hard-earned money on good, reliabletransportation. No, he is pleading with his son to make it his mission in life to possess these two priceless commodities: wisdom and understanding.

But how do we obtain these two qualities or attributes. By using the term "acquire," Solomon is indicating that they will cost us something. There is a price involved. Both are only available from one source: God. And they do not come cheap. As Solomon tells us elsewhere, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10 NASB). So both of these valuable commodities begin and end with God. He is the source and the seller. Which means I have to deal with Him if I want to get my hands on them. The price? A healthy fear of God and a growing knowledge or understanding of Him. I grow in my fear of God as I spend time with Him. And my fear changes from a simple-minded dread based on ignorance to a multifaceted awe and reverence based on a growing knowledge of just how holy, powerful, and majestic God really is. But I don't acquire this understanding easily. The wisdom that God offers doesn't come cheap. It requires that I spend countless hours pursuing a relationship with Him. As I do, I will find myself wiser and more understanding. And the side benefits are pretty significant as well: God's provision and protection, guidance in the way of righteousness, life, health, and integrity. So it pays to purchase wisdom and understanding. It makes good fiscal sense to acquire them both. But to do so, I will have to make them a priority in my life. I will have to want them bad enough to spend what it takes to get them. I will need to give God my time, my undivided attention, my affection and devotion, my obedience and trust, and ultimately, my life. But it will be well worth the cost. Solomon put it this way: "The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18 NLT).

Father, I spend my time, money, and resources on a lot of things. And none of them can deliver what they promise, let alone what it is I really need. Which is wisdom and understanding. Only You can provide those two things and they do not come cheaply. They come from time spent with You. They are only available through effort spent in seeking an intimate relationship with You. You are the key to both. Never let me forget that. There is no other way. There is no discount for acquiring wisdom and understanding. Amen





Then you will…

Proverbs 2-3

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. ­– Proverbs 2:9 NLT

Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD…

Then you will what is right, just, and fair…

Then you will know how to find the right course of action every time…

Then you will find favor with both God and people…

Then you will gain a good reputation…

Then you will gain renewed health and vitality…

Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine…

There are some pretty significant promises in these two chapters, and they are all linked to our pursuit of and desire for wisdom. But not just any wisdom – the wisdom of God. Only God can grant it. So it would only make sense that we seek it from Him through His Word. The promises when we do are staggering. They sound almost too good to be true – much like the advertising claims for a new product or service. But these promises are far from empty. They are the commitments of a faithful God to His children. When we seek His wisdom, His will, and His way, we are blessed beyond belief. He will guard and guide us. He will protect and provide for us. He will help and heal us. He will give us an increasing awareness of His greatness and a growing appreciation for His kindness. The wisdom of God is essential to life in this fallen world and it is ours for the asking. He freely gives it to all those who seek it. But we must desire it enough to pursue it. We must need it enough to obey it. We must recognize its worth and rely on its direction. But where do we find this wisdom? On the pages of Scripture. In the words of the prophets, apostles, poets, and from the lips of Jesus Himself. To read God's Word is to hear from God Himself. He has filled the pages of the Bible with His revealed will and matchless character. He shows us His power, might, mercy, grace, love, holiness, righteousness, justice, and faithfulness – over and over again. He gives us a glimpse of His expectations as well as His exhortations. He speaks to us, encourages us, admonishes us, directs us, convicts us, comforts us, and reminds us of His unfailing love and unending mercy. All we need we find in His Word. So why don't we spend more time in it? Why don't we obey it? Why aren't we more passionate about it? The enemy, the flesh, and the world. They all three conspire to draw us away from the wisdom of God and attempt to replace it with a hollow alternative. The Proverbs are a call for us to remember where true wisdom comes from – from the lips of God Himself. Seek it and then you will …

Father, everything I need I can find in You. Your wisdom is sufficient to meet every need that comes my way. Yet I seek so many other things than You. I listen to so many other voices than Yours. Give me an increasing desire to hear Your Word and to obey it. May I grow in my ability to discern right from wrong as I grow in my knowledge of Your Word and Your will. Amen





Killed By Complacency.

Proverbs 1

That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen. For they are simpletons who turn away from me -- to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them. ­– Proverbs 1:31-32 NLT

We're all familiar with the verse in this proverb that says, "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7 NLT). But it goes on and reminds us, "Only fools despise wisdom and discipline." It seems clear when reading this proverb and virtually every other one, that to live without a fear of God is to reject the wisdom He offers through His Word. It is to live the life of a fool. I used to think the fool was some poor soul whose elevator didn't go all the way to the top floor, who was a few bricks short of a full load. He was the guy who just couldn't help doing foolish things. In most cases, I thought the fool was describing the typical non-believer. He was lost and without God in his life, so he ended up doing foolish things. But the more I read and studied Proverbs, the more convinced I became that the fool can just as easily be describing the typical believer. Essentially, a fool is someone who lives his life as if there is no God. I can believe in God and still live as if He doesn't exist. I can act in ways that are contrary to His commands and do so with a belief that He doesn't see what I am doing. I can say things that are offensive to His ears, but do so as if I believe He doesn't hear me. To live as if God doesn't see me or hear me is to live the life of a fool. To ignore His teaching, reject His discipline, or to fail to seek His counsel is to live like a fool.

You can have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and still eat the bitter fruit of living your own way. You can choose to ignore what Christ taught. You can decide to live your life according to your own terms. You can neglect the reading of your Bible and miss out on hearing from God, and end up experiencing the full terror of the path you have chosen. Solomon puts it this way: "Their own complacency will destroy them." That word translated "complacency" is rich in meaning. Positively, it can mean quietness, ease, or prosperity. But in this context, Solomon seems to be using its more negative meaning, which refers to a smugness, self-sufficiency, complacency or even careless security that can take over our lives when we think we have everything we need without God. In his commentary on Proverbs, C. H. Toy describes it as a “repose gained by ignoring or neglecting the serious responsibilities of life.” Our complacency as Christians can end up killing us. It can lull us into a dangerous sense of well-being. We can get so satisfied with our lives as they are, that we end up neglecting God's Word. We spend little or no time in it. And if we don't readGod's Word it is impossible to hear from the one who wrote it. And if we don't hear from Him, how are we supposed to obey Him? Our self-sufficiency ends up being self-destructive.

I reminds me of what God had to say to the church in Laodicea in the book of Revelation. "You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me -- gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference" (Revelation 3:17-19 NLT). Indifference. Complacency. Self-sufficiency. Smugness. They are all characteristics of the fool. That individual who has decided that he has no need of God's wisdom as revealed in His Word, no awareness of God's constant presence, no desire to hear what God may think of his plans, and no concept that his self-sufficiency is actually destroying him. "…they are simpletons who turn away from me -- to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them" (Proverbs 1:32 NLT).

Father, I have lived the life of the fool so often it's embarrassing. I have rejected or even ignored Your Word altogether. I have acted as if You don't even exist. I have become satisfied with my life as it was and unwilling to make the changes You have lovingly suggested. I have become complacent, smug, and self-sufficient far too often. Yet I know that Your wisdom is worth pursuing. It is more valuable than anything else I can pursue in life. Give me an increasing desire to seek Your wisdom. May Your Word become increasingly more satisfying to me. Amen





Love.

Song of Solomon

Place me like a seal over your heart, or like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, and its jealousy is as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. ­– Song of Solomon 8:6 NLT

This is probably one of the most hotly debated books in the Bible. The interpretations of its meaning are countless and questions regarding its purpose are endless. Some see it as an allegory with deeper spiritual meaning. Others read it as an actual autobiographical story featuring events from the life of Solomon himself. There is little debate that it is a love poem. That is clear from a cursory reading of the eight short chapters. But why is it in the Bible? If all Scripture is profitable for teaching, reproof and training in righteousness, why is this book included? What is it attempting to teach us? As I read through it this morning I was struck by the many times that it caused me to reflect on the love of God. It seems to reveal the kind of love God has for His people and that He longs for them to have for Him. It is the same kind of love that Christ has for His bride, the Church, and that He desires to receive in return. And finally, it is the kind of love that any husband should feel for his wife and she willingly returns to Him.

It is indeed a book about love. Whether it is about real people and real events, I can't say. But it IS about love. And a faithful, eyes-for-you-only kind of love that God illustrates in His love for those He calls His own. It is the kind of love that caused Christ to take on human flesh and die a sinner's death in our place on the cross. This kind of love is selfless and sacrificial. It is passionate and powerful. It is intimate and intense. I cant help but read this book and be reminded of my Father's love for me. I am blown away by the way in which Christ expresses His love for me each and every day. God the Father and God the Son call out to me daily, longing to have a love relationship with me that is two-way, not one-way. But so often I am more than willing to accept their love, but refuse to return it. The Song of Solomon shows love that is given and received. Neither character can live without the other. There is a level of infatuation in the poem that borders on embarassing. The words these two use to describe their love for one another are syrupy and saccharine. The almost feel a little bit over the top and uncomfortable to read – like you're looking at someone's private love letters. But the love expressed here is genuine and sincere. It is intimate and personal. There is a sense of infatuation and focused quality behind the love expressed in these eight chapters that reflect the way we are loved by God and the manner in which we should return that love to Him.

Father, may my love for You and Your Son grow to such a degree that it is almost embarrassing for others to listen to me express it out loud. May I discover the intense kind of love for my heavenly Father and His Son that they have expressed to me so often. Help me to learn to love as I have been loved. And help me to recognize just how loved I really am. Amen





The Desire For Discernment.

Psalm 119:141-146

O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. ­– Psalm 119:169 NLT

The psalmist longed for the ability to discern right from wrong. He desired wisdom and he knew it could only come from one place: God. So he prayed and asked God for it. Remember Solomon's dream? In it, Solomon was asked by God, "What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you." Wow! What an opportunity. Here was the God of the universe handing Solomon a blank check and telling him to fill in the amount. He could have asked for anything, but I think God knew Solomon's heart. God knew what Solomon was going to ask for. And what was it? Wisdom. "I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. And here I am among your own chosen people, a nation so great they are too numerous to count! Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great nation of yours?" (1 Kings 3:7-9 NLT). Solomon asked for discernment – the ability to discern right from wrong. And God gave it.

The writer of Psalm 119 was anxious for God to give him the same thing. He knew the key was his ability to understand the commands and decrees of God. "Your decrees are always fair; help me to understand them, that I may live" (Psalm 119:144 NLT). He wasn't content with a blind obedience. He wanted to understand the intentbehind the commands of God, because he knew that they were the source of life. Like children who obey without understanding, we can go through the motions, but as soon as we get the chance, we stop obeying because we have never really understood the real reason behind the need for obedience. To understand the commands of God is to understand the heart of God. There is method to His seeming madness and there are reasons behind His rules. The psalmist longed to know what they were. Do you long for the same thing? Do you want to understand the heart of God? Do you desire a discerning mind that can tell the difference between right from wrong, good from evil? Rules are great. But they are really intended for those who can't discern right from wrong. Rules are for the unruly. But if we all knew right from wrong, if we all knew the heart of God and how to please Him, no rules would be necessary. Even the Ten Commandments can become burdensome and laborious if we never get to know the God who gave them. What was His intent? What was His real desire behind them? That is what the psalmist wanted to know. Do you?

Father, I want a discerning mind, but more than that, I want to know You. Open my eyes so that I might see the way You see. Give me a heart that is similar to Yours. May I see the world the way You see it. Don't ever let Your Word just become a list of dos and don'ts to me. I want to grasp the meaning behind them and get to know the God who gave them. Amen





A Confession of Obsession.

Psalm 119:89-140

Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. ­– Psalm 119:97 NLT

What kinds of things do you find yourself thinking about during the day? For most of us it probably varies. When we're at work, we probably think about work-related things, or we may think about going home. If we're at home, our minds may dwell on the myriad of things we need to accomplish around the house, or again, we may find ourselves wishing we were at work. All throughout the day we find ourselves thinking about a lot of different things. Some good. Some not so good. And occasionally we may find ourselves thinking about a single thing so much that it borders on an obsession. It could be someone we are deeply in love with and we just can't get them off our mind. It could be an event that is coming up of extreme significance in our lives, and we can't stop thinking about it. It could be a particular item we long for, like a new car, and we find ourselves daydreaming about it throughout the day. But how many of us find ourselves obsessing about the Word of God? How many of us would dare to claim that we're obsessed with God's Word? The psalmist did. He said he couldn't stop thinking about it. He claimed that the words of God were sweeter than honey. They were his treasure, his heart's delight. He meditated and thought on them constantly. He considered them so wonderful he couldn't get enough of them. He literally cried because there were those who chose to reject and disobey God's Word. He found himself filled with rage over those who disregard what God has to say. He loved the Word of God and couldn't understand why everyone else didn't feel the same way. He had found God's Word to be fulfilling, comforting, directing, encouraging, convicting, and restoring. He went to bed at night thinking about it and woke up with it on his mind first thing in the morning. To the psalmist, the Word was life.

But what about me? Am I even remotely obsessed with the Word of God? Is it always on my mind? Do I think about it constantly? The honest answer is no. And yet I truly believe that I love God's Word. I read it, study it, teach it, believe it, and try to live my life according to it. But I think the difference between the psalmist and myself is that he viewed the Word of God as equal to God Himself. The laws, decrees, principles, precepts, and written expressions of God's expectations for man were to the psalmist a direct extension of God Himself. To read God's written Word was to speak with God. It was to hear directly from God. It was like having intimate communication with God. For many of us, we have disconnected the Scriptures from the One who wrote them. We look at the Bible as some kind of self-help guide or a manual for living, with helpful tips and techniques on everything from child-rearing to marriage. And while the Bible can and does address life issues, it is really the revelation of God. It is the written Word of God that shows us who God is and how He wants to relate to mankind. The psalmist seemed to understand this. He didn't look at it as a document to be studied and applied. It was the direct communication of God to man and was to be obeyed. And what he had found was that the Word of God brought life. It brought joy, peace, contentment, wisdom, well-being, direction, it made meaning out of the difficulties of life, gave insight into the day-to-day decisions we all face, and provided answers to all of life's questions. The psalmist was obsessed with God's Word because He was obsessed with the God who spoke it to begin with. It was his lifeline to God. And he held onto it relentlessly and faithfully.

Father, may I grow ever more obsessed with Your Word. May it permeate every area of my life. May I grow deeper and deeper in love with it as I realize just how powerful and life-changing it really is. May I see it as more than just a document to be read and studied, but as a revelation of who You are. May I search for You in it and find You. May it fill my mind and fulfill the desires of my life. Amen





An Instrument of Thy Peace.

2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72

Bless the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Bless his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen! ­– Psalm 72:18-19 NLT

Solomon had God-given wisdom and blessings beyond belief – also directly provided by the hand of God. He reigned over a powerful kingdom that was hand-picked by God as the people group upon which He would shower His grace and mercy. God dwelt in their midst, directed their paths, and protected their borders. Solomon's wisdom and the nation's wealth were gifts from God and Solomon knew it. He also knew just how dependent he was on God's continued presence and provision. He was nothing without God. And his song recorded in Psalm 72 is a clear indication of his's comprehension of his need for God. Everything he had and all that he was as a man was directly attributable to God. He knew he could not judge well without God's help. He knew he could not rule fairly without God's direction. He knew his reign could end up destroying the lives of those he ruled if God was not on his side. Solomon knew that his kingdom would be a blessing only as long as God continued to bless his leadership. His kingdom was simply a conduit through which God could bless the people of Israel and the nations around them.

What a healthy perspective for all of us to embrace. To recognize that I am nothing without God could have a powerful impact on how I live my life. It would puteverything in perspective. My role as a husband, father, employee or even employer takes on new meaning when I realize that I have been placed where I am by God Himself and that I am nothing without Him. Solomon longed to do what was right. He wanted to rule righteously and lead his people justly. He knew that he had been given authority and responsibility by God to care for the people of God. He took that role seriously. He longed to rule well and represent God faithfully. What about us? Do we see ourselves as God's conduits through which He wants to pour out His grace and mercy to those under our care? Do we long to lead well and administer our daily responsibilities righteously so that those around us are blessed by God through us? Take a close look at this Psalm. It is actually a prayer – a request from an earthly king to his heavenly Father – that his life would make a difference in the world. Solomon wanted to leave the world a better place than he had found it. He wanted to be used by God. Do you?

This all reminds me of the prayer of St. Francis of Assissi:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Father, my life and ministry are nothing without You. I cannot accomplish anything of value without You. I want my life to leave a lasting impact on those around me. But I can only do it because You graciously choose to use me. Make me a willing vessel through which Your blessings might be poured out on those around me.  Amen





The Little Foxes.

1 Kings 3-4

Solomon had four thousand stalls for his chariot horses and twelve thousand horses. ­– 1 Kings 4:26 NLT

A quick read through chapters three and four of 1 Kings and you immediately see a picture of success and blessing. Solomon is not king of Israel. He has inherited a powerful and secure kingdom from his father David. He is enjoying an unprecedented period of peace. He is blessed with tremendous wealth and unparalleled wisdom. Both gifts from God. His kingdom is the envy of other nations who send their dignitaries to investigate first-hand if all that they hear about Israel is true. When it comes to wisdom, Solomon was without peer. He was an author and composer. He was a botanist, biologist, herpetologist, ichthyologist, zoologist, and ornithologist. He was powerful, erudite and one of the most influential leaders in the known world. He seemed to have everything going for himself, including the blessing of God. But in this glowing picture of success there is a dark mark, a flaw. It is small and seemingly insignificant. But it's there. Solomon had a love affair with "stuff." He was enamored with material things and all the trappings of success and power that came with his position. He was obsessed with knowing. Intelligence and learning were like an addiction to him. And when we come to the book of Ecclesiastes, we'll discover just how much all this accumulation of wealth and wisdom ended up meaning to him.

But you catch a glimpse of what is to come in one small verse nestled within these two chapters. It simply states that Solomon had 4,000 stalls in which he maintained and cared for 12,000 chariot horses. Wow! That's some stable. Just another example of Solomon's vast wealth. But there's more. It's also a not-so-subtle reminder of Solomon's struggle with the trappings of his position. You see, Solomon knew better. He would have known that God had warned His people that when they choose a king for themselves, there was going to be stipulations and requirements. God's king would rule according to a different set of standards. While the people would demand a king like all the other nations, God was going to make sure that the man to lead His people would march to a different drummer and lead according to a separate set of standards. All the way back in the book of Deuteronomy, God had communicated His terms:

"You will soon arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, and you will conquer it and settle there. Then you may begin to think, 'We ought to have a king like the other nations around us.' If this happens, be sure that you select as king the man the LORD your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite, not a foreigner. The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself, and he must never send his people to Egypt to buy horses there, for the LORD has told you, 'You must never return to Egypt.' The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will lead him away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate vast amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself. – Deuteronomy 17:14-17 NLT

We read later in 1 Kings 11 that "Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed his people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. And sure enough, they led his heart away from the LORD" (1 Kings 11:1-3 NLT). Solomon had wives and lots of them. He had horses by the thousands, and his wealth was immeasurable. Now it can be argued that Solomon's wealth was give to him by God. Yet even the blessings of God can become stumbling blocks if we lose sight of their intent or allow them to take significance over the one who gave them. Solomon's wealth would become an obsession. His wisdom would leave him with more questions than answers. His wives would turn him away from the very one who had given him all he enjoyed.

There is a little saying or proverb that Solomon wrote. It speaks of the very problem Solomon would experience as a result of his tendency to ignore the commands of God. It's found in the Songs of Solomon and reads, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom" (Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV). This saying speaks of the little things that sneak in and destroy what is of real value. They are subtle and seemingly insignificant, but if left unattended, they can wreak destruction. It's the small areas of disobedience, the little sins that can do so much harm if left unconfessed and unaddressed. Like small foxes in a vineyard, they will end up doing harm that cannot be repaired. Solomon had it all. His kingdom was fruitful and flourishing, but he had allowed the "little foxes" of disobedience and compromise to infiltrate his vineyard. And the effects would be serious. No amount of wealth or wisdom can replace willing submission to the commands of God. Compromise is subtle and creeps in slowly, causing us to cut corners spiritually and water down our commitments to God. It happened to Solomon and it can happen to us. Even the blessings of God can end up turning us from God – unless we continually remember the one from whom the blessings come.

Father, keep me more in love with You than with Your blessings. Continually convict me when I stray from the path You have established for me as Your child. Keep me in Your Word and give me the strength and determination to obey it. Open my eyes so that I might see the "little foxes" that lurk in my life, ready to destroy what You have blessed me with. Amen





We Could All Use A Little Good Sense.

Psalm 119:45-88

You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. ­– Psalm 119:73 NLT

Give me the sense to follow Your commands. That should be the first prayer I pray each and every day. Because even though God made me, I still have the tendency to disobey His commands. All because of the fall and my own sin nature. Rather than follow His commands faithfully and willingly, I am tempted to do things my way or the world's way. So I need God to give me the good sense to do what is right. And to do that He sometimes allows me to suffer – to learn His lessons the hard way. The Psalmist seemed to understand this fact. "The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles" (Psalm 119:71 NLT). "I know, O LORD, that your decisions are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it" (Psalm 119:75 NLT). Sometimes God has to get our attention by allowing us to learn just how much we need Him. Difficulty comes into our lives and we often discover that it is all because we have disobeyed the clear commands of God. It could be something as simple as His command to have no other God's in place of Him. But how often do we break that command? We make idols and cheap God-replacements out of just about everything and everyone. We worship our work and our careers. We expect money to meet all our needs. We give entertainment a special place in our lives because we think it can bring us joy. We put people on pedestals, hoping that they will bring us happiness or make us feel significant. We place our faith in the government or political leaders. And so God allows us to learn the valuable lesson that there really are no other gods beside Him. They disappoint us, let us down, turn their backs on us, and fail to deliver whatever it was we were expecting them to do for us. Then we can say with the Psalmist,  "I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word" (Psalm 119:67 NLT).

The amazing thing about this Psalm is the author's repeated expressions of love for the laws or commands of God. He delights in them. He loves them. He meditates on them. He wakes up at midnight thinking about them. He says that they are the music of his life. The commands of God are worth more to him than millions in gold and silver. Why? Because he has learned that obeying God's commands is the secret to contentment, joy, peace, satisfaction, wisdom, and the blessing of God. God loves us so much that He is always teaching us the value of keeping His commands, of living life on His terms and not ours. He knows we are surrounded with other options and the daily temptation to trust in something other than Him for our needs. But He faithfully disciplines us, allowing us to learn that He alone can satisfy our every desire. More money, nicer cars, bigger homes, raises, recognition, friends, fame, or any other thing this world has to offer can ever replace the role of God in our lives. He wants us to love Him by making Him the highest priority in our lives. But we can't really love Him if we are not willing to obey Him. And we can't effectively obey Him if we don't know what He wants us to do. And we can't know what He wants us to do if we never spend time in His Word. The Scriptures are where we discover God's expectations of us. As we read it, He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, convicting us, directing us, and prompting us to take the next step in our spiritual journey. Faithful obedience to His Word brings His blessing. The Psalmist knew it. But do we?

Father, Your Word is alive and well. Your commands are written down in black and white. They are there for us to discover and obey. But we sometimes we refuse to even read them, let alone obey them. Give us the sense to follow Your commands, because it alone will bring us the joy, contentment, peace and fulfillment we are looking for. Amen





The World Vs. The Word.

Psalm 119:1-44

Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. ­– Psalm 119:36-37 NLT

A love for the world and a love for the Word of God. Those are our two options. We can cultivate one or the other, but it is next to impossible to cultivate both and have them each equally flourish. To try and do so would be like attempting to nourish the weeds and the flowers in your garden equally. Ultimately, the weeds, if given equal right to exist in your garden, will take over completely. They will end up dominating the flowers and choking them out. Which is exactly what happens to many of us in our spiritual lives. We believe we can love the world and the Word of God equally. We can give them both a portion of our attention and affection, and we think they each will prosper. But the Psalmist knew better. He knew that a love for Gods Word was the key to life and happiness. He asks God to "Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way" (MSG). In these first 44 verses of this, the longest of the Psalms, we read over and over again of the Psalmist's single-minded love for God and His law, found in His Word. The Psalmist speaks of God's law, statutes, decrees, commandments, principles, and truths – all of which are found in His written Word. These are God's spoken and written expectations of His people. They are His expressed will for the way in which we should live. They give guidance, direction, comfort, wisdom, joy, understanding, blessing, and ultimately, true happiness. What is amazing is that the world offers the same list of benefits. The only problem is, the world can't deliver what is promises. Yet we pursue the world with a vengeance, expecting it to provide what only God Himself can provide. Sure, the world offers temporary fulfillment and what looks like happiness and joy. But it is always short-lived. The joy doesn't last. The fulfillment never lingers.

Every one of us as Christ-followers struggles with a constant urge to love the things of this world. We spend countless hours watching media, playing games, attending sporting events, reading books, going shopping, working out – none of which is evil or inherently sinful. But how many times have we confessed that we don't spend much time reading our Bibles, but we always seem to have time to do any and all of the above. There's always enough time to watch a little TV at the end of the day. There's always enough time to catch up on the latest news in the morning before starting our day. There's always enough time to see a movie, grab a latte or read the latest best-selling book. But we just never seem to have enough time to read God's Word. And I think the real issue is less about time than it is about the perceived benefits. For many of us, reading our Bibles does not seem to bring us much joy. It doesn't seem to give us much insight. We're looking for answers to life's problems, and if we don't get it on the first reading, then we get disappointed. But the Psalmist seemed to understand that the Word was simply a means of hearing from the one who wrote it. The commands of God were only important because they were spoken by God. They were his link to God. Do we read our Bibles that way. Do we desire to hear from God, spend time with God, listen to God? Or is our time in the Word just another task to check off our to-do list?

The Psalmist said, "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law. I am but a foreigner here on earth; I need the guidance of your commands. Don't hide them from me!" (Psalms 119:18-18 NLT). Do you sense the need, the longing, the dependency he had on God's Word. He craved to hear from God. He saw himself as an alien and stranger living in a foreign land. He couldn't make it without a word from God. Do we share that same sense of dependency and reliance? May our prayer be that of the Psalmist: "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word."

Father, how many times I have allowed my love of the world to crowd out and displace Your Word. I confess that I have loved the world and the things it offers far more often than I have loved reading Your Word or obeying what it has to say. Give me the mindset of the Psalmist, that Your Word would become more precious to me than life itself. All because I begin to understand that Your Word is how I hear from You. It is how You have chosen to reveal Yourself to Me. Like a letter from a loved one I haven't seen in years, it is my connection and conduit of Your expressed love to me. Amen





Their Just Desserts.

1 Kings 2; Psalm 94

"The LORD isn't looking," they say, "and besides, the God of Israel doesn't care." Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind? He punishes the nations -- won't he also punish you? He knows everything -- doesn't he also know what you are doing? The LORD knows people's thoughts, that they are worthless! ­– Psalm 94:7-11 NLT

Justice. We all want it. At least we think we do. Especially when it applies to someone else. When we read of someone doing something wrong or unfair, we demand that justice be done. We want to see them brought to justice – whether it is a corporate executive who has swindled money from his investors or an extreme radical terrorist who has taken innocent lives in some cowardly fashion. We long to see justice served and the guilty punished. But what is justice? Do we understand what it even means? According to the dictionary definition, it is "the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause; the administering of deserved punishment or reward." It is both the quality of being just or righteous – doing the right thing, and it is the action of upholding what is right by punishing those who have done wrong.

There have always been those who believe that justice does not apply to them. They are above the law. They can somehow break the rules and escape justice. And sometimes our society allows them to do so. They may even believe that they can escape the justice of God. In Psalms 94 we see a glimpse of their attitude. They think that the God who created them cannot see what they are doing or hear what they are saying. He is somehow blind to their actions and attitudes, and even if He could see what they are doing, He is impotent to do anything about it. But the Psalmist reminds us of the idiocy of this conclusion. God sees all, and because He is just and righteous, He deals with all in a righteous way. Maybe not in the time frame we would like to see, but eventually God makes all things right. He brings about justice. No one escapes it. You see a picture of this in 1 Kings 2 as Solomon ascends to the throne of Israel. In this chapter Solomon begins his reign by establishing justice and giving some evil men their just desserts. In quick succession he deals with Joab for his murders, Shimei for his unfaithfulness, Adonijah for his deceitfulness and treachery, and Abiathar for his role in Adonijah's rebellion. Each of these men had acted unfaithfully in some way. They had committed an unjustice and deserved to be punished. Adonijah had attempted to take the throne of David away from Solomon. Joab had disobeyed David and killed two innocent men. Abiathar had aided Adonijah in his aborted coupe attempt. Shimei had turned against David and cursed him when he had been forced to flee Jerusalem when his son, Absalom took over the city. Each of these men were guilty and deserved punishment, and some of them had seen enough time elapse that they thought they had escaped justice. They were home free. But Solomon began his reign by making sure justice was served. The wrongs were made right. The guilty were punished.

In this story we see a glimpse of the justice of God. He will deal with the evil that exists in our land. We may feel like He is blind to what is going on around us, or perhaps incapable of doing anything about it. But God has a good memory and is patient. He will deal with the injustices of this world in His time and according to His ways. But rest assured, justice will be done. With the Psalmist we can cry out, "O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen! Arise, O judge of the earth. Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve." (Psalms 94:1-2 NLT). He will do what needs to be done. He will right every wrong and punish every wrong doer. What Solomon did in an imperfect way, God will do perfectly. We can know that justice will be served. One day God will administer His justice righteously and completely. So when we see evil taking place around us, we can rest in the fact that God sees and God will act. He will deal with it.

Father, we live in a world filled with injustice. People take advantage of others. People unfairly harm others. The innocent suffer and the wicked seem to get away with doing what is wrong. But You are not asleep. You are not powerless or disinterested. You are just and righteous. You see all that is going on and You will repay each person for the evil they have done. Thank You for that reminder. But also, thank You for the assurance that my sins are forgiven. That I will not have to undergo punishment for the evil I have done because of Your Son's death on the cross. Never let me use that as an excuse to live the way I want to live, but help me to serve You obediently and faithfully out of gratitude that I am seen as just in Your eyes. The punishment for my sins has been paid in full. Amen





Old, But Not Forgotten.

1 Kings 1; Psalms 37, 71

Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. ­– Psalm 71:18 NLT

David has reached the end of his life. He is advanced in years and no longer the strong, virile young man he used to be. He is mostly bed-ridden and under the constant care of a nurse. Yet even in old age, David is still seeking the Lord and confident in His activity in his life. He has learned over the years that He can trust God to come through. And God does come through yet again. We have seen before that if David had a weakness it was in his parenting skills. He has lost two sons to death and had one of his daughters raped by her half brother. Now we see one of his sons attempting to usurp the throne without David's knowledge or permission. David is oblivious to what is going on. But Nathan the prophet is not. He gets wind of Adonijah's plan and informs David's wife Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon. David had promised Bathsheba to make her son Solomon the next king of Israel. Yet Adonijah is just hours away from having himself declared king, leaving Solomon as a potential threat to Adonijah's kingship and therefore in danger for his life. Nathan and Bathsheba inform David what is going on and he responds by immediately having Solomon crowned king in his place, thus thwarting Adonijah's plan.

This story reflects David's understanding of how God worked in his life. God was protecting him by using Nathan and Bathsheba. The protection and presence of God in our lives does not mean we will not have opposition or trouble. It is going to come because it is part of living life in a fallen world. Yet we have the assurance that God will intervene in ways we can't always anticipate or see. God was fully aware of what Adonijah was doing, and God used Nathan the prophet to expose it to Bathsheba and David. God was protecting David even in his advanced years. While David was old, weak, and vulnerable, God was not. He was going to make sure that His plans for Solomon and his kingship would come about just as He had promised David.

David does not seem surprised at the news about Adonijah and appears to react calmly and quickly. He immediately has Solomon crowned king. He didn't hesitate or waver, because he knew this was what God wanted. Adonijah had simply created the unplanned impetus for Solomon to be crowned at this time. This all caught David, Nathan, and Bathsheba by surprise, but not God. It was countless experiences like this over the years that made it possible for David to write, "Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7 NLT). "The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming" (Psalm 37:12-13 NLT). "Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7 NLT). "Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread" (Psalm 37:25 NLT).

David was old, but not forgotten by God. And he had not forgotten that God was still in control. The plans of God would not be stopped, even by a disobedient son. God was watching over David even in his old age.

Father, thanks for the reminder that You are there for me even when I am oblivious to the danger around me. You are always alert and ready to step in, protecting me in ways that I don't even see. Thanks for surrounding each of us with friends like Nathan who are sensitive to Your leading and help us know what to do. You are always there for us. Amen





The Lord is For Me!

Psalm 115-118

The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? ­– Psalm 118:6 NLT

The Lord is for me! Really? Me? Why in the world would He be for me after all I have done to disobey, disappoint, and disregard Him in my life? But here it is in black and white and right in the middle of His Word to me. He is for me. He loves me. He answers my prayers. He helps me when I call on Him. But the problem seems to be that I don't really believe He is for me. I doubt that He really loves me. I think I have to earn that love and keep Him pleased by my behavior – and I'm not too good at that. I make mistakes. I fail. I give in to temptations and fall prey to my own sin nature too often. And because I think God loves the same way I do – conditionally and not constantly – I believe there are times He is not for me. That's when these four Psalms need to be a part of my daily reading schedule. Better yet, I need to memorize them and meditate on them so they are right there in my brain when I need them.

These Psalms speak of God's unfailing love and faithfulness. They remind me that God is always there for me. I literally walk in His presence each and every day (Psalms 116:9). He is watching over me, and I can trust Him. In fact, the Psalmist reminds me that "It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people" (Psalms 118:8 NLT). People let me down, just like I let them down. But God never lets me down. He never disappoints. He never fails to come through. He may not do things the way I want them done, but He always comes through – in ways I could never have imagined – and they are always for my good and His glory. "The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!" (Psalms 118:16 NLT). The Lord is for me. And He is always doing things for me. So why don't I trust Him more? I think it's because I don't recognize His hand in my life often enough. I have not trained myself to look for the signs of His presence. They are there. His answers to prayers. His interventions at just the right time. His provision in so many ways. His protection over me in spite of myself. God is for me. He loves me. That thought blows me away this morning. Now I need to remind myself of it it all day long!

Father, thank You for being for me. I couldn't live this life without You. Forgive me for not recognizing You in my life and praising You for all You do. May this year be filled with praises for who You are and all that You are doing. Amen





Praise the Lord!

Psalms 111-114

Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people. ­– Psalm 111:1 NLT

Have you ever had trouble finding things to praise God for? If you're like me, you probably have no problem coming up with things to complain to Him about. It seems that there are always an abundance of issues we feel we need to bring to God that we are unhappy about or desire to have Him change. But why is it we can't see to come up with much to praise Him for? The writer of today's Psalms didn't seem to have that problem. He virtually flowed with praise as he recalled all that God had done in his life and the corporate life of the people of God. He said, "How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them" (Psalms 111:2 NLT). That seems to be the key. We need to ponder and think about the things that God has done – take the time to dwell on all the great things that He has done and is doing in and around our lives. I must confess that this is something I don't do enough.

The Psalmist dwells on every act of God – from the mundane to the miraculous. God is the one who divided the Red Sea and allowed the people to cross on dry land. But He is also the one who provides us with food each day. It seems that a byproduct of praising the Lord is a growing fear and reverence for the Lord. As we dwell on and recognize the many things He does that deserve our praise, we grow in our admiration of and reverence for Him. That turns into a more willing desire to obey and serve Him. "Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands" (Psalm 112:1 NLT). And obedience brings blessing. In God's grand economy, it seems that the more we praise Him, the more we end up being blessed by Him. As we praise God we discover just how incomparable He is. There is no one and nothing else like Him. Our praise of Him increases our admiration for Him. His worth increases in our eyes as we concentrate on all that He is and all that He does. But that takes time. It takes concentrated effort. It might be a worthwhile effort to regularly sit down and just write out all the things you have to praise God for. Make a list. Start with the simple, then move on to the more spectacular. When we begin to realize that NOTHING we have that is of any value comes from anywhere but Him, we just might begin to understand just how great He is and just how blessed we really are.

Father, forgive me for failing to praise You. I seem to have no problem complaining to You or demanding that You fix all my problems, according to my plan and my time frame. But then, even when You do, instead of praising You, I either take it for granted or take credit for it myself. Help me to see all that You do and praise You as You deserve. You are truly a great God and worthy of my praise. Amen





Unless the Lord…

Psalm 127

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. ­– Psalm 127:1 NLT

This is a psalm written by Solomon, the son of David who ascended to the throne after him. Solomon was the one who had the privilege and responsibility of building the temple that David had proposed and done all the preparation for. Solomon, as you might recall, was also considered the wisest man who ever lived. Which is significant to think about when you read this short psalm. In it he reminds us that unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. I have to believe he wasn't just thinking about any house. I think he probably had the temple in mind. That was one of the crowning achievements of his reign – constructing the house of God in Jerusalem. And I am sure that this message had been drummed into his head by his father David. David had made sure that Solomon knew the success of his reign was directly tied to his faithfulness to God. Solomon had been taught that without God everything becomes worthless and valueless, no matter how grand and impressive it may appear. A powerful kingdom without the power of God behind it was destined to failure. A city protected by a wall and surrounded by watchmen was more than vulnerable to defeat without the presence of God in their midst. Rising at the crack of dawn and putting in a full day of hard work would be fruitless and prove unnecessary when God could provide for you even while you were asleep.

The main theme to this little psalm is the uselessness of life without God. But it also talks about the many blessings involved with a life in which God is intimately involved. He uses the example of children and reminds us that they are a gift from God. They are of far greater value than a house or city we might build, or a career we might pursue. Yet oftentimes we can see our children as burdens rather than blessings. Yet with the help of God and a mindset that recognizes that they are given to us by Him, we can see great benefits and blessings in our lives as we raise them to walk in His ways. Unless the Lord builds a house or builds a family, the work of the builders in useless. Unless I recognize that I cannot build a healthy family without the help of God, no amount of energy or effort I exert will assure future success. This psalm is not advocating complacency or inactivity, it is reminding us of the essential nature of God's presence in everything we do – in all of life. I must make Him an integral part of every aspect of my life. To not do so, the psalmist teaches us, would be to court disaster and ensure our ultimate failure. Whether we're building a house, protecting our home, raising a family, or pursuing a career, we need to include our heavenly Father in all that we do.

Father, I have done a lot over the years without including You at all. And I can attest to the fact that it is useless and ultimately worthless. Even my greatest achievements accomplished without Your help have proven to be short-lived and not all that enjoyable. But anything I have done in my life where You were at the center of it has proved to be a blessing. Help me to see that life without You is worthless so that I will want to include You all the time and in everything. Amen



A Passion For The Things of God

1 Chronicles 26-27

They were responsible for all matters related to the things of the LORD and the service of the king… ­– 1 Chronicles 26:30 NLT

As you read these closing chapters of the book of 1 Chronicles, you have to keep reminding yourself that all of this is being done by David – a man who dreamed of building a house for the Lord, but was denied that privilege by God. Instead, David's son, Solomon, would construct the temple. But instead of pout and take his toys and go home, David decided he would do the next best thing. He began gathering all the materials and establishing the organizational backbone that would make the temple possible. Here he is in the closing days of his administration and life, and he is spending the vast majority of his time ensuring that everything needed to make the construction of the temple possible is ready. Not only that, he is putting in place all the administrative and organizational aspects of building and maintaining the temple in place – long before construction has even begun.

The amount of detail in these chapters is amazing. It can make for a difficult, if not boring read. But it reveals David's passion for God. Even though he will never see the completed temple or worship in it, he is going to make sure that it is built and that it is worthy of the One who will occupy it. I guess I am amazed at the magnitude of David's passion for God. He could just as easily have decided that since he is not going to get to build the temple, then all the work should fall on Solomon. But he was not going to take the risk that this dream of his would somehow die along with him. He was determined to see the temple built and his God honored. So he works diligently and determinedly to make sure every aspect of the temple's construction and ongoing maintenance is covered. His zeal for God's house reminds me of how Jesus reacted when He found the money changers selling inside the temple when He arrived in Jerusalem for Passover. He became angry and physically threw them out of the place. He was not going to allow His Father's house to be defiled in such a way. Like Jesus, David had a passion for the things of God. You might even say he was obsessed. He was consumed with the idea that the temple was to be a fitting dwelling place for the God of the universe. God deserved it. And David was going to see that God got what He deserved. Even if he never got to see it himself. Now that is dedication.

Dr. Thomas L. Constable puts it this way, "His preoccupation with God's promises and his preparations for their fulfillment served as a good example for Chronicles' original readers. David's zeal for the house of the Lord reflected his zeal for the reputation of the Lord. He truly put God's glory before his own personal ambitions." Could the same be said of me? Do I put God's glory above my own personal ambitions? Is making God great and making Him known more important to me than anything else? Sadly, the answer is most often, "No." But as we get ready to enter into another new year, that kind of attitude can change. I can and will make God number one in my life. I will give Him the glory He deserves. I will recognize His greatness and tell others about it. I will make the reputation of God more important than my own. What about you?

Father, like David, I will never get to build a temple for You. I never even came up with the dream to do so in the first place. But there are so many things I can do to bring You glory. Forgive me for the many times I make my own glory my passion. I want to fulfill my dreams and plans and make my own name known in the land. Give me the passion of David. May I spend the remaining years of my life doing anything and everything to give You glory and make You known. Amen