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SPIRITUAL RICHES

SCRIPTURE: Proverb 10:4, 5; 13:4; 15:19; 18:9

VERSE FOR TODAY: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth (Proverb 10:4, New International Version).

We knelt in the school auditorium. The principal's prayer rang out:" and let us not ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do Thy Will." 

Forty years ago I didn't appreciate the full meaning of the school prayer, butI have since learned that the rewards of serving God diligently ate as important to my spiritual well-being as my paycheck is to my physical well-being. The rewards certainly start with knowing that we are doing God's will, but the riches that God adds are much more. The wealth mentioned in our verse for today is probably food, clothing, and shelter. The lazy person could expect none of these. If as Christians we are spiritually lazy, don't attend to prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and heeding God's call to setvice, we are the ones who are deprived. In our laziness we forfeit the deep satisfaction and nourishment of God's  Word, the heavenly garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, a forgiving spirit, love, peace, wisdom, and thankfulness (Colossians 3:13-15). As for the shelter provided by the Mish High, we might even forget that He is there.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear heavenly Father, please grant that we shall not be lazy. Stir us to seek You and Serve You diligently in gratitude for the free gift of eternal life, so that we may receive abundant spiritual riches in Christ Jesus even here on earth. In the if Jesus we pray, Amen.

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KIDNAPPED!

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 49:1-15

VERSE FOR TODAY: None. . .can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him (Psalm 49:7).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Redeemed"

In Paula Fox's  classic juvenile tale nineteenth century slave trade, The Slave Dancer, a thirteen-year- old white boy,  Jesse, is shanghaied. His ability to play the fife is seen by evil vmerchant sailors as an ideal tool for dancing slaves aboard ship to keep their bodies from atrophying. Jesse considers himself the most aggrieved victim of kidnapping on the earth, until he sees African snatched from homes and homelands and humiliated in naked, cordwood-like stacks below deck. He slowly realizes that though he has a chance if being rescued or escaping, those enchained Africans do not. He is sickened by their cruel plight.

To be kidnapped by unholy driven by greed is s terrible predicament. But to be kidnapped by unholiness itself, taken a slave to sin and death, is worse . . . Except that the ransom price is readily available: "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave." Bought back! What a marvelous thought. Right at the moment of sick despair, right when the shackles have worn the skin away, God's ransom announcement rings in the air: "Redeemed! How I love to proclaim it!"

PRAYER THOUGHTS: To our captors, sin and death , we have stood penniless, O Lord. If You had not paid the price in Your precious Son, we would be slaves eternally. We praise Your name, redeeming Savior. Amen. 

 

RIGHT PEOPLE, PLACE & THINGS!

SCRIPTURE: Proverb 24:3-4

VERSE FOR TODAY: By Wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge it rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

HYMN FOR TODAY: "The Glory of God"

This another place where the three qualities of wisdom, understanding and knowledge are seen together (see also 2:6; 3:19-20; 9:10; 24:3-4). Wisdom is one of the 26 character. We define Wisdom as "seeing life from God's point of view;" understanding as ", realizing how right choices lead to a meaningful life;" knowledge as "recognition of who God and how He working.

The three are discussed here in relation to a house and I s

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STORMS AND SIN

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs29:14-18

VERSE FOR TODAY: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restrain; blessed is he who keeps the law (Proverbs 29:18, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Rock  of Ages"

Our mid-west community suffered damaged from at least two tornados on a sultry Sunday evening in April, 1996. A week later as the fluffy cumulonimbus clouds began to form again and rain began to fall, the children in our Christian school scurried from their playground into safety of the building. One little girl exclaimed in alarm, "Look out! It's another tomato storm.

In the real tornado storm, some of the downtown stores suffered significant damage and the police were called to protect the merchants from looters. Why do need law? To keep people honest! Some people are prone to cast off restraint in the storms of life; they simply forget God and do what they please. They forget the instruction of the Lord.

The psalmist wrote about the person who delights in the law of the Lord. One who obeys the Lord is like a tree planted by the rivers of water," not like wicked who shall not stand in the judgement (Psalm 1).

Will you pray for the policeman in your community today? Perhaps you know one by name. Thank God for the judges in your area. They  have committed their lives to protecting lives through the law of our land. 

PRAYER THOUGHTS: God, help us to love Your law. Many of us need Your blessing today. The winds of life blow strong and sin sometimes follows. We pray for strength to stand strong in any Strom. In Jesus name.  Amen.

GOD'S WORD, OUR GUIDE

SCRIPTURE: Psalm: 119:129-136

VERSE FOR TODAY: Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them (Psalm 119:129).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "All the way My Savior Leads Me"

God's WORD is the instruction booklet for our lives. We are "wise" if we not only acquaint ourselves with it, but hold it in high respect. Liberal scholars play games with God's WORD; in the end they be judged by it.

In Jewish literature there is a concept called memra; it can be translated "word." As rabbinic literature speaks of this concept, it seems to be a revelatory aspect of God, sometimes identified with God himself. The ancient Aramaic paraphrases of Scripture ( called "targums") speak much about the Memra and they apply to Word to the Messiah. They speak of the time when the Memra will come into the world.

Jews give a lot of honor to the written Word, the scroll of Torah. Even today they keep it in a special box in the synagogue, they take it out with reverence, they read it with care they kiss it, and dance with it on occasion, showing their joy that God gave His Word. The Word made incarnate, however is ignored by many of them.

Yes, we need to know and to revere the written Word of God. But more than that we need to know God's incarnate Word, Jesus the Messiah. As the author and finisher of our faith. He is the one who will establish us so that our lives will be grounded in God's wisdom.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: O God, thank You that Your Son , incarnate word, has come into the world. Thank You that Heis our Savior and our Guide

 Help us yield our lives to Him. In His Gracious name we pray. Amen.

DOUBLE STRAND OF PEARLS AND OTHER FANTASIES

SCRIPTURE: Proverb 3:1-10

VERSE FOR TODAY: Trust in the Lord with aii thine heart; and Kean not unto thine own understanding (Provetbs3:5).

HYMN FOR TODAY: " Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"

One who leaves her doubles strand of pearls, mercy and truth, lying on the dressing table is naked, for certain. Somewhere, sometimes, she will miss an important (heavenly) meeting because she doesn't wear the right accessories. (See verse 3).

One who leans on his own understanding leans against a marshmallow pillow, somewhere, sometimes, he will end up prone, in a gooey mess. (See verse 5).

One who looks in a mirror and thinks he sees wise eyes is myopic indeed. Somewhere, sometimes, he will walk right into a wall he think is a spider web but in turns to be limestones. (See verse 7).

One who spends her first dollar on herself has a fool for a financial advisor. Sometimes, somewhere, she will find herself "a little short" . . . Of  heaven. (See verse 9).

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart," the Proverb writer pleads, and you'll see with omniscient eyes; and you'll have more "leftover" than you thought you would have.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Forgive us , Lord when we dress ourselves with selfishness, when we rely on our own strength, when we believe we have discernment by our own wisdom, when we fail to recognize that everything we have is from You. Make us wise in trusting You. Amen.

LOVERS OF WISDOM

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 53

VERSE FOR TODAY: God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God (Psalm 53:2).

HYMN FOE TODAY: "As with Gladness Men of Old"

The ancient philophers failed to be wise because they only used human understanding and did not use their trade to look for God. Truly wise persons, however, will seek the Lord.

Wise men, called Magi, came from East looking for the nex-born Messiah. Attempts have been made to show that they came from Arabia or Yemen, because the gifts they brought are produced in those areas. But Magi were priests of the Zoroastrian religion. As such they were confused and mixed up in a lot if areas. But they were right about one thing; they knew a Savior was coming into the world, and when they saw His star they went looking for Him.

Wise men today still seek Him. The wise men of Greece were philosophers; that is lovers of wisdom. What we need to be is lovers of God. For if we love God, we are wise.

The ancient scholars tried to understand the world of the senses. But the truly wise know that (1) the world, the universe, and mankind were all ceatedby a divine Beingqnd (2) that it is worthwhile seeking to know this Being who lies behind the visible order. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom  thou hast  sent" (John17:3).

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear heavenly Father, help us to seek wisdom, for in seeking wisdom, we seek you. Thank You that You want to be sought, and that You have promised to be found in the name of Jesus, our savior, we pray. Amen.

A MAN WHO LOST THE TREASURE

SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 15:22-31

VERSE FOR TODAY: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice," (1 Samuel 15:22, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "I Will Follow Jesus"

There is a story told of a man who purchased a farm. He described to his family the lay of the landnd where the house must be built, where the corn must be planted, and where wheat fields must be. The apple orchard was to be on the hill near the house. But the man died. His sons were left to develop the farm. They agreed that the house, the corn and wheat should be where the father had said. But the place the father wanted the orchard was too close to the road. Now, the question is, "in which things were the sons obedient to their father's wishes?" The answer is "None." The sons did the first things  they agreed, not because they were obedient. 

In today's Scripture, we see a man who disobeyed. God allowed Saul to Be the king of Israel. He was to lead the people to follow God. But Saul had a rebellious nature.

In 2 Samuel 15, God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites because of their wickedness. But Saul spared their king and the best cattle. He excused himself to Samuel by saying the cattle were for sacrice. But excuses were not acceptable!

Samuel cried out, "To obey is better  than sacrifice!"

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Help me, O Father, not to allow excuses to block me from confessing my sinful ways. Help me to seek and to obey Your will today. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray, Amen.

YOU LIVE BECAUSE OF HIM

SCRIPTURE: John 6:53

VERSE FOR TODAY: So Jesus said again, "I tell the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. (New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY:  "YOU DO IT AGAIN"

The Lord Jesus wants to know Him in you  an intimate way, to realize a deep, personal union with Him. Verse (55-57,60) For my flesh is real food and my blood is a real drink.whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remain in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me ans I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?' To press home to the point about intimacy, Jesus shared this emphatic analogy with His disciples, after which, many deserted Him.

The disciples were right about one thing. This is a hard teaching. Taken literally, these words are repulsive. Symbolically, they teach us the beautiful truth that the Christian on the indwelling presence of God for everything. Jesus asks us to feed on Him or as Psalm 34.8 invites us, to "taste and see that the Lord is good" And when it comes to drinking His blood? Song of Song 1:2 says, "For your love is more delightful than wine." In other words, we must abide in Him and let His Word abide in us if we are to know Christ in a deep and intimate way.

Deep devotion to the Lord Jesus Energizer's the service that is tiring or rigorous. Affection for Him that is warm and heartfelt gives boundless joy to every task. Fervent love for Jesus takes the squeamishness out of every duty that seems distasteful. This sort of life that sustain and invigorates service can only be realized throught an intimate fellowship with Him.

PRAYER: Sometimes, Lord , I expect intimacy with you without taking times to feed on and drink in Your life. This day I want to abide in You and have Your Word abide in me.

 

THE REDEEMER LIVES

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:57-66

VERSE FOR TODAY: His mother answered and said... he shall be  called John... his father... wrote, saying, His Name is John (Luke 1:60, 62, 63).

HYMN FOR TODAY: " All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

What a colorful assortment of first names are popular today! Recently I glanced through a listing of high school graduates and was amused and dismayed by the variety of wild spellings; names that looked more like haphazard combinations of letters or placed or simply sounds, than real names.

Names and the meanings of names are very important to God. We know Jesus by His names. In my office I have an immense wall hanging that list just 34 if the names for Jesus (Prince of Peace, Counselor, Messiah, Savior), each descriptive of His character, Many of His names were first mentioned in the Old Testament, in prophecies about the coming Messiah. Jesus' Name was specially chosen by the angel because Jesus means, " He will save His people from their sins."

The Jewish custom was that the child should be named after a member of the family. But when Elizabeth's baby was born, she insisted the child be called "John." as did Zacharias, the baby's father. This baby was chosen by God to be forerunner to the Messiah, ordained to prepare the hearts of the people for the good news of the kingdom. The name "John" had prophetic promise. It means, "The Lord is gracious."

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your grace and loving kindness to us by sending a Savior, Emmanuel---"God is with us!"' Teach us to follow the teaching of our Savior, and when we speak of the Messiah, May those hearing see Him in us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

KEEPING UP WITH GOD

SCRIPTURE: Proverb 12:24-28

VERSE FOR TODAY: Take the talent from him and give it to the one who had ten talents (Matthew 25:28, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Breathe on Me, Breath of God"

Bob had been the church organist for years, playing the same few hymns. The congregation was small and dang timidly. Visitors seldom returned. A new minister came to the church, anxious to improve matters. He silently prayed for someone to join the congregation who would bring enthusiasm to the worship.

One Sunday a young couple, both musicians, visited the quiet little church and immediately saw that they could make a difference. The minister tried to arrange for Bob and the young couple to meet. Repeated appointments for music rehearsal were made, but then broken by Bob, even though the musicians were trying hard to be tactful. Bob evidently resented the encroachment on his private domain."

With the minister's help the new couple formed a youth choir and began to lead the worship. The joyful worship now could be heard even outside the little building, and the congregation multiplied.

I can sympathize with Bob. I too prefermy comfort zone. Yet it seems that God often challenges us to employ fresh ideas or to venture into a new service. If we refuse to heed, He lay decide not to use us at all.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear heavenly Father, please help us not to be afraid or lazy in moving from our comfort zone when You call us. Teach us to be willingly to follow Jesus, our Savior. In His name we pray. Amen.

SEARCHING FOR TRUE RICHES

SCRIPTURE: Proverb 2:1-15

VERSE FOR TODAY: For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding (Proverb2:6).

HYMN FOR TODAY: Break Thou the Bread of Life"

Wisdom today is not exactly in the category of "hidden treasure." People aren't  panting for it, they aren't seeking it like silver." as the writer of Proverb puts it. Rather most people today are looking for pleasure. Or e thrill. Or a quick fix. Wisdom seems to be something associated with fables, or perhaps with a by gone age. By large it doesn't  occur to the younger generation that wisdom might be useful in theirs.

Even Christians sometime overlook wisdom. In some churches there is a tendency to seek a supernatural answer for everything, and forget about plain old "wisdom." Of course we must pray for a supernatural answer. But God has given us a certain amount of wisdom. The old farmers used to call it "horse sense" There are times when we don't need supernatural answers; aii we need us to apply the common sense that we have. But as someone said, common sense isn't very common.

Like the ancient philosophers, we need to be "lovers of wisdom." A diligent search for this rare commodity will yield to rich dividends. Best of all, it will lead us to Christ. In are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge see (Collosian 2:3).

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Lord, thank You that You have given us a certain amount of wisdom. Give us the Futher "wisdom" to apply this understanding to every situation in our lives Amen.

THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE

SCRIPTURE: John 13:31-35

VERSE FOR TODAY: No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1John 4:12, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Love Lifted Me"

We enjoy visit with our toddler grandson. His curiosity causes him to investigate everything with reach. Just like it was on the court. We are excited to hear him use new words such as doggie," "ball," and "I want more."

We saw another side of him last night. He threw a temper tantrum when his grandmother tried to put him into pajamas. He began to moan in anguish, his face turned red, he tightened his hands into fist, he stiffened his arms and legs, and finally he threw himself to the floor in despair. We still loved him, but we did not enjoy him as much at that moment. 

His mother came for him just then. She picked him up,  looked into his eyes, smiled at him, said some soothing words,  and his face lit up with a happy grin.

Does his mother love him more than we do? Probably not, but she knows him better than anyone else.

God wants us to love everyone. Showing love to strangers, those who are different, or people who have hurt us, is not as easy as loving our own families. We need to remind ourselves that Jesus lay often find us less than lovely, yet He shows His love to us in many ways. May we learn to love others as He loves us 

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Father , help us as we go passing through this year. May our encounters with this obstacle and others be filled with love , with Your love as we embrace this new year 2023. You light it up on our ways and actions. Lord, so that others will see You in us moving forward because You are there.. the joy and living and working together that bring blessing to You'.Amen.