Category Archives: obedience to God

Folly’s House of Death— Reflections on Proverbs 9

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Folly calls out. She invites the simple and the ones who lack sense to come into her house. But who is she? Folly is sinful acts, living contrary to God’s laws. Solomon warns his son that her guests are “deep in the realm of the dead.” In other words, sin is always calling out to us and enticing us. When we follow after sin, we are foolish because sin ALWAYS ends in death, darkness, and destruction.

But there is a different path that leads to a life of abundance. It is Wisdom’s path of “the fear of the Lord.”

For years I looked at the phrase of “the fear of the Lord” in a negative light. But in truth it is the most positive way to live. To fear the Lord is to see God rightly— He is Holy, Just, All Powerful, All Knowing, Everywhere. He is also perfect Love. He loved us first so that we could love Him and He desires for us to be what He intended for us all along — His image bearers. Seeing Him as such leads us to desire to hate/ shun evil and to aim to obey Him perfectly.

When we come to God with desire to totally obey, totally submit, and totally depend on Him, He empowers us to live lives free of sin, free of folly.

We do not have to go down the path to folly’s house.

We can live free in the fear of the Lord!

Freedom in the Pursuit of God’s Word – Reflections on Proverbs 7

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Our sinful natural inclination always believes it can sin and get away with it. We often know that we are doing wrong, but somehow we believe we can escape the consequences. A small sin we think we can manage and control, grows. It will grow to the point that we are under its tyrannical rule. How can I say this with such certainty? I have sinned… I have been held captive by sins that I thought I could easily say no to when I decided I had had enough. I’ve also believed that I would not suffer the consequences of my wrong choices. This is another lie. What we do in our lives, right or wrong, will bear fruit.

Solomon warned his son about this reality. He warned that sin, specifically, the sin of adultery, is enticing and the end of it is death.

”With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk… little knowing it will cost him his life.” Proverbs 7:21, 23 NIV
”Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.“ Proverbs 7:27 NIV

What are we to do in order to walk free? We must know the truth that sets us free — the Word. We are to keep the Word (to practice; to do or perform; and to obey). We are to “store up”. “Guard them,” “Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 7:1-4)

We cannot afford to be.passive in our pursuit of God’s Word. The stakes are too high.

Sin seduces and entices then it destroys. God’s Word helps us to keep our way free of sin and it’s consequences. God’s Word is LIFE!

Danger!! Keep Away!! – Reflections on Proverbs 5

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Danger!! Warning!! Do Not Enter!! These road signs are put up for a reason. They are for the good of the individual driver, the passengers in their car, and everyone they pass by as the traverse from point A to point B.

Today’s chapter is a spiritual warning sign that Solomon posted for his son. “Keep Away From the Adulterous Woman!!” His advise makes perfect sense. Unfaithfulness in marriage wreaks all kinds of havoc in the lives of people: bitterness, death, aimless wandering, loss of honor and dignity are some of the listed consequences of today’s chapter.

However, there is a form of adultery that is not between a husband and wife. It is when we, as followers and lovers of God, choose to love something or someone more than God Himself. It is when we abandon the path of following God and His ways to follow another. It is spiritual adultery. Unfaithfulness to God is a path of destruction. The words of this Proverb declare this warning to us!

”For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.“

Proverbs 5:21-23 NIV

God sees our hearts. Our “ways are in full view of the Lord.” He wants our complete devotion to Him. This is all because He loves us and wants what is best for us.

Anything less than living a life of faithfulness to God and obedience to His Word is a life of spiritual adultery, sin. Sin wraps us in chains. Sin leads us astray from the path of life. Sin brings death into our lives.

God is declaring to us “Danger!! Keep Away!!” He wants for us to live free from the captivity of sin. He wants us to have lives of abundance in Him!

“Take Hold” the Pursuit of Jesus — Reflections on Proverbs 4

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Have you ever watched a sprinter in the Olympics? They are all in: eyes focused on the finish line, every muscle in their body working towards the goal at hand, every thought in their mind concentrating on the race. Today’s Proverb speaks of a pursuit similar to that:

”Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.“

Proverbs 4:4 NIV

God has laid out His path to victory for our lives— the pursuit of God Himself. He tells us to “take hold of His Words with all our hearts.” We are to be “all in” in our pursuit of Him!

The spiritual heart is where our thoughts, our feelings, and our decisions originate from. It is that heart that we are to focus like a lazer beam on taking hold of God’s Words. Every bit of our thoughts, feelings and our decisions are to be set upon His Word. Why? Because God is His Word and His Word is God (John 1:1). He is to be the focus of our life.

Verse 7 states “Get Wisdom (truth in practice- Jesus the Wisdom of God) Though it cost you all you have…” Jesus is worthy of our most focused pursuit! He is worth giving up our own plans, our own desires, our own ways in order to attain! Why? Because He is life itself! All the things we prize that are not of him are only “deep darkness” that “makes us stumble.” Verse 19.

We are to be like the Olympic runner I mentioned at first. Focusing all we are on the race towards attaining Him. It is the only way to have life that is full of joy, peace, and contentment. Because joy, peace and contentment are only found in Jesus, the Wisdom that the book of Proverbs speaks of pursing.

Jesus the Wisdom of God: Reflections on Proverbs 3

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Proverbs is a book of Wisdom or applied truth. In scripture, wisdom is knowing God, seeing Him for who He is, loving Him, and obeying Him fully. Paul refers to Jesus as being the wisdom from God. (1 Corinthians 1:30) When we see Jesus for who He is, God, we love Him and desire to obey Him. We will experience Him as the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.“ (Colossians 2:3 NIV)

Today’s Proverb describes the benefits of wisdom: long life, riches and honor, pleasant ways, peace, the tree of life to all who take hold of her, a blessed life… Solomon admonished his son to “not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight…” Proverbs 3:21. This admonition applies to us today. We come to God in need of wisdom. We need to know how to apply the truth in our lives. We apply the truth when we receive it and act upon what it says. The most practical way we can experience wisdom in our lives is to see Jesus for who He is, accept Him into our lives, and act upon what He says.

We are told in Proverbs 3:13 that we are “Blessed” when we find wisdom. To be blessed is to be happy and prosperous. Simply put the way to true happiness and true prosperity is to seek God’s Wisdom from above, Jesus! He promises to be found by us when we seek Him with all our hearts. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Once we experience God’s Wisdom from above, we must not let Him out of our sight. Our focus must be Jesus! As Solomon told His son, wisdom and understanding are life to us. (Verse 21). We cannot truly live happy and fulfilled (i.e. blessed) lives unless Jesus is the center!

The Fear of the Lord – Reflections on Proverbs 1

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Success… we all desire to have it.

King Solomon was the most successful King of the Bible. He amassed wealth and had great wisdom. God gave these to him because he had a heart that desired wisdom above all. Proverbs is a book full of wisdom that Solomon wrote about. The principles within are principles of success.

Solomon begins his book of Proverbs with the key ingredient to a successful life, “the fear of the Lord.”

The fear of the Lord is defined as a reverential awe of God that springs from a just view and genuine love for Him. The fear of the Lord leads us to hate/ shun evil. It leads us to aim for perfect obedience of God. Solomon writes:

”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

Proverbs 1:7 NIV

When we see God rightly, (He is all powerful, all knowing, always present. He is Holy. He is just…) we want to love Him and obey Him. When we see God rightly, we want to run from sin.

Proverbs 1 says “fools despise” this wisdom. They “hate knowledge” and they do not “choose to fear the Lord.” (Verse 1:29)

We have started a New Year. Newness always brings about hope for success. The recipe for success is spelled out clearly in Proverbs 1:

CHOOSE TO FEAR THE LORD. See God for who He is. Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And Hate Sin —have nothing to do with it. Run from it! Repent of it! Ask God to set you free from it!

Success in the New Year will only come as you choose to Fear the Lord!

Like a Little Child – Reflections on Luke 18.

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I’ve been an adult long enough that I forget at times what it was like to be a little child. I believe that’s why God gave me Grandkids. When they come to visit, their mom unbuckles then from their seat belt and helps them into the house. They may be hungry so I fix them Granny’s special, waffles. They know they need to listen and obey what we tell them. They ask for what they need and enjoy spending time being held and loved on. They don’t worry about who will be the next president or how much money their parents have in the bank. They know they will be taken care of.

In today’s chapter Jesus talks about little children. He said the Kingdom of God belongs to “such as these.” He goes on to say:

”Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”“ Luke 18:17 NIV

It is important that we are like a little child in relating to God. It is the only way we can receive the Kingdom of God. As a little child totally depends on his parents, we must totally depend on God. As a little child totally obeys his parents, we must totally obey God. As a little child totally submits himself to his parents, we must totally submit ourselves to God. When we do, we will live in security, free of the cares of this world. Because we know our Heavenly Father loves us!

May we come to God as a child!

In Invitation to Dine- Reflections on Luke 14

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When I was in college, I went to Florida to visit my brother on my spring break. He was an officer in the Navy. During that visit I got the opportunity to dine in the officers mess on the ship he was assigned to, as his guest. The room, the special china for the officers, and the enlisted wait staff added to the whole experience. It felt like such an honor, especially for a small town Missouri girl.

In today’s reading, Jesus was invited to a prominent Pharisee’s home to eat. During that meal, one of the guests said, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (Verse 15)

Jesus replied to this man with a parable regarding a feast. The guest who were invited were too busy to come. They had their own lives and agendas to pursue. So the master throwing the banquet sent out the invitation to those who would have never been invited to a banquet of honor – “the poor, the blind, and the lame.” (Verse 21). In fact, he wanted his banquet full so he sent his servants out with the invitation to the “roads and country lanes.”

Many do not realize how blessed they would be to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. They spurn the invitation to the most important banquet they could ever attend. 33 years ago when I was invited by my brother to tour his ship and eat in the Officers Mess, I could have turned it down, but I would have missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

A banquet of much more significance is being prepared. Our attendance is of the upmost importance. Our host wants His table to be full. It is prepared for the disciples who follow Jesus.
Will we leave our ways behind in order to respond and simply come?

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot help my disciples.”

Luke 14:33 NIV

What is My Treasure? – Reflections on Luke 12

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Treasure- something very much valued. (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

What do we value most? Jesus speaks of this often in this chapter. He talks about being “rich towards God” (verse 21), seeking His Kingdom first (verse 31), and having our treasure— what we value most— in heaven, God’s dwelling.
What we value most, treasure, shows us where are hearts are.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34).

Our hearts are the most important thing about us. It is where we experience the love, relationship, and intimacy of God.

We cannot experience this if our treasure, what we value most, isn’t God. We cannot experience the life of God if our hearts are far from Him.
It is important to ask God, “What do I value most? What is my treasure? God and His ways? Myself and my own ways?”

What we treasure is very important if we want to be close to God and to know Him.

All We Need- Reflections on Luke 13.

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Jesus came so we could know God in an intimate relationship with Him.  He has given us all we need to have that relationship. 

He taught us to pray.

”He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”“

Luke 11:2-4 NIV

He encourages us to ask our Father in heaven to give us the Holy Spirit to live within us and fill us to overflowing. 

”If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”“

Luke 11:13 NIV

He tells us we are “blessed” – happy- when we hear the word of God and obey it. Verse 28. Because He knows our obedience to His Word will keep us free from the sin that separates us from Him.

God wants us to be close to Him. We can choose to be close to God in an intimate relationship that gives us freedom, joy, and peace.  Jesus provided a way for us to experience this through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Or we can choose to live apart from Him — Never seeking Him in prayer or in His Word, no relationship with the Holy Spirit, following our own desires. 

He loves us so and offers us His life for our own good! We get the choice to go His way or ours.

We choose.