Faithful Envoy

For Friday, October 21, 2005
Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.

I can't help but apply this to preaching. I tremble for the preacher who uses his pulpit to preach that the Scriptures are not reliable, waters down the Gospel to a formula of good works, and assures sinners and unbelievers that they have nothing to fear. I tremble for the preacher who uses his pulpit to preach politics and push his social agenda. I tremble for the preacher who is not faithful in preaching the message of his scripture; who wins a following for his entertaining style and not his substance; who becomes a self-help guru instead of a prophet for God's Word.
Such a messenger will fall into trouble before the God who supposedly called him to be a faithful envoy of the Gospel and the full counsel of God found in Scripture.

But the faithful envoy who week after week proclaims God's Word and makes it clear, such a person truly brings healing to his people who hurt from sin and sinning; who need to hear God speaking to them; who need to hear again and again the Gospel. Real healing comes from God's Word working in us; so much that comes from pulpits are diversions to take our attention away from our wounds, or they are bandaids to make us feel better for awhile, thinking that we have been healed, when the wound is as deep as ever.

Lord, annointed our pastors to be faithful envoys in the pulpit. Don't let me be content with preaching which does not give me your healing Word, even when that healing Word causes pain. Amen.

With Knowledge

For Thursday, October 20, 2005
Proverbs 13:15

In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.

How will you act today at work, at school, the home? Will you speak without thinking, merely reacting to others and circumstances? Will you lose your temper because traffic is bad or a sales clerk is rude? Will you express your frustrations to whoever happens to be near? Or will you go through the day praying to God for wisdom? For God to keep you alert that you not give in to sin? For God to keep you alert to the opportunities to witness for him, to show the love of Christ?

The prudent acts with knowledge - knowledge of what is going on around him, knowledge of wise and ethical behavior, and foremost, knowledge of the Gospel. The more one understands the Gospel, the more prudent he will be in life's daily circumstances. The more he knows grace, the more gracious he will be. The more he knows God in Christ, the more Christ-like he will be.

Lord, may your Spirit daily instill in me knowledge of you and your Gospel, so that I may in turn walk in your Spirit and show Christ through my dealings with the neighbors you bring my way today. Amen.

Good Sense

For Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Proverbs 13:15

Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

There are two reasons the "treacherous" come to ruin. The first is justice. Usually in this lifetime, always in the next life, justice punishes wrongdoing. The other reason is that wrongdoing is not wise. It can seem to be clever to lie, to plot ways to get ahead of a competitor or take advantage of a customer; but such actions lay traps for future failure. Such a person earns distrust and contempt. He must now expend energy protecting himself from his enemies. He becomes suspicious of everyone because through his own example he knows how devious others can be.

"Good" people often act without good sense. For one thing, they put too much confidence in their own goodness, thinking that others will act the same way; that others will recognize their good behavior and intentions. They become puzzled to learn that they have offended their colleagues, not realizing how their "goodness" comes across as self-righteousness; how their "goodness" has blinded them to the ways they have offended others through their speech and behavior.

Good sense means being sensible to the people around you. It means being able to judge properly the circumstances in which you find yourself and not barging into a situation with your own agenda unaware of how foolish or offensive you may appear. Use good sense today. Pray for good sense. You don't know what awaits you. All the more reason to go through the day prayerfully, asking the Spirit to grant you good sense.

Lord,

Grant me today good sense. Grant me good sense in being aware of the people around me that I may know how to speak; that I may be wise in my conduct and so honor the name of Christ is all that I do.

Amen

Fountain of Life

For Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Proverbs 13:14

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

How well are you tuning into wise teaching? Are you reading daily the wise teaching of Scripture? Do you read the wise teaching of the Gospels, of Christ himself? Do you listen to the sermons of wise preachers, to the lessons of wise teachers? Do you read the writings of wise men and women of God?

You must go to the fountain to drink. All about you are the snares of death - the teachings of the world which bombard you daily through TV, movies, advertisements, novels, secular teachers, colleagues, neighbors, etc. These things influence you more than you think. Indeed, the genius of good advertising is to enter into your unconscious thoughts. I like to read well written novels and watch well produced movies. Good books and movies are thought provoking and can help me see life in a way I would not have before. But they come with danger, presenting perspectives that cover God's truth. Thus, I must keep up a steady diet of Christian teaching, writing, and arts. Foremost, I must keep up the steady study of God's Word.

Be sure to go to the fountain of life today and drink deeply of God's wisdom.

Heed the Word

For Monday, October 17, 2005
Proverbs 13:13

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

The proverb sums up the sermon yesterday on Jesus' parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus. Because the rich man did not heed "Moses and the prophets," he brought destruction upon himself in Hades. Lazarus, though he suffered in his earthly life, was rewarded with heaven as a keeper of the commandments.

Jesus' parable made the further point that the despiser of the word is not to expect extra efforts made to turn him around - no visits from ghosts like Scrooge received, no extraordinary miracles. The Word of God is enough on its own, and, indeed, it serves to reveal the true state of our hearts. Those who reject Scripture feel justified now, claiming that it contains contradictions, is filled with error, etc. They may claim now that Scripture does not bring with it enough evidence to be believed. But once they have died or Christ has returned, all arguments will be seen for what they are - excuses to cover up pride and rebellion.

Now is the time to heed God's Word. Now is the time to heed his Gospel. And today is the time to read God's Word, meditate upon it, and let it examine your heart so that you will live for him in obedience.