Righteousness

For Friday, January 27, 2006
Proverbs 15:9

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

God is not lukewarm, neither about sin nor righteousness. He does not look upon us with indifference; he does not find sin humorous, nor does he regard righteousness mildly. He hates sin and will judge in his wrath the sinner; he loves the righteous, preparing for them a place of glory. Therefore pursue righteousness!

But this is a message of despair, for "I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Thanks be that "now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe...[For we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." (Romans 7:21-25; 3:21-25)

Give thanks to God this day and every day for this Gospel truth.

Abomination

For Thursday, January 26, 2006
Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

It is bad enough to act wickedly and ungodly and to think you can get away with bad behavior. But to feign reverence for God, to pretend to love God or pretend to repent? God will not be mocked. And if it is possible for him to be angrier over one sin than another, be sure that his greatest anger is against those who try to drag him over to be identified with their wickedness. And there are many who profess believing the gospel, yet are filled with hate, vindictiveness, who cheat in business and school, and yet somehow justify their behavior as squaring with their faith. Their worship is received by God as an abomination.

There are others who regard themselves as upright, yet under the name of Christian undermine the gospel faith. There are many who use the Christian pulpit to destroy confidence in God's Word. Their worship is an abomination.

God will not be mocked. He does not look with favor upon those who not only insist on going their own way, but either try to drag him along or make him conform to them. The reason the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him is that the upright conform to him. Their standard for what is righteous is what is established in God's Word. They call upon Christ, not only as Savior but as Lord.

Spreading Knowledge

For Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Proverbs 15:7

The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.

The wise spread knowledge that is useful, that makes one wiser, that is good. Fools spread information that is false or perverted or that harms. Fools often think they are spreading knowledge, not realizing that they are revealing their foolishness. They like to hear themselves talk and think others like listening to them. The wise speak only as necessary, weighing their words so as to speak appropriately and to meet their proper intention.

What knowledge will you spread today? Will you be quick to gossip, to pass on hearsay or hurtful words? Or will you weigh your words, being sure that what you speak is the truth and that it is good to say? Christians make mistakes often, thinking that we are being good witnesses for the gospel, the supreme knowledge to pass on. We spread tracts that are poorly written and stereotype unbelievers, causing unnecessary offense. We will speak judgmentally or arrogantly, quick to engage in debate so as to score points. We are zealous with the gospel, unaware of how our presentation actually affects others.

The apostle Paul - the great evangelist - had this instruction to give in spreading the gospel: Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:5-6).

Much Treasure

For Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Proverbs 15:6

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

There may very well be financial wealth in the righteous, because he will be prudent with his money, will not spend it foolishly, and will put savings aside. He will also use his money righteously, tithing ten percent or more, being generous to the poor, not defrauding others, and so receiving blessing from God and from his neighbor.

The wicked, on the other hand, will spend foolishly, make reckless investments, and think only of today. They will try to take advantage of others, thus incurring the anger of God and neighbors, many of whom will try to achieve retribution.

The true treasure of the righteous in Christ is the inheritance of Christ - the riches of his glory, the "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for [them]" (1 Peter 1:4). This is wealth beyond all earthly wealth, for it is eternal and to be eternally enjoyed without fear, without the presence of sin, and in the presence of God. Trouble befalls the wicked, who at best can only enjoy earthly wealth. Then it vanishes when their bodies return to the dust, and it only increases their torment when they rise to the final judgment.

As Paul prayed for the Ephesians, so I pray for you this morning: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..." (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Prudent Listening

For Monday, January 23, 2006
Proverbs 15:5

A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

The fool depises his father's instruction, thinking that he is smarter than his father. In some ways he may be. He may know more than his father about technological gadgets. He knows more than his father about what is fashionable. He may have more street smarts. But what the son (or daughter) doesn't know as well are the experiences of a longer life. What he lacks is maturity that comes with experience, especially the experience of making mistakes. He lacks the experience of playing the fool and then becoming wiser. Such wisdom a father (and mother) has to give.

This proverb is probably thinking not only of wisdom from experience, but the father who follows the law of God and thus imparts that law to his son through instruction and reproof. The fool rejects such instruction, not so much because he thinks he is wiser but because he wants to sin. He wants to do what he wants to do and not be restrained by law. Is this not ultimately why people reject the instruction of God the Father? They want to do what they want to do.

But like the fool who walks into his own downfall, so will all who reject God's instruction and reproof in his Word. They are merely pronouncing their own sentence and shackling themselves to the bondage of sin. Heed instruction from the Word of God; bear willingly reproof based on God's Word. Examine your heart today by the scripture you read, that you may heed reproof and be prudent.