Instruct Those Who Would Hear

He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

                                                                                                     (Prov 9:7-10 KJV)

There is only one God. As our Small Catechism teaches we: "We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things."

This one God loves us and was and is willing to give all to us. Not everyone understands this nor does everyone want to. There are times, after a person attempts to share the Good News that our God would have everyone receive, that one must shake the dust off of their feet and walk away. There are plenty of others yearning to hear the Good News of the kingdom through Jesus the Christ. They yearn for it so it would behoove us to ensure that they get to hear it. 

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matt 10:14)

God grant that the ears of all people be opened to hear this Good News and to receive it as a blessed promise to them through Jesus Christ our Lord and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen To Instruction

Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
   but those who heed admonition gain understanding.

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
   and humility goes before honor..

                                              Prov 15:32-33 NRSV

There is no better instruction than to respect the Lord. Do not place yourself and anything else before Him. Listen closely to His Word so that you might gain understanding from the one who knows all and is all. Not listening to those who would share this wisdom will only bring us trouble.

No good will come from lifting ourselves up before Him. We must remember that He is the creator and we are the created. We are not greater than the creator. We are not greater than the redeemer.  

It is right to fear the Lord and to give Him all honor and glory. To love the Lord with all your heart is  wisdom worth listening to. There is nothing better; more pleasing than to be in a loving relationship with our creator; our redeemer; our counselor.

Humble yourself and listen to the Word. Listen to those who would help you on the Way. Do not despise them; but, listen. Listen and believe that you might gain understanding; that you might live life most fully in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Morning Sun

The Path of the Righteous is Like the Morning Sun

Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

Proverbs 4:10-19

The narcissist says to themselves: I am the only one that counts. There is no God. In fact, they usually consider themselves somewhat of a god.

If someone gets in the way of the narcissist trying to make themselves look much better than they are; they will not rest until that person has been persecuted to the degree that the narcissist thinks they need to be punished and then a little beyond. They cannot rest unless they are making trouble for others. This they do while smiling and thinking that everyone else loves and support their evil ways. In fact, they think that they are so crafty that no one notices the darkness that surrounds them. But their wickedness; their darkness is known to God and to all who live in his light.

The narcissist can only bring trouble to those around them. But, the way of those who would follow in the path of Jesus is like the morning sun, bringing light to the world and the people around them.

But, you dear child of God, live in the light and let your light so shine!

God's Peace - Pr. J     

Leading Them Astray

 For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.

You have wearied the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”

                                                                                                                    (Malachi 2:7-9,17 NIV)

Nothing has changed. The prophet Malachi warns the priests about their false teachings. They have led the people astray enabling the people to stumble by calling evil good.

Has anything changed? They knew then and we know today the difference between what is right and what is wrong; but, have all too often chosen the way that makes friends of the world rather than God.

Pr. J

Listen And Follow For Your Own Sake

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.

My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot —
my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.

Proverbs 1:8-19 NIV

                                             

It is so disheartening to hear the daily news.  It is as if all regard for not just others; but, for themselves as well, has been lost to this generation. I am not speaking of just our young people. Many elderly, as well, are arrested and convicted daily of crimes against others. It is not only strangers or neighbors that they hurt. But, they throw away their own lives and hurt their families as they commit crimes in attempts to fulfill their worldly desires. I am pretty sure that at least a majority of them think that they will never be caught; that they will not end up spending their lives locked down in a cell. The paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain takes away even the life of those who get it.               

There are riches worth having. They are more pleasant than any thing found in this world. Seek the Kingdom of God. It is a free gift from God to all who would believe.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for all who believe.  (Eph 1:18-19a)

God's Peace - Pr. J.