Don't Fret About The Mockers

"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." (Prov 9:7-9 NIV)

Believe me, I have received my share of insults by those who prefer not to walk on the straight path. I have learned, over time, that there are definitely times when it makes no sense to correct someone. If they are corrected they will only argue or throw a temper tantrum. There are times when it seems that it is best just to walk away, say nothing. It is better to keep right on walking rather than ending up in a dispute that you will not win and then end up carrying the ill feelings that you gained during that discussion out into the rest of the world. The rest of the world doesn't deserve that.

There is a whole world out there that needs and desires to hear the Good News. Why allow a mocker or a wicked one, who refuses to hear, to steal the time that could be better used to help those who are wise enough not to refuse help?

I am not saying that there is never a time to correct a mocker or rebuke the wicked. Jesus certainly incurred insults. As Christians, we turn will incur insults. We should not be afraid to share the Good News because we do not like to be insulted for our faith. But, there are times when even the mocker should be corrected and the wicked rebuked. If there is danger to others, it definitely needs doing. These things must be done from time to time. Wisdom will help you know when the time is right. 

What I am trying to say is that focusing on one who mocks the LORD, trying to drag them onto the path of righteousness should never become the center of your life. Do not allow scoffers to drag you down and off the path the LORD has prepared for you. That would not be wise. If they will not hear the truth, it may be that you should simply walk away, whether it is family, friend, or foe. You can help no one, if your whole life is spent trying to help one whose whole goal is to drag you down into the muck and mire with them.

According to St. Matthew (10:14 NIV), Jesus said, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."

There is a whole world out that there that is yearning for some Good News; multitudes that need healing and actually desire it, that will listen and be made whole. Go... and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our LORD. Go and proclaim the Good News to all people. But, remember it is the Word, who is Jesus the Christ, that saves not you or me. Once the Word has been shared, there is not much you can do for the mocker, but continue to pray for them and trust the Spirit of God to do what the Spirit does. Be careful that you do not become embroiled in thinking that you are going to save them no matter what! Wisdom will guide you as your remember that it is only Jesus who saves.

God's Peace -Pr. J

Wisdom Is Trusting The Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
Proverbs 3:5-8 NRSV

I hear many a person confess their faith in the Lord. They say that they believe in him; they trust him and depend upon him. But, then I see and hear otherwise. We confess our faith in the Lord and then we turn around and trust in the wisdom or rather the lack of wisdom of humankind. We say that we are faithful to him; but, then our actions prove that we do not listen to the wisdom of God. We listen to the wisdom of the world; to our own demise.

May God help us to be more faithful to him and to follow our Lord in the way that he (not we) would have us go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Narrow Road

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matt 7:13-14 NIV)

I'm only taking a guess; but, I'm thinking that only a few find that narrow gate because it is not the vast majority that is actually looking for it. People seem to generally like that wide road that allows them a lot of latitude in what they say and do. That narrow road has a tendency to keep us on the straight and narrow. On that narrow road there is only one way to go and it is not our way. It is God's way.

I've often been told that people wished that there was a manual that told us what we should do in certain situations. There is one. It is called the Holy Bible. I've also been told that people need a road map for life. There is one. Follow Jesus. Follow in the way that he would have you go. 

If you're looking for destruction; go ahead and take the broad road. If you're looking for genuine life; then seek out that narrow gate, who is Jesus the Christ, and follow on that straight and narrow path that he has set before you.

May God help you to follow in the way that He would have you go.

God's Peace - Pr. J

In The Morning When I Rise

Sunrise at Flagler Beach, FL

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."  (Ps 5:3 NIV).

One of my favorite hymns is, "Give me Jesus."  The words are a prayer to God, "In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus.  You can have all this world, just give me Jesus."

  

Each morning, I wake up praying.  Sometimes, no often, those prayers are prayers for help; help to get me and others through another day; to meet the challenges of another day.  When I wake up each morning, I know that the one thing that I need to get through the day is Jesus.  After I rise, I generally read the news online and any prayer requests I've gotten through Facebook or my email; read some in the Bible; and write this blog.  Then, it is time to go back into conversation with God, in prayer. 

David prayed: "Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me." (Ps 5:8)  It is very easy when we are caught up in the daily struggles for us to head off in a direction that is not on the straight path the LORD has provided for us.  Sin, the world, the devil, many things can pull us off this path that the LORD has set before us.  We have to be very cautious lest we get pulled into believe that the enemies lies are the truth.  Sometimes, it may seem easier to just go along with the old clique rather than to stand on and stand up for the Word.  It may seem easier, but it is not!  There is only one way to eternal life in the presence of God, in His kingdom. That way is, in and through and with, Jesus the Christ.  He is the way!  Give me Jesus!

Life in this world is full of tough times and struggles and so we lay our requests before God and wait, with faith, expectantly, asking the LORD to spread His protection over us (Give me Jesus), each day, that we may rejoice in Him. (Ps 5:11)

What better way to wake up in the morning than praying and laying this request before the LORD: "Give me Jesus!"

God's Peace - Pr. J

Fall Off The Crooked Path

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
                                                             Proverbs 10:9 NIV

When my youngest granddaughter was very young, she would sometimes attempt to blame others for things that occurred. I would simply tell her that her nose was growing in reference to the Pinocchio fairy tale. She would grab her nose and then tell me what had actually happened in an attempt to keep her nose from growing. She's not buying that story (my exaggeration and falsehood)any longer. Fortunately, I think both of my granddaughters have figured out that I can figure out when they are exaggerating to make themselves look more innocent. I cannot always prove when someone is telling me a falsehood. But, that does not mean that I don't know.

I have found that most often those who choose the crooked paths of deceits will be found out. They either fall of the path or simply loose their way and those who love them have to try to find them and bring them back even as the Good Shepherd would do and would have us do. The bringing back often involves confronting the lack of integrity; the out right lies, the gross exaggerations that were used to justify their actions and to make others look like the ones in the wrong.

It is not just children who take the crooked paths and choose to walk without integrity. They usually learn it somewhere outside of themselves. Politicians, businessmen and women, churchmen and women (and the list goes on) all have a tendency to look after themselves and if a little deceit helps our goals then that seems to be the best path at the time. But, is it? For some reason humanity just hasn't been able to figure out that those who walk without integrity will be exposed. We haven't quite figured out that no matter what we've done; trying to justify our actions or inactions with lies, only gets us more lost. We will eventually fall off that crooked path and lose even ourselves.

May God help us always to speak and act with integrity. Help us to speak the truth in love.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trust Him!

"For no word from God will ever fail." Luke 1:37

We do harm to ourselves when we do not believe the promises of God. We will find ourselves troubled and worried if we have any inclination that God cannot do all things. Place your trust in Him and His promises and He will see you through all things. He will provide for all of your needs.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov 3:5-6 

God grant us faith to trust in Him above all others.

God's Peace - Pr. J