Some people say that reading books written by successful people is like having that person as a mentor. Although you cannot have a conversation with them, you can learn a great deal by reading the ideas that they took the time to assemble. Based on this, reading Proverbs is like having Solomon, who was granted great wisdom by God, as a mentor.

I particularly like the clarity and applicability of Chapter 27 to our modern lives. Verse 21 is something to consider, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.”

Hopefully we all will have the opportunity to be congratulated and applauded for doing something excellent. When it happens, it is our opportunity to pass the test and humbly say “thank you”, and also share the credit with others who helped. This test is like other tests we are given in life, but feels much better than dealing with a tragedy or failure. It may not be as easy as it may appear. Being praised regularly easily can become a burden for some people to maintain their humility. Remember this is another blessing from God that can be used to bring him glory and not just inflate our egos.

Dear Lord, thank you for the wisdom of Solomon, recorded for our benefit in the book of Proverbs. Help us use it to improve our lives to be of better service to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Psalm 73 tells a story to which many of us could relate. It deals with envy and how the author, Asaph, started down the path to envy, but corrected himself.

Verse 3, “For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives, their bodies are so healthy and strong.” Isn’t it difficult sometimes to see these people who are obviously not living godly lives, and everything seems to be just fine and dandy for them. At the same time we are doing our best to follow God’s will, but scratching and scrimping to get by. His questions, just like ours, verse 11, “Does God realize what is going on?” and 13, “Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure?”

Then he stops and realizes how wrong this line of thought is. verse 21, “Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was torn up inside…but even so, you love me! you are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel…..Whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you!”

How silly it is for us to worry about the prosperity of others. God gives us all that we need if we trust him. Finally in verse 26 he says, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

Earthly prosperity will never satisfy the longing God built into us that can only be satisfied by our relationship with him. Our true joy comes from being connected to God and keeping our life anchored in him and his teaching.

Dear Lord, Thank you for being there for us when we need to be reminded of what is important. Help us keep our focus on you and you will give us the things we need in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In a conversation with a friend, some time ago, he mentioned how he thought that American society was becoming split into a group of “haves” and a group of “have-nots.” After giving it some thought, I don’t particularly agree, but I think there is a more significant gap developing. I think there is a divide between those who know right and wrong and are striving to do what is right, and those who also know right and wrong, but are looking for excuses to justify doing what they know is wrong. This gap is at work at all income levels.

Hebrews 10:16 says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,”

God has put his guidelines for right and wrong in our hearts and minds. We can sense these rules, but often they go against what we really want to do, the temptations of our earthly lives. We can try to convince ourselves that certain behaviors are okay because they are legal, they are common practice, or no one will know, but God knows, and it is his rules by which we should measure ourselves.

Dear Lord, Thank you for providing the guidelines for doing the right thing, in our hearts. Help us follow these guidelines and overcome the temptations that would pull us away from your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The last two days, I wrote about the three reasons I believe people do not accept Jesus Christ as their God. 1) Arrogance. 2) Ignorance. 3) A Lifestyle conflict.

We covered Arrogance and Ignorance; Today we’ll cover the third reason, Lifestyle conflict.

It is hard to fault a non-believer for being turned off from Christianity, when the only thing he or she knows or hears about Christianity is “your lifestyle is evil and it is why you will go to hell if you don’t repent and accept Jesus.” In a way, it is like someone inviting you to join their club, but they criticize and humiliate you first; Not very appealing.

We can read Romans 1 which lists out all the bad things people do and how wicked they are and think that people today are just the same. We must then read Romans 2 which begins, “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.”

Jesus did not approach ordinary people with judgment. Jesus says in John 3:17, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” We need to remember Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard”

Of course there is a laundry list of bad, sinful behaviors, and we cannot change the fact that they are wrong. However changing those behaviors is not a pre-requisite for being accepted by God. He accepts us with our short-comings; We only need to let Him. Paul writes in Romans 5:8, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We need to love people with their baggage and let God bring them to realize where they need to change. (Disclaimer…For Christian leaders, however, there is a different standard which I’ll cover another time.)

Dear Lord, Thank you for accepting each of us with our failings and disobedience to you. The closer we become to you, the more we desire to do your will and turn from our sinful behaviors. Help us follow Jesus’ example and invite people, to know you, with your love, not judgment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yesterday I started writing about the three reasons I believe people do not accept Jesus Christ as their God. 1) Arrogance. 2) Ignorance. 3) A Lifestyle conflict.

We covered Arrogance yesterday; Today we’ll cover the second reason, Ignorance.

This is not too controversial. Unless someone brings the Good News of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, how can people find it? Since the start of Christianity, missions, bringing the Good News to the far corners of the world, have been a major Christian activity, and they still are. However, it is rather sad that in the developed world where a couple generations ago nearly everyone was exposed to, and even taught the basics of Christianity, there are millions of people that have only been in Churches for funerals and weddings. There are many children in the United States that have never heard of the concept of God. We need missions right here.

Many people today are unaware of the Good News, “ignorant” and just need someone like Phillip in the story of the Ethiopian in Acts 8:30, “Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.”

TV Preachers tend to get criticized from both the conservative Christian leaders and anti-Christian people and some of the criticism may be warranted. However it only takes a couple words of the story of God’s grace, placed on the fertile heart of someone who has never heard it, to open them up to the work of the Holy Spirit. The TV is a great way to reach many people. Other technologies, including the Internet, and social media allow any of us to conduct missions right from our computer or smart phone and try to overcome the lack of knowledge of God’s story of Grace.

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us the ability to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Help us remember the words of the Hymn, “If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all.” and remember there are those who have not yet heard your Good News. We can share a couple words that may open the door of their heart to Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.