Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” NKJV

I will never forget when I first began to travel in itinerant ministry as an Evangelist, I went to get some business cards printed and wanted to use this passage on my card.  The man who took my order looked at it and said, “Why would you want to put ‘a word filthy spoken’ on your card?”  I DIDN’T!   I realized quickly how easy it would be for someone to misread the verse and choose another instead. 

However, the passage is a powerful message on speaking ‘right words’ at the ‘right time’ for the ‘right reason’ and for being a man/woman of your word.  My parents and grandparents instilled in me that if you gave your word you gave yourself and it was to be honored.  Both my father and maternal grandfather were men of such integrity that if they gave their word and shook hands it was more binding than any legal contract.  

It was their bond!  They considered someone who broke their word of the basest sort of person.  I recall once making a pledge for a small amount of money but being in school I had no means to accumulate the extra money short of a miracle from God.  I told my father about my pledge and he wrote me a check and told me that next time not to make a commitment I was not sure I could keep.  I tried to explain that I would get the money somehow, but he would have none of it because I had given my word and the due date on the pledge was at hand.  In his mind, if I did not meet the ‘faith promise’ I was breaking my word and that would tarnish both my name and reputation and he could not abide that.

I have found this passage relevant in situations where a ‘calming word’ at the right moment diffused a potentially volatile situation and brought peace.  I’ve seen it when a ‘wise word’ was offered that prevented a life from being shipwrecked by a terrible decision.  I’ve seen it when an ‘encouraging word’ was given and a heart was rescued out of despondency and depression.  A ‘right word’ at the ‘right time’ for the ‘right reason’ is truly like an apple of gold in a setting of silver.  It is not only beautiful but a treasure!

We each should carefully measure our words and allow the Holy Spirit to set a guard at our mouths so that when we speak, we speak light into darkness and life into death.  So, as you go through your day go with the knowledge and confidence that God will give you the right words to say at the right time no matter the situation.

Blessings be upon you abundantly today is my prayer!

Ruth 1:16-17 – “16 But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”  NKJV

The incredible power of devotion and faithfulness is seen in the Book of Ruth in both Ruth and Boaz.  However, for it to have reached the place that Boaz could take Ruth as a wife, there had to be the commitment of Ruth in making Covenant with Naomi.  Ruth’s husband was dead and Naomi had no other sons and no prospect of having sons that could marry Ruth and raise up seed in the name of his brother.  Ruth was released by Naomi as was Orpah but Ruth refused to desert her mother-in-law and her covenant vows are seen in these verses.

Naomi was moved by Ruth’s commitment and selflessness but more importantly, God took note of her heart which produced her actions.  When they returned to Bethlehem they were destitute and among their relatives was a rich man named Boaz and Ruth requested Naomi’s permission to go to his field to glean so they could eat. 

There is no evidence that Ruth had a plan to get Boaz to marry her.  She was seeking to care for her mother-in-law.  It was the custom of the Jews to allow strangers to gather the corners of the fields and even glean the trampled down grain so when Ruth came to the field the workers honored the custom and allowed her to glean.  Boaz took note of her and upon inquiry realized who she was and was, no doubt, moved by her devotion to Naomi.  He invited her to continue day by day gleaning in his fields and instructed the workers to drop handfuls on purpose for her so that she would be sure to have a goodly amount to sell and for Naomi and her to eat.

When Ruth reported what had transpired to Naomi, her mother-in-law sensed the heart of God and knew the Law of the Kinsman-Redeemer so she encouraged Ruth to return with specific instructions.  Her willingness to comply and her demonstrated virtue moved the heart of Boaz as God worked His plan looking down the road to the Christ being born.  Boaz sought to protect her reputation and took action to approach the Near Kinsman to enact the Kinsman-Redeemer rights.  The Near Kinsman declined for personal reasons allowing Boaz to fulfill the role and duty required by the Law.

Ruth and Boaz had a son.  The child was named Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David from whose line Christ was born.  In the life of Ruth and Boaz, we get a picture of the Kinsman-Redeemer Jesus and in the Book of Revelation Five, we find one of the elders told John that there is one that has earned the right to open the scroll in heaven and that one is Jesus our Kinsman-Redeemer. He, Jesus, has redeemed us, is redeeming us, and will redeem us in the Last Days and seal forever our eternal place with Him in glory.

Two thoughts I want to leave you with.  One, the heart of a servant can clearly be seen in Ruth and the servant’s heart was rewarded by God.  Two, it was not enough just to serve but Ruth cut a covenant with Naomi, and God is a Covenant Making and Covenant Keeping God and honors His covenant forever.  Ruth, in my mind, gives us a picture of what we should be and can be in Christ!

God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey

Nehemiah 1:4 – “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”  NKJV

This verse is in reference to Nehemiah hearing the news about the disrepair of Jerusalem and it so broke his heart that it moved him to action.  In his situation, it was an action that could easily have cost him his life but he was so moved he could do nothing else.  That brings me to the thought that I want to address today.

When was the last time you were ‘so moved’ by the condition of our world, the church, or a life, that it so moved you that ‘prayer’ and ‘fasting’ was the immediate response?  Then you went into action with the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  Sadly, I hear many talking about the Need for ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’. But I do not see many that are so heartbroken over the condition and the dying souls of men that they are driven into intercessory prayer and fasting.  Honestly, if it does not move us to the point that it breaks our hearts I doubt that we will give it much serious thought and as a result will not be compelled to do that which is needed to change the circumstances or situation.

I am reminded of the biblical record when Jesus came to Mary and Martha at their brother, Lazarus’ tomb.  Mary ran to Jesus weeping and whether it was intentional or not leveled an accusation toward Him saying, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  It was both a statement of faith and frustration.  He asked where they had buried Lazarus and as she led Him to the tomb Jesus wept!  He then moved into action that restored the life to Lazarus who had been dead three days.  A significant miracle by any standards!

I have a friend who is incredibly easily touched by the Spirit of God.  We will be in a public place sharing a meal or a thought, and something will catch his eye and he will be in tears brokenhearted over the condition, situation, or life that he is observing.  He then excuses himself and I do not have to ask for I know that he is going to his prayer closet to intercede over whatever it was.  There have been many times I’ve seen him days later and he will have a testimony of something God has done in that very situation.  He becomes so brokenhearted that he acts in the most powerful way that we humans can act he reaches out to the Throne of Heaven.

If we truly believe that the church or our world is in need of ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, and/or ‘revival’ why does it not crush our hearts?  I am not trying to be accusatory for I ask myself the same question and do not always like the answers I receive within my heart and mind.  God help us to never become so entangled with the affairs of this life that we lose contact with the Throne of Heaven and experience such desensitization of our hearts that we are not shattered by the condition of the world.  Lord, I pray that you make our hearts so tender that we actually mourn over sin.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Philemon 1-11 – “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia,  Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:  3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.  8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you — being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ — 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.”  NKJV

We know from previous readings and studies that Paul received significant ministry from the runaway slave Onesimus who belonged to Philemon, a believer and fellow laborer in the cause of the Kingdom.   There are many lessons here and one is how to make an appeal without overstepping your authority or sounding self-righteous.

Paul identifies himself as a prisoner of Jesus and referred to Philemon as a ‘friend’ and ‘fellow laborer’.  He identified others in the church that Philemon was a part of and called them ‘fellow soldiers’.  He blessed their work and their house and informed them of his frequent and continual prayer for them and the success of the work they were conducting as well as their love, liberty, and charity.

Paul then informs Philemonthat while he could issue a directive based on Scripture and the Word of God, he chose to offer an appeal as a friend and fellow laborer in Christ out of love.  He then made his appeal for Onesimusand detailed his ministry and value to Paul in Paul’s time of suffering. 

His plea included the assertion that while Onesimus may have been unprofitable, disgruntled, and dissatisfied causing him to run away he was now a member of the Body of Christ, and if his lot was serving as a servant he would do so with his heart and be the best servant possible.  Paul was appealing for Onesimus to be received not just as a servant but as a brother in Christ.

While I cannot personally fathom using anyone as a slave, we have slavery in so many ways in life and justify it.  I’ve seen husband-wife relations where one or the other is a virtual if not literal slave and abused enormously if they try to break free. I’ve seen employer-employee relationships where the employee was a virtual slave with constant threats as to their future if they did not toe the line. 

I’ve seen the political world where citizens are virtual slaves forced to bow to the whims and wishes of an all-powerful government.  I’ve even seen it in churches where either the pastor or the congregation were ruled by tyranny and made virtual slaves.  None of that is God’s desire, in my view but if we approached each other as members of the Body of Christ regardless of our social, political, economic, or relational status we would find a much more productive working relationship.

If we would learn to appeal as friend to friend, brother to brother rather than issuing decrees we would find a much more productive situation.  Therefore, as you go through your day go know that you are representing the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and respond to those things you encounter with that view in mind. 

May the rich and bountiful blessing of our Lord be upon you!

Luke 17:1-4 – “Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”  NKJV

The Lord Jesus clearly stated that “offenses” will come in life.  You cannot create a social climate where there are no occasions where someone is offended.  However, the word offend is to cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings.  It is possible for someone to be offensive and for we choose not to take offense.  It is my conviction and belief that to be ‘offended’ we have to make a choice to allow what was said or done to so influence us that we harbor resentment and hold an amount of unforgiveness in our hearts as a result.

While we cannot prevent offenses from coming, we do have a biblical directive on how to handle conflicts and offenses.  In the social medium of Facebook, I have had to block a few (very few) people from posting on my page because they became antagonistic and combative descending into personal attacks and using profanity.  In most of those cases, I reminded them that this could not and would not be tolerated and when those few decided to continue, I took that action. 

I have been blocked on occasions by others and only one actually notified me of their action but some of the others posted things on their pages quoting what I had said and vilifying me over them without calling my name.  One was religious and that person notified me of their action, and it was because they held a different doctrinal point of view than I and the other two were political. 

For Christians, there is only one true course to take with regard to offenses and that is found in Matthew 18.  It should be the minimum that a believer follows, and we should never shut someone out due to a perceived or real offense without following the directive of this passage outlined by our Lord.  It may be that the individual is unaware of their offense and what they did or said was not premeditated or malicious and something they would gladly rectify if given the chance. 

I have been misunderstood and misunderstood others in my life and each time I have followed, or they have followed Matthew 18 we quickly realized the offense or perceived offense was a misunderstanding and nothing malicious.  A friendship was preserved, and needless bitterness was prevented.

Matthew 18:15-20 – “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.  17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.  20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”  NASB

I always encourage people, if they take exception to anything I say or do, let me know it and allow me to explain in an attempt to clear the air with regard to any malice on my part.  Offenses will come, we cannot prevent them, but we can prevent them from becoming havens of unforgiveness and bitterness.

God bless you as you go through your day!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven — 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”  NASB

Without going through this list item by item and commenting I would ask that you focus on the simple reality that God has a time, for everything.  I heard an argument for a person who was Pro-Choice and Pro-Abortion attempt to use this passage to support their view and somehow makes it biblical.  They argued that if the pregnancy was unwanted that could indicate them being in the condition of “at the time to uproot”.  When they heard the pushback that abortion could be considered murder and was assuredly killing of the unborn.  They argued that this was simply God’s allowable time to kill, pluck up, and tear down.  I found that position to be absolutely astounding. 

This passage brings many challenges to a believer’s heart but making it a license to take the life of the unborn and innocent is astounding.  None of us determine the time of our birth and none of us should determine the time of our death.  There are associations in life that require us to cultivate and there are times when we must uproot those alliances and go a different direction. 

There is a time when weeping and mourning will be appropriate and there is a time when laughter is the proper answer to times of difficulty or ease.  There can be a time to go to war and a time to make peace.  There is a time to reach out and befriend and there is a time to separate ourselves from evil associations.  In short, God has His timing for things that we often do not understand and may not see His purposes or plan but we must TRUST! 

If I truly believe that God has a time for everything and truly believe that He is taking every event of my life and blending it together for my good and His ultimate purpose I can TRUST and REST in Him.  I can deal with times when my heart is broken, I have been let down by someone near and dear or I am under severe attack.  I can raise my sword and go to war and I can lay it down and extend the olive branch of peace because I TRUST Him and am confident in His timing. 

Our problems are often when we try to force our timing into the situation. It is there that we may weep when we should be laughing, embracing when we should be shunning, planting when we should be plowing, or speaking when we should be silent.  His ways are higher than our ways and His thought than our thoughts.  Our secret to success is learning to HEAR His voice that voice of the Spirit of God confirmed by His Word and TRUST!

God, bless you as you embark on today’s leg of life’s journey!

Isaiah 1:18-20 – “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, ” Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. 19 ” If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; 20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”  NASB

I have been told by well-meaning ministers that human reason has no place or part in the salvation experience.  To them it is all about emotion and the entire work is done on God’s side and man has no role in that experience.  Please understand, I do believe that man cannot save himself and that it is wholly God who washes away the sin and transforms that life from lost to saved.  However, these words of Isaiah, speaking as a prophet of the Lord, ‘human reason’ is a significant part.  Confession of sin most assuredly involves human reason. 

Sadly, many use human reason to justify their sin but if I do not evaluate my condition and consider my guilt, I will not repent.  If I do not think through my condition and what I have done I will not repent.  If I do not think through what God offers through the work of Jesus on the Cross I will not repent and seek His forgiveness.  Therefore, we need to reason with the LORD about our condition and sin.

The promise is that even as vile and stained as my soul is through my ‘missing the mark’ SIN God will wash me and make me white as pure snow.  It is only as we are ‘born again’ are our names written in the Book of Life.  Only then are we translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.  Only then are we ‘new creations’ in Christ and Born Again spiritually.  But, the Promise of God does not stop with, “you will go to heaven when you die” it is “you can have heaven here on earth.”

Look at the last part of the promise.  IF and be sure to see the word ‘if’ because it demands thought, consideration, and evaluation.  “If you consent or agree with God that you have sinned and turn from those sins in obedience to the Word of God…”  IF you do that, then you will eat the best of the land! 

That is what Jesus spoke of when He said I am come to bring Life and that more abundant.  That is what Jesus was speaking of when He said, “Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  That is what Paul is talking about when he tells us that “The Blessings of Abraham” belong to the believer.  That is what he meant when he said that we can be more than conquerors through Christ. 

You do not realize the instruction of Paul to Timothy to ‘study to show himself approved unto God’, without thought and reason.  Therefore, human reason is involved in the process of salvation.  It does not produce salvation but leads us to that place of repentance and receive restoration.

The negative of the last part of the promise is IF again.  If you refuse…  If you refuse you will be devoured by the sword.  The powers of hell will have direct and open access to your life if you refuse to receive that which God has offered in salvation.  Consider the blessing and the curse.  Consider the matter of life or death eternally.  Consider what is being offered and ‘reason together’ with the LORD and I do believe that His Spirit will convict your heart and lead you to repentance and salvation.

God, bless you as you embark on this day in Jesus!

John 8:31-32 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ” If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  NASB

My purpose is not to start a firestorm of religious argument but to call attention to both the requirement and promise of our LORD to those of that day and us today.  He was speaking to Jews who believed Him or believed in Him.  They believed He was who He claimed to be, “Messiah”.  They believed that He had the words of eternal life.  They recognized Him as a great prophet and knew that His message was completely other than that of the religious leaders of their day.  The believed!

Jesus then said something that is troubling for many.  He said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will now the truth and the truth will make you free.”  There are many facets of what He said that need to be considered, observed, and accepted if we are to find, have, receive, and walk in the Abundant Life He Promised and become the Glorious Church He came to build. 

First, they were believers!  However, Jesus indicated that just believing was not enough to enter into that fullness He taught there had to be Continuing as well.  That continuing meant obedience to His words, precepts, and teachings.  It is only in continuing that we become genuine disciples not simply one that professes a belief that He is who He declares Himself to be. 

The profession of faith is the first step, not the entire race.  It is the beginning, not the conclusion.  If we stop there, we fall so far short of what God has for us we will be tormented by the enemy of our souls and never fulfill the words of Isaiah’s promise in 40:31 – “…They that wait upon the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up like the eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and to become weary.”  We will not find ourselves in the place of Psalm 91 nor will we truly embrace and experience the promise of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30.  So, Continuing is a necessary ingredient in our spiritual development and life.

Next, Jesus promises that “If We Continue” and become genuine disciples Then two things will happen.  We will Know the Truth and that Truth that we know will make us free.  I said the Truth that you know not just truth.  Yes, God’s truth is what makes us free but if we do not know that truth, we will not exercise faith with regard, to it nor will we walk in that truth, and being made free requires both knowing and obeying therefore it is The Truth that You Know that makes you Free.  Not your own definition of truth but God’s Truth.  God’s Truth becomes part of your being, part of your consciousness, and shapes who you are.  So, continuing in His Word in obedience leads to Freedom. 

It is not enough to give mental assent to the truth we must Continue in it.  It is not enough to express the belief that Jesus is the Christ we must Continue in His truth and as we embrace that truth, walking it out in our lives, that Truth liberates us, empowering us to stand in the face of all temptation and in the midst of any storm of life. 

God, bless you as you continue in His Word and Follow Him fully and freely!

Luke 6:46-49 – “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  47 ” Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:  48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  49 “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  NASB

I have witnessed the disparity between what a person says and what they live in and outside the church.  That is a natural reality in life that people say one thing and do another.  However, when it comes to a relationship with God, just saying you are a Christian does not make you one.  Let me state, clearly, that I refuse to be anyone’s judge, and if anyone professes, they are a believer I will evaluate the fruit of their life, contrast their life with their declarations, but leave the determination of whether they are or not to God. 

In this passage, Jesus identified this problem vividly and His words should resonate with us and provide sufficient cause for us to carefully examine our own lives.  Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”  Clearly, it is not our own declaration that makes His Lordship a reality in our lives it is the fruit of our lives that reveals the true condition.  No, I am not offering a justification for becoming judgmental and self-appointed fruit inspectors.  Jesus gave an analogy that is valuable for us as individuals in our self-examination of our own lives.  Let’s examine his comparisons and see if we can glean benefit.

If we Hear, the Words of our LORD and act on them in obedience Jesus said we could be compared to a prudent and competent builder.  That builder would dig a deep and solid foundation going to bedrock ensuring that if the floods or violent winds came the house would be strong.  In short, “having done all to stand, able to stand.” 

The person that Hears, the Words of Christ but does not act or obey them is like the person that ignores the foundation and erects his structure.  It may look wonderful on the outside but has no stability and will easily be destroyed.  Obedience involves an investment of time and energy in allowing a solid foundation to be built. This is the work of the Holy Spirit with our cooperation as we “study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly handling the Word of Truth.”  This is allowing the Love of Christ to be shed abroad in our hearts and a commitment to obedience.  This is a love relationship that is not interested in simply looking right or sounding right but being right.

Just because one professes to be a follower of Christ does not mean the fruit of their lives will validate that claim.  When trouble comes, we find out what we are made of.  When the enemy comes in like a flood, we need a foundation that can withstand his assaults.  We must make Christ our Rock and upon that Rock build our lives, otherwise, it is the shifting sand of will-power and nothing more than rain on a tin roof.  Noise but no substance.

God, bless you as you seek Him in all things and at all times!