Be Proactive

(Pro 30:12 KJV)  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Years ago I walked into my bedroom and noticed a strange smell.  I finally figured out it was me.  One of the problems we have in life is that we can get used to anything.  I understand one of the ways to not be offended by the stench of other people eating onions is to eat onions yourself.  It becomes natural to you.  So the room became natural.  

When I am faced with a problem that I cannot see, or in this case smell, until it is too late I ask myself what proactive actions I can take.  For me I began the ritual of washing my sheets at least once a week.  That way I didn’t need to wait until I could smell it.  It was more pleasant for other people too.  Another application is to not buy foods that I go full glutton on.  If I ain’t got ‘em, I can’t eat ‘em.  It also helps to listen to the clues other people give such as, “What is that smell?”

So?  Sometimes the stench is just a minor social bump.  Other times it is the indication of spiritual decay.  Be on the alert.  (Posted, September 30, 2021, PP)

Wait for It

(Pro 29:16 KJV)  When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

I am old enough to remember how it “used to be”.  I would like to be around when my children start talking about “when I was young.”  It would be entertaining for me if not for their children.  Having said that, it does seem that evil is on the rise.  As a kid I don’t remember ever locking our house.  I know I never had a key.  And we were comfortable leaving our car with the windows rolled down.  As a teenager I could have ordered a firearm out of the Sears catalogue and received it through the mail, no questions asked.  We took out jack knives to school and played mumblety peg during recess.  I remember driving through the “ghetto” areas of New York and having no fear.

Evil is on the rise.  It is more than just being more aware.  It happens regularly in human culture.  There is also an end.  We are assured that if we are part of the “righteous” (6662) we shall see their fall.  To be honest, it may be viewed from eternity but it will be viewed.

So?  God’s justice will come.  The fact that we were worthy of that justice before we trusted in Jesus should remind us of the hope that exists. 

Called Out, Not Conformed

(Pro 28:4 KJV)  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

There are many things I hear from Christians that do not match the world I am watching.  One of them is the claim that the church is rejected by the world because it is not loving enough.  This is a lie in the first place because if you look at the efforts in the world to help the down and out, most of them started with Christians.  That is historical fact but the world around us ignores any history that does not fit the modern Satanic meme.  I expect the world to be this way.

I also hear this coming from people inside the church.  We have a way of mimicking the world and its mantras rather than proclaiming truth.  In my mind the reason the church is being abandoned is that the church has abandoned the truth of the Bible and is trying to out do the world in entertainment and sensual offerings.  We list out catchy phrases like “God is love” and ignore the way in which the multitudes turned away from Jesus because His message was too hard.  Yes, God is love.  That is true but it loses its meaning when you ignore the meaning of love and the other statements about who God is.

So?  We are salt.  We are losing our savor.  God will resurrect the called out ones but would it not be better for us if we because part of that calling? 

The Overlooked Quality

(Pro 27:4 KJV)  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

I often go to I Corinthians 13 when I am stumbling in relationships.  It is always good to remind ourselves of the importance and the definition of love.  Never forget that it is agape, not eros or philios.  At one point I was working through the qualities listed in verse four,

(1Co 13:4 KJV)  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

I realized that I was much more patient than I had thought.  I really need to deal with kindness.  What slipped by me was the “Jealousy” (7068), or envy in the KJV.  I did not think I had any problem with jealousy.

One day I was reading this and it came to me that jealousy can refer to immaterial things.  I found that I was looking at the free time others had, and I was jealous.  It went on from there.

So?  I stand convicted.  There is always something we can learn and work on. 

Hater of Work

(Pro 26:13 KJV)  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Here we begin a series of verses dealing with the “slothful” (sluggard NASB) (6102).  It is interesting the two words chosen to translate the Hebrew in the KJV and NASB.  I like them both because I hate them both.  Of the translations I have on my computer the only real variance is the Bible in Basic English which says, “hater of work.”  I am not a big fan of work but I point out to people I got up every morning for almost 30 years to get to a job I felt was pointless.  What I really hate is work that is a waste of time.  If you have been in the military you know the meaning of wasted work.  The old stereotype comment is, “Dig a hole.  Fill it up.  Dig it again.”  That is not far from the truth.

So?  That being said I am reminded that I need to take my thumb and put it in my back.  Don’t expect me to push you until I develop a pattern of getting with it.

One Step in the Process

(Pro 25:1 KJV)  These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

This verse is a glimpse into the activity of the Holy Spirit in preserving the written word for us today.  What we are reading happened thousands of years ago.  We don’t have all the details.  I wonder what kind of editing went on by the priests and officials.  Ultimately I trust that the process was in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  

This should be a reinforcer for our understanding of the inspiration of scripture.  We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God.  We don’t believe it contains the word of God, but is.  There is a big difference in those two positions.  One says to take the truth and live by it.  The other says to take the way you want to live and edit to Bible to fit.  History is full of people who have edited the Bible.  Thomas Jefferson is famous for literally cutting portions out that he did not like.  Today it is often done by Bible translators, seminary professors and preachers.  

So?  Beware.  One of the foundations of knowing who is a Christian is accepting the Bible. 

Calamity or Revival

(Pro 24:22 KJV)  For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

To whom does the “their” refer in this verse?  If you look back to verse 19 you see “evil doers” or “evil men”.  There is no “men” or “doers” in the Hebrew.  A better way to express it would be “the evil”.  That is what the Hebrew word means.  

We need to first remind ourselves that there are evil people.  Most will accept that general statement but refuse to admit how widespread the evil is.  Anyone who supports or allows activity and values that are contrary to God should be understood to be evil.  It doesn’t matter if they shower everyday, dress well, speak gently and live in the right neighborhoods.  If they are advancing the agenda of Satan then they are on his team.  The hard part of this is that when we are honest and listening we realize that our children and friends often are the ones being referred to here.

The promise is that they will go down in flames.  It is implied that they will also go down to flames.  Sometimes we will see it.  Other times it will be secret, but the flames will come.

So?  I think of cartoon characters who are giving a tongue lashing and walk into a wall.  What is going to happen will not be funny and will be more serious.  We need to keep praying for revival and living as righteous witnesses in hopes that some of these lost people will be saved instead of destroyed. 

Through an Eye Darkly

(Pro 23:6 KJV)  Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

The NASB waters this verse down by using “selfish” with a marginal note instead of the KJV’s “evil” (7451a) [ra] “eye” (5869) which is the literal translation.  I prefer the literal in most cases because it allows the scripture to speak to me instead of a translator.  I ask myself, “How do I know what an evil eye is?”

I did a search for the times that the two words appear in the same verse.  True to the translator’s opinion triumphing over the voice of God, the NASB only has them once while the KJV puts them together nine times.  As much as I like the NASB I must say it tends to water down the effect of the words.  

I am not sure that we can always know when someone has an evil eye.  As near as I can tell it refers to people looking at you with some type of wicked intent.  It could be hatred or envy.  It could be simply a desire to harm.

So?  Beware.  As wonderful as you are remember that everyone does not love you and want the best for you.  Be alert and walk wisely. 

Connections

(Pro 22:28 KJV)  Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

I recently finished reading The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it.  I was also surprised at how clear some of the principles of Communism are and how much we ignore them to our own peril.  Take for instance,

“In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” Kindle location 239-240.

Now compare that to the verse we are considering today.  I hope you can see the contrast.  When I read I keep my mind turned on and filter everything through what God’s word is telling me.  The Bible says that property is not to be taken away.  The Communists say it must go.  I am not trying to make the Bible an advocate of an economic theory but it is pretty clear that anyone who considers themselves a Bible believing Christian cannot embrace Communism.  This is one of the reasons that Christians are under attack around the world.

So?  Something to consider when you read the headlines and watch the government actions.  Keep in mind that following Jesus does not mean embracing your surrounding culture.

Marx, Karl.  The Communist Manifesto, 1848, Project Gutenberg download

Hard Choices

(Pro 21:9 KJV)  It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

This is where I started reading this morning and I was tempted to skip beyond it but I am back.  Keep in mind that as far as we know this is being written by Solomon.  Some of the Proverbs are from other authors, it says so in the text, but this has no other designation.  Solomon had a total of 1,000 women who were bound to him as either wives or concubines.  I am not sure if that means he shouldn’t talk or makes him a great authority.

Let’s also state that this is not talking about divorce.  Although a later verse talks about living in the desert, it is not a call to walk away from the marriage.  It also is not a call to separation and ignoring your responsibility.  I would also accept that the concept of “brawling” (contentious NASB) (4066) can apply to men too.  Where does that leave us?

There are times and people that call for distancing ourselves.  Some people we can avoid for the rest of our lives.  Some need time to cool off.  Some need space.  Some need to be handled with kid gloves.  I don’t see any indication here that the man is guilty of generating this conflict.  It is still very real.

So?  It might be good to spend some time reviewing I Corinthians 13:5 where it talks about not being provoked and such.  Some relationships require a lot of grace. 

Do I Fix the Broken Drawer?

(Pro 20:24 KJV)  Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

The second part of this verse presents a very real issue with people who believe in the Omnipotent God of the Bible.  The question is asked in different ways.  Recently I was involved in a discussion about prayer.  One of the guys in the group was discouraged because he felt like God had ignored his prayer concern.  Most of us can understand that.  My input was the confusion on the purpose of prayer.  If God is all the omni’s, omnipotent and so forth, and knows what is going to happen, what is the point of my petition?  He knows what I need.  He knows what I want.  He knows what He is going to do.  

Do you feel that question in this verse?  So often I have decisions to make.  I want to do things God’s way.  Many times the options are clear.  For instance if I have a bill I don’t have the money to pay I know that God’s will is not to rob a bank.  What about the choice between going to the church work day or fixing something broken at home?  Both are needed and important.

So?  If you have questions at times, I am not sure I have the answer for you.  What I can assure you of is that God is not hiding the difficulty and we all experience it.  Isn’t it sometimes frustrating serving a living God who created us in His image?

Brother, Can You Lend Me a Dime?

(Pro 19:19 KJV)  A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

I tend to think that you go the extra mile for people you know well rather than those you just met.  I still think that is true but this verse makes me stop and think twice about that.  Knowing people for a long time can prepare you to help them better than if you know little about them.  It helps us give advice and makes us sensitive to the times they want help as opposed to the times they would rather do it themselves.  So that is good.

What is harder is the thought that knowing someone well might also make us less likely to help.  In this verse the focus is on people with a quick temper.  We all know them.  What we don’t know when we first meet them is whether the anger is a personality trait or whether someone managed to push that one button they struggle with.  

So?  Familiarity may cause us to withhold support and encouragement.  Remember Tigger.  Anything that came up was what Tiggers do best.  He needed restraint, not encouragement.  Alcoholics don’t need people to clean up for them and shelter them from reality.  Our faith requires our active minds. 

Self-Talk

(Pro 18:2 KJV) A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs is full of recurring themes.  This chapter mentions now important it is to listen more than we talk.  This verse points to a big part of the problem.  We all know people who talk too much.  We have all been guilty of the same thing.  Okay, maybe you haven’t but a lot of us have.  At the root of the problem is the root of sin:  Self interest.  Much of the sin in our lives is taking a blessing that God has created and turning it to selfish purposes.  

So?  Take a look at the conflicts of the past 24 hours.  I would imagine that if we are honest with ourselves we will find out that self-centeredness is involved.  I know we see it in the other guy but we might ask ourselves if he sees it in us too.  

Turning Talk

(Pro 17:20 KJV)  He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

At what point does our “language” (3956) become “perverted” (2015)?  At this point I think the KJV’s “perverse” is a better choice.  The word has the idea of turning.  In fact a variation of “turn” is the most common choice in both translations.  

What kind of turning would be beneficial or even necessary?  I think of turning the mattress or turning the pancakes.  There are also times when we turn for the wrong reasons.  If you are giving someone directions you can have them turn at the wrong place or the wrong direction.  You might turn certain things over to hide the fact that they are dirty.  The point is that some people are out there agitating to bring about evil.

So?  Beware.  That is probably the most important alert.  Also, we need to make sure that we are not falling into the trap of this kind of speech. 

Pre-Loaded

(Pro 16:20 KJV)  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

I find myself frequently frustrated with what I see going on around me.  I can almost imagine a special thermometer designed to measure all the emotions that current events and the experiences of the day generate.  This verse recommends trusting.  Sometimes that is easier said than done.

I find that the first part of the verse prepares me for the second part.  If I don’t do the first then the second is not impossible but is unlikely.  The KJV confuses the issue a bit.  Perhaps it would help to look at the NASB and realize that correct translation involves the “word” (1697).  

(Pro 16:20 NAS77) He who gives attention to the word shall find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

The Holy Spirit can bring the word to mind but it seems to happen more readily when we are involved with it.  I have heard of electronic devices that come “pre-loaded”.  That is what we need on a daily basis.

So?  Partake before you need.  I just works.

Prayer Problems

(Pro 15:9 KJV)  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Sometimes the “way” (1870) of the “wicked” (7563) is obvious.  Sometimes it is subtle.  It is the subtle ones who are confusing.  The previous verse lifts out the importance of prayer.  I was in a discussion about prayer recently.  I don’t understand prayer.  I do it on a regular basis, but I don’t understand why.  God is all the omni’s, from omniscient to omnipresent.  How can my prayer influence Him?  That is the part I don’t understand.

The danger of the wicked way comes when we try to make things like prayer a tool to manipulate God.  To me a lot of the prayer lists we have are wish lists.  They become nagging lists.  We are telling God all the things we think He should be doing if He is really God.  The last time I had a role in leading congregational prayer I experimented with writing out my prayers before hand.  I used what is called the Lord’s Prayer as a templet.  There are only three specific creature requests in that prayer:  Daily bread, forgiveness for sin and avoidance of temptation.  Everything else focuses on praise and glorifying God.  

So?  I plan on making prayer times a time to focus on thanksgiving and praise.  I will also try to make it a two way conversation by listening. 

Deluge of Deceit

(Pro 14:15 KJV)  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

We have a call to be constantly alert, to discern the difference between truth and lies, righteousness and evil, even between degrees of accuracy.  It would seem that this would be an automatic understanding but we have a problem with sloth.  We don’t want to put the energy into thinking, let alone investigating.

We are under a deluge of deceit.  That is obvious in politics and the news, or it should be obvious.  How many times do you need to be lied to before you stop accepting the party line?  It always amazes me when people tell me, “I never heard that.”  Or when someone watches a video and shares it as hot off the press when it was available for days before that if you were paying attention.

The not so obvious is the heresy and deception that we can find coming from people who claim to be spiritual leaders.  In reality there is even less excuse for ignorance here.  We all have access to the source in this area.  When someone tells you Jesus did not physically rise from the dead you can read a little bit and see how He went out of His way to prove it in the upper room.  If someone tells you certain sexual situations are good with God, it does not take long to find out they are lying.

So?  Refusing to engage your brain is a dangerous place to be. 

What You See...

(Pro 13:7 KJV)  There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

I have a knee jerk reaction to this verse.  It says that the pretend rich guy is a phoney but the pretend poor guy is just humble.  I am not sure that is the message.  There is no praise or condemnation offered, so we supply our own.  I don’t see God throwing thunder bolts over this but I do imagine Him shaking His head at the foolishness of His creation.  

We have a hard time being ourselves.  There are some things I have accepted about myself.  I have big feet.  It is hard to hide.  There are other things that I keep hidden in the deep recesses of myself.  I know.  God knows.  No one else needs to know.  It is possible that if they did know they would ignore them as no big deal.

So?  There are sins we need to confess and repent of.  There are other things that we need to just get over.  It should be clear which is which. 

Be Judged Not

(Pro 12:9 KJV)  He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

Have you ever wondered if you had mustard on your nose or something?  You notice people are looking at you.  They might be laughing or just critical.  There is something about you that does not measure up.  I have been there.  Often I didn’t realize what was bothering me.  I remember one time when we realized that we had the oldest car in the church parking lot and realized we were being judged for it.  At that point I would sing the words of the old Beach Boys song which said, “And one more thing, I’ve got the pink slip, baby.”

So?  It is easy to say and not always easy to do.  Don’t expect the world to look up to you if you are living God’s way.  If they do, ask yourself what is wrong.  Maybe they think you are weird because you are the only one with your shoes on the right feet. 

Not 911

(Pro 11:14 KJV)  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

As I read this today I thought about being an introvert.  I can talk.  I can be a part of a group.  I prefer not to do either.  I listen to people talking about how we need to share and get input from others.  I can agree with that in principle but I wonder if we take it too far.  I hear people complaining about the lack of worship.  At that I scratch my head.  

It seems to me that we are being seduced by a culture of experts and group-think.  We want to consult with people with diplomas saying, “I can help” and want the approval of the group.  We forget that the Holy Spirit can speak to us if we will just listen.  Yes, He sometimes speaks through the experts or the group but He is not limited to that.  God has given us an “abundance” (7230) of sources, all with unimpeachable credentials.  They are called the books of the Bible.

So?  It is amazing, but should be standard, the way in which the Bible will speak to us.  Two things are required.  We seem to avoid both.  First, we need to read it.  Second, we need to listen.  Help is available.  Don’t dial 911. 

Going for the Gold

(Pro 10:19 KJV)  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

There are times when I can keep quiet with no problem.  There are others where I can’t keep my lips together.  One place of too much talk is when I am in a group discussion and feel I have to share to earn my seat.  I usually pay too much.  One that is more current is being around people who seem to take everything I say and turn it sour.  I keep telling myself to be quiet.  I don’t need to make any verbal offerings.  As they say in reading the Miranda rights, “Anything you say can be used against you.”  I have heard that changed to “can, and will,”  but I don’t seem to be listening.

So?  I want to get rich by practicing “silence is golden.”  Maybe today will be the day it starts.

The Avalanche of Angst

(Pro 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Our world is being beaten down with fear.  You have all seen the people driving around with their windows up, a mask on their face, gloves on their hands and terror in their eyes.  They have been conditioned by an avalanche of angst.  They have forgotten the many cases of flu, the colds, perhaps bouts with measles, mumps and chicken pox.  They make the mistake of believing the words of organizations that have lied to them repeatedly and ignore the word of a God who sent Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.

“Fear” (3374) is used two opposite ways in the Bible but it is used with two opposite objects.  When it comes to God we are to fear.  When it comes to the microbes of malignance in our world we are told to fear not.  I got sick a few weeks ago.  We have been conditioned so that any time we get a snuffle we think, “Covid!  I’m going to die!”  What nonsense.  We are no more going to die that we are because there are drunk drivers on the road and slippery bathtubs in motel rooms.  People have asked me, “Was it covid?”  My general answer is, “I don’t know and I don’t care.  My immune system worked the way it was supposed to.”  I hope I would have said the same thing if I had died.

So?  Fear, and fear not.  Both are commands.  Get the objects reversed and what time you have on earth will be bad but not as bad as eternity. 

Results

(Pro 8:21 KJV)  That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

As I was reading the chapter I noticed a theme of promise.  The promise is that wisdom delivers.  It delivers a better life.  It delivers prosperity.  It brings peace of mind and all of the things that a healthy person might want.  It is a simple message.  We keep looking for the trap door and waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it is a promise.

Or maybe it would be better to say it is a prophecy.  The clear message is that living God’s way works.  Why should that surprise us?  Are we surprised when a car works better with gas in the tank than with water?  Are we surprised that fresh lettuce makes a better salad than old stuff that is liquefying?  Are we surprised when leaving early gets us to our destination on time?

So?  Wisdom works.  Obedience works.  God made us and the world we live in.  His directions should not come as a surprise. 

Wardrobe Speech

(Pro 7:10 KJV)  And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

I am not sure the difference is so obvious any more but it used to be that you dressed up for special occasions.  If you were going out on a first date you not only took her to a nice restaurant but you also dressed up.  It wasn’t enough to be clean.  When you went for the first time to meet her family you stepped up a level, or two, or three.  Remember those days?

Let’s say you married the girl, or guy as the case may be.  If we took a photo of you when you came to dinner, what would we see?  Would your clothes say that you wanted to present the best appearance for your significant other or that you are very “comfortable” and able to be you?  What does your outfit say to your children?

So?  It makes a difference how we are “dressed” (7897).  It is something that bears consideration.  Are we simply adopting the casual approach to life that the world exhibits?  And, yes, I know that those faded, hole infested jeans you are wearing cost a lot of money but stewardship is not my topic today. 

T Stands for Total

(Pro 6:12 KJV)  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

I began reading today and the first words I saw were “naughty" (worthless NASB) (1100) “person” (120) [adam].  How mean spirited.  How unfriendly.  How non-seeker friendly.  And of course, the one that modern American church attenders like to leave out, how Biblical.  It is amazing how hard it is for us to connect simple truth with the world we live in.

Think of the Calvinists.  Chances are if you scratch a Christian they will bleed Calvin.  The first point of the TULIP system is Total Depravity.  That is the ultimate worthless person.   Yet we go to church after church that is trying to appeal to the totally depraved by appealing to their comfort zone.  What part of depraved are they not getting?

So?  Wake up church.  We are not out to make the depraved feel at home in our sanctuaries, sorry, worship centers.  We are out to create an environment that will move them toward being uncomfortable with their sin. 

Toe Safety

(Pro 5:6 KJV)  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

I am reaching an age where my automatic systems don’t work as well as they used to.  I sometimes say I do not multitask well anymore.  Of course there is the question of whether I ever multitasked.  It used to be I could set down a coffee cup and it would end up where I intended.  Now if I don’t pay attention it will be half on the coaster and might spill on everything.  It has happened.  I find that when I first get up I need to pay special attention to my walking.  Sometimes I run into the wall a few times before my brain kicks in.  “Ponder” (6424) it says.

You may have had the experience of your foot reaching out and trying to move a heavy piece of furniture with you little toe.  It doesn’t go well.  I would kick myself for being such a klutz but the toe already hurts.  I was not paying attention.

So?  This can happen in our spiritual lives.  We have decisions to make and comments to contribute.  Instead of stopping to consider the wisdom we have been reading we kick the couch, so to speak.  Take the time to ponder.  Check the balance.  Think of consequences.  Avoid the pain. 

Hump Warning

(Pro 4:11 KJV)  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

The thing we read over and over again in Proverbs is to do what you are told.  Words are being shared and we are to listen and apply.  That is good as far as it goes but what if your father is a man of few words?  I can’t remember my father sitting around sharing all his wisdom.  What I do remember is watching how he “led” (1869) by example.  Consider that in my entire life I never heard my father curse, swear or take the name of the Lord in vain.  He was in construction and people who paid him for a job could be sure that it was done right.

One of my frustrations in our current house is that the person who built it did not pay attention to detail.  I was building some shelves for the garage and had to redo them because it never occurred to me that the floor would not be level.  I did not expect the big hump along the wall.  

So?  We are to be leaders.  We are to not just avoid moral shortcuts but make them anathema in our lives.  We need to realize that there are people who may stumble permanently because they saw us cutting corners.  No pressure or anything but the results are eternal. 

Pockets of Calm

(Pro 3:25 KJV)  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

It seems like everything I read or listen to is declaring that the “desolation” (onslaught NASB) (7724b) of the “wicked” (7563) is just around the corner.  Some even say they have already made the turn.  What God is saying to us through Solomon is that when it comes, notice I didn’t say “if”, don’t worry about it over much.  I find it interesting that this message comes through from the most unexpected sources.  This is from a site called According to Hoyt.  Sarah Hoyt makes no claim to being a born again, Pentecostal Bible thumper.  I do pick up the Catholic faith at times.  Her words might resonate with you.

“Keep in mind most of you will be safe. No, seriously. Take it from someone who’s lived through this. You can live and work in dangerous places and still be completely safe. Just for the love of heaven, if you see a group of people behaving like lunatics run/drive/walk the other way.”

Many of the dangers and tragedies of life take place because people are stupid, not thinking or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  It is possible that God is planning on some of us being martyrs.  Remember the persecution is promised.  At the same time there are almost endless promises, like this, that God has this one.  You can relax.
 
So?  Sing with me, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way....” 

Shields Up

(Pro 2:7 KJV)  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

A recurring theme in this chapter is the way in which God looks out for the righteous.  We see words like “guard”, “preserve” and “deliver”.  In this verse the chosen concept is “buckler” (shield NASB) (4043).  When modern people think of shields they think of Star Trek.  In ancient times it was a different image but the same idea.  Ancient shields came in many sizes and shapes.  The buckler of the KJV was a small shield with a center grip.  It could be moved around and was not as big a burden as a full shield.  

The point being made here was not an argument for specific weapon styles but the reminder that our greatest defense was in Providence, the hand of God.  It is easy to forget this.  When we keep being barraged with a deluge of fear over a virus that God knew was coming, it is easy to say I need the medical profession to protect me and forget the agency of your guardian angel and immune system.  If you are one who follows the expansion of government power it is easy to think that it will be overcome by a bunch of AR’s.  

So?  First notice that the requirement for God’s protection is to walk in righteousness.  Then relax and let Him be God. 

Have I Got a Deal for You

(Pro 1:10 KJV)  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Evil people will try to “entice” (6601b) us away from what we know to be right.  I don’t know that we understand the appeal of this on both sides.  Evil people love to drag the righteous into the mud.  They like to destroy.  We see this in a simple way at school:  graffiti “artists” always want the cleanest book to write in.  The dirtiest always wants the cleanest desk.  

The verse talks about “sinners” (2400) who try to “entice” (6601b) us.  I think we read over that a bit too quickly.  We tend to look at the world as two camps:  Sinners and Righteous.  God may be able to break it down between the lost and the redeemed but we do not have the ability to read hearts like He does.  We are forced to deal with a lot of shades of grey.  We tend to make allowance for family and friends but not for the pagan down the street.  

Who has the best chance to drawing you into sin?  If some guy with tattoos and a gun in his pocket tried to talk me into robbing a bank he would fail.  I have no question about that.  Would the response be the same when the guy who sits down the pew came to me with a great deal that was only a bit dubious?  That is our danger.

So?  We need to make our decisions based on what the Bible tells us and how the Holy Spirit leads us based on what the Bible tells us.  Avoid evil even when it is a very small dose.