December 2010

December 1



Jesus supplants justice with mercy for those who will trust in Him.


Proverbs 21
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

The rule of law is one of raw justice and fear. It is founded on terror and power. It is the way of the state. It is the way of unredeemed humankind. It is the way of those who either reject or have never heard of the redemption of Christ.
The Christian has a faith in a God who understands flesh and blood and who has offered a way. This way results in a change of heart through life in Christ whose spirit lives within as many as will receive him. The truth embodied in the law will then be reverenced in the lives of the believers through grace which only needs our consent to do its miracle power of change. In knowing Him all our core desires are met:
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 1:14-18)




December 2



…there is no event in history that has been proven to be more true by the testimony of those who witnessed Jesus and his resurrection…



Proverbs 21
16 A man who strays from the path of understanding
comes to rest in the company of the dead.

***
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
***


We can choose to build our lives on what we think or feel and miss the mark greatly. It is a very recent thing to trust ones thoughts and feelings so much that we disregard all other evidences including what has been proven historically, the experiences of others, and the testimony of God. There are those who call the Christian faith a myth. However, there is no event in history that has been proven to be more true by the testimony of those who witnessed Jesus and his resurrection, the inexplicable new courage they had after they had seen him and the proven power of Jesus to continue to change lives and give people new motivation and hope.



December 3



Proverbs 21
17 He who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.
Once again, Solomon, the judge, who has seen many cases of degenerate behavior, makes a comment from what he has learned by observation. It is the way God reveals himself in nature. Observation is the way God reveals his principles in human affairs. Observe and learn screams out all of creation:
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1: 18-20 NLT)
The love of pleasure has nothing to do with enjoyment. In fact, the pursuit of pleasure with a lustful nature is an admission that nothing is satisfying but the next high. Those who love pleasure, “wine and oil” are in a wild pursuit of trying to fill the hole in their natures that is, as Christian’s say, God-shaped. Wine represents the artificial hilarity of over indulgence. Oil represents the cosmetic aspects of rubbing oil on ones face or in one’s hair in order to make oneself look better. (The oil and wine may also indicate in themselves a metaphorical image of the good life of self-indulgent life of expensive tastes.)
God’s commentary on the indulgent life is that it will never make one better. In fact, by ignoring the higher things, such as the pursuit of God’s best through pursuing what he calls wisdom, we will end in poverty and never find the pleasure and riches behind the drive for these things.


Proverbs 21
21 He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.


December 4



Example, whether by good people or evil people, can be a means of deliverance.



Proverbs 21
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.

This proverb seems to turn the tables, does it not? We usually think of the righteous as becoming a ransom for the wicked. That is the whole concept of the “suffering servant” in Isaiah. Now we hear that the wicked become “a ransom for the righteous and the unfaithful for the upright.” What can this possibly mean?

First, it is a clear fact that those who live without the guidelines most people of good will generally follow will have terrible ends. Their lives become a lesson for the rest of us and many a person has been delivered from a wrong path by seeing someone who is on it come to a destructive end. I once had a friend who was a member of a local mob who told me the reason he left that course of life and became a Christian was seeing many of his friends die violent deaths.

Second, the legal system itself is established by governments to punish wrong doing. Such governments do so not only to keep order but to make examples of evil doers.

Example, whether by good people or evil people, can be a means of deliverance. Thus we listen to the tales of the martyrs and the stories of the infamous to learn where to walk on the path of life. History is full of counsel of “don’t do this” because bad people live out tragedies. It is also full of counsel of “do this” because good people live with honor.



December 5


It is time to return to common sense frugality…


Proverbs 21
20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.

This could have been spoken by Benjamin Franklin, rich in his own right, who coined the phrase “a penny saved is a penny earned.” It seems that the days of the Christmas Club and savings account are past. People do not generally follow that kind of prudence because they have been enticed by credit card companies and credit masters to spend, spend and spend. Now when one holds onto their “wealth” they are dinosaurs. Yet, there are still dinosaurs on the earth and with them are the people who believe in frugality. It is a spiritual quality and needs to return to the masses.
Those who live closer to the soil can never get far from the concept of store houses, barns for fodder, food and resources for the hard times. While there are many farmers who have gotten away from this ideal they are usually the ones who lost the family farm just as people are buying things they cannot afford and ending up with the loss of their equity, their property and still holding the debt. It is time to return to common sense frugality which this proverb teaches and to teach it to the present upcoming generation. They will have to learn it by want, bankruptcy or instruction. I choose instruction.

Proverbs 21
22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.



December 6


Proverbs 21
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

John 1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.


Proverbs and much of the Bible have a lot to say about the use of the tongue. Why is that? It is simply because the spoken word has power. It is power which is imitative of the Creator.

All things come into being with implementation but implementation takes place only after the idea of the thing being created is articulated. The Bible is clear: with the word of our lips we create; with the word of our lips we destroy; and with our lips we sustain that which has life. There is power resident in our words.

This understanding of God creating all things and sustaining them by His word of power is common revelation. The Greeks called the very power emanating from God the Logos. Thus it was easy for the Biblical writers to seize upon that concept, as John did, and transliterate it. In John’s Gospel we hear Him saying that the “Word” was in the beginning, was with God and was God. Who is this word? He was none other than Jesus about whom John testifies. The one thing John later adds to the notion is the fact of the incarnation when he later says:
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1; 14)
It is also important to remember that when Moses once asked God what his name was he said “Tell them I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13-15) There is simply no way to think of God than as other than the eternal person. There is no other way to think of Jesus than the great “I AM.”


December 7


Christ is Creator: Jesus is His name


John 1
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Many scientists seeking to explain the existence of life on this planet will often conjecture informally on the origins of life on this planet by implying that the human race “evolved” from some life form left here by an alien civilization or brought here by a comet or asteroid. The committed atheists among them, while quite willing to speculate about space aliens, will venture to say nothing of how this alien life was birthed on these impacting missiles from the cosmos.
When forced to the question of origins the true scientist generally stops, as his discipline defines itself, with the physical universe. Those who are scientists and venture to speculations of how life began enter into a realm either of theology or metaphysics. That should be understood by everyone who reads the writings of Stephen Hawking or Richard Dawkins and others of like mien.
The fascination that even science has about how life began may demonstrate that we know innately that life as we know it is from beyond this earth. Even still humans have a great capacity to deny God’s involvement. One can only speculate that such willful denial may just be because of rebellion in the human heart.
Science describes process. However, even process does not answer fully how or why things came into being. That is where the Bible has the answer which is confirmed in the prophets who foretold the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the incarnation itself, the resurrection and the Holy Spirit who bears witness to Him. John tells us simply that He was in the beginning and “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”( John 1:3) As Ripley says, “Believe it or not!”

Proverbs 21
24 The proud and arrogant man-"Mocker" is his name;
he behaves with overweening pride.



December 8


People want to be with someone who gives hope, is positive, hopeful and can see possibilities.


John 1
4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
With whom do you enjoy spending time? Someone who is negative, grumpy and critical? My family makes it clear they do not like me when I am that way so I will guess that you are like them. You want to be with someone who gives hope, is positive, hopeful and can see possibilities. While Jesus was very critical of the idolatry of those who cling to futile things and make futile efforts to be righteous he offered hope to countless people who had already become bankrupt in such things. To them he said, “God blesses you who are poor (destitute spiritually) for the kingdom of God is given to you.” (Luke 6:20) Do you get it? This life is a gift! It is Light to the seeker!
Such a message to struggling people who know their foibles or feel like failures is life. And once we have received that life the lights come on. We begin to see clearly, to know assuredly, and to live boldly. This light, the scriptures continue, is always shining among us (because of the Holy Spirit who bears it to us) but “the darkness (and those who live in their various forms of delusion and self-help) has not understood it.” (John 1:4) We might add that because God is eternally present that darkness and falsehood can never wipe out the life or drive back the light.



December 9


6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. (John 1:6-7)

We love oddities, don’t we? They get our attention and become objects of fascination. In my early ministry the youth were fascinated by the singers Bob Dylan and Tiny Tim who each had new ways, sometimes exotic, of presenting themselves. Today we have country singers who wear outlandish cowboy hats, who have never lived on a ranch, and Lady GaGa whose costumes become more bizarre at every appearance. Presumably these people costume up to get attention for their music. This is always problematic because sometimes their craft is not as exciting as their gimmick.
John the Baptist was an eccentric. John may be an oddity to us but he is not like the strange ones of our time. Public figures are often strange today to compensate for the mediocrity of their gift or to make them stand out in a sea of talent. They are often short on substance and long on bravado. It is the opposite with John the Baptist.
John did come as a witness and he did attention. Almost everyone knows about him, even today. He was a man who dressed unconventionally and ate uncommon foods. He was born into an elite class but lived as a poor man like many prophets before him: separated from the clamoring voices and enticements of the city; separated for prayer; separated from the taint of political strains; and separated in the power with which he spoke. Since he came to prepare the way for the son of God he is the most important historical figure of human history. We will do well to listen to the words of John. They have eternal significance!


December 10


Those who have believed Jesus to be the son of God find new hope and new life in Him.


He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (John 1: 10)
Jesus is recognized by many as a very special teacher. A few see him as a superlative figure. Others see him as divine because none could have done what he did, live as he lived, give as he gave, die as he died and rise from the dead. Those who have believed him to be the son of God find new hope and new life in Him. Those who imitate his life may live good lives but are usually not changed in their hearts or realize the degree of hope which those who trust in his divinity have.
The fact is that if Jesus is only a good man he was either a misguided person or a charlatan. He leaves us no choice. In his own words he declared Himself to be the Son of God. As such, he needs to be taken at his word or he is being rejected.
It is ironic that he came to those who have the intuitive longing for all that he taught and demonstrated. Yet he was unrecognized. He taught love, forgiveness mercy, and of the dignity of human life. These are universally admired traits which He planted in our hearts at creation. Still, the world did not recognize Him. How can we be so close to Him and not understand the uniqueness of this one who called Himself Christ? It can only be attributed to some kind of blindness or some kind of rebellion against the truth. Yet, it is the easiest thing to repair in our lives. All we have to do is to sincerely invite Him to come into our hearts and the miracle happens as it did when He first came to earth: we get new eyes of understanding; find faith to believe in and practice forgiveness; find a new heart of love; discover a greater sense of awe and wonder; and become settled regarding our futures after we die.
Why not pray this simple prayer again? It will never hurt:

Dear Christ Jesus,
In confess my need for your forgiveness and the power to love and forgive others. I believe you died so that I will not be condemned to separation from you because of the hidden or known faults in my nature. Grant me your Spirit, O Lord. Give me a new heart. Make yourself real to me today. And draw me to yourself. Amen.


December 11


God is always working to reveal Himself to us. We have but to see, understand and receive.


11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1: 11)

Many of us probably has had the experience of returning to our home, our home town or some other group where we had been an integral part only to discover that we were not as important as we thought we were. In such instances the talk and fellowship is largely among those who are local. We may also have heard the adage that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” It does not necessarily. A young man who went off to war wrote his girlfriend every day hoping to keep the bond between them intact. When he got home he discovered she had married the mailman.
The point of this text is not to talk about the absentee God who suddenly appeared. It is about the God who had always manifested his power, love, hope, ways and purpose who came among the people in the flesh and lived in that same character. In spite of Jesus’ demonstration of the Father they did not recognize Him as the promised one. The history of Israel had been replete with God’s care and provision. They had the promise of the prophets which Jesus fulfilled. Yet, the leadership and self-righteous did not recognize him.
When we meet those who are like us we usually resonate. In this case, those who were supposed to be like Christ did not. It is clear in scriptures that God did everything He could to prepare a people, to prepare an expectation, and to manifest Himself to those people. Their rejection of Christ was on them just as it may be on those of us who fail to see the manifest ways he reveals Himself today or to receive the message of His love.



December 12


Receiving is the path to significance


12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1: 10)
The central verb in this passage is the word “receive.” The interesting thing about this word is that it is much neglected in importance. Few like to think themselves as recipients. Perhaps that is because most of us think that to receive from another is to be diminished in importance or power. It is quite the contrary. When we receive from another we not only empower them to be who they are but we empower ourselves. Samuel Webster once said that “the best way to gain a friend is to ask him to do something for you.” That is because you are recognizing the importance of that person. Likewise, when you receive you are empowered by the gift of that person brings to you.
When we receive from God we are acknowledging our own dignity as persons made in His image and recognizing such by receiving Him. When we receive we also join those who call Him Father, the great Creator, who invites us into His fellowship. That, after all, was the mission of Jesus: to declare the possibilities of becoming children of God.


December 13


John 1
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Some people are not very good at visualizing. First comes, the vision. Next comes the description. Then comes the workshop. Finally, we get the prototype. Jesus came to us having been through all those stages:

The vision: Genesis 3: 15
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
The Description: Isaiah 53
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Workshop: Hebrews 5;7
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Prototype:
Romans 8:28-30 (Today's New International Version)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.


December 14

John 1
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The law is harsh and demanding. It brings discouragement and death. It can solve nothing but it does lay out the picture of what it is like to be present to God. Why is this? It is because to stand in the presence of a righteous God is an awesome. Perfection is a fearsome thing to an imperfect being. That is exactly why people who have problems hate those who appear not to have them in the same degree.
So Jesus comes to earth. In Him is the blaring light of goodness and perfection. Through him comes the challenge to live in that Truth. However, there is something different here. The law also demands perfection. It offers no help. It only condemns. Jesus then comes offering grace, help, forgiveness, encouragement, hope, and all that grace means. He says to us, the truth is still the truth but you can use my name, my authority and my power to live in that truth. You are both perfected and freed by grace and truth in Christ.


December 15


Jesus is…


John 1
18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Those who do not deny God altogether are likely to settle for concepts of Him that are vague. That God is a spirit is not difficult for them. That He is a creative power, or a force, or a powerful being is not necessarily difficult. The pantheists and deists believe this. However, it is when God got a face that the resistance got most violent. We forget that millions of Christian’s have died for proclaiming that God become flesh in Jesus Christ and that He is God. They died for this reason alone and all because that when God has a face the decisions we make about Him are personal, intrusive and uncomfortable. Yet, the facts are that when we see Jesus as God and once and for all choose to let Him into our hearts we have a real hope and indomitable motivation for the first time.
We cannot be indecisive about Christ. He does not give us that privilege. He has preempted that. We cannot allow Him any room to be a mere good man. If he is not God he was either a liar or demented. Jesus has given God a face and made his character known. There are no other humans who have ever lived, lived now or will live who will do this.

Colossians 1

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.


December 16


If God created the earth how can Jesus birth be any more of a miracle than that?


Luke 1
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
To begin with the story of Jesus’ birth is interrelated with other stories. After all, the savior of the world is all about inter-relations, is it not? Here Elizabeth is mentioned. Elizabeth is a woman who was beyond the age of conceiving. She was old. However, God chose her to be the mother of John the Baptist, the herald of the Christ.
We cannot help but note that this theme of miraculous births is repeated numerous times in the Bible. There was Sara who was the mother of the Israelites and who gave birth to a miracle child Isaac, father of Jacob. (Genesis 18) In Judges we find the story of Samson, the strong warrior and protector of pre-kingdom Israel, who was born to the wife of Manoah described as “unable to become pregnant.” (Judges 13) Then there is Hannah who gave birth to a miracle child, a great prophet, named Samuel, who established a nation of people from whom the Messiah would come. (I Samuel 1) It seems that whenever God has been ready to do something significant he has performed a miracle around a birth as if to say, “This will be my work from the beginning.”
Now we have the visitation of an angel, a messenger of God, to a young virgin to tell her she is to conceive as the Holy Spirit comes upon her and give birth to the son of God. In this instance this is a Biblical birth like the creation of first human from the dust of the earth. If God created the earth how can Jesus’ birth be any more of a miracle than that? A miracle is God intervening in the natural laws he has created to do whatever serves his purpose. One might say this act of conception was the addition of only of a few extra strands of DNA in the body of a woman. This is no greater than Him creating the universe out of nothing but his word of power. That is has not been duplicated or cannot be duplicated is beside the point. God does not have to imitate himself. On the other hand anything humans do is imitation and different standards must apply between the creator and the imitator.

Isaiah 7
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.



December 17

Luke 1
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
Brief though it is, this verse excels in the human-ness of the moment. Mary, after hearing that she and Elizabeth were to miraculously conceive, “got ready and hurried to the hill country of Judea.” This was a remarkable trip. It is so typical of someone who had just heard exciting news.
People commonly look for someone who shares their experiences. Likewise, people commonly love to check things out for themselves. In this case Mary found an enthusiastic Elizabeth who confirmed at once that they shared a common experience of divine encounter. While Elizabeth was old enough to be Mary’s mother she was to give birth to the precursor of Christ, John the Baptist. The two of them must have spent days talking and praying about the events that were to come and which were shared only by their very few close relatives.
We should note that this trip Mary made to see Elizabeth in Judea was not small one for a single woman. Even though we do not know the distance we do know Mary was single and expecting. It was also a trip which Mary was to repeat nine months later when she and Joseph would go to Bethlehem where she would give birth to Jesus.
While Mary and Martha talked together in the warm afternoons on their sleepy village streets the rest of the world lay in unawareness that dusty paths were being trodden which would blaze forth and send messages of hope and life through what was then the unknown world.


December 18

Luke 1
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
It is a Biblical principle that every word of truth is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Such witnesses may be people, the scriptures, prophecies, the convergence of circumstances, or validation by occurrence of even a part of the purported prophecy.
In this case Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, had an angel visitant while he served in the Temple. He was told by the angel that his wife, well along in years, would give birth to “one bearing the spirit and power of Elijah.” (Luke 1:11-25) The angel did not tell him that this child could be the precursor for the Messiah but it is apparent that there were clues in the words of the angel regarding the day of the Lord which would come after this “Elijah“appeared. (Mal 4) It portended a day when “the Sun of righteousness would arise with healing in his wings” which would be a sorting out of the faithful from among those who claimed to be God’s people. The validation of the angel’s prophecy is that Elizabeth actually became pregnant when she was beyond biological possibility.
When Mary entered Elizabeth’s home the scriptures testify that there was an instant recognition by Elizabeth that Mary was the mother of the Messiah to come who was associated with “sun of righteousness” of Malachi’s prophecy. What we must take away from this moment in time is that Elizabeth was prepared to encounter the divine and tuned to be his vessel. Thus when she saw Mary something happened. The baby in her womb “leaped for joy.” It was so special that Elizabeth burst out with words that were beyond her cognitive powers. They were words of inspiration, a eureka moment, a revelation like those of the prophets under momentary inspiration, or of the prophet or of the inspired scientist with sudden insight beyond his cognitive reasoning.
42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
It is a common thing among those of us in the 21st century to believe that divine insights are quaint. Scripture suggests they are common. In fact, the early church encouraged us to be aware that God breaks through in our voices and that we should desire to share the insights He would give. Who knows what grace may yet be available when we are “open vessels” rather than closed by our total dependence upon our reasoning powers?


December 19


46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

These words have been called the Magnificat. They have been set to music, mulled and preached over because of their vast insightfulness. Here is a simple young woman with purity of purpose and vision who “gets it!” She is not in a fog of mystical detachment. She understands that momentous things which were anticipated by prophecies and history of the past are about to happen. She sees even beyond historical horizons into the realm of the fulfillment of the purposes of God to bring down the mighty and the arrogant. She realizes that her estate of one in which God is doing what God does. He elevates the humble, fulfills the greatest longings of the lowly and is merciful. Mary simply sings the song of the God of promise who always grants what he promises.


December 20

Matthew 1
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

One must not remember the story of Jesus’ birth and life on earth without remembering all of those who played a part in his entering the culture centers of life. This most certainly includes Joseph who quietly took it upon himself and risking his good name to provide protection and care for his promised bride, Mary. At first it appears he responded as any person will do. He considered getting out of the contract he had made to marry Mary when he discovered she had conceived. Note that the text does not say he considered this because of personal reasons. It said he was righteous or “was faithful to the law” which called for purity and fidelity.
It is not known if Mary gave him any explanation but one thing is clear. He had his own visitation and, like Mary, believed what the angel told him.
It is very difficult to enter into the mind of this man but one must understand that the struggle he had was not less than any person would have with such a quandary. When he responded he was committed and obeyed in every detail including giving Jesus his name as he was directed to do. He, like us, became a partner with God in bringing about the birth of a new day of grounded assurances, benevolent historical momentum and certainty of personal transcendence and eternal life where all good is perpetually guaranteed.


December 21


Luke 2
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while
Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
It was prophesized years before that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. How then did his mother get from her home to Bethlehem? This is the explanation. Caesar made a law that a census would be taken of the entire Roman world and it was required that Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem.
It may be noted that when governments do census taking it is largely for enlarging their power. It was no less in this case but it also served the purposes of God.
We may ask if Caesar was responding to God’s will or was the prophet seeing what would occur? This is the kind of things we all like to speculate about. However, the truth always comes out the same. God is in ultimate control whether he directs or foresees. He can simply intersect the will and plans of man. In this situation it is clear that the birth of Messiah was on schedule and according to the purposes of God he would be born from the beginning to live a meek and lowly life. Consider the events of your life. Do you not see that things you thought were bad turned out to be good? Perhaps you should give thanks to God for intersecting your life line.


December 22

Luke 2

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

It is interesting that this translation says there was no “guest room” available to Mary and Joseph. That is stretching the point and I must take issue with this version. Guest rooms were for the wealthy. Most inns had common sleeping areas and were called Khans.
When a poor person approached an inn they had to bed among other guests on pallets of straw, sometimes under a portico with an open sky above in the central space of their sleeping area. Usually an open fire was built there to kill the chill. Mary may have given birth to Jesus in such a Kahn but instead she was probably in an area reserved for the animals where there was a manger for food and a bed for the savior. Thus she gave birth with the dignity of privacy but with the homeliness of the meek.
There was special divine accommodation here but still the birth of Christ had to be one that made his entrance from the lowliest of places. Thus his identification with the lowliest of us began with his birth and ended with his death. No one of us can now say, there is not a human heart in heaven.


December 23


Luke 2

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Two things stand out here:
First, there are those who say Mary never had other children and gave birth only to Jesus, the savior. However, clearly the text here says Jesus was her “first born” and it means there would be other children fathered by Joseph. That means other references to the brothers of Jesus, including the name of James, were references to birth brothers.
Second, when Mary gave birth to Jesus she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. I was once told by an expert on ancient Jewish customs, who had lived in Israel all of his life, that the cloth wrapped about Jesus was probably the band of cloth which women traditionally wore wrapped about their bodies. As they wrapped themselves in this garment each day they were to perceive it as their shroud and remember that all “flesh is grass.” It was an old way of remembering the necessity of living well before God. So – Mary draped her son in swaddling cloths, perhaps the shroud reminder that He was born to die that men may live.


December 24


8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

It is very likely that these shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem were watching over a very special flock. These may have been the herdsmen of the sheep used in the ritual sacrifice in the temple. They would raise only sheep of the highest pedigree, spotless, without blemish or fault of any kind.
As Temple flock shepherds they would need to know that the “lamb that would take away the sins of the world” was being born in a stable as a man. After all, these shepherds had a vested interest in watching over and discerning the purest and most perfect of the sheep for sacrifice. They would need to know that their honored profession was now unfolding into the reality which the sacrifices had portended: a perfect sacrifice that would remove the need for ritual slaughter.
Is this the reason the angels appeared to the Shepherds? Maybe. However, it is also likely that God wanted the humble to know to make a point. The point was that the powerful are not likely to receive anything because they suffer under the delusion that they are wise and sufficient to themselves. God does not need human power on his side. It is a fact that:
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (I Corinthians 1: 26-27
The most ordinary of us can take joy in the fact that Christ Jesus was revealed to the humblest of citizens. It does not take brains to believe. It takes only a good heart and a person who is not so impressed with themselves that they are the last stop on Opinion Avenue.


December 25
Luke 2
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The Shepherd’s acted on what they knew and confirmed every word. What they found was true and even though they found Jesus in this humble setting they knew that something important and transformational had occurred. This is attested to the fact that they spread the word not about the angel visitation but they gave not just the details of their sighting of the angels but also the message which the angels had given them. Those who heard their tale were amazed but had to wait for 30 years before anything came of it.
I wonder sometimes if any who heard this story were alive when Christ came forth teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. I wonder if the tale was in the hearts of those in Jerusalem when he rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. I think we can assume there were rumors floating about and this story was recalled as confirmation of Jesus’ appearance as an adult on the human scene of his day. Imagine! Shepherds were the first evangels!


December 26

Matthew 2

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The interesting thing of this visit of the Wise men from the east is that they were foreigners who studied the writings of texts from many places. They watched the stars probably in order to interpret the meaning of their conjunctions. They represent an element of society which we would call learned because they studied all the available material of the day. Some of what they knew bordered on science. Some of it bordered on religion. Mostly, they were probably metaphysicians. In effect they were people who loved learning and were able at times to cobble together what they knew to find the truth.

As we think of the Christmas story we cannot fall prey to class warfare of our generation. Jesus came to earth and began his life in the flesh among the poor. However, he loved the rich, the learned and the successful, also. His only problem with such people is always that sometimes wealth, knowledge and success becomes the sole purpose of human existence and we will forget that God is the giver of all we have. Such people learn to love power, lose a sense of gratitude and fall into the vanity of thinking themselves to be more than they are. The “poor,” likewise, can take pride in their class and have contempt for those who live in a better social estate.
It is wise to take inventory of our attitudes because we too can get so full of ourselves that we forget that a cup of self is a pollution of the cup’s purpose which is to be a receptacle of the Spirit of God.


December 27

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2)
Some people believe dreams have nothing to do with reality. Contemporary people often mock those who speak of dreams – any dreams. However, in the most human of us there is that first impression, that nagging doubt, that sensitivity to danger. We, like the Wisemen, do better when we pay attention to such doubts. What ever is not faith can lead to dire consequences. In good faith the Magi could not go back to Herod and it appears they listened to the Spirit of God. This is an interesting exercise of faith because it was by those who were foreigners to the promise. How much do you exercise such discernment and faith?


December 28

Matthew 2
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

The Magi
The Magi had a dream. Joseph had a dream of an angel of the Lord. Joseph knew from experience and informed faith that this dream was true. It meant taking a journey he did not want to take, to go among a people with whom he did not want to live and to go into a culture totally different from his own. Yet, he went. This is faith and in this case proved to be a wise choice. It was a choice that affected millions, determined histories outcome and made the difference for millions between condemnation and salvation. It is important to remember that we do not live by impulse alone. We must make choices and such choices can be demonstrably powerful.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus
There is something in this trip to Egypt that completely passes the casual reader by. Wasn’t Egypt the place from which the children of Israel had been delivered by God through Moses? It is. However, Egypt was also the refuge of the children of Israel during the great famine in the time of Joseph. It is clear that when the places we expect to be hospitable become hostile God will use the alien land as the place of refuge. This was true of David when he had to flee to the Philistines to escape Saul. It was true of Paul when his life was threatened in Jerusalem and had to escape to the desert. God makes even the wilderness a haven for his people because He is our refuge and strength.



December 29

Matthew 2
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
One cannot but help wonder how Mary and Joseph’s family felt about their moving yet again to another place this time Nazareth. After all, when Mary and Joseph left home to register for the census and Jesus was born they never went back to their families. Instead, they lived in the relative safety of Egypt until it was safe to return to Israel. By this time Jesus was a small boy and his grandparents had never seen him. Now, perhaps after sending a message to their families, they went into the hills of Galilee to live in obscurity and take up a new life. One cannot but marvel at the courage and commitment Mary and Joseph had to keeping Jesus clear of danger. They were remarkable people with a fortitude and faith not often seen. This tenacity and faith has been an inspiration for countless people through the ages and should not be underestimated as we note that the gospel of Christ has come to us because there were people who believed enough to make great sacrifices.


December 30


Jesus completely identified with the lowly.


Matthew 2
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Author: The following excerpt is from an unfinished manuscript of mine which is an ongoing project. It seems very appropriate here so I submit it to you, my friends, and readers as we close the old year. God bless you all!

Home at Last

Nazareth lies southwest of the Sea of Galilee though it was in the region of Galilee. It is nestled in a hollow of lower ranges of that region. This place was also a crossroads for caravans in that region. The North /South road was a road followed by Alexandria the Great into Palestine three hundred years before Christ. The East /West road from Nazareth led out to the sea. If one climbs northward up the slopes approaching the Sea of Galilee it is possible to see the Mediterranean in the West and the great caravan routes stretching west and south. Nazareth was no hidden village. It was a center of travelers from all over the world, a major center of world news, a mixing bowl of cultures, and home to Jesus who came to bring a word of hope to the world.

It was into this place, having already been a traveler to Egypt, that the family of Jesus came and established themselves. It was in this crossroads that Jesus learned the carpenter trade created furniture, doors, plows, tool handles, camel saddles, ox yokes and other items to lighten burdens. Here, in a carpenter’s yard, no doubt adjacent to the family living quarters, Jesus learned how to cut, hew, stack, saw, smooth and shape all of those things that provided food for the family. It was here that he developed strength, sinew, skill, creativity, business acumen and social skills that were required of a carpenter who made his living as a craftsman. His home may have been a village by our standards but it was a cosmopolitan village.


Education

Anyone reading the gospels will be struck by the fact that Jesus “grew in knowledge. (Luke 2:40) He did not come pre-programmed. He came engaging life in total quest as a human being. Likewise, his stories and analogies uncover a mind that worked over things that he observed in detail, for wisdom, in analogy, and metaphorical meaning. He was a learner who was disciplined, (memorizing large blocks of scripture in synagogue school) perceptive and intuitive. As a young man, he demonstrated an insatiable appetite for learning in his discussions in the Temple at the age of 12 so that his adept teachers were amazed at his “understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:47)

The purvey of Jesus’ knowledge ran from practical things to transcendent things.

He was engaging socially and throughout his ministry we know people came to him spilling their innermost secrets, enjoyed being around him and willingly followed his early ministry.

He knew nature regarding the harvest, the habits of birds, signs of the weather, cycles of the seasons, the ways of fish, and other creatures. All of these are referenced in his teachings in ways that show natural knowledge as well as supernatural insight.

Jesus understood the foibles and conditions of human nature: he saw through hypocrisy; witnessed cruelty; understood how the powerful degrade people; lived under oppression of religious, political and military might; understood how the messengers of good are persecuted; saw the ravages of disease; and how men and women degrade themselves.

Finally, his education was couched in knowledge of the past. He knew the history of his people, the stories of prophets, kings, conquerors, tragedies and disasters. He was tuned to current events, nuances of political intrigue, and the building of forces that would tear apart his country years after his crucifixion. While he majored in understanding of his own heritage, he was able to apply this knowledge to timely events.

The culmination of all of his education centered upon finding order, justice, and moral balance. They synagogue gave him the tools and the discipline but life prepared him to take these into the greater sphere of humanity confronting the learning of all of the nations with a clear rationale of what works to make life meaningful.

As Jesus grew into adulthood he demonstrates he had earned the title “Teacher.” This was not accorded him because he set up shop somewhere on His own. It was accorded him because he had mounted up in the academic hierarchy of his time. He was welcomed into the synagogue to read the law, the prophets and the history of his people and to make comment upon their meaning. He may have been a carpenter, but he was also a shaper of ideas: a constructor of reform; a leader of people; a worthy advocate, adversary; a mental giant. And, all of this is an understatement because He was the son of God.


December 31

Jesus of Nazareth, continued…

Closing Shop

The day came in Nazareth when Jesus closed the carpenter shop, hung up his tools and set out on a course that would take him on an itinerary ministry throughout the whole country.

Eventually, he would first take up his seat in the synagogue in his hometown, be deposed and then strike out to the courtyards of the Temple in Jerusalem. Later still, he would gather his followers on the hillsides of the land. His message was for the common people. He went wherever he could get their hearing working with the acceptable platforms until He was rejected either by the establishment or the people.

He took his message to the Jews and then to those pagans who wanted to hear what he had to say: Samaritans, Romans and Greeks. He was constrained with five motivations. First, he had to make his message clear to His people. Second, he covered the whole of his homeland territory. Third, He would be rejected and crucified. Fourth, he prepared his disciples to take his message of Good News that death would not be then end of Him. Finally, he would endow them with His Spirit by which they would live in the power of His undefeatable Spirit.

So that day came in the “fullness of time.” Jesus hung up his manual tools and took His name from the sign that said “Joseph and Sons.” He left his kin who did not understand this turn of events and struck our on the downward road to a literal new valley of decision—the lower regions where the Jordan River spilled into the Salt Sea. He passed quite naturally from a lake of life to a lake of death, from the valley of Nazareth to the valley of the wilderness. This was to continue the journey He had begun when He came down from Heaven as the Son of Man, completely identifying with the lowly. That means all of us who recognize our condition.

NOVEMBER 2010

November 1



…never take the give and take too seriously or you will lose your good humor.




Proverbs 20
14 "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
This image takes me back to my first experience in bartering in Old Jerusalem. Watching a shrewd buyer I heard these same words. He denigrated the product, found tiny flaws, an offered the seller half of what he was asking. He got the product and was showing it to the whole tour group boasting of their great buy. It was an education for me on a method which is as old as bargaining itself.
Try pawning something. This is a page out of the pawnbroker’s booklet of negotiations. Know what your product is worth, set a fair price and hold your ground or you will fall victim to the same deception. However, never take the give and take too seriously or you will lose your good humor










November 2


With knowledge we can develop, grow, achieve and survive when all else is failing.


Proverbs 20
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
In the society of human exchange it is good to keep perspective. Gold and rubies may be the symbol of wealth. However, it is important we do not lose our sense of real value. Knowledge is the rare jewel. It is also the goose that lays the golden egg. With knowledge we can develop, grow, achieve and survive when all else is failing. Listen for those who have real knowledge and learn. Ask of those who have wisdom and find out how to live meaningfully. How do you know such people? They are persons with certain humility. They seem to know what they do not know because knowledge brings with it such knowing.








November 3




Holding the creditor accountable is the wisdom of lending in any circumstance…



Proverbs 20
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
This doesn’t make a lot of sense to the modern reader. What does to hold a garment as a pledge mean? A person’s garment was the same as leaving your driver’s license with a dealer when you are promising to come back to pay for a purchase. Outer garments were the most expensive part of one’s dress and representative of the owner. They were used as pledges. The act of leaving a garment was probably mostly symbolic but in a culture where honor was still a virtue it apparently worked as security.
This saying is related to a situation where a man is borrowing money in order to help his mistress financially. The warning then becomes a matter of simple understanding. It is this, a person who is entangled emotionally and who has already compromised their reputation is not a good credit risk. If you don’t require something of value from your creditor you will probably lose your money. Holding the creditor accountable is the wisdom of lending in any circumstance but particularly if you lend to someone who is a greater risk.





November 4


Proverbs 20
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
I have come to have a new perspective of proverbs as I have been nudged by proverbs like this one. I believe many of these sayings may have been inspired as Solomon presided over court hearing the legal cases of the populace. They just sound like the comments a judge would make to a felon or a misguided person. They most certainly are inspired words of wisdom and grow from knowledge of God’s ways as he has revealed himself and the laws of creation. Yet, they were given by the sage as he watched a constant train of people pass before him. In this case it may have been someone who defrauded someone else and used the defense that he was only trying to put food on the table for his children.
Can you imagine a story, perhaps a play, written around proverbs with character after character entering the story line the way Chaucer told his ancient tales of the common folk? The perpetrator comes before the judge with his head bowed to hear his sentence. His head is low, his hands are folded as if in silent petition, and the judge speaks:
“I have heard your case and find that the evidence is against you. You may tell me that you robbed this merchant in order to feed your family. Yet, it has been shown that you took this cart of sweetmeats and wine and held a party for your friends. And then you had the gall to boast that ‘stolen wine is the best wine.’ You have been found guilty and I sentence you to be flogged with 40 lashes and cast into prison for one year. Perhaps that will teach you that:
Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man,
but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”






November 5




In the issues of life it is not necessary to get agreement or a specific direction from your advisors. They are there to give you insights.


Proverbs 20
18 Make plans by seeking advice;
if you wage war, obtain guidance.
When we seek advice we will often get as many ideas as the people we ask. At times those ideas will coincide. In the issues of life it is not necessary to get agreement or a specific direction from your advisors. They are there to give you insights. They will often disagree with one another and that will give you a chance to seek the final wisdom from God and know your own heart.
In any case, you are ultimately responsible for the consequences of you decision and you cannot be faulted if you have done your best. When all is said and done you listened, you learned and you concluded, hopefully, following the counsel of God. When you have done this you have no need to second guess because the consequences were not as sunny as hoped. Few plans take us through waters or directly to green pastures. They often take us through the valley of the shadow, even the shadow of death past perilous forces.
When it comes to life and death issues the stakes are higher as in the case when you plan to “wage war.” For the results of that we do not have to go far in American history to learn what happens when a commander does not consult with others before he rides into trouble. In 1870, George Armstrong Custer, send men rushing into a newly discovered Indian encampment at Rosebud Creek, Wyoming, with guns blazing. It was not only a serious blunder on his part but it was against a direct order from General George Crook and without consulting with the able officers he had with him. As a result of this bit of arrogance Custer’s men were surprised too late to find the encampment to be 100 times larger than they thought and were all slaughtered. He may be a hero to some but he was a wanton, self-indulgent and over confident commander whose personal flaws and ambition caused the deaths of many people including the Lakota, Cheyenne and the Arapaho Indians who might have acquiesced to superior forces.



November 6



Proverbs 20
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid a man who talks too much.

Prosecutor: “Did you ever hear the defendant say he was going to rob a bank?”
Witness: “No, I did not. But I did hear him say he was going to come into a lot of money soon because he had just bought a gun.”
Prosecutor: “Well, I’d say that was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The prosecution rests, your honor.”




November 7


Proverbs 20
20 If a man curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
Cursing is more than words. It is falsely and maliciously demeaning the personhood and integrity of someone. It is a hateful act or words that are intended to bring harm. (It is even occasionally invoking extra natural powers to bring harm.) When one does that to people to whom they are indebted for their love and sacrifices they are placing themselves in jeopardy. It is like cutting oneself off from a root and we know what happens when a root is severed from the shoot. This is a fundamental law of nature and in the kingdom of God.

Numbers 23:8 (New International Version)
8 How can I curse
those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce
those whom the LORD has not denounced?

Proverbs 30
11 "There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.
"There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!':
16 the grave, [c] the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'
17 "The eye that mocks a father,
that scorns obedience to a mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.
Matthew 15
Clean and Unclean
1Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"
3Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 5But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' 6he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.' "





November 8




It takes real spirituality to handle money wisely.


Proverbs 20
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
will not be blessed at the end.
Here is another truism learned at the bar of public justice. The young seldom know how to handle instant wealth. In fact, few people can handle instant wealth and many a person who has won the lottery has found his or her life ruined by irresponsible spending. One should pray, “O Lord, bless me with enough to provide daily bread and the means I need. However, do not bless me with more than I can handle to prosper in body, soul and spirit. “
The wisest benefactors of their beneficiaries often build codices to their wills which restrict the inheritance until they have gained preparation, responsibility and accountability. It takes real spirituality to handle money wisely.











November 9




Those who seek vengeance will often commit wrongs greater than the wrong delivered to them.


Proverbs 20
22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!"
Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Those who seek vengeance will often commit wrongs greater than the wrong delivered to them. That is simply because it is in the nature of humankind to compete and to exceed what has gone before. Therefore, in such a world where power dominates there is no stopping the “upping of the ante.” Excesses have to stop somewhere and it will only stop when God exacts his rule.
When we consider “getting even” we should stop and realize we cannot do so. No one who is insensitive enough to cause harm to another will ever learn. Such people will not evolve; they will not change; they will not learn until they have faced a power which they cannot defeat. Therefore, wait upon the Lord. He is quite capable of exacting justice and whenever possible his purpose is redemption. That is why we pray for our enemies. We may resist. We may speak the truth. However, we pray above all that they will come to understand the limits of their power and ability. Then and only then will any redemption of the perpetrator or of the social situation be possible.














November 10



In our dealings with others we will go a measure beyond what is expected or required when we are living in the Spirit of God.



Proverbs 20
23 The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
Most people are driven for equilibrium and fairness. Why is that? Is it not because we are made in the image of God? At least this is the central declaration which the Bible presents us.
When things are wrong there is something in us that seeks to balance the differences. We seek symmetry. We seek unity. We seek justice. We seek coherence. Things have to make sense, to have meaning and to work out to some kind of predictability. None of these things seem to exist in the animal kingdom anywhere else but in mankind.
It is clear that there are a lot of differing weights used among humankind. This proverb does not speak about the variation between pounds, kilos, daks or puschas. It is speaking to us about honesty with the measures we use. When we say something is a pound then it must be a pound. God does not approve of slighting our neighbor with the measures we use. If we want to please Him as we live in His character we will seek to go a measure beyond what is expected in our dealings with others. That, after all, is expressing His nature and character.









November 11





…God’s ways are good.



Proverbs 20
24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Recently we took a trip which was a leap backward and then forward in time. Jan and I returned to the places of our roots. First, we visited with friends of recent years. Then we visited with family, some of whom we had not seen for 47 years. Next I took a journey back to the home of my grandparents which abides 70 years in my memory. Finally, we ended up at a 50th reunion of Jan’s college classmates. The journey was pleasant and illuminative.
There is nothing like hindsight to remind one that we have very little foresight no matter how hard we try to design our lives. Of course, it was never my intention to design my life and the whole concept of career planning is an enigma to me. Considering my past I do not think there is anyone who knew more what they would do with their lives. From the age of 17 I knew God had called me for ministry and there would be no going back on that commitment. Still, my life has had many twists and turns which have surprised me. I can also happily say those turns were better than anything of which I could have dreamed.
The fact is that those who design their own lives do so at their peril. Career pursuit can often blind one to the most important things in life and a stubborn commitment to a human plan is the surest way to alienate and hurt other people. We will do better when we consider that God has a plan for our lives and are patient to seek his mind and understanding on a step by step basis That mean get on the general path and let him lead you in the byways. When we do that He will do better than we could ask or think.
Are you still wondering what we discovered on our trip? We had some surprises. Some who were insignificant seemed to have developed into wonderful human beings. Others who were promising seemed to have become disillusioned. Almost everyone had a testimony of strange and sometimes wonderful twists in their lives. How can we understand other people’s journeys when we cannot even understand our own ways? We will leave such evaluations to God who has known us from the time we were in our mothers’ wombs. We will just say God’s ways are good.


November 12



Commitments are important to God.


Proverbs 20
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider his vows.
There is something about claims, boundaries, covenants, promises and deals that are important to the ways of God. God watches over these things because they have to do with order and meaning. In fact, God laid out boundaries, declared covenants, made promises and requires His people to do the same. Just start reading in the Bible and discover this fact for yourself.
Jesus warned his disciples about the cost of commitment. (See Luke 14:28) Covenants are the same. They are unbreakable. Furthermore, when something is dedicated to the Lord or a contract is made with others believers are not free to initiate changes without consequences.
There are a lot of people wandering about in a daze because they do not understand how God watches over vows. Their lives are shambles. Their efforts are doubly hard. The very thing which they once gave through promise they tried to take back without permission or consent. Such patterns have their root in God’s order and can only be set right before Him which will usually involves some restitution withy a clear cut and detailed reconciliation. Until we understand this we will not find the freedom to move on in the power of His grace.



November 13


Some will only change when threatened. Others will have to be crushed.


Proverbs 20
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
How can this proverb be transliterated? It would seem that it has something to do with justice and rehabilitation. A wise king or government will extract the good wherever possible with discipline and until that work is complete he/it will not stop. It is simply foolish to be naïve about the unrepentant. Some will only change when threatened. Others will have to be crushed. That is the sad truth about the nature of some people.





November 14


God knows our hearts and he is always searching within our inmost being for a way to connect with us.



Proverbs 20

27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man ;
it searches out his inmost being.
Visualize going down into the interior of the earth and the darkness there which covers the landmarks and features of this underground cavern. This is the image of the Spirit of man. The Bible says God knows this territory and he is able to see what we cannot see as He searches our hearts. This is both comforting and threatening. However, is it meant to be comforting.
God knows our hearts and he is always searching within our inmost being for a way to connect with us. In order for Him to do it we must recognize that which he illuminates. When we do we can reach to him and seize the opportunity for his fellowship. That illumination may call for repentance. It may call up wonder and awe. It may even touch a chord of grief. However, when God puts his light on some aspect of our nature we are wise to respond with the willingness to respond with the appropriate emotion. This, after all, is the path to wholeness.
That is the general revelation of scripture and it is no less here. Are you ready to respond to God appropriately and be uncomfortable in His illumination? Are you prepared to respond wholeheartedly with understanding and emotion? When you are willing, you will be found by Him. God is searching your heart for redemptive landmarks in your inmost core. Respond to Him today. He is searching for the real you in your soul.






November 15




A loving authority is patient, kind, merciful and firmly grounded to being true to principles that have stood the test of time.


Proverbs 20
28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
Those in authority may rule through fear or they may rule by love. It is a clear choice.
The world has often been ruled by those who use power and fear to dominate: some are teachers; some are politicians; some are parents; some are employers but all are authorities within society. Yet, those who have used their positions to serve have become cultural heroes.
Ruling by love does not mean giving people what they want. This is weakness; it is barter. It means doing what is wise and good for the long term for those under our care. Such love does not compromise authority in order to appease. Neither does it presume to consider the authority or power one possesses for personal enlargement. A loving authority is patient, kind, merciful and firmly grounded to being true to principles that have stood the test of time. In short, such principles are illuminated in the words of scripture on almost every page and they will never be supplanted by false pretenders because they are true.







November 16




…we all have a learning curve that lasts from birth to death.


Proverbs 20
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.
Here is comparison and contrast. Young men take pride in physical strength. This is natural. However, prospering in this world, even survival, depends upon some degree of wisdom. According to this proverb, to live long enough to have gray hair is a sign of these facts.
All societies do not think elders are necessarily the epitome of wisdom or possess a splendor of any kind. This is a fault of the society that does not value it. In God’s economy a great deal of is placed upon aging. He knows that according to His economy we all have a learning curve that lasts from birth to death.






November 17



…pain is a great teacher for the hard hearted.


Proverbs 20
30 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
This proverb is problematic for the Christian and modern reader. We are living in a post Christian culture that has been defined by grace and mercy. While secularists may think nothing of destroying the reputation and character of another they do denigrate the use of force, capital punishment, or even imprisonment as means of societal control.
We must remember, however, that pain is a great teacher for the hard hearted. Furthermore, few of us live in a world where the slightest mistake may determine whether we live or die; survive or are destroyed; thrive or are injured. The closer we get to nature we must understand that the laws that govern are those of “tooth and claw” and there are still such cultures today where various forms of capital punishment rule an otherwise ruthless society. In essence, any society not informed by the living Christ is a culture whose means of cohesion is win/lose, not win/win.
Anyone who has travelled in Singapore will recognize that it is probably one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities of the world. It also has a low crime rate. In this same culture capital punishment still rules. A few years ago an American youth was caught dealing in drugs. His punishment, much to the protest of our press, was to suffer a beating with bamboo rods. While such punishment may disgust the gentler side of our natures, one cannot ignore the fact that it works in a society where the values influenced by Christian charity are less than in our culture. In such a legalistic society, which is still informed by naturalistic ways of life, blows, wounds and beatings are a great purgative.
I do not believe that this proverb is meant to give us the divine pattern of life. However, I can appreciate that brutal people often seem to only understand and conform to force. Likewise, , in the primitive hunting cultures of the world corporeal punishment of a youth by a father can literally be the teaching aide which an aspiring hunter/gatherer may need to teach the needed cautions to survive an even worse fate at the paws and fangs of a wild beast. This is somewhat the conditions of the time when this proverbial observation was spoken.
Cultures that are informed by Christian concepts of mercy, love and kindness should understand that such values depend upon willful acceptance of the Holy Spirit who comes to change us. His way is to entreat, appeal, and woo us into such a society. However, those who live by the law (without a faith informed reference to Christ) should understand that force is the only way the law works.
The law is based on dominance. It is all about power and control. Therefore, it uses the primitive forms of wresting right, justice and truth by force. Therefore, in a world where people are always thinking of winning and losing, or the politics of power, there is often no alternative but to enact judgments grounded in harshness. Only naïve secularists will deny this until they face the law of tooth and claw in their own lives.
The gentle society can only come by a union with Christ. It is only the Kingdom of God that can be the gentle society. It is the perfect world for which the entire world longs and will not be achieved by human legislation.









November 18



God guides those who are submissive to Him.


Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
There are two ways of taking this proverb. It can be a statement of belief in determinism. On the other hand it may be a declaration of faith by Solomon in the willingness and power of God to give direction to rulers of the nations, who trust in Him. Which is it?
I believe it is a profession of faith. Solomon was merely stating he was submissive to God. The plain truth is that God has made a choice to allow men to act and follow their own consciences and judgment. In as much as they act wisely, God blesses. When they rule wrongly, God will find a way to bring judgment and correction in their path. Does God exert puppet control of the unwilling ruler? No. He can and will guide those who submit to Him and those are the ones who will be seen to rule well. Every ruler will stand before him on judgment day to give an account and bow before His majesty.






November 19




Winning isn’t justification; being accounted as righteous is.


Proverbs 21
2 All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

What happens after God weighs the heart? We may think we are right but if our conclusion is different from God’s what happens? We should give careful thought to that one. We may think we have won the argument but be standing in the need of mercy. Winning is not everything. Being on the right path is. It makes the difference between having a full friendship with God or an infantile relationship.














November 20




In a legal exchange things of equal values are given by respective parties to make the deal. Therefore, in a legal sense a life must be given in order to get a life. That is the meaning of Hebrews 9:22: “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus took care of that for all of us by offering up himself as the final, true and eternal sacrifice. Now we can have God’s life through faith in Christ’s offering of himself to satisfy the necessity we feel to give a value for a value received.


Proverbs 21
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
This is the lesson of the prophets after the people had been performing sacrifices to the Lord for years. It was Micah who said this clearly repeating the essence of the words of this proverb:
6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
I offer this quote from the September edition of Servants on Point as an expansion of the Biblical approach to sacrifice:
“We may have been taught that God wants sacrifices and even gave them to Israel to satisfy some blood lust in his nature. Not true! It appears that the sacrifices of animals were already invented pagan rituals to prevent disaster, guilt and the foreboding of the human soul. (Angst) They were an innovation of men as are “religions” and all systems imagined by human kind.

Sacrifices were very attractive because they gave false comfort. Since they were so attractive, God gave the Israelites more than they could handle to cover every occasion…He gave them a great slaughterhouse in which to make their offerings. He devised intricate rituals to satisfy their perverted drive to do something to make themselves pleasing. He even told them must wear white garments and keep them and themselves immaculate so that they could be outwardly pure to approach him in his holiness. Do you want to be perfect? Go ahead and try to be so.

In essence Temple worship was simply a great butchery!…The Temple was always meant to be the human heart. See the irony? God gave “his called out ones” all the religion they needed to make them sick of their own devices.

All these things were mere symbols of outward perfection. They did not touch the heart and the people never got the message. They went about their activities in the Tabernacle sandbox and in the front yard workplace of the Temple oblivious they were not pleasing God. So He sent the prophets to clarify. They were still dense. Their teachers took even the basic commandments of God and made them so complicated no one could keep them. They still did not get the message: We cannot please God. If we require a sacrifice God has given one. He is perfect. He is the ultimate. He is the son of God. What of the sacrificial system? “It is finished.”

The believers in Christ are known in the New Testament as the people of the Way. The believer is liberated through a relationship with Christ by trusting in Him: his words, his life, his sacrifice, his resurrection and the promise of his coming again. Religions tell us that we must measure up. The good news of the gospel tells us that God treats us as having qualified to come into his fellowship by faith in Christ’s completed work on our behalf. He has given us grace which is spirit of justice, mercy and fundamental humility before our Creator which Micah the prophet said God required of his people. “

Scripture

Hebrews 9
20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."[e] 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.








November 21



The eyes are not only the light by which we see but they, like mirrors, reflect the image of what we look at.


Proverbs 21
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
The eyes are not only the light by which we see but they, like mirrors, reflect the image of what we look at. If we gaze upon things that produce pride and arrogance we will reflect haughtiness outward through our eyes. However, this proverb is not so much about facial language as it is a statement that a proud heart is sinful. In this case it means a presumption of superiority, of unassailable rightness, or of demeaning countenance on all other persons. It is sin because it separates us from God who is superior. It is sin because it separates us from others who have been bought with the price of God’s love through His son and though not all know they are bought all are His possessions.









November 22


When we exercise a little reflection and wisdom we can foresee trends and those trends help us to prepare for the future.



Proverbs 21
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
We can go two ways in the business of life. We can plan or be caught by surprise and miss our opportunities. When we exercise a little reflection and wisdom we can foresee trends and those trends help us to prepare for the future.
I have an eleven year old grandson who is already planning to market a product when a movie promoting it comes out about six months from now. He has his stock ready. He is now anticipating the demand. Now that is diligence! There is no haste; only a plan, preparation and patience.








November 23




…if the deal sounds too good to be true it probably is.



Proverbs 21
6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
Charles Ponzi invented a fraudulent investment scheme that pays off returns to separate investors from money invested by new investors rather than from profits earned by the investments. This bit of chicanery has been done in many ways but most recently it was the practice of a man named Bernard Madoff. Both Ponzi and Madoff went to jail for their fraudulence but not until they had destroyed the fortunes of many people and lost much of their own.
It is interesting that the scheme in question was once called a Ponzi Scheme. Now it is quickly being eclipsed by the term Madoff Scheme while both men remain anathemas to their respective generation. (I can’t resist the temptation: One was a pouncer and the other made off with the fortunes of others.) Both men laid a deadly snare for themselves and others with their “lying tongues” The devastation is enormous and catastrophic. The moral of this story is that if the deal sounds too good to be true it probably is.









November 24



Something sad always happens to those who resort to violence.


Proverbs 21
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
Violence is one way for some people to get what they want. Many use it instead of bowing before a greater right. It is the way of running one’s life and the lives of others and, as we know, it is control taken to the extreme.
In thinking of violence we should not take pleasure in the fact that we have never struck someone. The spirit of violence is in the human heart and the right conditions could bring it out in any one of us. Its real root is pride in one’s own way and controlling others to get what we want. There are people who can stone others to death with “nerf” (sponge) rocks. The rock we throw may only be popcorn but a sea of them can drown.
Something sad always happens to those who resort to violence. They lose their souls: their sensitivity; their ideals; their direction; and their ability to enjoy the fruit of the true values of life like faith, hope and love.






November 25




1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah






November 26

Proverbs 21
8 The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
I have a friend who says Christians should be fruit inspectors. They should be able to observe behavior, style and methods and learn to discern the motivational attitudes of others. This is not judging others. It is evaluation. It is judging only when we assume an attitude of superiority and condemn the guilty to the prison of “Never Change.” It is simply wise of us to pay attention to fruit:
18 A good tree can't bear bad fruit. And a bad tree can't bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down. It is thrown into the fire. 20 You can tell each tree by its fruit. Matthew 7:18-20
A devious person has a problem at the core of personality and motivation. An innocent person, on the other hand, will demonstrate it in his/her relationships.



November 27


Wicked is may be wicked does but it is first “wicked is” in the heart.

Proverbs 21
10 The wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
When is wicked, wicked? We are not familiar with the term wicked people whether applied to men or women. When we do apply it we do so to all of those who have crossed the line by doing some horrendous, unexplainable thing and passing into “scum- hood.” Then we will apply the term wicked. But, is it not wicked also to accord no mercy mentally to our neighbor or to crave a painful slow tortuous death for our enemies? We may not be so wicked as to actually cause such a thing but we can desire it. Some may even encourage others to carry out such a desire.

Again, wicked is a heart matter focusing first on the heart that craves hurt, injury and judgment on others and the refusal to understand and accord mercy in thought word or deed. Wicked is may be wicked does but it is first “wicked is” in the heart. If we must crave let us crave the good, true and the beautiful and pray for our enemies as such prayers cleanse our hearts and minds.

James 3
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.



November 28

Proverbs 21
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
Judge Solomon speaks again. Perhaps he was in chambers and talking to a young prince. Here we have sage advice to a novice prince and judge. It might sound something like this in modern terms:
King Solomon settled onto the settee in his private chambers and removed the crown from his head,” That thing is hard against my skull. I must see if I can have some new padding put where it touches the forehead.” Taking a towel from a servant he wiped his head and leaned back against the arm of the settee. “Now son, you were asking me something earlier…what was it again?”
The prince waited as the king took a fig and a few sweetmeats from the tray passed between the two of them. Then assured that the king was finished serving himself the prince took a few for himself and leaned back imitating the king’s posture. “I believe the question I have is in reference to repeat offenders. How do you keep people from coming back to appear before you time and again? I mean some of these people seem to be very child-like folk and, dare I say, ten dollops short of a full crock of butter.”
The king turned his head to the open window scanning the distant hill which dropped off in a series of hills to the Jordan valley and smile. “I have to admit many of the people who appear in court have little education but they are good people and can learn. Discerning their character is the work of a good elder. You see,” he said as he moved forward, “the common folk are not always articulate but they are smart and pick up things very quickly if they are given a little instruction.”
The prince squinted, “And, you are saying a good judge gives instruction…that we are supposed to teach? How can we do that when we have so many people waiting for their case to be heard? We could wear ourselves out trying to teach everyone what their elders in the city, the rabbis and others should have taught them!”
“That is true,” the king replied. “However, we do not have to teach the basics of life in every detail. People will learn only when they have an example that there are consequences to their actions…I am speaking of the principle of accountability…do you understand?”
“Tell me more!” The prince leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.
“Well,” said the king, “when a true rebel, a mocker of the system comes before me, I make sure everyone gets the message. Such a person deserves a harsher punishment and a public one at that! I see to it that the people in my court get the word that there is no room for mercy with someone who has deliberately forgotten the lessons of the past. ‘Once spared is mercy received.’
The prince nodded and smiled. The proverb was an old one.
The king took a sip from his goblet and set it down before continuing. “When someone comes before me twice for the same offense I usually render a sharp rebuke with moderate judgment. Once again, this is merciful but it is important to demonstrate a sterner side of that mercy. However, if a person comes a third time for the same offense I consider him a mocker of the law. That is when I really lay out a severe judgment.” The king leaned back. “Do you get what I am implying?”
The prince smiled. “I think I do. You make that one an example and anyone with good sense will learn from the example.”
That is right, said Solomon. “When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.”
In the distance a donkey brayed as his owner shouted insults barely audible as the wind stirred the leaves of the eucalyptus trees edging the palace compound which were planted to block out sounds like this.

Proverbs 21
12 The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.




November 29



Hardness is infectious.


Proverbs 21
13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.
There are several ways this may be understood and I suppose the most common one is that when we shut our ears to the poor the Lord will shut his ears to us. However, I do not personally agree with that concept. It is not in the character of God to bargain his love that way. Love is love. Mercy is mercy. The fact is that Jesus taught us that the Father wants us to enter into a sharing of his character by engaging in kindness and prayers of benevolence for others. It is simply not God’s nature to trade off mercies received for mercies given:
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)
When we shut our ears to the poor we are more likely to contribute to the general hardness of mankind than to cause God to react to such hardness in retaliation toward us. Hardness is infectious. What happens with such callousness is that others will be unlikely to hear us when we have a need. It is the human race that has the tendency to trade off deed for deed; kind for kind; tit for tat and to think “even Stephen.” On the other hand, it is God who encourages us to be merciful to others that we may “be sons (and daughters) of our Father in heaven.” Such a state of being is its own reward as it is the fullness of life to be a child of God.





November 30



Bribes are band aids, temporary fixes, and a very inadequate way of living.


Proverbs 21
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
Don’t we know by now that paying people off under the table is not the way the child of God lives? Therefore, this proverb is not recommending that we pay a bribe in order to prevent the anger of an enemy. This is an observation of the way things work in the world. It is the culture of this world operates. It is a culture that is, invented by humans, protected by humans and “controlled” by humans. It is this world system that uses such techniques as the making of bribes.
Bribes are band aids, temporary fixes, and a very inadequate way of living. Is it not better to treat persons with respect, to face anger with kindness and honesty than to be pushed around by hollow treaties, secret gifts and pacifying bribes? General society may have to pay off their personal enemies but it is not the way of those who live by the higher law of Christ. We should be aware of the ways of the world but never subject to them in our personal lives.